Mall Santa: Difference between revisions

[[File:mallsanta_9838.jpg|frame]]

 

 

If the character playing the Mall Santa is a cynical [[Jaded Washout]]/[[Deadpan Snarker]] type, he may comment on the materialistic behavior of the kids or the commercialism of Christmas.

* Classic film example from a child's perspective: ''[[A Christmas Story]]''.

* ''[[Bad Santa]]'' featured a thief working as a Mall Santa in order to rob the stores.

* ''[[Elf]]'' - Buddy, who knows the real Santa, is incensed when an impostor shows up at the department store he works in. He accuses the fake of smelling "like beef and cheese!" and gets into a fistfight with him. After that, the store gets a different Santa- who is ''black''.

* The European horror/comedy short subjects ''[[Rare Exports]]'' purport to tell the true story of where the red-suited entities seen in stores at Christmas actually come from. {{spoiler|They're actually centuries-old cryptozoological wild men, captured and trained until they can be trusted to hold children on their laps without ripping them apart. That is, unless someone is foolish enough to do one of the things that enrages them... }} It's revealed in [[The Movie]] {{spoiler|that these "Santas" are in fact just Santa's little elves. The ''real'' Santa is [[Eldritch Abomination|much, much worse]]. And most definitely [[Mall Santa]] material.}}

* In ''[[Home Alone]]'', Kevin runs to find a Santa in time on Christmas Eve. He finds one getting into his car after quiting time. He quickly puts his beard back on and does his best Jolly Old St. Nick, but Kevin tells him not to bother. He already knows he's not the real Santa, but he knows he does work for him. He then asks him to relay the message that he wants his family back.

* The one in ''[[All I Want for Christmas]]'' is visited twice, due to Hallie thinking her wish was [[Exact Words|phrased wrong]].

* ''[[Hot Fuzz]]'' features a scene of [[Peter Jackson]] as Father Christmas stabbing [[Simon Pegg]] in the hand.

*** He gives children toys that they actually want, rather than what their parents consider appropriate for them. Sometimes it's a good thing, sometimes not.

* In Nathan Englander's humourous short story ''Reb Kringle'', Itzik, a devoutly Orthodox Jew, reluctantly takes this job because he and his wife need the money and he already has the requisite long white beard and big belly. Itzik takes in stride the typical annoyances of overly-greedy requests and attempts to remove his beard, but loses it when the child of an interfaith couple admits he'd rather celebrate Hanukkah.

* In one of Harlequin's [[Romance Novel|Romance Novels]], the pairing are a pair of divorcees - the woman is manager at the store, which is an [[Old Established Business]] with an [[The Rival|equally old, established rival]] (the competition between the two is even referenced as being akin to that between Bloomingdale's and Macy's) while the man is (at first appearances) a guy who's one bounced check from being homeless and focused on getting revenge on his [[Rich Bitch]] of an ex (who also faked evidence to make him appear to be a [[Domestic Abuser]], effectively conning the judge into giving her full custody of their daughter). The guy is desperate for a job, but wants something seasonal - and she's desperate for a [[Mall Santa]] since the one they usually hire is getting on in years. The manager is also frequently roped into babysitting the store owner's grandson - who is also the unofficial vetter for the Mall Santas that are hired. The kid is mentioned as still believing in Santa, but justifies Mall Santas as being like heralds for the real deal - which also neatly explains, to him, why not all Mall Santas are equal: some have the calling and some are just in it for the money.

 

== [[Live Action TV]] ==

** Considering that many of the kids' parents were neighbors Al didn't like, he told one kid to tell daddy to stay home when the mailman comes over. He tells a girl who wants a pony that he'll leave one under the tree, but if it's not there by morning, her mother chased it away and killed it...

** Al got a job as a [[Mall Santa]] in two other episodes -- one on season seven and again near the end of the series' run after two young men replace Al and his [[Black Best Friend]] Griff at the shoe store.

* ''[[Third Watch]]'''s Season 5 episode "The Spirit" had grumpy policeman Sully playing Santa at a toy store.

* ''[[Boston Legal]]'' had an episode in the first season where Alan Shore represents a mall Santa who's a [[Wholesome Crossdresser]] (not at work) in a court action to keep him from being fired because of it. This ends with Al Sharpton being coming into the courtroom and having no clue what he's doing, and saying "So give the world a black Santa Clause!"

* ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''

** An early fake commercial for "Santi-Wrap," a plastic sheet similar to disposable toilet seat covers, featured John Belushi as a slovenly, drunken mall Santa, thereby illustrating why such a product is necessary.

* The cast of ''[[Glee]]'' encounter a rather [[Jerkass]] mall Santa, who promises dim Brittany that he will cure Artie's paralysis.

* ''[[Leverage]]'': A mall Santa comes to the team for help because he was fired and the new mall Santas all seem to be criminals. Elliot ends up playing Santa for a while and is terrible at it, but Parker seems to enjoy her role as a [[Christmas Elf]].

{{quote| Charlie: Did you fuck my mom, Santa Claus?}}

* In the [[Christmas Episode]] of ''[[Round the Twist]]'', [[Cool Old Lady]] Nell becomes a [[Mall Santa]]. It leads to her being attacked by the ''real'' Santa.

== [[Video Games]] ==

* A random Santa Claus can be seen wondering the streets of Dobuita late in the year in ''[[Shenmue]]''. He carries a bell, greets with "Merry Christmas" and everything.

* During the [[You Mean "Xmas"|Feast of Winter's Veil]] in [[World of Warcraft]], "Greatfather Winter" can be found in Ironforge and Orgrimmar.

 

** The pilot.

** The much later episode "Kill Gil: Vols. 1 & 2" featured the title Jack Lemmon figure giving Lisa her wish in his guise as Santa, getting fired over it, and spending the next year sponging off the Simpsons. After the year has passed, [[Not Allowed to Grow Up|Bart is still a ten-year-old fourth grader and Lisa is still eight and in the second grade]].

{{quote| '''Kid''': "You're not the real Santy Clause!" <br />

'''Bullock''': "Sure I am. Wanna see my gun?" }}

* Skarr from ''[[The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy]]''. He nearly kills Billy, but no one intervenes (except the elves) until his beard comes off. Then, everyone beats him up for not being Santa.

** they also start a riot and burn the mall to the ground.

* The main six in ''[[Recess]]'' meet a mall Santa in the [[Christmas Episode]]. Though out of frustration, he rips his beard off and asks his assistant if they can get the next mall Santa to cover.