Writer:  Stephen Godcheaux & Gayle Abrahms
Director: Andy Cadiff

Episode Length: 22:03

Guest Stars:

Rating: n/a

Rating:  TV- 14

First Broadcast: December 17, 1997

Extra Special thanks to Wes for his help with this Review

Storyline #1: How Do You Spell "Oops"?
The Mayor and Mike decide it would be good press to prance out the latest State Spelling Bee Champ.  (Apparently, they've learned their lesson since Meet Tommy Dugan.)  During the press conference, The Mayor rattles off something about Santa not existing.  This obviously shakes little Justin, who still believes in the dear old Kris Kringle.  Mike would like to bring out one of the city's Santa's, but they're on strike and refuse to make an appearance.  The negotiations get heated and a fight spills into the conference room, disillusioning Justin even more.  The Staff regroups and comes up with a new plan:  Have Paul dress up as Santa and stuff him down Justin's chimney.  As usual, things go awry.  Paul gets stuck, Carter hangs from a roof, and Mike is left to explain it all.  Finally, in a last ditch effort to save Santa's good name, The Mayor lets Justin participate in a tree lighting ceremony.  Only the tree gets lighted up by one of The Mayor's errant cigars.  The tree goes up in flames, and Justin gets his Christmas wish, thereby reaffirming his faith in Santa.

Storyline #2:  Death Takes a Holiday
Stacy is given the assignment of organizing an Office Christmas Party.  Only trouble is, she has an aversion to Christmas gatherings because there always seems to be a death at the festivities.  Stacy tries to back out of the job, but Mike won't believe in the dealings of supernatural powers and the party is on.  Everything seems to be going smoothly until Stuart begins choking.  He recovers, but one of the Santas has a heart attack and dies, continuing Stacy's tradition.

Storyline #3: We Three Kings of Chocolate Are
James won't be going home for the holidays this year, so his mom sends him a care package.  Along with a ridiculous sweater, she includes a manger scene where each figure is made of chocolate.  Stuart, who apparently likes chocolate, finds the gift very delicious and begins to eat each of the characters in the menagerie.  James begins to suspect something when his pieces begin to disappear.  But in typical James fashion, he doesn't catch on until late in the game.  At the Christmas party, he substitutes the final piece with a piece of ceramic that Stuart promptly chokes on.

Review: Miracle Near 34th Street

Overall, a festive episode.   I don't know whether or not it's the holiday spirit, but this week's installment seemed unusually filled with some pretty good gags.   I know that it's been the official position of this site that holiday-themed shows can be a bit of a drag, especially on a new series.  However, this episode has made me rescind that opinion.  If they're all like this, bring on the Arbor Day Spectacular!!

Of the 3 tales this week, Stacy's seemed to be the weakest.  In what was reminiscent of a Friends plot from last year, Stacy refuses to participate in an event for fear of a death.  I'm sure part of it was the fact that Stacy is still a new character and we don't have as much invested in her as, say, if Paul were the one afraid of parties. 

Although, that would mean that Paul couldn't dress up as Santa for a second straight year.  Yeah, this year Paul was much more fun as Santa than he was last year.  (And I especially liked him as the Christmas tree.)  But let's not get into repetition this early in the show's run.  A little Paul goes a long way.

Barry Bostwick has been putting in some pretty good work this season and he seems to always get looked over for the flashier members of the cast.  Playing a dimwit Mayor can be tough, but Bostwick has been pulling it off.  This episode is another example of his performances by being a bumbler with a heart of gold.  Playing off kids can do that for you.  Mike shines too, especially in his scene with the striking Santas.   He shows how everything can be politicized and played for laughs, even some Santas.

That brings us to the further adventures of Stuart and James.  Stuart is my favorite character and he doesn't disappoint here, being repulsive yet entertaining at the same time.  James does a variation on his country bumpkin character by getting even with Stuart in the end.  A fine development.  I know it would be a stretch for James to become street-wise all of a sudden.  But it would be nice to see him show a little bit of that sly vindictiveness that he displayed here.

So in the end, we have a wholly satisfying episode that fits the holidays but can be enjoyed year-round.  Keep up the good work.

Rating [5 pt. scale]: 4.5

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