Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll (alternately titled "Alvin's Christmas Carol" on VHS) is a special Christmas-themed episode of the NBC Saturday morning animated show Alvin and the Chipmunks, produced by DiC Entertainment and aired as the thirteenth episode of the show's seventh season (under the title The Chipmunks).
Synopsis
Alvin has to do a report on the true meaning of Christmas by Christmas Eve, but as usual, he is thinking only of himself. Upset about his assignment, Alvin carelessly speeds away on his bike and runs over the flowers planted by their neighbor, Mr. Carroll, whom Alvin thinks is a grouch. Later, Alvin is working on a rather huge list of stuff he wants for Christmas. Dave orders him to get to work on his paper route, Alvin rushes that job, causing a paper intended for Mr. Carroll to be soaked. Mr. Carroll orders Alvin to get him a fresh paper or he'll file a customer complaint, which makes Alvin late to deliver his list and forget to write his essay.
Later, when Alvin falls asleep, he is suddenly visited by an older-looking Dave as the Spirit of Christmas Past. Ghost Dave brings Alvin back in time to when they lived in the ramshackle cabin from the show's pilot episode. On Christmas Day back then, the Chipmunks were only able to afford an eraser, a pencil, and a piece of paper as Dave's Christmas gifts, which inspired him to write their Christmas song.
Alvin recalls having a good time back then, when suddenly Theodore appears as the Spirit of Christmas Present. Theodore shows Alvin that he's been so wrapped up in what he will get that he's been ignoring Dave's orders. He also shows Alvin that Mr. Carroll is actually a widower who has no family (aside from his pet cat, Ebenezer) to spend Christmas with and no way to connect with the world aside for the daily paper.
Alvin is surprised at what he's learned and does not want to see anymore, but then Simon appears as the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come. In the future Simon shows him, Alvin eats the entire Christmas dinner (except brussel sprouts, which he hates), and when he goes to greet Grandma and Grandpa, he knocks them over and injures them. On Christmas Day, a bandaged Grandma and Grandpa tell Alvin that the doctor said they will be out of their casts by the end of April, which Alvin thinks is perfect, because he'll have prepared his next Christmas list then. Frightened by the monster he has become, Alvin wakes up and vows to change his ways.
Afterwards, Alvin completes his essay, does some Christmas shopping, decorates the house, helps Theodore in the kitchen, and helps Simon give a large gift to Dave. He also invites Mr. Carroll to spend Christmas with the Sevilles.
Availability
Buena Vista Home Video released the episode on VHS under the alternate title of "Alvin's Christmas Carol" in 1993. Since 2005, it has been included on all DVD and Blu-ray releases of A Chipmunk Christmas.
Cast
| Voice actor/actress | Character(s) |
|---|---|
| Ross Bagdasarian | David Seville Alvin Simon Grandpa Seville |
| Janice Karman | Theodore Grandma Seville |
| Thom Watkins | Mr. Carroll |
See also
External links
- Munkapedia, the Alvin and the Chipmunks Wiki: Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll
- "Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll" at the Internet Movie Database
- "Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll" at TV.com
