A New Testimonial for my Book!

I am so very excited to announce that actor/singer Barry Williams has given my book, The Christmas TV Companion, a recommendation to be included on the back cover of the next printing. This is what he said:

“From my appearance as a child actor on Dragnet to A Very Brady Christmas to my more recent musical performance on The Wiggles, this book contains an amazing wealth of Christmas TV splendor.”

I write about his appearances in these Christmas programs in the book. Of course, he's also in the holiday episode "The Voice of Christmas" on the first season of The Brady Bunch.

This testimonial is just one of the many great things going on recently with my work. I'm working on a large promotion centered around "Christmas in July"--stay in touch for the official announcements and a few surprises. One thing for certain is that the publisher is planning a special sale of The Christmas TV Companion during the month of July. If you haven't gotten you're copy yet or are looking to get one for a friend, this might be a great opportunity for that.

My next book Tis the Season TV: The Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials and Made-for-TV Movies is being finalized for release this upcoming Fall by 1701 Press. This is the reference book you've always dreamed of--from Ab Fab to Ziggy's Gift--this ultimate guide to Christmas on television. It is the larger project from which the Christmas TV Companion was derived. I'm soooo excited about this book finally being released.

I'll be announcing more details about the next book and Christmas in July in the coming weeks.

Contest Entry #3!!!!

Yay! Here is contest entry no. 3. From Amanda By Night, who writes a great blog: Made for TV Mayhem --do check it out!

Amanda writes:

Let it be said I like a little schmaltz with my holiday and I got it in spades with the overtly sentimental made for TV movie A Very Brady Christmas (1988), which features the family reuniting under much more realistic circumstance (what do you mean Wally lost his job? That’s so unfunny…). The best line in the whole movie is when Marcia says to her husband, “Don’t be sorry, just be Wally.” I love Wally!


There will always, always be a place in my heart for all things Brady Bunch! Thank you Amanda! Here's a picture of me meeting Barry Williams in 2003, in Youngstown, Ohio. I'm the one on the right.

Keep your entries coming! Only a few (shopping) days left! Here's a quick link to the rules & the brilliant prizes you'll get: rules/prizes.

24-Hour Christmas Movie Marathons

The annual tradition of the twenty four-hour marathon of the movie A Christmas Story has really touched everyone. People who usually don't watch much TV at all still seem to know about how that movie runs continuously over the holiday. I'm frequently asked about that phenomenon and I usually respond in two parts:
1) I think it's a nice alternative to the TV Yule Log (looped broadcast of a burning fire in a fireplace). It's the kind of movie that appeals to both young and older viewers. But since everyone has seen it already, it's nice to just have on the TV in the background while the family gathers and goes about their usual traditions. Thus it has become just another Christmas tradition for many families. The story is so familiar to everyone that it's more about catching your favorite scenes throughout Christmas Eve or the following Christmas Day than about sitting and watching the movie in its entirety during the marathon.
2) I'm surprised more networks don't do the same marathon idea since it has become such a popular Christmas experience.

But last year, a rival cable network did just that--and broadcast twenty four hours of Will Ferrell in Elf. I have to admit, in my house, we flipped back and forth between the two marathons the whole holiday. I see that this year the Fox Movie Channel is airing a twenty four hour-marathon of Home Alone. Maybe next year: twenty four hours of A Very Brady Christmas?

Denis Leary's Merry F#%$in' Christmas Special

It's that time of year again! Prepare yourself for the purposefully offensive yet funny holiday celebration from the foul-mouthed, chain-smoking, actor/comic Denis Leary.

SET YOUR DVRs: Saturday, Dec. 5th at 2:30 am (EST) on Comedy Central.

I mention this special in several places in the book. This is where you can see the animated parody of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' twisted into "It's Jihad, Farley Towne." A radical muslim Linus takes the unhappy Charlie Brown...er, uh...Farley Towne under his influence and persuades him to express his newfound radicalism by bombing the children's Christmas pageant. Believe me, it just gets crazier from there.

It's Jihad, Farley Towne

This TV special also spoofs the movie Super Size Me and the reality series 30 Days with filmmaker Morgan Spurlock himself attempting to watch the 1988 made-for-TV movie A Very Brady Christmas twice a day for 30 days straight. And a parody of the old beer commercials with Billy Dee Williams shilling for "Colt 45D" a malt liquor that is also a cold medicine.

Pay close attention to the opening segment's stop-motion animation. This segment was created by animator Corky Quakenbush--the same creator behind MadTV's legendary Raging Rudolph, The Reinfather and A Pack of Gifts Now.

More about this special can be read in my book on pages 67 and 85-86. Did I mention it features guest stars Carmen Electra and William Shatner as well? Don't miss it.