Rudolph
From Christmas Specials Wiki
Rudolph is the central character of the song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. He was first created for a promotion by Montgomery Ward Department Stores in 1939. Soon after, a song was written and a recorded version by Gene Autry was a best-seller over the 1949 holiday season. It remains a Christmas favorite to this day and was preformed by Eric Posipil in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie.
The Rankin/Bass version
In the original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer special, just as the song suggests, Rudolph was born with an unusually shiny red nose. Donner was ashamed of his son's unusual trait, so he placed a fake nose on Rudolph which later fell off.
Rudolph leaves home because he feels ashamed of this. He later befriends Hermey, an elf outcast who wanted to be a dentist, and the miner Yukon Cornelius. They arrived at the Island of Misfit Toys, a place where all of the unwanted toys go.
After spending the night, Rudolph travels back to his home, and finds out that his family left to go look for him. He searches for them, saving them from the Abominable Snowmonster of the North. Once they arrive at the North Pole, Rudolph learns that Christmas will have to be canceled because of the weather conditions. However, Santa Claus asks Rudolph to use his nose to light the way and lead his team. Thus, Christmas is saved and Rudolph is praised as a hero instead of a misfit.
Rudolph also makes a brief cameo in Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, immediately following the introduction of the original eight reindeer. As a continuity nod, S. D. Kluger points out to his audience that Rudolph does not have a role in the story he's telling, since his backstory is another story altogether.
Rudolph returned in two sequels, Rudolph's Shiny New Year and Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July. The latter provides a detailed backstory for Rudolph's nose, explaining that the Lady Borealis made it shine as a defense against the evil Winterbolt, and that its power lasts only as long as Rudolph uses his gift for good.
Oddly enough, Rudolph is not accompanied by any of his co-stars from the original special in Shiny New Year nor Christmas in July. Also, although he was a fully-grown reindeer by the end of the original special, in these sequels, he appears to have de-aged back to his younger form.
Rudolph later starred in another sequel to the Rankin/Bass Rudolph, titled Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys.
Other versions
| Picture | Performer | Feature | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Comes to PacLand | 1982 | |||
| A Pinky and the Brain Christmas | 1995 | |||
| Charlie Adler | Earthworm Jim: "For Whom the Jingle Bell Tolls" | 1996 | Resents the lack of respect Santa gave him and believes that Santa deserved to be kidnapped. |
| Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie | 1998? |
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