Chris Rock's Show Says Santa Doesn't Exist By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer
document.write(getElapsed("20051222T202627Z")); Thu Dec 22, 3:26 PMUPDATED 15 HOURS 22 MINUTES AGO
NEW YORK - Yes, Chris Rock, there is a Santa Claus. Parents with young children who happened to watch "Everybody Hates Chris" in the past week had some explaining to do when the character of Rock's brother suddenly told his younger sister that Santa doesn't exist.
"Everybody knows there's no Santa Claus," Drew said to Tonya on the UPN sitcom. "Come here, let me show you something. I'm taking you to the toys ... Santa doesn't come down the chimney. We don't even have a chimney. We have radiators."
Disillusioned, she stomps out of the room.
But wait. It gets worse.
Put on the spot, Tonya's dad Julius tells her the Easter bunny and tooth fairy don't exist, either.
"Somebody better give me my teeth back," the girl fumes.
A blindsided UPN received "a handful" of complaints about the Santa expose on its sitcom based loosely on comic Rock's life growing up in Brooklyn, a spokeswoman said. This is a series whose use of the n-word in its first episode passed with relatively little notice.
The Santa episode, titled "Everybody Hates Christmas," aired on Dec. 15 and was repeated on Monday.
"`Everybody Hates Chris' is a semi-autobiographical show," said Ali LeRoi, its executive producer and co-creator. "We try to get humor out of tough subject matters. It never occurred to me what a 6-year-old would think about the subject of Santa."
Not, at least, until busted by his own 6-year-old son. LeRoi admitted that his boy was upset when he saw the episode.
"My wife told him it was just a TV show and to ignore it," he said. "It worked. He believes her. Kids trust their parents that way."
There's no word on whether Rock knew his show could be a holiday spoiler. His spokesman didn't return telephone and e-mail messages for comment.
On the show, young Tonya becomes a lot more cynical. Her mother explains that Santa Claus is a symbol and asks: "So you do understand?"
I LOVE "Everybody Hates Chris". It's hysterical! I watch it every Thursday that I'm not working late. My kids don't watch it because they don't get it. It's all about growing up poor in the 80s. We were poor. My kids aren't growing up poor so they don't know what it's like to be in trouble for your dumb sister using the quarters for a pop at the laundromat & having to shove 3 loads of laundry into the same washer cuz that's all the $ you have left. (last night's show) I've DONE that.
I guess it depends on your family. It's not full of cuss words & there are no naked bodies in it. There's a lesson in each show. There's an older brother (Chris) who's in charge of his oblivious younger brother & mean little sister. A tightwad dad. A mom with an attitude. That's family fare normally. Could your kids watch it? Yes, but I'm still saying that normal middle class kids won't GET it.
I've never seen the show, but I do like Chris Rock. His humor is rough and frequently crude, but sometimes he does have a point.
Outing the fact that there is no Santa isn't probably nice, but it wouldn't exactly be the first time this was done on TV. I guess if your kid is mature enough for the humor of the show as Pambo described it, then he/she should be mature enough to handle the truth.
__________________
MM
That which does not kill me postpones the inevitable.
My daughter wrote a letter to Santa a few years ago. She begged and pleaded to know if Santa really existed. She got sent a response.
My Dear Little Corinne,
I exist as long as you allow me to exist. Santa Clause is seeing the magic of Christmas though the innocence of a child's eyes.
Santa Clause is the warm feeling you get when you understand peace on earth and good will toward men.
Santa is the magic that transforms the house from its daily routine into a yuletile museume of tradition, love and decorations.
Santa is the blanket of friendliness that encompasses a neighborhood, where neighbors hardly speak, now all of a sudden exchange gift of cheer and warm wishes.
Does Santa have help? You bet I do. I get help from parents, grandparents, friends and family.
Some of your friends may laugh and make fun that you still believe in Santa. That is OK. They do not have to believe. I still love them, will still visit them, but feel sorry for them because part of the magic is no longer present in their soul.
Ask you daddy if he still believes.
Love Santa
I sent this back to my daughter and meant every word. When she asked me begging and pleading to be told the truth, I can honestly say, Yes my sweetheart, your daddy truly believe in the magic of Santa and Christmas. There is a Santa Clause in all of us. All we need to do is believe.
