Yogi's First Christmas, which I saw for first time Christmas time 1980, was an amusing twist on that famous cartoon character and his friends. It was about Yogi's being awakened by the Christmas Party at the Jellystone Lodge, how Yogi joined BooBoo, Cindy, Ranger Smith, Huck, and other friends in Christmas joy. The cartoon was also educational in that it showed that it is not only Grinches like Herman the Hermit would want to spoil Christmas. Snively, nephew of Sophie Throckmorton, proprietress of Jellystone Lodge, was bent on spoiling the party, calling singing Christmas songs corny and showing no interest in any of the activities that made up the Christmas celebration, as if he thought such activities "unmanly", which they are NOT! Near the end he changed his mind but was initially deprived by his Aunt Sophie; after Herman the Hermit tried to feed him wretched food, Aunt Sophie gave in and promised to allow him to take part IF he would eat what was served and made no further complaints. Most likely, Snively was raised the WRONG WAY, to believe too much in the superhuman male-subhuman female dichotomy that has been all too prevalent in this IMMATURE society of ours. THAT is what caused Snively to behave badly; Aunt Sophie was a nice lady who meant well, and wanted Snively to act like a DECENT PERSON and NOT conform to the naughty side of the frontier spirit, and DID NOT make excuses for Snively(the boies-will-be-boies floogie). Snively's actions (until his aunt gave him another chance) are eloquent of just how immature our society is, and how many people believe so strongly in the horse manure that society reinforces (like the superhuman male-subhuman female dichotomy). In that respect, Yogi's First Chritmas was really educational.

How much I loved Yogi Bear cartoons when I was little.This period in the early eighties was the lowest point for the HB 60's characters. After Laff-A-Lympics and Scooby cloning, these holiday episodes of Yogi, Flintstones, Casper and Scooby Doo must stand as how low the characters would sink.From sudden song singing that wakes Yogi up, to Ranger Smith telling Booboo the rich lady will sell the lodge because Yogi carried a tray of food upstairs and hasn't returned.And why was Yogi wearing ice skates in the hotel? Suspense would consist of Ranger Smith suddenly chasing after Yogi and wanting Yogi back in his cave, to Yogi feeling he must jump out of windows to get away from Ranger Smith. Just too forced plot development.Herman Hermit was another attempt at Yosemite Sam. HB would strive to have their own Yosemite Sam, as well as a handful of tries at getting the Tasmanian Devil (the best known one being the Frankenstones' Hardrock).Tho it was convoluted, there was greater plot development (and that really isn't saying much) with Yogi being promoted in the lodge business.And how about Cindy's seductive dance toward Booboo? What was that all about? And Booboo would sing a really meaningless song about hope.The scraped together HB characters here were Huck, Snag, Augie Doggy and Doggy Daddy. None of the others, like Quickdraw or Magilla Gorilla, turned up.And that nauseatingly peppy song turns up in the Casper's first Christmas cartoon too.Ah, my dear friends, where have you gone? Yogi and his gang would be subjected to Yogi's Space Race and Yo Yogi after this, but this period here, when the Saturday morning cartoons were subjected to that infamous cartoon strike and reruns were re-distributed instead, making what was supposed to show up look much much worse, really was an incredible lowpoint for the HB line.

So nice to see Yogi again - & Boo Boo, Augie and his dad Daddy Doggy, Huckleberry Hound, Snagglepuss, and Ranger Smith.Yogi & Boo Boo are hibernating until April which makes Ranger Smith very happy at the Jellystone Park / Lodge. The manager of it is Mr. Dingwell & he's anticipating the arrival of the owner, Mrs. Sophie Throckmorton & her nephew Snidely. She wants to sell it due to some strange going ons last season during Christmas Carnival Week. Herman the Hermit hates Christmas & will do whatever it takes to shut down the lodge. Everyone's singing wakes Yogi & Boo Boo up & since they usually sleep through Christmas, they don't want to miss this one - it's their 1st Christmas (hence the name.) Yogi & Boo Boo save Mrs. T. & her bratty nephew from an avalanche, which was caused by Herman. Herman keeps doing nasty stuff & each time Yogi's the hero & gets promotions on top of promotions. Ranger Smith wants to put Yogi back in his cave / St. Louis Zoo! Cindi's awake too - she's a female bear who likes Yogi. Snidely keeps losing contests that they have, gets mad & runs away to Herman's hut. They bond since they both don't like Christmas & team up to try & ruin everything. Mrs. T. decides not to sell but rather to bring orphans up to the lodge throughout the year & donate it as an Orphanage Getaway & promotes Yogi to Christmas Carnival Director.What a good, fun holiday classic for the kid in all of us.

This is one of the best Christmas cartoons out there. Every year without fail, my family watches it. We can't let the holiday season go by without Yogi's First Christmas! On a scale of 1 to 10, this cartoon gets a 15!