On Friday, December 6, at 9 pm EST, Netflix released A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter. This can only be watched on Netflix.
The special is rated TV-14 and was filmed in front of a live audience within two days.
In this holiday special, Sabrina Carpenter performs songs from her holiday EP, “Fruitcake.” She sings popular Christmas songs with friends such as Shania Twain, Chappel Roan, Kali Uchis, and Tyla.
This was enjoyable for me to watch. I would recommend this to anyone who likes Sabrina Carpenter.
Ratings
On IMBD this is rated 6.5/10 while on Rotten Tomatoes it has a 100% rating. Sam Wrench directs it and is 50 minutes long. I would rate this a 7/10.
Commercials
Before the special started, there were two commercials for Carpenter’s collaboration with Redken. She promoted a line of hair care products that she says she uses. This is controversial to some people because there is a rumor that she is wearing wigs. I do not think that her hair is a wig, but if it is, I think it is weird to do a commercial like that.
Buy Me Presents
While singing “Buy Me Presents,” I love that she looks like Marilyn Monroe in, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” I like that it does not feel like I am just watching a music video. It is cool with the dancing and being able to see the audience.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
She sings a take on “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” that talks about her special. Her outfit is so beautiful with white fur and red sequins.
After that, there is a little break to show her getting ready and putting up the setup. I think that is cool, but it would have been better if it had been at the end.
This Christmas
Tyla arrives and sings “This Christmas,” with Carpenter. She is wearing a silky red two-piece with beautiful bows. I love her choker with a huge pendant that sits on her chest. Carpenter is wearing a nude and silver bodysuit that looks like she is wearing nothing with long feather pieces flowing down. I would not have expected this duo ever but I think it is perfect. Their voices mix perfectly while singing and sound so natural. I am so happy for Tyla because she is an amazing singer. I hope her feature on this special will bring her more fame.
After they sing together Carpenter talks about her childhood Christmas. I wish for this to be at the end too but this cut is more natural than the other.
Santa Doesn’t Know You Like I Do
While singing “Santa Doesn’t Know You Like I Do,” Carpenter is wearing a long sheer robe with white fur. This is my favorite song on her EP. I like how it was performed but I kind of wish the set was extra.
Afterwards, it cuts to Santa singing “Espresso,” in the mirror. It was very funny.
Santa Baby
Shania Twain plays Mrs. Claus in the skit. After the skit, she and Carpenter sing, “Santa Baby.” I would have never expected these two to sing together. I like the way that they sing separately but I do not like how they are on the same song. They both have a different type of way of singing. I do not think that it matches that well. Twain is wearing a cute white sequin dress while Carpenter is wearing a black dress that looks like tinsel.
Skits
Carpenter sits down and has a conversation with her friends, Megan Stalter and Owen Thiele. Carpenter introduces her friends to her boyfriend, Nick. The friends are trying to convince Carpenter (“Debbie”) that her boyfriend is Santa. I think this is very funny.
Carpenter is singing a funny song about what to get her Dave, her brother-in-law. Dave is played by Kyle Mooney.
Nico Hiraga is in the next skit about ghosting Carpenter and two other girls. This is funny and mocks how some younger relationships are today. This skit is my favorite and is the funniest. Quinta Brunson joins the skit as another girl Hiraga has ghosted. She is the spirit of Ghosted Present while Carpenter is the spirit of Ghosted Past. Cara Delevingne also joins this skit as the spirit of Ghosted Future.
There is another behind the scenes after this skit and it feels kind of awkward. It starts kind of abruptly and ends the same.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Kali Uchis joins Carpenter and they both sing, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” Uchis is wearing a cute white polka dot romper with a black and white flower belt. Carpenter is wearing a red lingerie set. This duo sounds amazing together. Their voices blend nicely and they sing on the same level.
Last Christmas
Chappel Roan joins Carpenter on stage to sing, “Last Christmas.” They are both wearing velvet two pieces with a long white fur coat. This collaboration is well-loved by fans. That is because a few months ago, Carpenter covered Roan’s song, “Good Luck, Babe!” and it went viral. I love the way they sing together. They sound amazing and I hope for songs together in the future.
Many fans have expressed a desire for these songs to be on streaming platforms. I would love that and stream all of the songs besides “Santa Baby.”
Cindy Lou Who
Carpenter sings “Cindy Lou Who,” a song from her EP. She is playing piano and singing while wearing a beautiful flowing sheer purple dress. While she sings the screen is in black and white. The background is a living room with Christmas lights and a tree.
A Nonsense Christmas
She does a quick change into a red sequin body suit with fur gloves. In this outfit, she sings “A Nonsense Christmas.” This song is a remix from the original song, “Nonsense.”
Kyle Mooney, Cara Drlevigne, and Owen Thiele try to give Carpenter Nonsense Outros in between skits. A Nonsense Outro is at the end of her song, “Nonsense,” during the Emails I Can’t Send Tour. These are three funny lines that rhyme and were different at every concert.
Instead of using her Nonsense Outro recommendations from her friends, she made her own. “ Well, here we are my special at its ending. Love you all and thank you for attending. I can’t believe I kept it family-‘friendling.’”
At the end, a bunch of bloopers from filming are shown. I wish that the behind-the-scenes were at the end too.
Other Opinions
Sophia Vitalie, a student at Colonia High School watched this special and had some thoughts on it. “I thought it was cute, and the guest singers were a good touch. Obviously, my favorite one was Chappel Roan. And I like how there were little clips in between songs and some of them were her talking about how she celebrated Christmas.”
Vitalie and I have different opinions on the little clips in between songs. While I feel like they could have been to the end and did not care for them, Vitalie liked them.
She also said, “It’s different from most holiday specials and it kinda feels like an SNL episode.” I also felt that it was like an SNL episode.
