| This article is about the video. You may be looking for a different article with the same name. |
Waiting for Santa, also known as Barney's Happy Christmas for Australian releases, is a direct-to-video released on April 30, 1990.[1] It was the fourth video in the Barney & The Backyard Gang series. It marked being the only Christmas special in the Barney & The Backyard Gang series and the first Christmas special in the Barney franchise. Waiting for Santa was also the most re-released video in the entire Backyard Gang series, being reprinted until 1998.
Plot[]
When all is quiet on Christmas Eve, Michael and Amy sneak downstairs to see if Santa Claus has arrived at their house yet. Michael suggests they both get back to bed, given that he hasn't come, but Amy wants to wait on the steps, and Michael reluctantly agrees to. They eventually fall asleep on the steps, but are soon woken up by the sound of Barney getting stuck in their chimney while trying to wiggle out. The two pull him out, excited to see their friend. By calling the rest of the Backyard Gang, Barney explains that Santa needs their help with a special job and that a boy who just moved into the neighborhood, by the name of Derek, is worried that Santa doesn't know his new address and won't be able to see him.
With the power of imagination and saying the magic words, "Shimbaree, Shimbarah", Barney and his friends transport into Derek's room while he wishes to make new friends. He tells everyone about his dilemma, in which Barney tells him that Santa wants them all to visit his workshop, so Mrs. Claus can show Derek that everything is okay. Barney does his magic, the Barney Shake to offer the children winter clothes (initially summer clothes) and his magic sleigh (which was on top of Derek's house waiting for them) to the North Pole. Barney and his friends enjoy the experience at the North Pole. Landing there, they dance with a snowman and pretend to ice skate.
Afterwards, they make their way to Santa's workshop. Expecting the Backyard Gang, Mrs. Claus welcomes everyone inside. After Barney introduces his friends to her, he explains Derek's issue, and Mrs. Claus reassures Derek that Santa Claus would never forget him. Mrs. Claus shows him that Santa has his new address. Eventually, the gang pretends to be Santa's elves. Mrs. Claus notices that Tina's doll has a broken arm, so she suggests that, since the kids are pretending to be elves (and since Santa's elves are gone), and fix Tina's doll. When the doll is fixed, Mrs. Claus explains that doing things for others is what Christmas is all about, further making others happy is what Santa Claus does best. Adam begins to wonder where Santa is at the moment. Mrs. Claus shows them that Santa is on his way to Adam's house. The kids tell Barney that they have to get back home so they don't miss Santa's arrival. They take off their elf outfits and put back on their coats and wave goodbye to Mrs. Claus. So they don't have to walk back to the sleigh, Barney whistles for the sleigh to come to them as they hop aboard and head back home. Barney sends his friends back home.
Barney arrives with Amy and Michael at their house. Amy wants to stay up to meet Santa, so Barney suggests that he read them the story of The Night Before Christmas. While they read the dinosaur-sized book in front of their faces, Santa arrives unbeknownst to them, filling their stockings and delivering presents. The trio eventually falls asleep, and Santa says at the end of the story, "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night," and turns out the light.
Cast[]
- Barney (Voice: Bob West, Costume: David Voss)
- Michael (Brian Eppes)
- Amy (Becky Swonke)
- Tina (Jessica Zucha)
- Luci (Leah Montes)
- Adam (Alexander Jhin)
- Derek (Rickey Carter)
- Buster (Grouchie)
- Santa Claus (Henry Hammack)
- Mrs. Claus (Jeanne Cairns)
- The Snowman (Voice: Bob West, Costume: Nome)
Songs[]
- "Barney Theme Song"
- "When Santa Comes to our House"
- "Waiting for Santa"[lower-alpha 1]
- "I Love You"
- "S-A-N-T-A"
- "Star Light, Star Bright"
- "Up on the Housetop"
- "Jingle Bells"
- "Winter's Wonderful"
- "Skating, Skating"
- "The Elves' Rap"[lower-alpha 2]
- "Let's All Do A Little Tapping"
- "Jolly Old St. Nicholas"
- "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (reprise in the end credits and preview)
- "Deck the Halls"
Production[]
Casting[]
Originally, the role of Mrs. Claus was to be portrayed by Sandy Walper due to Walper's agent landing her the role. Walper was unable to partake in the production due to her granddaughter being due around that time.[2]. Walper would eventually portray Mother Goose for a brief period on Barney & Friends, the successor to Barney & The Backyard Gang. The role of Mrs. Claus for Waiting for Santa was eventually given to Jeanne Cairns.
Writing[]
The script for Waiting for Santa was written between April 12, 1989, and January 12, 1990. The draft and revisions for Waiting for Santa were completed by Frank Olsen. The first draft was completed on April 12, 1989; the first revision was completed on April 18, 1989; the second revision was completed on December 4, 1989, the third revision was completed on January 2, 1990; and the fourth and final revision was completed on January 12, 1990.[3]
Filming[]
Filming for Waiting for Santa occurred on weekends of February 1990[4] at ColorDynamics in Allen, Texas. Brian Eppes, who portrays Michael, was sick on set during the filming of this video.[5] For the overhead shot of Barney and the children on the ice, the crew used an overhead camera and choreographed the children doing their routine. For Barney, the crew placed him on a blue screen background, placed him on his back as he did the spin, and then it was keyed in for the overall effect.[6]
Music and Cassette[]
Main Article: Waiting for Santa (cassette)
Listed at a suggested retail price of $3.95, this cassette features the respective songs from the video. Initially, the soundtrack from Waiting for Santa was also to be included on the DVD release of Barney's Night Before Christmas.[7]
Release[]
In the early 1990s, Waiting for Santa was listed at a suggested retail price of $14.95. Waiting for Santa was re-released by The Lyons Group on VHS on September 26, 1995 at a suggested retail price of $14.95. It was available for pre-order on September 12, 1995. The 1995 re-release was no longer produced after December 31, 1995.[8] Waiting for Santa would be re-released again on September 16, 1997 at a suggested retail price of $14.95. The 1997 re-release, by Lyrick Studios, was available for pre-order on August 19, 1997.[9], as part of the marketing campaign for the then-upcoming video, Barney's Night Before Christmas, Lyrick Studios revealed that this video was the best-selling video ever (selling over 5 million copies) at the time. New editions and releases of Waiting for Santa were stopped in the late 1990s, however, various releases of the video would continue to be sold in major retailers until the mid-2000s around the time that VHS tapes became obsolete.
Internationally, Waiting for Santa was released in the United Kingdom on December 5, 1994.[10] The United Kingdom/Ireland release of Waiting for Santa spent a total of eleven weeks on the on the Official Video Chart for OCC. It first entered the chart on November 25, 1995 at #75. It peaked at at #46 during its five weeks on the chart at that time until December 12, 1995. It returned to the chart on November 23, 1996 until December 12, 1996 for another five weeks and returned again on November 21, 1998, only staying on the chart for a week.[11]
Waiting for Santa was also included in the Barney Gift Pack set that was released by Child Dimension in 1993.
Releases[]
Gallery[]
Behind the Scenes[]
Sets[]
Trivia[]
- In the Spanish dub, the opening theme is played as an instrumental. However, the narrator (heard off-screen) reads the title card in its respective language including the names of the Backyard Gang members who appeared in the video itself.
- Although shown in the theme, the 1990 Barney doll is never shown.
- During the scene where Mrs. Claus gets ready to show the computer, right where Barney is standing, a boom mic and the studio are both seen.
- During "Jolly Old St. Nicholas", a stuffed bear is knocked down to the floor by Barney's tail.
- As an easter egg, Santa's computer contains the name Dwin, which is a reference to the director of the video. The names of Dwin's children can also be seen on the computer.[6]
- Brian Eppes said during his Purple Tales episode that he was sick during the filming of this episode.
- Barney would later make a reference to this video in the second Christmas special Barney’s Night Before Christmas.
Occurrences[]
- This video marked:
- The first video for Barney to have a more magenta skin-tone. In the previous videos, Barney was more of a darker bluish-purple color.
- The first appearance of the 1990 Barney costume. The Barney Costume used in this trilogy was made of exposed foam, the same material used to make the 1988-1989 Costume.
- The first time where Barney does the Barney Shake.
- The first appearance of Derek, the only appearance of his bedroom, and the first time someone's house other than Michael and Amy's is shown.
- The only appearances of Buster and The Snowman.
- The first time Barney is not seen coming to life. Instead, he slides down the chimney like Santa Claus getting stuck inside.
- The first time Barney does not turn into a doll at the end. Instead, he reads "The Night Before Christmas" to Michael and Amy before he falls asleep.
- The first video to have Bob Singleton as the music director.
- The first video to use the current version of the Backyard Gang theme song, as it would continue to be used until Rock with Barney, the final installment of the series, before Barney & Friends began production in late 1991.
- The only video released during the Backyard Gang era to be dubbed in German.
- The last time Barney is owned by Michael and Amy.
Videos[]
Trailer[]
Notes[]
External links[]
- Waiting for Santa (video) at Wikipedia
References[]
|
v - e  | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|