Most Underated Christmas Special - Olive The Other Riendeer

Olive The Other Reindeer - 1999 - FOX

In my opinion this is one of the most underrated animated Christmas special airing today.

This hour long special (45 minute run time) is loosely based upon the children s book of the same name. 

The book "Olive the Other Reindeer"

This is a cleverly written special.  It revolves around Olive a Jack Russel terrier who hears over the radio that Christmas is being canceled because Blitzen is hurt.  Santa states he does know how he will get by without "Olive the other reindeer "  (all of the other reindeer).  Thus Olives journey begins to the North Pole.

Olive and Martini

Olive and the Evil Postman
If you look closely you can see the monkeys in the background with files, cutting the bars.

Olive, Santa and Mrs. Claus

Olive helping "pull" Santa's sleigh

Olive travels with a street wise penguin name Martini as the try to escape the evil clutches of a mean postman who wants Christmas canceled so the he doesn't have to deliver heavy packages and catalogs that arrive around Christmas time.  They travel up north on a Mauve Hound bus, and along the way meet Schnitzel the flightless reindeer and Round John Virgin (just like in silent night)

Olive, Martini and the bus driver Richard Stands on the Mauve Hound Bus

Matt Groeten of Simpson's fame was involved in this production of this.  There are many clever sight gags, and play on words.

"Ask about Mauve Hound's special Rates for Drifters"

In the into to the special Olive is downtown and meets Martin down in an alley selling knock off Rolexxx watches (with 3 x's [factory seconds]).   At the end of the show during the scene where Santa is in London, "Big Ben" says Rolexxx on it.  Additionally, some of the stores in Olive's downtown are the "Rent-A-Cake",  "Butters of the World", "Quadruped Gap" "Ice Sculpture Repair", "Hydrants New and Used", and the local Egg Nog Tanker Truck that wanders the streets.

Then scattered through out the rest of the program are things like

• Olive is accused of Mail Fraud by the Post Man (and not mailing early for Christmas).  Martin reply is "Mail fraud, Olive, cool.  I'll root for you on Court TV"
• The Bus Drivers Name is Richard Stands ["When I was young, I thought the pledge of allegiance was about me".  "It isn't ?" replied Olive]
• In a play on the "You're no Jack Kennedy" quote from the 1988 Vice Presidential debate.  Martini States "I know Reindeer, Reindeer are my friends.  Olive, you are no Reindeer"
• Olive states that Reindeer may fly by magic beans, referring back to the "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" special by Rankin/Bass (1970)
• On the bus they pass a sign for Frostbite Falls (Rocky and Bullwinkle's hometown)
• The Specials at the Restaurant are "Reindeer Chow" and the "Whitened Black Fish"
• At the same restaurant is a sign for parking, "Cars, Buses, Sleighs"
• At the bar next to the restaurant, there is a sign at the entrance stating that "All icicles must be surrendered at the door"
• Martini states that "the laws of breaking and entering are unclear with regard to Santa"
• While they listen to the radio there are the following different announcements/commercials
• Radio Announcer: Check out Marzipan Shack's pre-Ramadan Christmas sale!
• Dogs, do you smell your best when you are wet ?
• Tonight on FOX - The world's funnies mistletoe accidents [The Worlds Funniest Home Videos was a real show originally shown on the FOX network.]

Olive and her pet flea "fido" listening to the radio

At one point in time when all seems lost and Olive is kidnapped by the evil postman, fate takes over (or to be more precise Deus ex Machina ) and Olive received a gift of a file (which it says on the package "Great for Zoo Monkeys")  Olive uses the file to escape from the back of the postal truck.

Who exactly is this "Deus ex Machina" ?

"The Gift" to Olive a Metal File, allowing her to escape for the back of the postal truck - Earlier in the show Martin admits to smuggling in files to the Zoo, to allow the  monkeys to escape.

There are many more great lines and sight gags, too numerous to mention.  In fact every time I watch the special I see something new.  If you have never seen it before I encourage you to have a look.  I provide a link below to the first 10 minutes on Youtube.  After that is done, it will automatically take you to the next 10 minutes and so on .....

The first 10 minutes are particularly great.  See how many businesses  you can see !

N-Joy !