"Sabrina Carpenter had a big 2024. She wrote the song of the summer, dropped a Grammy-nominated album, went on tour, and topped it all off with her Netflix special, A Nonsense Christmas. Personally, when I heard the news that Sabrina would host a comedy-slash-music feature on streaming this December, I immediately marked my calendar. In my mind, Sabrina has all the makings of a triple act: She can sing, she can dance, and she can make really hilarious sexual innuendos at the drop of a hat.
A Nonsense Christmas, which dropped on Netflix on Friday, December 6, was chock-full of celebrity guest appearances, musical numbers, and some seriously impressive outfit changes. Running a musical holiday program at the close of one of the biggest years in music history is a high-stakes production, but in my opinion, Sabrina delivered. Curious whether A Nonsense Christmas is worth the watch? Here’s what I thought of the highly anticipated special.
My review of A Nonsense Christmas
The set was creative and fun
I know that the set of a Christmas special is supposed to literally just be in the background, but something about the set of A Nonsense Christmas really made the show for me. The special opened with Sabrina singing Buy Me Presents atop a retro, tiered stage, complete with background dancers and dramatic curtains. The setup was reminiscent of Sabrina’s elevated heart stage, which she famously sang and danced on while performing Juno during her Short n’ Sweet tour. This stage was also where she sang a duet of Santa Baby with Shania Twain and closed out the special with A Nonsense Christmas.
However, throughout the special, we got to see Sabrina “backstage,” in a vintage kitchen, and in multiple different living rooms where she performed both sketches and songs. The constant rotation between different sets made the special fast-paced (perfect for those of us with fried attention spans), and the sets themselves clearly matched Sabrina’s 1950s-inspired vibe. Personally, I loved seeing Sabrina waltz through the “backstage” area talking straight to the camera—it made the whole special feel more personal.
The musical guests in A Nonsense Christmas slayed
Obviously, in a Christmas special hosted by a singer/songwriter, the musical performances are going to be the main event. From her duet of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus with Kali Uchis to her performance of Last Christmas with Chappell Roan, Sabrina brought her A-game to A Nonsense Christmas. Each duet perfectly matched the guest that she chose to sing the song with—I mean, who else was perfect for This Christmas besides Tyla? I may be a tad biased, but seeing Sabrina and Chappell belt out the synthy Wham! holiday classic had me giggling and kicking my feet like a major fangirl. While Sabrina’s solo performances in A Nonsense Christmas were, of course, fabulous, the duets stole the show.
The sketches were funny, even when they were cringe
Chances are, if you’ve been even slightly online the past year, you know Sabrina Carpenter’s humor. She’s dry, cheeky, blatantly sexual, and probably mildly offensive to a few pearl-clutchers out there. Given her tendency to crack jokes, it’s no surprise that A Nonsense Christmas featured several comedic skits and sketches. Sure, a few of them were undoubtedly cringe—like when Sabrina brought home her new “boyfriend” for the holidays (it was Santa) or when she awkwardly rapped/sang about not knowing what to buy her brother-in-law for the holidays. However, even the goofiest sketches got a chuckle out of me.
My personal favorite sketch starred Sabrina, Abbott Elementary’s Quinta Brunson, and Cara Delevigne confronting their former fling (Nico Hiraga) about his tendency to ghost. Playing the ghosts of ghosting past, present, and future, the hilarious skit also had a resounding message: If you’re the type of guy who ghosts, knock it off! It’s like the perfect blend of the Please, Please, Please music video and A Christmas Carol.
A Nonsense Christmas brought some silliness to the holiday season
Most Christmas specials leave me with a lingering feeling of “What was the point of that?” A Nonsense Christmas had no such issue. In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be easy to remember the “be merry” mandate of “eat, drink, and be merry.” Whether you’re stuck in the news cycle, struggling through personal challenges during the holiday season, or simply have a case of the winter blues, sometimes it can be hard to feel genuinely jolly during this time of year.
In A Nonsense Christmas, Sabrina’s seasonal jokes, festive outfits, and silly sketches serve as a reminder that the holiday season doesn’t have to be all about deep reflection or somber gratitude. It can also be about throwing caution to the wind and having a goofy time with your friends and family, whatever that looks like. Personally, I would highly recommend inviting a few pals over to sip hot chocolate, watch this special, and giggle to your heart’s content. It’s been a long year! You deserve it.
Should you watch A Nonsense Christmas?
Unless you’re a total Grinch who hates hilarious sexual innuendos and entertaining musical performances, you should watch A Nonsense Christmas. If you want to make an evening of it, take a drink every time Sabrina jokes about “stuffing her stocking.” Believe me—this is a Christmas special that’s actually worth watching.
Emma Ginsberg, Associate Editor
Emma is a writer, editor, and podcast producer who has been creating at The Everygirl since 2021. She writes for all sections on the site, edits the Entertainment and Community sections, and helps produce The Everygirl Podcast. With a degree in American Studies, Emma is especially passionate about evaluating the impact pop culture and internet culture have on the day-to-day lives of real women.