Story by Craig Bartlett, Steve Viksten, and Joe Ansolabehere
Written by Steve Viksten
Storyboard Direction by Tuck Tucker, Stark Howell, Kelly James, and Jamie Mitchell
Animation Direction by Larry Leichliter and Steve Socki
(Only Jamie Mitchell received a "Directed By" credit)
Storyboard Artists: Derek Drymon, Tricia Garcia, Kelly James, Rob Porter
Cast:
Arnold - Toran Caudell
Gerald - Jamil W. Smith
Helga - Francesca Marie Smith
Phoebe - Anndi L. McAfee
Rhonda - Olivia Hack
Stinky - Christopher P. Walberg
Grandpa - Dan Castellaneta
Grandma - Tress MacNeille
Ernie - Dom Irrera
Mr. Hyunh - Baoan Coleman
Oskar - Steve Viksten
Big Bob Pataki - Maurice LaMarche
Miriam Pataki - Kath E. Soucie
Mai - Hiep Thi Le
Mr. Bailey - Vincent Schiavelli
* Well, Mr. Hyunh never actually says he's from Vietnam nor that it was 1975 (he mentions that he is from Vietnam in "Snow"), but he's mentioned in "Snow" that that's where he's from, and the war did end there in 1975
* Speaking of Vietnam, in the scene with Arnold and Gerald on a bench right after they leave Mr. Bailey's office after they bring back his shopping, behind Helga is a poster with "Saigon Helicopter" (and a picture of a helicopter) on it. This is a reference to the musical Miss Saigon, which takes place at the end of the Vietnam War, and includes a scene with a helicopter on stage (at the end of the war, a number of what was then South Vietnamese civilians tried to evacuate on helicopters - the only way out - because they felt that once the North Vietnamese government took power, they would be considered traitors and killed).
* How did the soldiers who took Mai away know what her name was? Somebody knew, because they obviously found her just by her name
* Grandma celebrates three holidays: Thanksgiving (when she greets Mr. Hyunh), Independence Day (she plays "Yankee Doodle Dandy" during the second Secret Santa drawing), and New Year's Day (she wears a "Happy New Year" sash on Christmas Day)
* Someone suggested an explanation for the "Nancy Spumoni" name: singer Dino Spumoni ("The Old Building", "Partners") is supposed to be like Frank Sinatra, whose daughter Nancy had a famous song titled "These Boots Are Made For Walking"
* Helga is splashed by Mr. Green's meat truck
* There's a "Stark's Moving Company" van; Stark Howell is one of the show's regular directors (there are also stores named Tildale's and Hoske's, but those names do not appear in the credits)
* In the "Secret Santa" bowl, there should have been just one slip per person (otherwise, what names go on the "extra" slips?), but there were far more slips in the bowl than people involved (and what happens if someone pulls their own name out?)
* Helga calls Rhonda "Rhondaloid", which makes more sense after you watch "Rhonda's Glasses" in the second season
* The front of the government building says Cave, Quivi Sumus, which, I have been told, can mean "Beware, Whoever We Are"; I assume the writers meant Cave, Quivi Estis, which is Latin for "Beware, Whoever You (plural) Are", which is a little more appropriate for government buildings and I should know, having worked in one since 1984...
* How did Mr. Bailey know Arnold and Gerald were nine years old?
* The list Mr. Bailey gave Arnold never said what size snow boots to buy; how would Arnold know what size would fit, and for that matter, how would Helga know that her size would fit Mr. Bailey's daughter?
* When Helga comes home, she calls her mother "Miriam"; once Miriam gives Helga the pressent, Helga calls her "Mom"
* When Mr. Bailey leaves on Christmas Eve, he's not carrying his packages, but when Helga appears with the boots, he has some of the bags, although not all of the ones Arnold was carrying earlier
* Unlike most other shows' Christmas episodes (especially non-cartoon ones), nobody in this episode sings a Christmas carol, although Big Bob and Miriam sing half of the chorus of "Jingle Bells" (and there are a few instrumental jazz versions of carols, including "Jingle Bells" over the closing credits)
* One thing still escapes me: when Helga came up with this great plan to give (or, presumably, sell) her snow boots to Mr. Bailey and then possibly stay up all night with him on Christmas Eve to find Mai, how did her parents take it - and if she didn't tell them, how is she going to explain where her snow boots (that her mother stood in line for 18 hours for) are (and how did she manage to get the boots into a box and get the box out without anybody noticing)?
