About Christmas TV History

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Made for TV Mayhem Show: Christmas Game Show



And last but not least, I recently took part in another more podcast just before Christmas. Amanda, Dan, and Nate invited me to join them on Made for TV Mayhem Show again this year. This time around we played a game. The object was to identify (or guess) the plot of the story just from the title. I supplied the titles while Amanda, Dan, and Nate tried to figure out the plots. Christmas entertainment titles can be indistinct and even misleading! How good would you be at playing this game?

I sure had a fun time recording this podcast. When you listen, I think you can tell. Click here for the link to listen. Many thanks to the crew for inviting me to join them.




You may remember that I participated in the Made for TV Mayhem Show Christmas program last year as well. There were two shows.


Home for the Holidays starring (front to back) Jessica Walter, Sally Field, Jill Haworth, and Eleanor Parker.


Part 1 included a discussion of the 1988 TV movie A Very Brady Christmas and the 1972 TV thriller Home for the Holidays. Click here to listen to that again.

Part 2 included a discussion of the 1991 Christmas movie Bernard and the Genie.  Click here to listen to that again.

You can easily follow the Made for TV Mayhem Show all year long on Facebook here, on Twitter here, or look for new installments on iTunes.

Feel free to listen and leave your comments at Made for TV Mayhem Show, or here.


Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Game Part 4: Christmas Screen Shots

How well do you know Christmas entertainment? Let's play a game! Jeff from Name That Christmas Special website generously shared with me a group of Christmas screen shots taken from episodes, specials and movies. Can you identify what program each screen shot is taken from? Parts 1, 2, and 3 went well so I thought I'd create a fourth installment.

Same rules as before. Play along by leaving your answer in the comments below. PLEASE identify only one screen shot--let's give everyone a chance to play along. Some are easy, some are harder. Bonus points: if you can identify which specific episode of the TV series some of these are pulled from or the original date of the movie or special. There are no prizes--only bragging rights. Here goes:



#37--Home Improvement (DW Washburn)

#38--movie The Homecoming: A Christmas Story (Patrick)


#39

#40--movie White Christmas (maryam sarshar)


#41--The Frank Sinatra Show (Jonathan NC)

#42

#43--Fresh Prince of Bel Air (Donna Bock)


#44--The Littlest Angel (Kevin Bowman)


#45--Perfect Strangers (Ella Irene)


#46--Gilligan's Island (Caffeinated Joe)


#47--movie Bell, Book and Candle (RigbyMel)


#48--Dragnet (phairhead)

Here's Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 if you'd like to see those again. Have fun! 

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Bloomington Review Interview with Jim Inman


 
For another year (I think it's my third), I join radio show host Jim Inman at the Bloomington Review to talk about our favorite Christmas entertainment.

For this installment, we discuss How the Grinch Stole Christmas, pop culture landmarks, and my new book the Triple Dog Dare.

The audio segment is now available for listening. Click here for the station's website for the audio. Jim says my interview begins at about the 14:15 minute mark. Give it a listen and tell us what you think.



Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Game Part 3: Christmas Screen Shots

How well do you know Christmas entertainment? Let's play a game! Jeff from Name That Christmas Special website generously shared with me a group of Christmas screen shots taken from episodes, specials and movies. Can you identify what program each screen shot is taken from? Part 1 and Part 2 went well so I thought I'd create a third installment.

Same rules as before. Play along by leaving your answer in the comments below. PLEASE identify only one screen shot--let's give everyone a chance to play along. Some are easy, some are harder. Bonus points: if you can identify which specific episode of the TV series some of these are pulled from or the original date of the movie or special. There are no prizes--only bragging rights. Here goes:

#25--The House Without a Christmas Tree (phairhead)


#26--The Jeffersons (DW Washburn)

#27--Laverne & Shirley (Caffeinated Joe)


#28--Twas the Night Before Christmas (Ozfan95)

#29--Married with Children (Jonathan NC)

#30


#31--Bewitched, colorized (Donna)


#32

#33--Newhart (Kevin Bowman)

#34--Punky Brewster (Linda)

#35--Save by the Bell (Maryam Sarshar)


#36



Here's Part 1 and Part 2 if you'd like to see those again. Have fun!

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Game Part 2: Christmas Screen Shots

How well do you know Christmas entertainment? Let's play a game! Jeff from Name That Christmas Special website generously shared with me a group of Christmas screen shots taken from episodes, specials and movies. Can you identify what program each screen shot is taken from? Part 1 went well so I thought I'd create another installment.

Same rules as before. Play along by leaving your answer in the comments below. PLEASE identify only one screen shot--let's give everyone a chance to play along. Some are easy, some are harder. Bonus points: if you can identify which specific episode of the TV series some of these are pulled from or the original date of the movie or special. This is just for fun--there are no prizes except bragging rights. Here goes:


#13--Jingle All the Way (Ed South)

#14--John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together (RigbyMel)


#15--Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (DW Washburn)


#16--One Magic Christmas (Catherine)

#17--Robin and the 7 Hoods (Daniel B)


#18--Scrooged (Kevin Bowman)

#19--How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jonathan NC)


#20--Star Wars Holiday Special (Debra from Hull)


#21--The Gathering (Patrick)

#22--The Year Without a Santa Claus (phairhead)


#23 A Charlie Brown Christmas (Donna Bock)


#24--Pinky and the Brain (Linda)


Here's Part 1 if you'd like to see it again. Have fun!

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Radio Once More with Johnny Holmes




This past Wednesday, Nov. 30th, my interview with Johnny and Helen Holmes aired on his internet radio show At Home with Holmsey/Woo Hoo Wednesdays on Radio Once More. For the past several years, I've enjoyed the pleasure of joining Johnny on his radio program--we love many of the same Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies and he's a delight to speak with. My taped segment of the broadcast is now available for listening--if you missed it last week. You can find the audio on Johnny's blog here.


Helen, myself and Johnny in 2015.


I first met Johnny and his wife Helen at Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention on the east coast a few years ago. They are the friendliest people you'll ever meet. My life is enriched for knowing them and I'm always glad when we have a chance to chat.

In this latest discussion, Johnny and I discussed my new book the Triple Dog Dare, the 1973 TV movie Miracle on 34th Street, the 1969 Hallmark Hall of Fame production The Littlest Angel, and more. Give it a listen and tell me what you think.


Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Game Part 1: Christmas Screen Shots

How well do you know Christmas entertainment? Let's play a game! Jeff from Name That Christmas Special website generously shared with me a group of screen shots taken from Christmas episodes, specials and movies. Can you identify what program each screen shot is taken from?

Play along by leaving your answer in the comments below. PLEASE identify only one screen shot--let's give everyone a chance to play along. Some are easy, some are harder. Bonus points: if you can name what specific episode of the TV series some of these are pulled from or the original date of the movie or special. This is just for fun--there are no prizes except bragging rights. Here goes:


#1 A Christmas Carol (Maryam Sarshar)


#2 A Christmas Story (Phairhead)

#3 TV episode of Benson (Joseph Mello)

#4 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Kiki Howell)


#5 Home Alone (Joanna)


#6 Frosty the Snowman (Donna)


#7 It's a Wonderful Life--colorized! (Patrick)

#8 Disney's Small One (Ed South)


#9 Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (Penny)


#10 Elf (RigbyMel)


#11 He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special (Kevin Bowman)


#12 Disney's I'll Be Home for Christmas (DwWashburn)