About Christmas TV History

Monday, July 2, 2018

Christmas in July 2018: Page G.


from 1987's Muppet Family Christmas

Christmas in July 2018: Page G.



1) Name your favorite Henson's Muppet Christmas program and why.



A Muppet Family ChristmasThe Muppet Show and Sesame Street characters hanging out together for Christmas is pretty festive. The Swedish Chef orders a turkey, and a yuppie turkey with his sunglasses and tennis racket shows up. Ah … the ‘80s. That always makes me laugh. And I love that Jim Henson appears at the end. That is so sentimental now.


Mitzi Gaynor


2) Which decade produced your favorite Christmas entertainment?



I’m going to break the rules and cross decades just a bit. The late ‘60s into the ‘70s. It was such a wonderful time for variety shows, and they all did Christmas specials with gorgeous vibrant colors and decorations. Add to that, great music and there was such a feeling of family and closeness. Andy Williams, The King Family, Dean Martin, Mitzi Gaynor, Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Donny & Marie … nothing gets me in the spirit like watching these old specials.


from The Mary Tyler Moore Show's 1974 episode "Not A Christmas Story."


3) Imagine the entertainment behind your ideal Christmas Eve dinner. Name the appetizer, entrée, and dessert.



My ideal Christmas Eve viewing party: Appetizer: 1974 – The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s "Not a Christmas Story" - they’re snowed in, fighting with each other and have to eat Sue Ann’s Christmas dinner that she made for The Happy Homemaker’s Christmas episode. I love them sitting around in goofy hats and singing carols at the end.  Entrée:  Any of the Andy Williams’ Christmas Specials (but especially the late ‘60s episodes). Dessert: Let’s finish the dinner with a Santa mug of eggnog with Bob and Emily. 1972 – The Bob Newhart Show – "His Busiest Season"



4) What Christmas episode, special or movie doesn't exist--that you wish did? Describe it.



A Very Aaron Spelling Christmas – A jewel thief has robbed the Carrington mansion in Denver and then made his way to the luxury hotels of Vega$. Robert Urich as Dan Tanna chases him to Los Angeles and joins forces with Kris, Kelly, Sabrina and special guest star Farrah Fawcett as Jill to finally put the thief behind bars. In the end, Bosley dresses as Santa and passes out gifts of lip gloss and hair care products. Charlie calls in to tell them his Christmas present to them is a cruise on The Love Boat. Dan Tanna comments that Charlie sounds an awful lot like Blake Carrington. The angels flick their hair and giggle. Merry Christmas, angels!




5) If one Christmas movie, special or episode was to be selected for a time capsule to be opened in 1,000 years, which title do you think should be included?



A Charlie Brown Christmas – It reflects the best of the holidays and the best in all of us – A sense of humor, friendship, faith, pulling together … and, of course, a beagle who knows how to dance to a jazzy version of Jingle Bells.







11 comments:

  1. Page--I'm ready to support any Kickstarter/GoFundMe to bring your concept for A VERY AARON SPELLING CHRISTMAS into reality! You don't know how much I want a producer or exec producer to come across your idea and make it happen! It's genius. Okay--it's just fabulous TV, but still :D This is the best.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love the Aaron Spelling Christmas! that would be so great.

    ReplyDelete
  3. LOL. I might have watched that!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, Joanna! You made my day. That was a great question. A lot of fun to answer.
    - Page

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the Aaron Spelling Christmas idea... at the end, can we all make it a dream of one of the 90210 kids? :)

    Great list there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It should be Donna Martin's dream (Tori Spelling). Wow! What an addition to TV history. This is the best!

      Delete
  7. Bravo on the Aaron Spelling Christmas! Please don't forget the cast members of "The Mod Squad" and "Hart to Hart"!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. Yes, those would've been good to add. I'm a huge fan of Hart to Hart. And little Freeway in antlers can help Bosley pass out the lip gloss and hair care products.

      Delete
  8. Love your answers, Page. Like everyone else I think your Aaron Spelling Christmas idea is very creative! Love the inclusion of the MTM produced classics in your dinner. And nice to see Mitzi Gaynor and Donny & Marie mentioned. PS Jim I, the Beverly Hills kids definitely need to be included--even though I guess that would be a time warp!

    ReplyDelete