CHRISTMAS IN TOOBWORLD - DAY TWO

SANTA CLAUS - THE DARK SIDE

For the main Toobworld, as well as for most of the alternate dimensions (and for the Trueniverse as well), Santa Claus is an eternal spirit, the same man who has always held the position.

But in several TV dimensions, Santa Claus is a job title that must be filled every so often by a new candidate as the old one either retires or dies. (Much like the situation in those Tim Allen movies.)

This was established in a TV movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, "Call Me Claus".

But it looks as though it may also be the case for the Santa Claus of the evil mirror universe made famous in the 'Star Trek' franchise.

Not that Santa ever met Spock or Whorf... that would be jumping the shark to be sure! But we know there are doppelgangers of the Greek gods living in that evil mirror dimension, thanks to 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys', and they were never mentioned in the episode "Mirror, Mirror" of 'Star Trek'. So why not assume that Santa Claus has a counterpart over there as well.

I'm not saying that Santa would also be evil over there. It's true that powerful figures of myth are transformed over there - Ares is the God of Love, for instance, in the evil mirror dimension. But I think Santa Claus is too powerful a figure for good to be corrupted by his surroundings, no matter how pervasive that evil atmosphere may be.

And I think the portrayal of Santa that best suits this dark dimension would be that by Art Carney in three different TV productions:

"The Twilight Zone" .... Henry Corwin (1 episode, 1960)
- The Night of the Meek (1960) TV Episode .... Henry Corwin
Art Carney (Santa Claus/Cosmo the Wizard, King of Evil)
. . . Great Santa Claus Switch, The (1970) (TV)
Art Carney (Santa Claus)
. . . Night They Saved Christmas, The (1984) (TV)
[thanks to the IMDb.com]

In 'The Twilight Zone' episode, he is seen as a down-on-his-luck bum being recruited for the job magically. It wasn't an easy transition, as Corwin was brought in for questioning and accused of stealing by his former employer.

Like most Christmas stories, it all worked out by the end of the episode. Henry Corwin was not just assuming the role of old St. Nick, he became the new Santa. And even though Art Carney passed away several years ago, I think he would still be alive as Henry Corwin, aka Santa Claus.

The Muppets have doppelgangers in that dimension as well. Yes, there would be evil Muppets and Lothar would be one of those. He was seen in a Christmas special called "The Great Sanat Switch" in which it was revealed that Santa Claus had an evil twin brother who became the King of Evil. (I think it's safe to assume that his name was originally Cosmo Corwin.)

And then there's that last TV movie in which an evil conglomerate tried to drill for oil at the North Pole.

All three featured situations in which Santa was assailed by the evil that men (and Muppets) do, but he was able to conquer each time, thanks to that inexhaustible Christmas spirit.

And not even the Evil Mirror Universe can stop that!

BCnU!
Tele-Toby

Frackles:
We're happy little Christmas elves.
We never are forlorn.
We fill up all of Cosmo's shelves
With the money Christmas morn.

"The Great Santa Claus Switch"