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Post by NoShear on Dec 23, 2023 17:40:14 GMT
lonesomepolecat's The Ultimate List of Christmas Movies and Christmas Scenes is currently the happening thread but, unless I overlooked, what about the small screen...
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Post by topbilled on Dec 23, 2023 17:44:12 GMT
My favorite TV show episode involving Christmas or the holidays is from Picket Fences.
"Away in a Manger" from season 3, aired on December 16, 1994.
Here's the synopsis:
In this cross-over from an episode on 'The X-Files', the week before Christmas has Sheriff Brock, Kenny, Maxine and other deputies searching a farm when Carter suspects that strange genetic experiments involving cows may be taking place there. When one of the cows gives birth to a human baby, a bizarre complicated court case about alternative surrogate motherhood begins.
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Post by topbilled on Dec 23, 2023 17:48:39 GMT
Here's my review for the Picket Fences episode:
I watched this episode last night on Hulu. It's the one where a cow gives birth to a human baby and I do remember it receiving a lot of press when it first aired in late 1994. I give it a 10/10, and think it's really quite brilliant. The show's creator/writer David E. Kelley was an attorney so he's using these bizarre concepts to explore aspects of the law.
One of the main points about the cow birthing episode is that the fetus cannot be aborted, because Roe v. Wade (recently overturned) addresses a woman's right to abort...and it does not cover cows! So the pro-life minister (Dabbs Greer) feels a victory that human life will be preserved, even though a farmer is using a most unusual fertility process to help women who want children to have children.
Not all the Picket Fences episodes go this far into left (right) field. Many of them are about the relationships of the people in the town of Rome, Wisconsin and how they grapple with changes in society and how that's reflected in the laws and local government.
Part of what I like most about about Picket Fences is that while I think Mr. Kelley's politics are quite liberal, I think he has a rightwing sensibility deep down...and I often wonder if his goal is to validate that, or if he is trying to free himself from those conservative beliefs. Maybe he's just trying to find a middle ground and using these memorable characters and storylines to accomplish it. Each episode gives the intelligent viewer much to consider.
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Post by NoShear on Dec 23, 2023 17:52:19 GMT
Here's my review for the Picket Fences episode:
I watched this episode last night on Hulu. It's the one where a cow gives birth to a human baby and I do remember it receiving a lot of press when it first aired in late 1994. I give it a 10/10, and think it's really quite brilliant. The show's creator/writer David E. Kelley was an attorney so he's using these bizarre concepts to explore aspects of the law.
One of the main points about the cow birthing episode is that the fetus cannot be aborted, because Roe v. Wade (recently overturned) addresses a woman's right to abort...and it does not cover cows! So the pro-life minister (Dabbs Greer) feels a victory that human life will be preserved, even though a farmer is using a most unusual fertility process to help women who want children to have children.
Not all the Picket Fences episodes go this far into left (right) field. Many of them are about the relationships of the people in the town of Rome, Wisconsin and how they grapple with changes in society and how that's reflected in the laws and local government.
Part of what I like most about about Picket Fences is that while I think Mr. Kelley's politics are quite liberal, I think he has a rightwing sensibility deep down...and I often wonder if his goal is to validate that, or if he is trying to free himself from those conservative beliefs. Maybe he's just trying to find a middle ground and using these memorable characters and storylines to accomplish it. Each episode gives the intelligent viewer much to consider. "Sugar and Vice", "Manger things have happened": I'm always a sucker for your Christmas titles, TopBilled!! |
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Post by topbilled on Dec 23, 2023 17:55:12 GMT
Here's my review for the Picket Fences episode:
I watched this episode last night on Hulu. It's the one where a cow gives birth to a human baby and I do remember it receiving a lot of press when it first aired in late 1994. I give it a 10/10, and think it's really quite brilliant. The show's creator/writer David E. Kelley was an attorney so he's using these bizarre concepts to explore aspects of the law.
One of the main points about the cow birthing episode is that the fetus cannot be aborted, because Roe v. Wade (recently overturned) addresses a woman's right to abort...and it does not cover cows! So the pro-life minister (Dabbs Greer) feels a victory that human life will be preserved, even though a farmer is using a most unusual fertility process to help women who want children to have children.
Not all the Picket Fences episodes go this far into left (right) field. Many of them are about the relationships of the people in the town of Rome, Wisconsin and how they grapple with changes in society and how that's reflected in the laws and local government.
Part of what I like most about about Picket Fences is that while I think Mr. Kelley's politics are quite liberal, I think he has a rightwing sensibility deep down...and I often wonder if his goal is to validate that, or if he is trying to free himself from those conservative beliefs. Maybe he's just trying to find a middle ground and using these memorable characters and storylines to accomplish it. Each episode gives the intelligent viewer much to consider. "Sugar and Vice", "Manger things have happened": I'm always a sucker for your Christmas titles, TopBilled!! |
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Post by NoShear on Dec 23, 2023 18:03:25 GMT
Here's my review for the Picket Fences episode:
I watched this episode last night on Hulu. It's the one where a cow gives birth to a human baby and I do remember it receiving a lot of press when it first aired in late 1994. I give it a 10/10, and think it's really quite brilliant. The show's creator/writer David E. Kelley was an attorney so he's using these bizarre concepts to explore aspects of the law.
One of the main points about the cow birthing episode is that the fetus cannot be aborted, because Roe v. Wade (recently overturned) addresses a woman's right to abort...and it does not cover cows! So the pro-life minister (Dabbs Greer) feels a victory that human life will be preserved, even though a farmer is using a most unusual fertility process to help women who want children to have children.
Not all the Picket Fences episodes go this far into left (right) field. Many of them are about the relationships of the people in the town of Rome, Wisconsin and how they grapple with changes in society and how that's reflected in the laws and local government.
Part of what I like most about about Picket Fences is that while I think Mr. Kelley's politics are quite liberal, I think he has a rightwing sensibility deep down...and I often wonder if his goal is to validate that, or if he is trying to free himself from those conservative beliefs. Maybe he's just trying to find a middle ground and using these memorable characters and storylines to accomplish it. Each episode gives the intelligent viewer much to consider. TopBilled, your mention of David E. Kelley and his transcendental use his law degree reminded me of Michael Crichton: a Harvard degree put to tremendous use for the science arts. |
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Post by NoShear on Dec 23, 2023 18:15:26 GMT
"Sugar and Vice", "Manger things have happened": I'm always a sucker for your Christmas titles, TopBilled!! That's the one I couldn't think of, TopBilled: "Santa's Slay" - I still love that title!! |
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Post by topbilled on Dec 23, 2023 18:19:03 GMT
Here's my review for the Picket Fences episode:
TopBilled, your mention of David E. Kelley and his transcendental use his law degree reminded me of Michael Crichton: a Harvard degree put to tremendous use for the science arts. |
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Post by NoShear on Dec 23, 2023 18:26:32 GMT
Here's my review for the Picket Fences episode:
I watched this episode last night on Hulu. It's the one where a cow gives birth to a human baby and I do remember it receiving a lot of press when it first aired in late 1994. I give it a 10/10, and think it's really quite brilliant. The show's creator/writer David E. Kelley was an attorney so he's using these bizarre concepts to explore aspects of the law.
One of the main points about the cow birthing episode is that the fetus cannot be aborted, because Roe v. Wade (recently overturned) addresses a woman's right to abort...and it does not cover cows! So the pro-life minister (Dabbs Greer) feels a victory that human life will be preserved, even though a farmer is using a most unusual fertility process to help women who want children to have children.
Not all the Picket Fences episodes go this far into left (right) field. Many of them are about the relationships of the people in the town of Rome, Wisconsin and how they grapple with changes in society and how that's reflected in the laws and local government.
Part of what I like most about about Picket Fences is that while I think Mr. Kelley's politics are quite liberal, I think he has a rightwing sensibility deep down...and I often wonder if his goal is to validate that, or if he is trying to free himself from those conservative beliefs. Maybe he's just trying to find a middle ground and using these memorable characters and storylines to accomplish it. Each episode gives the intelligent viewer much to consider. TopBilled, your mention of David E. Kelley and his transcendental use his law degree reminded me of Michael Crichton: a Harvard degree put to tremendous use for the science arts. See my Tales from the Crypt post in lonesomepolecat's The Ultimate List of Christmas Movies and Christmas Scenes at your convenience, TopBilled... |
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Post by Andrea Doria on Dec 24, 2023 11:40:10 GMT
 One of my favorites is The Andy Griffith Show's Scrooge-like episode.
Ben Weaver is the crotchety old department store owner who insists on a moonshiner being locked up over Christmas. Andy and friends decide to hold their Christmas party at the courthouse along with the prisoner and his young family.
Mr. Weaver sees the fun, feels lonely, and tries to get himself arrested so he can be part of the celebration. When he finally succeeds in getting Andy's attention with his misdemeanors, he asks to go back to his store first to get a few things, and shows up at the jail with presents for everyone.
![]() NoShear , I love this thread title so much! |
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Post by NoShear on Dec 24, 2023 16:34:39 GMT
One of my favorites is The Andy Griffith Show's Scrooge-like episode.
Ben Weaver is the crotchety old department store owner who insists on a moonshiner being locked up over Christmas. Andy and friends decide to hold their Christmas party at the courthouse along with the prisoner and his young family.
Mr. Weaver sees the fun, feels lonely, and tries to get himself arrested so he can be part of the celebration. When he finally succeeds in getting Andy's attention with his misdemeanors, he asks to go back to his store first to get a few things, and shows up at the jail with presents for everyone.
![]() NoShear , I love this thread title so much! Thanks, Andrea Doria!! Hey: Where's Otis?? I guess he's sleeping the spiked eggnog off...  Merry Christmas, Andrea Doria. |
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