- Written by David Axelrod and Carl Gotlieb
- Directed by Carl Gotlieb
- December 11, 1985
- CBS
Episode Cast
- Host-George Burns
- Ebenezer Scrooge-James Whitmore
- Bob Cratchet-Roddy McDowall
- Mrs. Cratchet-Samantha Eggar
- Tiny Timothy-Ed Begley Jr.
- Tiny Tim Jr.-Jerry Supiran
- Fred-James Widdoes
- Baker-Conrad Janis
- Jacob Marley-Paul Benedict
- Spirit One-Shawn Ora Engemann (as Shawn Southwick)
- Spirit Two-Severn “Planet of the Apes” Darden
- Spirit Three-Martin Clark
- Mr. Sneavil-Larry Hankin
- Portly Man-Dean Dittman
- Publican-Bernie Kuby (as Bernard Kuby)
- Urchin-Stuart Rogers
- Cabbie-Hy Pyke
A year later Scrooge is visited once again by the Spirits of Christmas.
George Burns Comedy Week is a short-lived comedy anthology series from the mid-80s hosted by the legendary George Burns himself. I do not belief the man actually showed up in any episodes (though I could be wrong) but rather he just hosted segments that bookended each episode filled with his trademark humor. I’m not sure where or how he would’ve fit in to an episode, but it would’ve been fun to see. Maybe as Ebeneezer in this?
This particular episode, Christmas Carol II: The Sequel, stuck in my head from my youth more because of the idea and when it came around than its actual execution. It uses the idea behind A Christmas Carol but adds a twist. Not saying it’s bad but 30 minutes on a Wednesday night during the family hour is not nearly enough time to do the idea presented justice.
The idea here is that Ebeneezer Scrooge has become far too generous during the previous year and people are taking advantage of him. He must temper his generosity by being tough yet fair. The lesson, if there is any to be found in this episode, is not to be generous to the point you’re being used. Be kind but not a schmuck.
This episode, like many episodes of the show, had a pretty decent cast for an anthology series. They may not mean too much to the audiences of today but for the time they were known commodities. We have James Whitmore as Ebenezer Scrooge, the legendary Roddy McDowall as Bob Cratchet, Ed Begley Jr. as a snotty and Scrooge-like adult Tiny Tim that insists on being called ‘Tiny Timothy’, Conrad Janis as a baker, and Paul ‘The Jeffersons and The Addams Family’ Benedict as Jacob Marley. A great deal of talent of the time taking what were often little more than bit parts.
Christmas Carol II: The Sequel is directed like a serious version of the story despite its contents which helps the enjoyability. Unfortunately the funniest joke is when Ebeneezer encounters the first ghost and he can barely hear her and she responds “I have a cold.” Nothing groundbreaking but it’s worth a chuckle.
The only other decent highlight is Ebeneezer after the three ghosts come again and teach him how to temper himself sees the boy from the previous year and rather than being exceedingly generous establishes a fair bargain for his efforts of delivering a normal sized bird to the Cratchets along with a message to Bob to be there on Monday at his normal time or he is terminated as he had earlier suckered Scrooge into giving him the whole week off.
On the whole this would have worked better twenty or thirty years earlier than when it premiered. It is much more in the mold of older television than that of something of that day. As it stands it’s not too bad but it’s not as good as it could’ve been. It needed more time or just to come out at an earlier date.
Christmas Carol II: The Sequel can be found on YouTube in versions of varying quality. It’s not a must see but if you grew up during the 80s it might be a nice way to take a look at and think about how television was back then. It is a cute idea and has a certain charm.
Warren Watched A Movie 