Has anyone been to the Paley Center? I ask because the first Christmas episode of MTM is there, as I found out after I visited recently. I was wondering if it had the musical part that is snipped on DVD, completely intact?

Otherwise, does that scene exist anywhere online or ?????? Anyone remember what the full scene is like?

Sidenote: the Hulu Plus version one-ups the DVDs by dubbing over ANY traces of White Christmas.

OK I found description of the dialogue from the scene, now where can I find the video????? Anyone??????

Has anyone been to the Paley Center? I ask because the first Christmas episode of MTM is there, as I found out after I visited recently. I was wondering if it had the musical part that is snipped on DVD, completely intact?

Otherwise, does that scene exist anywhere online or ?????? Anyone remember what the full scene is like?

Sidenote: the Hulu Plus version one-ups the DVDs by dubbing over ANY traces of White Christmas.
the FIRST Xmas episode?? You mean the ONLY X Mas episode. I never consider the one that everyone thinks of as a Christmas episode; to be a Christmas episode since it takes place in Nov. or something.

the FIRST Xmas episode?? You mean the ONLY X Mas episode. I never consider the one that everyone thinks of as a Christmas episode; to be a Christmas episode since it takes place in Nov. or something.

Whatever it is, I wanna know the answers!!

JM, I take it it didn't occur to you to ask when you were at the Paley Center?

And Treky, I totally agree with you on the "second" Christmas episode. Even though it's one of my favorite episodes of the series, I don't consider it a Christmas episode.

I do LOVE the "first" Christmas episode, though. It always gets me into the spirit of the season!

It just occurred to me after leaving the Center. Just like canvassing Norman Lear shows to see if the rare TAT Communications logo was at the end of them. (not the in-credit, the one with animation...)

Is the "first" or "only" Christmas episode the one where Rhoda describes the Christmas window she's decorating? I vaguely remember that scene from my childhood, but last year when a local channel aired the entire MTM series, that scene never came up, and I've been wanting to see it again, to see if it's as funny to me now, as it was back then.

yes it is. It's from the first season and the title is CHRISTMAS AND THE HARD-LUCK KID.

I have the complete unedited episode in perfect condition (not from TV) yet the brief 30 second scene of Mary singing "White Christmas" near "The Nutcracker scene" while she is watching TV is an extreme highlight and was scene on TV Land Merrythons for years, though most likely shown time compressed and not running the full 25 minutes like the version I have.

FYI.....The title "Christmas & The Hardluck Kid" was a nod to the same episode title used in "That Girl's" first Christmas episode.

I consider both the Mary & That Girl episodes in my top 10 of over 100 Christmas/holiday themed episodes in my collection.

yes it is. It's from the first season and the title is CHRISTMAS AND THE HARD-LUCK KID.

Thanks for your response. Hopefully I'll have a chance to see it one of these days, now that I know which episode to look for. :)

I have the complete unedited episode in perfect condition (not from TV) yet the brief 30 second scene of Mary singing "White Christmas" near "The Nutcracker scene" while she is watching TV is an extreme highlight and was scene on TV Land Merrythons for years, though most likely shown time compressed and not running the full 25 minutes like the version I have.

FYI.....The title "Christmas & The Hardluck Kid" was a nod to the same episode title used in "That Girl's" first Christmas episode.

I consider both the Mary & That Girl episodes in my top 10 of over 100 Christmas/holiday themed episodes in my collection.
that's right, I forgot about that. And I think that the MTM episode and the THAT GIRL episode were both written by James L. Brooks.

that's right, I forgot about that. And I think that the MTM episode and the THAT GIRL episode were both written by James L. Brooks.

100% correct!

I have the complete unedited episode in perfect condition (not from TV) yet the brief 30 second scene of Mary singing "White Christmas" near "The Nutcracker scene" while she is watching TV is an extreme highlight and was scene on TV Land Merrythons for years, though most likely shown time compressed and not running the full 25 minutes like the version I have.

FYI.....The title "Christmas & The Hardluck Kid" was a nod to the same episode title used in "That Girl's" first Christmas episode.

I consider both the Mary & That Girl episodes in my top 10 of over 100 Christmas/holiday themed episodes in my collection.


I have that episode from a Nick-at-Nite rerun from '92. While it does have "White Christmas" and the nutcracker scene intact, there are a few other annoying edits, such as Ted's special message to the kids. Haven't seen that scene since the '70s.

Just to update my own comment :) I finally had an opportunity to watch the first season Christmas episode and it turns out that the scene I mentioned (Rhoda describing the Christmas window she's decorating) wasn't in that episode. I did some "googling" and it turns out the scene is actually from the season three episode titled, " Farmer Ted and the News."

TeeVeeCloset, hit me up, I'd like to see this.

Now, interesting fact: the Paley Center has an edited version of this episode. Not only that, but it seems to be the version seen on HuluPlus, in which the sliver of White Christmas is dubbed over with another song altogether, and what was cut remains cut. It makes me wonder the chronology of edits for the scene...or perhaps Paley just got a new-ish print of the episode?

I have the complete unedited episode in perfect condition (not from TV) yet the brief 30 second scene of Mary singing "White Christmas" near "The Nutcracker scene" while she is watching TV is an extreme highlight and was scene on TV Land Merrythons for years, though most likely shown time compressed and not running the full 25 minutes like the version I have.

FYI.....The title "Christmas & The Hardluck Kid" was a nod to the same episode title used in "That Girl's" first Christmas episode.

I consider both the Mary & That Girl episodes in my top 10 of over 100 Christmas/holiday themed episodes in my collection.

Decided to quote myself and keep this thread alive as another piece of our television heritage has gone missing, but is still around.......today while setting up for the holidays I watched my 44 year TV station unedited DVD master of MTM's "Christmas And The Hard Luck Kid" full running time 25:35!

Includes everything, not one scene missing as discussed in this thread above from various posters, Anyone interested in seeing one of the best holiday episodes usually found in most peoples' top 10 lists may PM or email me.

I found this episode on an old tape from the Nick@Nite Christmas marathons they used to run.

I've always enjoyed this episode with the exception of the final scene. Mary begins Deck The Halls, then Murray joins in, then Lou joins in from his office and then Ted enters and joins in. However when he does, both Mary and Murray turn around, look at Ted, stop singing and then face forward again; clearly having a problem with Ted joining in. Then Ted makes a annoyed face from this treatment and leaves the room again. Although this was meant to be a funny moment, I didn't find it funny at all. He was just trying to join the singing and have fun and they freeze him out like that. It's very rude behavior, especially for a Christmas episode.

Did anyone else find their behavior rude and un-called for?

I too noticed the missing scene on the dvd with Mary singing White Christmas. I wondered why they deleted it ? :mad: But I have the episode on tape with the scene included so I watch that one instead. This episode is my all time favorite Christmas episode along with the first "Happy Days" Christmas episode.(Fonzie being alone) Sorry, I don't recall the title:(
I can't fathom why in the world the dvd producers chose to delete that short clip of Mary singing. :(

I found this episode on an old tape from the Nick@Nite Christmas marathons they used to run.

I've always enjoyed this episode with the exception of the final scene. Mary begins Deck The Halls, then Murray joins in, then Lou joins in from his office and then Ted enters and joins in. However when he does, both Mary and Murray turn around, look at Ted, stop singing and then face forward again; clearly having a problem with Ted joining in. Then Ted makes a annoyed face from this treatment and leaves the room again. Although this was meant to be a funny moment, I didn't find it funny at all. He was just trying to join the singing and have fun and they freeze him out like that. It's very rude behavior, especially for a Christmas episode.

Did anyone else find their behavior rude and un-called for?

Yes, that scene bothers me too. Ted was good enough to go to the station at midnight to celebrate Christmas with Mary and the others and then they treat him with disrespect. Bad writing there.:p

Yes, that scene bothers me too. Ted was good enough to go to the station at midnight to celebrate Christmas with Mary and the others and then they treat him with disrespect. Bad writing there.:p


Lots of times they were mean to Ted! :(

I've always enjoyed this episode with the exception of the final scene. Mary begins Deck The Halls, then Murray joins in, then Lou joins in from his office and then Ted enters and joins in. However when he does, both Mary and Murray turn around, look at Ted, stop singing and then face forward again; clearly having a problem with Ted joining in. Then Ted makes a annoyed face from this treatment and leaves the room again. Although this was meant to be a funny moment, I didn't find it funny at all. He was just trying to join the singing and have fun and they freeze him out like that. It's very rude behavior, especially for a Christmas episode.

Did anyone else find their behavior rude and un-called for?

The thing with Ted is he never wants to truly "join in"; instead, he wants to make it all about him. Everybody is having a great time enjoying one another's company, but when Ted arrives he wants to turn the focus to himself, like at Mary's parties that he would always destroy and make everybody want to go home. I used to know someone just like Ted. His mere presence could ruin any gathering.

http://youtu.be/AbiZPjsiXik

Looks like someone posted this to YouTube, although the commentary is a bit much.