Wicked Psychotherapists

From the North Pole to Real Life: Exploring 'Elf' Through a Mental Health Lens

• Erin Gray and Tanya Dos Santos • Season 2 • Episode 39

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In this episode of Wicked Psychotherapists, hosts Tanya and Erin take a cheerful dive into the holiday classic Elf, starring the unforgettable Will Ferrell.

From its whimsical charm to its heartfelt exploration of family dynamics, acceptance, and identity, they unpack why Elf has become a beloved Christmas favorite.

The duo analyzes Buddy the Elf’s unique personality and the mental health themes woven into the story, all while reflecting on their own holiday movie traditions. Plus, they tackle the polarizing opinions on Will Ferrell with humor and insight.

Join Tanya and Erin for a festive, fun, and thought-provoking discussion on what makes Elf a standout in the world of holiday films.

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You are listening to Wicked Psychotherapists, a podcast where two psychotherapists show you that taking care of and learning about mental health doesn't have to be wicked hard.

Erin:

Hey, everybody, it's Tanya. Hi, it's Erin. Welcome to Wicked Psychotherapist. Yes, welcome. So at this time, we're closing in on the holidays, Christmas time. We thought it would be fun to talk about a classic. Well, at least, a classic for our time. It's not super old, early 2000s. We want to talk about Elf. This is a favorite for a lot of people. I was gonna say, actually it's new for us, since we're always stuck in 1980 and 1990. launched us forward, yes.

Tanya:

I think it came out 2003. Elf is, a really popular holiday movie, if you're watching this, we're gonna be all in it, so we're gonna assume that you've watched this or that you want to know about it, we were talking beforehand that we watch this during the holidays. Erin, you watch it a couple times a year. Is that right? Yeah,

Erin:

I know I always watch it Christmas Eve, and then another time or two in December. It's a staple.

Tanya:

It is a nice staple. I think it's become that for a lot of people. It's very endearing and cozy. There's a lot of Christmas scenes, a lot of like magical parts of Christmas. I am just wondering because this is one of my favorites. I wouldn't say it's my top, but it is something that puts me in the spirit. What do you think makes this such a classic and a favorite for everyone?

Erin:

I think it hits all the points, like it could be a kid movie, so it's fun and whimsical. There's romantic relationships. There's Father son relationships, there's just different aspects like starting fresh in a new big city you know to be corny I think it's like a family movie because everyone can find something they relate to or find comfort in

Tanya:

I agree with that.

Erin:

And it's

Tanya:

Yeah. It's light hearted. for the most part, it's pretty light hearted. I think there's a lot of great visuals in there. when I think of Elf, I always think of that scene where he's on, the ice flow. Floating away to New York. And this little, narwhal. Pops up and is like, Hey, buddy. It's, cartoonish, but, also very, fantastical. I love that. I love the setting in the North Pole. It's great. I feel like nobody else could have played Elf, other than Will Ferrell. He's that perfect. Ingredient of wacky, funny, and also stays in character so well,

Erin:

And he's not too over the top. It's it makes it almost believable that he's like, doesn't realize that he is a million times bigger than Papa Elf. And it's like, just shocking when he hears the other else like, gossiping about him, like, just like, wait a minute, I'm different.

Tanya:

Yeah, that also, leads to a really important point, which stems into our mental health themes because that's always kind of our angle, but the understanding of Buddy, is human, and we can all see that, and the elves know it, that he was raised by. he just feels so loved and accepted that he's like, okay, that's just me, it's only at a certain point that he starts to realize, wait, I'm different, I don't make toys as much, you know, or as quick as the elves and, or as the rest of, you know, everyone else. And he was just so shocked when he overheard them saying like, oh man, he's slowing us down, but, you know, he can change a light bulb or whatever every six months.

Erin:

Yeah. If we need the fire. Fire alarm tested or something. Let's get buddy.

Tanya:

Yeah, you can see they want him to feel like he's important and has a role and has a job, but it's kind of tough in that environment. And so I think that's a really important mental health theme acceptance in your family and understanding that you may be different from the rest of your family or the people that you're around, but you're still accepted, you know, and you're still loved and, cared for. And it's almost like that moment that Buddy realizes, Oh my gosh, I'm not like these other people around me. I wasn't born to them, but I still found a lot of love and acceptance there. that really speaks to how much they gave him.

Erin:

when Santa and Papa Elf explain it to him this is what happened to your mom, or this is who your parents were. Papa Elf always wanted a son. Santa knew his little elves too, like, what they wanted, who they, you know, who they were, and, you know, he knew that Buddy would be in good hands.

Tanya:

Yeah, and he definitely was. It seems like he had a really nice upbringing you know, but it was just kind of that, identity crisis of like, I really am different. Like people were just saying it's because I'm taller or, you know, and they would build him the special desk and he'd always be so tall in the shower and the bed that he outgrew by, 20 feet or whatever.

Erin:

Little tiny bar of soap.

Tanya:

Yeah, it really does speak to, how loved and accepted he was because he didn't even though there's very drastic differences between him and everyone else he's surrounded by. He didn't notice that until a certain point, and then he kind of has this, awareness of, I need to find out who my biological parents are. I need to do this. he's got to find what he feels like is maybe a part of his identity.

Erin (3):

Yeah.

Tanya:

And so he, ventures off. He's very persistent, I think, in finding his, you know, he's got to go through the North Pole and walk all the way to. New York, it's a long walk, yeah. he floats over there, and he comes to New York, which I love the scenes in New York. I think it's so fun just to kind of see, and it really grossed me out when he started eating the gum Like he saw it and he was just so excited because, Probably everything at the North Pole is edible and has candy and he's just like used to having that around when he sees it and starts chewing. Santa told him don't eat it.

Erin:

Santa said don't eat anything on the floor or ground or anything that.

Tanya:

grosses me out. I just had a, like, visceral, ugh, reaction to that. Yeah, so, I mean, there's a lot of themes, I think, you know, and then he goes and meets his biological dad. His dad is kind of shocked, kind of, his dad is also kind of cold and reserved and distant.

Erin (2):

He's got

Tanya:

a job that's very much kind of like corporate, like has to do with like publishing books kind of thing. And he just he doesn't seem very accepting of Buddy. And he didn't know that he was even there. It was like some old college girlfriend and he didn't know that.

Erin:

Yeah,

Tanya:

existed.

Erin:

Also, Buddy comes in and is big. You know, like his, you know, like into like this very boring office place, you know, like, where it's like, all right, who's this idiot that is coming into my like a

Tanya:

candy gram, or the secretary thinks it's like a candy gram, like a singer or something. And he's like, and I love you, and you're my dad. It's just, he like goes ahead and tries to sing and be the candy gram anyways. It's like, all right, I got it. Yeah. and then he realizes, okay, oh wait, and, you know, Buddy tells him, you know, like, I'm your son, and shows him, like, or says the name, and he's like, oh, and it all kind of flicks. But, yeah, it's really interesting, I think, when, He realizes who he is and he brings him home. I mean, at first he kind of has him kicked out and arrested for, because he thinks he's just like a lunatic.

Erin:

Which most people would. I mean,

Tanya:

he's dressed like an elf.

Erin:

I think I'd probably have someone arrested if they Just showed up like, yeah, like, what the heck?

Tanya:

super creepy. I actually, that's a good point. I think as I've gotten older, I don't think I realized how creepy that was. Like, I was like, Oh, yeah, that's weird. Haha. But I'm like, No, that's really weird.

Erin:

yeah, it's like, who's the stalker? That's all of a sudden saying I'm related to them and they're dressed in a self costume and they won't leave.

Tanya:

And they're acting kind of like a child and, like, really excited over, like, candy and hugs and stuff. What drugs are

Erin:

they on?

Tanya:

Yeah. It just doesn't seem, real. But, finally he realizes, oh, okay, this is actually my son after a very suspiciously quick paternity test. And, did you notice how it's, in the doctor's office?

Erin:

Well, It's like maybe Maury Povich was there,

Tanya:

Oh, yeah, he's got up the results. You are the father Oh man, you might not get that if you're not from our era, but that's just look it up. We can't even explain that to you.

Erin:

That was Maury Povich's full job, like just trying to find paternity.

Tanya:

That was his deal and his announcement. Yeah, that voice, you can hear it so clearly, like him saying that, announcing that. but, what did you think when he first actually accepts that, okay, well, after the paternity test and a few arrests and whatever but after he accepts that, okay, Buddy's my son, and the wife is you know, he tells his wife, his current wife, who he has a son with, Yeah. And the wife seems very nice and understanding, compassionate, caring, and is like, you have to bring him home. He's your son, you know, and he kind of needs some convincing towards that. And then when he comes home what did you think that it was the wife that had to convince him?

Erin:

well, the wife is complete opposite of him. She's very. Kind and caring, you know, he probably is too but just in a different way, but she just seemed very nurturing It was like look we already have one son. What's another one? Why of course I want to meet your family

Erin (2):

Yeah,

Erin:

bring him here. She it wasn't even a hesitation and she just seemed very open and welcoming and the son also was like, yeah. I wanna meet my brother who is this person?

Tanya:

And I love the way they were. So the mother and the son, the way they were so accepting of buddy and like, he kind of, you know, he's got some ways that are not typical and he likes to eat, you know, spaghetti with maple syrup at all times during the day.

Erin:

so gross.

Tanya:

Yeah, and like he's very excited about seeing a dog and petting a dog and he doesn't really know how to function as an adult in New York, right? You know, only in the North Pole, as an elf and maker of toys. So he's excited by all these new things. He just loves his dad because that's his dad in his mind, but the dad is kind of cold and distant, and you know, you kind of get the sense that maybe he wasn't like that at one point, but maybe he, as he's grown older, things that have happened in his life, he's kind of become aloof, and not very affectionate, you know, even with his wife and son, really, like the son kind of gets a little bit, upset that he's treating Buddy a particular way and is like, you know, you're never around, you're always at work and you don't care.

Erin:

You're now noticing the shiny thing this new thing.

Tanya:

yeah, and also like, you know, he saw in his brother, the way he probably has felt for a while, like, you don't really pay attention to him, and work is number one. I think even like mimics his dad at some point. when he's like kind of referring to him, he's like, oh he needs to go to work kind of thing. Like that's his primary. That's kind of the understanding of him.

Erin:

The top priority. Family second.

Tanya:

Yeah, so there's that dynamic that he's kind of walking into and Buddy just has no awareness of this because this is not the world he's lived in. He's just always been loved and accepted even though he's looked very different from everyone else around him. And here, this is his biological dad, you know, biological half brother. And the brother accepts him. The mom, who's like, his stepmom,

Erin (2):

is very

Tanya:

accepting, and they love that he builds things, the father is just kind of cold, maybe beaten down by life, and he can't really accept that Buddy is, Different. Yeah.

Erin:

He wants him to wear the suit and look like him, dress like him, you know, just not express himself as the elf or whatever he is or even have that excitement of all the newness because that also seemed to be really annoying for the dad is all the excitement that buddy was showing of, Oh my gosh, I've never seen this. It's just so exciting for him because it's new. It's the first time seeing it. First time experiencing it.

Tanya:

Yeah, and it's it, you know, that's a good point, you know, when you're talking about like he wants him to be kind of like him, like in a suit and like work and to just be quote unquote normal. I almost wonder if there's a tie there between, you know, parent child relationships, maybe father son, I don't know, whatever it is, and kind of acceptance of who maybe their child is, you know, and kind of saying, okay, they're not going to be like me. Instead they are, you know, maybe going on a different path, you know, they're not, but they're excited by things, they're more creative, they're more spontaneous, they love people, as opposed to like kind of being reserved and, you know, business like, and I kind of wonder if that's almost a mini theme in there, I know it's kind of a stretch But you know it might be kind of somebody might look at that as like acceptance of your child Right and how they are

Erin:

Yeah And how many times do we see that? you know like in different themes like as therapists or even in our own lives where family members my Parents or you know adults whoever it was like might be, it might, there might be a push in the relationship because you're not following exactly how they were or the expectations that they laid on you or that they were like, nope, this is what you should look like, these are the hobbies you should have, this is everything that I like, so you should like it.

Tanya:

Yeah, for sure. And I think that there really is. a lot of that throughout the movie the father just seems to be kind of at odds with buddy and his other son i can't remember his name

Erin (3):

yeah i don't know

Tanya:

the younger son that he has with his current life they just they're always kind of seeing and accepting Buddy and it feels like the father's kind of pushing him away even more. And then there's kind of a, you know, the point where it kind of turns around and he realizes that he needs to try and make this relationship work with Buddy. is I think when the younger son comes into the boardroom and says like, you know, dad, buddy's left, you know, and he's, I'm worried about him, kind of, you need to come find him. And the boss yells at his son and he's like, don't talk to my son that way. You know, he's kind of been feeling, not feeling this place for a little bit, you know, and he's like, I quit. And it's kind of like he goes against the grain. He's okay, I got to put family first sort of thing.

Erin (3):

Yeah.

Tanya:

I guess he saw it in the younger son, kind of the way he was like, you always put work before everybody, and Buddy is so nice and puts everybody, ahead of himself. He puts everybody in

Erin:

front, and he wants everyone to be happy, and he wants everyone to experience family and Christmas

Tanya:

Yeah. I wonder if that's kind of why the father gets very frustrated by him, because I think there's this reality in front of him that he, it's like almost like a mirror that's being held up, like, you're so not a people person, you're grouchy, you kind of keep to yourself, you're so focused on yourself and your work. And Buddy is just a constant kind of opposite to that, showing him what he wasn't, so maybe that really kind of annoyed him, I think like, you know, in group dynamics, we see that a lot too. I have clients who will come in and say like, Oh, a coworker does this or a friend does that. And like, this frustrates me or they get frustrated by me

Erin:

Or it could also be something too that the dad had and yearned to have again. And maybe he saw that in Buddy because, you know, you see the picture of him and his, Buddy's mom they look so happy and relaxed and like he was probably very chill and he chose of his current wife is very Sweet and calm and go with the flow type of thing so there must be something in him that attracts that type of Partner

Erin (2):

and like he wants that in

Erin:

his

Tanya:

Yeah, but he maybe can't produce it himself So he kind of surrounds himself with it and I think buddy was just such a stark reminder of like The contrast and yeah, what he had probably lost because he looked very carefree in that picture. He looked very, you know, like he's playing the guitar. that's just college kind of the hippie days. But yeah, so I think there's so much in family dynamics, group dynamics that can come out of that, that we see and hear a lot about, you know, and kind of like people who project things because they can't handle it themselves, or maybe they miss that they don't have that anymore, and so they, they take it out on somebody who does, you know, who maybe is just kind of enjoying themselves. So that definitely is something we either hear about or, you know, probably know about in our own lives. that's a part of a lot of interactions. Or it can be, the interactions with getting along with people. And another point that I thought was really interesting, and this is something I did read, and I forget where I read it but it was somewhere in an article that said the possibility of Buddy's always like, you know, kind of so excited and he's like, you know, it's like here thing. I love it. Trying to get. is, you know, always believing in Santa because he grew up with Santa, right? And he knows that, and he, that's just a part of his life. And he doesn't even question it. That's just his full belief. And when people are not believing that Santa is real, or if he feels like, you know, when he goes to New York, there's not a lot of Christmas spirit and the father's very much like, Santa's not real. it's that it may be kind of an equivalent to maybe a mental health theme, you know, or maybe recognition of other, you know, kind of defining characteristics of your child. Right. And saying like, if I can't see it, I don't believe it. Kind of thing and so I wonder if there's kind of a crossover in that again Just kind of a theory not something that's blatantly pointed out. I mean, I think we both like it for the family

Erin:

Yeah, we don't like it cuz like movie because if he has it whether he's has mental health disorder ADHD or something or Yeah, but Or he's the reason why kids should not, or adults should not eat 20 pounds of sugar a day.

Tanya:

probably not good for your physical or

Erin:

mental health.

Tanya:

Yeah. It's funny though, he doesn't seem to have, like, the sugar crash. He just kinda Well, cause he just keeps going. He keeps, he has it. But it, at some point it would seem like it would crash. It's really weird.

Erin:

Yeah, Tonya. Tonya is going into the medical aspect of why Buddy, let's worry about buddy's blood sugar.

Tanya:

Yeah. No, it's and we're you know, we always kind of pick up the mental health theme So that's why we're talking about it But really this is just you know A great movie that if you really look at it, there are a lot of mental health ties

Erin:

There's also relationship.

Tanya:

Yeah, and the, acceptance, identity, you know, family interactions. And there's also an important part is the interaction he has with Jovi, right? Is that her name? Yeah, Jovi.

Erin:

oh, you know me, I can never remember names. Yeah, Zoey, Do Chanel, or whatever. Do Chanel, yeah.

Tanya:

Yeah she has an amazing voice.

Erin (2):

Yeah, she does.

Tanya:

Yeah, so, I think his relationship, he kind of, he meets Jovi, and she's oh, you're a weirdo, you're trying to hit on me, you're just putting on an act, and then she kind of realizes his earnestness. I think she also feels a little bit like an outsider. And so I think she, they kind of relate on that. And she just loves who he is as a person and he sees her and appreciates that. I think that also speaks to the fact that he was so, you know, he was brought up just accepting people and welcoming them. I think Jovi never really seemed to have that with other people. She seemed a little lonely, a little on the outside. We don't get too much into her life, but yeah, she kind of, it seemed like she

Erin:

kind of pushed people away and. Wanted to isolate a little bit or be invisible.

Erin (2):

Yeah,

Erin:

and you know elf the character was anything but invisible, or subtle, you know, so it's like, hello, he's here. And then, so then if she's standing next to him, then people are noticing her, and it's a little different.

Tanya:

he's the loudest thing around, in all forms. Yeah, you can't get away from him. Yeah, so she kind of became more visible. with him because he just he's himself he doesn't have any kind of social filters

Erin (3):

yeah

Tanya:

built in because he's just not from this world which maybe there's a little bit of kind of you know some people may interpret you know that as you know maybe possibly being on the spectrum

Erin (3):

Yeah.

Tanya:

You know, socially and I know we're not diagnosing, we're just kind of trying to put in some stuff here, you know, to kind of be like maybe that's another way of understanding it, you know, that has mental health themes, but he, I mean, he's quite literally from another world, but, I mean, I've had clients who are on the spectrum who've said they, they feel that way, you know, that's kind of how they, they see the world, obviously not everyone, but so yeah, there's a lot of different things, I think, in this movie that maybe, you know, if looked at with a mental health lens, you can see a lot of different things. Yeah. Or if you just sit down and watch it and enjoy it.

Erin:

and yeah.

Tanya:

Yeah. He's just, I mean, that's what I do. I sit and enjoy it and like it and it just kind of popped in my head,

Erin:

Yeah, I mean because it you could analyze Buddy and figure out like why does he act? How he does it could be his you know, his childhood abandonment issues. He had to create this different persona like who knows why he's so over the top and just ridiculous because even in the North Pole, he is a little extra. All the other elves are not, like, as out of control as he is.

Tanya:

Yeah, he's different, but, like, in a way that we see how, you know, the mother and the son can appreciate him, and of course, you know, the father comes around to it at the end but, you know, it takes him some time. Probably because he, maybe that's another thing, is he couldn't, the father couldn't really accept, you know, himself the way that he was, so he couldn't accept his buddy. Yeah, overall, it's just a great movie. It's really, I think, something that a lot of people turn to for their Christmas movies. I do know some people though, I do, that are like, they can't, they don't like Elf. Not really because of the movie itself, but maybe because Will Ferrell, isn't it? They're not Will Ferrell fans.

Erin:

little, if you just know Will Ferrell from like Stepbrothers or other stupid stuff, it's like he's You know, he's an idiot, but it's just I mean they're funny But it's just like some people just like some people don't like adam sandler who are those people but you know, like there's just some people just don't like that type of humor I used to not be a huge will ferrell fan but then I think I watched other stuff. because I was on the adam sandler train I liked him, but Then I watched Elf and I was like, Oh my gosh, he is hysterical. And then it made me want to start watching some of the other movies that I was like, I don't want to watch it. But then I was like, Okay, I get his humor. He's really funny.

Tanya:

Yeah, he's unique, I think, and his like, in and of himself the actor, Will Ferrell. So I think it really shows through in Buddy the Elf. Yeah, but yeah, his humor is has a wide spectrum, I would say, but it's Like, Also, at the same time, very much kind of like Gnish. I don't know. I remember him from Saturday Night Live, and I just, I didn't like him. I was he seems really truly angry. Like, I just was like, I don't get, like I just didn't get it. And then I think I started liking him in like Stepbrothers, I was like, Oh, he's actually kind of funny. This is like stupid, funny. Okay. Stepbrothers was, yeah, Stepbrothers. And then I was like, I get it. I, you know, I wasn't a big fan of Anchorman. I wasn't into that. I don't know.

Erin:

I didn't like that one either. It was just, yeah.

Tanya:

I didn't understand. It just seemed like so hyped up. when I watched it, I was like, okay.

Erin:

Maybe I just need stupid. stupid for my comedy. I don't know.

Tanya:

I don't know. It's really, it's different because he's kind of all over the place. Like he is kind of lowbrow and that, but he's also very like, acts very sophisticated. I don't know. He's a different one. So I think that really depends. Like there are some people that are just like, I will not watch that movie and I just think, wow, they're missing out on something really great. You know, maybe they might end up liking him.

Erin:

Cause it's not just him. I mean, the cast is really good. it's funny. some people have different movies that they choose to watch at Christmas time, or maybe they just do like the Hallmark movies or something like we've, I know we've talked about that before, some people just like to do that and they might not want to watch a certain Christmas movie, the same one every year.

Tanya:

Yeah, and some people don't like Christmas movies and some people don't celebrate Christmas But it's it, yeah, it just may not be your thing. There's also you know, so many other types of Christmas movies that just kind of depends. I feel like I've definitely changed my tastes over time. Like I don't really remember what I watched as a kid. Probably like whatever was on TV, you know, like National Lighthouse, Christmas Vacation and like the Rudolph thing, like cartoon or whatever. I always liked,

Erin:

Rudolph was good, but I always felt, I don't know, Santa was a big jerk in Rudolph. But I really liked Frosty. I liked Rudolph, but I just, I don't know, because those are all we had. Yeah, but I really loved Frosty. And I used to like, I think I told you, I used to like the Christmas story, but then the past, I don't know, several years, I was like, eh, I don't want to watch it. It's just so negative. It feels very, it's good, but then, something about it's just not as, I guess it's not as positive as Elf to me. I feel like Elf just, The whole movie just feels like, yeah, there's some parts where you're like, aw, poor buddy, or you feel bad for different characters, but overall, it makes you feel good, you know? Yeah,

Tanya:

I was never into the Christmas story. I, it wasn't like, I don't know what it is, not positive or negative, I just never really liked it. It's just kind of annoying. Yeah, You know, I think as I got older, I really, I liked Bad Santa, because it was just, like, so anti Christmas, you know, or like, kind of anti, like, Santa, like, the sleeping things. And then I liked the Hallmark movies, and now I'm kind of, I would say my favorite is, like, National Lampoon's. I do, I really do like Elf, but like, it's probably not my, it's just kind of, it's a staple. It's always there.

Erin:

I love, I really like the Santa Claus's. Like I like Tim Allen. Yeah, I've watched all of them and I like the show. They have a Santa Claus show too, which is really good. It has Tim Allen in it. Oh, really? And I highly recommend it. Yeah, it's really good. It's I think it's supposed to be after all the Santa Claus movies, and then I think there's a newer Santa Claus movie. I think there's like three or four Santa Claus movies now, and the show. That's pretty good. That's interesting. So that is, that's, yeah, that's a real I really like that one. But yeah I try to watch all the Christmas movies, you know, I'm not a big, I don't think I've ever seen National Lampoon or. Because I watched the show, like, the movie, like, National Lampoon's, like, the regular, and I was like, ugh, I don't know, Chevy Chase yeah, the vacation one, yeah. I don't think I ever watched the Christmas one because of Chevy Chase.

Tanya:

See, and that's interesting, like, with Will Ferrell, some people won't watch. Yeah. Like, but I totally get the Chevy Chase one. Because, yeah, he's kinda like, it kinda depends, it's hit or miss with him, but. Yeah, Chevy Chase is, I, he was. I think he was known to be not so, friendly on sets, and it kind of comes through a lot.

Erin:

yeah, you can kind of sense his arrogance or something about it.

Tanya:

Yeah,

Erin:

There's something there,

Tanya:

Yeah, and they're, so, you know, I kind of wanted to ask, in the age of sequels, Yeah. Could you ever see a sequel for Elf? they have a musical. Yeah, and they have live plays, you know, of Elf and everything, so I'm wondering, like, do you think there could ever be a second Elf? I mean, there's nothing I've ever heard about this, I'm just wondering, purely for, just, curious. No,

Erin:

I guess it would be like, Elf having a 9 to 5 job, just Buddy just kind of, like, what would they do? You know, with their kids, and then they'd still, I don't know, I don't think they can, because everyone's dead, right? Like all the Bob Newhart is, the

Tanya:

dad, Bob

Erin:

Newhart is, and gosh, the dad who, the person who played his dad is dead, too

Tanya:

yeah, so there's, I mean, I was just thinking, how at the end they see him, visiting the, South Pole, and they have, kids, Jovi and

Erin:

Yeah, I guess they could, or maybe they decide to move there, and Santa thinks he's so great, and he takes over, you know. Yeah, I mean, they can get creative

Tanya:

about it.

Erin:

I don't know.

Tanya:

I don't know.

Erin:

Maybe the second generation.

Tanya:

Yeah, I'm not saying I'm looking for it or that I would even be like so interested, but I do like to watch things that have sequels. Like, I'll give it a shot.

Erin:

Buddy the Elf gets old? Yeah.

Tanya:

yeah, and so that's, this is definitely a part of our tradition around Christmas. I wouldn't say I like absolutely make sure, but I definitely always have it like kind of playing the background if I'm, you know, decorating the tree kind of thing.

Erin:

Yeah,

Tanya:

you know what else I was just thinking

Erin:

I was thinking of another Christmas thing that I feel like Wizard of Oz used to always be on around Christmas time, like growing up.

Tanya:

Probably was, yeah.

Erin:

think it was always on TV, just random. 1980s memory. Yeah, probably was. I would recommend Elf.

Tanya:

Yeah, for sure. I think it's good to incorporate into your Christmas Traditions, you know, and kind of, if that's your thing, you know, if you are very anti Will Ferrell, we're here to say, Give it a shot, If you find it's too much, well, okay. It's just not your thing, but this may be different because, He is different.

Erin:

We like to support here at Wicked Psychotherapist, we like to support the underdogs or the people that people might not always like, like Nicholas Cage, Will Ferrell, we're here for that. we will always support those type of actors.

Tanya:

Yeah. Those people, I mean, like, yeah, it really is divided in that, like, there are camps that really hate them and really love them. it's really pretty divided with them. So we're both in the fan base, I would say, for both of them.

Erin:

Definitely as our Moonstruck episode has proven, and as this episode has proven for Will Ferrell.

Tanya:

For sure. Yeah, so we wonder, you know, what are your Christmas traditions? Is Elf a part of it? You know, are there other things that you look at, tell us why you Will Ferrell or why you don't? You know, we'd love to hear from you.

Erin:

send us a message on, like, our fan mail, or send us, On Instagram or anything

Tanya:

we're on Facebook, Instagram at Wicked Psychotherapist. Leave us a review it helps a lot or just write us something let us know, you know If you want to listen to something we're always open to that. So yeah, all right So don't forget stay wicked

Erin:

and keep your mind. Well. All right. Well, have a good week. Bye. Bye. Hey guys See you next week

We Wish You a Merry Christmas And, uh, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

People on this episode

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Erin

Host
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Tanya Santos

Host