Posted on: Monday, December 19, 2005
Season's meaning gets TV-movie treatment
By Paul Farhi
Washington Post
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From left, Judd Nelson, Nick Turturro, Eddie McClintock, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Katey Sagal and Tom Arnold are featured in "Three Wise Guys," one of several made-for-TV Christmas movies.
USA photo
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It's the most wonderful time of the year for holiday-themed, made-for-TV movies. Does any holiday besides Christmas inspire holiday-themed, made-for-TV movies? Not Labor Day. Not the Fourth of July. Not even close.
This year, 10 original Christmas-themed TV movies will air on various networks in a nearly monthlong made-for marathon. The festivities kicked off with "Silver Bells" (CBS) on Nov. 27 and will end on Christmas Day with "Finding John Christmas" (also CBS). Technically, "Finding John Christmas" isn't a new TV movie (it first aired in 2003), but it stars Valerie Bertinelli. Bertinelli is the Cal Ripken of made-for-TV movies. She has been starring in made-fors of all kinds almost annually since 1979.
You probably won't get to see all these holiday gems. So herewith we present a Guide to Made-for-TV Christmas Movies, 2005 edition:
What They're About. It doesn't matter whether they're romantic comedies ("Recipe for a Perfect Christmas," Lifetime), plain old comedies ("Three Wise Guys," USA Network) or weepy melodramas ("The Christmas Blessing," Sunday night, on CBS), all made-for-TV Christmas movies are about one thing: The True Meaning of Christmas (TMOC). Problem is, there's no consensus on what the TMOC is. It varies. In "Three Wise Guys," the TMOC is about putting aside differences (such as kidnapping, extortion and the threat of murder) to celebrate the birth of a baby. In "Silver Bells," it's about putting aside differences and learning to love again. In "Chasing Christmas" (ABC Family Channel), it's about learning to enjoy Christmas. In "The Christmas Blessing," it's about donating your liver.
What They're NOT About. Strangely enough, made-for-TV movies about Christmas aren't really about Christmas. Yes, they take place around the holiday. And, yes, they borrow much of the secular commercial imagery of the holiday — shopping, colorful lights, trees, gift-wrapped presents, etc. But there's very little actual Christmas to be found. The movies never get around to talking about religion, spiritual faith or the birth of Jesus — which would seem to be the TMOC.
Who's In Them. OK, so made-for-TV movies aren't the most expensive productions in the TV universe. When it comes to putting the dollars up on the screen, they rank somewhere behind Saturday-morning cartoon series and slightly ahead of infomercials. And when you're watching your budget, you can't afford big-name stars. But you can afford formerly big-name stars, or at least semi-well-known actors. This explains the existence of two TV movies starring Tom Arnold ("Three Wise Guys" and "Chasing Christmas"). It also might explain the casting of Steve Guttenberg as the lead in "Meet the Santas" (Hallmark Channel), the sequel to last year's "Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus." Guttenberg, a star 20 years ago, plays the son of Santa Claus, who becomes Santa Claus.
What They Do. Lead characters in Christmas TV movies tend to have glamorous and/or lucrative jobs. A magazine columnist and a restaurant owner ("Recipe for a Perfect Christmas"). A casino owner ("Three Wise Guys"). A museum curator ("Silver Bells"). A toy designer ("Christmas in Boston"). An advertising executive ("Meet the Santas"). A surgeon ("The Christmas Blessing").
What They'll Say. Count on some character to spout a bah-humbuggish line early on. "Christmas is nothing but high expectations and great disappointment," says the spoiled yuppie daughter in "Recipe for a Perfect Christmas." This inspires a Gentle Rebuke, wherein another character reminds the doubter of the TMOC. "As we all know," says the lovely teacher (Rebecca Gayheart) in "The Christmas Blessing," "holidays are about family and friends."
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