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🎄 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we spent Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, Hanukkah on “Shalom Sesame,” and even uncovered the oddity, “A Special Sesame Street Christmas.”

This time, join us as we fly faster than time backwards around the globe to 1996 to watch Elmo save, then ruin, then fix Christmas, featuring Maya Angelou, Harvey Fierstein as the Easter Bunny, and “Doc Hopper,” himself, Charles Durning as Santa.

****

🎙 Guests:

Becca Petunia (ToughPigs.com, Hubba-Wha?!, @UnclePetunio)

Anthony Strand (ToughPigs.com, Movin’ Right Along)

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. “Brats of the Lost Nebula.”

2.  Early “proto-Elmo” appearances.

3. Miss Piggy’s cookbook has a recipe by Maya Angelou.

4. Baby Bear is Jewish.

5. 14 Karat Soul sings “Down Below the Street.”

6. Cookie Monster disguised as Ernie.

7. A petition to remake “White Christmas” with Elmo and Rosita’s military veteran dads.

8. This special’s unique News Flash logo.

9. The soundtrack that’s not actually a soundtrack.

10. Big Bird sings “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” but not THAT one.

11. Elmo as the ring bearer at Luis and Maria’s wedding.

12. Ranking all the jokes in “Elmo Says BOO!”

13. Bert and Ernie meet their “It’s a Wonderful Life” counterparts.

****

📼 Commercial Break:

Elmo Saves BOO!,” 1997.

Returning Student, a 40-year-old’s journey to finish the college degree he never got.

****

“Elmo Saves Christmas” © 1996 Children’s Television Workshop.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

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Title: Elmo Saves Christmas
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🎄 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we saved Punky Brewster’s Christmas spirit in “Yes, Punky, There Is a Santa Claus.”

This time, join Punky in 1985 on on an animated adventure to the North Pole, courtesy of Glomer, her new magical leprechaun-gopher Ewok lookin’ friend. The ’80s were weird.

****

🎙 Guests:

Adam Pope (WIZARDS The Podcast Guide to Comics, @hojukoolander).

Steven (UFO Club).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. Comparing the original sitcom’s theme song to the cartoon’s theme.

2. Galoob made a plush Glomer.

3. Adam’s VHS cover has a very off-model Glomer.

4. The Master Christmas Switch’s effect on time reminded me of the “Futurama” episode “Time Keeps on Slippin’.”

5. Punky taught Adam how to wink.

6. Santa drops off the kids on the roof again, just in like in “Frosty the Snowman.”

****

📼 Commercial Break:

The Story of Phroomf commercial featuring baseball star Bob Boone, 1986.

WIZARDS The Podcast Guide to Comics.

****

“It’s Punky Brewster” and “Christmas in July” © 1985 National Broadcasting Company, Inc.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: It’s Punky Brewster: Christmas in July
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Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we flew a sleigh made out of a dumpster into space with the California Raisins in “Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas Celebration.”

🎃 This time, we’re reanimating a creepier creation of his from 1991 — a Halloween special that premiered in May for some reason — starring the scheming Wilshire Pig on a quest to uncover the secret lab of Dr. Frankenswine.

****

🎙 Guests:

Sammy Hain (@SammyHain).

Chad Young (The Horror Movie BBQ, @horrormoviebbq).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. IMDb’s photo gallery from this special.

2. “The Adventures of Mark Twain.”

3. Todd Tolces’ website and YouTube résumé.

4. Michele Mariana (Wilshire) on “Sesame Street” as Cecile, the singing ball of clay.

5. Herb from Burger King.

6. Will Vinton wanted to build a theme park called Claymation Station with Wilshire Pig as its Mickey Mouse.

7. Raphael opened the floodgates for characters made for children saying curse words.

8. Sheldon the Snail bears a passing resemblance to The Noid.

9. A closer examination of the bathroom graffiti.

10. Today’s TV Trope: Removable Shell.

11. Does Famine’s business card say he’s from Limbo, Illinois?

****

📼 Commercial Break:

McDonald’s Coke Float Commercial, 1991, aired during this special.

Another Zelda Podcast… you’ll never guess what it’s about.

****

“Claymation Comedy of Horrors” © 1991 Will Vinton Productions.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

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Title: Claymation Comedy of Horrors
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🎄 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we were Dreaming of a White Ranger with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.

This time, they’re away helping Santa, so Zordon surprises Alpha by teleporting in a bunch of children for a Christmas party. Join us for this very bonkers Power Rangers home video, plus our mini tribute to the late Jason David Frank, who’s seen as both the Green and White Ranger here because nobody cares about continuity during Christmas, I guess.

****

🎙 Guests:

Andre Bennett (Cult Cinema Cloister, Philadelphia Championship Rock Paper Scissors, @AndreBennettGO).

C.J. Bélanger (Christmas Sessions).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. Watch “Alpha’s Magical Christmas,” preserved by Dinosaur Dracula.

2. “Chosen Sentai Jetman” on Shout Factory TV.

3. “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always” on Netflix.

4. Morphed: Cheryl Saban’s Journey from Beach Bunny to Philanthropist.

5. The real-life Command Center: The House of the Book at the American Jewish University.

6. Baby Groot and the bomb that will kill everyone.

7. Andre proves “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie.

****

📼 Commercial Break:

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Karate Club Video, 1994.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Fan Club, 1994.

The Magic of the Season, a podcast celebrating the holidays that we live for.

****

“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” and “Alpha’s Magical Christmas” © 1994 Saban Entertainment, Inc.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Alpha’s Magical Christmas
Advent Calendar House

🎄 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, our hearts and golden harmonicas went out to “A Chipmunk Christmas.”

This time, it’s Scrooge Sunday, and our Christmas in July reunion tour arrives in Hollywood — or at least a nearby cartoon suburb where Alvin turns his greed up to 11 and blames it on his lonely old neighbor who doesn’t know how to plant a garden. So get set to have some fun in this Dickens of an episode of “Alvin and the Chipmunks.”

****

🎙 Guests:

Tom Coombs (The Pop Daddy, @thepopdaddy).

Sean Sotka (The Christmas Podcasts Podcast, @xander0527).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. “Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll” on the Internet Archive.

2. “Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll” on Munkapedia.

3. Pee-wee Herman’s breakfast machine.

4. Paperboy, the video game.

5. “Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.”

6. Dads with trash bags on Christmas morning.

7. “A Chipmunk Reunion.”

8. A Seville family portrait featuring Dave’s abnormally large head.

9. Mickey Mouse’s 1980s Epcot spacesuit.

10. Today’s TV Trope: Sounding It Out.

11. Southern California’s Blizzard of 2023.

12. “Here Comes Christmas,” the TV version, and the album version.

****

📼 Commercial Break:

The Chipmunks are Coming to Target, 1990.

Cool Kids Club, a nostalgia-filled trip back to childhood.

****

“Alvin and the Chipmunks” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll” © 1989 Bagdasarian Productions.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

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Title: Alvin and the Chipmunks: Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll
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🫓 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we helped our favorite talking babies stop a true meanie in “A Rugrats Chanukah.”

This time, we’re ignoring the rules of another long-standing tradition as we travel by baby basket back to 1995 to witness grown men throwing temper tantrums and ending up locked in the attic.

****

🎙 Guests:

Sarah Shay (sarahshay.com, Bandcamp, Pilot House Podcast, @thesarahshay).

Zach Gozlan (@zachgozlan, @N_THEYSTAYTHERE, “How I Got (Somewhat) Smart(er in Five Months)”).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. I found this special hiding in a 4-hour VHS recording of Nick on CBS from 2003.

2. Pilot House episode on “I Dream of Jeannie,” which would not be seen the night this premiered.

3. Fact-Checking “Fact-Checking A Rugrats Passover.”

4. As of this recording, the Sultan of Brunei in 1995 is still sultan.

5. “Noozles,” with co-starred Cheryl Chase (Angelica) and was not “The Adventures of the Little Koala.”

6. The 4 categories of Jewish holidays.

7. Melanie Chartoff (Didi, Minka) as the principal in “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose.”

8. The controversy over Boris and Minka’s design.

9. “The Song That Doesn’t End” from “Lamb Chop’s Play Along.”

10. The Maxwell House Haggadah.

11. A Haggadah of Our Own.

12. “Bible Adventures.”

****

📼 Commercial Break:

Country Crock Spreadable Sticks, 1994, featuring Jack Riley (Stu).

Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, 2003.

The Studio Demands It!, a podcast that recreates, reimagines, or flat out fixes existing film franchises when a hypothetical studio demands more films.

****

“A Rugrats Passover” © 1995 Viacom International Inc.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

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Title: A Rugrats Passover
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🎄 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we witnessed goodness make the badness go away in “The Smurfs’ Christmas Special.”

This time, we’re taking a one giant puppy open sleigh ride back to 1987 to help the Smurfs save Christmas for a poor human toymaker and his gravely ill wife, while Brainy and Hefty get lost in medieval Crime Alley.

****

🎙 Guests:

Lindy Kempe (@ieatvideogames).

Donnie Storms (Bronwen’s Ghost, @boxcar45).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. Watch “’Tis the Season to be Smurfy” on the Smurfs’ official YouTube channel, or an upscaled version including the opening credits.

2. “Look at the adjective…

3. The crazy backstories of the Smurfs’ Puppy and Sassette_Smurfling.

4. The Great Cookie Thief.

5. New and improved Joker products!

5. Painter Smurf paints like “Duck Amuck.”

****

📼 Commercial Break:

Smurf-Berry Crunch Cereal, 1983.

Bad Princess Movies, a catalogue of terrible movies about princesses and princesses-to-be.

****

“’Tis the Season to be Smurfy” © 1987 Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: ’Tis the Season to be Smurfy
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💝 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we visited the Easter Bunny’s underground nightmare factory in “The Berenstain Bears’ Easter Surprise.”

This time, it’s 1982, and love and hockey are in the air as Brother Bear gets stalked by a secret admirer, and his Papa’s public displays of affection send him into orbit.

****

🎙 Guest:

Gerry Davila (Totally Rad Christmas).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. Watch “The Berenstain Bears’ Comic Valentine” on YouTube.

2. The Broad Street Bullies.

3. Totally Rad Christmas on Chuck E. Cheese.

4. Homer Simpson’s rabbit trap.

5. The bottom brick scene in ”Bloodsport.”

6. A set of clips from this special set to “Let’s Hear It for The Boy” by Deniece Williams.

****

📼 Commercial Break:

McDonald’s Berenstain Bears Happy Meal Toys, 1986.

Totally Rad Christmas, dedicated to all things Christmas in the ’80s.

****

“The Berenstain Bears’ Comic Valentine” © 1982 Joseph Cates Co., Inc.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: The Berenstain Bears’ Comic Valentine
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🎄 It’s the Advent Calendar House’s 10th season, and to celebrate, every episode is revisiting familiar faces and places already covered on the podcast.

Previously, we spent Christmas with the Joker in “Batman: The Animated Series.” This time, we’re on a festive tour of Gotham City through the Joker’s hideously redrawn eyes in the 1997 premiere of the redesigned, rebranded “New Batman Adventures.”

****

🎙 Guests:

Andre Bennett (Cult Cinema Cloister, Philadelphia Championship Rock Paper Scissors, @AndreBennettGO).

Joey O. (Y-Not Radio, Words With Nerds, @imgonnadj24).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. The Batman Adventures Holiday Special original comic.

2. “Welcome to Our OOL.”

3. Dark Night: A True Batman Story, by Paul Dini.

4. Arleen Sorkin on “America’s Funniest People,” a her appearance as a jester on “Days of Our Lives” that inspired her casting as Harley Quinn.

5. Kevin Conroy on being recognized while volunteering after 9/11.

6. “Finding Batman,” by Kevin Conroy, from DC’s Pride 2022.

7. Paul Dini’s original cel from Harley and Poison Ivy’s shopping spree.

8. Tim Drake’s animated debut, and a shocking Muppet tangent.

****

📼 Commercial Break:

Batman and Alfred Diet Coke Commercial, 1989.

Festive Foreign Film Fans, a podcast covering festive movies and music from around the world.

****

“The New Batman Adventures” and “Holiday Knights” © 1997 Warner Bros.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: The New Batman Adventures: Holiday Knights
Advent Calendar House

We’re back! This surprise bonus episode covers the 1976 Rankin/Bass special, The First Easter Rabbit, which despite its name and main theme, still relies heavily on Christmas.

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🎙 Guest:

Brandon Medley (@brandmed, Blessed Are the Geek).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. A very obvious and very uncredited Velveteen Rabbit connection.

2. Easter Valley’s odd location next door to the North Pole, and Rankin/Bass’s habit of giving bad directions.

3. They named the talking snowball “Br-r-ruce,” a joke I didn’t notice until JUST NOW.

****

“The First Easter Rabbit” © 1974 Rankin/Bass Productions, Inc.

Full show notes with links at adventcalendar.house.
Say hi on Twitter @adventcalhouse.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: The First Easter Rabbit
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🎁 This is a Regift — an episode from the Advent Calendar House’s back catalog shared again for a limited time to spread even more holiday cheer.

Our first Regift episode, originally published in February 2019, is a salute to “The Muppets Valentine Show,” a 1974 pilot of what would eventually become “The Muppet Show,” guest-starring a pregnant Mia Farrow.

Guests: Brian Arnold, Joey O.

Full show notes with links and credits on the original episode:
https://adventcalendar.house/muppets-valentine-show

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: Regift: The Muppets Valentine Show
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🎄 It’s 2002, and we’re trapped in a horrifying world where Kermit the Frog doesn’t exist.

Join us for a spectacular, spectacular Christmas Eve extravaganza starring Kermit in the George Bailey role of the Muppets’ perfectly silly take on “It’s a Wonderful Life,” also featuring Joan Cusack, David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, the cast of “Scrubs,” and Whoopi Goldberg as God, Herself.

****

🎙 Guests:

Lindy Kempe (@ieatvideogames, 📸 @pinkmedley).

Adam Jurotich (The Ambassadors of Harmony, 📸 @adam_sr).

Erik Johnson (Erik Johnson Illustrator, 📸 @erikjohnsonillustrator).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. Muppet Wiki’s list of similarities between this special and 2011’s “The Muppets.”

2. Joe Snow.

3. Hoggle from “Labyrinth” at the Unclaimed Baggage Center.

4. Director Kirk Thatcher as the punk on the bus in “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” and ”Picard.”

5. Jonathan Bruce, who’d later appear in “Elf.”

6. Deleted scenes include more of Carson Daly, Santa, and a lost cut scene with Snoop Dogg.

7. The giant Bossmen Muppets.

8. A scheduling conflict robbed this movie of actual Steve Irwin.

9. Fozzie’s accidental resemblance to “that green guy who stole Christmas.”

10. Today’s TV Tropes: Celestial Bureaucracy, Laser Hallway, and Lampshade Wearing.

11. The Yoda Muppet has his own Muppet Wiki entry.

12. So does Amy, the Dancing Brick!

13. The World Trade Center can be seen from alternate timeline Piggy’s apartment window, and that’s not the worst part of that scene.

****

📼 Retro Commercial Break:

Mastercard Priceless Getaway Sweepstakes Commercial starring The Muppets, 2002.

****

🎤 And Now, These Messages:

Acid Washed Memories, a retro pop-culture celebration podcast starting January 9, 2023.

****

“It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie” © 2002 The Jim Henson Company.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
Advent Calendar House

🎄 It’s 2012, and I found a 60-year-old tangerine under a floorboard in my bedroom that’s the perfect size for a snowman’s nose… or is it?

Join us for another walk in the air back to 2012 for the charming sequel to the British Christmas classic, “The Snowman,” by the now-late Raymond Briggs.

****

🎙 Guest:

Adam Parker Sibun (Merry Britsmas).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. I finally got a copy of the original Raymond Briggs book!

2. UK Christmas’s “The Snowman” TV listing history.

3. Raymond Briggs hails Christmas sequel to his Snowman classic (The Guardian, 2012).

4. Billy has a picture of Fungus the Bogeyman in his room.

5. The Snowman finds a 1960s toy Batmobile in the shed. Maybe it lost a wheel.

6. A newer version of Andy Burrows’s “Light the Night.”

7. An older version of Andy Burrows’s  “Hometown.”

8. “Funny Looking Angels,” a 2011 Christmas Album by Smith & Burrows.

9. ‘Walking In The Air’ composer told to send a demo tape for The Snowman sequel (NME, 2012).

10. London landmarks seen in the special.

11. Let’s start building more creative snowmen with orange slices for ears and asparagus spear mustaches.

12. The Snowdog Art Trails around the UK, including Snowdog sculptures displayed in Brighton.

****

📼 Retro Commercial Break:

IRN-BRU Snowman Advert, 2011.

****

“The Snowman and The Snowdog” © 2012 Snowdog Enterprises Ltd.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: The Snowman and The Snowdog
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🕎 It’s 1998, and we’re praying for a miracle after getting stuck in a snow bank on the side of a dark highway with only an eighth of a tank of gas.

Join us on an enlightening revisit to the Flashy Girl from Flushing on her first Hanukkah as a married woman. Also, Ray Charles is here!

****

🎙 Guest:

April Ryley (@Where2NextApril).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. Watch “The Hanukkah Story” on Facebook.

2. April visits the Sheffield residence, and so can you.

3. Fran Drescher in “UHF.”

4. Fran Drescher says she had to fight to let ‘The Nanny’ be Jewish (L.A. Times, 2020).

5. Benjamin Salisbury (Brighton) on “Teen Celebrity Jeopardy” in 1997.

6. Daniel Davis (Niles) on “The Fran Drescher Tawk Show” in 2010.

7. Max’s childhood memory of his dad at Christmas reminded me of Bruce Wayne’s long dining room table.

8. What to do if you’re stranded in a car during a winter storm.

9. Kenny Rogers Roasters still exists, but only in Asia.

****

📼 Retro Commercial Break:

3 Musketeers Commercial starring Fran Drescher, 1998.

****

🎤 And Now, These Messages:

Hyrule Podcasters, an audio “Let’s Play” through The Legend of Zelda.

****

“The Nanny” and “The Hanukkah Story” © 1998 Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Co. Medien KG.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
Author:
Title: The Nanny: The Hanukkah Story
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🎄 It’s 2016, and a Scrooge-like unicorn is brewing a potion to eliminate Hearth’s Warming Eve from the calendar. That’s how potions work, right?

Join us for a Scrooge Sunday canter through a “Christmas Carol” adaptation set in Equestria, the world of “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.”

****

🎙 Guests:

Jon and Bin (Bin’s Toy Bin, Santa by the Minute).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. Watch “A Hearth’s Warming Tail” on YouTube.

2. Mike on Santa by the Minute.

3. The first My Little Pony special, from 1984: “Rescue at Midnight Castle.”

4. Patton Oswalt on My Little Pony.

5. Patton Oswalt literally on My Little Pony.

6. “It’s a Pony Kind of Christmas,” featuring characters who don’t celebrate Christmas singing Christmas songs, so the show’s composer had to clarify it wasn’t canon.

7. The mysterious “Derpy,” a.k.a. Muffins.

8. A short tangent about “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” air fresheners.

9. Today’s TV Trope: And You Were There.

10. A scene was cut featuring Discord in the Jacob Marley role.

11. He’s not in this episode, but there’s a character named Cheese Sandwich who is literally “Weird Al” Yankovic as a pony.

12. Bin takes roll call at the Hearth’s Warming Eve party.

****

📼 Retro Commercial Break:

My Little Pony Dream Castle Commercial, 1983.

The Hub Network: 12 Days of Ponies Promo, 2014.

****

🎤 And Now, These Messages:

Santa by the Minute, covering “Santa Claus: The Movie” one minute at a time.

****

“My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” and “A Hearth’s Warming Tail” © 2016 Hasbro Studios.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
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Title: My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: A Hearth’s Warming Tail
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🎄 It’s 1973, and a musical cricket is about to save the Christmas spirit during New York City’s quietest power failure.

Join us for a one-cat open sleigh ride into Chuck Jones’s beautifully animated sequel to “The Cricket in Times Square.”

****

🎙 Guest:

Michael DiGiovanni (Pop Culture Retrofit, Classic Film Jerks, @TheyCallMeDiGio).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. A very insightful Letterboxd review.

2. Name That Christmas Special’s screenshot gallery for this special.

3. Today’s TV Trope: Bully Bulldog.

4. Mel Blanc’s voice for the Alley Cat sounds his voice for Clarence the Cat in “Birds Anonymous.”

5. DiGio introduces me to Yorkshire pudding.

6. “Down by the Old Mill Stream.”

7. The similar “Joy to the World” segment from “Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas Celebration.”

8. The final Classic Film Jerks movie, “Babes in Toyland (March of the Wooden Soldiers).”

****

📼 Retro Commercial Break:

Mel Blanc American Express Card Commercial, 1971.

****

🎤 And Now, These Messages:

Rediscover the 80s podcasts, including The 80s Weekly and Memory Jogger.

****

“A Very Merry Cricket” © 1973 Chuck Jones Enterprises.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

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Title: A Very Merry Cricket
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🎄 It’s 1970 by way of 1990, and I just noticed the Santa Claus at the mall is actually my gym teacher.

Join us on a revealing trip back to The Wonder Years as we salute Robert Picardo’s standout performance as Coach Cutlip… and Santa.

****

🎙 Guests:

Andy Gattis (Straight Chilling, AndyGattis.com).

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. Joe Cocker’s version of “With a Little Help from My Friends” over the opening credits was replaced for streaming with a soundalike, only they don’t sound alike.

2. Almost all the original music is replaced, including a surf rock cover of “Sleigh Ride” by The Ventures.

3. Fred Savage in “Dinosaurs! A Fun-Filled Trip Back in Time,” featuring Rex and Herb from Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas Celebration.

4. Coach Cutlip’s drawing of the female reproductive system.

5. Oops, Wikipedia linked to the wrong Jay Lambert (Tommy). Here’s the right guy.

6. Brandon Crane’s (Doug Porter) new podcast, “The Errorist.”

****

📼 Retro Commercial Break:

Pepsi “Love Letter” Commercial with Fred Savage, 1990.

****

🎤 And Now, These Messages:

TGI Podcast, diving into Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving episodes from the 1990s era of TGIF and more.

****

“The Wonder Years” and “A Very Cutlip Christmas” © 1990 New World Television.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

Listen to this episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast
Author:
Title: The Wonder Years: A Very Cutlip Christmas
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🎄 It’s 1997, and Tim Curry as an evil pipe organ is literally bringing down the house.

Join us as we journey into the depths of Disney’s direct-to-video library for an unnecessary but charming midquel that explains why the Beast hates Christmas and raises even more questions about the curse on his castle.

****

🎙 Guests:

Kristi (@BadPrincessMov) and Bri (@wallabri) from Bad Princess Movies.

****

💬 Topics & Tangents:

1. Bad Princess Movies on Disney’s original “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Enchanted Christmas.”

2. Coming Soon previews from the original VHS.

3. Kathie Lee Gifford sang the soundtrack for “Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin.”

4. Behind “Prince Adam,” the Beast’s real name Disney never made official but keeps occasionally using.

5. Tim Curry as Darkness in “Legend”  and as Hexxus in “FernGully: The Last Rainforest.”

6. How tall is the Beast’s castle compared to the real world’s tallest castle?

7. Disney can’t keep the Feather Duster’s name straight, either.

8. The West Wing at Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom.

9. The terrifying air conditioner in “The Brave Little Toaster.”

10. The loudest organ ever built.

11. Belle wears her dress from this special during Christmastime at Disney parks.

12. Lisa Temming on designing Belle’s Christmas dress.

****

📼 Retro Commercial Break:

Disney Home Video Collection, 1997.

Tiger Electronics Beauty and the Beast handheld game, 1994.

****

🎤 And Now, These Messages:

Holidays After Dark, exploring the strange, unusual, and dark sides of the holidays.

****

“Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” © 1997 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.

Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

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Title: Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
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