FAQ

Although producing a live Christmas Eve broadcast of A Christmas Carol, IBC-TV president Frank Cross (Bill Murray), known for his cynicism, selfishness, stinginess, and temper tantrums, couldn't care less about Christmas, considering it a "crock" suitable only for kids. On the night before Christmas eve, Frank is visited by the ghost of his deceased boss Lew Hayward (John Forsythe), who warns him that, if he does not change his scrooge-like ways, he will end up doomed. Thereafter, Frank is visited by three spirits: the Ghost of Christmas Past (David Johansen), the Ghost of Christmas Present (Carol Kane), and the Ghost of Christmas Future (Robert Hammond). Each of them show Frank a segment of his life and introduce him to the spirit of Christmas as displayed by his brother James (John Murray) and the family of his secretary Grace Cooley (Alfre Woodard) and Grace's mute son, Calvin (Nicholas Phillips).

Scrooged is a modernized spoof of English author Charles Dicken's classic 1843 novella A Christmas Carol (full title: A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas). The novella was adapted for the movie by American screenwriters Mitch Glazer and Michael O'Donoghue.

Just as IBC's Scrooge (Buddy Hackett) tosses the coin out the window to buy a goose, Frank walks into the scene and catches the coin. He then turns to camera and delivers a monologue about the importance of family, friends, and helping those less fortunate. At first, Mr Rhinelander (Robert Mitchum) is angered, but he can't get Frank off the air because Eliot Loudermilk (Bobcat Goldthwait) is holding the control room personnel at gunpoint. Also listening to the broadcast is Frank's brother James (John Murray) and his family as well as Claire Phillips (Karen Allen), who hails a cab and rushes to the studio. As his monologue winds down, Calvin tugs on Frank's sleeve and reminds him to say, "God bless us everyone," amazing his mother that he has gotten back his voice. In the final scene, Frank kisses Claire, and the entire studio breaks out in a round of "Put a Little Love in Your Heart".