Television marathons helped A Christmas Story become a huge favourite this time of year, but Bob Clark's holiday comedy didn't need to be stuffed down people's throats. It earns the rep of being one of the greatest Christmas movies by being funny and sweet. Jean Shepherd's joyful memories of his own life as a kid growing up about 80 years ago in Indiana offset some of the bad memories, whether it be a furnace or a Farkus. The story is episodic by design, but the running storyline is of course Peter Billingsley's obsession with someone making sure to put a Red Ryder BB gun under the tree. He's ideally cast and pretty good as Ralphie, but Melinda Dillon is terrific as his mother and Darren McGavin is having a ball playing The Old Man. Ryan's solo show triple dog dares you not to shoot your eye out as this 555th episode of Have You Ever Seen breaks down the enduring classic that is A Christmas Story.

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