Ace of Cakes

Reality show Ace of Cakes intro

Do you like Christmas cake?  Who doesn't, right?  The reality series Ace of Cakes on the Food Network has made several episodes about their Christmas cakes.  This TV show about Charm City Cakes, the bakery run by Chef Duff Goldman in Baltimore, Maryland, shows the behind-the-scenes preparations, baking and decorating of cakes for all kinds of celebrations.

The first yuletide episode came in the third season entitled 'Charm City Cakes' in which the bakery makes a specialty cake for Radio City Music Hall’s 75th annual Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes.  This 2007 episode is available to watch on DVD.

There is also 2009's 'Demolition Cake' where Mary makes a finely detailed Christmas Stocking cake for a woman known for making cross-stitched stockings for her family.  Season 8 brought the episode 'Christmas in July' in which Chef Duff makes a plated dessert for a public relations firm's Christmas in July party.  And last December brought a special one hour-long episode, 'Holiday on Icing.'  This 2010 special sees the staff busy decorating a Christmas tree cake for Andrews Air Force Base’s golf course holiday party.  And, Katherine accidentally breaks a fragile glass topper for a holiday wedding snowflake cake.  Duff organizes the bakery's first ever Secret Santa gift exchange for the staff.

It's also fun to follow the employees of the bakery to see what they are up to each week.  Mary Alice and Elena are my favorite staff members at Charm City.  But Geof is hilarious too.  I have been lucky enough to enjoy a cake made by Charm City Cakes.  I was at the Lebowski-fest in Louisville, Kentucky in 2008 when the bakery made a White Russian-flavored cake inspired by the Coen Brothers 1998 movie The Big Lebowski.

Walter AND Chef Duff can get you a toe!

I got a piece of this cake and it was delicious!  Though I've never been able to find myself in the crowds of people, I was there when they filmed for the episode entitled 'The Big Cakeowski' from the fifth season.  I got to see Duff Goldman's band perform on the outdoor stage.  And, yes, I entered the costume contest dressed as an In-N-Out Burger drive thru employee.

That's me on the right, posing with actor Jim Hoosier (middle) who played Liam, the bowling partner of Jesus from the movie

I'm looking forward to the Christmas in July celebration here on the blog.  Summer is going fast as it begins next week!  Be sure to stop back during the entire month to catch all the blog posts covering our favorite holiday entertainments made during the 1990s.  What's your fav 1990s Christmas movie? special? episode?

Convoy Christmas: B.J. and the Bear

If you came to one of my speaking engagements in 2010, you may have been given a handout I prepared entitled 'Convoy Christmas.'  This was a piece I wrote about trucking themed TV Christmas entertainments.  I know, right?  There have been several of these stories including: Christmas episodes of Alice, Monk and King of the Hill as well as the TV movie Christmas Comes to Wilow Creek which stars the dream team John Schneider and Tom Wopat.  Additionally, there's the 1979 Christmas episode of the B.J. and the Bear entitled 'Silent Night, Unholy Night.'  Only in the past year has someone finally uploaded this episode onto You tube for viewing.

Greg Evigan as B.J. McKay with his mischievous passenger, Bear.

 While delivering a truckload of Christmas turkeys to market, B.J. McKay meets a pregnant woman, Allie Spencer, who’s car has run off the road.  Her driving is erratic because she must deliver a diary to her attorney husband who is preparing the case against the corrupt, Sheriff McCandles.  McCandles knows that the diary is the only evidence against him and he’s after Tom Spencer as well as his wife, Allie.  B.J. takes the fragile woman under his protection--even if that means asking Sheriff Cain, dressed in a Santa suit, to help him escape from the clutches of the desperate McCandles.

Remember Ted Danson in these Aramis cologne magazine ads?

This episode offers everything you want it to including a scene where B.J. drives through a police car blockade which causes an explosion.  It even includes a scene with B.J. delivering Allie’s baby in the cab of his truck!  In addition to singing the TV series’ theme song, Greg Evigan as B.J. also sings ‘The Christmas Song’ at a children's Christmas party.  If you forget that this show was made in the 1970s, you’ll be reminded of this fact when you hear Fleetwood Mac’s ‘I Don’t Want to Know’ and J.D. Souther’s hit song ‘You’re Only Lonely’ in the background of this episode.  Another piece of trivia: the director of the episode is Vince Edwards.  TV junkies may recognize Edwards from the 1960s medical drama ‘Ben Casey.’  And, yes--that is a very young Ted Danson playing the role of attorney Tom Spencer.

Part 1 of 'Silent Night, Unholy Night'--sorry about the very low res image quality

To watch the rest of the episode, you can find it in my You tube channel 1970s Christmas playlist.  Click here.

All in the Family's Emotional Christmas

Archie's feeling confused!

I recently wrote about the tragic 1977 Christmas episode of All in the Family entitled 'Edith's Crisis of Faith' for the incredible blog Kindertrauma.  Go there now and read it.  It's not too late to comment--and while you're over there, you should 'follow' them as well.  Kindertrauma.com is an awesome site!  Though this emotional episode was made over 30 years ago, the political and social issues it touches on are still relevant.

Here comes Beverly LaSalle

 

Any excuse to show off my Dynamite Magazine collection!

The two-part episodes are available to watch on You Tube.  Have you checked out my You Tube channel yet?  TisTheSeasonTV.  Rewatch all you favorite Christmas episodes and specials. I'm adding more titles all the time so stop back again.  I also have a 1990s playlist if you're still looking to guest blog during the month of July.  Contact me if you would like to write about a Christmas episode, special or movie made during the 1990s.

On the Radio with Tothar

A few weeks ago, my friend Tothar DJ'd during the Sunday brunch at Cleveland's Beachland Tavern.  His playlist included several far-out Christmas songs and since I was there, he invited me up to the microphone to introduce them.  Such are the never-ending duties of the self-professed Christmas Queen :)  Many thanks to Tothar for including me in his awesome show.

The Tavern is next to the Beachland Ballroom--THE hot place to see concert events in Cleveland, Ohio

You can hear the live recorded version featuring me and Tothar on his internet radio show The Beyondophonic Action Hour tonight at 10 pm (EST) on the internet radio station Luxuria Music.  Click here to listen to LuxuriaMusic.com.  Click here to see Tothar's DJ Profile.

 

Tothar describes his radio show The Beyondophonic Action Hour as "Retrofuturistic, Cosmopolitan, Poptastic."   If you miss tonight's broadcast, you can still check it out in the podcast archives at LuxuriaMusic.com.  Tonight's broadcast is the second of four hours recorded live from the Beachland Tavern Sunday brunch event.

Live on the air with Tothar

Guest Blogger Sign-Up for July

I'm still accepting guest bloggers for my Christmas in July celebration.  We're all going to write about Christmas episodes, specials or movies made during the 1990s.  Here's what has already been reserved:



TV movie: A Season for Miracles
X-Files
Melrose Place
the movie: Silent Night, Deadly Night 5
Father Ted
My So-Called Life
Tales from the Crypt
The Adventures of Pete & Pete
Northern Exposure
South Park
The Tick
and a few unconfirmed titles from potential bloggers as well....

There are still PLENTY of 1990s Christmas-themed entertainments available, if you'd like to join in on the fun and write a blog post as well.  There are many sit-coms and children's shows with holiday episodes to write about.  For more suggests, click here
and click here
and click here.

Or, thumb through your copy of the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV and find your own favorite title made during the 1990s and contact me.  Then, during the month of July check back on the blog and read about what everyone else has to say about our favorite 1990s Christmas TV moments.

Still More Suggestions for 1990s Christmas Entertainments

Frana Kafka's It's A Wonderful Life

Interested in guest blogging in July?  Join the discussion about Christmas entertainments made in the 1990s.  Click here for instructions.  Click here for previous suggests.  Sign up for your selection now! I already have writers for:
TV movie 'A Season for Miracles'
X-Files
Melrose Place
Silent Night, Deadly Night 5
Father Ted
My So-Called Life
Tales from the Crypt
and a few other unconfirmed ones floating around...

There are still quite a few good ones left.  If you would like me to suggest something just for you--just let me know or thumb through a copy of the encyclopedia, Tis the Season TV, for other great 1990s titles.  Pick something that means something special to you, something you like to watch over and over or something that touched you emotionally.  Come to the Christmas in July party and join the discussion!

 Hey Arnold!

 

Guest Blogger Sign-Up for July

 I've already confirmed bloggers for: Melrose Place, X-Files, and movies 'A Season for Miracles' and 'Silent Night, Deadly Night 5'. 
















Need a suggestion for 1990s Christmas entertainments?

Olive the Other Reindeer

Alan Partridge in Knowing Me Knowing Yule

It's been less than 24 hours and I'm already signing people up to write a post for this blog in July!  I'm organizing a Christmas in July celebration for the blog--and I've put a call out for people to join in on the fun.  We're goning to write about Christmas TV episodes, specials and movies (both TV movies and theatrrical releases) made during the 1990s.  Do you want to do it too?  Check out the original post for instructions--click here.