The Christmas episode opens ominously as Max arrives home with Freeway in the dark -- and in the oft-seen wide shot to rarely driven station wagon! There is clearly something up, but it's not till "Surprise!" that we see it's just a big setup for Max's surprise birthday party. But the tone here is off. Something about the ambiance, the extras at the party ... I can't put my finger on it, but it seems plain off. I didn't buy it. Not sure if it was the direction or what, but I just got a feeling of people saying lines they didn't believe, rather than party-goers who are lifelong friends of Max. The story soon turns away from Max and toward the plot, which is that a singing telegram company is a big front for a pair of jewel thiefs. The Harts are robbed, the singing telegrammers from Max's party are befriended by the Hart's, and the rest of the episode ensues. BLOOPER ALERT --> When J&J come out with the cake and sing happy birthday, they're supposed to replace the third line with "You're one in a million ...," but RJ forgets and starts with the regular "Happy Birthday dear Max," cuts himself off after the first syllable of "happy," and quickly falls into lock step with Stefanie. DOUBLE BLOOPER ALERT --> When RJ messed up, Stefanie glances off set to see if it's a cut, but it isn't, so she gamely continues. AWESOME!!! The most interesting thing about this whole episode are repeat guest offenders all over the place here. Dick O'Neill in his second and last outing as Lt. Warren, John Reilly in a 2nd bad guy role, and the fabulous Joan Shawlee in a tiny role as the wife of one of Max's friend's (also repeat offender, but can't find his name). We also have Billy Barty as the bookie friend. Absolutely could have done without Anita Dangler as Miss Hopkins. Ugh. RJ & Stefanie you know are just livin' it up in their King Kong and Faye Wray costumes, and the sight gag in the climactic scene is a winner. The kicker must have been enormous fun with the Harts in a very seasonal set of costumes.
2 Reviews
Lovely and Super Christmasy
BradyBraveJoel30 November 2021
As much as I appreciate 70's and 80's Christmas episodes, this is one that I play every Christmas Eve - along with an abstract episode of Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew... They don't make them like they used to (remember our Grandparents saying that?)...
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