Life with Louie: A Christmas Surprise for Mrs. Stillman

I was fully prepared to pay little attention to this Xmas special, but it succeeds in doing what most animated specials fail to do - it actually creates a nice, Xmasy atmosphere.

Based loosely on the childhood experiences of rotund comedian Louie Anderson it is sort of a cross between A Christmas Story and a scene from Christmas Vacation. Set in the late 50s/early 60s Louie's curmudgeon dad grudgingly goes along with annual traditions and is eventually encouraged to decorate the house of a lonely old lady with Xmas lights. As Clark Griswold once learned, it's not so easy.

It's funny, and cosy, and better than most Xmas specials I've been watching recently.

This television special aired on Fox... in prime time as I recall. Comic Louie Anderson tells the story of one Christmas when he was a kid, trying to bring the Christmas to a neighbor. This was a great special. The humor was top notch and it was a great story. An equally awesome Saturday morning series followed the next year. Thumbs up.

Having grown up in Minnesota and seeing Louie do stand up so many times, it was a treat to watch this TV special. We lived a life much like the Andersons and had the same kinds of issues. This was charming and touching and Louie's childhood caricature was much fun. The story involves Louie's dad being pushed into decorating the house of the widow next door and all the problems that occur. Well done and thoughtful.