Dear Pennies & Pens,
One of my favorite Christmas t.v. episodes is from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air titled “Will’s Christmas Show” from season 2; episode 13. I love this episode because it’s about how everything can go wrong when a family gets together for Christmas. I can relate to this because my family has had our share of Christmas debacles. Basically, we all fantasize that it will be the perfect Christmas, but the truth is something or everything always goes wrong! LOL!
In this episode, Vivian’s three very different sisters and their families come together at a ski resort. Vivian’s oldest sister: Vy, who is known to be uptight comes and spends most of the vacation going on and on about her new man and the positive perspective he offers. This baffles the family because Vy’s perspective tends to be on the pessimistic side. Throughout the trip, she continues to talk about how her new love gives her a new unique perspective.
Also during this episode, the youngest sister, Janice wonders if she is pregnant and tells her sisters. Vivian’s eldest daughter, Hillary tells her to take a pregnancy test which suddenly silences all the women to which Hillary responds “Oh, grow up!” It was absolutely hysterical!
The last and final funny scene is when the family’s cabin is robbed by a very unassuming man. The assailant ties all the kids up while he clears out the cabin. When their parents return, they find the kids still tied up and arguing with each other. It is then that the family realizes that the vacation has basically been a disaster. However everyone is still thankful for the time they got to spend together. And there’s the lesson of this episode: regardless of what goes wrong, quality time with the family is a must during the holidays.
Another one of my favorite Christmas TV episodes comes from Martin. I love this episode because like The Fresh Prince of Bel Air it shows how Christmas plans can go so wrong. In this episode, Gina and Martin decide to take the bus to visit family. They get stuck at the bus station and experience dilemma after dilemma such as Gina not having any change to get hot chocolate. So, Martin asks the clerk for change and he told him to read the sign, which read “No change after midnight.”
Politely, Martin asks again and the clerk still refuses while flipping a coin in front of him. Then, Gina asks very nicely and the clerk continues to be rude and says, “I said, I don’t have any change, now get out of here.” Gina nicely asks him again and he repeats the previous statement while making gestures as if she was intellectually challenged and did not understand. Gina, then pulls his tie through the window and says “You better give me some change!” while banging his face against the window which btw causes the man’s nose to bleed.
Another hilarious part is when Ms. Geri begs Martin for his sandwich and says “New Jack, please, I’m a old woman, but if you don’t give me some of that sandwich, I’m going to bust your head with these bag of nickels!” Gina encourages Martin to give her the sandwich, which he initially is reluctant to do. But finally, Gina convinces him and he politely says “Merry Christmas” as he gives the sandwich.
Ms. Geri smells the sandwich and says “Tuna, I don’t eat no damn tuna” and threw it on the floor and stepped on it and abruptly walked away. I am literally laughing out loud just thinking of this scene. It is so classic! Imagine doing something nice for someone and they throw it in your face. Not everyone is nice during the holidays but they sure are funny. Gotta love special guests like Ms. Geri! She was only a minor character but oh so memorable.
Overall, this episode reminds me of how the simple planning of Christmas events go so wrong. But also, when you end up in an emergency situation in a bus station, you appreciate the small things in life.
My next favorite Christmas TV episode comes from Saved by the Bell. I have to say that I stumbled upon this episode! Honestly, I couldn’t believe this show did not come to my mind, especially since I loved it as a kid! Saved by the Bell was one of my favorite shows because it had so much flavor, diversity, cute guys, featured unique personalities not to mention it was hilarious!
This is a two part episode that featured Kelly, Slater, Jesse and Lisa working at the mall during the holiday season. While Zack and Screech were at the mall, Screech being Screech spills liquid over his pants. Zack and Screech go to the bathroom, and they meet a kind man who gives them advice. While Screech is using the blow dryer to dry his pants, Zack notices the man shaving and they discover that he is homeless.
Zack and Screech feel bad for him, sneak him money which he finds after they leave. One of the reasons why I love the holiday season is that people tend to be kinder and more giving. Honestly, why can’t people be like this all year round?!
Throughout the episode, the teens continue to see the homeless man at the mall. Also earlier in the episode, Zack greets another teenage girl working in the same store where Kelly works. Zack and the young lady hit it off and have lunch together. While at lunch, the teen eats very quickly (as if she had not eaten in awhile), Zack offers her his food, which she eats. Awhile later at the mall, the homeless man faints and is admitted in the hospital. When Zack, Screech, and Slater visit him at the hospital, they find the teenage girl who is the daughter of the homeless man.
This reminds me to always be grateful for whatever you have, because it could always be worse! Always count your blessings! It also teaches the lesson that you never know what someone else is going through so always be kind and humble to whoever you meet. Smiling or saying something nice to someone could brighten their whole day. #foodforthought #benice
By now, you can probably tell that my family was a TV family. We loved getting together to watch wholesome, family oriented TV shows. They seriously don’t make em like this anymore! So for my last and final favorite Christmas TV episode, I’d like to talk about an episode of Full House.
Full House aired during T.G.I.F (Thanks Goodness, It’s Friday!). Full House was corny but funny! During this Christmas episode, the Tanners are scheduled to fly to Lake Tahoe for Christmas. However, the plane has to make an emergency landing and so the Tanners are stranded for Christmas. At this time in the show, Danny liked Rebecca and would come on to her, but she never noticed!
Also during this episode, the middle sister – Stephanie was upset about Santa and not spending Christmas as she imagined. To cheer her up, Joey comes out in disguise as Santa, but surprisingly, Michelle says “Joey” and Stephanie pulls his beard to prove he is Santa Claus, but then realizes it really is Joey! It was truly a hysterical moment!
Towards the end of the show, Danny encourages everyone to make the best out of what they have, as he stated, “We can give these kids the best darn Christmas they ever had!” I love how they decorated the tree!
As a grown woman, this makes me think: “Always be thankful for you have. Whatever you have, make the best of it and make it beautiful!” I love all these episodes because they all depict how Christmas plans can go so wrong but once you change your attitude and realize that all that matters is being alive and being able to spend time with your loved ones! Know your blessings and what they come from! Merry Christmas to All!
And there it is. de la Pen…All Pen Everything. With us, keeping it real never goes wrong.
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