Spring Break
Just A Little To The Left: Holiday episode suggestions
Stephen Greenwell
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: Entertainment
12/07/06 - With the holidays upon us, I've decided to spotlight some of my favorite holiday episodes of various television shows and specials. This isn't meant to be a definitive list, but if you disagree with it, you shouldn't be allowed sharp instruments or allowed to ride on the bus with the big people.
"A Tale Of Two Santas," Futurama
This season three episode of Futurama is one of their classics, right up there with "Godfellas" and "Roswell That Ends Well." In the Futurama universe, Robot Santa is a murderous fiend who destroys and pillages each Christmas. Fry, Leela and Bender manage to stop him, and decide to deliver presents Christmas night, like the Santa of yore.
Unfortunately, the residents of New New York mistake Bender for the evil Robot Santa and imprison him. At his trial, the rest of the Planet Express crew dress up as santas to prove his innocence, except for rags-wearing Zoidberg, who claims, "I'm his friend Jesus!"
Outside of being Christmas-themed, "A Tale Of Two Santas" is simply one of the best Futurama episodes. Like the rest of the series, all of the jokes in this episode hold up despite its release five years ago.
Cartoon Network normally shows this episode every year during its Adult Swim block of programming, so visit www.adultswim.com or TV Guide Online to see when it airs this year.
"In God We Trust," Arrested Development
The seventh episode of Arrested Development is the first truly classic one the show aired. While knowledge of this cult hit continues to spread, there are still plenty of people who still haven't caught the fever. This is reflected by the show's cancellation after a partial third season in 2006, despite numerous Emmy wins.
"In God We Trust" focuses on the Bluth family's involvement in the annual Living Classics pageant. Buster and George Senior normally star in the pageant's main piece, a huge version of "The Creation of Adam," with Buster as Adam and George Senior as God.
"A Tale Of Two Santas," Futurama
This season three episode of Futurama is one of their classics, right up there with "Godfellas" and "Roswell That Ends Well." In the Futurama universe, Robot Santa is a murderous fiend who destroys and pillages each Christmas. Fry, Leela and Bender manage to stop him, and decide to deliver presents Christmas night, like the Santa of yore.
Unfortunately, the residents of New New York mistake Bender for the evil Robot Santa and imprison him. At his trial, the rest of the Planet Express crew dress up as santas to prove his innocence, except for rags-wearing Zoidberg, who claims, "I'm his friend Jesus!"
Outside of being Christmas-themed, "A Tale Of Two Santas" is simply one of the best Futurama episodes. Like the rest of the series, all of the jokes in this episode hold up despite its release five years ago.
Cartoon Network normally shows this episode every year during its Adult Swim block of programming, so visit www.adultswim.com or TV Guide Online to see when it airs this year.
"In God We Trust," Arrested Development
The seventh episode of Arrested Development is the first truly classic one the show aired. While knowledge of this cult hit continues to spread, there are still plenty of people who still haven't caught the fever. This is reflected by the show's cancellation after a partial third season in 2006, despite numerous Emmy wins.
"In God We Trust" focuses on the Bluth family's involvement in the annual Living Classics pageant. Buster and George Senior normally star in the pageant's main piece, a huge version of "The Creation of Adam," with Buster as Adam and George Senior as God.
