A Christmas legend

By CAROL LI

ONLINE EDITOR

   “This Christmas isn’t going to be great, it’s going to be legendary!”

 On Nov. 26, Singer John Legend and his wife model Chrissy Teigen spread holiday cheer on their NBC special suitably named “A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy.” From clever one-line puns to winks at the camera, the show no doubt depicts the couple’s friendly personalities and love for Christmas. Throughout the show, features such as cooking contests, celebrity appearances and songs from Legend’s newest album keep the viewers engaged and laughing.

 Despite its extreme cheesiness, “A legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy” is a must watch because of its well-planned scenes and Christmas spirit.

 Already, at the start of the forty-nine-minute special, Legend and Teigen have the audience wooed. The introduction includes their children Luna and Miles Stephen, and other members of their family. The families are all smiles and their introduction smoothly leads into their first scene of Legend entering the house. The fact that Legend and Teigen included their families onto the special provides an authentic feeling of a Christmas gathering, and also conveying the importance of spending time with loved ones during the holidays.

  In the special, Legend and Teigen accurately portray the stress of Christmas, such as hosting an enjoyable party with delicious eats. While numerous forms of entertainment that are set around the holidays merely focus on positive aspects during this time of year, Legend and Teigen do not hide the fact that there is more than fun and games to pull off a successful planning.

 Another factor of the special that stands out from ordinary Christmas shows is the relationship between Legend and Teigen. Teigen never holds back to insult Legend, but everytime Legend seems unphased and laughs it off.

 For instance, after the introduction, Legend and Teigen make their first appearance while bickering about the importance of food for Christmas. Teigen even goes to insult Legend’s gingerbread man when he encourages her to relax from cooking. While Teigen may come off as almost cruel to Legend, this only signifies their healthy relationship and an authentic dynamic where they are not afraid to be themselves.

Furthermore, the couple exhibits their hilarious competitive streak when determining who has the better Mac and Cheese dish. Prior to the contest, Teigen sabotaged her husband by putting his dish in Solo cups which gives the scene a humorous feel. This scene also depicts Teigen’s successful career as a cookbook author, and her crass remarks at Legend no doubt add a spicy twist to the scene.

 In many parts of the special, Teigen seems especially busy and is working on making the Christmas feast when celebrity Kris Jenner makes a special appearance. The celebrity even attempts to convince Teigen to change the spelling of her name from “Chrissy” to “Krissy” because “Everything’s better spelled with a K!” This act alludes to Jenner “momager” personality, as she oversees all five of her daughter’s careers which is seen in the show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Jenner’s daughter Kim Kardashian also appeared in the show, and hints at making beauty products specifically for males.  

  Having a collaboration with numerous celebrities gives the audience a hook to keep on watching, because it leaves them wondering with how many more familiar faces they will see. As each featured celebrity brings their unique personality into the show, “A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy” transforms from a common production for publicity to an especially unique Christmas episode.

 However, Legend and Teigen not only spread the holiday spirit to famous individuals but also their fans. The special also includes  John Legend and Chrissy Teigen going caroling with Meghan Trainor, Darren Criss, Raphael Saadiq and Jane Lynch and surprising people at their homes. Everyone is excited: from shocked faces to wide eyes, the families quickly shake off their reactions and join in dancing and singing. The caroling goes well, and both performers and families seem to have a great experience.

 The caroling adds a one-of-a-kind element to  “A Legendary Christmas with John and Chrissy.” For example, many shows only include staged, well-rehearsed performances. Legend and Teigen’s show break the stereotypes and actually go door to door to carol, reminding the audience to take time to celebrate the holidays and participate in traditions that may be overlooked in today’s society.

 The most impactful element of the special, however, is at the end. In the last few minutes, Legend is seated at a piano, and addresses the audience to have a Merry Christmas, and focus on being present with family rather than having presents. This message is followed by a performance of “Merry Merry Christmas,” a song in his new album A Legendary Christmas.  Although the majority of the special is lighthearted and filled with laughs, Legend is still able to incorporate a heartfelt message to pass onto the audience, which can be a beneficial reminder to some who forget the real values of the holidays.

 Ultimately, Legend and Teigen have created a show that will leave them a lasting, legendary excitement for the holidays.