THAT'S LIFE: 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (TV)
Summary
A musical situation comedy detailing a relationship between two people from beginning to end.
It's the holiday season, and Robert and Gloria are busy dealing with the usual problems that come with it, starting with the process of shopping for gifts ("You Meet the Nicest People"). While trying to get a gift for Gloria, Robert encounters a smarmy store clerk named Bernard Breedlove, who attempts to sell Robert a series of outlandish novelty items. Robert finds one that interests him and has Breedlove gift-wrap it, but when he gauges Gloria's reaction to it she deems it silly. Breedlove becomes irritable when Robert tries to return it; Breedlove notes his great distaste for the holiday season ("Christmas, Bah Humbug").
Robert stresses over the many people he and Gloria have to buy gifts for and seems dismayed over how materialistic he feels Christmas has become. Various service people in Robert and Gloria's life (milkman, hairdresser, etc.) all-but demand a Christmas tip by caroling ("The Spirit of Giving"), seemingly proving Robert's point. The garbage man appears to offer a genuine sentiment of good cheer, but quickly dispels Robert and Gloria of that notion. Later, Robert gets drunk at his office Christmas party and invites the secretaries to join in ("Once a Year Day"). One of the secretaries, Susan, tries to cheer Robert up about the holidays ("I Like People"), while also refusing the advances of her drunken male co-workers ("Heaven Doesn't Protect the Working Girl").
The next morning, Robert is hung over and Gloria informs him of his raucous drunken antics from the previous night. His neighbor Freddy arrives, commenting that he too went overboard at his Christmas party. He shares some of his impressions and stories with Robert ("As Time Goes By"). That night, Robert and Gloria go shopping for Christmas trees and find Breedlove there. He was fired from the department store and now sells Christmas trees. He and Robert soon get into an argument and he repeats his dislike of Christmas. However, Robert and Gloria manage to change his mind by inviting him over to their house for Christmas dinner. The episode ends as Robert admits that he's beginning to get into the Christmas spirit just as it starts snowing. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: December 17, 1968 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:48276
- GENRE: Comedy; Musical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Musical
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1968-1969
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Marvin Marx … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer
- Stan Harris … Producer, Director
- Lee Miller … Associate Producer
- Rod Parker … Writer
- Bob Ellison … Writer
- Walter Marks … Music by
- Elliot Lawrence … Conductor
- Tony Mordente … Choreographer
- Robert Morse … Cast, Robert Dickson
- E. J. Peaker … Cast, Gloria Quigley
- Paul Lynde … Cast, Bernard Breedlove
- Guy Marks … Cast, Freddy
- Liza Minnelli … Cast, Susan
- Jackie Vernon … Cast, Garbage Man