Totally Rad Christmas!

What’s up, dudes? “Gremlins” is a classic holiday horror, and I’ve got artist and author of the Banned Book Club series Ryan Estrada here to talk about! Yes, we really get into the “Gremlins” original script by Chris Columbus and its novelization by George Gipe!

In the original script, Billy is fantasy author and sticks up for himself much more. Of course, the gremlins themselves are also more vicious. Gone is the good mogwai character of Gizmo. In fact, they kill and eat the dog, decapitate Billy’s mom, and eat some McDonald’s customers (rather than the food). Thankfully, Joe Dante lightened the tone and brought in some humor.

In contrast to the mysterious thriller of Columbus, Gipe expands the backstory of the creatures. In his origin, the mogwai were genetically engineered by an alien named Mogturmen to be gifts and peace offerings to neighboring worlds. Unfortunately, he miscalculated, and the gifts turned out to be mischievous and murderous pests. Can’t win ‘em all, I guess.

Medieval sword replica? Check. Alien geneticist? Yup. Gremlin in a toolbox thrown into a lake? Only if you want to setup a sequel! So grab your sword, save your crush, and kill some little green monsters to this episode on the “Gremlins” original script and novelization!

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What’s up, dudes? Wake up guys! It’s Christmas and I’ve hidden all the eggs! Chad Young from Horror Movie BBQ and Vinnie Brezinsky from Huey and Bax are with me to talk ALF “Oh, Tannerbaum!” It’s the first Christmas episode of the series, and it’s very different front the more famous super depressing special.

After ALF cuts down the family Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, Willie goes looking for a new one. After backing out of an auction for the last tree at the last lot in town, run by a man named Fahid, he buys an artificial one. Unable to complete it in part due to the instructions being in Japanese (which ALF claims to be able to read), he decides to travel to McCollun's Tree Farm in the Angeles Forest to buy a real one. Of course, ALF comes along, in hopes of seeing snow.

Consequently, with ALF navigating, Willie drives the car off the road and it gets stuck in mud. While they are awaiting help to arrive, Willie takes a nap and has a feverish nightmare about his fake tree. When he wakes up, he finds that ALF has cut one down and tied it to the car. Unfortunately, Willie gets fined by a park ranger.

Spending time with the neighbors? Check. Goodwill? Got it. Sharing a little eggnog? Sharing a little eggnog. So grab your chainsaw, drive to your tree farm, and dream about this episode on ALF “Oh, Tannerbaum!” 

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What’s up, dudes? It's a lost episode! It was originally recorded in 2024, but delayed due to lost and inferior audio. Yes, Ron and Jay from the Film Strip podcast are with me to dig into the low budget 1984 Santa slasher "Don't Open Till Christmas!"

It's Christmas in London, and Scotland Yard is after a mysterious slayer of Santas. Somebody's killing people dressed like Santa Claus, and when Kate Brioski's father is murdered she heads to the police. Subsequently, Chief Inspector Harris and Detective Sergeant Powell investigate everyone from Kate's boyfriend to the enigmatic Giles. 

Meanwhile, Santas are burned roasting chestnuts, stabbed in the London Dungeon, and castrated. As the bodies pile up, it's revealed that Giles is not actually a reporter, but the traumatized brother of Harris. As a child, he witnessed the infidelity of his Father Christmas-clad father and the death of his mother. Now hating Christmas, he sought revenge. Spoilers: he eventually dies.

Santa perverts? Check. ridiculous medieval weapon kills? Got 'em. Eyes that seem to smile behind a mask? Only from the killer! So grab your knife, leave your Santa suit behind, and defend yourself from this episode on "Don't Open Till Christmas!"

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What's up, dudes? I've got Anthony Caruso from ‘Tis the Podcast and Jeremy Phelps the Alamo City Santa with me to dig into Charles Schulz’s Peanuts. That’s right! It’s the 1974 special It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown! Released on VHS in 1986, the gang tries to decorate eggs and prepare for the holiday shenanigans of the title character. Oh, Linus! Silly goose!

In one of the Christmasy Easter specials ever, Peppermint Patty tries to teach Marcie how to dye eggs, but Marcie keep cooking the eggs in different ways and spoils their plans. Meanwhile, Woodstock needs a new house because his nest gets flooded. He and Snoopy head to the store to get a new birdhouse.

Christmas decorations are already on sale at the store when Sally, Lucy, Linus, and Charlie Brown head there to get some new Easter shoes and other supplies. The entire store is decked out for Christmas Linus tells Sally about the Easter Beagle who dances in to town and delivers eggs. Inevitably, Snoopy does indeed deliver eggs to the kids, much to the chagrin of Lucy, who had previously boiled, painted, and hid said eggs. 

Dancing dog? Check. Clueless egg-dying friend? Yep. Christmas creep? The best kind!! So grab your eggs, buy a birdhouse, and  complain about Christmas decorations before Easter with this episode on “It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!”

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What’s up, dudes? It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! That’s right! It's the 5th Annual Totally Rad Christmas Awards, also known as the Raddies! This year I'm in Videoland at the Palace of Power! Captain N, Princess Lana, Mega Man, Simon Belmont, and Kid Icarus help me host the awards. And I can’t forget to mention all the assistance I received from ‘Tis the Podcast elf Thom Crowe, Mike Westfall from Advent Calendar House, CJ Belanger from from Rose Suchak Ladder, Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas, and Charlie Ague from from Closer to Christmas!! After the Academy refined the nomination and voting process last year, the star-studded evening went off without a hitch...sort of!  It went about as well as it has in the past, so… Who did you vote for? Did they win? Find out to the max in the 5th Annual Raddies!

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What’s up, dudes? I've got Mike Westfall from Advent Calendar House here with me during this Passiontide to talk the Rankin Bass Easter special shown throughout the '80s, "Here Comes Peter Cottontail"! There's a hyper-color witch, a time machine, and the longest Easter egg delivering contest ever! If you're wondering if a French caterpillar with a human head can drive a time machine, the answer is yes!

The Chief Easter Bunny is looking for a replacement. Just as he’s about to name Peter Cottontail his successor, though, mean ol’ Irontail suggests an egg-giving contest to decide. Due to sabotage, Peter oversleeps and Irontail wins! Peter leaves in disgrace, but runs into Seymour S. Sassafras, who lends him a time machine.

Once again Irontail sabotages Peter, and he’s launched into the future rather than the past. Hopping from holiday to holiday, Peter tries to give away his eggs dressed as various holiday mascots. Unfortunately, it seems that no one wants eggs on holidays other than Easter!

Peter is on the verge of success when Irontail uses a spell to turn his eggs green. Distraught, Peter tries one last ditch effort on St. Patrick’s Day, and the green eggs are gleefully welcomed by the Irish revelers! Peter wins the contest, learns a lesson about making food choices and not fibbing, and becomes the new Chief Easter Bunny!

So grab your eggs and paints, dress up like your favorite holiday mascot, and put on this episode on “Here Comes Peter Cottontail” as you drive your yestermorrowmobile!

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What's up, dudes? Jason Rhodes from Holidays Unknown and I talk the third Berenstain Bears special "The Berenstain Bears Easter Surprise!" This one's got it all! Winter is stuck, but it's ok because Snarf can wiggle his whiskers and make it all better! Small Bear just has to get to him! Can he reach Boss Bunny in time? Can he make spring appear? Can he get his Easter Surprise? So grab your chocolate bunnies, fill your basket, and crack open  this episode!

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What’s up, dudes? Attention, Kmart shoppers! Yes, we’re talking all about the home of the blue light special. It’s a Kmart Christmas! Vinnie Brezinsky from Huey and Bax and Nicholas Pepin of Pop Culture Roulette join me live to watch some ‘80s Kmart Christmas commercials! 

The store that would become Kmart was founded by SS Kresge after he met Frank Woolworth. Inspired by his stores, Kresge invested in a five-and-dime which did well enough for him to open a store in Detroit. In 1912 he incorporated in Delaware with 85 stores.

In January 1962 he opened the first Kmart, and in 1981, the 2000th Kmart was open.

Subsequently, 1985 saw Kmart convert one of its in-store cafeterias into a Little Caesar’s. Throughout the ‘80s they were the 2nd largest retailer after Sears until 1990 when Walmart passed them.

These  commercials   show a variety of products from the ‘80s, including phones and clothes. There’s even an ad for Christmas portraits!

Catchy jingles? Check. Cheesy, saccharine messages? Of course.  Comic strip  shenanigans? Definitely! So wait for a blue light special and enjoy this episode on Kmart Christmas!

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What’s up, dudes? Merry Christmas 2!! “Santa Claus: The Movie” is a fantastic origin story, made better by Henry Mancini's score and a killer song of Sheena Easton. Thus, Robert Nicholas from Behind the Bells joins me to really dig into a particular cue from the “Santa Claus: The Movie” score and dish about the Christmas carol medley of it all as well.

First, we get into the nostalgic synths with "It's Christmas All Over the World". Played during the end credits, the mid-tempo song set the stage for the emotions of Christmas, washing over the audience like a warm blanket. Written originally with Freddie Mercury in mind, the song eventually was recorded by Sheena Easton. Likewise, the film also features a track by Aled Jones of "The Snowman" fame.

Mancini purposely chose to score and arrange the orchestra as traditionally as possible. Subsequently, his score evoked a sense of wistfulness and comfort, harking back to days of yore. According to an interview with Randall D Larson for CinemaScore in 1987, Mancini stated:

"One thing we had to satisfy was that you can't have picture about Christmas or Santa Claus and not touch on the traditional. I decided that it would be a good idea to get all of those numbers in one place, rather than spotting them here and there throughout the film. So on Santa's first flight I used them in a piece by itself, and it all worked out well because the montage was well conceived and it made sense. But from there on we went to original music.”

Of course, the piece he was speaking of was "Christmas Rhapsody." The cue begins with a triumphant rendition of Deck the Halls before segueing into Joy to the World. A melodic and intimate version of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing follows, succeeded by The 12 Days of Christmas, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, and O Tannenbaum. Finally, the cue ends with majesty and serenity with The First Noel and Silent Night.

Tchaikovsky-esque instrumentation? Check. Catchy Santa Claus theme? Got it. Synthesizer? Yes, but only if a pop star is singing! So grab your celesta, join the orchestra, and play along to this episode all about the “Santa Claus: The Movie” score and soundtrack!

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What’s up, dudes? “Gremlins” is a classic holiday horror, made better by Jerry Goldsmith’s score and the killer hits of Michael Sembello and Peter Gabriel. Kevin Williams from ‘Tis the Soundtrack joins me to really dig into a couple of cues from the “Gremlins” score and dish about music theory of it all as well.

We first get into the mega madness with the Sembello track. Played during the bar scene, the uptempo dance song set the stage for the “Maniac”-like antics of the dancing green creature. The film also features a track by Quarterflash and Darlene Love’s epically classic “Christmas.”

Goldsmith’s penchant for atonality shines forth in the frantic cue ‘No Santa Claus.’ The Stravinsky-esque eighths are composed of dueling tritones E-Bb and D-Ab and immediately transition to alternating bars of 5/8 and 7/8. Subsequently, all this segues quite nicely into held sonorities overlaid with “Silent Night” as Kate begins her tale of holiday woe. Talk about harmonization!

Altered mystic chord? Check. Catchy mogwai theme? Got it. Synthesizer? Yes, but only if there’s 7 different types! So grab your Roland Jupiter-6, join the orchestra, and play along to this episode all about the “Gremlins” score and soundtrack!

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Nicolas Delage solving the mystery of Gizmo's voice!

Be sure to check out the brilliant publication of Goldsmith’s work by Chris Siddall, which made this analysis possible. 

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