FINAL-1 Fri, Nov 20, 2015 7:52:30 PM 2015 SCHEDULE movies & specials HolidayTV Warner Bros. International Television Warner Lessons learned No one thinks twice about the villain, but that doesn’t mean they don’t play an important part in our favorite holiday stories! From the baddies we love to hate to the jaded grown-ups who find redemption, the villains in our favorite Christmas classics help make TV specials and movies just that — classic. See story page 2 Call To Order Your Christmas Roast! Prime Rib -Tenderloin -Hams -HolidayRoast- CrownRoast of Pork Butcher Boy HAPPYHOLIDAYS! Gift Cards 1077 Osgood Street •North Andover•978-688-1511 Are The Perfect Gift! Checkout our holidayorder guide on our website: www.butcherboymarket.com FINAL-1 Fri, Nov 20, 2015 7:52:33 PM S2 HolidayTV Feature: Holiday Villains Good to be bad Even villains contribute to the Christmas spirit By Shona Dustan TV Media ove, generosity, compassion, kindness — IDAY TV• Tuesday, November 24, 2015 24, November TV• Tuesday, IDAY warm and fuzzy feelings are a fundamental element of the Christmas season, but there HOL L are a surprising number of baddies associated with this happiest time of year, especially when it comes to Christmas movies and TV specials. In fact, no Christmas special is complete without a mean spirited, life-ruining bad guy. The disparity between these characters and the spirit of the season is actually essential to a good Christmas tale, and the classics we look forward to each year wouldn’t be classics without them. While The Eagle-Tribune • Eagle-Tribune The there are exceptions, the majority of these Christ- mas villains fall into one of two general categories: the irredeemably bad that we can’t help but hate and the jaded grown-up who inds redemption. First up are the baddies we love to hate. These are the characters who never learn, who end up much as they begin: bad eggs. My personal favorite example of this is the devious duo from “Home Alone” (1990), the Wet Bandits. We irst meet criminals Harry (Joe Pesci, “Casi- no,” 1995) and Marv (Daniel Stern, “Manhattan”) in the entryway of the McCallister home as they case Century Fox Copyright by Twentieth the joint. Throughout the ilm they not only rob multiple houses on Christmas Eve — leaving drains clogged and water running, hence their moniker Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are the Wet Bandits in “Home Alone” — they develop a vendetta against 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin, “My Girl,” 1991) and proceed to stalk him with malicious intent. While (“Grand Hotel,” 1932), Potter is a rich and power- Potter’s cruelty, though, is essential to the devel- their antics provide physical comedy that would ful miser with a heart of coal whose life mission opment of George’s character. The ilm would not make the Three Stooges proud, their depravity seems to be eliminating the Bailey Bros. Building be as revered as it is today without Potter’s badness, knows no bounds. and Loan, an establishment George Bailey (Jimmy as his dark character serves to make George’s heart What their villainy accomplishes for the viewer Stewart, “Rear Window,” 1954) has sacriiced much of gold shine ever brighter. Even now, almost 70 is invaluable. We know that Kevin is a lippy little to keep afloat. years after the ilm’s release, audiences clap and guy right off the bat, which is amusing, but not Early in the ilm we see the extent of his nasti- cheer when the town rallies to help George, the quite enough to endear him permanently to the ness when he keeps money misplaced by George’s underdog, beat this rich monster. It’s a reminder viewer. It’s not until he’s pitted against these two uncle. It’s a blatant attempt to bankrupt the to all that the good in this world — speciically the bumbling brutes that we really ind ourselves on Building and Loan, and even when George begs for Christmas tenets of peace, love and generosity — his side — their onslaught forces Kevin to reflect Potter’s help, the old man does nothing but rub the can overcome the bad. upon the family he was so eager to lose, and to real- failure in George’s face. A small loan would keep As for the “jaded grown-ups” category of Christ- ize he’s been taking them for granted. A Christmas George’s business afloat, but Potter refuses, say- mas villains — well, there are so many ilms with miracle, courtesy of two despicable guys. ing instead, “You’re worth more dead than alive!” characters that fall into this group, it’s hard to Another example of this kind of Christmas vil- It’s this cold-hearted phrase that leads George to choose just a few. The Grinch himself and Ebenezer lain (and arguably the most iconic) is Mr. Potter the brink of suicide, and only his guardian angel Scrooge both qualify; both of them start out crotch- from “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946). Played to nasty — and a glimpse of what a world without George ety and mean, but redeem themselves in the end perfection by screen legend Lionel Barrymore would look like — can coax him off that ledge. because the love and kindness of others touches FINAL-1 Fri, Nov 20, 2015 7:52:35 PM S3 HolidayTV Feature: Holiday Villains • Eagle-Tribune The their hearts. However, I think the best example for this category is “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947). Most of the grown-up characters we meet are hard- headed and in need of a major dose of the Christ- mas spirit, but the real antagonist in this classic HOL ilm is society as a whole. Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn, “Foreign Corre- 2015 24, November TV • Tuesday, IDAY spondent,” 1940), who claims to be the real Santa Claus, encounters disbelievers everywhere he turns, but by the end of the ilm, by virtue of his un- flappable optimism, generosity and good cheer, he has changed the minds, hearts and lives of almost everyone he’s met (the exception being psycholo- gist Granville Sawyer, who tries to have Kringle committed and totally its into our irst villain category). The action culminates with a courtroom scene. Santa Claus is literally on trial, and as jaded adults take the stand one by one, Kringle wins them over with his imperturbable character. The joy of seeing these world-weary men and women light up with Christmas spirit is marvelous, and it’s this magical feeling that has kept audiences coming back to the classic for decades. A much newer take on this villain type is seen in “Elf” (2003), a ilm that is carving itself a place in the realm of holiday classics. Buddy (Will Ferrell, “Zoolander,” 2001), a human who’s been living as an elf his whole life, departs the North Pole for New York City to ind his biological father. He encoun- ters many jaded people along the way, and buoys each one up with his innocence and exuberance. Copyright by New Line Cinema It’s his cranky and discontented real dad, Walter James Caan in “Elf” (James Caan, “The Godfather,” 1972), who Buddy must win over, and the ilm’s ending does not dis- appoint. Not only does Walter quit his job in order on 34th Street.” The Christmas season is chock full of movies to focus on his family, the residents of New York Using the disillusionment of age and experience and TV specials that will warm the cockles of your gather to use the collective power of their belief in to underline the magic and beauty of believing in heart. When you snuggle up to your loved ones, hot Santa to help power the jolly man’s broken-down things that may not seem practical, the baddies chocolate in hand, to enjoy these timeless classics, sleigh. It’s largely this hilarious and heartwarming in these ilms do not remain bad — they redeem take a moment and think of the villains — there moment that marks the ilm for greatness along- themselves and go on to spread Christmas cheer of would be no Christmas classics without them. side the likes of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle their own. November 27 -December 23 ALL Leotards & 15% Off Footwear One stop holiday shopping for all your dance, skate, gym &cheer needs! 5Kelly Road •Salem, NH 603.894.4557 •www.toetapntights.com Excludes clearance items, previous purchases, and Dream Duffel items. OPEN: Mon.-Fri. 10-6 •Thurs. 10-7; Sat. 10-5 FINAL-1 Fri, Nov 20, 2015 7:52:41 PM S4 HolidayTV Favorite Christmas Episodes Our favorite Christmas episodes by Cassie Dresch Christmas is a time for family, and don’t get me wrong, family is fantastic. Sometimes, though, you need a break from all the action (read: drama), and what better way to do that than turn on the tube and binge watch some of the best holiday episodes TV has to offer. This list should help get you started. companion or even a new Doctor. I Love Lucy — “I Love Lucy Christmas Special” IDAY TV• Tuesday, November 24, 2015 24, November TV• Tuesday, IDAY Call the Midwife Originally aired: Dec. 24, — 2014 Holiday Special HOL 1956 Originally aired: Dec. 25, 2014 CBS has been spoiling us of late, re-airing this Christmas As with many BBC imports, this series features a classic (in full color!) — and with good reason. With Lucy yearly Christmas special, and the 2014 episode proves (Lucille Ball), Ricky (Desi Ar- naz), Ethel (Vivian Vance) and to be an important part of the show’s overall story.