Ya know what I want for Christmas? *takes shot of vodka* For someone to explain to me why I have two separate analyses of “I’ve Got my Head in the Clouds,” in my drafts and I’m writing up an analysis on “California Christmastime.” I mean really. This is just a funny number. The arbitrary Christmas song in the Christmas episode any tv show that will be running in December is expected to do. And yet that’s kinda the point. This number is literally set up for us to not think about it. It’s before Rebecca admits to imagining her life as a musical, and before Dr. Akopian points out her dissociative episodes, so we just move past this number. Even on rewatch we just fall back into the feel good Christmassiness of it and don’t think. But this is still another one of Rebecca’s dissociative episodes, and an episode that ends with Rebecca dancing on a currently unused stage, exposing her love for performing, and alone. But she doesn’t feel alone. Yes that closing moment is a tragic punchline, but the rest of the number shows us that she’s moving closer to happiness, because Rebecca is finding acceptance, even if it isn’t by the mother she told to “take [her] snow and shove it,” because she’s found a place and people that will accept her. People who are so accepting the made “I don’t believe in god,” raised Jewish Rebecca get into the Christmas spirit for this number (ya know that and the fact that cultural surroundings would affect the way she views the movie in her mind). In her mind she exaggerates the accepting nature of her new friends by presenting them with Chet, Carol, and Stuntman Santa; members of the societal outskirts she has always considered herself a part of. That she was made a part of in New York. But not here, where even people like these (like because these individuals are probably figments of Rebecca’s imagination) are accepted and walk amongst the rest of an unphased society. And that’s really great for her! I mean horrible Rebecca considers herself so lowly, of course, but the fact that she feels accepted here. Even if the people who accept her aren’t with her at the moment, and of course they’re not. Why is Paula hanging with Daryl at the mall, and what are Heather and Greg even doing back in West Covina so soon; dinner can’t be that short? Rebecca doesn’t even know they’re together, let alone the context they’re together in, at this moment, but this number isn’t about them being coupley (which they aren’t). California Christmastime is about the people that make Rebecca, or us feel accepted. These pairings just make sense for this type of number. Her and her love interest, the work associates, and new friends together. It’s fairly standard grouping that makes it a bit easier for us to relate. So what if she is alone on that stage, and all these people “have stuff to do,” because regardless of the distance she feels the compassion she’s received from them and it’s put has put her in the mood to sing and dance in public, not that anyone even notices, just walking past like it’s normal. Accepting her as part of their norm. And that’s the point. No matter how far the distance, you are never too far from people who accept you. It’s beautiful really, not just “the Christmas number.”
Happy Holidays. I’m sorry I couldn’t get this out in time for Hanukkah, like I planned….not that anyone cares about my blog. Or if you don’t celebrate anything (lucky you) congrats on making it this far in the year. Just a bit farther you’re almost there. So at this time of year that you may be struggling with let’s make it a California Christmastime for wherever you are. Know that so long as you read my blog I’ll accept you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring.
