Fan Photo--#7

Sonja, a new resident of Iowa City

Thanks for everyone who participated in the fan photos during my Christmas in July celebration!

'The Snow Queen' on Kinder Trauma

More TV Christmas in July discussion is happening on the amazing blog Kinder Trauma. In this post, a writer details their childhood horror from watching an animated version of The Snow Queen adapted from the creepy tale originally written by Hans Christian Andersen. Fun huh? They would probably appreciate your comments at their site. Or, leave them on the group at Facebook.

I Made it on "Made for TV Mayhem"

You may have to imagine snow to recognize this house as the one in the movie!

On the hottest day of the year, so far, I found myself driving around Northeast Ohio taking snap shots of the locations used in the 1977 holiday TV movie The Gathering. The blog that covers made-for-TV movies, Made for TV Mayhem graciously offered me the opportunity to write about this Christmas classic as a guest blogger. And, if you're into TV movies, don't hesitate to follow her blog regularly. (Amanda also makes it easy to follow her blog by way of Facebook too).

The Gathering is just one of hundreds of listings of movies in my upcoming book Tis the Season TV: The Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials and Made-for-TV Movies, coming out this November.

Puppet Master vs. Demonic Toys (2004)

Remember those heady days of the by-gone era: 2004? Yeah, me neither. But I haven't forgotten this movie Puppet Master Vs. Demonic Toys, directed by Ted Nicolaou in 2004. This Syfy Channel original movie is the ninth installment in the campy series of Puppet Master stories. Just before Christmas, Robert Toulon, the great-grandnephew of the previous puppet master, stumbles upon the chemical formula which brings his puppets to life. Through industrial espionage, Sharpe Toys learns of Toulon’s secret and sets out to steal the puppets and end the Toulon family blood line. Sharpe Toys is selling the hottest toy of the holiday season, the animatronic Christmas Pals. The head of this rival toy manufacturer, the evil Erica Sharpe has made a deal with a demon from hell to sell her life-like toys to children all over the world so that on Christmas morning, the demon will be able to use his toy minions to take over the world.

As the countdown to Christmas morning continues, the existence of Toulon’s protective puppets threaten Erica’s plans for world domination. The demonic toys are a trash-talking baby doll, a bloodthirsty teddy bear and a snaggle toothed jack-in-the-box. There’s also a distracting side story, a romance develops between police officer Sgt. Russell and Toulon, which interfers with his focus, allowing the evil toy manufacturer to kidnap Toulon’s teenage daughter, Alex. You know the world is safe from evil toys when former child actor and reality series actor, Corey Feldman is cast as the the lead and hero. Though this movie is awful, you have to stick it through to the end in order to see Baal, Hell’s demon dressed as Santa Claus in the final showdown. Toulon arrives to rescue his daughter and the puppets attack the demonic toys.

With all the adorable and heart-felt Christmas stories about toys and dolls coming to life, this movie really stands out. Not just because these toys are brought to life through virgin’s blood and demonic power but...well, maybe that’s why. Perhaps after seeing this, you’ll watch Toy Story and Jim Henson's The Christmas Toy a little differently.

Christmas in July Guest Blogger: Amanda Reyes

I am honored to post a discussion of the Animagic classic Nestor from Amanda. She's the blogger from Made for TV Mayhem, who writes on television movies and horror. I've really come to love her writing. She really knows her stuff. So grab a tissue and enjoy her review!

Nestor, the Long Eared Donkey
Review by Amanda Reyes

I just moved from Los Angeles, California to Silver Spring, Maryland. The humidity here can be painful, so I was more than happy to oblige Joanna when she asked me to contribute a guest blog during her Christmas in July bonanza. Thinking about the snow has been delightful, although Nestor always brings a bittersweet tear to my eye.

Rankin and Bass are famous for their holiday specials. Their stop motion animation was splendid and simple and the stories were both glorious and heart-wrenching. Rankin and Bass really touched on our need for acceptance while finding our own identity. Rudolph did it; even Baby New Year did it. But no one and I mean no one captured that balance between owning one’s uniqueness while enduring the hardships of not belonging the way Nestor the Long Eared Donkey did.




Nestor (voiced by Eric Stern) just wants to have friends, but his unfortunate ears make him the joke of the farm. On Winter Solstice after finally receiving a little love from his stable-mates, soldiers from the Roman Army come to whisk away the young donkeys to fight in the war. Nestor’s owner Olaf (voiced by Rankin and Bass regular Paul Frees) tries to sell him, but when the soldiers realize he has these grotesquely long ears, they throw him back, take the rest of the donkeys and refuse to pay Olaf. This infuriates the already sleazy landlord and he throws Nestor out on his duff. Nestor’s loving mother follows him into the cold, snowy night.

It’s almost impossible to go on from here. What happens next is so utterly tragic that if I think about it long enough I’ll start crying. And not just a single Demi-Moore-in-Ghost-tear, I mean buckets of tears. This is why Nestor is so dang good. Sure, it’s overly sentimental, but it also captures the warmth of love and appreciation we get from our mothers (or at least that’s what I got from mine) and to see what becomes of her is just… well, it’s devastating.

Needless to say, now Nestor is on his own and with the help of an adorable cherub named Tilly (voiced by Brenda Vaccaro) he finds his destiny, which is to help the pregnant Mary get to the manger so she can have the baby Jesus.



Let’s put the cards on the table, I’m not a terribly religious person but this movie is effective as both a spiritual parable and a sweet allegory about doing unto others. With songs as sweet as Don’t Laugh and Make Somebody Cry, this special is all about respecting others and finding greatness in your own uniqueness. In the end, Nestor owned those ears and became the toast of the town. Even grumpy old Olaf is excited to see him (although I think Olaf needs a talking to at this point).

From as far back as I can remember Nestor has been a staple of my Christmas viewing pleasure. Through the years he’s come to symbolize the idyllic parts of my childhood because he was synonymous with the holiday. Later he became a vehicle to lose myself in when I needed a reminder that good exists and finally, as I enter into my late 30s, I’ve sort of become Nestor. I lost both of my parents almost five years ago. Every time I hear Nestor’s mother say, “Ears, Nestor,” I can’t help thinking about all those cold nights my mom kept me warm. And something inside me feels like Nestor was preparing me to accept my life as an orphan. He was telling me that I could find my way, even in the darkest hours, and discover my greatness. I’m still searching for that plateau, but so very thankful that Nestor has been there to guide me.

Fan Photo--#6

Betsy from Columbus, OH

She's too cute! Thanks to everyone that has participated. If anyone still wants to have their Christmas in July photo on the blog, send it before the end of the month. Email it to me at: Joanna [@] 1701Press [dot] com.

I expect Betsy would like the Yo Gabba Gabba! "Christmas" episode. This gentle children's series offers music and movement with a holiday theme. And, artist/musician Mark Mothersbaugh demonstrates how to draw a snowman.

Port Clinton Book Talk Update

The poster announcing my book program in the library's entrance

My book talk last Thursday at the Ida Rupp Public Library in Port Clinton, Ohio went well. I learned that my program was mentioned in two local print newspapers as well the on-line announcements. Thanks again to Joan Bryden who interviewed on WPCR, Port Clinton radio and Lauren Lemmon, the librarian who arranged the book talk.

Though there were severe thunderstorm warnings and even the threat of a tornado, several did brave the elements to attend. (The rain and flooding ended up being so severe, I had to wait inside the building for an hour for it to let up!) Anyway, our nostalgic discussion included: the 2002 TV movie The Christmas Shoes and its follow-up movies; the 1977 TV movie The Gathering; the Andy Willliams Christmas specials; the King Family Christmas specials; and my favorite animated shows' Christmas episodes from Adult Swim on the Cartoon Network. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Checking my notes