History Blog / TheIslandOfMisfitChristmasSpecials

* TooBleakStoppedCaring:
** [[invoked]] Peter presumes this as the reason ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit46.html Cricket on the Hearth]]'' fell into deeper obscurity than other Creator/RankinBassProductions specials from TheSixties. However, he sees potential for it to become a CultClassic, considering how many other Christmas stories and movies gained fame by taking their heroes through despair, then triumph. Peter later brings the cartoon up again to contrast with ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit62.html ALF's Special Christmas]]'', saying that the latter special's problem is that although it depicts a successful suicide prevention, its other tragic element -- a LittlestCancerPatient -- is impossible to overcome. The best the show could end on is an EsotericHappyEnding.

--->It's too early to tell if ''Anna and the Apocalypse'' will become a cult classic, but it's going to be difficult for it to find that cult. Because of how sad things unexpectedly get in its final act -- which is NOT what you sign up for when you sit down to a zombie-themed Christmas musical from Scotland -- it's not the kind of movie you can play at parties. Unless you just stopped the DVD when they reached the Christmas tree warehouse. Do that.

* ValuesResonance: [[invoked]] In the ''Ted E's Thanksgiving'' review, Peter considers the plot, where Ted wants to make a float for the town Thanksgiving parade but has his plans shot down as floats have to be sponsored by a major corporation to be in said parade, as fitting of this trope.

* DanBrowned: The [[http://platypuscomix.com/darkvault/misfits/misfit72.html review]] of ''WesternAnimation/OlafsFrozenAdventure'' treats it as the ''Franchise/{{Frozen}}'' FranchiseKiller, with the negative reception towards its theatrical run resulting in ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII'' grossing less than ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013''... even though ''Frozen II'' became the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon's highest-grossing movie, prompting Creator/DisneyPlus to keep ''Frozen'' alive via more shorts about Olaf. Even adjusting for inflation, ''Frozen II'' has a higher box-office gross than ''Frozen'' did. ''Frozen II'' does have a worse critical reception than ''Frozen'', but ''Olaf's Frozen Adventure'' doesn't deserve as much credit as do critics who simply consider ''Frozen II'' inferior to the original.

* CelebrityEndorsement:

** ''[[http://platypuscomix.com/darkvault/misfits/misfit67.html Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Tale]]'' ends with a potshot at ''Film/{{Cats}}'' and its UncannyValley characters, dubbing the film ''Tom Hooper's Cautionary Christmas Movie''.

* RhetoricalQuestionBlunder: Towards the end of the [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit57.html review]] of the ''WesternAnimation/BumpInTheNight'' episode "Twas the Night Before Bumpy", when Bumpy ends up in a PostClimaxConfrontation with [[TheDreaded the Closet Monster]], Peter dramatically asks, "Is this the final episode??" He then adds, "Well....it is, technically," as he had already described the special as the episode that killed the show (if Disney's takeover of ABC wasn't responsible).

-->"Wormaline is chairworm of worm festivals in Wormingham, and every time Bert Worm worms things up, Wormaline gets wormier and wormier, until [[DeterioratesIntoGibberish worm worm wormy worm-worm WORM!]]"

* WastefulWishing: [[http://platypuscomix.com/darkvault/misfits/misfit69.html The article]] for ''WesternAnimation/AnnabellesWish'' has a fakeout summary of the climax, when Annabelle is about to wish for Billy's ability to speak to be restored (thus nullifying his spoiled aunt Agnes's custody of him).

** The "Why didn't it fit in" section for ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}} the Halls'' starts off with the first two words from [[Music/SmashMouth "All]] [[Memes/{{Music}} Star"]].

** Peter did this when quoting "[[WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer1964 The Most Wonderful Day of the Year]]" the description on the index.

->''"When Christmas Day is here, the most wonderful day of the year, these specials WON'T be eagerly devoured by yet another generation. If a Christmas special is never happy unless it is loved by a child, then these poor sick puppies must be in the bathroom cutting themselves. 99.9 percent of all new holiday specials fail--it's a cold fact. The reality is that in order to have staying power, a special has to hit exactly the right note of sentimentality and charm. No one can accomplish that by setting out to--it only happens through luck. Consequently, many of today's producers don't even try, figuring their work will be off the air in a couple years anyway and deciding they might as well write whatever they feel like writing. Many of the results from that train of thought (a train with square wheels) are littered throughout this page."''
-->-- Peter Paltridge's preface to the page prior to 2012.

** Peter did this when writing the description on the index:
--->99.9 percent of all new holiday specials fail--it's a cold fact. [[WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer When Christmas Day is here, the most wonderful day of the year]], these specials WON'T be eagerly devoured by yet another generation.

* DanBrowned: The [[http://platypuscomix.com/darkvault/misfits/misfit72.html review]] of ''WesternAnimation/OlafsFrozenAdventure'' treats it as the ''Franchise/{{Frozen}}'' FranchiseKiller, with the negative reception towards its theatrical run resulting in ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII'' grossing less than ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013''... even though ''Frozen II'' became the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon's highest-grossing movie, prompting Creator/DisneyPlus to keep ''Frozen'' alive via more shorts about Olaf. Even adjusting for inflation, ''Frozen II'' has a higher box-office gross than ''Frozen'' did.

* PantyShot: During Creator/DavidCopperfield's cameo in ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit48.html Mr. T and Emmanuel Lewis in A Christmas Dream]]'', in which he does magic tricks for a little girl, he asks her if she has a boyfriend, and Peter chimes in to comment, "At this point she lifts up her skirt completely. Wasn't cut out."

** Peter's [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit42.html coverage]] of ''The Flight Before Christmas'' notes that most of the Christmas Specials he reviews are in two extremes, [[TastesLikeDiabetes saccharine]][[invoked]] and [[AnimationAgeGhetto stupid]], or [[DarkerAndEdgier "edgy" and un-cuddly]]. ''The Flight Before Christmas'' is different as it's actually an EpicMovie.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: [[invoked]] When Peter comes across an ad for a Creator/BillCosby stand-up video on his copy of ''Series/SiskelAndEbert Holiday Video Gift Guide'', he sarcastically agrees that the video would make a good Christmas present. (In fact, the review was published not long after the allegations against Cosby came to light.)
-->I hate knowing what I know now.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent:
** In 2010, Peter announced that he would take a break from reviewing rare specials by writing [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit28.html an article]] about ''WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer'', the most rerun Christmas special of all time. Instead of giving an actual review of ''Rudolph'', the article shares and critiques some commercials found on his recording of a 1979 telecast, as well as the edits that Creator/{{CBS}} made to the special.
** The reviews for ''The Twelve Wishes of Christmas'', ''Film/GrumpyCatsWorstChristmasEver'', ''WesternAnimation/YogisFirstChristmas'', ''Film/AnnaAndTheApocalypse', and ''Twice Upon a Christmas'' bear the header, "The Island of Misfit Christmas MOVIES", because, to quote the first review, "It takes four times as much commitment to sit through a bad Christmas movie as it does to sit through a bad Christmas special."
** ''Anna and the Apocalypse'' itself is the first-ever theatrical film covered under the Misfit Specials banner.
** Peter's [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit42.html coverage]] of ''The Flight Before Christmas'' notes that most of the Christmas Specials he reviews are in two extremes, [[TastesLikeDiabetes saccharine]][[invoked]] and [[AnimationAgeGhetto stupid]], or [[DarkerAndEdgier "edgy" and un-cuddly]]. ''The Flight Before Christmas'' is different as it's actually an EpicMovie.

* {{Mondegreen}}: Peter was hardly paying attention to ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit44.html Why the Bears Dance On Christmas Eve]]'' leading him to mishear "the evil Snurfs" as "the evil [[Franchise/TheSmurfs Smurfs]]".

* DanBrowned: The [[http://platypuscomix.com/darkvault/misfits/misfit72.html review]] of ''WesternAnimation/OlafsFrozenAdventure'' treats it as the ''Franchise/{{Frozen}}'' FranchiseKiller, with the negative reception towards its theatrical run resulting in ''WesternAnimation/FrozenII'' grossing less than ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013''... even though ''Frozen II'' became the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon's highest-grossing movie, prompting Creator/DisneyPlus to keep ''Frozen'' alive via more shorts about Olaf.

* LamePunReaction: In reaction to a particularly shitty pun in ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit19.html The Great Bear Scare]]'', Peter posts an [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/phailbq8.jpg image collage]] of various characters {{facepalm}}ing.
-->[-[[FootnoteFever *]][==]image stolen-]''

** Peter [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit8.html summarizes]] the ending of ''The Wish That Changed Christmas'' like so:
--->Ivy...gets her doll and her family and blah blah blah.

-->[[Series/{{Heroes}} Hiro Nakamura]] teleports in from the future and remarks, "It is interesting how all our destinies are intertwining so perfectly, isn't it?" Sylar comes up from behind and eats Ivy's brain.

-->Youare the Tangled-Antlered Reindeer
-->Had Some Very Tangled Antlers
-->And if you ever saw them
-->You would say "Boy, those are some tangled antlers"

* FacePalm[=/=]LamePunReaction: In reaction to a particularly shitty pun in ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit19.html The Great Bear Scare]]'', Peter posts an [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/phailbq8.jpg image collage]] of various characters facepalming.

* {{Glurge}}: [[invoked]] The site's general opinion of ''Series/{{ALF}}'s Special Christmas'', with it subplot about a dying girl. No matter [[EsotericHappyEnding how happy they try to make the ending]], that girl is ''still going to be dead'' not long after the show plays out. The fact that said girl [[InMemoriam was based on a real fan who died]] doesn't help.

* OhCrap: In ''Mr. T and Emmanuel Lewis in A Christmas Dream'', Creator/MrT's character Benny calls in a friend named "Maureen", at one point. Peter initially fears an appearance by obscure ''ComicBook/ArchieComics'' character Marvelous Maureen, whose series Peter had [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/otherpeople2/maureen.html panned]] earlier that same year. [[spoiler:Instead, the special brings in Maureen ''[=McGovern=]'' (whom Peter refers to as simply "a middle aged woman", because his copy was missing the opening credits).]]

* HypotheticalCasting: Peter recalls in his review of ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit27.html A Wish For Wings That Work]]'' that ''Bloom County'' creator Berke Breathed designated the late Sterling Holloway as his #1 choice to voice Opus. Peter admits personally finding that an inappropriate choice, but adds that he could relate to Breathed because of his unfulfilled desire for Creator/BrittanyMurphy to voice ''Webcomic/ElectricWonderland'''s Aerynn Arlia.

* CelebrityEndorsement: The [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit51.html review]] of ''A Mouse, a Mystery, and Me'' begins with a DrugsAreBad [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUWnboT-WZo PSA]], in which gymnast Mary Lou Retton bowls with kids who sing about how she likes bowling, but doesn't like smoking. Peter then explains that each future review will end with the special in question facing similar approval or disapproval from her, and enthuses that "You won't find a system this reliable anywhere else." The [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit53.html first time]] Peter showed Mary Lou Retton enjoying a Misfit special occurred in the review of ''Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration'', though he wasn't sure if that was actually the case. ''Series/ChristmasEveOnSesameStreet'' BrokeTheRatingScale, as the first misfit that Mary Lou Retton gave her [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit54.html outright approval of]] ("It's [=SUPERcharged=]!", to borrow a quote from [[https://youtu.be/cTVvsVkAqUY a 1984 Energizer commercial]]). After that, Peter reduced her appearances to occur on a more sporadic basis, until ''WesternAnimation/RapsittieStreetKidsBelieveInSanta'' killed her off. Since then, he has went to a variety of random things such as "Grave Twerker", Sugar Puffs' Honey Monster mascot, and [[CameBackWrong Zombie Mary Lou Retton]] for their two cents on whatever special he just reviewed.

* DarknessInducedAudienceApathy:
** [[invoked]] Peter presumes this as the reason ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit46.html Cricket on the Hearth]]'' fell into deeper obscurity than other Creator/RankinBassProductions specials from TheSixties. However, he sees potential for it to become a CultClassic, considering how many other Christmas stories and movies gained fame by taking their heroes through despair, then triumph. Peter later brings the cartoon up again to contrast with ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit62.html ALF's Special Christmas]]'', saying that the latter special's problem is that although it depicts a successful suicide prevention, its other tragic element -- a LittlestCancerPatient -- is impossible to overcome. The best the show could end on is an EsotericHappyEnding.
** Peter cites this as the reason why ''Film/AnnaAndTheApocalypse'' doesn't work. The attempts at Christmas-y antics (despite the {{zombie apocalypse}} going on around everyone) are severely undercut by the fact that it's still a typical zombie movie with [[AnyoneCanDie all that]] [[CharactersDroppingLikeFlies genre entails]], and it ends on a very uncertain note wherein most of the likable characters are dead and the surviving characters are not even sure what to do next.
--->It's too early to tell if ''Anna and the Apocalypse'' will become a cult classic, but it's going to be difficult for it to find that cult. Because of how sad things unexpectedly get in its final act -- which is NOT what you sign up for when you sit down to a zombie-themed Christmas musical from Scotland -- it's not the kind of movie you can play at parties. Unless you just stopped the DVD when they reached the Christmas tree warehouse. Do that.

** Peter cites this as the reason why ''Anne and the Apocalypse'' doesn't work. The attempts at Christmas-y antics (despite the {{zombie apocalypse}} going on around everyone) are severely undercut by the fact that it's still a typical zombie movie with [[AnyoneCanDie all that]] [[CharactersDroppingLikeFlies genre entails]], and it ends on a very uncertain note wherein most of the likable characters are dead and the surviving characters are not even sure what to do next.

** The reviews for ''The Twelve Wishes of Christmas'', ''Film/GrumpyCatsWorstChristmasEver'', ''WesternAnimation/YogisFirstChristmas'' and ''Film/AnnaAndTheApocalypse'' bear the header, "The Island of Misfit Christmas MOVIES", because, to quote the first review, "It takes four times as much commitment to sit through a bad Christmas movie as it does to sit through a bad Christmas special."

''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/index.html The Island of Misfit Christmas Specials]]'' has been an annual feature at Website/PlatypusComix since December 2006. Every year, Peter Paltridge reviews some {{Christmas Special}}s that don't receive much attention from the general public anymore. Some of these include gems that the major networks have stopped playing, but most of them simply don't measure up to the classics, to say the least. The majority of specials covered on this site are from the 70's through the 90's, though it has increasingly covered specials from the 2000's and even the 2010's; as of 2019 the oldest special covered is ''WesternAnimation/TheCricketOnTheHearth'' from 1967, and the newest is ''Film/AnnaAndTheApocalypse'' from 2018. Among all the series of articles hosted at Platypus Comix, this probably has the most installments, even exceeding the comics themselves.

* ItsPopularNowItSucks: [[invoked]] Ever since its rediscovery, ''WesternAnimation/TheRapsittieStreetKidsBelieveInSanta'' was the most requested Misfit special for a few years. Peter noted that it's becoming more and more popular each year, and so he figured he'd hit the nail on the head before this trope began to set in. (Which became HilariousInHindsight anyway since the review was posted the same day WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic and WebVideo/{{Phelous}} posted theirs[[note]]though the latter kept his video exclusively available for his Patreon supporters for a time[[/note]].)

* CelebrityEndorsement: The [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit51.html review]] of ''A Mouse, a Mystery, and Me'' begins with a DrugsAreBad [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUWnboT-WZo PSA]], in which gymnast Mary Lou Retton bowls with kids who sing about how she likes bowling, but doesn't like smoking. Peter then explains that each future review will end with the special in question facing similar approval or disapproval from her, and enthuses that "You won't find a system this reliable anywhere else." The [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit53.html first time]] Peter showed Mary Lou Retton enjoying a Misfit special occurred in the review of ''Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration'', though he wasn't sure if that was actually the case. ''Series/ChristmasEveOnSesameStreet'' BrokeTheRatingScale, as the first misfit that Mary Lou Retton gave her [[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit54.html outright approval of]] ("It's [=SUPERcharged=]!", to borrow a quote from [[https://youtu.be/cTVvsVkAqUY a 1984 Energizer commercial]]). After that, Peter reduced her appearances to occur on a more sporadic basis, until ''WesternAnimation/TheRapsittieStreetKidsBelieveInSanta'' killed her off. Since then, he has went to a variety of random things such as "Grave Twerker", Sugar Puffs' Honey Monster mascot, and [[CameBackWrong Zombie Mary Lou Retton]] for their two cents on whatever special he just reviewed.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: Four of the first five reviews have incomplete plot summaries. ([[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit1.html The first]] apparently used to have it since so little information existed about it at the time, but Peter rewrote the whole thing after coming into contact with the special's creator, who filled in a bit of WordOfGod.) ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit2.html Jingle Bell Rock]]'' and ''[[http://www.platypuscomix.net/darkvault/misfits/misfit3.html The Story of Santa Claus]]'' are {{justified|Trope}}, since Peter did not have either of these specials when he made their articles (all he had for ''Jingle Bell Rock'' was an advertisement for it) and was going from memory, admitting he didn't know how the reindeer were involved in ''The Story of Santa Claus''.