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? 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? 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? 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? “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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What’s up, dudes? Remember GI Joe? This real American hero was developed by Stan Weston and licensed and produced by Hasbro in 1963. They even coined the phrase “action figure” to help market the toys to boys. In 1966, the British toy company Palitoy licensed GI Joe and created their version: Action Man. Action Man was primarily developed with British military themes in mind. To set themselves apart, Palitoy even developed flocked hair and gripping hands, though of course they eventually crossed over to the GI Joe line.

Consequently, time kills most toy lines, and sales dwindled until GI Joe relaunched itself in 1982 with 3 ¾ inch figures to compete with Kenner’s Star Wars figures. To keep up, Palitoy rebranded Action Man as Action Force, a mixture of international soldiers and specialists from Britain, Germany, Australia, and, of course, America. In ‘83 they were given file cards and character profiles and even had their own comic strip, Battle Action Force! Action Force battled the terrorist organization Red Shadows led by Baron Ironblood.

Meanwhile, the Action Force toyline branched out into video games, audio stories on cassette tapes, stationery, and even toiletries. In ‘85, however, Alfred Pallett passed away, and Hasbro bought out Palitoy, including their factory, copyrights, and molds. Basically they just produced GI Joe figures under the Action Force name. In fact, Action Force even began fighting Cobra rather than Red Shadows. Even the cartoon was retitled and re-dubbed as Action Force with its own theme song!

In ‘86, the Battle Action Force comic strip was canceled, and Marvel UK began publishing a weekly comic in ‘87. Action Force #43 from Dec 26, 1987 includes a Christmas story entitled “Silent Night.” The snow may be deep and crisp and even inside the Norwegian arctic circle, but the Christmas celebrations turn a little sour for Footloose and Frostbite when a squad of Cobra snow serpents come visiting — and they aren’t there for a kiss under the mistletoe!

Explosions? Check. Harsh weather condition battles? Got ’em. Plum pudding MREs? Definitely! So grab your laser rifles, hop on your Snow Cat, and defeat Cobra with this episode!

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What’s up, dudes? It’s Candlemas! Yes, today we say goodbye to Christmastide. To celebrate, I’ve got Thom Crowe from ‘Tis the Podcast and Art Kilmer from A Cozy Christmas with to talk about the 1981 episode of SuperBook “The First Christmas!”

Once again, several Gospel pericopes are concatenated in this New Testament-inspired episode. While feeling nostalgic and missing his mother at Christmas, Chris, Joy, and his robot toy Gizmo find themselves transported by the mystical book. When the psychedelia settles, they stare up in awe at a vast dessert from another time!  Finding themselves in the 1st century BC Holy Land, the trio arrive during the time for Caesar Augustus’s decree.

Accordingly, St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary make the trek to Bethlehem, their ancestral home. Simultaneously the Magi follow a star to Bethlehem in search of a new king. The trio meet the Holy Family and journey with them to the same town. That night they see the Angel’s proclamation of great joy, and follow some shepherds to the inn where Jesus was born. They also foil Herod’s plot to have the Magi followed and the child killed. Having saved the day, they return to their time and celebrate Christmas properly.

An inn with no room? Check. Magi following a star? Got it. Adoring the Holy Family? Definitely! So grab your gold, frankincense, and myrrh, stay with your clockwork robot in a shepherd’s house, and head to Bethlehem with this episode! O come, let us adore him in SuperBook “The First Christmas!”

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What’s up, dudes? Peace on earth, goodwill towards men and women and chickens and bears… and Dizzy Gillespie! Yes, Mike Westfall of Advent Calendar House and Tim Babb from Can’t Wait for Christmas are with me to talk all about the 1979 special “John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together!”

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John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together (w/ Mike and Tim)

What’s up, dudes? CM Chuck from Just Another Friday Night and Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas  join me to talk about an obscure Marvel Comic issue What The?! #10! Specifically, we’re digging into the short story “I’ll Be Doom for Christmas!”

Santa arrives at Doom’s castle on Christmas Eve, but is ensnared by one of Doom’s traps. The injured Santa convinces Doom to deliver the remaining presents by agreeing to give him his heart’s desire. Doom does so, but isn’t super stealthy at Avengers Mansion, waking several Avengers who tail him quietly.

Subsequently, he heads to the Baxter Building and is attacked by the Fantastic Four despite his protests of innocence. In fact, the Thing punches him and he flies several blocks. Finally fed up, he begins to defend himself against the heroes, and it’s revealed they’re battling in front of a hospital for sickly children. Of course, Doom tells a little girl the heroes are here to help him pass out toys, and he embraces her in a hug.

Weeks pass, and Santa is finally healed. As he leaves he tells Doom he’ll grant his wish, but Doom says it’s been taken care of. He’s cradling the teddy bear of the little girl from the hospital.

John Byrne art? Check. Scott Lobdell script? Got it. Heartwarming ending? Yeah, Doom’s a softy. So hitch up your snarky reindeer, put your Santa suit on over your armor, and ride out to this episode on “I’ll Be Doom for Christmas!”

Just Another Friday Night
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