Here we are, together again.   It’s great to see you.

First up we have The Worst Christmas Present Ever sent in by the self-appointed podcast barman Bob Baker.  Sometimes gifts can really hurt your feelings.

Travis Gronsdahl has sent us in his favourite yule log, and it’s naff.  But they’re all naff so what do you expect.  This one is the official DC Comics one from 2021 and if you’ve got 10 hours to spare you can watch it here:

Then we discuss The Feast of the Ass, an idea sent in by our anonymous technology correspondent.  It’s an ancient custom from France which has  long been forgotten, but celebrates the part donkeys play in the Christmas story.

This episode’s version of A Christmas Carol is called Ebenezer, a western version of the story starring Jack Palance.  It makes a lot of changes from the original, but it’s worth a look.
You can watch the whole thing on Youtube:

Then Bob Baker shares his Do You Hear What I Hear and he explains the difference between the UK version of Christmas Jumpers and the US version.

This episode’s recommendation is the discworld series of books by Terry Pratchett.  They’re great and there are 41 books in the series so that should keep you busy.
Here’s a link:

Get in touch at totalchristmas@gmail.com

Merry Christmas

Here it is, the answer to all your prayers.

After the success of last episode’s brand new advice column, Jack-Ask, 2 people have contacted the show asking for solutions to their problems.  Once again your heroic host has stepped into the breach to save Christmas.

Then it’s a brand new segment ‘Do You Hear What I Hear’.  Bob Baker, the show’s self appointed bar tender, translates the English meaning of a Christmas word into the American English meaning.

Then Kevin Church has sent in the story of his Dad’s worst Christmas present.   It’s not the worst present, but the way the gift is delivered certainly ruins the surprise.

Then Bob Baker is back again and I read out his Story of Shame.  He tells us about his Christmas tradition of Punking the Andersons.

Ever wondered why Scrooge says that anyone going around with Merry Christmas on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding?  Is that really how you cook a Christmas pudding?  Find out in this episode’s What The Dickens.

This episode’s version of A Christmas Carol is not really a version of A Christmas Carol.  It’s an episode of Gumby in which Scrooge escapes from his book to wreak havoc.  If you want to watch it, here’s a link:

I also talk briefly about another Christmas episode of Gumby, called Santa Witch, you can watch that one as well if you like:

Then, he’s back again, Bob Baker tells us the sad tale of how he found out the truth about Santa.

If you want to get in touch the email address is
totalchristmas@gmail.com

and the website is
totalchristmaspodcast.com

Merry Christmas you beautiful people.

Episode 56 – Gumby’s got a Scrooge Loose

Hello.
It’s me.

It’s another “great” episode.  We’ve had a lovely letter from our new Podcast Bartender Bob Baker, who shares his love of Christmas with us.

Then it’s the return of Wayne Clarke, the host of The Christmas Alphabet Podcast and he shares with us the story of how he found out the truth about Santa.
To have a listen to his podcast, here’s a link:

Then we have a hilarious joke.

You’ll probably be laughing so hard you pass out and miss the rest of the podcast, but if you don’t next up we have ‘My Worst Christmas Present Ever’.  It’s been a while since anyone has sent one in, so I scoured the internet and found a few that I thought you might like to hear about.

Then it’s this episode’s version of A Christmas Carol.  This one is the first full length one with sound.  It start Seymour Hicks and has a lot of good points…   and some really really bad points.
If you want to watch it, here’s a link:

If you want to get in touch, do it.

Email:  totalchristmas@gmail.com

Merry Christmas

Hooray,  it’s another episode of The Total Christmas Podcast.

We start off with an interesting feature from Frank the Tank our Curious Customs Correspondent. He’s curious to know if some of the customs in the US have made it over the pond to the UK.

Then we have the return of The Christmas Not So Classic.  This time we look at It’s Christmas All Over the World by Sheena Easton.
If you don’t know the tune you can check it out here:

Then Benji Pearson out Scandinavian-American correspondent gives us a book review.  It’s part of the American Girl Dolls collection and is about a Swedish immigrant to the US called Kirsten who’s celebrating Christmas as a pioneer of the old west.  You can read a short version of the story here:
https://americangirl.fandom.com/wiki/Kirsten%27s_Surprise#Introduced

This episode’s version of A Christmas Carol is A Christmas Carol 2: The sequel.  It was an episode of The George Burns Comedy Week and sees Scrooge a year after his transformation.
It’s not that bad and if you want to watch it, here’s a link:

If you want to get in touch we’d love to hear from you.
Here’s the email address:
totalchristmas@gmail.com

It’s episode 50 of The Total Christmas Podcast, that’s half a century, wow.

The Yule Log for this episode is from the TV show This Is Us.  Watch the family house burning for a solid hour.  It’s not great.

In this episode we have another deep look at some of the obscure phrases in A Christmas Carol.  Why was Marley “as dead as doornail”?  You’ll soon find out.

Then I share the story of how a friend of mine decided that instead of going round his girlfriend’s house for Christmas, he’d rather drive around the forest.

Then we look at Brer Rabbit’s Christmas Carol, an interesting take on the classic story that is generally pretty naff.  Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcrPdxVpC0M&t=2309s

This episode’s recommendation is Meet David Sedaris a BBC Radio 4 show where author David Sedaris reads out some of his short stories.  It’s a great listen so check it out:
https://fourble.co.uk/podcast/sedaris

If you want to get in touch email me at:
totalchristmas@gmail.com

Merry Christmas

Did you miss me?
Cause I missed you.

It’s the first episode of the new year and it’s the usual stuff.

First up we have this episode’s version of A Christmas Carol.  It’s called We Wish You A Mandy Christmas and it is an episode of the BBC TV series Mandy starring Diane Morgan.
I really enjoyed and maybe you will too, here’s a link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQF_iwLKxwk&t=884s

Then we have another Yule  Log.  This one was the ‘Pool Log and it was part of the marketing for the first Deadpool movie.
Check it out:

We have a book review of one of the books my wife bought me for Christmas.  It’s Christmas Jokes for Grumpy Blokes, and I even treat you to one of the jokes from the book.
Here’s a link:

Have you ever heard of the Räuchermann?  Well thanks to Eleri Haney you will after listening to this.  They’re little smoking ornaments made in Germany.
Want to see on in action?  Have a look:

This week’s recommendation is the TV series Mandy which I mentioned earlier.   It’s very funny and the episodes are only 15 minutes long.
You can watch the whole series on the BBC website, and most of the episodes appear to be on YouTube.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08gpftk

Merry Christmas

It’s Christmas you beautiful people.
Let’s celebrate by listening to some imbecile shouting into a microphone.

First up Julie Sibilla shares the worst Christmas present that her nan gave to her mum and brother.

This episode’s Yule Log is the Arendelle Castle Yule Log from Frozen, and it’s on Disney plus.  If you haven’t got Disney plus, don’t worry, it’s a pretty naff yule log.

Then Ed Daley, author of The Christmas Book, tells us a bit of the background to the David Bowie and Bing Crosby classic, the Little Drummer Boy.
To find our more about other Christmas Classic Songs, check out his book:

Then we take another look at the Top Ten Christmas Movie Lists that listeners have sent in and my own personal opinion is out the window.  Who will have the most popular list as calculate from all the other lists?

We have another fantastic song from Adam Kennedy and his Creative Commonaires, this one is called Bumbles Don’t Bounce, and if you’re a fan of the Rankin Bass Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, I think you’ll get a kick out of this one.
https://adamkennedy.bandcamp.com

This episode’s version of a Christmas Carol is from 1949 and has Vincent Price narrating it.  It’s pretty low budget and I have very little good to say about it.
Here’s a link:

Then it’s Robin Sings and the girls sing Jingle Bells.  They’ve sung it before, but they’re older now and more refined.

Then Kevin Church shares a Christmas memory of going to listen to his family play in a brass band each Christmas.

This episode’s recommendation is Darley Dance Christmas Show.  They’ve recorded an online version of their Christmas spectacular with songs, dancing and comedy all with a real festive feel.  It’s a great way to help the arts and enjoy a Christmas show.
Here’s a trailer:
https://youtu.be/xp8Qmb2H95k
And here’s a link for tickets:
http://www.darleydance.co.uk/

I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas.
You know I love ya.

Episode 46 – It’s Really Christmas

Hooray, it’s December and it really is Christmas and it’s another packed show.

First up Ed Daley reads another part from his book.  This time he explains how a clerical error led to It’s A Wonderful Life becoming one of the most popular Christmas films of all time.
If you want to read more, check out his book:

Next up we have the story of the worst Christmas present that Kevin Church ever received, turns out, if he’d received it a year earlier it may have been one of the best.

Then we chat to Aurelio O’Brien author of Family Trees.  It’s a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed.  If you’d like to pick up a copy, here’s a link:

Then it’s the 2nd part of our chat with Scott & Jay from the Jingle Jank Podcast.  We listen to 3 more songs, if you want a listen, here’s some links:

One More Sleep by Leona Lewis

The Power of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Driving Home For Christmas by Chris Rea

And to have a listen to Jingle Jank, here’s a link:
jinglejank.com

Then the girls are back again for Robin Sings and they have another stab at Last Christmas.

It’s been a few episodes but once again we look at another version of A Christmas Carol.  This one is the fantastic new Aldi Christmas advert.  It’s only 1 minute 20 seconds but they pack a lot in.

Then we have a new segment, each week we’ll be playing a song from Adam Kennedy and his Creative Commonaires,  Their songs are very funny and the album is called Literally Shrunk Down and Living in my Christmas Village.  Have a listen to the whole album here:
https://adamkennedy.bandcamp.com

Our Top Ten Christmas Movie Lists come from Ed Daley and Adam Parker from the Merry Britsmas Podcast.  Where will they feature on our leader board?

Then we have another Yule Log.  Why not spend an hour watching Joe Pesci get his scalp burned off with a flamethrower while crackling sounds and Christmas music play in the background.

This episode’s recommendation is for you to share the podcast.  It’s actually Christmas now, so you won’t seem like a weirdo when you tell your friends to listen to the show and it would mean a lot to me and the team (there is no team).

See, I told you it was a packed show.

Merry Christmas

You’re here!
And it’s great to see you.

In this episode we start with another story and song from Rich Chambers.  The song this week is called Hold On Santa and you can hear the whole thing here:
https://richchambers.com/santa-s-rockin-band

Then we have an interview with Ed Daly about his fantastic new book, The Christmas Book: The Ultimate Guide to Your Favorite Holiday.
Here’s a link:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HS14DFM
He’s also on the Baller Lifestyle Podcast, check it out here:  https://theballerlifestyle.com/

Next up it’s our Top Ten Christmas Movie’s lists and this week they’re from Stacey McKinsey, Jennifer Kay (and the TCP Mascot Elmer) and Eddie Honan.  Where will they feature on our chart?  Have a listen and you’ll find out, cause I’m not telling.

Then we have a fantastic Santa Claus Is NOT Coming To Town from Dan Carlson of Burly Boards, who is now our self-appointed Workshop Elf.
Dan makes incredible cutting boards, trays and coasters.  Check out his facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/burlyboards/about/?ref=page_internal

Then it’s more Aussie Christmas Songs.  We look at a selection of 7 different festive tunes from the land downunder.

This episode’s Yule Log isn’t the worst ever.  It’s Shrek’s Yule Log and it features 24 of the characters from the films.
Here’s a link:

Merry Christmas you beautiful people.