The TV Christmas special sits alongside the box of Turtles, poinsettias and cheap chocolate advent calendar as the most frivolous yet anticipated Christmas traditions of my youth. From Charlie Brown to Rudolph to Pee Wee Herman, the month before the big day seemed to have an annual treat on almost every night of the week. But somewhere in the past two decades the art of the Christmas special was lost. Too dependent on repeats of said classics and recycled versions of said classics left little room for anything fresh to hang itself among the shows that have gone on to become as traditional as the stupid paper crowns found in Christmas crackers. Leave it to Stephen Colbert to go post modern on the Christmas special and come up with a cheeky variety-format program of his own to take the modern mantle in the holiday television canon.
The show’s loose story has Colbert stuck in his cabin unable to make it to his studio in New York to film a special with Elvis Costello. It might be snowing outside, but that’s not what’s keeping him indoors. That’d be too easy. Nope, it’s a bear that’s keeping the news anchor and the singer apart. While passing the time and searching for a way to make it home (not to mention pondering silently how many animals died in the making of his boots), Colbert just happens to encounter several musical guests such as Feist, Willie Nelson, John Legend and Toby Keith, not to mention The Daily Show‘s Jon Stewart.
A Colbert Christmas takes direct aim at the holiday and what it has become over the past five decades or so. It panders to commercialism while at the same time demanding that the “Christ” be put back into Christmas. There’s also sexual innuendo galore, a stoned fourth wise man at the manger and a corporate angel agent doing what other corporate agents do best – put people on hold.
As any fan of The Colbert Show would expect, A Colbert Christmas is at its wittiest when it’s navigating the timely with hypocrisy and scathing directness. It’s constantly poking fun at itself, yet at the same time, the special is very sure of itself and where it stands next to other holiday shows.
It is fun to see Colbert out from behind the desk, as here he has the chance to sing and dance while making a fool out of himself for our enjoyment. Time will tell if A Colbert Christmas can truly hold up as a holiday classic belonging alongside Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree, Herbie’s dentist chair and the endless midnight reruns of Old Man Potter cussing out George Bailey. My guess is a little might be lost as some of today’s big-name musicians have their stars fade a little, however there’s enough play with the TV special format that A Colbert Christmas remains timeless, ensuring that there’s some modern spins amongst the old classics.
A Colbert Christmas DVD Review
Like the main program, the special features on A Colbert Christmas maintain the yuletide cheer and play off many of our modern traditions. It’s got your video yule log fire, but with a Colbert twist: random books being tossed into the blaze. For those who missed out on the cheap chocolate advent calendar, there’s a 25-day video advent filled with Christmas bits and bites from Colbert. Colbert puts on his cowboy best and performs the deleted song “Cold, Cold Christmas.” Finally, there’s three alternate endings, each of which reeks as strictly DVD bonus material. The show itself is presented in a full screen format with English stereo audio.
