Dem
47
GOP
53
This was the game that was supposed to run yesterday. We held it, of course, and under the circumstances, we strongly considered swapping out the first question. However, we have no doubt that Rob Reiner would want his work to be remembered, and erasing him seems exactly the wrong thing to do. So, the first question stays.
The game is pretty basic. We've given screen shots and summations of eight episodes, from U.S. TV shows, episodes that had a significant Hanukkah element. You just have to identify the shows. (Please no Google, etc., for this one; that would make it too easy.)
Here are the episodes:
Episode Title: "Archie Is Branded"
Air Date: February 24, 1973
Synopsis: Although 1970s shows relied heavily on Jewish talent, particularly behind the scenes, they had to keep the Jewish-centric stuff a bit under the radar most of the time. So, it's only implied that it's during Hanukkah that the Bunkers have a swastika painted on their front door. They receive a visit from Paul Benjamin, of the Hebrew Defense Association, who tells them their house was mistaken for that of a nearby Jewish neighbor.
What's the TV show?
Episode Title: "Andie MacDowell/Tracy Chapman"
Air Date: December 16, 1989
Synopsis: Santa Claus falls ill, and "Hanukkah Harry" has to fill in. He pulls it off, though at great peril to his own life.
What's the TV show?
Episode Title: "The Strike"
Air Date: December 18, 1997
Synopsis: The episode has three subplots. One involves railing against the commercialization of Christmas. A second involves a labor action at a bagel shop. And the third involves Jerry, Elaine and George attending a tacky Hanukkah party. "This place is like Studio 54 with a menorah," Elaine notes haughtily.
What's the TV show?
Episode Title: "The Hanukkah Story"
Air Date: December 16, 1998
Synopsis: The newly married Fran looks forward to celebrating Hanukkah with her husband, but he and the family are en route to New York City from Boston, there isn't enough gas in the car, and there are no gas stations open because of a massive snowstorm. Somehow, 1 hour's worth of gas lasts for 8 hours of driving, and they get back just in time.
What's the TV show?
Episode Title: "The One With the Holiday Armadillo"
Air Date: December 14, 2000
Synopsis: Ross is chagrined to learn that his son Ben knows nothing of Hanukkah, and he isn't too interested in hearing about it from his father. So, taking a cue from Santa Claus and Superman, Ross invents the Holiday Armadillo to help teach the story.
What's the TV show?
Episode Title: "The Best Chrismukkah Ever"
Air Date: December 3, 2003
Synopsis: Seth Cohen invents a hybrid Hanukkah-Christmas holiday, so all his friends and family can participate. Because the show is a teen-focused soap opera, much teen drama ensues.
What's the TV show?
Episode Title: "A Christmas Story"
Air Date: December 9, 2015
Synopsis: Disappointed by her kids' lack of interest in Hanukkah, Beverly creates "Super Hanukkah," though every idea she comes up with for the "new" holiday ends up being a pretty clear knock-off of one Christmas tradition or another.
What's the TV show?
Episode Title: "Merry Christmas, Johnny Rose"
Air Date: December 19, 2018
Synopsis: Johnny Rose decides that his down-on-its-luck family needs to have a whiz-bang Christmas celebration, even though the holiday is only 12 hours away. "That reminds me!," he declares. "Somebody needs to find the menorah!"
What's the TV show?
And the tiebreaker question. Several years ago, the Hallmark Channel announced it would begin producing one Hanukkah movie a year. This year's entry is Oy (To the World). On a scale of 0 to 10, and keeping in mind the site's ratings go to one decimal point (e.g., 3.5), what is the movie's average rating on IMDB right now?
Submit your answers here! (Z)