Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962)

This hour-long animated TV special debuted on Dec. 18th, 1962 on NBC.

The year 2012 calls for many celebrations.  Not only is it the 200th anniversary of the birth of author Charles Dickens (February 7th, 1812) -- it is also the 50th anniversary of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol.  Of course, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol is important because it was the very first animated Christmas special made specifically for television.  Its importance should not be underestimated.  The 1962 special and its original ratings success would begin the golden age of animated Christmas TV specials, which would soon be followed by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 1964, A Charlie Brown Christmas in 1965, How the Grinch Stole Christmas in 1966, and Frosty the Snowman in 1969.  And more would follow.  Let's remember this 1962 hour-long animated special again.

This animated musical TV special includes six original tunes.

The well-established and popular cartoon character Mr. Magoo appears in this TV special as an actor in a Broadway musical stage version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol.  The story begins with the nearsighted Magoo arriving at the theater and getting into costume.  Magoo is set to play the lead role of Ebenezer Scrooge in this show-within-a-show.

This animated TV special features a Broadway musical stage production of A Christmas Carol.

Magoo as Ebenezer Scrooge encountering the ghostly door knocker.

A translucent Marley warns Scrooge of the arrival of three more spirits.

You may already be familiar with Dickens' original story, however this animated version has a few changes.  Not only is the character of nephew Fred completely absent but the first ghost to visit Scrooge after Marley's warning is the Ghost of Christmas Present.  Clearly, this animated version of the familiar tale is shortened for economy, however the heart of the story remains.

The order of the appearances of the spirits is changed from Dickens' original book.  Here, the Ghost of Christmas Present is the first to visit Ebenezer.

Recognize Tiny Tim?  He's intended to resemble cartoon character Gerald McBoing Boing--another UPA property along with Mr. Magoo.

The Ghost of Christmas Present introduces Scrooge to the home of his employee Bob Crachit and his family.  Here, Scrooge learns that Cratchit's son Tiny Tim is sick.  The wealthy businessman is also surprised to discover that the Crachit family is happy at Christmas time despite their lack of money.

The Ghost of Christmas Past.

A young Ebenezer dances with his girlfriend Belle at Fezziwig's lavish Christmas party.

Next, the Ghost of Christmas Past escorts Ebenezer to re-visit the school where he spent the Christmases of his youth, feeling alone.  Then they move on to see Fezziwig's joyous Christmas party where Ebenezer worked as an apprentice.  Scrooge also re-lives the romance and the break-up of his relationship with Belle.  He's lost Belle's affection because he loves another: money.

"Say it isn't so, Spirit!"

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge a grim future.  None of the wealthy man's friends grieve his passing.  Thieves cash in what they steal from the Scrooge's death bed.  And, at the cemetery, Scrooge's awareness of his death reminds him he'll once again be alone.

"What day is it?"

Scrooge promises a raise in salary to Bob Crachit and showers the young Tiny Tim with affection.

Finally, on Christmas morning, Scrooge awakens to discover he has a change of heart.  He buys a turkey to be delivered to the Crachit family home and he goes there to celebrate Christmas with them.

The show-within-a-show includes a curtain call, reminding viewers that they were watching a stage production.  It also allows the familiar Mr. Magoo character to take on a role within the play, stepping outside of his nearsighted and bumbling persona.

This animated TV special features six original songs including "Back on Broadway," "Ringle Ringle," "The Lord's Bright Blessing," Alone in the World," "Winter Was Warm," and "We're Despicable."  The songs "Alone in the World," "Ringle Ringle," and "The Lord's Bright Blessing" are reprised for the ending.  These wonderful songs were created by the famed Broadway songwriters, composer Jule Styne and lyricist Bob Merrill.  They would team up again for the 1965 live action Christmas TV musical The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood starring Liza Minnelli, Cyril Ritchard, Vic Damone, and Eric Burdon and the Animals.


The voice cast includes Jim Backus as Mr. Magoo/Scrooge, the character he originated in the very first Mr. Magoo cartoon in 1949.  Broadway star Jack Cassidy voiced Bob Crachit and Dick Wilkens.  Cassidy made many TV appearances as well, most notably as Ted Baxter's brother on an episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.  I also recognize Cassidy as the real-life father of actor/singer David Cassidy (yes, I'm the hugest Partridge Family fan).  Actor/comedian Morey Amsterdam voiced Brady (Scrooge's friend that doesn't grieve his loss).  Amsterdam may be more recognizable from his role as Buddy Sorrell on The Dick Van Dyke Show.  And, Paul Frees voiced the stage director, the charity solicitor, Fezziwig, and more.  Frees has a very distinctive voice and also voiced the villain Boris Badenov on The Bullwinkle Show as well as Burgermeister Meister Burger in the Rankin/Bass classic Santa Claus is Comin' to Town.

The backgrounds are created with an attention to design detail.

In the segment with the Ghost of Christmas Future, the colorful creepy backgrounds do much to convey the dread and horror experienced by Scrooge.

Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol has a very stylized design and a bold use of color palette.   Yet the character design seems to leave the biggest impression.  Since this version of Dickens' story has often been an entire generation's first exposure to A Christmas Carol, it is these images of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future that we often first imagine when recalling the story.  Aren't we lucky?  Though some may speculate that the Broadway show-within-a-show may be lost on most young kids, I believe this story element was probably lost on the youngest of children in the 1960s as well--and was a detail meant to appeal to adult viewers--as TV programming created in the 1960s was intended to entertain a wider audience including children, teens and adults.

"God bless us, everyone!"

This 1962 animated TV special was re-broadcast during prime time on NBC for five years and then went into syndication.  In the 1970s when I was growing up, I remember watching it in syndication on a Saturday or a Sunday afternoon every year.  Unfortunately, since then, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol has become hard to find in the TV listings each Christmas.  Thankfully, it is available on DVD--and is currently streaming on Netflix.  Is watching Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol an annual tradition in your home?

Next up: a discussion of Darrell Van Citter's book Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol: The Making of the First Animated Christmas Special.

Santa Hustle--Training

I LOVE the crunching sound of dry leaves under each footstep while I run in the autumn months.

As you know, I'm training and preparing for the Santa Hustle 5k, a running race being held Sunday December 16th, 2012 at Cedar Point, in Sandusky, Ohio.  Click HERE to see my earlier post about the Santa Hustle.  There are Santa Hustle races all over the country this holiday season including Chicago, Sevierville (TN), Indianapolis, Daytona Beach, Milwaukee, and Galveston.  For more information and dates, check out their website: SantaHustle.com

Photo courtesy of Santa Hustle.

I'm very excited to be running with thousands of other people on race day, all dressed as Santa Claus.  This is going to be quite a spectacle--and I've got to remember to run with my camera!  But before December arrives, I have to put the time into making sure I'm ready and prepared to complete the 3.1 miles (5k distance).  I actually run year round so I'm already in good shape.  However, the change of seasons brings its own challenges.  So my training now is actually more focused on making sure I keep up my regular running schedule despite the daylight savings time change, and the extreme temperature changes that occur in Ohio during October and November.

I prefer to trail run but I didn't want to erode the trail during Hurricane Sandy by creating a muddy mess in the woods.

Another unexpected challenge arose last week as well: Hurricane Sandy.  It rained for days and days.  Though that's perfect weather to stay indoors and watch Christmas TV movies--my usual daily activity--it wasn't good running weather.  I don't usually mind running in the rain much but this was a very COLD and consistent rain that caused flooding in many places.  But I'm finally back to my regular running schedule and staying dry.

THIS is why I love to trail run--it's always a gorgeous experience!  I also love all the wildlife I regularly see, including deer, owls, crows, chipmunks, squirrels, foxes, raccoons, ground hogs, frogs, turtles, ducks, geese, and cranes.

Not only am I running the Santa Hustle 5k race but I'll be at the Post-Race Party in Sandusky, OH signing copies of my book, and talking to people about their favorite Christmas entertainments.  Even if you're not a runner, come on down to the race, cheer on the runners and look for me at the Post-Race Party.  This will be a great opportunity to meet me, and maybe even get a signed book to give as a gift.  See you then!

Come to the Post-Race Party on Dec. 16th in Ohio and meet the author of Tis the Season TV and The Christmas TV Companion.  Photo courtesy of Santa Hustle.

Christmas Carol with Vincent Price (1949)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!  I've spent the month of October discussing Halloween and Christmas crossover entertainments--from horror movies set at Christmas time to Bewitched Christmas episodes to ghostly Christmas stories on TV.  I've had a fun time recalling all these crossovers, and I hope you have too.

In this version, Taylor Holmes plays Ebeneezer Scrooge.

There's one last TV special I wanted to share:  1949's The Christmas Carol.  What makes this adaptation so unique?  It includes everyone's favorite actor Vincent Price who also appeared in quite a few horror movies in his long career.

Narrator Vincent Price.

This is a very early TV special that runs one half-hour in length, making it one of the shortest adaptations of the book by Charles Dickens.  The short length has an economy of detail that’s interesting to compare to longer, fuller versions. It distinguishes itself further by having its story narrated by actor Vincent Price!  Price has significant screen time, appearing on camera as if reading from the book.  Though he's not particularly spooky here, Price's presence in the production makes this version of the popular Christmas ghost story noteworthy.

I believe the nine year-old Jill Oppenheim is the Cratchit daughter on the left in this photo.

One of Cratchit’s daughters, Missie, is played by child actor, Jill Oppenheim.  However, you may recognize this actress by her professional name she took later in her career: Jill St. John.

Actor Robert Clarke regularly appeared in the late '60s color episodes of Dragnet.

The character of the nephew Fred is played by another recognizable actor, Robert Clarke.  I know him from the late 60s Dragnet episodes but he was also on The King Family variety TV series--and its Christmas specials--in the 1960s (Clarke was King Sister Alyce's husband).

Who better to narrate a Christmas ghost story?

[Editor's Note: Sorry--this giveaway has ended!]  Would you like to add this DVD to your collection?  I have a brand new, factory-sealed DVD of this TV special I'd like to share with a loyal reader of my blog.  To qualify for the prize giveaway:

--leave a comment below with the words "Vincent Price."  You can enter again on Facebook and Twitter by commenting with the words "Vincent Price" at the following locations:

Facebook page: Christmas TV History

Facebook page: Tis the Season TV

Facebook page: Christmas TV Companion

Twitter: @TistheSeasonTV

So you could enter up to five times by leaving the correct comment at all five locations.  This giveaway is for North American residents only.  This runs from today, Wed October 31--Saturday, November 3, noon (ET).  On Nov. 3rd at noon, I'll use random.org to generate a number from the total number of qualifying entries to select a winner.  Good luck and Happy Halloween!

Santa Hustle 5k and Half Marathon

If you know me even a little, you know what a jock I am.  I've been a runner since I was 13 years old.  So you must appreciate how excited I am to be combining my two great loves--Christmas and running--in one activity, by participating in the Santa Hustle.

The Santa Hustle is a holiday-spirited race for 5k runners (that's 3.1 miles) or for half marathoners (13.1 miles).  This December, there are races being held in seven cities: Chicago, Sevierville TN, Indianapolis, Cedar Point (in Sandusky OH), Dayton Beach, Milwaukee, and Galveston.  Please check the website SantaHustle.com for dates and details.

Making this family-friendly event even more fun is that each participant receives a Santa hat, beard, and customized shirt to wear.  That means each event will have thousands of Santas running the course, creating a Christmas spectacle.  It's all about having fun and I can't wait!

I am going to be at the Cedar Point race in Sandusky, Ohio on Sunday, December 16th.  Not only am I running the 5k course but I'm going to be at the Post-Race Party meeting people, and asking everyone about their favorite Christmas TV specials.  Even if you're not a runner, come and cheer on the runners--and bring your camera!  I'd love to hear about your favorite TV special or Christmas movie as well.  I'll also be selling copies of my books and I'll be glad to sign one for you--or as a gift for someone else.

If you're a runner, register for the race today.  I'll see everyone at the Cedar Point race on December 16th.  Check out these other links:

Facebook page: Santa Hustle
twitter: @SantaHustle
website: http://SantaHustle.com

Feel free to comment below and ask me any questions about this you like.

2012 Christmas TV Listings and Schedules

It's that time of year again, when networks begin releasing their upcoming November and December schedules filled with Christmas TV episodes, specials and movies.  I'm excited to say that INSP, the Inspiration Network, emailed me last week with their complete schedule for December.  There are quite a few good things on their schedule and I'm glad to share it with you.  Do you receive INSP on your cable or satellite line-up?

INSP will be airing the Christmas episodes of their regular series which include The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and The Big Valley. The 2012 schedule is as follows:

The Brady Bunch: "The Voice of Christmas"

Thur 12/6, 5pm (ET), Thur 12/13, 5:30pm (ET), Fri 12/21, 5:30pm (ET)

Happy Days: "Guess Who's Coming to Christmas?"

Tues 12/18, 6:30pm (ET)

Happy Days: "Richie Branches Out"

Tues 12/11, 6pm (ET), Wed 12/19, 6:30pm (ET)

Happy Days: "Christmas Time"

Thur 12/20, 6:30pm (ET)

Happy Days: "White Christmas"

Fri 12/21, 6:30pm (ET)

Little House on the Prairie: "Christmas at Plum Creek"

Mon 12/17, 2pm (ET), Fri 12/21, 1pm (ET)

Little House on the Prairie: "Blizzard"

Fri 12/7, 1pm (ET), Thur 12/20, 1pm (ET)

Little House on the Prairie: "A Christmas They Never Forgot"

Wed 12/12, 2pm (ET), Fri 12/21, 2pm (ET)

The Waltons: "The Best Christmas"

Sun 12/9, 8pm (ET), Thur 12/20, 8pm (ET), Fri 12/21, noon (ET), Tues 12/25, noon (ET)

The Waltons: "The Children's Carol" 2hrs (Parts 1 &2)

Sat 12/22, 9pm (ET), Tues 12/25, 1pm (ET)

The Waltons: "The Spirit"

Sun 12/9, 7pm (ET), Mon 12/17, 8pm (ET), Wed 12/19, noon (ET), Sun 12/23, 7pm (ET)

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: "Mike's Dream-A Christmas Tale"

Thur 12/6, 11pm (ET), Fri 12/14, 1am (ET), Mon 12/17, 7pm (ET)

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: "A First Christmas"

Fri 12/14, 11pm (ET), Tues 12/18, 7pm (ET)

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: "Fifi's First Christmas"

Fri 12/14, midnight (ET), Wed 12/19, 7pm (ET),  Mon 12/24, 1am (ET)

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: "Season of Miracles"

Tues 12/4, 7pm (ET), Mon 12/10, 11pm (ET), Sun 12/16, 1am (ET), Thur 12/20, 7pm (ET), Tues 12/25, 1am (ET)

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: "Homecoming"

Thur 12/13, 11pm (ET), Fri 12/21, 7pm (ET), Sun 12/23, 1am (ET)

The Big Valley: "Judgment in Heaven"

Mon 12/10, midnight (ET), Mon 12/10, 3pm (ET), Fri 12/21, 3pm (ET)

What is equally exciting is the fantastic line-up of Christmas movies INSP has on their December schedule including Ebbie, Blizzard, Christmas With a Capital C, Secret of Giving, The Christmas Secret, The Christmas Tree, The Nativity, The Christmas Box, A Christmas Snow, A Town Without Christmas,  and Thomas Kinkade's The Christmas Cottage. 

If you aren't certain which movies these are, you can buy my encyclopedia Tis the Season TV, or you can ask me.  Don't forget: I'm also on facebook--that may be the fastest way to get my attention: facebook link for Christmas TV History.  I'm super psyched about three of these movies in particular: 2000's The Christmas Secret with actor Richard Thomas, 1995's Ebbie with Susan Lucci, and the 1996's The Christmas Tree, as this is difficult to find on TV.  The schedule is as follows:

Ebbie (1995)

Tues 12/18, 9pm (ET), Wed 12/19, 11pm (ET), Mon 12/24, 11pm (ET)

Blizzard (2003)

Fri 12/21, 9pm (ET), Mon 12/24, 1pm (ET), Tues 12/25, 7pm (ET), Wed 12/26, noon (ET)

Christmas with a Capital C (2010)

Tues 12/25, 9pm (ET)

Secret of Giving (1999)

Sat 12/15, 9pm (ET), Sun 12/16, 11pm (ET), Sat 12/22, 11pm (ET), Mon 12/24, 5pm (ET)

The Christmas Secret (2000)

Sun 12/16, 9pm (ET), Mon 12/17, 11pm (ET), Mon 12/24, 3pm (ET)

The Christmas Tree (1996)

Mon 12/17, 9pm (ET), Tues 12/18, 11pm (ET), Tues 12/25, 5pm (ET)

The Nativity (1978)

Fri 12/14, 9pm (ET), Sat 12/15, 11pm (ET), Sun 12/23, 11pm (ET), Mon 12/24, 7pm (ET)

The Christmas Box (1995)

Wed 12/19, 9pm (ET), Thur 12/20, 11pm (ET), Sun 12/30, 11pm (ET)

A Christmas Snow (2010)

Mon 12/24, 9pm (ET)

A Town Without Christmas (2001)

Sun 12/23, 9pm (ET), Tues 12/25, 3pm (ET)

Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage (2008)

Thur 12/20, 9pm (ET), Fri 12/21, 11pm (ET), Tues 12/25, 11pm (ET), Fri 12/28, noon (ET)

Other TV listings are coming out with November and December schedules.  Remember you can find daily TV listings from the best of Christmas programming from me on Twitter: @TistheSeasonTV
and on the facebook page: Tis the Season TV.  Check out the following links for more schedules:

Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family Channel
25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family Channel
Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas preview weekend
Hallmark Channel's 12 new original Christmas movies

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Crossovers

The Simpsons couch gag from Treehouse of Horror X

Throughout the month of October, I'm blogging about horror movies and Halloween and Christmas crossover entertainments.  This is all a part of a series entitled Countdown to Halloween which is a group of participating blogs also covering horror and Halloween-appropriate content throughout the month of October.  Please check out the other blogs participating by clicking on this link.

The Simpsons' annual Halloween episode "Treehouse of Horror" is a must-see tradition in my house.  Did you know that there are two Halloween/Christmas and New Year's crossover episodes?

The 1999 Halloween episode entitled "Treehouse of Horror X," includes a segment that takes place on New Year’s Eve.  In the third segment entitled “Life’s A Glitch, Then You Die,” the Simpson family suffers the consequences of the computer age on January 1st, 2000 when Homer’s computer at the nuclear power plant suffers a Y2k dysfunction, shutting down the world’s computers.  All the world’s computers register the date as 1900 and anything with a computer chip goes on a dysfunctional deadly attack! 

The family learns of Operation: Exodus and heads for the rocket to make their escape from the doomed planet Earth.  Anyone else reminded of the Twilight Zone episode "Third From the Sun?"

While the other Springfield residents are busy looting, the Simpsons seek their escape from planet Earth on rocket ships.  Lisa and Marge are able to join the best and brightest on Earth headed for a new civilization on Mars--while Homer and Bart join the D-list of survivors (think Tom Arnold, Pauly Shore, Ross Perot, Tonya Harding, Rev. Al Sharpton and Rosie O'Donnell) on a rocket headed for the sun.

A New Year's institution, Dick Clark appears in this Y2k horror story.

This New Year’s episode includes the voice of Dick Clark as himself hosting his New Year’s TV special, and the voice of Tom Arnold as one of the escapees on Homer and Bart’s rocket.  This episode's story seems quite dated, however it captures the hysteria of the anticipation of the year 2000.  The final joke is that Homer and Bart would prefer to eject from their rocketship and die a gory death in outer space rather than continue their journey surrounded by losers.

Ejected from the rocket, Homer and Bart begin to distort before exploding in outer space. 

The 2008 Halloween episode entitled "Treehouse of Horror XIX," includes a segment that takes place on Christmas.  In the first segment “Untitled Robot Parody,” Bart buys Lisa a Christmas present from a discount store.  The Malibu Stacey toy automobile turns out to be an alien robot involved in an intergalactic battle with other robots (a.k.a. Transformers) and all the electronics in Springfield begin to wage war amongst themselves and destroy the town. 

The Simpsons are caught in an intergalactic robot war!

Marge successfully pleads with the transformed alien robots to end their war, however the robots put their efforts into enslaving the humans of Springfield in a life-size foosball game.  This segment is overshadowed by a far superior segment in the same episode entitled "It's the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse," a fun parody of the animated TV special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. 

Are you familiar with these segments from past "Treehouse of Horror" Halloween episodes? 

Doctor Who Christmas (2005) The Unquiet Dead

I'm continuing my month-long series of blog posts, Countdown to Halloween, discussing Halloween-appropriate and Christmas crossover entertainments.  Don't zombies, ghosts, and a séance in a funeral parlor sound appropriate for a spooky story?  I thought so too.  Let me remind you of a first season Doctor Who episode, 2005's "The Unquiet Dead" which includes all these elements--as well as a few Christmas ones.  Though this episode originally aired in the spring of 2005, it takes place at Christmas time and includes Charles Dickens are a major character.

This first season episode stars Billie Piper as Rose and Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor.

The Doctor and his companion Rose arrive in Cardiff on Christmas Eve, 1869 and decide to step into a theater where Charles Dickens is performing a reading of his popular book A Christmas Carol.  Suddenly, the audience is caught in a panic as ethereal spirits begin to swirl around Mr. Dickens as he shares his Christmas ghost story, frightening everyone into leaving.

Actor Simon Callow portrays Charles Dickens.  Did you know that in real life, Dickens did indeed perform staged readings of A Christmas Carol?

On stage, Dickens becomes surrounded by ghosts!

The spirits seem to be coming from this member of the audience.  Upon closer inspection, she's a corpse!

The Doctor's travels allow him to recognize the gaseous beings as an alien life form though everyone else just sees ghosts.  As it turns out, the gaseous creatures are currently existing in the natural gas pipes in the walls, reanimating corpses at a nearby undertaker's establishment.  Meeting with the undertaker Mr. Sneed and his assistant Gwyneth, the Doctor learns that several corpses have come back to life, much like zombies, and have taken several more human lives!  Recognizing that Gwyneth has some kind of psychic ability to communicate with these ghosts, they organize a séance to find out what these alien life forms are seeking.

The servant girl Gwyneth and the undertaker Mr. Sneed are at the heart of this ghost story.

At the séance, the Gelth speak through Gwyneth.

During the séance, the Doctor learns the Gelth are a life form that face extinction.  They are weak and gaseous but seek physical bodies to inhabit.  They ask for help bridging the gap in the rift, a weak spot in time and space, located in the morgue, so they can come to Earth and survive.  Also a participant in the séance, Charles Dickens can hardly believe what he is seeing.  The Doctor wants to help the desperate Gelth, and Gwyneth agrees with him.  She offers to be the portal through which the gaseous creatures can transfer to this place.

Gwyneth volunteers to be the portal for the "angels" to enter this world.

The Doctor and Rose barricade themselves behind a gate to keep the zombies away while they consider a solution.

Unfortunately, once the transfer begins, the Gelth begin embodying more corpses than they had promised.  Making matters worse, the corpses begin taking more human life in order to create more corpses for the creatures to embody!  Aagghh--it's a zombie attack!  It is Charles Dickens who comes up with the only solution.  Anyone have a match?

The swirling gas is ignited and...KA-BOOM!

The Doctor reassures Dickens that his books will remain popular beyond his lifetime.

This Doctor Who episode was written by Mark Gatiss.  Some of you may also know Gatiss from The League of Gentlemen or as Mycroft, Holmes' brother on the recent British TV series Sherlock.  Do you recognize the actress who plays Gwyneth?  She's Eve Myles who also plays the main character Gwen on Torchwood--a spin-off from Doctor Who.  Actor Simon Callow who plays Charles Dickens has actually portrayed the Victorian writer several times for the screen--including another Doctor Who episode in 2011.  Merry Halloween!