Totally Rad Christmas!

What’s up, dudes? “Disney’s Sing-Along Songs” was a series of videos first released in October 1986! Disney connoisseurs Mike Westfall from Advent Calendar House and Charlie Ague from Closer to Christmas and Ague Designs are here with me to break down one of the releases: Disney’s Very Merry Christmas Songs!

Originally released Oct 4, 1988, Disney’s Very Merry Christmas Songs featured music from various Disney movies, shows, and theme park attractions. Lyrics for each song appeared onscreen, and a Mickey Mouse bouncing ball helped keep track of tempo. Unusually, the first few used theme songs with footage of Professor Owl. There were also a few with Ludwig von Drake and Jiminy Cricket as well. In this case, Jiminy takes center stage as narrator.

This was the 5th of 6 videos that make up part of the first series, using clips of various Disney animations. Pluto's Christmas Tree, Donald's Snow Fight, The Night Before Christmas, and Santa's Workshop are just a few of the sequences. Also, each song was introduced with a splash page of the the score and title card written in neo-Victorian font. Andrew Belling used various synthesizers to compose transitions from musical piece to piece, including several distinct Roland and Yamaha machines. Phil Savenick and Harry Arends contributed additional lyrics. 

Canon verses? Check. Color changing lyrics? Got 'em. Off beat claps from "Mickey's Christmas Carol" spliced in? Definitely! So grab your songbook, put on an oversized coat, and sing along to this episode!

Advent Calendar House
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Closer to Christmas
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What’s up, dudes? I’m once again joined by my brother Danny to talk all about the sequel to one of the best Christmas movies ever! Yep, it’s “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York”! It was a blatant cash grab from the studio.  Of course, it has a phenomenal Christmas musical score, composed by the great John Williams! And who doesn’t love even more over-the-top Looney Tunes-style comedy? 

Kevin McCallister’s family is preparing to go to Florida for Christmas. When Buzz humiliates  precocious little Kevin at their Christmas concert, his acting out causes his parents to banish him to the attic. One little blackout and downed phone line later, and Kevin is almost left home alone again! Luckily, he makes it to the airport. Unfortunately, he gets on the wrong plane and lands in New York City!

Kevin checks into a hotel and lives it up on his dad’s credit cards. The plot really kicks into gear when the Wet—no, Sticky—Bandits escape from prison and plan to rob a local toy store. With all his cunning and ingenuity–and spunk–Kevin defends his uncle’s house with traps and snares, and ensures the capture of the rogues! And there’s a cool pigeon lady!

This one’s got it all, especially quotes! My brother and I can’t help ourselves! Paint cans? Check. Electrocution? Yup. Spending $967 on room service? Definitely! So grab your bricks, dip your rope in kerosene, and defend a toy store with this episode on “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York!” Dig it! 

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What’s up, dudes? It’s December 6th, the Feast of St. Nicholas, so I’ve got Thom Crowe from ‘Tis the Podcast and Art Kilmer from A Cozy Christmas with me to talk about the straight-to-video special “Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa!”

Released in 1989, the special focuses on the charity and faith of a young Nicholas of Myra. Several vignettes and time jumps form the basis of the show, from fishing with the local Bishop to giving away his family’s wealth. Nicholas saves and befriends a boy named Adrian. Spoiler alert: Adrian eventually follows him.

Subsequently, a grown Nicholas saves a woodcutter’s daughters from slavery by throwing bags of gold into their house. Unfortunately, though, most of St. Nicholas’s famous miracles are not used in special. Rather, the thrust of it is his kindness and willingness to give. Of course, he is eventually imprisoned for being Christian, but is released after some time. In fact, he returns to his See to find it thriving because of his example.

The miracle of bringing children back to life? Nope. The miracle of his bilocation and calming a sea storm? Not that one either. The miracle of not mentioning any of his most popular miracles? Definitely! So give away your inheritance to the poor, forget most of what you know about the good Saint, and take a listen to this episode all about “Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa!”

'Tis the Podcast
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A Cozy Christmas
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What’s up, dudes? Nicholas Pepin of Pop Culture Roulette, Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas, and winner of the super secret listener contest Travis Van Hauen join me to talk about the early ‘80s fad Wacky Wall Walkers! Yes, we “Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls!”

When the King of the Wall Walkers discovers a new star, he sends his exploration team out to investigate. Arriving on Earth, they learn of Christmas, and set out to uncover its secrets and its meaning. By observing the inhabitants of the town, they subsequently begin to believe Christmas is about decorating and dinner. The octopodal aliens even sneak into a mall wearing Santa suits and out a mall Santa as a phony!

Meanwhile, a spoiled brat throws a fit and accidentally winds up with the leader of the group as a new present. He blackmails them into helping him earn money so he can buy a thousand dollar toy car. However, on the way back to the mall, the gang stops at an orphanage and learns the true meaning of Christmas. Consequently, the brat donates all the money and some of his old toys to the orphans, much to the delight of his exasperated parents. The Wall Walkers take Christmas back to their planet Kling-Kling.

Neon Nativity? Check. Interstellar travel? Yep. Tuna casserole? Oof! So grab your Santa suits and walk up the walls to this episode on "Deck the Halls with Wacky Walls!"

Pop Culture Roulette
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Lost Christmas Podcast
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What’s up, dudes? I've got Anthony Caruso from ‘Tis the Podcast and Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas with me to talk the greatness that is “The Year Without a Santa Claus” from Rankin Bass! Released in ‘74, it aired all throughout the ‘80s!

When Santa Claus wakes up with a mysterious magical illness that affects immortal beings, he decides to summon the elf doctor. This quack immediately tells Santa that kids don’t care about him, causing him to skip Christmas. Mrs. Claus sends elves Jingle and Jangle to Southtown, USA to gauge the local children’s belief in Santa. Unfortunately for them, a dog catcher nabs the reindeer Vixen who accompanied them. They approach the mayor to release Vixen, but he will only acquiesce if they can make it snow. Thus they take Mrs Claus with them to see the Miser Brothers who rule over the heat and cold.

Meanwhile, Santa goes to rescue Vixen and discovers kids still believe in him. He returns to the North Pole while Mrs. C and the elves visit Heat Miser and Snow Miser. When they refuse to cooperate, the trio ask another Nature to intervene. The snow in Southtown prompts the mayor to declare a holiday for Santa, and the children of the world write to him and send him presents. Moved by their love and generosity, Santa makes his Christmas Eve ride.

Reindeer with socks covering her ears? Yep. Children from the It’s a Small World ride? For sure. Personifications of summer and winter? Only if they’re petty sibling rivals! So put on your Santa suit, hop on your reindeer, and fly to negotiate with minor deities with this episode all about “The Year Without a Santa Claus!”

‘Tis the Podcast
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Lost Christmas Podcast
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What's up, dudes? Happy Christmas Podcast Day! I've got a whole parade of All-Stars here talking the 1989 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Charlyn from Take a Chic Peek,  Manny from Feliz Christmas, Merry Navidad, and Jeremy Phelps the Alamo City Santa join me to reminisce about Marvel Comics, Garfield, Snoopy, and all the Super Bowl-style commercials of this Willard Scott hosted mega event! So baste your turkeys, head to grandma’s house, and dive into this episode!

Take a Chic Peek
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Feliz  Christmas, Merry Navidad
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Alamo City Santa
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What’s up, dudes? I’ve got Christmas Clatter host Todd Killian here to discuss “Newhart” episode ‘Thanksgiving for the Memories!’ When some electrical work needs to be done at the inn, Dick and company go to the rich Vanderkellens for Thanksgiving, until a fight sends them to Larry, Daryl, and Daryl. Ludicrously rich relatives? Check. Groundhog stuffing? Yup. Carving knives that make Excalibur look like a butter knife? Definitely! So grab your clubs and play some indoor gold to this episode!

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What’s up, dudes? It’s the long awaited episode. We’ve teased it for years. That’s right! Scott Newman from Jingle Jank and Tinsel Tunes and Jeremy Phelps the Alamo City Santa join me to talk about “The Star Wars Holiday Special!” And yes, it’s as bad as everyone says it is!

Airing November 17, 1978, the special introduced us to Chewbacca’s family. It also gave us an entire Wookie dialogue with no subtitles! Han and Chewie are racing home so the latter can spend Life Day with his family. The holiday is a sacred day for all Wookiee, where they put on red robes and disappear into a star. Carrie Fisher sings too.

Unfortunately, the Imperial blockade is preventing the duo from arriving on time. Consequently, to kill time, Chewie’s family engages in a few variety show-style escapades. They watch a holographic circus, and reminisce about the time Chewie met Boba Fett. They even tune in to a mandatory viewing from Tatooine. Did I mention Bea Arthur’s in this? Well, she is. So is Harvey Korman!

Art Carney? Yep, as a trader sympathetic to the Rebellion. Dihann Carroll? Yep, as a quasi-inappropriate VR singer. Jefferson Starship?!?! Are they only in this because the word ‘starship’ is in their name? So grab your blaster, put on your Life Day robe, and sing along to this episode on “The Star Wars Holiday Special!”

Tinsel Tunes
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Jingle Jank
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Alamo City Santa
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What’s up, dudes? remember Archie comics? Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas does, and he’s here with me to talk Archie’s Christmas Stocking #500 from 1980! Laughs abound in this anthology of Yuletide tales with Betty, Veronica, and the gang!

In “A Christmas Ditty,” Archie has no money to buy his girlfriend Veronica a present, so he decides to shovel snow. Eventually he earns enough to get her a slew of gifts, but he’s so tired from his work he crashes on her couch before the joyful exchange. Oh, and it’s all told in rhyming couplets. “Shopworn” sees the boys complain about shopping. The girls volunteer to fight the crowds and it’s revealed Mr. Lodge has his secretary do his shopping.

Archie wakes Veronica in “Crystal Clear” to have a snow day. He pelts her with snowballs until she retaliates by dumping a pile of snow on him. Finally, the girls are frustrated when Archie and Jughead don’t understand the true meaning of Christmas: love. They fly off on a tirade, even claiming Reggie shows love when he’s blasting them with snowballs. The boys decide to show Reggie their version of love by burying him in the snow.

Jughead’s appetite? Check. Stereotypical male shopping behavior? Uh huh. Romantic rivalry between Betty and Veronica? Actually, no, not in this one. So grab your snowballs and send your secretary shopping for you while you enjoy this episode on Archie’s Christmas Stocking #500!

Lost Christmas Podcast
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What's up, dudes? Art Kilmer from A Cozy Christmas is with me to talk about the 1985 Hasbro sponsored Christmas special "The GLO Friends Save Christmas!" It's insane, with Elder Wands, "Lost" smoke monsters, Care Bear stare-style glow, and Venus fly trap-esque ice flowers! What a trip!

The GLO Friends are celebrating Christmas Eve by ice skating, decorating the village, and making snowmen. Granny Bug is even baking pies. Meanwhile, Blanche, the Wicked Witch of the North Pole, is jealous of Santa. She follows him and sabotages his yearly flight. In fact, she imprisons him and his reindeer in an icy spike-lined cage on a raging river, so they cannot deliver their presents on Christmas Eve. Her timid sidekick, Moose (not a lot of though put into that name) tries to stop her, but she zaps him far away with her magic.

The GLO Friends find out what she's done, and they set out to try and save Santa. They rescue Moose from a tree along the way and let him guide them to Santa's location. Blanche tries to drown them in an icy deluge. Her scheme fails as they reach Santa despite her powers and rescue him with their soft, warm glow. Who knew that was more powerful against ice than a fire?

GLO Worm? Yep. Santa? Check. Unimaginatively named moose? Only if he's played by Lorenzo Music! So grab your book of strange voices, head towards Santa, and listen to this episode on "The GLO Friends Save Christmas!"

A Cozy Christmas
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