The Best Christmas Story Never

Season 2, Episode 9, Aired
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Episode Summary

When an injunction prevents Langley Falls from lighting their annual Christmas tree, Stan blames secular non-believers for ruining his favorite holiday. With Stan's holiday spirit at an all-time low, the Ghost of Christmas Past visits him and tries to show him the true meaning of Christmas. However, Stan is convinced that Christmas can be saved by changing the outcome of Vietnam, but finds that changing the past only dramatically changes the future.moreless
8.7
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EPISODE RATING: Great
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Fan Episode Reviews (12)

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  • Christmas review 15: great

    8.5
    "Great"
    By fsaenz0125, Dec 28, 2011 Report Abuse
    When an injunction prevents Langley Falls from lighting their annual Christmas tree, Stan blames secular non-believers for ruining his favorite holiday. With Stan's holiday spirit at an all-time low, the Ghost of Christmas Past visits him and tries to show him the true meaning of Christmas. However, Stan is convinced that Christmas can be saved by changing the outcome of Vietnam, but finds that changing the past only dramatically changes the future. Being the first Christmas episode of the show, I thought it was great. My only problems is this episode lacked some humor. So that means in my opinion, this like the 3rd best Christmas on the show. The parts that I liked laughed at were Greg and Terry's appearance (the one in the quotes section), Roger revealing that his genitals are in his armpit, Stan getting mad about the Rapture thing, the 99 cent depot, and a couple others. Overall a great Christmas episode of American Dad. 8.5/10moreless

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  • Overrated honestly.

    8.0
    "Great"
    By jmbsonic555, Oct 14, 2011 Report Abuse
    When an injunction prevents Langley Falls from lighting their annual Christmas tree, Stan blames secular non-believers for ruining his favorite holiday. With Stan's holiday spirit at an all-time low, the Ghost of Christmas Past visits him and tries to show him the true meaning of Christmas. However, Stan is convinced that Christmas can be saved by changing the outcome of Vietnam, but finds that changing the past only dramatically changes the future.

    Overall, a great episode, yet a little overrated.

    8 out of 10moreless

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  • superb

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By futuramarama, Jun 29, 2011 Report Abuse
    Stan is very disappointed with the lack of Christmas cheer in Langley Falls, so he is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, where he goes to the past and alters something, making for a different future. Now he needs to go back in time and fix what he changed before it is too late. Can he do it?

    Good episode. I do not remember a lot of jokes I laughed at, but the plot was really nice and that was their strong point in this episode. Of course, humor would have been nice, but there was probably at least a couple things I laughed at. Final grade is going to be a B, solid B, I think is fair enough for a grade.moreless

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  • Christmas Special

    10
    "Perfect"
    By Southparkfa, Aug 28, 2010 Report Abuse
    In this episode of American Dad, Langley Falls is prevented from celebrating Christmas publicly due to an injuction. This annoys Stan to no end, and when he loses all of his christmas spirit, the ghost of christmas past comes to show him his past, but when Stan learns that Jane Fonda (the person he believes is responsible for the current dilemma in the present) he goes to kill her. But he soon learns that his actions changed the past significantly. I really liked this episode's epicness with the plot, and all the time-traveling, and the way the past was screwed up, and how they saved the day and Stan got his spirit back. 10/10 A+moreless

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  • Wow this is better then Family Guy's Chrismas special.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By ctm723, May 11, 2009 Report Abuse
    This episode is extremely funny and some hillarious parts are when Haley is like oh look Roger is making a snow angel out of throwup and booze (She said something like that) and when Stan freaks out about the non believers ruining Chrismas and Stan destroyed everything and he terrified Roger and Roger peeks out from behind the couch and says is it over. Another hillarious part is when they go back in the time of dinosaurs and The Ghost Of Chrismas Past says how cute to a small dinosaur and then a huge dinosaur eats it out of no where. Also it was extremely funny when Stan says to Robert Di Niro that he is talking to the mirror instesd of his reflection. Overall this episode is very funny and this episode is in my top 5.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Roger reveals his genitals are located near his armpit. Edit
    • Roger is seen blowing cocaine. That's impossible. He doesn't have a nose. He even mentions that. Edit
    • Stan's purchase at the 99 Cent Store totals $1.07 for a sales tax rate of eight percent. Not only is the tax rate in Stan's home state of Virginia not eight percent-- at the time of airing it was 5%-- but no state had a sales tax of 8% at the time the episode originally aired. Edit

  • Notes

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    • This is the first of what is set to be many American Dad! Christmas episodes. Edit
    • This was the final episode to appear on the American Dad! Volume 2 DVD. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Greg: Can I have everyone's attention, please? We've just received this injunction, telling us we have to cancel this function. Terry: You're rhyming again. Greg: I know, I hear it, I'm trying to stop! Edit
    • Stan: You there! What day is this? Boy: The day? Why, it's Christmas day, sir. Stan: That's fantastic! Now get the hell off my lawn! Edit
    • Stan: I've got it all wrong! Sutherland pushed her into politics! He's the one I have to kill! (Turns and gasps when he see Sutherland standing right next to him) Donald Sutherland: What did you say? Stan: Um... Donald Sutherland: Are you here to give Jane her massage? Stan: Yes. That seems pretty fun. (Stan enters Fonda's dressing room and closes the door) Stan: (Inside) Alright, Ms. Fonda. Lie down. You can finish that cat food later. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • The Big Shave Martin Scorsese claims Stan saw his 6 minute film about a guy shaving. He was referring to this 1967 film. Edit
    • Boogie Nights Roger's disco party has 3 characters from this 1997 film sitting to the right of the phone: Dirk Diggler, Jack Horner and Rollergirl, seen wearing high heels instead of her trademark rollerskates. Edit
    • Romy and Michele's High School Reunion The Ghost of Christmas Past's name is Michelle, possibly a reference to Lisa Kudrow's role in this 1997 film. Edit

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