This year’s TV Funhouse has taken on the divide between Red and Blue states. Rudolph becomes blue after Santa meets liberal celebrities and skips over red states, mocking moral values crap. But the funhouse is not the only funhouse reference to come out of the holidays. The TV Funhouse also pokes fun at the Red-state-blue divide in its own hilarious way. The premise of this TV special is one of the best parts of the season, so I’m highlighting it here.
Rankin
In the year 2000, the network aired Rankin is Santa and Rudolph, a Christmas special featuring the famous elves. While the actual story of the reindeer is not as entertaining as the television special, it will be a treat for the kids who love holiday movies. This special stars Danny DeVito, Jim Parsons, and John Goodman. It aired during the holidays and introduced characters like Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, and Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster.
Rankin/Bass productions were a famous stop-motion animation studio and were responsible for many classic Christmas specials. Many of these films starred the titular characters, as well as other classic characters. Rankin/Bass were particularly notable for their animated stop-motion specials, which featured doll-like figures interacting with hand-crafted wonderlands. Their animated films have a lasting impact on children and continue to inspire the popular Elf series, and stop-motion Rudolph specials.
Ludwig
In the animated feature Duck the Halls, the elves Rudolph, Santa and Ludwig encounter a young Donald Duck and his family. Ludwig finds out that his nephew Donald stayed in Mouseton to celebrate Christmas. While the family is upset, Ludwig explains that Donald could die in such cold weather. The film’s comedy relies heavily on pratfalls and wry jokes. Despite this, the film is a delight for young and old alike.
This show was a huge hit in the 1970s, a popular holiday tradition in many households. The actors and puppets look like real life characters from the movie and are well-recognized. The cast is well-suited for the role, including Allison Murphy as Rudolph, the scarlet-snouted outcast who serves as point-rider on Santa’s sleigh. Ludwig, Santa and Rudolph is a charming, heartwarming, and hilarious comedy about the sleigh-riding elf.
Clement Clarke Moore
A Visit from St. Nicholas, otherwise known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” is a traditional poem about the arrival of Christmas. It was first published in the New York Sentinel on December 23, 1823. The poem was written by professor Clement Clarke Moore, who was a student of Greek and Oriental literature at the University of Michigan. Clement Moore was reluctant to reveal his identity until the poem was published anonymously. It became one of the most popular poems of all time.
Although Moore was an English professor, he had a wry sense of humor, which led him to write “Santa and Rudolph” and “Snow White” – a classic Christmas story. In addition to presenting a touching story, the book features an adorable dog named Rudolph and a reindeer named Scrooge. The resulting book is a favorite among children and adults alike.
The Center for Puppetry Arts
The Center for Puppetry Arts is a multi-faceted organization focused on performance, education and museum. It is one of the few museums that showcase the work of puppets and is located in Midtown, New York’s arts district. Santa and Rudolph are two of the most popular Christmas shows, and a visit to the Center for Puppetry Arts is not to be missed! Read on to learn more about the incredible work of this amazing organization.
The puppet show is based on the 1964 stop-motion animated television special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The performance includes all the iconic characters and a backdrop painted with snowy trees and a replica of King Tut’s tomb. Guests can purchase general or VIP tickets for the performance, and there are also sensory-friendly seating options available. Guests can also make their own shadow puppet of Rudolph during the “Create-A-Puppet Workshop.”