The last time I was this entertained by a Christmas special was in lockdown, when Mariah Carey waved, regally, from a sleigh, for what I remember being about seven hours. But that was four years ago and there hasn’t been a decent one since. So Santa hats off to Sabrina Carpenter for coming up with a holiday special that feels entirely of the moment, right down to its starry duets, carefully curated off-the-cuff moments and internet-baiting comedy skits. Netflix has given her an unlimited budget, she says drolly, as long as she goes viral.
What Carpenter has pulled together in A Nonsense Christmas is a buzzy blend of comedy sketches in the style of Saturday Night Live and duets with other pop stars who are similarly hot to go. While every production is a miracle of teamwork, the behind-the-scenes interludes suggest Carpenter has had more input than simply being moved around like a marionette. The comedy is fine, the duets are fun, but it is the Carpenter charisma that keeps it all flowing nicely. Fans will have a field day with clips of her as a toddler, asking for cake instead of Christmas presents, or gags about skimpy costumes, although newcomers may need a primer on a running joke about the ad-libbing at the end of her 2022 hit Nonsense.
