Advent Calendar House

🎄It’s 1984, and Ebenezer Scrooge is threatening to raise his asking price for a warehouse full of corn. This Christmas Eve episode not only drops on a Scrooge Sunday, but it’s also the Advent Calendar House’s 150th episode! 🎙 Erin Evans, Joey O., and Anthony Strand join us for a Dickens of a celebration with 1984’s TV movie adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” starring George S. Scott, along with the original “Equalizer” Edward Woodward as a sassy Ghost of Christmas Present, and we even spotted our favorite Alfred Pennyworth, Michael Gough, as a not-so-portly gentleman. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: David Warner in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.” George S. Scott in “Angus” and “Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.” “God Bless Us Everyone,” this movie’s theme music by Nick Bicât. Wikipedia and NO ONE ELSE names one Cratchit child “Michael,” played by Susannah York’s (Mrs. Cratchit) real-life son, Orlando Wells. Michael Carter (Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come) as Bib Fortuna in “Return of the Jedi.” “It’s Corn,” and My favorite “Futurama” joke. Scrooge’s grave, allegedly a real, reinscribed headstone, at St. Chad’s Church in Shrewsbury. Twelve Hundred Ghosts - A Christmas Carol in Supercut. **** 📼 Commercials: IBM Sponsored Commercial Break from the original airing of “A Christmas Carol.” George C. Scott “Read More About It” PSA. The Christmas Podcast Network All-Star Comedy Christmas Show! **** “A Christmas Carol” © 1984 Travenol Laboratories Limited. In memory of Jason Gross (1976–2023). Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. “Christmas in Your Heart” (from “A Garfield Christmas Special”) performed by Todd from Vista Blue/Second Saturday. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 1980, and my spoiled nephew just got beaten in a ski-jumping contest by a bear who’s never seen winter before. 🎙 Bill Hanstock join us we fail upward through middle to upper hotel management featuring a simultaneously very mature and very immature conversation about cartoon bears discovering mistletoe. What could be the Jellystone Winter Lodge’s final Christmas carnival manages to wake up Yogi Bear, who hibernates directly underneath it but somehow never knew about it before now. 📖 Check out Bill’s book, “We Promised You a Great Main Event: An Unauthorized WWE History.” **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: This special opens with a typo: The sign reads “Yellystone Park.” Daws Butler’s Snagglepuss voice was a Bert Lahr impression that was so spot on, Lahr threatened to sue when Snagglepuss started endorsing Kellogg’s cereal. Hanna-Barbera’s Christmas Sing-A-Long album, featuring songs from this special. Yogi was in “Casper’s First Christmas” in 1979, so this isn’t really Yogi’s First Christmas. Fruity Pebbles Christmas Commercial episode (2017) The Wonkamobile. ClickHole: “Which One of My Garbage Sons Are You?” Clickhole, 2014. Eddie the Eagle. Mickey Mouse’s shirtless (and hatless) Steamboat Willie winter look at Disneyland. “Mean, Sour, Crafty, and Cruel” in “Oliver and the Artful Dodger” and “Smurfs.” The Zone of Death in the part of Yellowstone National Park that’s in Idaho. “Christmas Is Here” in “A Flintstone Christmas.” **** 📼 Commercials: Cocoa Krispies Snagglepuss “Heavens to Murgatroyd” Commercial, circa 1963. Bad Princess Movies. **** “Yogi’s First Christmas” © 1980 Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 1970, and Santa’s been locked up in an underground cave with 2 giant Muppet monsters. 🎙️ Tori Schmidt and Tony Whitaker join us as we venture through the tunnels under Santa’s workshop to uncover Jim Henson’s first ever TV holiday special, presented by The Ed Sullivan Show and featuring the first Muppet performances by Richard Hunt, Fran Brill, Marilyn Sokol, and John Lovelady, as well as the first appearances of Thog and a familiar-looking Frackle who’d later be reworked into the Great Gonzo. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “The Great Santa Claus Switch” on Muppet Wiki. ToughPigs.com’s transcript of the special (2004) Jim Henson, Thog, and Lothar on “The Dick Cavett Show” (1971) Taminella Grinderfall in “Tales of the Tinkerdee.” Jim Henson’s Red Book entries on the special’s casting and debut. Tony’s art of the Two-Headed Monster as the Miser Brothers. So Many Muppets Are Named Fred. Daniel Seagren as Spider-Man on “The Electric Company.” Richard Hunt as Elmo. Snarl, the Frackle who would become Gonzo. My Emmet Otter’s Teenage Mutant Jug-Band Christmas T-shirt. We have dubbed the green Frackle who looks like Thig with a beak and horns “Theg.” “This Is Halloween” in a Sesame Place parade. “8 Balls of Fur.” Stop calling them “Muppeteers.” **** 📼 Commercial Break: FritoLay Holiday Party Display Commercial (1970) “Noëlco” Razor Santa Commercial (1970) Merry Britsmas. **** “The Great Santa Claus Switch” © 1970 Sullivan Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 1983, and the Worst Kids in the World are taking over the church Nativity play, smoking in the ladies’ room, and helping themselves to the sacramental grape juice. 🎙 Scott Leopold from Holly Jolly X’masu and Bob Baker from Festive Foreign Film Fans join us as we meet the Herdmans in a classic Christmas story turned TV movie starring Loretta Swit from “M*A*S*H” and a young Fairuza Balk in her on-screen debut. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Today’s TV Tropes: It’s the Best Whatever, Ever and Title Drop. Author Barbara Robinson wrote 2 sequels: “The Best School Year Ever” (1994) and “The Best Halloween Ever” (2004). Fairuza Balk (Beth) in “The Waterboy.” Loretta Swit (Grace) interview: “Meanest kids in town make the best pageant,” AP via The Free Lance-Star, 1983. Jason Michas (Leroy) as Johnny Arcade in “The Power Team” animated segment from Season 1 of “Video Power.” Antony Holland (Reverend Hopkins) as Dr. Light — er, “Wright” — in “Captain N: The Game Master.” Ocean Hellman (Alice) in “Danger Bay,” which keeps coming up this season. **** 📼 Commercial: Duracell “No Longer Under the Christmas Tree” Commercial (1983) Festive Foreign Film Fans. **** “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” © 1983 Comworld Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 1994, and the Jeffersons are poisoning Metropolis with greed spray from toy atomic space rats. 🎙 Gerry Davila, Paxton Holley, and Jeeg join us on an unpredictable flight through the first Christmas episode of “Lois and Clark,” written by Dean Cain and starring Sherman Hemsley as the Toyman and Isabel Sanford as his reluctant assistant, plus Denise Richards, Dick Van Patten, Doug Llewellyn, and terrible special effects. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: C.T. brings up this episode and Jeeg seals his fate on Nerd Lunch’s “Nerdstradamus 2013 Redux.” Winslow Schott’s plan to dump his greed toxin into Metropolis’s water supply is similar to Scarecrow’s plan in “Batman Begins.” Progressive Insurance “Barbie” Commercial. Denise Richards (Angela) in “Tammy and the T-Rex.” Eddie Jones (Jonathan Kent) in “A League of Their Own.” Christmas at Graceland. Totally Rad Christmas on “It’s Gary Shandling’s Christmas Show” featuring Dom Irrera (Hecklebaum). Homer Simpson licking poisonous toads. Today’s TV Trope: Anticipatory Breath Spray. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by The Pretenders. **** 📼 Commercials: Burger King Holiday Disney Glasses Commercial (1994) Children First “Read a Book” PSA featuring Brett Butler (1994) Totally Rad Christmas. **** “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” and “Season’s Greedings” © 1994 Warner Bros. Television. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 2001, and a magical partridge is sending me on a coat drive for some kind of Karate Kid-style Santa training. 🎙️ Andre Bennett and Tim Babb join us for a ride in our light blue ’54 convertible as we take a joyride through the very last and most overlooked Rankin/Bass Christmas special, featuring a mostly black cast starring Patti LaBelle, Gregory Hines, and a criminally underused Eartha Kitt as a talking cat. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: This special was co-written by Suzanne Collins, who went on to write “The Hunger Games.” The other co-writer, Peter Bakalian, also has a book series. It’s called “The F.A.R.T. Diaries.” Patti LaBelle in Philadelphia’s “Get to Know Us” tourism campaign, 1985. Patti LaBelle on “Sesame Street” singing “How I Miss My X.” IMDb’s photo gallery for “Santa, Baby!” is full of high-quality promotional images. RankinBass.com’s first look at “Santa, Baby!” from December 2001. Gregory Hines in “The Muppets Take Manhattan” and “Running Scared.” Rankin/Bass finally includes “The Twelve Days of Christmas” and “Jingle Bells” in a Christmas special. Natalie Toro (Samson) lists “Santa Baby!” on her bio page. Andre’s uncle co-wrote K-Ci & JoJo’s “All My Life.” **** 📼 Commercials: McDonald’s “Wake Up” Breakfast Commercial featuring Patti LaBelle (1990) Can’t Wait for Christmas. **** “Santa, Baby” © 2001 Perisphere Pictures, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄It’s 1989, and a killer in a Santa suit is making it really hard to hide my dead husband’s body. 🎙 Jamie Ray from Fave Five From Fans joins us to dig up the first filmed episode of “Tales From the Crypt,” a cozy Christmas nightmare directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring his then-wife and talented screamer, Mary Ellen Trainor, and the kid who gets her hoverboard stolen by Marty McFly. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Mike on Fave Five From Fans with my Fave Five Christmas TV Specials (already covered them all here). Fave Five Christmas Horror Movies. The Vault of Horror No. 35 (1954) “And All Through the House” segment of the 1972 “Tales from the Crypt” movie. HBO Feature Presentation opening (1983) John Kassir (The Crypt-Keeper) in a commercial for The Legend of Zelda (1987) Mary Ellen Trainor (Elizabeth) and Lyndsey Whitney Barry (Carrie Ann) in “Back to the Future Part II.” Today’s TV Trope: Tempting Fate. Elizabeth calls the operator because 9-1-1 was only available in about half the U.S. by 1989. **** 📼 Commercials: The Crypt-Keeper’s Ghoulish Guide to the Howlidays on Kids’ WB (2001) Holidays After Dark. **** “Tales From the Crypt” and “And All Through the House” © 1989 Tales From the Crypt Venture. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1979, by way of 1933 — or the other way around — and the human from Fraggle Rock has broken into my garage with a haunted choir of singing children. 🎙️ Scott Leopold from Holly Jolly X’masu and Tommy Coombs join us as we turn the dial on our haunted time-traveling radio to find Henry Winkler at the height of his fame as the Fonz hiding under multiple layers of makeup as a Scrooge figure in Depression-era New England. 📺 You can watch “An American Christmas Carol” for free on YouTube. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Henry Winkler interview on being asked to play a Scrooge figure. The Ford Model TT truck. Dorian Harewood (Matt Reeves/Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come) filling in for James Avery as Shredder. Today’s TV Trope: Recursive Fiction — and “The Identical.” Robin Williams on “Sesame Street” showing Elmo different ways to play with a stick. “Sister Kenny,” based on the true story of an Australian nurse. **** 📼 Commercials: McDonald’s Gift Certificates Christmas Commercial (1979) Holly Jolly X’masu, your podcast destination for Japanese Christmas music. **** “An American Christmas Carol” © 1979 Scrooge Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🕎 It’s 2003, and a team of Hebrew school basketball players think they’ve found the ghost of Judah Maccabee in a random guy living in a van. 🎙️ April Ryley and J.W. Friedman join us for a Disney Channel Original Hanukkah Movie very, very loosely based on the true story of former college basketball star Lamont Carr and a yeshiva’s struggling team looking for a leader. 📺 “Full-Court Miracle” is available on Disney+. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Lamont Carr’s obituary in Virginia Magazine (2017) Psychocandy, an experimental pop duo of Cassie Steele (Julie) and Jase Blankfort (Stick). UVA’s Athletics website circa 2003. Alex’s prized Dr. J basketball card isn’t even a rookie card and isn’t that valuable. “Jewball,” a novel featuring the South Philadelphia Hebrew Association basketball team. Sadly, the only upload I could find of the hip-hop cover of the Dreidel song is a smartphone recording of a TV playing this movie. This basketball movie’s NBA star cameo is provided by Jerome Williams. **** 📼 Commercials: Microsoft Encarta Commercial (1995) Returning Student. **** “Full-Court Miracle” © 2003 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1987, and someone stole Santa Claus in the middle of his hot dog break. 🎙️ Lindy Kempe and Emily Rowley join us as we follow a renowned novelist who may or may not be a teenager and her animated mouse writing partner on a quest find out who kidnapped a department store Santa, while we solve the mystery of how anyone remembers this Christmas special that only aired once. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Dick Van Patten’s shout-out in “Wayne’s World” and cameo in “Robin Hood: Men In Tights.” Darcy Marta (Jill) on Totally Rad Christmas. Gene Kelly and Jerry Mouse dancing in “Anchors Aweigh.” Jill’s Miami Mice poster — no relation to the “Sesame Street” parody of the same name. Donald O’Connor (Alex) in “Singin’ in the Rain.” Helen Hughes (whoever the woman who answers Jill’s door is supposed to be) in “Billy Madison.” Today’s TV Trope: 555. Francis Dambeger’s (Jerry) 1991 film “Solitaire,” and its solitaire review on IMDb. The realistic looking toy gun predates the same federal law that forced Nintendo to recolor its Zapper orange. **** 📼 Commercials: 7up Christmas Commercial (1986–1987) Wild Puffalumps Commercial (1987) The Magic of the Season. **** “A Mouse, A Mystery, and Me” © 1987 Ruby-Spears Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1991, and Santa Claus is fighting with a talking dog over a park bench. By some Christmas miracle, this obscure special was rediscovered over 30 years later. For years, people on the Internet tried to identify it on a TV in the background of an old family photo, until finally, thanks to the power of positivity, it was identified as “The Soulmates in The Gift of Light.” 🎙️ Michael DiGiovanni and Jeff Somogyi join us as we meet the intergalactic Soulmates in what seems like a pilot that never got off the ground. 📺 You can watch “The Soulmates in The Gift of Light” for free on YouTube, courtesy of the special’s creator, Gabrielle St. George. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The original Tumblr post: “Can You Figure Out Who This Is?” by Sophie Campbell (2016) Will Sloan’s tweet of the screenshot, September 2022. CBC News: Canadian cartoon mystery finally solved after 6 years, thanks to the internet (2022) “The Littles,” for comparison. Today’s TV Trope: Mind-Control Eyes. Soulmates Productions, Inc. defaulted in 2007. **** 📼 Commercials: Canadian Tire: Scrooge / Nintendo Action Set Commercial (1991) Pop Tarts Commercial starring Dan and Dave (1990) Remember That Show? **** “The Soulmates in The Gift of Light” © 1991 Soulmates Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1977, and Happy Gilmore’s grandma is surrounded by dancing chickens. It’s a beautiful day for a podcast, and this season of the Advent Calendar House begins with a visit to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood in a Christmas special that hadn’t been available for more than 40 years until it resurfaced in 2022. It’s surprisingly less festive than some might expect, but it makes up for that with some extremely bizarre adventures. 🎙 Guy Hutchinson from Pointless Nostalgia and Tim Lybarger from The Neighborhood Archive join us for the wacky adventures of a mysterious Music Man and A Very Young Dancer. 📺 You can watch “Christmastime with Mister Rogers” at MisterRogers.org. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Christmastime with Mister Rogers” on The Neighborhood Archive. “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood: A Visual History,” co-written by Tim. Frances Bay (Mrs. Hamilton) in “The Karate Kid.” Today’s TV Trope: Hollywood Giftwrap. Mr. Rogers and François Clemmons sharing a wading pool. Lesser-known Christmas hymns “The Friendly Beasts,” “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow,” and “My Sheep Were Grazing.” Was Music Man Stan from “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood” inspired by the Music Man from this special? “The Littlest Angel” (1969) Chuck Ozeas (Andrew) is now a director of photography. “A Very Young Dancer” and The Life That Followed (2011) Stephanie Selby’s obituary (2022) **** 📼 Commercials: Hershey’s Kisses Christmas Bells Commercial (1989) Dirt Cheap Liquors Chicken Commercial. Closer to Christmas. **** “Christmastime with Mister Rogers” © 1977 Family Communications, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 After spending 3 months locked in a water tower, the Advent Calendar House has escaped in time for Christmas Podcast Day, a fake holiday originally made up for a hashtag back when social media was slightly less stupid. It’s not Scrooge Sunday, but the theme for this year’s Christmas Podcast Day is “A Christmas Carol,” so I’m playing a long, but also cheating a little by covering both segments of a 1993 Christmas episode of “Animaniacs.” 🎙 Erin Evans and Joey O. join us for a totally insane-y Christmas Podcast Day-ny! **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The Animanicast. Animaniacs Wiki entry for this episode. Sherri Stoner (Slappy Squirrel) was the live action reference model for Disney princesses Ariel and Belle. “A Christmas Plotz: The Hip-Hop Musical.” Jess Harnell (Wakko) sang the Taz-Mania theme. Jess Harnell’s band, Rock Sugar. Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Today’s TV Tropes: Sensational Staircase Sequence and Scooby Stack. Baby Jesus is in a thatched-roof cottage. Kathryn Page’s gag credits. **** 📼 Commercials: Animaniacs McDonald’s Happy Meal Toys (1994) Snow in Southtown. **** “Animaniacs,” “A Christmas Plotz,” and “Little Drummer Warners” © 1993 Warner Bros. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. “Christmas Podcast Day” song by Tim Babb from the Can’t Wait for Christmas Podcast. Parody of “Weasel Stomping Day” by “Weird Al” Yankovic. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we watched a cavemen take over Santa’s job after he fell off the roof in “A Flintstone Christmas.” This time, our reunion tour of previously podcasted-about characters makes its final stop of the season in Bedrock, where Fred Flintstone is letting the lead role of “Ebonezer” Scrooge go to his head. 🎙️ “Ant-stony” Strand and “Mi-coal” May join us as we watch Wilma do the workload of I lost count of how many victims of the highly contagious Bedrock Bug. We also make the strongest case yet that this Modern Stone-Age Family does, indeed, know about who made lame beggars walk and blind men see. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “A Flintstone Family Christmas,” from a year before, was the last appearance of adult Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm. “The Flintstones & WWE: Stone-Age Smackdown!” The latest we’ve waited to shop for our spouses. A grown-up Philo Quartz from “The Flintstone Kids” appears here and then never again. The Piltdown Man hoax. How big is the stage, and how are the actors playing ghosts appearing translucent? They added a “love scene” with Belle, and Maggie Magma is way too excited about it. Brian Cummings (Ernie/The Ghost of Christmas Present) did a weird Kermit the Frog voice in a promo for “Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree.” Other Dickens characters have headstones in the graveyard. IMDb credits Rip Taylor as the voice of a Venus flytrap tuba in the orchestra pit. (These show notes originally included a link to vote on which version of “A Christmas Carol” we’d cover for Christmas Eve! Here’s what won.) **** 📼 Commercials: Cocoa Pebbles “Christmas Carol” commercial (1998) “Dinner & a Movie” makes standing rib roast with “Rockshire” pudding (1996) **** “A Flintstones Christmas Carol” © 1994 Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🦃 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we let the goofy alien puppet with the jokes toy with our emotions in “ALF’s Special Christmas.” This time, ALF teaches us about Melmac’s version of Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, he’s already eaten the turkey, but there might still be some sweet potato pie in the garage, with the homeless man. 🎙️ Chad Young, Tommy Coombs, and Jayme Kilsby join us around the Fappiano table as we aim a spoonful of squash back to 1988 for a very special, 2-part Thanksgiving episode. 📺 Watch “Turkey in the Straw” Part 1 and Part 2 on ALF’s official YouTube channel. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: ALF ruined Willie’s best belt to make his Thanksgiving pageant headdress. Oh no, Tom brought up Gerbert. Melmac’s version of Thanksgiving is named for Bob Fappiano, ALF’s assistant puppeteer. ALF trying to eat wax fruit reminded me of Rizzo in “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” I’m sad to report “Das Cornucopia, from Wagner Strauss’s ‘Der Feaster Famine,’” is not real. Is turkey really an aphrodisiac? What football game were the Alien Task Force agents watching? Chad still has his ALF doll from Burger King. ALF co-hosting the 1989 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. **** 📼 Commercials: Nobody Beats The Wiz Super Thanksgiving Sale (1985) Fan Fix-tion. **** “ALF” and “Turkey in the Straw” © 1988 Alien Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, we went on an apocryphal adventure with the story of The Little Drummer Boy. This time, Rankin/Bass drums up an unnecessary sequel from 1976, its busiest year for holiday specials. 🎙️ Brandon Medley joins us on a side quest to retrieve the stolen silver bells from a troop of greedy Roman soldiers in the “Rogue One” of Christmas stories. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Allen Swift (Melchior) as Twinkie the Kid. Simeon the bellmaker is very loosely based on the Biblical Simeon, but his Song of Simeon is left out. Ray Owens (Simeon) as the voice of Superbook, and Jesus in “The Flying House.” Zero Mostel (Brutus) on “The Muppet Show.” “Money Money Money” (not the song from “Mamma Mia!”) How bad is Brutus compared to the other Rankin/Bass Christmas villains? “Do You Hear What I Hear?” was written during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Our favorite recordings of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by Copeland, the Mike Sammes Singers for Disneyland Records, and one by Spiraling that invokes The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.” **** 📼 Commercials: Kodak XL Movie Camera: “One Christmas” (1976) Holly Jolly X’masu, your podcast destination for Japanese Christmas music. **** “The Little Drummer Boy, Book II” © 1976 Rankin/Bass Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 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. 🎙 Becca Petunia and Anthony Strand from ToughPigs.com drop in to watch Elmo’s wish for Christmas Every Day cause economic and environmental disaster in a star-studded special narrated by Maya Angelou and featuring Harvey Fierstein as the Easter Bunny and “Doc Hopper,” himself, Charles Durning, as Santa. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Brats of the Lost Nebula.” Early “proto-Elmo” appearances. Miss Piggy’s cookbook has a recipe by Maya Angelou. Baby Bear is Jewish. 14 Karat Soul sings “Down Below the Street.” Cookie Monster disguised as Ernie. A petition to remake “White Christmas” with Elmo and Rosita’s military veteran dads. This special’s unique News Flash logo. The soundtrack that’s not actually a soundtrack. Big Bird sings “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” but not THAT one. Elmo as the ring bearer at Luis and Maria’s wedding. Ranking all the jokes in “Elmo Says BOO!” Bert and Ernie meet their “It’s a Wonderful Life” counterparts. **** 📼 Commercials: “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. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 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 an animated adventure in which Punky and pals visit Santa’s workshop and accidentally start Christmas too early. 🎙 Adam Pope and Steven join us on an instantaneous trip to the North Pole courtesy of Glomer, her new magical leprechaun-gopher Ewok lookin’ friend. The ’80s were weird. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Comparing the original sitcom’s theme song to the cartoon’s theme. Galoob made a plush Glomer. Adam’s VHS cover has a very off-model Glomer. The Master Christmas Switch’s effect on time reminded me of the “Futurama” episode “Time Keeps on Slippin’.” Punky taught Adam how to wink. Santa drops off the kids on the roof again, just in like in “Frosty the Snowman.” **** 📼 Commercials: 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. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎃 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. 🎙 Sammy Hain and Chad Young join us for “Claymation Comedy of Horrors,” starring the scheming Wilshire Pig on a quest to uncover the secret lab of Dr. Frankenswine. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: IMDb’s photo gallery from this special. “The Adventures of Mark Twain.” Todd Tolces’ website and YouTube résumé. Michele Mariana (Wilshire) on “Sesame Street” as Cecile, the singing ball of clay. Herb from Burger King. Will Vinton wanted to build a theme park called Claymation Station with Wilshire Pig as its Mickey Mouse. Raphael opened the floodgates for characters made for children saying curse words. Sheldon the Snail bears a passing resemblance to The Noid. A closer examination of the bathroom graffiti. Today’s TV Trope: Removable Shell. Does Famine’s business card say he’s from Limbo, Illinois? **** 📼 Commercials: McDonald’s Coke Float Commercial, 1991, aired during this special. Another Zelda Podcast. **** “Claymation Comedy of Horrors” © 1991 Will Vinton Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 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. 🎙️ Andre Bennett and C.J. Belanger joins us for a very bonkers Power Rangers home video, plus a 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. 📺 You can watch “Alpha’s Magical Christmas” on YouTube, preserved by Dinosaur Dracula. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Chosen Sentai Jetman.” “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always.” Morphed: Cheryl Saban’s Journey from Beach Bunny to Philanthropist. The real-life Command Center: The House of the Book at the American Jewish University. Baby Groot and the bomb that will kill everyone. Andre proves “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie. **** 📼 Commercials: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Karate Club Video (1994) Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Fan Club (1994) The Magic of the Season. **** “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” and “Alpha’s Magical Christmas” © 1994 Saban Entertainment, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 Previously on the Advent Calendar House, our hearts and golden harmonicas went out to “A Chipmunk Christmas.” This time, it’s Scrooge Sunday, so get set to have some fun in this Dickens of an episode of “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” 🎙️ Tommy Coombs and Sean Sotka joins us 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. 📺 You can watch “Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll” on Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll” on Munkapedia. Pee-wee Herman’s breakfast machine. “Paperboy,” the video game. “Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue.” Dads with trash bags on Christmas morning. “A Chipmunk Reunion.” A Seville family portrait featuring Dave’s abnormally large head. Mickey Mouse’s 1980s Epcot spacesuit. Today’s TV Trope: Sounding It Out. Southern California’s Blizzard of 2023. “Here Comes Christmas,” the TV version, and the album version. **** 📼 Commercials: The Chipmunks are Coming to Target (1990) Cool Kids Club. **** “Alvin and the Chipmunks” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Carroll” © 1989 Bagdasarian Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🫓 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 “Rugrats” reimagines the story of Passover. 🎙️ Sarah Shay and Zach Gozlan join us as we witness grown men throwing temper tantrums and ending up locked in the attic. 📺 I found this special hiding in a 4-hour VHS recording of Nick on CBS from 2003. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Pilot House on “I Dream of Jeannie,” which would not be seen the night this premiered. Fact-Checking “Fact-Checking A Rugrats Passover.” As of this recording, the Sultan of Brunei in 1995 is still sultan. “Noozles,” which co-starred Cheryl Chase (Angelica) and was not “The Adventures of the Little Koala.” The 4 categories of Jewish holidays. Melanie Chartoff (Didi, Minka) as the principal in “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose.” The controversy over Boris and Minka’s design. “The Song That Doesn’t End” from “Lamb Chop’s Play Along.” The Maxwell House Haggadah. A Haggadah of Our Own. “Bible Adventures.” **** 📼 Commercials: Country Crock Spreadable Sticks (1994), featuring Jack Riley (Stu). Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (2003) The Studio Demands It! **** “A Rugrats Passover” © 1995 Viacom International Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 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 spend another Christmas with the Smurfs. 🎙️ Lindy Kempe and Donnie Storms join us 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. 📺 You can watch “’Tis the Season to be Smurfy” for free on YouTube, or an upscaled version including the opening credits. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Look at the adjective…” The crazy backstories of the Smurfs’ Puppy and Sassette. The Great Cookie Thief. New and improved Joker products! Painter Smurf paints like “Duck Amuck.” **** 📼 Commercials: Smurf-Berry Crunch Cereal (1983) Bad Princess Movies. **** “’Tis the Season to be Smurfy” © 1987 Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

💝 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 we get all warm and fuzzy with the Bear Family’s Valentine’s Day capers. 🎙️ Gerry Davila from Totally Rad Christmas joins us as Brother Bear gets stalked by a secret admirer, and his Papa’s public displays of affection send him into orbit. 📺 You can watch “The Berenstain Bears’ Comic Valentine” for free on YouTube. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The Broad Street Bullies. Totally Rad Christmas on Chuck E. Cheese. Homer Simpson’s rabbit trap. The bottom brick scene in ”Bloodsport.” A set of clips from this special set to “Let’s Hear It for The Boy” by Deniece Williams. **** 📼 Commercial: McDonald’s Berenstain Bears Happy Meal Toys (1986) **** “The Berenstain Bears’ Comic Valentine” © 1982 Joseph Cates Co., Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 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 returning to the 1997 premiere of the redesigned, rebranded “New Batman Adventures.” 🎙️ Andre Bennett and Joey O. join us on a festive tour of Gotham City through the Joker’s hideously redrawn eyes. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The Batman Adventures Holiday Special original comic. “Welcome to Our OOL.” Dark Night: A True Batman Story, by Paul Dini. 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. Kevin Conroy on being recognized while volunteering after 9/11. “Finding Batman,” by Kevin Conroy, from DC’s Pride 2022. Paul Dini’s original cel from Harley and Poison Ivy’s shopping spree. Tim Drake’s animated debut, and a shocking Muppet tangent. **** 📼 Commercials: Batman and Alfred Diet Coke Commercial (1989) Festive Foreign Film Fans. **** “The New Batman Adventures” and “Holiday Knights” © 1997 Warner Bros. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 2002, and we’re trapped in a horrifying world where Kermit the Frog doesn’t exist. 🎙 Lindy Kempe, Adam Jurotich, and Erik Johnson 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. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Muppet Wiki’s list of similarities between this special and 2011’s “The Muppets.” Joe Snow. Hoggle from “Labyrinth” at the Unclaimed Baggage Center. Director Kirk Thatcher as the punk on the bus in “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” and ”Picard.” Jonathan Bruce, who’d later appear in “Elf.” Deleted scenes include more of Carson Daly, Santa, and a lost cut scene with Snoop Dogg. The giant Bossmen Muppets. A scheduling conflict robbed this movie of actual Steve Irwin. Fozzie as “that green guy who stole Christmas.” Today’s TV Tropes: Celestial Bureaucracy, Laser Hallway, and Lampshade Wearing. The Yoda Muppet has his own Muppet Wiki entry. So does Amy, the Dancing Brick! The World Trade Center in alternate timeline Piggy’s apartment window, and that’s not the worst part of that scene. **** 📼 Commercials: Mastercard Priceless Getaway Sweepstakes Commercial starring The Muppets (2002) 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. Find us at adventcalendar.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? 🎙 Adam Parker Sibun from Merry Britsmas joins 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. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: I finally got a copy of the original Raymond Briggs book! UK Christmas’s “The Snowman” TV listing history. Raymond Briggs hails Christmas sequel to his Snowman classic (The Guardian, 2012) Billy has a picture of Fungus the Bogeyman in his room. The Snowman finds a 1960s toy Batmobile in the shed. Maybe it lost a wheel. A newer version of Andy Burrows’s “Light the Night.” An older version of Andy Burrows’s “Hometown.” “Funny Looking Angels,” a 2011 Christmas Album by Smith & Burrows. ‘Walking In The Air’ composer told to send a demo tape for The Snowman sequel (NME, 2012) London landmarks seen in the special. Let’s start building more creative snowmen with orange slices for ears and asparagus spear mustaches. The Snowdog Art Trails around the UK, including Snowdog sculptures displayed in Brighton. **** 📼 Commercial: IRN-BRU Snowman Advert, 2011. **** “The Snowman and The Snowdog” © 2012 Snowdog Enterprises Ltd. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🕎 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. 🎙 April Ryley joins us on an enlightening revisit to the Flashy Girl from Flushing on her first Hanukkah as a married woman. Also, Ray Charles is here! 📺 You can watch “The Hanukkah Story” for free on Facebook. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: April visits the Sheffield residence, and so can you. Fran Drescher in “UHF.” Fran Drescher says she had to fight to let ‘The Nanny’ be Jewish (L.A. Times, 2020) Benjamin Salisbury (Brighton) on “Teen Celebrity Jeopardy” in 1997. Daniel Davis (Niles) on “The Fran Drescher Tawk Show” in 2010. Max’s childhood memory of his dad at Christmas reminded me of Bruce Wayne’s long dining room table. What to do if you’re stranded in a car during a winter storm. Kenny Rogers Roasters still exists, but only in Asia. **** 📼 Commercials: 3 Musketeers Commercial starring Fran Drescher (1998) 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. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 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? 🎙 Jon and Bin from Bin’s Toy Bin and Santa by the Minute join us for a Scrooge Sunday canter through a “Christmas Carol” adaptation set in Equestria, the world of “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.” 📺 You can watch “A Hearth’s Warming Tail” for free on YouTube. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Mike on Santa by the Minute. The first My Little Pony special, from 1984: “Rescue at Midnight Castle.” Patton Oswalt on My Little Pony. Patton Oswalt literally on My Little Pony. “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. The mysterious “Derpy,” a.k.a. Muffins. A short tangent about “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” air fresheners. Today’s TV Trope: And You Were There. A scene was cut featuring Discord in the Jacob Marley role. He’s not in this episode, but there’s a character named Cheese Sandwich who is literally “Weird Al” Yankovic as a pony. Bin takes roll call at the Hearth’s Warming Eve party. **** 📼 Commercials: My Little Pony Dream Castle Commercial (1983) The Hub Network: 12 Days of Ponies Promo (2014) **** “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic” and “A Hearth’s Warming Tail” © 2016 Hasbro Studios. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1973, and a musical cricket is about to save the Christmas spirit during New York City’s quietest power failure. 🎙️ Michael DiGiovanni join us for a one-cat open sleigh ride into Chuck Jones’s beautifully animated sequel to “The Cricket in Times Square.” **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: A very insightful Letterboxd review. Name That Christmas Special’s screenshot gallery for this special. Today’s TV Trope: Bully Bulldog. Mel Blanc’s voice for the Alley Cat sounds his voice for Clarence the Cat in “Birds Anonymous.” DiGio introduces me to Yorkshire pudding. “Down by the Old Mill Stream.” The similar “Joy to the World” segment from “Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas Celebration.” The final Classic Film Jerks movie, “Babes in Toyland (March of the Wooden Soldiers).” **** 📼 Commercials: Mel Blanc American Express Card Commercial (1971) 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. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1970 by way of 1990, and I just noticed the Santa Claus at the mall is actually my gym teacher. 🎙 Andy Gattis joins us on a revealing trip back to The Wonder Years as we salute Robert Picardo’s standout performance as Coach Cutlip… and Santa. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: 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. Almost all the original music is replaced, including a surf rock cover of “Sleigh Ride” by The Ventures. Fred Savage in “Dinosaurs! A Fun-Filled Trip Back in Time,” featuring Rex and Herb from “Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas Celebration.” Coach Cutlip’s drawing of the female reproductive system. Oops, Wikipedia linked to the wrong Jay Lambert (Tommy). Here’s the right guy. Brandon Crane’s (Doug Porter) new podcast, “The Errorist.” **** 📼 Commercials: Pepsi “Love Letter” Commercial with Fred Savage (1990) TGI Podcast. **** “The Wonder Years” and “A Very Cutlip Christmas” © 1990 New World Television. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1997, and Tim Curry as an evil pipe organ is literally bringing down the house. 🎙 Kristi and Bri from Bad Princess Movies 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. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Bad Princess Movies on Disney’s original “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Enchanted Christmas.” Coming Soon previews from the original VHS. Kathie Lee Gifford sang the soundtrack for “Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin.” Behind “Prince Adam,” the Beast’s real name Disney never made official but keeps occasionally using. Tim Curry as Darkness in “Legend” and as Hexxus in “FernGully: The Last Rainforest.” How tall is the Beast’s castle compared to the real world’s tallest castle? Disney can’t keep the Feather Duster’s name straight, either. The West Wing at Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. The terrifying air conditioner in “The Brave Little Toaster.” The loudest organ ever built. Belle wears her dress from this special during Christmastime at Disney parks. Lisa Temming on designing Belle’s Christmas dress. **** 📼 Commerciasls: Disney Home Video Collection (1997) Tiger Electronics Beauty and the Beast handheld game (1994) Holidays After Dark. **** “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas” © 1997 Disney Enterprises, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1975, and a shepherd boy just lost his sight after staring directly at a lightning bolt. 🎙️ Mike Troxell joins us as we return to enchanted world of Rankin/Bass Christmas specials for an overlooked, underrated, and redundantly titled hidden gem about neither the first Christmas, nor the first Christmas snow. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Vox’s Emily St. James ranks all the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. A very brief history of the Christmas card. Was There Really Any Winter’s Snow at the Time of the Nativity in Bethlehem? Flash blindness is real. Arthur Rankin Jr. recalling how Irving Berlin really, REALLY didn’t want “White Christmas” in the special. This exact sound of a wolf howling (or, actually, a coyote) is heard over and over again. **** 📼 Commercials: Toys “R” Us Time of Year Christmas Commercial (1976) Christmas Creeps. **** “The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow” © 1975 Rankin/Bass Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1990, and a little girl’s Christmas wish is about to get shot out of the sky. 🎙 Joey O. join us for the podcast’s first voyage into the Disney Afternoon as Baloo the cargo pilot bear attempts to save his boss’s daughter’s belief in Santa. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Joey’s Christmas TV lineup that he wrote on a piece of paper around 1991 and found again 30 years later. The TaleSpin/Quantum Leap joke. Disney’s “The Jungle Book,” the animated one, is somehow Germany’s biggest box office draw ever. “Tales of the Gold Monkey,” a single-season TV show that inspired “TaleSpin.” “What a Dummy,” an even shorter single-season TV show featuring Janna Michaels (Molly) and a living ventriloquist’s dummy. Joey’s Interview with Pat Fraley (Wildcat), again! Today’s TV Trope: String-on-Finger Reminder. Cape Suzette and Louie’s Place on the Disney Wiki. Flunkey, the Einstein-haired monkey from “The Jungle Book” whose “TaleSpin” counterpart appears to be Santa Louie’s “elf,” Waldo. **** 📼 Commercials: McDonald’s TaleSpin Happy Meal Toys (1990) Snow in Southtown. **** “TaleSpin” and “Jolly Molly Christmas” © 1990 The Walt Disney Company. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1979, and no one wants to go to Pat Boone’s lame Christmas party, but everyone’s here to dunk on him. 🎙 Guy Hutchinson extends an invitation to discover this bizarre but wholesome special featuring the Hudson Brothers, the stars of “The Ropers” as themselves but also still as the Ropers, and a criminally brief appearance by Yogi Bear and his Hanna-Barbera friends. 📺 You can watch the “Pat Boone and Family Christmas Special” on Tubi. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Pat Boone’s album of heavy metal covers from 1997. TV Guide’s ad for the special, prominently featuring Yogi Bear and friends. “The Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle Show,” as seen in a “Family Guy” cutaway gag. “The Seventh Python,” Brett Hudson’s 2008 documentary about frequent Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes. “Largo al Factotum,” the “Figaro” song from “The Barber of Seville.” Dinah Shore’s giant belt buckle. **** 📼 Commercials: Master Charge Christmas Commercial (1979) Season’s Eatings. **** “Pat Boone and Family Christmas Special” © 1979 Cooga Mooga Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1971, and Alastair Sim is delivering an even more animated performance as Scrooge. 🎙️ Michael May and Rob Graham join us as we invade your personal space for salute an animated adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” that bent the rules and became the last TV special to win an Oscar, directed by Richard Williams and executive produced by Chuck Jones. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Michael May’s Christmas Carol Project entries on 1971’s “A Christmas Carol.” CED Magic’s “Christmas Carol” screen adaptation directory. John Leech’s original illustrations for the Dickens story. AfterLUNCH on Christmas Ghosts (And One Carol in Particular). The rarely seen Phantom Hearse. Visions of Young Scrooge’s favorite stories dancing in his head. Alex Williams’s website and blog post about his memory of voicing Tiny Tim at age 4. One notable businessman from the future and his gross nose. The Making of Richard Williams’s “A Christmas Carol.” **** 📼 Commercials: NyQuil Scrooge Commercial, circa 1968. Bell Telephone Christmas Commercial (1978) “The Christmas Book: The Ultimate Guide to Your Favorite Holiday,” by Ed Daly. **** “A Christmas Carol” (1971) © Richard Williams Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s the Advent Calendar House’s 5th anniversary, so instead of celebrating one Christmas special, we watched three! 🎙️ Jeff Somogyi and Paxton Holley help us clear the runway as we salute Disney’s trilogy of 2009’s “Prep & Landing,” 2010’s “Operation: Secret Santa,” and 2011’s “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice.” **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Disney’s Prep & Landing Website from 2009 is still up with character and gadget profiles. “Tiny’s Big Adventure,” a minute-long short starring Magee’s assistant. Super Golden Crisp Cereal’s Sugar Bear musical Christmas ornament. Prep & Landing Easter eggs. Santa’s castle looks familiar. Noel’s early cameo in “Operation: Secret Santa.” A hat tip to the Classic Film Jerks. Captain Avalanche and Snowball’s poster looks like a Batman and Robin Detective Comics cover. “Naughty, Naughty Children” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. “Nuttin’ for Christmas” by the Plain White T’s. “The Ballad of Nessie,” who makes 2 cameos. Ralphie from “A Christmas Story” appears. “Mansion: Impossible,” featuring Wayne and Lanny prepping the Avengers Mansion. **** 📼 Commercials: Coca-Cola: Santa Packs are Coming (1994) Campbell’s Soup: Snowman (1995) Can’t Wait for Christmas’s reminder to play “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson more. **** “Prep & Landing,” “Operation: Secret Santa,” and “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” © Disney. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 November 1st is Christmas Podcast Day! I don’t make the rules; I just use the hashtag. 🎙 Gerry Davila from Totally Rad Christmas and Matt Spaulding from North Pole Radio join us as on a very important mission to dig up the original animated adventures of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in a 1948 short film that predates the song. 📺 You can watch “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” courtesy of the Library of Congress. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s First Starring Film Role (Library of Congress, 2014) The 1951 re-release, featuring the new “Rudolph” song. The Advent Calendar House episode on Rankin/Bass’s “Rudolph.” Disney’s Very Merry Christmas Sing-Along Songs. Water Polo, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & Chevrolet: The Life of Jam Handy (Collegiate Water Polo Association, 2019) Matt’s Little Golden Book of Rudolph, illustrated by Richard Scarry. Paul Wing’s Rudolph record from 1947. “Rudolph’s 2nd Christmas.” George Klensinger, who arranged the original Silent Night intro, also composed “Tubby the Tuba.” “The Biggest, Most Beautiful Christmas Tree.” James Bond and Blofeld fight on a bobsled in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” Ear trumpets, and Daisy Duck’s mother using one in “Donald’s Diary.” **** 📼 Commercials: Closer to Christmas. **** “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” ©1948 The Jam Handy Organization. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1997, and we couldn’t decide which holiday to end the season with, so we’re celebrating them all. 🎙 Joey O. joins us on a journey 20 miles below the surface of the Earth to the very “Pee-wee’s Playhouse”-like split-level cave of “Weird Al” Yankovic as he learns to listen to his friends and family. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Weirdle, the “Weird Al”-themed offshoot of Heardle, the music-themed offshoot of Wordle. “The Weird Accordion to Al,” by Nathan Rabin. Joey interviews Ben Kweller about his appearance with Radish on “The Weird Al Show.” Al’s got a thing for the number 27, which makes its way into this episode. Stan Freberg’s “Christmas Dragnet,” which I know from a compilation CD from Philadelphia radio station WOGL. Ed Marques (Varna) as the Surf Guru on ZDTV’s “Internet Tonight.” I had no idea “I Lost on Jeopardy!” was a full parody of an actual song. “Weird Al,” Paul Reubens, and Danny Elfman sing “Kidnap the Sandy Claws.” National Hamster Day exists. It’s May 10. Funny or Die’s original fake trailer for “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.” “Weird Al” Yankovic: There’s No Going Home, part of The Disney Channel’s Going Home concert/documentary series. **** 📼 Commercials: 1990 Encyclopedia Britannica commercial starring Donavan Freberg (Baby Boolie). **** “The Weird Al Show” and “The Obligatory Holiday Episode” © 1997. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🦃 It’s 1983, and we’re spending Thanksgiving in July at the Saturday Supercade. 🎙️ Chad Young, Tommy Coombs, and Jayme Kilsby join us as we take a cue from Q*bert and pals and try to stay on topic as they learn how to build a Q home in a Q land in a retelling of the first Thanksgiving as square as the wheels on the Q*horse and buggy Pilgrim Q*bert wants to win. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: We all tried to remember who brought up the Q*bert special last year while talking about “A Thanksgiving Tale,” and we were all wrong. Even “Kangaroo” got a “Saturday Supercade” segment eventually. Peter Cullen was the first voice of Mario in the “Donkey Kong” segment. “The Kingdom Chums: Little David’s Adventure,” an animated retelling of David and Goliath featuring Billy Bowles (Q*bert) as a stuffed lion come to life. Pauline and her return in “Super Mario Odyssey.” We accidentally introduce Chad to “Spookley, the Square Pumpkin.” They gave the snakes arms! Viper has a Mae West voice, which leads into a tangent about “Quasi at the Quackadero.” Chief Q*Eagle reminded me of Randall Cunningham’s name in Tecmo Super Bowl. Saturday Supercade’s extensive use of the Hanna-Barbera Sound Effects Library. Home Movies: “Don’t Put Marbles in Your Nose.” Mike guests on TPIF: Thank Pod It’s Funny to discuss the Perfect Strangers Thanksgiving episode, “Wild Turkey.” **** 📼 Commercials: John Wanamaker’s 1988 Thanksgiving Sale. Tis the Podcast. **** “Saturday Supercade,” “Q*bert,” and “Thanksgiving for the Memories” © 1983 Ruby-Spears Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1992, and a group of 30-year-old teenagers are on a bus trip to their doom unless an angel in training can convince her supervisor they’re worth saving. 🎙 Ed Daly, author of “The Christmas Book: The Ultimate Guide to Your Favorite Holiday,” joins us for a very strange and very special visit to America’s most famous ZIP code in our first adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life, even though this episode seems to have forgotten to actually adapt it. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Bonnie Urseth (Miriam) in “We’ve Got It Made.” Brian Austin Green (David) as Metallo on “Smallville.” Luke Perry (Dylan) in “The Sandlot: Heading Home.” Of course Donna’s birthday is on Christmas Day. Brandon’s amazing, generic FOOTBALL/SPORTS poster above his bed. The West Beverly High Madrigal Singers (no relation) sing the original, drinking song lyrics to “Deck the Hall.” **** 📼 Commercials: 7up Cool Spot Christmas Commercial (1992) Can’t Wait for Christmas Podcast. **** “Beverly Hills 90210” and “It’s a Totally Happening Life” © 1992 Torand Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1985, but we’re rocketing into the future, when apparently urgent veterinary care no longer exists. 🎙 Jack Ford from the Total Christmas Podcast joins us for a glimpse into the space-age year of 2062 to find out if 3 robotic ghosts of Christmas can convince Mr. Spacely to change his stingy ways, while the clock is ticking for the Jetsons’ dog, Astro, on his deathbed. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: George Jetson apparently was/will be born at the end of July 2022. George O’Hanlon (George Jetson) as Joe McDoakes in a series of instructional parody short films from the 1940s and ’50s. The Jetsons’ “laser tree.” “Bongo Feet and Zip,” the classic Hanna-Barbara running sound effect, is heard 9 times in this episode. This episode marks the last appearance speaking appearance of the Jetsons’ pet alien, Orbitty. Astro’s supposed fever is normal for dogs. How the Flintstones movie teenage Spacely and his future wife watch changes the theory that both shows take place in the same time period. The robotic Ghost of Christmas Past, Present (literally a talking wrapped Christmas present), and “Yet to Be.” I had to look up whether Spacely even had a pet to warrant having a personal veterinarian. Meet Zero. **** 📼 Commercials: George Jetson’s Air Pollution PSA, National Clean Air Coalition (1990) Cool Kids Club, a nostalgia-fueled trip back to the ’80s and ’90s. **** “The Jetsons” and “A Jetson Christmas Carol” © 1985 Hanna-Barbara Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1995, and a couple of giant space monsters with swords are about to bring swords to a snowball fight and still lose. 🎙 Andre Bennett and Lindy Kempe join us as we follow the powerless Power Rangers to the North Pole, where they can’t Morph due to a cross-current of holiday magic. And also magnets. 📺 You can watch “I’m Dreaming of a White Ranger” for free on YouTube. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “I’m Dreaming of a White Ranger” on Ranger Wiki. “Dynaman,” an English-dubbed parody of Super Sentai on the USA Network’s “Night Flight,” circa 1988. Rubber Suit Rumble! and Cult Cinema Cloister Facebook groups, maintained by Andre. Differences between the aired TV episode and the VHS cut, which was released 2 months earlier. “The Order,” a proposed, Expendables-style film starring former Power Rangers. Amy Jo Johnson (Kimberly) directed a Season 2 episode of “Superman & Lois.” The Ranger “in jail” we alluded to isn’t even in this episode. Affirmative Clothing Company, co-founded by David Yost (Billy). Paul Schrier (Bulk) finally got to play a legit Ranger in 2017 in the web series “Power Rangers Hyperforce.” Robert von Fliss has 4 credits on IMDb, and they’re all as Santa Claus. The real-life Command Center: The House of the Book at the American Jewish University. Rito Revolto, a giant skeleton warrior, learning about holiday spirit is just the Skeletor scene all over again. **** 📼 Commercials: Pizza Hut: “Right Field” (1990), from the VHS release of the first “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie. Diet Coke: “Choose Wisely” (1990) from the VHS release of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. OnStar: “Batcave” (2000), featuring Batman and Michael Gough as Alfred, except I was probably thinking of the Diet Coke ad before Batman ’89. Saban’s 4½ minutes of commercials in front of the VHS release of I’m Dreaming of a White Ranger, including an ad for THE VIDEO YOU’RE ALREADY WATCHING. Behind the Bells. **** “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” and “I’m Dreaming of a White Ranger” © 1995 Saban Entertainment, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎃 It’s 1989, and Rue McClanahan is trapped in an underground castle inhabited by a bunch of Gremlin-looking puppets called Greevils — and for some reason, she wants to leave. 🎙️ Matt from Dinosaur Dracula drops in for a Halloween in July celebration of “The Wickedest Witch,” co-written and produced by ALF creator Paul Fusco, and starring Blanche from The Golden Girls as the evil Avarissa. As far as we know, this Halloween special only ever aired once, but somehow managed to capture our hearts and burrow itself into the cavernous depths of our memories. 📺 There are 3 copies on YouTube — some include commercials, others hit record a second too late. For the closest we can get to a full picture of the special, here are all 3, courtesy of: 1. Dinosaur Dracula, 2. Jared’s VHS Treasures, 3. trivialord. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Dino Drac on The Wickedest Witch. Rue McClanahan on Entertainment Tonight, October 27, 1989 (Interview starts at 6:57). Ronn Lucas (Sammy), creator of Scorch and the 1988 Disney Channel special, “Who’s in Charge Here?” Judge Doom murdering a clown shoe in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Free Stuff for Kids. **** 📼 Commercials: McDonald’s Halloween Gift Certificate Books, 1989 during the airing of The Wickedest Witch. Weird Christmas. **** “The Wickedest Witch” © 1989 Boo You Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1983, and a young bear and fox are lost in the Big City after accidentally riding the rails on the apparently famous Christmas Tree Train in an obscure special that has little to do with Christmas trees or trains. 🎙 Ethan “The Hungry Reader” climbs aboard as we explore the first holiday special starring Buttons and Rusty, known later as the Chucklewood Critters. 📺 You can watch “The Christmas Tree Train” on the Internet Archive. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The Unofficial Chucklewood Critters Home Page, which looks like it was created in 2003, last updated in 2011, and is a perfect specimen of an early 2000s Internet fan page. William Boyett (Ranger Jones) in “Last Clear Chance,” a 1959 driving safety film later featured on “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” Foxes actually hang out around bears in nature (Nature.org, 2021) A random shout-out to mid-1990s Sonic the Hedgehog wannabe Bubsy the Bobcat. A very difficult jump in a sewer level in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Nintendo game. All the human characters in this special look like they’re related to Gargamel from The Smurfs. RiffTrax Christmas Circus with Whizzo the Clown. **** 📼 Commercials: Santa’s Village in Southern California, circa 1983 during an airing of “The Christmas Tree Train.” North Pole Radio. **** “The Christmas Tree Train” © 1983 Encore Enterprises, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1984, and all we want for Christmas is our mom back. 🎙 Adam Pope and Steven join us for a roller coaster of emotions from sad raindrop to beautiful snowflake as we turn around back to 1984 with Punky Brewster during her very special, very crucial first Christmas with her new family. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: I totally missed the 2021 “Punky Brewster” revival series on Peacock. Ami Foster (Margaux) in “Wrinkles in Need of Cuddles.” The Punky Brewster Wiki exists and is very helpful. What do you mean, “Nobody would want A Bomb for Christmas?” “Santa Claus Lives in Santa Cruz” is a very obscure single that may or may not have been written for this episode. “I’ve Got the Sun in the Morning” from Annie Get Your Gun. Today’s TV Trope: Santa’s Existence Clause. **** 📼 Commercials: NBC’s One to Grow On interstitial with Soleil Moon Frye, circa 1984. Wizards! The Podcast Guide to Comics. **** “Punky Brewster” and “Yes, Punky, There Is a Santa Claus” © 1984 NBC Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🐰 It’s 1983, and despite replacing our entire body with robot parts, we still can’t plow faster than a rapidly growing magic forest baby. 🎙 Chad Young and Sammy Hain join us as we get things rolling with the mascots of Paas Easter egg coloring kits in a secret hit piece on landlords disguised as a wacky Easter story. On the way, we’ll meet the ever-looming shadow of the Easter Bunny and teach animals to talk by giving them clothes. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: The History of Paas. Patton Oswalt on Paas and its short-lived competitors. This special was written by Rankin/Bass legend Romeo Muller, with songs composed by Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of The Turtles. Charles Woolf (Terrence) in “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.” The origin of a farmer’s “South 40” and the Homestead Act of 1862. Paas replaced their mascot characters. The only original one left is Feathers — if that’s even the same Feathers. **** 📼 Commercials: Paas Easter Egg Coloring Kit (1984) Holidays After Dark. **** “Peter and the Magic Egg” © 1983 RLR Associates, Ltd. / Romeo Productions, Inc. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1990, and we’re looking a gift horse in the mouth. 🎙 Justin O’Connor joins us on a wild ride to the Bar None Ranch for a Very Special Episode™ of Nickelodeon’s “Hey Dude” disguised as a barely festive Christmas in July special. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: An ode to our childhood friends who lied about having an Uncle Who Worked For Nintendo. Hey Dude Reviewed’s episode rankings and review of “Ride, She Said.” Kelly Brown (Brad) in “Danger Zone 4: Mad Girls, Bad Girls” (NSFW). Kelly Brown’s boutique on Long Island. Christine Taylor (Melody) in “Showdown.” Susan Sindelar (Cindy) in the background of a fight scene in “Smokey and the Bandit.” TROT (Therapeutic Riding of Tucson). The “Hey Dude” set is still somewhat standing in a secluded area of another, actual ranch. The Hangin’ Out Gang. The Huron Carol, believed to be the oldest North American Christmas carol, was written in an indigenous language. The poster for “Miracle on 34th Street” gives no indication that it’s a Christmas movie. You know what? I’ll just let y’all search for “star registry” on your own if you want to actually look naming a star after someone. **** 📼 Commercials: California Games for Nintendo (1987) Christmas Creeps. **** “Hey Dude” and “Ride She Said” © 1990 MTV Networks. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1983, and Young Republican Alex P. Keaton is sick and tired of hearing “Merry Christmas.” It was a different time. 🎙 Molly Patton and Joey O. join us as we airlift our dirty laundry back to before “Back to the Future” for a Scrooge Sunday edition of “Family Ties,” in which Michael J. Fox is taken 30 years into the future to fix his family. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: Michael Gross (Steven) on making the Christmas movie “Noelle.” Chris Hebert (Young Alex) in “Fuzzbucket.” Justine Bateman as Mallory as the Ghost of Christmas Future is the Best Dressed Ghost of Christmas Future. Justine Bateman as Lady Zara, Superman’s long-lost betrothed wife-to-be on “Lois and Clark.” Michael Gross and Meredith Baxter (Elyse) as Santa and Mrs. Claus in the 2015 Lifetime Original Movie, “Becoming Santa.” The time I went shopping on Christmas Day in the year 2000 and ended up finding the loneliest Hollywood Video employee. **** 📼 Commercials: Atari Christmas Commercial (1983) The Christmas Alphabet Podcast. **** “Family Ties” and “A Keaton Christmas Carol” © 1983 Paramount Pictures Corp. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.

🎄 It’s 1984, and it’s time to let the music play down in Fraggle Rock as we ring in Christmas in July on a quest to find the true meaning of the Festival of the Bells. 🎙 Tommy Coombs and Donnie Storms join us on a journey to Outer Space as Doc teaches Sprocket — and us — about the Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, and Christmas around the world. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: A clip from the British airing of “The Bells of Fraggle Rock,” in which Doc is replaced by a lighthouse captain. Gerald Parkes (Doc) as the Ghost of Christmas Present in “An American Christmas Carol.” Doc’s tool-themed Christmas tree. Philadelphia’s John Wanamaker Christmas Light Show and Dickens Village. The Weebabeast, in pictures. Gobo’s maze-like map to the Cave of the Great Bell. St. Nicholas Day. “Mokey and the Festival of the Bells,” a Christmas-themed Fraggle Rock storybook. **** 📼 Commercials: Fraggle Rock Book Club (1985) McDonald’s Fraggle Rock Happy Meal Toys (1988) Hyrule Podcasters, an audio “Let’s Play” through The Legend of Zelda. **** “The Bells of Fraggle Rock” © 1984 Jim Henson Productions. Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Find us at adventcalendar.house.