What’s up, dudes? Duane from Tinsel Tunes is here with me to talk about the 1984 Christmas mega hit “Last Christmas” by Wham! This catchy tune still holds a spot on most terrestrials radio playlists to this day!

Wham! soared onto the charts in ‘84 with several memorable pop songs when George Michael dreamed about having a Christmas hit. One day, while watching football, the melody came to him. Of course, he ran upstairs to his room to record it his idea, and by the end of the night, he had written a killer tune!

Featuring melodic synths and steady drum machines, the final song competed with Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” for the UK Christmas #1. The music video boasts cinematic scenery, and tells the story of a jilted love. Of course, it ultimately lost the battle for #1, but Wham! donated the proceeds to famine relief efforts anyway.

Poppy synthesizers? Check. Ugly Christmas jumpers? Got ‘em. Ski resort meet up with your ex and her new boyfriend? Well… so grab your skis, settle in for a cozy Christmas, and jam out to this episode on “Last Christmas!”

Tinsel Tunes
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Townshend Lights

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What’s up, dudes? It’s the Hallmark Ornament Premiere, so I’ve got the Christmas Cousins, Chad and Seth, and Joe Fulton the Christmas Aficionado, here to talk the 1988 Hallmark Dreambook—all 32 pages of it! That’s right! We get into baubles and finials and cameos! Oh my! We talk our personal collections and which ones from 1988 we own! Spoilers: I have the entire Norman Rockwell cameo set from 80-89! Or do I? Guess you’ll have to listen to find out! Peanuts, Uncle Sam, and Betsey Clark ornaments make appearances, too! And have you joined the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Collector’s Club yet? Have you decorated your wreaths and garlands with keepsake ornaments? So bust out your tree and ornaments, put on the Time Life Treasury of Christmas, and travel back to 1988 with this episode!

Christmas Cousins
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Christmas Aficionado

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Hallmark Dreambook 1988 (w/ Christmas Cousins & Christmas Aficionado)

What’s up, dudes? John Candy was a treasure! In fact, we were privileged to have him not only for SCTV and numerous comedy films, but also for his animated Saturday morning cartoon. I’ve got Robert Nicholas from Behind the Bells here with me to talk all about the “Christmas in July” episode of Camp Candy!

John is teaching the kids how to return a serve, when it reminds him of a basketball game between Alex and Rick. When Rick talks about getting new basketball sneakers for Christmas, they decide to turn Camp Candy into a winter wonderland and celebrate Christmas in July. They trim the tree, sing Christmas carols, and freeze the swimming pool with the A/C unit. To complete the look, Rick took Vanessa’s hair mousse to frost the windows. Unfortunately, Vanessa acts like a real witch, goblin (get it?) up her chocolates and refusing to share.

Aftwr falling fast asleep, she dreams that she’s Princess Vanessa, being waited on by the counselors and campers. The Spirit of Last Month visits her and takes her to watch big canoe race to remind her of her friends. The Spirits of This Month show her Camp Candy in disarray. The campers are miserable because of her less than regal attitude. Finally, the Spirit of Next Month shows her the  deserted, barren camp. The lake is polluted, Vanessa is completely alone in a hovel, and Rex DeForest III appears to bulldoze her house and evict her.

Vanessa wakes up and hugs everyone. She offers the last 2 chocolates to Rick and the campers. They all sing “Deck the Hall” by campfire under the Christmas tree, and Nurse Molly kisses John under the mistletoe.

Canoe races? Check. Obligatory “A Christmas Carol” episode? Yep. Talking chocolates hallucinations? Definitely! So grab your tennis racket, paint your windows with mousse, and canoe into this episode!

Behind the Bells
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What’s up, dudes? It’s half way to Christmas, so Merry Halfmas, everyone! To celebrate, I’ve got CJ from Christmas Sessions and Ashley Dunbar from The Magic of the Season with me to talk about the awesomeness that is Dolly Parton! Did you know she had a 1987 variety show? Well, she did, and that show had a Christmas episode: “A Down Home Country Christmas!”

Dolly introduces us to her Christmas show dressed in a Santa suit on the roof of the studio. After sliding down the chimney, her guests Burl Ives and Mac Davis appear on sleds. They all sing a few songs together, “I’ll Be Home with Bells On” and “A Down Home Country Christmas.” Dolly also tell us the story of a very special Christmas in which her dad bought her mom a wedding ring and she got a new baby brother.

Burl sings “A Holly, Jolly Christmas” and Mac sings “Christmas is for Kids.” Dolly reminisces about her first Christmas alone in Nashville, and Mac Davis joins her on guitar. It segues nicely to the show’s staple sketch Dixie’s Place. Socialites Mr. and Mrs. Fulbright’s car breaks down, and they find themselves at Dixie’s. Mr. Fulbright encounters the ghost of Mr. Pruitt, and rediscovers his spirit of Christmas and family.

The show ends in a huge Christmas carol medley with everyone joining in at an icy pond. Dolly, rather than singing us out with “I Will Always Love You,” ends the festivities by singing “Once Upon a Christmas.” She then thanks all her guests and wishes us a merry time.

Puppets? Check. Fake Dolly legs hanging from inside the chimney? Yep. cursed corn husk doll? Definitely! So grab your spoons, play your washboard, and take a sled to this episode!

The Magic of the Season
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What’s up, dudes? I’ve got Justice Ducks Laramy Wells from Moving Panels and Art Kilmer  from A Cozy Christmas here with me to talk about the Terror that Flaps in the Night! Yes, it’s Darkwing Duck! The hero had a Christmas episode in ‘91 entitled “It’s a Wonderful Leaf!” DW’s old nemesis Bushroot is up to no good, and only we can stop him!

When plant/duck hybrid Dr. Reginald Bushroot goes shopping on Christmas Eve, he’s bullied into returning to crime. Meanwhile, Darkwing Duck and his sidekick Launchpad trim the tree at home. Gosalyn is excited for Christmas, and can scarcely contain her desire for presents. Bushroot  gets revenge on the mall goers who dehumanized him with the help of anthropomorphic Christmas trees. Luckily, DW happens to be there too.

After a thrilling fight, Bushroot creates tree toppers that can extend his command over many Christmas trees. He uses them to steal presents a la Dr. Seuss. A chase ensues, and DW manages to freeze the garden-variety (pun intended) criminal and recover the presents. Well, he recovers all except his neighbors’ presents. In an act of charity, Gosalyn donates her presents to Honker and his family.

Christmas tree mutants? Yep. Candy cane and Christmas light weapons? Got ‘em. Rosebud? That’s in there too! So don your costume, equip your grappling gun, and let’s get dangerous with this episode on Darkwing Duck!

Moving Panels
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A Cozy Christmas
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Bookshelf Odyssey

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Darkwing Duck “It’s a Wonderful Leaf” (w/ Laramy and Art)

What’s up, dudes? Matt Spaulding from North Pole Radio and Vinnie Brezinsky from Huey and Bax join me to talk all about the game show “Hollywood Squares!” It’s a full size tic tac toe with celebrities giving zingers and singing songs!

In a 1987 episode, it’s Scott versus Becky with guest panelists Joan Rivers, Jim J. Bullock, Tracey Gold, Alyssa Milano, and Gary Coleman. The secret square contained a trip to Disney World! Talk about a prize! As it turns out, Scott came out with $150 and a bike, and Becky really made out like a bandit with $300, bikes, and that dope trip to Disney! Get it, girl!

The following year in 1988, Tommy and Suzy are contestants. The grid was filled Joan Rivers, Debbie Reynolds, Jim J. Bullock, Tina Yothers, Jason Hervey, and Janice from “The Price is Right!” Debbie Reynolds serenaded us with Rudolph while Tommy raked up the dollars. No one won the secret square, so there was no trip to Hawaii, unfortunately. Tommy wins, but also doesn’t get the car. Talk about super random final challenges!

Celebrities singing? Yep. Matching red “Hollywood Squares” jackets. For sure! Alyssa Milano looking disinterested and bored? Oh yeah! So choose Xs or Os, call on your favorite TV star, and listen to this episode!

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What’s up, dudes? I’m running up that hill with Mike and Rusty from Snow in Southtown to talk about Kate: Kate Bush Christmas Special and her song “December Will Be Magic Again!” Released in 1979, it proves that the singer, only 21 at the time, was already a tour de force. A year later she released the Christmas song as a single.

The special is a mix of live performances and choreographed dance to prerecorded music. The live portion was recorded BBC Pebble Mills Studios in front of an audience. The music for the dance was done at EMI Studios in London. After a rotoscoped animated introduction, Kate launches into renditions off “Violin,” Gymnopédie No. 1 by Satie, and “Symphony in Blue.” “Them Heavy People” follows with Kate garbed in sequins. Immediately a trio sings Peter Gabriel’s in, and he serenades the audience with “Here Comes the Flood.” Kate performs “Ran Tan Waltz” then premieres “December Will Be Magic Again” on solo piano. Next comes “The Wedding List” about a vengeful bride and the duet “Another Day” with Peter Gabriel about a failed marriage. Finally, Kate enthralls us with “Egypt,” “The Man with a Child in His Eyes,” and “Don’t Push Your Foot on the Heart Brake.” Does she hop in a garbage can and come out dressed like Sandy from the end of “Grease?” Why, yes. Yes she does.

Stevie Nicks-like flowing black outfit? Yep. Fake beard and “Fiddler on the Roof” getup? Uh huh.  Kate doing interpretative dance superimposed over her playing piano? Definitely! So grab your violin and head to Egypt to this episode about Kate Bush!

Snow in Southtown

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 What’s up, dudes? It’s the 250th episode! So, we’ll open up Rad Santa’s Mail Fanny Pack and answer some listener questions! Then special guest Danny Davila and I dive into the Christmas-adjacent movie “Funny Farm!” Starring Chevy Chase and Madolyn Smith, it’s a squirrel out of water story! Er…fish out of water!

Andy and Elizabeth Farmer leave the big city to live in the quaint little town of Red Bud. Andy has aspirations to be a novelist. Misadventures ensue! First, their movers get lost and arrive late. Then the Farmers discover a dead body in their garden. Snakes, runaway dogs, and angry fishing buddies soon after threaten their idyllic dream. Elizabeth writes and publishes a children’s book giving Andy feelings of resentment and failure. Friction between the couple inevitably ensues. When Andy, in a moment of desperation, submits Elizabeth’s manuscript as his own to his publisher, she leaves him. The couple bribe the town to help them sell their house at Christmas time. However, Andy and Elizabeth fall in love with the town and each other when they see how beautiful and friendly the town can actually be.

Ducks? Yep. Kitchen payphones? Got ’em. Lamb fries? Only if a record can be broken! So grab your yellow dog, climb into your runaway mail truck, and listen to this episode on “Funny Farm!”

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What’s up, dudes? It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for! That’s right! It’s the 4th Annual Totally Rad Christmas Awards! This year I’m joined by ‘Tis the Podcast elves Anthony and Thom, Ashley Dunbar from The Magic of the Season, Mike Westfall from Advent Calendar House, Robert Nicholas from Behind the Bells, and CJ Belanger from Christmas Sessions!! After the Academy refined the nomination and voting process last year, the star-studded evening went off without a hitch…sort of!  Who did you vote for? Did they win? Find out to the max in the 3rd Annual Raddies!

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