Fun Top 5 List--from Charlotte, NC

Franz Kafka's It's A Wonderful Life

In a recent interview, I spoke with writer Pam Kelley and passed on this Must-See list of Christmas programs. This was a lot of fun. Tell me what you think of my list. Click on the link below:


The Reading Life BLOG from Pam Kelley from the Charlotte Observer, 11/3/2010.


I'll be appearing in Charlotte, NC at Park Road Books on Saturday, Nov. 6th at 2 pm. Come and share your favorite Christmas TV memories with me. Other stops on my book tour are available on this blog along the right hand side, under '2010 Author Events' --->

BOOK TOUR begins!

As I'm waiting for my second book to come out next week, I'm beginning my book tour to promote the Tis the Season TV as well as last year's book The Christmas TV Companion. My first stop:

FRIDAY, Nov. 5th from 11 am-1pm, I'll be at Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia.

For more info about this location or other stops on my book tour--look under the page "2010 AUTHOR EVENTS" along the right side of this blog ---->

I'm looking forward to meeting new friends and talking to people about Christmas on TV. Come and tell me about your favorite Christmas TV moment or memory. Hope to see you soon!

And, I was interviewed by Monica Orosz for the local Charleston newspaper, the Charleston Daily Mail. I'm very pleased with the result. Thanks Monica! Click on the link below:

"Author is Ghost of Christmas TV Specials Past" from 11/3/2010 by Monica Orosz.


The promotion continues as yesterday, I was interviewed on a Northeast Ohio TV show. More details on that later when it airs next month! But that experience was fun and the two interviewers were a delight! Below is a photo of me taken from behind the cameras.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween everyone! Don't eat too much candy corn--save some for me.

Readers of my first book The Christmas TV Companion know that there is quite of bit of overlap in scary imagery between Halloween and Christmas stories. In fact, my first book has a whole chapter about macabre, scary and horror programs and movies that are Christmas-themed. In the chapter, "Have Yourself an Eerie Little Christmas," I remind readers that Charles Dickens wrote a scary ghost story--with four ghosts no less! (Jacob Marley and the three spirits of Christmas past, present and future.)

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)

So this association of frightening tales coupled with Christmas is not a new phenomenon. Dickens may have written a ghost story as a means of moralizing but a more modern storyteller, Tim Burton has also used macabre imagery in his fairy tales set at Christmas.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

In this story, Jack Skellington has to learn his lesson about sticking with what he does best.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

And, in Edward Scissorhands, viewers are given a fairy tale story that shows the dark side of isolation and intolerance. Many people often forget that this romantic story is framed by an elderly Kim Boggs (Winona Ryder) sharing a story with her offspring. This story about the mysterious stranger, Edward, climaxes at the Boggs family Christmas party and serves to explain how their town gets blanketed in snow each year.




Happy Halloween!!

1980s Christmas: Cheers

Everybody's favorite work-place family sitcom (or drink-place family sitcom) from the 1980s is Cheers. This popular show has several holiday episodes but my own favorite is the one entitled "Christmas Cheers" from 1987.

In this story, Rebecca has all the bar staff scheduled to work the holiday. Cliff is selfishly trying to win a canned-food drive charity collection competition while Sam is able to miraculously acquire a last minute gift for Rebecca.

However the more minor plot line is the more touching one: the Cheers regulars are sick of seeing the film “It’s a Wonderful Life” airing yet again on TV. As they watch it in the bar, they complain about how saccharine this oft-repeated movie is. But during the scene in the 1946 movie where the Bedford Falls residents come together to support George Bailey and to sing “Auld Lang Syne,” there isn’t a dry eye in Cheers!

What's your favorite Cheers holiday moment?

BOOK TOUR--meet the author!

Do you see the new page, along the right, marked 2010 Author Events? That's my updated book tour information--complete with links to locations. Want to meet me? Ask me a question about Christmas on TV? Buy a book? or get one signed by the author? Then this is the event for you! You can check here for all the updates as they happen. Then, during November and December, along with my typical Christmas on TV blog discussions, I'll be uploading photos and writing about my experiences on the road. Will you make the blog?

Of course, you can always stay abreast of what's going on with the blog and the author through Facebook and Twitter as well. Either join the group 'Christmas TV Companion BLOG' on fb--or friend me on Twitter under 'Tis the Season TV.' Or, just continue to follow me here.

I leave in just a couple weeks to start my book tour....so come out and say 'hello.' And don't forget to watch me on my two TV appearances: the History Channel's History of Christmas program and TV Guide Network's '25 Most Hilarious Holiday Moments.'

1980s Christmas: A Muppet Family Christmas

This 1987 hour-long TV special seems to be everyone’s favorite Jim Henson Productions Christmas special. And with good reason--it features not only the Muppets but the characters from Sesame Street, Muppet Babies and Fraggle Rock as well.

The story begins with the entire Muppet cast traveling in a pick-up truck to surprise Fozzie Bear’s mother at Christmas. When they arrive at her farm house, Mrs. Bear has to cancel her holiday vacation plans for Malibu in order to entertain her new guests. She also has to accommodate Doc and Sprocket (from Fraggle Rock) who had come to rent her farm house to enjoy a quiet Christmas in the country. Guests continue to arrive and the farm house becomes quite crowded and chaotic--though Kermit is still waiting for Miss Piggy to arrive. Meanwhile, the Sesame Street gang show up caroling. The new guests include: Bert, Ernie, Big Bird, the Count, Grover, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster and more. Miss Piggy has yet to arrive when a snowstorm blows in.



The multitude of house guests entertain themselves by watching home movies of the Muppet babies. The guests also stage a holiday pageant of the story ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ while Fozzie works on his new comedy act with a snowman. And, the Swedish Chef considers preparing Big Bird for Christmas dinner. But Kermit worries about Miss Piggy reaching the house in the storm.

In another room, Robin finds a Fraggle hole where the young frog and Kermit pass through and make new friends with the Fraggles. Eventually Miss Piggy makes her grand entrance, arriving safely by dog sled. The crowded house full of merrymakers begin their annual carol sing and begin to exchange gifts.




This musical special includes the familiar holiday classic songs: ‘We Need A Little Christmas;’ ‘Jingle Bells/Jingle Bell Rock;’ ‘Deck the Halls;’ ‘The Christmas Song;’ Happy Holidays;’ ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High;’ ‘I Saw Three Ships;’ ‘Good King Wenceslas;’ ‘The Holly and the Ivy;’ ‘I’ll Be Home for Christmas;’ ‘Caroling Caroling’ and ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas.’ This special also includes the original songs ‘Pass It On;’ ‘It’s in Every One of Us’ and ‘We’ll Be Together At Christmas.’

The ending has a very special, touching moment. As the entire Muppet gang celebrates Christmas together, the master puppeteer himself, Jim Henson, looks over the festivities from the kitchen offering to do the dishes so the Muppets may continue to celebrate. Below I've included this nostalgic clip that includes Henson. The entire Muppet Family Christmas special also is available on Youtube.

1980s Christmas: Saturday Night Live

I'm starting a new series: I'm going to be writing about my favorite Christmas TV moments from the 1980s. I'll be writing these blog posts until my national book tour begins the first week in November. If you have a favorite 1980s holiday TV moment--let me know and I'll see if I can post about it too.

The sketch comedy institution Saturday Night Live has produced some of television's most memorable holiday comedy moments. I only need to mention Adam Sandler's 'Chanukah Song' and most people probably can begin singing it. How about Alec Baldwin's appearance on the mock NPR radio program, 'Delicious Dish,' talking about his Schweddy Balls--or Justin Timberlake's parody of an R&B music video 'Dick in a Box' that went on to be a viral sensation?

My favorite SNL holiday moments are slightly older than those. Do you remember:

1986's Lost Ending to 'It's A Wonderful Life' sketch?




Acknowledging that Mr. Potter never suffers any consequences for his greed in the original 1946 movie, this sketch sees the residents of Bedford Falls finally delivering their own justice. Actor Dana Carvey does a fantastic impression of Jimmy Stewart. I always laugh at Jan Hooks, as Mary Baily, violently jumping up and down on Potter's body! Too funny.

Do you remember: 1982's sketch 'Merry Christmas, Dammit'--the Gumby TV Christmas special?

I'm Gumby, Dammit!

Eddie Murphy as his recurring character, Gumby, hosts his own Christmas TV variety special with special guests Frank Sinatra, and Donny and Marie Osmond among others. Joe Piscapo as Frank Sinatra is classic--he absurdly sings the TV theme songs to 'Woody Woodpecker and 'The Flintstones.' And, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Gary Kroeger as Marie and Donny Osmond cracks me up every time! They sing a very affectionate version of 'Blue Christmas.' It's funny because it's so wrong.

Do you remember: Steve Martin's 1986 sketch 'A Holiday Wish?'




Comedian Steve Martin's generous holiday spirit quickly devolves into 'the crap about the kids' to all the money in the world and a month long orgasm. It's a classic.

What are you favorite SNL holiday moments?