Christmas in July 2017: Joe Mello

from the 1964 Christmas episode of Bewitched entitled "A Vision of Sugar Plums."

 
Christmas in July 2017: Joe Mello from Wish You Merry Christmas and My Third Parent 

1) Who's your favorite Santa Claus?

The Santa played by Cecil Kellaway in the Bewitched episode "A Vision of Sugar Plums" is great and I love that he knows Sam!

 

Lenny and Squiggy in the 1976 Christmas episode of Laverne & Shirley singing "The Jolliest Fat Man."

2) What's your favorite Christmas episode from a TV series? 

This was tough! I settled on Laverne and Shirley's "Oh Hear the Angels' Voices" - So much fun in that episode, including Jolliest Fat Man!

3) Do you enjoy watching Christmas entertainment year round or do you only like watching it during the holidays? And, why?

I usually watch during November and December, but if an episode pops up in the run of a show I am watching, I will watch. Just watched the Alice season 2 episode "A Semi-Merry Christmas" the other day.

4) This is the 21st century--how do you watch TV and/or Christmas entertainment?

Usually watch through cable, using the DVR to record specials, episodes and movies as they air and watching them when we have the time. Some older, more obscure things that aren't as important to networks today, like A Smoky Mountain Christmas, I watch on DVD. I have to watch them, so I make sure to have a copy of my own. Netflix and Hulu are newer alternatives, I like seeing what they have available. Have also used their Fireplace Log videos as background, quite festive. And we often have the music channel Sounds of the Seasons on, as well.

5) If you were to be stranded on an island (maybe Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean!), what three Christmas movies, specials, or episodes would you like to have with you?

Just three???

A Very Brady Christmas, for sure. I love this reunion movie.
It's a Wonderful Life. A classic that I never tire of.
Christmas Vacation. Also a classic. With these three, I think we get some heart, drama, comedy and Christmas joy.

Christmas in July 2017: Tom Howley

Christmas in July 2017: Tom Howley (aka Humanbelly in other parts o' the Blogosphere--)

1) Who's your favorite Santa Claus?

Y'know, I'm sure it's going to be an eye-roller, but I still find Edmund Gwenn's Kris Kringle in MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET as charming now as I did several decades ago. I'm gonna stick with him for this year. Mickey Rooney as the voice of Kris in the Rankin/Bass SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN does get a special shout-out, though. He has a wonderfully strong, dynamic, expressive voice that you tend to miss when watching him in a film (probably because his size and pugnaciousness and energy tend to seize one's attention). I wonder if he ever realized how good he was in that special? And--one other nod to Alec Baldwin's voicing of the more eastern-European, burly wizard take on Santa in Rise of the Guardians (not a television release, I know) a few years ago. His speech about the nesting-doll aspect of his nature was simply lovely.

2) What's your favorite Christmas episode from a TV series?

Possibly the PINKY & THE BRAIN CHRISTMAS EPISODE---?  I mean, I like so many of them, but that one totally blindsides you with an inescapable pull at the heartstrings. . . and in a way that completely works within the framework of both the story and the characters. I do also like the Twilight Zone Christmas episode with Art Carney, although it comes off as rather clunky since it's shot on videotape, giving it a "stagey" feel.

3) Do you enjoy watching Christmas entertainment year round or do you only like watching it during the holidays? And, why?

Not year-round, no-- but I do like accidentally coming across one every once in awhile over the course of the year-- sort of checking to make sure the pilot light is still lit.  Now, I'm certainly capable of starting to watch them before Halloween sometimes (and my daughter's even worse than me on this score), but at that point I'm sort of in the early stages of season anyhoo.

4) This is the 21st century--how do you watch TV and/or Christmas entertainment?

We've yet to subscribe to cable or any streaming service-- don't watch enough current television to quite justify the monthly cost. Nope, we have many DVD's and VHS tapes; I'll sometimes watch something obscure on Youtube; the kitchen television gets a LOT of holiday-centric use as the season provides programming; and our local library is also a source of many, many old series on DVD-- just there for the borrowing. Man, do I love that amenity in our society!

5) If you were to be stranded on an island (maybe Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean!), what three Christmas movies, specials, or episodes would you like to have with you? 

A) IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.  One of my favorite movies of all time across the board.  Easy answer on that one.
B) 1950 version of SCROOGE/CHRISTMAS CAROL with Allistar Simm.  It's my favorite version out of the many.
C)  Ohhhh, probably MIRACLE ON 34TH ST again, just 'cause it's so chock-full of notable character actors jumping in for brief moments throughout. It's kind of disastrously edited (some really sloppy jumps), but the director does such a great job of trusting his cast as they pop in and out of the film that you happily let the blemishes go right by. We have a colorized version, and it's one of the few classic B&W films that I think is improved with the addition of a bit of color-- especially that sort of water-color filter look that early colorization seemed to yield.

There ya go, folks.  And who knows-- maybe next year the answers'll be entirely different!

Christmas in July 2017: David Hannah

Christmas in July 2017: David Hannah

1) Who's your favorite Santa Claus?

-I think it's Sir Richard Attenborough, Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

2) What's your favorite Christmas episode from a TV series?

-I think it's the Glee Christmas special from season three: "Extraordinary Merry Christmas."


3) Do you enjoy watching Christmas entertainment year round or do you only like watching it during the holidays? And, why?

-I love watching it throughout the year; I watch something festive each Rudolph Day and kick off Christmas on November 15th each year with regular viewings of holiday classics. I like the anticipation that off-season viewing brings.


4) This is the 21st century--how do you watch TV and/or Christmas entertainment?

I watch through a combination of these media: classics on DVD (purchased), annual cable broadcasts on TV (and PVR), purchases through AppleTV, and Netflix

5) If you were to be stranded on an island (maybe Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean!), what three Christmas movies, specials, or episodes would you like to have with you?

3.) It's a Wonderful Life
2.) A Charlie Brown Christmas
1.) White Christmas

(And I'd sure miss/think a lot about A Christmas Story and Yogi's First Christmas)

Christmas in July 2017: Kevin Bowman

 
Christmas in July 2017: Kevin Bowman

1) Who's your favorite Santa Claus?

I’ll pick the Rankin/Bass’s Animagic Santa with the voice of Mickey Rooney, because that gives me a threefer: Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, and Rudolph & Frosty’s Christmas in July. In particular I love Mickey’s singing in the first two, with "Put One Foot in Front of the Other," "Be Prepared to Pay" and "I Believe in Santa Claus." Great performances by a great performer.



from the 1998 episode of Frasier entitled "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz."

 
2) What's your favorite Christmas episode from a TV series?

This question is so difficult to answer. Sometimes what starts as an ordinary episode, later becomes a special. "How The Flintstones Saved Christmas’ was just Season 5 Episode 15, but it aired on Christmas Day, 1964, which would rank it among the first animated Christmas specials if it were counted as a special. It is one of my favorites. Same issue with “The Tick Loves Santa,” which, I recall, aired in the evening on Fox as an animated special, but also as a regular series episode. I love that one, too. But, I’m going to pick “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz” from the sixth season of Frasier.  Some of the best Frasier episodes build from a simple premise to an absurd climax.  A very funny episode.  



3) Do you enjoy watching Christmas entertainment year round or do you only like watching it during the holidays? And, why?

I watch year round, primarily because there is insufficient time between Thanksgiving and New Years to take in the required yearly viewing and to catch up on all the stuff that I recorded. It has become something of an obsession. I am still in the process of transferring VHS recordings to DVD (packing the tapes away), where possible, and am watching those a little at a time. 



4) This is the 21st century--how do you watch TV and/or Christmas entertainment?

Like you Joanna, I watch Christmas entertainment through multiple media. I have cable with a DVR, home-recorded DVDs, purchased DVDs, many VHS tapes, both home-recorded and purchased.  I also watch specials or episodes that are otherwise unavailable on You-tube.  Also Netflix and Amazon streaming services, sometimes.  



from 1941's Meet John Doe.

 
5) If you were to be stranded on an island (maybe Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean!), what three Christmas movies, specials, or episodes would you like to have with you?

Is there an island-themed Martha Stewart Christmas how-to episode? That would be useful. Putting that aside, I’ll pick two Christmas movies I can watch repeatedly: Alastair Sims’ Scrooge or Christmas Carol (1951); Frank Capra’s Meet John Doe (1941) (I consider it a Christmas movie.  Like It’s a Wonderful Life, the climax of the film occurs on Christmas Eve, and there is a reason why that is so).  And, finally, A Mac Davis Special: Christmas Odyssey 2010.  Although, it would probably not bear up to repeat watching, I got to see only the first 10 minutes of the show in 1978, and I have been wanting to see the rest ever since. Since the Christmas Island fairies are bringing me only three shows, but I can get whatever I want, that’s it. When I am rescued, I promise to put the special up on You-Tube, unless Mac Davis threatens me with a copyright suit. 

Christmas in July 2017: Laura Rachel

 
Christmas in July 2017: Laura Rachel at What to Watch.

1) Who's your favorite Santa Claus?
  
My favorite Santa Claus will probably be Tim Allen in The Santa Clause film series. I don't know there is something about his performance as an unwilling Santa Claus that endears me to his character. It helps that he tries to continue to work on his relationship with his son after the divorce. I really love films that show working on relationships and these films do that. The scene where he's at the doctor's explain his weight and hair growth just makes me smile. It's becoming a classic in my home.

from Little House on the Prairie's "The Christmas They Never Forgot."

 
2) What's your favorite Christmas episode from a TV series?

My favorite Christmas episode from a TV series would be Little House on the Prairie's "A Christmas They Never Forgot." Little House is still a TV show I watch. This Christmas episode is my favorite because it's the one where the characters remember Christmases past. This episode includes a clip from the Christmas that happened during their time in Kansas, which aired during the premiere of the show. It also is one of my favorite Little House Christmases.

3) Do you enjoy watching Christmas entertainment year round or do you only like watching it during the holidays? And, why?
 
I will watch Christmas shows throughout the year. I don't care that it's 100 degrees out, if someone is snowed in or falling in love to Silver Bells, it's just so enjoyable to see family and friends on the silver screen coming together like they do in Christmas shows. Although, there is nothing like curling up with hot chocolate in the evening to watch Christmas shows during the Christmas season. I'll take both.

4) This is the 21st century--how do you watch TV and/or Christmas entertainment?
 
I have satellite but I also have Netflix. I don't usually watch anything live anymore. I DVR most of my programing. I have also used my local library for movie rentals. They are an excellent place to rent and the cheapest. So, I highly recommend the library. I only own movies that I would re-watch, so I do have an extensive DVD collection.

from Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey.

 
5) If you were to be stranded on an island (maybe Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean!), what three Christmas movies, specials, or episodes would you like to have with you?
 
I'm sorry, I can't just pick three so here are my top five Christmas movies that I would want if I was stranded on an island: It's a Wonderful Life (1946), It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947), Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey (1977), Christmas Comes to Willow Creek (1987), Holiday in Handcuffs (2007).

Christmas in July 2017: Rob Martinez

 
Christmas in July 2017: Rob Martinez - The Nights Before Christmas

1) Who's your favorite Santa Claus?

Edmund Gwenn from Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Gwenn was a British stage actor who began his film career in 1916, made his first Hollywood movie in 1940, and had no standout roles until he played Kris Kringle. His emotions from pure joy to despair to removing bubble gum out of his whiskers made this movie a classic.

He is the only person to win an Academy Award for portraying Santa Claus.  End of story.

2) What's your favorite Christmas episode from a TV series?

Hill Street Blues - "Santaclaustrophobia"  (http://www.hulu.com/watch/61428) 

"Let's be careful out there... hey, hey! HEY!  Merry Christmas". - Sgt. Phil Esterhaus


3) Do you enjoy watching Christmas entertainment year round or do you only like watching it during the holidays? And, why?

At least once a month, I will devote myself to a Christmas movie, special, or TV episode - thanks to Joanna's book and this blog, it's been fun catching up on things I've missed.


4) This is the 21st century--how do you watch TV and/or Christmas entertainment?

We moved into our home on July 1  (17 years and counting).  The first thing we did was to subscribe to DIRECTV  (17 years and counting).  And yes to everything else listed above.

5) If you were to be stranded on an island (maybe Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean!), what three Christmas movies, specials, or episodes would you like to have with you?

In no random order:

1.)  A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
2.)  It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
3.)  Hill Street Blues - "Santaclaustrophobia"  (1982)

Christmas in July 2017: Jeff Fox

 
Christmas in July 2017: Jeff Fox (http://twitter.com/chrspecials)

1) Who's your favorite Santa Claus?

First thought is always Richard Mulligan from the 1985 Twilight Zone remake of "Night of the Meek." I generally hadn’t thought of Santa portrayals as authentic, because they’re usually pretty one dimensional, or just cliché, but I could really relate with Mulligan’s Santa, someone who started the day as someone else entirely, but who eventually accepted that he was in fact Santa Claus. That portrayal is always going to be my favourite.

from the 1977 Jefffersons episode "984 W. 124th Street, Apt. 5C."

2) What's your favorite Christmas episode from a TV series?

Honourable mentions to Rosemary Clooney on ER, the M*A*S*H episode with Charles and the orphanage, All in the Family’s "The Draft Dodger," Community’s "Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas," WKRP’s "Jennifer’s Home For Christmas," and the first Simpson’s episode, but I think I have to give it to The Jefferson’s with George’s old apartment. Classic, sentimental, and funny. Regular repeat viewings around here. Facts of Life's "Christmas in the Big House" (and the other Christmas episodes) also gets a lot of plays come Christmas time.

Oh, and wanting to pick a more obscure one that I love that might not be as well known, Jack Klugman guest-starring on Third Watch’s ‘Run of the Mill’ is another great choice.

And of course the "Night of the Meek" episode mentioned above, but I think I covered that with the last question. All of these get viewed a lot around here.

3) Do you enjoy watching Christmas entertainment year round or do you only like watching it during the holidays? And, why?

I do watch some year round, as a practicality to keep up and catch up, and to fuel some of my need to capture images from Christmas shows or movies. Obviously the bulk is in winter, ramping up and setting the signal that Christmas is coming, but it doesn’t end the 25th, specials play regularly into the new year, but it slows for sure after that. Nothing wrong with watching them whenever the mood strikes you, if you enjoy them in December why not any other time? Some like Black Christmas get played whenever, no need to limit to winter.


4) This is the 21st century--how do you watch TV and/or Christmas entertainment?

Methods of consuming in rough order of use: Personal library on AppleTV, new purchases (DVD, download), Local library (DVD), Download, YouTube, Antenna. I don’t generally stream, and I don’t have cable, but I’ve spent 20 years gathering a personal library of Christmas TV content that would cover hundreds out hours of viewing. I like to try to add every year, but if I was never able to again, I’d likely be good for the rest of time. (I always have a ton of Christmas titles in my Amazon cart, so I can know when the price drops. Everyone loves a sale…)

I’m often fortunate to take a trip to Toronto each year around Christmas and I load up and old iPod Touch with obscure Christmas movies and amuse myself on the 5 hour train ride, catching up on lost gems. I keep a number of Christmas movies unwatched just so I can discover them in that time. It’s like putting down a bottle of wine for a time you know you’ll enjoy it ;)

from Black Christmas.

5) If you were to be stranded on an island (maybe Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean!), what three Christmas movies, specials, or episodes would you like to have with you?

Black Christmas (The original, I don’t acknowledge the remake) because it lends itself to repeat viewing, with new things to discover all the time, Scrooged, because it’s funny, long and always entertaining, and maybe Love Actually, because there’s so many characters and storylines in that it could hold up to regular repeat viewings and still be good. Three very practical answers!

Unless of course the MacGyver Christmas episode has tips for getting off an island. I don’t think it did, but if it did, then definitely that one. :)