Christmas Eve Traditions

Hey CSWL FANS! Merry Christmas Eve! We MADE IT! The CSWL 12 Days of Christmas! We talk all things Christmas Eve past and present, John Denver, why one celebrity hires Catholics and how late night AM Radio on Xmas Eve is go to for Holiday Insomniacs. Northeast folk and Hollywood execs who  “don’t disagree.” What do Catholics and the Baby Bear's bed have in common and the true meaning of Boston Strong.

Frosty’s airing removes the words 'Christopher Columbus'. 

How 20 miles away on Christmas Eves of the past seemed like a journey to Mars. Childhood bedrooms turning into sewing rooms, wrapped or unwrapped presents on Christmas morning, Covid changing Christmas and how a Kardashian’s Xmas differs from a Stallone Xmas. 

Should the Norwegian classic lefsa just be a side dish and people doing brunch on Christmas Day. 

As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s Part Two

Hey CSWL FANS! We’re doing our best to save Christmas by diving into fan-shared Things Boomers Like: 40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s. In part two, Lawernce Welk’s “too much cheesecake”, Marie Osmond’s hair, Byron Allen's Real People and more as we continue our 12 days of Christmas episode drop. 

Also, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland and Andy Griffith's A Face in the Crowd. And let’s settle it: Is Rhoda officially cooler than Mary Tyler Moore? How Kristi McNichol and Robbie Benson didn’t know how to add enough coal to the fire, and how DisneyWorld vs. Disneyland proves to be more 70s than 50s. How if someone is on TV long enough, they eventually 'get over.' 

Mimes,  Iowa traffic reporters, the boys regular haircut and Christmas on Sesame Street. The three Jimmys : Baio, McNichol and Osmond. The only reason we still know the Pink Panther. 

Life behind the scenes on the set of Donnie and Marie Osmond. And how did Raggedy Ann and Andy’s Dog Arthur and Return of the Jedi somehow end up in the same category? Happy Days’ disappearing Chuck, and Pete Best? We wrap things up with a breakdown of why intramural sports might just hold the key to Bertrand Russell’s philosophy and why a mid-week Christmas is really the best.

As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s Part One

Hey CSWL FANS! We’re doing our best to save Christmas by diving into fan-shared Things Boomers Like: 40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s. In part one we tackle the first 20. From Bob Hope’s holiday specials to Cher’s star power and Rich Little’s impressions.

Funny how The Glenn Cambell Christmas special led us to discuss how comedy changed with disruptors like Woody Allen and David Letterman, why slapstick like pie-in-the-face humor might’ve always been overrated, and how subtitles can make things funnier. How did The Waltons seem like they were based on a real mountain family and their surprising connection to It’s A Wonderful Life? Remember when a 50-mile trip was a journey? Are Christmas Angels suggesting you try ayahuasca?

How Christmas variety shows of the 70s unveil insight into why Nancy Kerrigan’s story still matters, and why skipping Family Affair could land you a corner booth at “Victim Con,” Were the 70s just a big 60s hangover? Also, what’s the deal with whistling janitors, and could John Denver have taken a page from Billy Joel? How Captain Kangaroo’s appearance in a Christmas Special led to chats about random encounters with legends like George Burns or John Cleese?

As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Alt Christmas Movie Picks Part 2

Hey CSWL Fans! We’re back with Part 2 of the Alt Christmas Movie Picks. We’re diving into the genius of Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, why a 100-year-old’s advice still hits hard, and how Christmas is the season to embrace love and connection. Dickens's own story of writing A Christmas Carol may be more moving than the story itself. 

We talk Spirited, The Man Who Invented Christmas, and the criminally underrated 29th Street. We’re breaking it all down, including how a certain Ghostbusters character channels big CSWL energy. Could all this vintage movie and TV talk spark a CSWL Summa Series? And what’s the deal with comparing it all to the 2004 Red Sox?

As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511, and let's keep the convo going on Facebook. Talk Shawtly

Alt Christmas Movie Picks Part One

Hey CSWL Fans! We’re diving into Part One of the must-see Alt Holiday Specials, and – we may have digressed-just a little. Just like "The Little Drummer Boy," we’re giving our all to save Christmas. Ever thought about what "Revenge of the Nerds" and *The Little Drummer Boy* have in common? Discover why "Fat Man" is your gateway to "Violent Night" and why the latter should be retitled to "Santa’s Last Stand.”

Is there a love for all things *A Christmas Carol*? Bad Santa, Billy Bob Thornton and his unexpected link to “The Thorn Birds”. A look at the series Thirtysomething—and how today it would be titled Sixtysomething?

As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Rankin Bass Twas the Night Before Christmas

Hey CSWL Fans! We're back with a semi-deep dive into the 1974 Rankin/Bass classic, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, awarding it a solid 4½ Candy Canes. Is this special a counterpunch to Hanna-Barbera's The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't?  What was this time period's obsession with mice and mice living in walls with archway openings in the baseboard? Does Albert the Mouse from this special mirror today's youth? Star Trek's notion regarding intelligence without experience and two-dimensional thinking. Is this the most underrated soundtrack of all the Christmas specials? How this cartoon Santa may have cost the special half a candy cane in ratings. Why Cobra Kai stands apart from Land of the Lost? We further digress to reminisce about Jordan's Furniture in Waltham, MA, and their infamous Marshmallow couch—if you know, you know. We've also got a surprise appearance from Maria Menounos while introducing the concept of a 'Very Venmo' Christmas?  

As always, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and join our community on Facebook. The holiday season is in full swing-Talk Shawtly

Hey CSWL Fans! We're back covering Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, giving it a solid 3½ Candy Canes. This 1962 classic was the first-ever animated Christmas special produced specifically for television as Mr. Magoo takes on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, bringing his brilliance to the Dickens masterpiece. We discuss the brilliance of the writers, portraying Magoo as the star of a Broadway show. And all things “Magoo”: how funny the show really was, political incorrecttions that have muted the TV series today and how, even though he is oblivious, Magoo always wins! We talk Jim Backus, the voice of Mr. Magoo, and the beloved Mr. Howell of Gilligan’s Island. We also digress into some 'inside baseball', sharing insights on entertainment icons like Tina Louise, Rose Marie, and Mr. T.

As always, we value your feedback. Please give us a 5-star review on Apple, text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and join our community on Facebook. The holiday season is in full swing! Talk Shawtly

Christmas Happenings Chat

 Hey CSWL Fans! It's a CSWL 'Chat Edition' featuring hosts Kev and Anne.  Kev shares his experience on Connecticut's famous Polar Express train ride. He also talks about Christmas outdoor  decoration innovations - how Walmart inexpensive indoor trees can be used outdoors as well as the magic and history of Santa's actual home - in Finland! Back in Florida- Anne talks holiday boat shows and golf cart Christmas parades before diving into Kev’s Annual 'New Friends' Christmas Party and how it could be the tradition you're missing As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Rankin Bass Rankings

Being that the Rankin and Bass holiday specials are the reason we started the CSWL, we decided to take an episode to do some R and B Rankings, Superlatives, Favs and Not So Favs.  Kev shares more 'inside baseball' with some behind the scenes gossip, and insight into why Santa Claus is Coming to Town is his own personal Dianetics plus Anne's fave R and B character that was her unlikely childhood crush. We go over top characters in order of greatness as well as the top specials too. If you love R and B specials, you won't want to miss this one. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Hey CSWL Fans! Its A Festivus for the Rest of Us, celebrating one of the most iconic moments in Seinfeld history. Inspired by Daniel O’Keefe and brought to life by Jerry Stiller’s unforgettable Frank Costanza, this offbeat holiday gave us feats of strength, airing of grievances, and the iconic Festivus pole. We explore behind-the-scenes insights, including its creation, the IP mystery, and how it became a global phenomenon.

Plus, we tackle the big holiday question: Why does Love Actually still top seasonal watchlists?

As always, we'd love to hear from you! Drop us a 5-star review on Apple, text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and join the conversation on Facebook. The Festivus pole is up-let's air some grievances! Talk Shawtly