Mall Santa: Difference between revisions

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Usually occurring during the Christmas-themed episode, a male character gets a job at [[The Mall]] (or a department store in older works) as [[Santa Claus]], either for a part-time job or as a last-minute substitute. [[Hilarity Ensues]]. We invariably see a series of kids on his lap doing things like questioning his authenticity as the "real" [[Santa Claus]], attempting to pull off his beard, asking for extravagant or impossible gifts, or, in the most crass of [[Sitcom|Sit Coms]], urinating on him out of fear. A common joke has the [['''Mall Santa]]''' promising to deliver an outrageous gift come Christmas, much to the dismay of the kid's parents.

* Both versions of ''[[Miracle on 34th Street]]'' use the real Santa, Kris Kringle, as a department store Santa. In the original, it's Macy's; in the remake, it's [[Brand X|Cole's]]. At least in the original, he's replacing a terrible, drunken [[Mall Santa]], so bonus points there.

* The European horror/comedy short subjects ''[[Rare Exports]]'' purport to tell the true story of where the red-suited entities seen in stores at Christmas actually come from. {{spoiler|They're actually centuries-old cryptozoological wild men, captured and trained until they can be trusted to hold children on their laps without ripping them apart. That is, unless someone is foolish enough to do one of the things that enrages them... }} It's revealed in [[The Movie]] {{spoiler|that these "Santas" are in fact just Santa's little elves. The ''real'' Santa is [[Eldritch Abomination|much, much worse]]. And most definitely [[Mall Santa]] material.}}

* In L. Jagi Lamplighter's ''[[Prospero's Daughter|Prospero Lost]]'', feeling the barghests, Miranda asks for direction, and is sent to the mall. Where they find that the [[Mall Santa]] is actually Father Christmas, who can deal easily with a pack of [[Hell Hound|Hell Hounds]]s/[[Living Shadow|Living Shadows]]s.

* In one of Harlequin's [[Romance Novel|Romance Novels]]s, the pairing are a pair of divorcees - the woman is manager at the store, which is an [[Old Established Business]] with an [[The Rival|equally old, established rival]] (the competition between the two is even referenced as being akin to that between Bloomingdale's and Macy's) while the man is (at first appearances) a guy who's one bounced check from being homeless and focused on getting revenge on his [[Rich Bitch]] of an ex (who also faked evidence to make him appear to be a [[Domestic Abuser]], effectively conning the judge into giving her full custody of their daughter). The guy is desperate for a job, but wants something seasonal - and she's desperate for a [[Mall Santa]] since the one they usually hire is getting on in years. The manager is also frequently roped into babysitting the store owner's grandson - who is also the unofficial vetter for the Mall Santas that are hired. The kid is mentioned as still believing in Santa, but justifies Mall Santas as being like heralds for the real deal - which also neatly explains, to him, why not all Mall Santas are equal: some have the calling and some are just in it for the money.

** Al got a job as a [[Mall Santa]] in two other episodes -- oneepisodes—one on season seven and again near the end of the series' run after two young men replace Al and his [[Black Best Friend]] Griff at the shoe store.

* On ''[[Britcom|Are You Being Served?]]'', an episode dealt with the store employees' competition to ''be'' the [[Mall Santa]].

* In the [[Christmas Episode]] of ''[[Round the Twist]]'', [[Cool Old Lady]] Nell becomes a [[Mall Santa]]. It leads to her being attacked by the ''real'' Santa.

* [[Metalocalypse|Dr Rockzo, the Rock & Roll Clown who does Cocaine,]] got a job as a [[Mall Santa]] after he was given a [["Get Out of Jail Free" Card]]. [[Man Child|Toki,]] who apparently believes in Santa Claus, ran into him.