MovieChat Forums > Everybody Hates Chris (2005) Discussion > Kids hopes and dreams of Santa ruined

Kids hopes and dreams of Santa ruined

posted 14 years ago by dariaburpee
18 replies | jump to latest

It is the morning (10:30am CST) after Christmas Day and my son and I were watching an episode of "Everybody Hates Chris". This is a show that we have watched before and normally I don't have any major issues. However, this morning was VERY different. This particular episode was in regards to Santa and telling the young daughter Tanya that there is no Santa. In addition, the older brother Drew went one step further by showing his sister where his parents keep the toys they are giving. I continued to watch the episode thinking, believing and hoping that by the end it would "fix" this and keep the idea and hope of Santa alive for the kids. I was very wrong. Not only did it not rekindle the hope, they also said that the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny are not real.

I am extremely upset with all of this. I am a firm believer that it is up to each individual family as to if and when their kids are told this information. I am at a bit of a fragile time with my son in regards to this issue. He keeps going back and forth with questions and with the fact that he really wants to believe. This can be such a magical and special time of year. Here we are the day after Christmas and now some of the joy has been taken away because he is sad. I do not appreciate this show being the source of his information on this--ESPECIALLY the way they told it.

We have enjoyed this show on many other occasions however, if I can't trust them to be responsible with the content they show, then we will not be watching again.

[–] Great_Gazoo 14 years ago

Yeah shame on them for not lying to their children and telling them a fat man in a red suit is watching their every move and will break into their house at night. Oh thats right, keep lying to your kids only to set them up for guaranteed disappointment.

[–] kathykato 14 years ago

"Everybody Hates Chris" is rated PG, not G. PG stands for parental guidance. If your son is so young that he still believes in Santa Claus, then he shouldn't have been allowed to watch this show. This show also contains mild swear language, sexual innuendos, references to (and sounds of) the kids getting their butts whooped by Rochelle, a psychotic character named Kill Moves, scenes of people getting robbed, and a bully calling Chris racial slurs on a regular basis. It's not an appropriate show for very young children, it's geared towards a more mature audience.

I think parents do a disservice by teaching kids about Santa Claus. If you lie to them about that, then they will have a harder time believing you about things that really matter (such as the existence of God, if that's your belief system).

[–] pensivewon 14 years ago

Even though the show has a PG rating and has things that may not be suitable for children, my husband and I regularly watch it with our 3 and 6 year olds. PG simply means it MAY not be suitable for younger children and that parents should screen it before allowing younger children to watch it.

My kids still believe in Santa. We usually record EHC. We were excited about the Christmas episode. But something told me and my husband to watch it without the kids. I am so glad that we did. We too, were waiting for the episode to "fix"everything in the end. Even though my husband and I don't believe in Santa Claus, the episode disappointed us nearly to the point that we felt like we first learned there was "no" Santa Needless to say, we did not show that one to our kids and we deleted it from the DVR into oblivion! We are also keeping a "look out" for when it airs again.

On the bright side, there are two other EHC episodes revolving around Xmas that I know of. While those did not deal with the revelation of no Santa, they did not really support the magic of Santa. However something magical did happen in one episode where you can interpret a character being an "ambassador" of Santa when Chris was hospitalized.

Anyway, the point made by KathyKato about the Santa belief being a disservice to kids, and making it harder to believe in the things that matter, like God...is a good point! We have decided, that when the time comes, to not just tell the kids "There is no Santa!" To us, that is a disservice. We plan tell them about St. Nicholas, Kris Kringle and how people followed their examples and their reasons for doing so. We plan on addressing any questions/doubts they may have about God in a similar fashion.

Daria, I agree that the EHC writers, producers, etc. were irresponsible with this episode. It may be PG, but Chris Rock is always taunting it as a "family show" with his narration.

Even though, it is like closing the barn door after the horses have run away, I suggest reading the descriptions of the episodes, and first viewing them without any young children (if possible)

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Inessence4 14 years ago

Beats the way I learned the truth about Santa. At the age of six my Mom blurted it out to me like I was in trouble. Guess I had been asking for gifts that were "too expensive" or something. I cried and cried.

[–] jlfratilla 14 years ago

I'm rather disturbed that you are so distraught over this issue. Kids have the Santa thing ruined all the time. Instead of teaching you kids how magical Christmas is by teaching them that a creepy guy breaks into your house every year to drop off your son's every desire and filch some milk and cookies, why don't you show them how magical Christmas can be by helping other people who aren't so lucky that they can afford your commercial Santa.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] salim86 13 years ago

I do believe there was other complaints like this about the episode when it first aired, but kids do need to know that sooner than later in their lives.

[–] CKelly18 13 years ago

Here we are the day after Christmas and now some of the joy has been taken away because he is sad..

But I bet he was over it 10 minutes later when he remembered all the presents he opened the day before and decided that it doesn't matter who brought it, just as long as he got it. By the way, you as the parent could have fixed it instead of hoping the magic box would do it for you, and reminded him that it's a tv show and that it isn't real either so the idea of Santa being fake is what's really fake.

Don't puke in the punch and tell me it's alphabet soup.

[–] Petronius Arbiter II 13 years ago

***giggles and snickers***

...And that's why...

[cue music]

... (Wait for it, wait for it)...

...Everybody haaaaaa-aaaates Chris.

"I don't deduce, I observe."

[–] slbabygirl 12 years ago

watch the episode "everybody hates kris", there's a character at the end who turns out to be santa

[–] southerndude 9 years ago

Should've taught your kids at the beginning that Jesus is the reason for the season, and you wouldn't have had this issue in the first place. Stop lying to your kids. When they reach the age to where they start asking questions, then just tell them the dang truth.

[–] AngryNegroMan 9 years ago

WRONG jesus is not the reason for christmas christmas = pagan

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpVvAuIsBdY Duggars

[–] helderuto 12 years ago

Sure, lie to your kids and hipocritely punish them when they lie to you

[–] starlincity 10 years ago

oh grow the hell up you cry baby

[–] Goombas84 10 years ago

Buahahhaha this is the funniest thread ever hahahhahaha!!!!