Sabrina Carpenter Celebrates the Holidays on Netflix
By Joseph Montgomery
Among the many trends that best define 2024, one that stands out from them all would have to be Sabrina Carpenter, especially with the astounding success of her most recent album “Short ‘n’ Sweet."
Released back in late August, Carpenter’s sixth studio album became her first ever to reach the number one position in the Billboard 200 chart, where it remained for about four weeks. Two of its singles, “Espresso” and “Please, Please, Please,” also reached the top three songs featured on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The widespread recognition achieved by the album has brought Carpenter into the spotlight with her first appearance on “Saturday Night Live” as a musical guest; her own interview on the talk show/hot wing-eating challenge “Hot Ones”; and even a total of six nominations for the sixty-seventh Grammy Awards to take place on February 01, 2025.
With 2024 proving to be such a triumphant year for the pop singer, it definitely seems fitting to see her cap it off with her first ever holiday special.
“A Nonsense Christmas,” named after Carpenter’s holiday overlay of her 2022 single “Nonsense,” premiered on Netflix on December 6. The special is directed by Sam Wrench, known for directing and producing specials and documentaries involving music stars such as Taylor Swift, Mary J. Blige, and Olivia Rodrigo.
Lasting for about fifty minutes, “A Nonsense Christmas” stars Carpenter as she hosts an elaborate holiday special with comedy skits and music numbers, featuring her signature visual style and humor.
While “A Nonsense Christmas” pays homage to the classic holiday specials hosted by larger-than-life musical legends along the likes of Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and Dean Martin, it stands out as something uniquely Carpenter through the incorporation of glamorous pop aesthetics and tongue-in-cheek humor that can be found in her music videos for hits such as “Espresso.” This may also explain its TV-14 rating, which Carpenter remarks grants her a maximum of three times to drop a clear F-bomb throughout the special.
Her trademark humor can be best demonstrated in the original song “The Most Nonsense Time of the Year,” in which she teases whatever quirks and surprises the special has in store for its viewers. She also proudly states how the special is funded by “an unlimited budget” from Netflix “as long as I go viral, so I’m gonna break the set just to do it.”
Throughout the special, the pop star performs covers of Christmas classics alongside other music sensations, including Tyla, Shania Twain, Kali Uchis, and Chappell Roan. She also performs a few of her singles from the Christmas-themed album “Fruitcake” — namely, “Buy Me Presents"; “Santa Doesn’t Know You Like I Do”; “Cindy Lou Who”; and, of course, the titular “A Nonsense Christmas.”
The special’s comedy sketches each feature special appearances by actors such as Quinta Brunson, Kyle Mooney, Jillian Bell, Nico Hiraga, Cara Delevingne, and Sean Astin. Astin, in particular, performs in one sketch as Santa Claus, with whom Carpenter shares a romantic relationship — despite not knowing who he actually is.
One recurring sketch — titled, “A Nonsense Outro” — features celebrity guests each attempting to offer a holiday-themed lyric for Carpenter’s Christmas remix of “Nonsense.” None of the suggestions, however, meet her satisfaction until the very final sketch.
There are other bits of holiday fun littered throughout the special, from Carpenter’s fond recollection of preferring eating chocolate cake over opening presents as a kid to her relatable dilemma of finding gifts for significant others she barely knows. Nevertheless, the special flawlessly reflects Carpenter's stand-out charm and one-of-a-kind personality.
“A Nonsense Christmas” is now available to experience on Netflix, and fans are sure to get a kick out of Carpenter’s festive nonsense.