MovieChat Forums > Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970) Discussion > ON MY LAP

ON MY LAP

posted 17 years ago by mhlebik
6 replies | jump to latest

Yea, i hate when they cut this song. It's one of the catchiest tunes next to the 1st toymaker to the king. I think it may not be "family" oriented in today's screwed up world.

think of the lyrics--a MAN sings "If you sit on my lap today--a KISS a toy is the PRICE you PAY.

Maybe family channel thnks it's inappropriate. I dont agree, but everything today is different from 37 years ago. Most little kids doenteven getthe illusion of Santa anymore and paretns tell kis not to accepts things from strangers--who knows. It's not right, but i know where they are coming from.

[–] budikavlan 17 years ago

I don't think it's so much that people are offended by it as the network is afraid people MIGHT be offended. Since they have to cut several minutes to fit the programming period, they might as well cut the song that has the potential to offend people (even though it's a lyrical, catchy song). They also cut then entire scene with "My World is Beginning Today" even though that's a great song too, because great though it may be, it has virtually nothing to do with Christmas or the plot of the show.

[–] richard.fuller1 17 years ago

The pile of toys, I noticed, has often been cut out, but it too, along with what seemed to be an intact On My Lap, aired this year on ABC Fam.

My World Is Beginning Today seemed to air complete as well.

[–] rship1 17 years ago

OK, I have to lean towards the song being on the offensive slant. It pictures a grown man, dressed in bright red fur in a town square, giving out toys to children & inviting them onto his lap in exchange for a kiss. This is a very cute, loveable scene in REEL life.
But in REAL life, it would certainly be an arrestable offense that would probably draw 20 or so SWAT team members along with the majority of the towns' police force. And Santa would probably be taken out by a SWAT marksman as he reached into his bag of toys to retrieve a 'china-head' doll for the police officer who 1st approaches him.

[–] richard.fuller1 17 years ago

Wow, what version did you guys watch?

I've noticed that 'On My Lap' and 'My World Is Beginning Today' have been two of the three songs (the other one being either version of 'Toymaker To The King') are the ones to be butchered when this thing airs, but I caught this show on ABC Fam a week or so ago and both songs seemed very intact ('Toymaker to the King' alas, was hacked up again), but I couldn't believe On My Lap was near restored, as best as I could tell and recall, and Jessica's song seemed intact as well.

I guess they have to edit these others down because the one everyone wants to hear is One Foot In Front of The Other. Seems it must be easier to edit songs than any dialogue.

[–] budikavlan 17 years ago

The cable showings always have included all the songs--it was the network showing that cuts them out. For many years, "Santa Claus is Comin' To Town" was only shown on cable (if at all), but 2 years ago, ABC brought it back to the main network. To fit the timeslot, though, they cut out a couple of songs.

[–] 17 years ago

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