Shining Time Station: 'Tis A Gift
"'Tis A Gift" is the first of five one-hour Shining Time Station specials and the only one to be put out on VHS. This was the last episode of Shining Time that would involve Ringo Starr as Mr. Conductor.
Contents
The Story
It's Christmastime on the Indian Valley Railroad. Everyone is getting ready for the holiday season. The station is busier than ever. Stacy and Schemer argue about who will play the part of Santa's Helper. Schemer even goes so far as to try to trick the judges not to vote for Stacy. His lies include:
- She trains rats
- She's an alien
- She smokes big, cheap, smelly cigars for breakfast.
Meanwhile an interesting man named Mr. Nicholas arrives at the station and claims to be waiting for a train called the Northern Star. But, there is no such train! He also seems to know a great deal about everyone's past, including that Stacy used to have a dog, and J.B. King used to collect ships in a bottle.
Tanya and Matt are helping to decorate the station, but aren't thrilled when a snobby girl named Vicki arrives. She never smiles. After a talk with Mr. Nicholas, she tries to be good, but accidentally knocks over the Christmas Tree. With the help of Mr. Nicholas, Vicki learns the true spirit of the holidays.
Mr. Conductor pops in from time to time with two "Thomas" stories. And tries to help Matt and Tanya see that Vicki might not be too bad after-all. J.B. King continues the never-ending search for Mr. Conductor. Harry's cousin, Tucker, visits the station to help get everything ready.
In the end, Vicki learns the ture spirit of the holidays, everyone gets to play Santa's Helper, Matt, Tanya, and Vicki become friends, Mr. Nicholas, who, if you haven't figured this out by now, is Santa Claus, catches his train, Mr. Conductor goes with him, and everyone learns a holiday lesson. That nothing is impossible, unless you stop believing in it.
Continuity
- "'Tis A Gift" would appear to come somewhere inbetween "Is This the End...?" and "Scare Dares".
- At the end, Mr. Conductor, goes off to the North Pole with Mr. Nicholas. This is referenced to at the beginning of "Scare Dares".
- When "'Tis A Gift" was released on Television, Mr. Conductor tells Matt and Tanya the story, "Thomas, Terence, and the Snow". On the Video release, Mr. Conductor tells them "Thomas' Christmas Party", but the segway into the story stays the same, leading to an error in continuity.
Extras
As with all Shining Time Station episodes, there are several segments which tie-in to the story and teach the lesson of the episode. On "'Tis A Gift", the extras are:
- Juke Box Band: "Over the River and Through the Woods"
- Thomas the Tank Engine: "Thomas' Christmas Party" (Video Release Only)
- Thomas the Tank Engine: "Terence the Tractor" (TV Release Only)
- Juke Box Band: "Jingle Bells"
- Juke Box Band: "It's Christmas Time at the Railway Station"
- Thomas the Tank Engine: "Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree"
- Music Player: "The Hobo Song"
Cast
Ringo Starr as Mr. Conductor
Jonathan Freeman as Tito Swing
Didi Conn as Stacy Jones
Nicole Leach as Tanya
Mart Hulswit as J.B. King
Bobo Lewis as Midge Smoot
Jerome Dempsey as Mayor Flopdinger
Brian O'Connor as Schemer
The Flexitoon Puppets as the Jukebox Puppet Band
Olga Felgemacher Marin as Didi The Drummer
Craig Marin as Rex Boy
Alan Semok as Tex Boy
Vanece Thomas as Grace the Bass
Jason Woliner as Matt Jones
Lloyd Bridges as Mr. Nicolas
Rachel Miner as Vicki
