🎄 It’s 1987, and someone stole Santa Claus in the middle of his hot dog break.  

Join us as we follow a renowned novelist who may or may not be a teenager and her animated mouse writing partner on a quest find out who kidnapped a department store Santa, while we solve the mystery of how anyone remembers this Christmas special that only aired once.  

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Lindy Kempe (Bluesky).  

Emily Rowley (Threads).  

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1. Dick Van Patten’s shout-out in “Wayne’s World” and cameo in “Robin Hood: Men In Tights.”  

2. Darcy Marta (Jill) on Totally Rad Christmas.  

3. Gene Kelly and Jerry Mouse dancing in “Anchors Aweigh.”  

4. Jill’s Miami Mice poster — no relation to the “Sesame Street” parody of the same name.  

5. Donald O’Connor (Alex) in “Singin’ in the Rain.”  

6. Helen Hughes (whoever the woman who answers Jill’s door is supposed to be) in “Billy Madison.”  

7. Today’s TV Trope: 555.  

8. Francis Dambeger’s (Jerry) 1991 film “Solitaire,” and its solitaire review on IMDb.  

9. The realistic looking toy gun predates the same federal law that forced Nintendo to recolor its Zapper orange.  

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7up Christmas Commercial, 1986–1987.  

Wild Puffalumps Commercial, 1987.  

The Magic of the Season, covering holiday nostalgia, family, kids, decor, music, and so much more.  

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“A Mouse, A Mystery, and Me” © 1987 Ruby-Spears Productions.  

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  
Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  
Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.