Make Your Own Marathons

Last year, my friends and I gathered for a private special screening at a friend's home to watch some cool Christmas programs. The above photo is from our program guide. We watched:

--"Too Many Christmas Trees" the 1965 episode of The Avengers (pg. 80)
--"The Star" the 1985 episode of The New Twilight Zone (pg. 36)
-- Franz Kafka's It's A Wonderful Life from 1993 (pg. 13)
-- My Santa, the 2005 anime (pg. 104-105)
--"Christmas Shopping" the classic episode of The Jack Benny Show (p.114-115)
--1957 Russian-made cartoon Christmas Visit (pg. 42-43)
--the short film, Santa Claus' Story from the 1950s (pg. 124-125)

The above page numbers reference where in The Christmas TV Companion these selections are discussed.

This year, my friends and I are gathering for another marathon of Christmas programs. We're watching:

-- The Junky's Christmas (pg. 358)
--"Hey, Hey It's Knishmas!" the 2008 episode of Chowder (pg. 120)
--"Low Tidings" the 2009 episode of The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (pg. 434)
--"Rebel With A Claus" the 2006 episode of Squidbillies (pg. 660)
--"Mr. Grumpy-Pants" the 2008 episode of Superjail! (pg. 676)
--"Christmas With the Addams Family" the 1965 episode of The Addams Family (pg. 6)

The above page numbers reference where in the book, Tis the Season TV, these programs are discussed.

I organized last year's selections to include several science fiction stories and several others that my friends had asked to see. This year's selections I've chosen in order to include another literary one (last year had Franz Kafka--this year is William Burroughs) and then several weird ones in increasing bizarreness, closing with the feel-good episode of The Addams Family.

Christmas is certainly a time when we work extra hard to make ourselves happy. Watching television programs and movies is one way to make ourselves feel the way we want at the holidays. Have you compiled your own marathon of Christmas programs to watch? is it gathered around a theme? Share your experiences.

Set Your DVRs: Doctor Who Christmas Marathon

On Christmas Day, Saturday Dec. 25th, BBC America is running a marathon of Christmas episodes of the hit British sci-fi series Doctor Who. Fans of the show know that there have been several holiday-themed episodes produced since the show's recent reincarnation. Christmas day's marathon includes: "The Unquiet Dead;" "The Christmas Invasion;" "The Runaway Bride;" "Voyage of the Damned;" and "The Next Doctor." The episodes will repeat throughout the day so check the schedule on BBC America for the listings--or search on TVGuide.com.

But the best news is that the newest Doctor Who Christmas episode debuts on Christmas night at 9pm (EST) after the marathon. 2010's "A Christmas Carol" stars the latest Doctor played by Matt Smith with special guest, actor Michael Gambon. I can't wait!

2007's "Voyage of the Damned" with special guest Kylie Minogue

2008's "The Next Doctor" with special guest David Morrissey

2010's "A Christmas Carol" Doctor Who Christmas episode--premieres Dec. 25th

Of course, Doctor Who has dealt with Charles Dickens before. The nineteenth-century author is a character in the 2005 episode "The Unquiet Dead" and the familiar Dickensian subject of exploited orphans in Victorian London is incorporated into the 2008 episode "The Next Doctor."

Book Tour: Cleveland OH recap

Blue Arrow Records and Boutique on Waterloo Rd. in Cleveland, OH

Last Saturday, December 18th--Blue Arrow Records and Boutique was the final stop on my book tour. I was lucky enough to be asked to be a part of their Holiday Extravaganza event where I signed books and read from the encyclopedia. Since Blue Arrow Records is a hip vinyl record store, I read three summaries from Tis the Season TV with a cool musical connection: 1977's Johnny Cash Christmas Special (with special guests/fellow Sun Studios recording artists Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins who perform a tribute to the then-recently deceased Elvis Presley); 1965's The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood with special guests Eric Burdon and the Animals; and, 1975's The Christmas Messenger which includes recording artist/rocker David Essex.

That's me on the right--reading from the encyclopedia

Both the 1977 Johnny Cash special and The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood are also included in my book The Christmas TV Companion--in the TV Variety chapter. If you are interested in more out-of-the-ordinary Christmas titles with a musical connection, check out the movie Christmas on Mars--made by several members of the band The Flaming Lips. Or, look for the 2004 episode Santa's Rockin' of the children's musical program The Wiggles. This installment includes Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer John Fogerty and actor/singer Barry Williams performing holiday songs for pre-schoolers.

Sorry about the foreign subtitles :(

Another favorite is George Michael guest starring as himself on The Catherine Tate Show Christmas special in 2007. He sings karaoke with Tate's nurse Bernie character at the hospital staff holiday party. Together they sing "Fairytale of New York" the much beloved Christmas song made popular by the Irish band, The Pogues.

Book Tour: Chicago IL recap

Joanna reading from Tis the Season TV

Last Wednesday, Dec. 15th on my book tour, I made a stop in Chicago's Northside. Along with three local authors, I had a book reading and signing at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. I read three summaries from the encyclopedia, Tis the Season TV, and the opening paragraph from the Introduction of The Christmas TV Companion. The three summaries I read were 'something older, something newer, and something rare': 1966's Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory from the dramatic anthology series ABC Stage 67; 2009's animated Yes, Virginia; and, 1964's TV movie Carol for Another Christmas.

Thanks to the Book Cellar for hosting this December event and much kindness to the three wonderful authors with whom I shared the evening.

Joanna and Kelly: We should be a recruitment poster for studying film!

Visiting Chicago also gave me the opportunity to meet up with a friend I hadn't seen in years :) My hotel as within walking distance of my favorite diner, Ed Debevic's, and the downtown Macy's. There's no place like Chicago for Christmas.

Chicago Christmas in the Snow

left to right: Bob, Howard, Carol, Jerry and Emily on The Bob Newhart Show

As I sit here snowed-in because of a blizzard currently dumping on Northeast Ohio, I'm reminded of the second season Christmas episode of The Bob Newhart Show. In 1973's "I'm Dreaming of A Slight Christmas," Dr. Bob Hartley and his wife, Emily, anticipate spending Christmas Eve together. Unfortunately, Bob finds himself stuck at the office--comforting an anxious Mr.Peterson and controlling the drunken office party. A power outage brought on by a blizzard adds further complications to the evening. Bob finally makes it home only to sleep through Emily’s ruined dinner.

Carol is enjoying her holiday Irish coffee!

You can watch this episode on Hulu. Click here for that link.

Fans of the Bob Newhart Show may be delighted to know that there are six Christmas episodes--one each year the series was made:

1972's "His Busiest Season"
1973's "I'm Dreaming of A Slight Christmas"
1974's "Home Is Where the Hurt Is"
1975's "Bob Has to Have His Tonsils Out, So He Spends Christmas Eve in the Hospital"
1976's "Making Up is the Thing To Do"
and 1977's "'Twas the Pie Before Christmas"

This series also produced an incredibly funny Thanksgiving episode (and my all-time favorite Bob Newhart Show episode)--the 1975's "Over The River and Through the Woods." This fourth season episode is available for viewing on DVD and on Netflix.

Speaking of Chicago: I'll be signing copies of both of my books at The Book Cellar in Chicago on Wednesday, Dec. 15th at 7pm. See you there!

Joanna on TV: updated schedule

If you haven't already seen my recent appearances on television, here is an updated schedule when the programs will air again.


I provided commentary on The Real Story of Christmas now airing on the History Channel. I'm in one brief segment near the end. This program will broadcast again on Wednesday, Dec. 22nd at 10 pm and later that night again at 2 am. It is also available for purchase--see the History Channel store for details.



I'm also on 25 Most Hilarious Holiday TV Moments now running on TV Guide Network. I appear in several places throughout the program. My favorite moment is when I name the band members of KISS who lend their voices to the 2000 Christmas episode of Family Guy. This program is re-airing:
Monday, Dec. 13th at 3 pm
Friday, Dec. 17th at 2 pm
Saturday, Dec. 18th at 3 pm and again at 5 pm
Tuesday, Dec. 21st at 2 pm
Wednesday, Dec. 22nd at 3 pm and again at 7 pm
and Saturday, Dec. 25th at 11 am.

Me on Teen Focus airing throughout December

I also have a half-hour interview now airing on Teen Focus, a Cleveland OH cable access show. It is airing in Cleveland on Cable 9 throughout the month of December: Mondays at 7 am and 11:30 am; Tuesdays at 5:30 pm; and Saturdays at 6 pm.

If you don't live in Cleveland, OH, you can watch the interview on-line on Cable9.org

Instructions:
--go to Cable9.org
--click on box on left 'Cable 9 on-line'
--click on box on right 'Cable 9 on-line'
--drag drop-down menu marked 'All Folders'
--click on 'Teen Focus'
--select my interview

It's not that complicated. But this interview will only be available during the month of December. So if you're curious, watch it now.

That's me on the monitors!

Set Your DVRs: Yes, Virginia

The latest adaptation of the story inspired by real-live event, Yes, Virginia is airing on Friday Dec. 17th at 8pm (EST) on CBS. This charming 2009 animated TV special is sponsored by Macy's. It tells the story of the the turn-of-the-century Virginia O'Hanlon who writes a letter to the newspaper asking about the existence of Santa Claus. The inspiring response written by the New York Sun's editor, Francis P. Church, begins with the now famous line "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus..."

This story inspired by actual events has been adapted for television several times. There was a 1991 TV movie entitled Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus which starred Richard Thomas as Virginia's father, Mr. O'Hanlon and Charles Bronson--yes, that Charles Bronson as the newspaper editor, Church. Unfortunately, this made-for-TV movie is difficult to find.

Actor Richard Thomas

Many of us grew up watching the half-hour animated 1974 adaptation. It is produced and directed by Bill Melendez, the same producer/director who made A Charlie Brown Christmas. This 1974 adaptation also features the title song performed by Jimmy Osmond, the youngest of the Osmond family's brothers.



Part 1 of 1974's Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus

Did you know: Virginia O'Hanlon actually appeared on the 1960 Perry Como Christmas Special? And, the original letter written by the young Virginia O'Hanlon turned up on an episode of PBS's Antiques Roadshow? It was authenticated and appraised by Kathleen Guzman.

Click here to see that episode of Antiques Roadshow.