Updated on November 26, 2022
Finally wrapping up the minor Christmas specials list (for now) is “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.” It’s based on the ultra-cheesy Christmas song of the same name.
Background
In this special, a young boy named Jake Spankenheimer is one of the few in his city who still believes in Santa. His grandmother runs a general store and is beloved by almost everyone. The sole exception is the family’s greedy Cousin Mel. She wishes to sell the family store to the city’s billionaire magnate, who owns almost every other business in town. (However, he’s not villainous.)
Along the way, the event in the song’s title occurs; however, here it’s in a more kid-friendly fashion. Grandma isn’t killed (as the song implies); instead, she’s rendered amnesiac and missing. The remainder of the special includes a massive Grandma search, an email sent to Santa, and Santa arrested and put on trial. St. Nick’s also sued by Cousin Mel, hoping to win a massive financial settlement for “the world’s most famous case of hit-and-run.”
The special includes a few other songs. One’s about a fruitcake, another—after she goes missing—is about Grandma’s “heavenliest Christmas of her life,” or afterlife apparently.
On TV/home video
The CW network usually airs this special during the holidays.
“Grandma” was released to DVD in the early 2000s. As of 2022, it doesn’t seem to be available on any streaming service.
Image by Satheesh Sankaran from Pixabay
