Mystery Science Theater 3000/Recap/S05/E21 Santa Claus

Film watched: Santa Claus

In the words of MST3K producers: "Just when we thought it couldn't get any more bizarre, it did." Its dramatic departure from established Santa Claus legend, combined with B-movie production standards and an awkward dub provide ample source for mockery. MST3K's send-up first aired on Christmas Eve 1993 as the second Christmas Episode (the first was Santa Claus Conquers the Martians). The devil Pitch became a recurring character for a while, played by Paul Chaplin.

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 presentation has examples of:
"Santa: I'm here to eat candy canes and kick ass, and I'm all out of candy canes!"
 * Action Santa: in the last host segment with Kevin Murphy as Santa Claus.

""Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg...""
 * Biting the Hand Humor: Crow makes a wise-crack during the movie about how the Comedy Central competitions are a waste of time.
 * Hypocritical Humor: MST3K had just run its Turkey Day Contest on Comedy Central.
 * Call Back: In one segement, Tom's head is replaced with a snow-globe... the same snow-globe he replaced it with in Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
 * And they make a quip about Gamera during the movie.
 * "Why don't they look?"
 * Christmas Songs: Mike and the Bots start singing Jingle Bells, before immediately going to the typical variation:

"Santa: (reading letter) Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me a little brother.
 * Getting Crap Past the Radar

Crow: (as Santa) O-ho-ho-ho! Can do, can do!"

"Narrator: What are you going to do now Santa?
 * "Gift of the Magi" Plot: Horribly subverted for TV's Frank; He buys a watchfob for Dr. Forrester and, unclear on the concept, shaves his head just for the heck of it. You'd expect Dr. Forrester to have sold his watch and get Frank a gift certificate to a hair salon, but instead he gives him a savings bond--in Forrester's name, no less--that will mature into $25...in thirty years. Poor Frank.
 * Homemade Sweater From Hell: Gypsy makes Mike a sweater with "JOIKE" on it. She explains that she started knitting it back before Joel's escape earlier that season. Mike seems to actually like it, though.
 * I'm Going to Disney World

Tom: I'm going to Disney World!

Mike: All references to Disney World are the property of the Walt Disney Corporation."

"Mike (as Lupita): I'm at a moral crossroads, Mom."
 * Laughing Mad: Mike and the Bots' reaction the Laughing Nightmare Reindeer.
 * Let There Be Snow: This happens right at the end. In space.
 * Moral Dilemma: Underlined when Lupita is thinking of stealing a doll from a street vendor, looking between her mother and the vendor.

"Crow: It's a living!
 * My New Gift Is Lame: The gifts that Mike and the Bots give each other are pretty lame, but they genuinely love them anyway.
 * Notable Original Music: Whispering Christmas Warrior
 * And let's not forget Political Correctness Gone Mad / Santa Clausmas ditty, Merry Christmas...if That's Okay: A Politically Correct Christmas Carol.
 * Only, don't say Christmas because this is a song for holidays of ALL faiths.
 * And don't call it a Carol because Carol is a woman's name and we want this song to be all-inclusive.
 * Shout-Out: Mike and Crow do a quick re-enactment of a Hogan's Heroes bit when the children of Germany are shown.
 * And the rest...

Tom: Santa is filmed on location with the men and women of Raul County, Florida."

"Dr. Forester: Oh Frank, think of it. A full tilt battle between pure evil and Santa Claus in our own home!"
 * Special Guest: Santa Claus and Pitch, at the end of the show.

"Mike: She is aggressively cute."
 * Tastes Like Diabetes: The SOL crew identify Lupita as this.