A Flintstone Family Christmas

Directed by:	Ray Patterson
Written by:	Sean Roche David Ehrman
Release date:	December 19, 1993
Running time:	24 minutes
Rating:	TV-G
Available on:	VHS DVD

A Flintstone Family Christmas is the third Christmas television special based on the Hanna-Barbera animated television series The Flintstones (and the last Flintstones Christmas special in chronological order). It originally aired on ABC on December 19, 1993. In 1994, the special was nominated for an Emmy Award as Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less).

Synopsis

Fred gets into the Christmas spirit by hanging up decorations and being all-together joyful while awaiting his daughter Pebbles, her husband Bamn-Bamm and their twin children, Roxy and Chip (this special takes place after the film Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby). After learning that they will arrive at 4pm, Fred and Barney leave to get their turkyssaurus for dinner. However, on the way back home they are mugged by a Santa. Fred hands over his wallet and watch and orders Barney to give him the bird, but while tossing the turkyssaurus the Santa "breaks" in half. Seizing the opportunity, the two run away from the mugger.

When Fred and Barney get to the police station, they identify the thief, who turns out to be a "caveless" abandoned child named Stoney. According to the social worker, Stoney used to be the horror of foster homes because of his stealing habits. Feeling sympathy for Stoney, Wilma decides to adopt him, despite Fred's initial reluctance. They try to show Stoney that they trust him and attempt to teach him that stealing is wrong.

However, things get slightly bleaker when Pebbles and her family get stuck in an airport because of a blizzard. The Rubbles and The Flintstones then go Christmas tree shopping, but can't afford any that aren't "smaller than their grandchildren". Stoney attempts to help buy convincing people to bet on him as he plays a game in order to earn enough money for the Flintstones to buy the tree. When a man loses, he chases Stoney, who runs for cover near Fred. The man claims that Stoney cheated him, and Fred asks if this is true. Stoney then truthfully replies "yes", and when Fred believes him, he gets hit in the head with a tree by the man.

Fred then goes to the hospital, but his boss informs him that he can't participate in the Christmas parade (which is something Fred is quite eager to do since the beginning of the movie) and when he tries to protest, his boss finalizes his "no". To make it up to Fred, Stoney poses as his boss's driver and locks him up in the Flintstone's bathroom, which will allow Fred to participate in the parade. Instead, Fred saves his boss and ends up in jail, where he eventually bonds with Stoney. However, the social worker then takes Stoney away, and meanwhile Fred's boss makes him go to the parade. While there, Fred saves Stoney.

At home Fred sees Pebbles and her family, and Stoney bonds with the twins. Fred says that the new addition to the family gets to put the star on the Christmas tree. Stoney thinks Fred is referring to Roxy and Chip, but it turns out it is him and he becomes a Flintstone. Bamm-Bamm helps him put the star and they all have a happy Christmas.

Trivia

• Since this special occurs after Pebbles gives birth to Roxy and Chip (in Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby), that makes it the final chronological story based on The Flintstones.

Availability

Along with the original Flintstones Christmas episode, the special was featured on The Flintstones: Christmas in Bedrock VHS, released as part of Cartoon Network's Christmas video series in 1996. To date, its only DVD release was on Warner Archive's A Flintstone Christmas Collection manufacture-on-demand DVD, which also includes A Flintstone Christmas.

Christmas in Bedrock VHSTurner Home Entertainment, 1996

A Flintstone Christmas Collection DVDWarner Home Video, 2011

Cast

Voice actor	Character
Henry Corden	Fred Flintstone
Jean Vander Pyl	Wilma Flintstone
Frank Welker	Barney Rubble Dino
B.J. Ward	Betty Rubble
John Stephenson	Mr. Slate
Christine Cavanaugh	Stoney

External links

• A Flintstone Family Christmas at the Internet Movie Database