Rich Little's Christmas Carol

1978 Canadian TV series or program Rich Little's Christmas CarolArtwork for Rich Little's Christmas Carol on HBOAlso known asA Christmas CarolStarringRich LittleCountry of originCanadaProductionRunning time55 minutesProduction companyCBC TelevisionOriginal releaseNetworkCBC Television, HBOReleaseDecember 1978 (1978-12) Rich Little's Christmas Carol, broadcast in Canada as A Christmas Carol, is a TV special that premiered on CBC Television in December 1978, and in the United States on Home Box Office (HBO) on December 16, 1979. The special won an International Emmy Award and a Rose d'Or award. It was produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1978. It starred Rich Little in a one-man performance with impersonations of his characters playing the parts in Charles Dickens' famous 1843 holiday story, A Christmas Carol. Little played the following celebrities:

W. C. Fields as Ebenezer Scrooge Paul Lynde as Bob Cratchit Johnny Carson as Fred Laurel and Hardy as the two solicitors Richard Nixon as Jacob Marley Humphrey Bogart as the Ghost of Christmas Past Groucho Marx as Fezziwig James Stewart as Dick Wilkins Peter Falk as Columbo/the Ghost of Christmas Present Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker/Mrs. Cratchit Truman Capote as Tiny Tim Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau/the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come James Mason, George Burns and John Wayne as the three businessmen Jack Benny as a boy The show was shot on videotape and included a laugh track. In 1963, Little released the LP "Scrooge and the Stars", which may have been the inspiration for this version of A Christmas Carol. On the LP, Little portrayed Scrooge as Jack Benny.

Dickens’ tale thrives on contrast – the miser versus the generous, the past haunting the present. Rich Little’s decision to embody every character himself heightens that contrast, turning the story into a showcase of vocal theatre. Each celebrity impersonation adds a layer of satire, reminding viewers that the greed and folly of Scrooge’s world are timeless, even when filtered through the likes of Nixon or Bogart. The one‑man format also mirrors the solitary journey of Scrooge, making the redemption feel more intimate. It’s a clever way to keep the classic fresh for a 1970s audience while preserving the moral pulse of the original.

Finding a copy of Rich Little’s Christmas Carol can be a little treasure hunt. Start with the CBC archives or check if your streaming service has a classic TV bundle; HBO’s library sometimes resurfaces it around December. If you spot a DVD, look for the version with the original laugh track intact – that’s the authentic vibe. When you press play, dim the lights and keep a notebook handy; the celebrity caricatures are full of inside jokes that land best when you recognise the original personalities. Pair the viewing with a simple cheese board and a mug of hot chocolate for a truly retro‑Christmas feel.

Beyond the comedy, Little’s casting choices carry subtle commentary. He slots Richard Nixon as Jacob Marley, a spectral reminder that the 1970s were still haunted by Watergate’s fallout. Similarly, featuring James Stewart as the jovial Fezziwig injects an American optimism that clashes with Scrooge’s British penny‑pinching. These juxtapositions weren’t just for laughs; they hint at the era’s anxieties about leadership, media, and consumerism. Viewers often focus on the impersonations themselves, overlooking how the special uses familiar faces to critique contemporary power structures while still delivering a heart‑warming moral.