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Piglet, we are going to find a way to bring Christmas to everyone, or my name isn't Winnie the Pooh...which it is.

— Pooh

Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too is an animated Christmas television special based on the Winnie the Pooh cartoons produced by the Walt Disney Company (primarily the animated show The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh). It was originally broadcast on ABC on December 14, 1991. It was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program in 1992 (unfortunately, it lost to Mark Twain and Me).

Synopsis

PoohChristmas1

Christopher Robin writes his letter to Santa as Pooh watches.

Two days before Christmas, Christopher Robin and his Hundred Acre Wood friends have gathered by a weather vane where he's writing a letter to Santa Claus. He asks them what they want for Christmas, and they each have an answer: Rabbit wants a new fly swatter to use against the bugs who constantly invade his garden, Eeyore wants an umbrella to prevent snow from falling on his house, Tigger wants a snowshoe so he can bounce in the snow, and Piglet, who can't really decide on what he wants, says that he'll be fine with whatever Santa brings him. During this, Pooh keeps suggesting that Santa also bring them a pot of honey "in case certain guests drop by." After Christopher Robin tells him that he himself wants a sled "big enough for me and maybe a friend or two," he sends the letter off into the wind.

PoohChristmas2

Pooh, Rabbit, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore work on rewriting the letter.

The next day, Pooh has just finished putting up his Christmas tree (that is to say, he has painted a drawing of a Christmas tree on his wall) when Piglet comes in, informing him that, when they were writing their letter to Santa yesterday, he didn't actually ask for anything himself (at least not directly). The two go out to find the letter, which luckily for them hasn't gotten very far. Afterwards, they meet up with Tigger and Eeyore, saying they need a pencil, and they then go to Rabbit's house just as he's finished fending off another attack by the bugs, who have just eaten his Christmas tree.

After they explain that Pooh forgot to ask for something in the latter, Rabbit lends them a pencil so they can rewrite the letter. Pooh actually has trouble deciding what he wants to wish for, though, so Rabbit tells Piglet to add a pot of honey, then tells him to make it two pots of honey after Pooh thanks him for the suggestion. The group then take turns suggesting better gifts for each other to put on the letter - resulting in the list now requesting a bug sprayer for Rabbit, spring-powered snowshoes for Tigger, a condominium for Eeyore, and 11 pots of honey for Pooh - before they realize that it's noon on Christmas Eve. Following this, Tigger, Eeyore, and Rabbit go off to get a tree big enough for all the stuff they just wished for, with help from a reluctant Gopher (he's supposed to be hibernating).

PoohAsSanta

Pooh dressed as Santa.

In the meantime, Pooh and Piglet go back to the weather vane where Christopher Robin sent the letter yesterday and cast it off into the wind again. But as soon as they leave, the wind shifts southward, and the letter follows Pooh all the way to his house. Upon telling Piglet what just happened, Pooh worries that the rest of the gang won't get their presents as a result of this, so he takes it into his hands to make sure the gifts are delivered. Disguised as Santa, Pooh visits Tigger, Rabbit, and Eeyore and gives them a super-bouncer barrel, a bug sprayer made from a teapot, and a mobile home made from a suitcase, respectively - which then break apart upon use.

Demanding to know what's going on, the three approach "Santa" as he and Piglet (who's disguised as a reindeer) are trying to deliver Christopher Robin's sled. Although Pooh insists that he is Santa, Rabbit requests that he make his "reindeer" fly, and when he attempts to do so, Piglet slips and they both fall downhill, causing Pooh's fake beard to fall off. Pooh explains to the others that the wind changed when he and Piglet last tried to send the letter, and unfortunately, the wind has now died down, so they cannot try that again. Pooh decides that he's going to try and bring the letter to Santa by himself, tearfully leaving the rest of the gang behind to wait up for him, telling them it would be worth missing Christmas if he could "bring Christmas" to them. But Pooh does not get very far in his journey before the wind suddenly picks up again and takes the letter, so he gives up in despair and heads back home.

Back at the sight of the big tree they got earlier, Tigger, Rabbit, and Eeyore are anxiously awaiting their presents from Santa. Piglet, however, is sad that this is the first Christmas they're spending without Pooh, and confides to the others that, after having been unable to decide what he wanted for Christmas, all he really wants now is to have his best friend back. Upon hearing that sentiment, the other three admit that they agree with Piglet. Just then, Pooh returns, admitting to the others that he failed to deliver the letter to the North Pole, but Piglet tells him that now that he's back, they don't really care about the presents. Christopher Robin then arrives on his new sled, bringing with him their gifts from Santa that they had each originally asked for. Pooh (who of course got a honey pot) tells Christopher Robin all about how they tried to rewrite the letter but couldn't get it to Santa on time, and says he's learned that "being with friends is nicer."

Broadcast history

Eisner with Pooh and Friends

Michael Eisner with Eeyore, Tigger, Pooh, and Rabbit in the special's original introductory sequence.

The special's original ABC broadcast was prefaced with an introductory segment by the Walt Disney Company's then-current CEO, Michael Eisner, accompanied by the walk-around costumed characters of Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, and Eeyore, who bring in a palm tree to use as a Christmas tree. To fill out the hour the special was scheduled for, it was followed up by the Donald Duck cartoons The Hockey Champ and Bearly Asleep, and ended with a sneak peek at Disney's most recent animated movie at the time, Beauty and the Beast. The first airing of the special ranked 53rd out of 92 shows that week, averaging a 10.8/20 rating/share and tying for first place in its timeslot.[1]

Pooh Christmas bumper

One of the bumpers used in the original broadcast.

The original format of the special, with the addition of the Donald Duck cartoons, was repeated the following year, this time with a behind-the-scenes look at The Muppet Christmas Carol at the end. The 1993 broadcast included a documentary on the making of the previous Disney animated feature, Aladdin. The special was later aired on CBS in 1995 and 1996, this time accompanied by The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh episode "Magic Earmuffs" and a documentary about the making of Toy Story in place of the Donald Duck cartoons.[2] The special subsequently returned to ABC following Disney's acquisition of that network and continued to be shown there, along with "Magic Earmuffs", from 1997 to 2001, now without Michael Eisner's introductory segment.

The special was brought back to ABC in 2007, and was then aired as part of the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family, often airing alongside Mickey's Christmas Carol, from 2008 to 2013. It was dropped from the line-up from 2014 to 2017, but returned in 2018.

Edits

  • The 2007 ABC broadcast and the 2008-2013 ABC Family broadcasts cut out the scene with Tigger telling Eeyore that Santa's probably reading their letter right now when suddenly Pooh and Piglet show up with the letter, and also abruptly shortened the scene where Pooh says goodbye to Piglet, Rabbit, and Tigger as he heads off to deliver the letter to Santa.
  • When the special returned to Freeform in 2018, the above-mentioned scenes were reinstated, but the sequence where Tigger, Rabbit, and Eeyore get Gopher to help them find a bigger Christmas tree was removed, as was the following scene where Pooh and Piglet see the fully-decorated tree. As a result, the special went from the wind sending the letter back right after Pooh tosses it, straight to the shot of the letter slipping in under Pooh's door.

Availability

The special was released on VHS on November 13, 1994, with "Magic Earmuffs" included as a bonus episode. Early copies of the tape also included a bonus Spot episode, "Spot's Winter Sport", which was dropped in later reissues. The special and "Magic Earmuffs" were also featured on a double-feature Laserdisc titled Winnie the Pooh: Special Holiday Edition, which also featured the contents of the Winnie the Pooh: Frankenpooh VHS (consisting of The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh episodes "The Monster Frankenpooh", "Things That Go Piglet in the Night", and "Pooh Moon").

Currently, the special itself has not been released on DVD, Blu-ray, or any digital streaming services in its original form, instead being integrated as a flashback in the 2002 direct-to-video film A Very Merry Pooh Year. However, it is slightly edited to match up with the new animation made for the rest of the film - Christopher Robin's lines were redubbed by William Green, and Rabbit's animation was recolored to his usual yellow-furred appearance (as opposed to the oddly light-green hue his fur had in the special and the New Adventures show).

Cast

Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too promotional picture
Voice actor Character
Jim Cummings Winnie the Pooh
Paul Winchell Tigger
Peter Cullen Eeyore
John Fiedler Piglet
Michael Gough Gopher
Edan Gross Christopher Robin
Ken Sansom Rabbit

Gallery

References

  1. http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-12-23.pdf
  2. The Wonderful World of Disney Television, by Bill Kotter. 1997, Hyperion.

See also

External links

The Walt Disney Company
Animated shorts
Empty SocksMickey's OrphansSanta's WorkshopMickey's Good DeedThe Night Before ChristmasBroken ToysToy TinkersPluto's Christmas TreeThe Small OneMickey's Christmas Carol • "Jingle Bells, Something Smells" • "The Nutcracker" • "Mickey's Mixed Nuts" • "Mickey's Christmas Chaos" • Operation: Secret Santa • "Oh, Christmas Tree!" • Olaf's Frozen Adventure • "The Lights Before Christmas" • "Tinsle Tussle" • Mickey's Christmas Tales
Movies
Animated Christmas JollitiesThe Nightmare Before ChristmasBeauty and the Beast: The Enchanted ChristmasMickey's Once Upon a ChristmasWinnie the Pooh: Seasons of GivingMickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of MouseRecess Christmas: Miracle on Third StreetA Very Merry Pooh YearMickey's Twice Upon a Christmas . Disney Princess: A Christmas of EnchantmentMy Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas MovieA Christmas CarolMarvel Super Hero Adventures: Frost Fight!
Live-action Babes in ToylandOne Magic ChristmasThe Christmas StarErnest Saves ChristmasA Mom For ChristmasIn the Nick of TimeThe Muppet Christmas CarolThe RefThe Santa ClauseThe Preacher's WifeThe Christmas TreeI'll Be Home For ChristmasThe Ultimate Christmas Present 'Twas the NightThe Santa Clause 2The Santa Clause 3: The Escape ClauseSanta BuddiesThe Search for Santa PawsGood Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!Santa Paws 2: The Santa PupsThe Nutcracker and the Four RealmsNoelleGodmotheredMarley
Television specials and episodes
Animated
Television specials "A Present for Donald" • "From All of Us to All of You" • A Disney Christmas GiftA Disney Channel ChristmasWinnie the Pooh and Christmas TooA Goof Troop ChristmasPhineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation!Prep & LandingMickey's Christmas SpecialPrep & Landing: Naughty vs. NiceToy Story That Time ForgotDuck the HallsLEGO Star Wars: Holiday SpecialMickey and Minnie Wish Upon a ChristmasMickey Saves ChristmasShortsmas with Big City Greens
Television episodes Disney Television Animation "Jolly Molly Christmas" • "It's a Wonderful Leaf" • "Miracle at the 34th Precinct" • "Doug's Secret Christmas" • "A Christmas Cruella" • "Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave" • "Don't Be Elfish" • "A Kosher Christmas" • "A Dog for All Seasons" • "The Worst Holiday Ever" • "Holiday Time" • "Cheery Theerlap, Lloyd" • "The Blight Before Christmas" • "Pete's Christmas Caper" • "Clarabelle's Christmas List" • "Happy Holidays, Mr. Gruff!" • "A Very Possible Christmas" • "Topper" • "On Whiskers, On Lola, On Cheryl and Meryl" • "Hairy Christmas" • "A Giftmas Story" • "Season's Beatings" • "Dick Daring's All-Star Holiday Stunt Spectacular 5" • "Stitch and Santa" • "A Phineas and Ferb Family Christmas" • "A Cousin Kyle Christmas" • "Merry Fishmas, Milo" • "The Gift" • "Gingersnaps and Grumpy Snaps" / "Jollybells" • "Future-Worm and the 54 Days of Snordfest" • "Stump Day" / "Holiday Spellcial" • "A Christmas Peril" • "Tree Lighting" • "A Merry Mocap Musical" • "Last Christmas!" • "The Present" • "Green Christmas" • "How Santa Stole Christmas!" • "Froggy Little Christmas" • "Saving Christmas" • "Virtually Christmas" • "White Christmess" • "We Wish You a Merry Chaos-Mas"
Playhouse Disney /
Disney Junior
"The Wishing Tree" • "Little Dog Lost" • "A Circus Town Christmas" • "Twinkle's Wish" • "The Christmas Wish " • "A Very Handy Holiday" • "The Wind-Up Toy Prince" • "Mickey Saves Santa" • "The Night Before Zipsmas / A Gift For Zooter" • "Flicker Saves Christmas" • "The Ayalas' Christmas Extravaganza" • "The Living Holiday Lights" • "It's a Winter Never Land!" • "A Very McStuffins Christmas" • "Holiday in Enchancia" • "Captain Scrooge" • "Winter's Gift" • "Toby's Christmas Critter" / "A Very Tricky Christmas" • " Navidad" • "The Mystic Isles: A Very Mystic Wassailia" • "Timon and Pumbaa's Christmas" • "Happy Hot Diggity Dog Holiday!" • "Happy Holiday Helpers" • "A Very Pug Christmas" • "The Latke Kerfuffle" • "A Very Muppet Babies Christmas" • "Summer's Super Fabulous Holiday Surprise" • "A Santa for Bob" • The Doc McStuffins Christmas Special • "Nanpire and Grandpop the Greats" • "Snow Place Like Home" • "Nancy and the Nice List" • "A Gargoyle Carol" • "The Lights Before Christmas" • "Elves for a Day/The Dreidel Dilemma" • "Festival of Lights" • "Tinsle Tussle" • "Santa Baby" • "The Fright Before Christmas" • "Merry Chickmas" • "It's a Wonderful Elf-bot" / "A Merry Litter Christmas" • "The Gingerbread Palace" • "A Christmas Mission in Toyland / Nine Lights Tonight" • "The Christmas Car-Sled Race" • "The Gingerbread Palace" • "Jingle Bog Rock" • "Wrap Party Pups" / "Fixing Santa's Sleigh" • "Jingle Birds" • "Blizzard Buds" • "Pupstruction Saves Christmas" • "Merry Mousemas" • "Santa’s Crash Landing"
Touchstone / ABC Signature "How the Super Stole Christmas" • "A Very Special Clone High Snowflake Day Special"
Marvel Animation (post-2009) "Nightmare on Christmas" • "It's a Wonderful Smash" • "Jingle Bell Rock" • "The Moon Knight Before Christmas" • "A Very Spidey Christmas" • "Halted Holiday" / "Merry Spidey Christmas"
Lucasfilm, Ltd. LEGO Star Wars: Holiday Special • "Life Day"
Hyperion Films "Who Stole Santa? • "Christmas in Oz" • "Seven Days of Kwanzaa"
Live-action
Television specials The Walt Disney Christmas ShowChristmas at Pooh CornerA Magic Kingdom Yuletide SpecialThe Disney Christmas SpecialMickey's NutcrackerDisney's Christmas Fantasy on IceA Muppets Christmas: Letters to SantaGood Luck Jessie: NYC ChristmasJessie's Aloha Holidays with Parker & JoeyDisney Channel Fa-La-La-Lidays Celebrates a Radio Disney Family HolidayDisney Holiday Magic QuestDisney Channel's Epic Holiday ShowdownDisney Channel Holiday House Party" • The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
Television episodes Walt Disney Television "Christmas at the Circus" • "Christmas in Wonderland" • "Refrigerator Day" • "A Roman Holiday" • "Fountain" • "Happy Holidays" • "Heck of a Hanukkah" • "Xtreme Xmas" • "Escape Claus" • "Christmas at the Tipton" • "Christmas Break" • "Killing Me Softly With His Height" • "Present Problem" • "Happy Ha-Ha Holidays" • "A So Random! Holiday Special" • "A London Carol" • "Bro Ho Ho" • "So Random! Episode 18" • "Pair of Santas" • "sANTa's Little Helpers" • "Christmas Story" • "Jingle It Up" • "A Little Elf Esteem" • "A Duncan Christmas" • "Bark! The Herald Angels Sing" • "Merry Merry It Up" • "Oh, Christmas Nuts!" • "Big Dreams & Big Apples" • "Nanny in Miami" • "Fa La La La-A-Rooney" • "Mix-Ups & Mistletoes" • "Twas the Mission Before Christmas" • "silANT night" • "Twas the Fight Before Christmas" • "Girl Meets Home for the Holidays" • "Stan Steals Christmas" • "Merry Miss Sis" • "Secret Santa" • "Twas the Fight Before Christmas" • "The Girls of Christmas Past" • "Santas & Surprises" • "Joy-to-a-Rooney" • "Single All the Way" • "Cali Christmas-A-Rooney" • "Girl Meets a Christmas Maya" • "How the Griff Stole Christmas" • "Holly Holly Not So Jolly" • "The Christmas Curse" • "Agh, Humbug" • "Stuck at Christmas" • "A Killer Robot Christmas" • "Would You Wrather Get a Moose Angry?" • "Holiday Video Sketchtacular " • "Bah Humbugged " • "Merry Christmas Mr. Gooch " • "It's Christmas, Gabby Duran " • "Would You Wrather Lose Your Presents? " • "Summer Winter Wonderland " • "How the Syd Stole Christmas" • "Mad About Yuletide" • "Jolly Holidance" • "The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year" • "Holiday" • "How the Villains Stole Christmas" • "A Very Villain Christmas" • "Friends in Snow Places"
Touchstone / ABC Signature "It's a Marginal Life" • "Yule Better Watch Out" • "I'm Scheming of a White Christmas" • "Santa's Little Helper" • "'Twas the Blight Before Christmas" • "Some Like It Hot Rod" • "'Twas the Night Before Chaos" • "'Twas the Flight Before Christmas" • "Easy Street" • "Bright Christmas" • "A Very Topanga Christmas" • "Home for the Holidays" • "An According to Jiminy Christmas" • "Spirit" • "One Office Party Too Many" • "The Christmas Party" • "Secret Santa" • "Silent Night, Opening Night" • "Stalking Santa" • "Aru-Bah Humbug" • "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" • "The Gift of Maggie" • "Christmas Time" • "Light the Lights" • "The Miracle Song" • "Fake Plastic Snow" • "The Nutcracker" • "Two for the Money" • "Holidaze" • "Boom Crunch" • "Cold Turkey"
Albums
30 Favorite Songs of Christmas with Chimes and ChorusA Family ChristmasDisney's Merry Christmas CarolsMickey's Christmas Around the WorldAriel's Christmas Under the SeaA Pooh ChristmasThe Twelve Days of ChristmasDisney's Christmas CollectionDisney's Christmas Collection IIDisney's Family Christmas CollectionDisney's Snowy Christmas . Disney Santa Sing-AlongDisney's Princess Christmas AlbumDisney's Merry Little ChristmasA Green and Red ChristmasDisney's Holiday Celebration 2007Disney Channel HolidayDisney Holiday Magic 2009Disney Winter Wonderland 2010Phineas and Ferb Holiday FavoritesMickey's Magical Holiday 2011Disney Channel Holiday PlaylistHolidays UnwrappedA Very Merry Disney ChristmasDisney Junior Holiday HitsICON: Disney HolidayDisney Junior Holiday Hits 2Disney Christmas Magic
Other
Disney Parks Christmas Day ParadeThe Magic of Christmas at DisneylandThe Magic of Christmas at Walt Disney WorldFa-La-La-Lidays25 Days of ChristmasThe Santa Clauses
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