Humor is one of those things that defines a nation. Every culture’s sense of humor is distinctive, and every one a bit of a mystery; you either get it, or you don’t. One culture whose sense of humor has crossed international boundaries with ease is the British. There is something universal about the subtle, intellectual zaniness the British possess that audiences everywhere responds to. Even when doing broad slapstick, there is something distinct in the presentation. It is difficult to put one’s finger on it. We have seen several British television comedies cross over. Monty Python, The Young Ones, and Mr. Bean are very popular all over the world. One of the greatest series’ ever to come out of Britain, however, is BLACKADDER; a generation-hopping comedy starring Rowan Atkinson that is as intelligent as it is hilarious. One of the great moments in the series was its only Christmas special called BLACKADDER’S CHRISTMAS CAROL.
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First, a little background for those of you unfamiliar with BLACKADDER. The series follows the Blackadder bloodline from the Middle Ages (season 1), to Elizabethan times (season 2), to the Regency era (season 3) to the trenches of World War 1 (season 4). BLACKADDER is a veritable who’s-who of British comedy; being an early career stop for the likes of Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, and Stephen Fry just for starters. It is a series that refreshingly takes the history just as seriously as the comedy, and the writing of Richard Curtis and Ben Elton is at once cerebral and gut-bustingly funny.
BLACKADDER’S CHRISTMAS CAROL, in typical British fashion, takes the beloved Dickens story and turns it on its head. Rowan Atkinson plays Ebenezer Blackadder - the kindest, sweetest man in all of England. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the Spirit of Christmas (Robbie Coltrane) to congratulate him on being such a good chap. Staying for a drink of bruise lotion, the Spirit shows Ebenezer just how awful his ancestors were and what an improvement he is over them. When he sees how successful his ancestors were when being awful and nasty to people, however, Ebenezer decides “Bad guys have all the fun” and by Christmas morning is the most horrible man in Britain; the Blackadder we recognize from the rest of the series.
The 42 minute journey that is BLACKADDER’S CHRISTMAS CAROL is probably the funniest Christmas special ever produced. It also boasts an all-star cast with each actor mentioned previously making an appearance. Throw in Tony Robinson as the filthy, yet faithful Baldrick and Miriam Margolyes as a randy Queen Victoria and you’ve got a cast for the ages. The writing is pitch-perfect and as always, Rowan Atkinson is brilliant as the vile, yet somehow likeable Blackadder. If you have never experienced BLACKADDER, do yourself a favor; give it a shot, then give BLACKADDER’S CHRISTMAS CAROL a whirl. You will not be disappointed.
BLACKADDER’S CHRISTMAS CAROL fun facts - At the end of the credits, it is revealed how Baldrick managed to spell “Christmas“ without getting any of the letters right. It is also clear that it took him at least two tries.
The idea of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert roaming the streets as commoners came from contemporary rumors that the couple did this every Christmas Eve disguised as missionaries. There is little evidence that they ever really did.
A couple of lines of Baldrick’s dialogue are censored from most broadcasts and releases. Baldrick talks about a misbehaving dog at a disastrous workhouse nativity play. The offending line is at the end when he says the children want to do another play at Easter and “nail up the dog”.
Ebenezer Blackadder - “Christmas” has an H in it Baldrick. And an R. Also an I and an S… Also a T, an M, an A, and another S. Oh, and you’ve missed out the C at the beginning.
Lord Melchet - Greetings of the season to you, Blackadder. May the Yuletide log slip from your fire and burn your house down.
Lord Blackadder - That woman is about as subtle as a rhinoceros horn up the backside