The Nightly – “The Santa Clause 3: A Modern Classic”

Podcast: The Nightly
Hosts: Jacquees & KP
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This cozy bedtime episode of The Nightly invites listeners to settle in as Jacquees and KP reminisce (with surprising detail!) about The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. The hosts playfully reconstruct the movie’s plot, discuss its casting—especially Martin Short as Jack Frost—and contemplate the comforting weirdness of holiday traditions, both on screen and in nightly routines. Their warm, conversational tone is perfect for winding down, with digressions on bedding and holiday nostalgia.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Cozy Routines & Sheet Talk (00:40–03:50)

• Jacquees and KP open with banter about sleep habits, snoring, and bedding choices.
  • Jacquees proposes “snoring” as a nostalgic sleep sound for those who grew up in houses filled with family snores:

    “It probably is like, soothing or it takes you back...it should be your grandpa or your father snoring in the other room sound.” (01:22, Jacquees)

• They compare notes on “single sheeting” versus “double sheeting” and weighted blanket preferences.
• KP admits to hoarding unused flat sheets, using just a fitted sheet, and Jacquees advocates for the merits of a top sheet for easier laundry and sleep adaptability.

Notable Quote

“Watch this space. Big things are happening.” (02:12, KP, on potentially buying new sheets)

2. Jumping Into Holiday Movie Nostalgia (03:58–05:16)

• The main topic launches: The Santa Clause 3 recap, spurred by a “Do You Remember?” challenge.
• KP admits fading memory beyond the first film’s iconic transformation scene.

Notable Quote

“I obviously, I think, remember the first one…where he’s actually turning into the Claus.” (04:27, KP)

3. Reconstructing the Plot of The Santa Clause 3 (05:16–15:35)

The Cast and Setup (05:16–06:55)

• Jacquees systematically recalls the returning characters (Judge Reinhold, the “mom,” Charlie, the elf) and the new villain:
  • Martin Short joins as Jack Frost, a “jealous man.”
• The film opens with the mythical council: Santa, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Mother Nature, Father Time, Jack Frost.

Jack Frost’s Plot & The Escape Clause (06:55–11:16)

• Jack Frost resents his lack of popularity and sets out to usurp Santa, discovering a magical loophole (“the Escape Clause”):
  • If Scott Calvin (Tim Allen’s character) wishes he’d never become Santa while holding a magic snow globe, time will reset.
  • Jack Frost orchestrates Scott to accidentally utter the wish, and together they’re hurled back to the original moment, where Jack grabs the suit and becomes Santa.
• The result: Jack Frost commercializes the North Pole into a tourist trap (“basically like Disney World”), sapping it of all true holiday spirit.

The Resolution (11:16–15:35)

• Scott, now ordinary, realizes how much he’s lost—estranged from his family, unloved, displaced.
• With the help of a little girl (his son’s stepsister), Scott exposes Jack Frost. KP and Jacquees enjoy the movie’s absurd loophole:
  • “One of the gifts at the tourist attraction off the North Pole was a pin that recorded what you say.” (13:25, Jacquees)
  • The girl records Jack Frost’s words, and Scott uses the playback (contrived but clever) to reset time again. This time, Scott reclaims the suit, and everything returns to normal.
• The family comes clean to the in-laws: “Hey, I’m Santa Claus!” Problem solved.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “He wants to be the big dog.” (09:31, Jacquees, on Jack Frost’s motives)
• “He’s messed up the whole feeling of Santa hood.” (11:16, KP)
• “When you came and you saw a polar bear directing traffic…You should have known.” (14:19, Jacquees, on the North Pole’s obviousness)
• KP marvels at Martin Short as Jack Frost:

  “He looks good as this. He does. He looked good.” (14:48, KP)

• On the villainy:

  “Pure villain. And I love it.” (15:18, Jacquees)

4. Reflections on Holiday Movies and Franchise TV (15:35–16:40)

• The hosts laugh about the logic loopholes in the Santa Clause universe and muse about the potential for deepfake Santa “inheritance.”
• KP inquires about the recent Santa Clauses TV show.
  • Jacquees confirms Tim Allen returned and remarks on the franchise’s surprising longevity, though neither host has watched the series yet.

Notable Quote

“This was before deepfakes were deep fakes. The North Pole figured it out.” (15:55, Jacquees)

5. Closing Thoughts: Nostalgia and Nighttime Comfort (16:40–17:22)

• KP expresses intent to revisit the trilogy for cozy nostalgia:

  “I like anything with a little cozy holiday nostalgia.”

• The duo wind down, wishing each other good night and reflecting on the movie as a gentle bedtime narrative.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On Snoring as a Sleep Sound:

  “It’s become like, just like, you know, rain sounds or city sounds...” (01:22, Jacquees)

• On the Absurdity of Covering Up Santa’s Identity:

  “If you didn’t put it together with me being a toy maker in the North Pole already, that’s on you.” (14:09, KP)
  “When you came and you saw a polar bear directing traffic. You should have known.” (14:19, Jacquees)

• On Martin Short’s Performance:

  “He was actually very...the movie itself is kind of like, meh. But he was great.” (14:38, Jacquees)

• On Time Travel Paradoxes:

  “It opens up a lot of loopholes if you can just record and smash someone’s words together.” (15:38, KP)

Timestamps for Reference

• Sleep & Bedding Talk: 00:40–03:50
• Introduction to The Santa Clause 3: 04:09–05:16
• Plot Breakdown, The Escape Clause: 05:16–11:16
• Resolution & Family Secrets: 11:16–15:35
• Franchise TV & Final Thoughts: 15:35–17:22

Tone & Closing

Light, playful, and gently irreverent, Jacquees and KP balance comforting details with candid, humorous commentary. Their relaxed approach makes for perfect wind-down listening, while the deep dive into The Santa Clause 3 captures both nostalgia and the seasonal absurdities of holiday movies.

Final Thoughts:
KP: “I get to drift off to dreamland with my new movie in my head.” (17:01)
Jacquees: “KP, it’s been my pleasure to give you a beautiful holiday North Pole adventure to dream about.” (17:09)