‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’ Is Notoriously Hard to Find

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  • How Can You Watch ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer?’

As a seasoned cinephile who has watched more Christmas specials than I can count, I must say that ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’ is a unique gem hidden among the sea of Hallmark movies and traditional holiday flicks. Having grown up in the early 2000s, this infamous title was a staple of my childhood Christmastime viewings, despite its obscurity.

Once again, it’s the festive season, and we all have a good idea of what that entails. Time to tune into some of the numerous Christmas specials, many of which might be those Hallmark movies with their recurring plotlines. Despite being familiar with the classic ones, it can still be enjoyable to uncover some lesser-known titles as well.

Back in 2000, who would have thought that the quirky novelty song “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” would get its very own hour-long TV special? This holiday tune, with its amusing title about a grandmother tragically run over by Santa’s sleigh, certainly had its charm. However, I have to admit that when the song first came out, I never imagined it warranting such an extended adaptation!

The Plot of ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer’

From my perspective, the title of the song “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” gives you a quick glimpse into its narrative. Essentially, it’s a tale about a grandmother who unfortunately meets her end after being struck by Santa’s sleigh on a snowy Christmas eve. The family is left grappling with their grief during the festive season. It might seem like an unusual choice for a holiday story, but that’s part of its charm. Interestingly, despite its macabre title, the Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer special was initially released on home video in October 2000, with its television debut during Christmas 2001 on The WB. Like the song, the special expands upon this premise with approximately 45 additional minutes of content.

In summary, the enigmatic Christmas tale centers around a grandmother who manages a local general store in a city undergoing rapid industrialization. Her name isn’t revealed; instead, she’s affectionately known as Grandma by everyone, regardless of familial ties. One fateful Christmas Eve, she gets struck by a reindeer outside her grandson Jake’s house. Both Jake and Grandpa (also called by the same nickname) observe the accident. The rest of the family thinks Jake was dreaming and that Grandpa is losing his mind. Since it’s a children’s special, they don’t find Grandma’s injured body in the snow; instead, she vanishes, taken to the North Pole by Santa for recovery. For months, Grandma remains unidentified and missing until Jake sends an email to the North Pole asking about her. It seems that sending emails to the North Pole is a possible thing to do.

The only problem is that Cousin Mel, offhandedly mentioned in one lyric in the song, wants Grandma to stay missing so she can sell the general store. The remainder of the special then morphs into an odd courtroom drama when Santa Claus is charged with Grandma’s disappearance. Of course, Jake, Grandma, and Santa are able to clear up the whole misunderstanding by the end, just in time to save Christmas and the family.

How Can You Watch ‘Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer?’

It really is something you have to see to believe. The convoluted storyline, disjointed plot, and bizarre musical numbers are the stuff of meme legend. Just search “Grandpa’s Gonna Sue the Pants Off a’ Santa” on YouTube. That’s an actual song performed by Cousin Mel and her lawyer in the special. And it’s… something. There’s also “Grandma’s Spending Christmas With the Superstars,” where Grandpa sings about how his presumed-murdered wife is dating Elvis in heaven. Yeah… They were really just trying everything here.

If you haven’t dropped your cable subscription, you can catch “Grandma” every year around late November or early December on The CW. However, if you only stream content, it might be a bit challenging as it’s not currently available on major streaming platforms. But fear not! The entire special is free to stream on Vimeo and in multiple parts on YouTube. You can also watch it on The CW’s app and website, plus their traditional channel. Since it’s nearly 25 years old, you might even find physical DVD or VHS copies for sale.

If you’re somewhat fond of Christmas specials, this one is worth watching. Although the narrative might seem a bit outlandish, it revolves around a heartwarming tale about a grandson trying to bring Grandma home for the holiday season. Additionally, the musical sequences are noteworthy and should not be missed; they’re far more impressive than memes suggest. While it may not compare to classics like Rudolph or Frosty, Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer offers an unconventional, yet extraordinary experience that you won’t believe until you see it for yourself.

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2024-12-26 05:34