A Chipmunk Christmas
Most of the specials I'm writing about I'm seeing for the first time, or at least the first time I can remember. A handful I have proper memories of, but only a few do I have fond memories of. This is one of those specials.
I don't know what it was about The Chipmunks that I loved so much as as a kid. Their Saturday morning show, Alvin and the Chipmunks started when I was two years old, and I probably watched it until its demise in 1990. Nickelodeon reran the show as I became a teenager, and it was a daily view for me. It was probably something about cartoon animals singing popular hit songs with high-pitched voices. I can't really explain it otherwise.
Sometimes, I'd go out of my way to make my own Chipmunk records. Switching an LP from 33⅓ RPM to 45 or even 78 RPM gave you an instant Chipmunk sound. It also caused utter panic in your older cousin who was worried you'd ruin her album, turntable, or both with your silly desire to hear David Lee Roth singing in a crazy high voice.
The Chipmunks were also closely tied to Christmas. Their legendary "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" was released in 1958. Most of your parents aren't that old. It seems like we always had a copy of the subsequent album, Christmas with The Chipmunks, around our house, likely driving my mother crazy. Like most small children, my front teeth fell out. My anthem then became "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" as performed by Theodore, the chubby Chipmunk. This was logical, as I was a little fat kid with no front teeth.
Joining the fat one were the annoying one and the smart one: Alvin and Simon[ref]Sounds like Borscht Belt comedy, right?[/ref]. It became clear that Alvin was the leader of this band of three. He was also the most likely to get everyone into trouble, must to the chagrin[ref]It's not a writing experiment until you get to use the word "chagrin."[/ref] of their manager and adoptive father, Dave Seville[ref]Seville was also the stage name taken by musician Ross Bagdasarian on his recording of "Witch Doctor." By doubling the speed, he created a high-pitched chorus. The same year, he used this pitch-fiddling trick to create The Chipmunks and their Christmas song.[/ref].
After the demise of the original Chipmunk's TV show, The Alvin Show and just prior to their return in Alvin and the Chipmunks, a Chuck Jones[ref]Yes, Chuck freaking Jones. While the animation wasn't great, it wasn't terrible either . Many of the backgrounds put other specials to shame, and I entirely credit Jones for this.[/ref] -produced special hit the air in 1981 simply called, as they all seem to be, A Chipmunk Christmas. I can safely say that this was a favorite, and even as a cynical adult, I still love it.
The plot is simple, yet effective: Alvin encounters a sick child named Tommy[ref]Another reason I probably loved this as a kid: The sick kid had my name! Kinda.[/ref] who really wants a Golden Echo harmonica for Christmas. Upon hearing that his family cannot afford it as his medical bills are insane, Alvin selflessly gives away his harmonica, making the kid's Christmas. Oddly, this happens toward the beginning of the special. Usually the jerkwad character doesn't start acting really nice until the end.
I think that's what sets this special apart. Rather than focusing on redemption, it simply puts the main character into a tight spot and he has to get his way out. The kind of story you'd typically tell outside of holiday programming. In this case, Dave books the Chipmunks for a Christmas Eve performance at Carnegie Hall[ref]Seriously. It sells out too. And yet there's no traffic to get there. I adore this fantasy version of Manhattan they live in.[/ref], including a harmonica solo from Alvin. The boys then attempt to raise the money for a new harmonica, as Alvin is convinced he'll get in trouble for giving his away. Everyone watching is yelling "Just tell Dave, you dumb tree rat!" I can forgive this as kids are silly.
Christmas Eve rolls around and all attempts to raise money are thwarted. Alvin takes their collective savings to the store, knowing full well he can't afford a new harmonica. While awaiting his return, Tommy's mom calls Dave to tell him that Tommy is doing amazing and she owed it all to Alvin's gift. It would appear that the cure for all childhood terminal illness is crusty chipmunk saliva.
Meanwhile, Alvin encounters a creepy old lady at the store. Well, we think she's creepy. In television land, she's sweet and matronly, the opposite of how old ladies act in reality. She randomly purchases Alvin a new harmonica in exchange for a song, then disappears into the crowd. We learn later that this is Mrs. Claus, getting a taste of the pleasure of giving her husband gets to experience every year[ref]Can we consider this a feminist piece? Combined with the talking animals who are pop stars, it might be good fodder for the Feminist Science Fiction group I'm in.[/ref].
Alvin is collected by Dave, Simon and Theodore and they take a sleigh ride to Carnegie Hall, which is crazy baffling as it isn't 1842. Alvin does his solo and Dave surprises him by having Tommy backstage. They duet on stage and a merry Christmas was had by all.
Yeah, I still like this one, silly as it is. It disappeared from television some time ago, but there is a DVD floating around. Hopefully, those ugly CGI Chipmunks[ref]CINO: Chipmunks in Name Only.[/ref] don't entirely displace the hand drawn, adorable Chipmunks my sisters and I grew up with.