Every movie and many TV series from the Trueniverse (that is, our world, Earth Prime) has a “televersion” in Toobworld (Earth Prime-Time). The same holds true for TV commercials as well. This helps to limit the number of Zonks – discrepancies – which can be caused whenever said movie or TV show is seen or referenced within a TV series.
It’s really not a problem when it comes to movies. They may have their own reality (explored in a series of books by Craig Shaw Gardner, who gave that world the name “the Cineverse” – which I see is now being used by some company), but when seen or mentioned in various TV shows, they are exactly as they exist in the real world; there is no deviation from the true version.
There is one TV dimension where this is not true, however. In Skitlandia, alternative versions can always be found. (My favorite example of this can be found in the ‘Saturday Night Live’ show which was hosted by William Shatner. Speaking of Christmas themes, they presented the original, lost ending to “It’s A Wonderful Life”.)
Last year for the Christmas entry into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, I inducted the aforementioned Frank Capra classic which starred Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, and Henry Travers. This year, I’m going with one of my favorites of the traditional Christmas TV specials, animation division.
From Wikipedia:
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" (also known as "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!") is a 1966 American animated television special, directed and co-produced by Chuck Jones. Based on the 1957 children's book of the same name by Dr. Seuss, the special features the voice of Boris Karloff (also a narrator) as the Grinch. It tells the story of the Grinch, who tries to ruin Christmas for the townsfolk of Whoville below his mountain hideaway.
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas!" was produced by The Cat in the Hat Productions in association with the television and animation divisions of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (the company that Jones was under contract at the time). The special completed production in a year and originally aired in the United States on CBS on Sunday, December 18, 1966. The special is considered a perennial holiday special.
PLOT SPOILERS!!!!!
The Grinch is a surly, antisocial green creature with a heart "two sizes too small" who lives alone in a snowbound cave atop Mt. Crumpit, located above the village of Whoville. He especially hates Christmas and has always been annoyed by the town's Christmas celebrations. One Christmas Eve, he finally decides to stop Christmas Day from coming to Whoville by disguising himself as Santa Claus, his dog Max as a reindeer and, in a reversal of Santa's visit, stealing all presents, decorations, and symbols of Christmas. Once loaded, he plans on dumping the bags of stolen goods. He is noticed by a girl named Cindy Lou Who, but is otherwise undetected.
As the Grinch reaches the icy summit of Mt. Crumpit, ready to dump the bags, he discovers that the citizens of Whoville, despite having no gifts or decorations, have gathered in the middle of town to sing as Christmas Day dawns. Realizing that Christmas means more than just material possessions, the Grinch's heart grows three sizes. He saves the sleigh, returns the presents and the other belongings to the Whos, and joins in the town's Christmas celebration by carving the roast beast, giving Max the first slice.
O’Bservation:
I included the synopsis, even though I can’t believe it could be unknown by this point – at least by those who would be reading the Inner Toob blog. (And thank you for doing so!)
As it would be with movies as seen in the TV Universe, “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” is exactly the same version which we watch in the Real World. Any deviations would be relegated to either Skitlandia or the Tooniverse, depending on their presentation.
The following list of appearances and/or mentions in TV shows which qualify the cartoon’s televersion for inclusion in the TVXOHOF are of the 1966 TV special ONLY. Either the show’s characters are actually watching it, they are discussing the TV cartoon, or they are quoting the song lyrics.
If there is some leeway of doubt as to the reference being of the original Dr. Seuss book, I will defer to the book rather than to the cartoon (which, by the way, was narrated by Crossover Hall of Famer Boris Karloff.) That way, I have a future Christmas induction ceremony.
Any appearances by TV characters dressed as the Grinch are considered references to the book. (Someday I might start inducting books into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame. This would be a good first choice. But today is not that day.]
If the reference is definitely about one of the other versions, you won’t even see it listed here at Inner Toob.
Here then are the reasons why the televersion of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” belongs in the Hall…..
ER
The family is watching this program on television
THAT '70s SHOW
THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER (1998)
The gang is watching it.
“Nothing says Christmas like a big green Grinch ass.”
FRIENDS
THE ONE WITH THE BUTT (1994)
Discussion of the heart-growing scene
Why can't we just have what we have now? Why can't we just talk, and laugh, and make love, without feeling obligated to one another... and up until tonight I thought that's what you wanted too.
CHANDLER:
Well, y'know, part of me wants that, but it's like I'm two guys, y'know? I mean, one guy's going 'Shut up! This is great!' But there's this other guy. Actually it's the same guy that wells up every time that Grinch's heart grows three sizes and breaks that measuring device... And he's saying, y'know, 'This is too hard! Get out! Get out!'
O’Bservation:
I think we all know Chandler is the type of character who would have the cartoon foremost in mind.
SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND
THE RIVER OF STARS (1995)
Mentioned by Lt. Vansen
3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN
Dick, Harry, and Tommy watch it on TV.
♪ fah who fore-aze ♪
♪ Da who dor-aze ♪
♪ Welcome, Christmas ♪
♪ Come this way ♪
Dick:
Oh, come on!
How can they let the
Grinch carve the roast beast
After what he did?
Harry:
I think they feel bad for him
because of his enlarged heart.
Dick:
Totally unrealistic.
SIX FEET UNDER
IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR (2002)
It is mentioned that Julio is watching "The Grinch."
NATURALLY, SADIE
A VERY SADIE CHRISTMAS (2006)
The musical montage featuring Hal is reminiscent of Thurl Ravenscroft's song about the Grinch.
NIP/TUCK
CHAZ DARLING (2007)
"You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch."
THE BIG BANG THEORY
THE MATERNAL CONGRUENCE (2009)
They mention the movie.
Oh, I always tear up when the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes.
Sheldon:
Tears seem appropriate. Enlargement of the heart muscle, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is a serious disease which could lead to congestive heart failure.
Leonard (singing Deck the Halls):
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Penny:
You really didn’t like it, Sheldon?
Sheldon:
No, on the contrary. I found the Grinch to be a relatable, engaging character, and I was really with him right up to the point that he succumbed to social convention and returned the presents and saved Christmas. What a buzz kill that was.
BIG TIME RUSH
BIG TIME CHRISTMAS (2010)
Reginald putting a slice of turkey on Katie's plate resembles the Grinch putting a slice of roast beast on the plate of Cindy Lou Who.
GLEE
A VERY GLEE CHRISTMAS (2010)
Sue dresses up like the Grinch. The students also sing "Welcome Christmas," which comes from this movie.
HIGHER POWER (2011)
Callen tells Sam "You're a mean one, Mr. Hanna."
THE BIG BANG THEORY
THE LAUNCH ACCELERATION (2012)
Leonard sings part of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."
PSYCH: THE MOVIE (TV Movie 2017)
Shawn says, "Gus, don't be the tender sweetness of a seasick crocodile."
F IS FOR FAMILY
THE MAHOGANY FORTRESS (2021)
Frank mistakenly thinks that the Grinch died at the end of this.
Hopefully, there should be at least two more inductions into the Television Crossover Hall of Fame. Hmmmm.... I'm getting on in years, maybe I should set them up in advance.
HoHoHo!
