Road to Christmas

: Hi, Maggie!

-And a Merry Christmas party to you.

Here.

I spent far too long on the eggnog,

but it's even better than last year.

-Wait, you're producing a live televised Christmas Special

in less than a week.

When does a head producer find time to make eggnog?

-Hey, you want something done, you ask a busy person.

-It tastes like a Christmas tree.

: -Maggie!

Thank you for inviting us to this.

I knew a Julia Wise office Christmas party

would be amazing,

but I wasn't prepared.

She has a Christmas tree in her office!

-Now don't you wish you had one, too?

A little, yes.

Here.

This is Stacy, our Associate Producer.

And this is Lucy Grace.

She and her crew are doing a story

based on the new Christmas special format.

-I watch your show every week.

Thank you!

Oh, and Maggie,

thank you so much for the sit-down with Julia.

It went great.

-I was lucky I could even get you one.

It's hard pulling her away from her employees

at a Christmas party--

-Because I don't think of them as employees.

We're more of a family.

Lucy, I forgot to give this to you.

Oh... Oh, my gosh.

I love your cookbooks.

My mom's going to be so jealous.

We watch your Christmas Special together every year.

Never miss it.

Again, doing it live

and in your own farmhouse in Vermont?

That's a bold choice.

-It is, and it was Maggie's idea.

First year as our Head Producer--

-I have been following Julia's lead for five years now.

The idea was already there, I'm just helping it along.

-Would you mind if we shoot some office-party B-roll?

Oh, of course,

and please stick around, the party goes all day.

Wouldn't miss it.

There you go.

Listen, swing by my office after the production meeting.

I have something I want to run by you.

Will do.

Everything okay?

Yeah, it's fine.

Come on.

The special's in five days,

we still have so much to do.

Oh, wait.

Just...

Hey, Mom.

Merry Christmas!

Well, a few days early.

Honey, hold on a second, your dad's right here

He wants to say hi, too.

Hi, honey!

Hi, Dad.

Let me guess.

It's December 20th,

so you guys are almost done making the Christmas cookies?

: -Twice as many as usual this year.

-I'm giving them away at the White Elephant.

Don't tell your sister.

Honey, you know that

no matter how much we miss

having you home for Christmas this year,

we are so very proud of you.

I do.

And I miss you guys, too.

-We tell everyone who asks what you're doing.

We can't wait to watch!

: -...As promised,

we are bringing you

the Julia Wise Christmas Special

live this year,

but fear not, because--

-Hey, just make sure to call me

during the White Elephant exchange, okay?

I love hearing how loud it can get.

We'll do that.

Merry Christmas, honey.

Merry Christmas, babe.

Merry Christmas.

Hey.

-It seems like a pretty serious HR problem

to have mistletoe around.

Oh...

we get a lot of emails about mistletoe policy, yeah,

but not one problem.

We're very proud of that.

-You carry around a coach's whistle?

Oh... yeah,

it's a Christmas present from my dad.

He was a football coach,

so when I moved here to L.A.

he wanted me to have something for luck.

Does it work?

-Oh, yeah, it's super loud.

-No, I mean does it bring you luck?

I knew what you meant,

and... yeah.

So, what brings you here

to Julia Wise Lifestyle Headquarters?

-I have a meeting with the lady herself.

About her Christmas special.

She asked me to wait.

-Well, I work on the Christmas special.

Is there anything--

-I hear they're doing it live this year.

-Oh, yeah, changing up the format,

getting a little more adventurous.

Non-traditional.

You know, like a traditional Christmas special

traditionally is?

Well, no, not on my watch.

Year after year of the same exact thing?

No.

No, thank you.

I'm sorry, what did you say your name was again?

Sorry.

Oh.

The boss.

Good luck.

Come in.

Julia, are you...

Are you okay?

I'm great.

Just a little Christmas inspiration.

Please, have a seat.

-Is this about the Teleprompter?

: -No, I'm thrilled about the Teleprompter.

As hard as I've tried,

I just cannot memorize that much.

-Well, just personally, I think you should just wing it.

Just shoot from the hip.

You are so great at that--

Maggie--

-And maybe next year, when we do it, it can be more of a--

-This has nothing to do with the Teleprompter.

-I had dinner last night with the network President,

and he has expressed some concern about the live show.

-Concern doesn't... sound good.

-There's more competition this year.

Ratings need to go up.

He just thinks it's too big of a risk.

Maybe just too big of a change.

-I mean, it's bold, I'll say that,

but all the more reason to change it up.

And I agree.

It's just...

Okay...

You know that right after my husband passed,

my son, Danny, produced the Christmas special

for the first two years.

-Yes, the mysterious Danny Wise years.

I started right after he left.

-Well, after last night's meeting,

I put a call in to Danny,

I just wanted some advice.

Oh.

Well, you know, it's always great to have new ideas.

I mean, if you even want me to talk to him,

I'd be more than happy to do that.

That's good news.

Because I have asked Danny to come back

and work with you for this last week.

It is not a demotion.

Co-Producers.

I'm just a little worried with this whole network pressure,

and I would feel better if--

-No, Julia, don't even think twice, okay?

It is going to work best if you are comfortable.

Thank you for understanding.

I know how last minute this is.

Maggie...

this is my son,

Danny.

You're... Danny Wise.

-And you're the famous Maggie Baker.

: I am.

I'm not famous.

But yes Baker. Maggie. Maggie Baker.

Am.

-Maggie came up with the live show idea,

and Danny has some great ideas

about, uh, bringing in the more traditional Christmas element.

Right.

Mom and I discussed this idea

about having a few pre-recorded segments.