Late Night playfully skewers atheist parents with ad for 'Elf on the Shelf' alternative

Late Night debuts the &quot;Skeptic on a Stick&quot;

(Image credit: Late Night)

published 23 December 2016

What if your child is enamored with the Elf on the Shelf tradition (or Mensch on a Bench), but you don't believe in Christmas, Hanukkah, or a higher power? Late Night has found a logical solution — or created a secular alternative, as explained in a hilariously unvarnished new ad. "It's not easy being an atheist parent during the holidays," explains the first atheist mom. "God knows we don't care — you know what I mean," the dad says, chuckling, "but it's hard on the kids." The answer is "Skeptic on a Stick," the "holiday toy for atheists," which offers kids "secular facts, not religious fables."

"The Skeptic won't 'come alive at night,' or 'talk to religious figures,' or even 'make your kids happy,'" says another mother, whose child illustrates her point. The three sets of parents in the ad are thrilled with their gift of knowledge. The kids? Well, watch below — and yes, there are, you know, "spoilers." Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.