Everything Wrong With "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town"

[@WickedFireBird69]

Fun fact: my wife lost her hearing a few years ago and we watched this movie with subtitles...when SD said the line, "he's getting ready with his reindeer and his sleigh" but the subtitles read as "cause he's getting ripped with his randoms and his slave" No joke! Merry Christmas everyone!

[@kallen868]

@ SeanH... watched the original Waltons Homecoming. The young Elizabeth says " She called us piss-ants!" The title read..."She called us pissheads!" 😆😅😬

[@karenhall4645]

I watched the Alistair Sim version of a Christmas Carol - there's a character named Mr. Jorkin - the subtitles call him Mr. Joking.

[@Highimdadtwo]

The North Swole

[@mnfrench7603]

We bought our first TV with captions, something about “helps teach reading”. That was 1995, every TV since has caption on it. I rely on it SO much that I’m not a fan of going to the movies.

[@Kishimyu]

I loved this movie. The "One foot ahead of the other" song was my favorite. I still hum it to myself these days when I'm stuck on something and/or lack motivation.

[@TexasTimeLord]

To be fair, penguins don't exist in the Northern Hemisphere so Kris's reaction to finding one is understandable

[@beybladerkid5489]

but also how does he know what a penguin is.

[@madisyn4790]

@@beybladerkid5489 he might have been taught about animals just like he was taught how to do math or make toys. I don’t live in a place where there are elephants but I’m still aware that elephants exist.

[@LaikaLycanthrope]

Fun Fact: The Great Auk was the original "penguin" ie, the first bird to carry that name. It was transferred to the southern bird after the northern species was toast.

[@audiotyresup]

@@beybladerkid5489 same way the guy at the opening knows the letters before opening them and knows everything about Santa, omniscience. Which is also how Santa knows everything everyone else does.

[@ChristophBrinkmann]

But learning ho ho ho from seals is legit, apparently. K

[@thomasderosso5625]

I liked this one as a little kid, but it left me wondering how Kris turned from a well-meaning home invader into the Rudolph-traumatizing douchebag from the other film.

[@maxweltersworld2270]

Maybe this is a case of yuletide multiverse.

[@sarahsims6164]

@@maxweltersworld2270 makes sense.

[@jenneacubero1036]

@Zelos Wilder Same goes with Jessica when you think about it...At least in "Year Without A Santa", Santa had the excuse of feeling burnt out and dejected by the world.

[@RisaNoelRomano]

Right?! THANK you!

[@worldssmallestdestron7819]

yeah. how did THAT happen?

[@nimzi4479]

of course the penguin helps Kris Kringle. It's a Hufflepuff.

[@loztpm]

A Hufflepuffin if you will

[@princesspixel3151]

He’s also got the scarf to prove it too!

[@Velg]

I shit you not, this whole time I thought that song was literally about teaching the warlock how to literally walk cuz I thought he would use his magic to get around and never walked

[@srgamingytp]

same bro

[@IcyAngels452]

wait it's not literal

[@davidpuckett603]

I mean it could work that way

[@The00Lisa00]

🤦

[@librarianseth5572]

Hey, if you're a magician, you shouldn't have to do physical labor unless you absolutely have to

[@damyenhockman5440]

"What a splendid accident" is how my parents describe me.

[@marquis911]

I laughed out loud at that sudden sin dump at the end. Unwarranted, but hilarious.

[@MaxBunny7902]

@@cyberwiccan Suddenly I just thought about how much funnier it would've been if this video called it the "TV Coal Counter."

[@misspinkpunkykat]

I was always told that the better not cry thing was about crying because you don't get your way. It didn't count if you cried because you were sad or hurt.

[@raydunakin]

I kept waiting for the Burgermeister to say, "I want moose and squirrel!"

[@keeldugaming5016]

Underrated

[@nimzi4479]

Crowley?

[@spooderman6312]

Boris Badenov?

[@LadyLexyStarwatcher]

@@spooderman6312 YESH! I came here to see if any one else realized that was who did the voice. XD

[@MrGabeanator]

lol

[@thomasobrien1841]

I think were forgetting the most important sin here: how did the doctor tell that meisterburger broke a bone from a thermometer?

[@worldssmallestdestron7819]

it was covered with the 100 or so sins at the end

[@thomasobrien1841]

@@worldssmallestdestron7819 they never mentioned that

[@worldssmallestdestron7819]

@@thomasobrien1841 it's my personal head canon anyway

[@darthcarnage12]

That, “Hello there!” - “General Kenobi,” is my favourite audio outtake in a long time.

[@JCBro-yg8vd]

So, is "The Year Without A Santa Claus" next to get sinned?

[@davidpuckett603]

I hope!

[@johnharris6655]

Only that hideous live version from a few years ago.

[@stevenv2190]

@@johnharris6655 no, anything Rankin/Bass made deserves CinemaSinnings.

[@dark_neverland]

Noooo, there is no sin in that one. 😅

[@daxnelson8613]

I actually think they might do the little drummer boy as that is the next well known one

[@milestrombley1466]

Sitting on Santa's lap probably triggered so many parents.

[@mnfrench7603]

Fun fact, those kids born in late August - early September are the result of “too much merry making around Christmas and New Years”

[@kayahigham8568]

Early September baby here. I figured that out and then promptly asked for brain bleach

[@FuzzyStripetail]

The Winter Warlock probably created that otherwise useless door to prevent an avalanche of fake snow from piling up within the confines of that incredibly small distance between the dangerous mountain and the children below awaiting their presents thereby eliminating an added element of difficulty for Kris to traverse said dangerous mountain.

[@catherinegalvin8873]

I thought this for the longest time too

[@Rosewolf29]

That or plot convenience made it for...well, plot convenience.

[@NPC1921]

Watching these sin counters of classic specials from years ago made me realize just how weird and unintentionally twisted they were

[@WakenerOne]

6:20: Since penguins are native to the southern polar regions, asking what one is doing so far from Antarctica is a legit question. *GNID!*

[@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115]

"...lyrics that didn't age well." 🤣😂 I say the same thing whenever I watch this TV special. 📺🎅🏼🤶🏼🦌🧸

[@LextheRobot]

They explain why he was surprised at the penguin, since it's on the opposite end of the planet from where one would expect it. The big sin in this show that I was hoping you'd address is how Kris chooses to marry Jessica on Christmas Eve... Then later chooses that same night as the once-per-year toy delivery date. "Sorry honey, I only work one night a year and it's an all-nighter, so I've selected our *wedding anniversary* to leave you sitting home alone the entire night." Smooth move.

[@nathant1428]

Decorating the Christmas tree whilst watching this has been a Christmas tradition for my family since I was a kid, even though I’m English and no-one else here seems to have heard of it! I think it was on the bbc once when I was young, we had recorded it on vhs and would watch it every year, we managed to find it on dvd a couple of years back too! Still love it now!

[@80MWH]

10:51 This must be a trademark of Rankin-Bass, to have a musical number that wastes time and goes nowhere. Like. “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” Mrs Claus sings for 2 minutes how she could dress up as Santa and do the deliveries…and at the end, she decides to not go through with it!

[@slkshewolf]

Life and Adventures of Santa Claus is a beautiful stop-motion movie with Pagan origins of Santa Claus...so that's where he gets the Mantle of Immortality.

[@kylespencer7756]

there is nothing wrong with Santa Clause Is Coming To Town you heathens

[@kingmagnus4009]

Thank you

[@doru3428]

"you heathens" lmao

[@rosykindbunny1313]

Except for maybe A Kiss A Toy. That concept was very disturbing.

[@KougajiCalling]

Cute... But no, it's creepy af.

[@Nebulasecura]

This special was criminally underrated

[@natebetts9426]

In Canada, we address letters to Santa with: Santa Claus C/O The North Pole H0H 0H0

[@CrazyGamerDragon64]

13:23 made my day "Well, hello there." "General Kenobi!"

[@MeMeYT]

Mine, too! It was so perfect! 😂😂😂

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

This is my favorite of the Rankin-Bass specials. Especially the Winter Warlock's song.

[@rosykindbunny1313]

My World Is Beginning Today is my favorite Christmas song.

[@mashy712]

@6:18 That shouldn’t be a sin. Penguins are from the south pole. Seals are north. It’s why Santa asked that question.

[@karenhall4645]

Yes, the Rankin Bass specials are full of a number of little quirks we notice as adults, but I still find them entertaining enough to watch every Christmas. But the thing I have asked since I was a kid. Now that the reindeer can fly the Kringles can fly out of prison. But HOW did they get out of their cells. Remember, the magic feed corn can't dissolve prison walls.

[@TinyToadSage]

Santa claus is coming to town is still the creepiest song to exist. Seriously, WHO THE HELL thought "he sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake". How did that not scare me as a kid?? And why do parents encourage that????

[@tskmaster3837]

The Paul Frees force is strong in this one, it sounds like every other character is just itching to become Boris Badenov.

[@richardranke3158]

The Burgomiester seemed like a cross between Boris Badenov and Ludwig Von Drake...probably Frees' most famous characters.

[@Nick-ty9us]

@@richardranke3158 He even goes into a bit of the Professor von drake voice when he says I used to be able to do all sorts of tricks

[@TickedOffPriest]

We never learned how Kris was able to emulate the magic snowball.

[@brookerickettson4950]

I’m sure the internet could tell how Chris handles the warlocks magic balls. S.NS.

[@baileeharding8886]

I was hoping you would say something about the if you sit on my lap today thing. My roommate, her boyfriend, my ex-boyfriend (My ex and I were still friends), and I were decorating our door for a contest in our hall. The boys were helping because my roommate is short and I had just gotten out of the hospital and the doctors said I shouldn't do too much, and We had this playing on the TV. when "if you sit on my lap today" started to play we all exchanged a look that said, "this wasn't creepy when we were little but now...mmm I don't know".

[@jeremybrummel3254]

Well, yeah, giving 1,000,000 kids a toy once a year is more feasible than giving 1,000,000 kids a toy once a month, much less once a week, for example.

[@kyllepoiencot4361]

3:03 You do realize that Santa has GERMAN background, right? Santa comes from German, Dutch, and English backgrounds so it's not like it's off the chart. Plus Germany is known for toymakers and the like. It's not that they made a German villain because WW2; this is obviously set in the 1800s, not 1930s or 40s!

[@dariuszenthoefer3758]

He lives in the north pole, of course a penguin would be weird to him

[@richardranke3158]

That's what I thought:How did a South Pole Penguin end up close to the North Pole?

[@Igorcastrochucre]

For every Rankin Bass christmas special that became a classic, there are 5 that are just sort of there. I think that's the ratio.

[@azazelmakara3716]

Has 'The Year Without Santa Claus' been done already? It's my favourite Christmas movie/Christmas TV special. Mainly just for the Miser Brothers and their songs.

[@rosykindbunny1313]

Miser Brothers supremacy

[@peepaw_of_9]

Year without a Santa Claus is and has always has been my favorite Rankin/Bass special.

[@SgtScorpious]

Yay more rankin bass sins

[@Sunprism]

4. Australian Bass 3. Largemouth Bass 2. Striped Bass 1. Japanese Sea Bass

[@MinaWalker]

3:22 YES Also, IF YOU S*** ON MY LAP TODAY 😅

[@BQuanchi]

"How is Kris running UP a tree?" Umm... ever heard of Chakra Control???

[@BTScriviner]

Obviously Kris invented parkour.

[@jeffwerth2707]

The real reason Ralphie wanted a starter gun for Christmas...soon he'd learn how to hunt for flying venison to feed the family

[@eclipsehorse8693]

yea, cause Ralphie scoffed at red cabbage, and you know what happened to the Christmas turkey because of the Bumpus's 785 smelly hound dog :)

[@awall1831]

The fact that I watched this as a child was buried in a extremely deep part of my subconscious.

[@abcde_fz]

11:28 Rudolph is another story. And another Rankin & Bass stop-action Christmas film. Squeezing in the "Rudolph Reference" is known as a "plug". That's another Sin for you, Buddy!!! :-) :-)

[@sasamichan]

So what's your score for the life and times of santa claus? and which story is right? that is a legit question. What IS a Penguin doing there? Penguins are ONLY found in the Sothern Hemisphere. where as seals depending on there species are found lots of places.

[@blueeyedscorpio7]

Hahahha that last part!!! You're hilarious!

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

Your question about why anyone would leave a child to Master Meisterburger reminds me of the CinemaSins Harry Potter recurring question "Why did Dumbledore/McGonagall/Hagrid/etc think it was okay to leave Harry with the Dursleys?"

[@Lans32485]

At least Dumbledore had a magic bs reason (Lily's protection apparently needed the presence of a blood relative, Petunia, to keep charged). What's Mama Claus' excuse?

[@BoldActionSkitty]

I was lowkey expecting Guard: "Sir? You're breaking your own law" TVSins: Guard would be excellent at TVSins.

[@SgtSupaman]

7:40 I've actually been waiting for a sin on this moment of this movie ever since I first watched CinemaSins nearly a decade ago. This was anticlimactic...

[@briandonegan8480]

1:30 whether a child is bad or good is the prerequisite for what is received in their stocking, not whether it is filled at all or not.

[@patrickwinecoff91]

8:31 You guys wrote “bought” instead of “brought” in the subtitles. I figure this channel is the perfect place for pedantics

[@sgtleppard]

The outtakes at the end, holy shit. The Monty Python one had me crying 🤣

[@RisaNoelRomano]

This video is throwing shade at Winter (Warlock), and I'm not having it!

[@Frolic_Cesar]

"Bragging about being a stalker"

[@erainmartinez8175]

for a henchman, he's not that smart saying a runaway sleigh to back forwards him 3:32

[@neilstone3583]

I have a Santa Claus origin story I am working on. So he is born Nicholas Claus the heir to the Clause family. We learn that the Clause family was blessed with near immortality a few thousand years ago when one rescued a hurt elf and helped him reach his home. As thanks they were given magic however to keep the magic every two thousand years they would have to send the eldest child to the elf land. This child is Nicholas, and after being sent there he alters the deal so that he can stay forever and no other Claus needs to be send to live with them. His magic was basic as most of the family used it simply to gain wealth and help the less fortunate don't get me wrong they aren't greedy it's actually where Nicholas gets it from. The elves teach him many things and he even becomes a delivery person for them running messages back and forth between the villages. That's as far as I've gotten it's still a work in progress

[@tonyf.9806]

I wonder if the villain being German (burgermeister Meisterburger) is because Saint Nikolas, christmas trees (tannenbaum), and Christmas in general, were all created/started in Germany. Didn't learn that bit till much later in life.

[@cordelianelson8209]

Love this movie, I watch it with my sister every year. I'm a man now, Tanta." Never fails to make us laugh. Every year we watch it, it's that line and the "kiss a toy song" and we lose it laughing at how uncomfortable it gets.

[@PD-mi3qj]

"Citation needed". Queue cocoa spraying out my nose

[@ashtonoak4370]

8:50 I actually never seen this. But I think him saying tell the kids "don't cry or pout" he's saying don't cry and pout about the toys being destroyed he will bring more. I think you missed the context and that actually gives context to the song because before this moment I thought it was that black and white dumb. But the story and the quote behind it I understand now.

[@ctsean]

1:03 additional sin - the letter clearly says "Dear Santa, Why do you come down ... chimney"

[@michellecrocker2485]

Kids are not a sin but the know it all attitude of SD is

[@princessarwen9194]

There is nothing wrong with any of the Rankin Bass specials and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise.

[@LtBasil]

Why is Kris confused about the penguin? It's simple. Kris lives near the north pole. Penguins live in the south. They LITERALLY TALK ABOUT THIS is the show.

[@bassett_green]

The penguin is unusual because they only live in the Southern Hemisphere

[@randylucas2458]

"bring out your dead"... classic

[@erainmartinez8175]

that toy magically show up on the stairs at 6:56

[@barbarahala3925]

the song One Foot in front of the other... and that song helps me walk everyday now

[@shirleymaemattthews4862]

Also, Those "elves" look more like Dwarves then actual pointy-eared Elves.

[@beefcupcakes5959]

6:19 Penguins are from the south pole so... yes. Penguins are too far.

[@Krendall2]

5:49 And let's not forget that sin nearly everyone makes when portraying seals: THOSE ARE SEA LIONS! 6:21 Well, seals do live in arctic regions, at least. Penguins live in the antarctic. So, yeah, a penguin appearing on the literal opposite side of the planet would seem more than a little odd. 8:57 Because children crying or pouting, especially in public, is embarrassing to the parents and annoying to others. So, we'll convince the kids that expressing emotions is bad, and that acting how their parents want them to act (that is, just be cute so everyone thinks the parents are flawless) is good. So, basically, it's child manipulation and who gives a shit if they have any mental baggage later in life because of it?

[@erainmartinez8175]

what an interesting villain name 3:02

[@grapeshot]

Santa is just a larger version of the invisible sky wizard.🎅🎅🧙‍♂️🧙‍♂️

[@bgriffininsd]

You need to sin the Christmas classic "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians".

[@raloria9173]

You put Jessica's dialog to Kris as, "You see, the Burgermeister destroyed the ones you BOUGHT." when she clearly says "bRought". A SIN on YOU, sir! :P j/k

[@abcde_fz]

7:11 Actually it wasn't simply the 70's that fucked up kids. Rankin & Bass had a twisted sense of humor. :-)

[@QuantomX64]

Sorry Aaron, it is 100% correct for him to wish the doll to be held by a GIRL.

[@emmajohansson3873]

Long overdue, but I've really started to love this narrator (is it Aaron?). He's funnyI At first it was weird because I was so used to Jeremy (?!), but now I dont mind at all :D keep up the good work, guys!

[@lukeroberson2115]

I BELIEVE this is Chris. The guy Jeremy mentioned in his Muppet's Christmas Carol video.

[@Erika-us2ws]

It’s not Chris. He’s on commercial sins. I think the original commenter was right.

[@cbb3480]

@@Erika-us2ws yeah it’s Aaron

[@kallen868]

Is it true that the first story, movie or version you see that you see tends to be your favorite? This was always the story of Kris Kringle for me. Still a fave.🎅🎄🎉✌

[@Drakin292]

It may make no sense but I swear to whatever deity exists that 'One foot in front of the other' song has haunted my brain for years after seeing this. I have to actively try to NOT remember it or it will be stuck in my head for WEEKS at a stretch.

[@v3dragonfire984]

Same I cant get rid of it ;v;

[@pab1381]

Dude this was my childhood holiday movie. This and the Rudolph one.

[@ravenlorans]

I always had a Crush on Jessica. Yes I know/Knew it was just a doll but it was a Vary Attractive Doll........ Contacts friend that makes silicon dolls in China....... :D

[@v3dragonfire984]

And I had a crush on the warlock. (I'm bi btw)

[@RonKStevens]

First he gets married on Christmas. Then a couple of scenes later, he decides to make one trip delivering presents per year on Christmas. That means, every year on his anniversary he goes out of town. What white is going to put up with that sort of nonsense?

[@zeconman2]

You're going to have to dive deep into the Rankin/Bass archives and watch the 1985 "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" to answer the immortality question posed @ 2:50 . Fair warning to those who are not in the know, this movie is a trip and doesn't follow a single standard Santa storyline most are familiar with, but is however, a fantastic watch. Also highly recommended for a TVSins episode.

[@rpsyco]

Does this mean I have to watch the entirety of the Rankin/Bass Cinematic Universe to understand the entire mythos of Santa Claus?

[@zeconman2]

@@rpsyco Ha, I greatly enjoy the idea of a Rankin / Bass Cinematic Universe! Truthfully though, it couldn't hurt to watch through them all, as it's always a good time around the holidays for some campy movies :) That being said, I do feel like the one about the Leprechauns Christmas Gold might just be an unhelpful tangent.

[@rosykindbunny1313]

@@zeconman2 Yeah... what did that have to do with Christmas again?

[@Rosewolf29]

I guess the subliminal message of leaving your wife on your anniversary to deliver toys to kids you peep on at any given time is a good thing. Guess the writers forgot the point of an anniversary, to BE with the ONE you MARRIED!!! Oh well still j cute movie if you don't think about anything.

[@harrisonczichas3416]

Before I even watch this video, I know that they're going to comment about the "Freaky Stop-motion", but as a child growing up on these, that never crossed my mind. I can understand how it can be uncanny, but it's really not THAT bad. Am I the only one who thinks this?

[@kristenarvoy2776]

But only once a year in the month of December 🎄

[@deshawnedwards6412]

1:42 *This asshole made damn sure he'd have the easiest job thinkable.* I don't know why, bit that lines is funny.

[@Helloworld-ss5uv]

Not gonna lie, when you freeze frame 12:24 that is DOWNRIGHT CREEPY AS HELL!

[@CopShowGuy]

You better watch out. You better watch out!

[@tgguitarguy]

Really??? No sin off for Put One Foot in Front of the Other??? That scene is perfect! If Jeremy were still doing this I'm sure he'd knock one or two off.

[@DeborahHMarks]

The "A kiss a toy is the price you'll pay" song made me have the exact reaction, verbatim.

[@fannydawn2848]

I love how you glossed over the fact that the one day a year he chose to work was his Wedding anniversary! I mean that's the ultimate F#ck you to Mrs. Claus lol.

[@Dixie_Lily]

I love the part where he says hes "Exploring the kids chimneys" If you know what I mean.

[@brookerickettson4950]

The psychedelic song I swear was not included in the broadcast of the 80/90s . Time restraints, or DARE campaigns, but I am glad they include in now a days. Most random out of place trip ever included in a child’s program!! It’s fantastic!!

[@yoshig5278]

1:25 Really? I thought he was their (obviously adopted) son.

[@lilyd8908]

I’ve seen this movie multiple times and can safely say I don’t remember that weird ass drug trip sequence one bit, what in the world

[@ZilRockbottom]

Most modern TV airings cut that sequence out for more commercial time. To be fair, it is pretty expendable, given how much it screams 1970s and how it basically qualifies as a Big Lipped Alligator Moment.

[@barryallen9932]

I forgot about it until I saw it in this video, then the memory of trying to blind myself with a crt while that played came flooding back

[@matthewmonsour9802]

Lol! That was good. I totally remember watching this every year and yes this shit got deep in these old stop motion stories. Like the Bumble from Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

[@gabrieljordan8015]

Just wanted to point out that the soldier confiscated an accordion from one of the kids which is technically not a toy - it's a musical instrument that would actually be good for a kids to use and develop some learning skills.

[@TeamOkapiYT]

13:10 Is there a rule where a movie/TV show/special has to be over 100 sins every single time?

[@mountkilimanjaro2982]

What’s next? The Year Without a Santa Claus?

[@adelaidekitchen4358]

You might make him go after it next... Don't threaten him with a good time

[@skybaytr4375]

hopefully! Or the newer version

[@christianparrish6647]

I prefer the miser brothers' Christmas.

[@skybaytr4375]

@@christianparrish6647 me too. Definitely better

[@christianparrish6647]

@@skybaytr4375 it's my childhood.