Christmas in July 2021: Hey Dude (1990)

 

The classic Nick series Hey Dude ran from 1989-1991.

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #12 of the Christmas in July party. All month long I'll be celebrating Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a FUN IN THE SUN attitude. Expect a run of Christmas in July stories, tropical yuletides, and island themes. Just a little something different and a way for me to show off the diversity of holiday stories I've collected in the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV (the updated and expanded 2nd edition being released later this year).

Today's Christmas in July episode is from the 4th season of the Nickelodeon children's live action series Hey Dude set on a dude ranch in Arizona. In the episode "Ride She Said," Brad receives a new horse named Charisma as a gift from her parents. This generosity inspires Melody to organize a Christmas in July party for the Bar None crew and their friends. The ranch staff decorate a Christmas tree, sing carols, exchange gifts, and enjoy special holiday foods at their party. In the spirit of the season, Brad gives her horse to the ranch nearby that serves physically-challenged children. Mel even leads everyone in singing "Deck the Halls."

The cast includes Christine Taylor as Melody, David Brisbin as Uncle Ben, Kelly Brown as Brad Taylor, and David Lascher as Ted McGriff.

 

 

Christmas in July will continue all month long. Got another favorite classic Nick Christmas episode? Feel free to leave comments down below.

 

Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her latest book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. She is currently updating and expanding the encyclopedia for a 2021 release. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com

 

Christmas in July 2021: Home: Adventures with Tip and Oh (2016)

 

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #11 of the Christmas in July party. All month long I'll be celebrating Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a FUN IN THE SUN attitude. Expect a run of Christmas in July stories, tropical yuletides, and island themes. Just a little something different and a way for me to show off the diversity of holiday stories I've collected in the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV (the updated and expanded 2nd edition being released later this year).

Today's Christmas in July episode is from the animated series Home: Adventures of Tip & Oh, adapted from the 2015 Dreamworks movie. In season 1 of the Netflix series is the holiday episode "Sant-Oh" which takes place in the summer time. 

 

The alien Oh wears a Santa beard on his head and wraps Santa pants around his neck and shoulders. There's a first time for everything!

 

An extreme heat wave sweeps through Chicago and Tip goes looking for a fan. Oh finds a box in storage marked “Christmas” and learns about Santa Claus. Donning a Santa suit in his own unique way, Oh takes it upon himself to deliver magical orbs to everyone in Chicago to help them lower their body temperature (and bring relief for the heat wave). But Oh’s Santa is mistaken for a home invader and Chicagoans don’t know how to use the magical cooling orb. 

 

 

 

This charming story (and series) playfully imagines aliens and humans sharing their lives. This may not be the first series to do this, but here its done well and in a way that children can relate to seeing their lives from an outsider's perspective.

In 2017, there was an hour-long Christmas special "Home for the Holidays" from Home: Adventures of Tip & Oh released on Netflix as well. That program features special guest voice actors Kelly Clarkson and Ben Schwartz as themselves. 

Today's discussion is the last of the "Christmas in July" stories before I move on to a new theme: summer camp Christmas. Trust me--it's going to be fun too! There's more to come in our Christmas in July party--follow along each day this month for more reminders of summertime holiday fun.

Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her latest book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. She is currently updating and expanding the encyclopedia for a 2021 release. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com

 

 

Christmas in July 2021: Baby Looney Tunes (2002)

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #10 of the Christmas in July party. All month long I'll be celebrating Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a FUN IN THE SUN attitude. Expect a run of Christmas in July stories, tropical yuletides, and island themes. Just a little something different and a way for me to show off the diversity of holiday stories I've collected in the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV (the updated and expanded 2nd edition being released later this year).

 

The babies decorate the tree with what they have around the playroom.

Today's Christmas in July episode is from the Warner Brother animated series Baby Looney Tunes in which the popular Looney Tunes characters are toddler age. (For those young enough to be unfamiliar--re-making popular animated characters into children was a whole trend). In the 2002 episode "Christmas in July," summertime play requires a toy Lola doesn’t already have. So the babies play “Christmas” hoping that Santa will bring the toy they want. After decorating a tree and hanging stockings, they nap. In the end, Granny makes sure that Santa knows what the babies are up to.

 

Granny is the best caretaker the babies could ask for.

The short-lived animated series didn't produce a full-on Christmas time episode, however the seasonal spirit and charm turn up here. Got a favorite "Christmas in July" TV episode? There's more to come--follow along each day this month for more reminders of summertime holiday fun.

Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her latest book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. She is currently updating and expanding the encyclopedia for a 2021 release. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com

 

 

Christmas in July 2021: It's Punky Brewster (1985)

 

Remember the Saturday morning, animated spin-off of the blockbuster sitcom?

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #9 of the Christmas in July party. All month long I'll be celebrating Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a FUN IN THE SUN attitude. Expect a run of Christmas in July stories, tropical yuletides, and island themes. Just a little something different and a way for me to show off the diversity of holiday stories I've collected in the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV (the updated and expanded 2nd edition being released later this year).  

 

The animated series includes Glomer--a magical, fantasy friend to young Punky.

 

Today's Christmas in July episode is from the Ruby-Spears animated TV series It's Punky Brewster. In the segment "Christmas in July," Punky’s magical companion Glomer transports the kids to the North Pole to talk with Santa Claus. Since it’s summer time, Santa is not at his workshop, leaving Punky and her friends to accidentally pull the wrong switch and activate the start of Christmas. Now Punky has to fly the sleigh to find the vacationing Santa and get him to stop this messy Christmas in July.

The voice cast includes Soleil Moon Frye as Punky Bewster, and Frank Welker as Glomer.

 

 

 

Thanks for reading along. More Christmas in July TV episodes, specials, and movies coming up.

Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her latest book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. She is currently updating and expanding the encyclopedia for a 2021 release. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com

 

 

 

 

Christmas in July 2021: Cimarron City (1958)

 

The TV western drama Cimarron City.

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #7 of the Christmas in July party. All month long I'll be celebrating Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a FUN IN THE SUN attitude. Expect a run of Christmas in July stories, tropical yuletides, and island themes. Just a little something different and a way for me to show off the diversity of holiday stories I've collected in the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV (the updated and expanded 2nd edition being released later this year). 

Today's Christmas in July program is a 1958 episode from the TV western Cimarron City. In the episode "Cimarron Holiday," Beth is excited to stage “A Christmas Carol” as a part of the town festivities during the Founder’s Day celebrations. She assures everyone that the holiday play will still be an enjoyable production in July. Beth recruits Matt to play the role of Scrooge, Lane as Bob Cratchit, and even Tiny Carl as the Ghost of Christmas Present. When an accident prevents the young boy cast as Tiny Tim from continuing rehearsals, Beth is relieved that she had invited another boy as his understudy. But the Wickam boy is a naughty one--he seems to be taking after his petty criminal father. However, Beth is confident that the young Wickam will be inspired to rise to the occasion for their play.

The cast includes George Montgomery as Mayor Matt Rockford, Audrey Totter as Beth Purcell, John Smith as Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple, Dan Blocker as Tiny Budinger, and Tim Hovey as Avery Wickham.

Singer Dinah Shore is known on TV for her Dinah Shore Chevy Show variety series in the 1950s, and her 70's talk show.

Look for the beautiful woman at the cast party after the play who is smiling at Matt. That’s singer Dinah Shore smiling at her real-life husband George Montgomery. Also here are their two children Missy and John D. Shore sings along with the tune “Auld Lang Syne.”

 

Dinah Shore sings the "Twelve Days of Christmas" in Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special. Remember?

 Although this story takes place in July, the episode made its debut on Dec. 20, 1958.

Thanks for reading along. More Christmas in July TV episodes, specials, and movies coming up.

Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her latest book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. She is currently updating and expanding the encyclopedia for a 2021 release. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com

 

 

 

Christmas in July 2021: Christmas in July (movie)

 

I love the imagery of the 4th of July firecrackers combined with the red Christmas ribbon in this movie poster.

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #6 of the Christmas in July party. All month long I'll be celebrating Christmas TV episodes, specials, and movies with a FUN IN THE SUN attitude. Expect a run of Christmas in July stories, tropical yuletides, and island themes. Just a little something different and a way for me to show off the diversity of holiday stories I've collected in the encyclopedia Tis the Season TV (the updated and expanded 2nd edition being released later this year). 

Today I'd like to remind you about the 1940 Preston Sturges movie Christmas in July starring Dick Powell. In this story, Jimmy’s co-workers play a prank on him when he thinks he’s won a $25,000 slogan-writing contest for a coffee company. In this classic comedy, it becomes Christmas in July as Jimmy goes shopping and buys his family, friends and every kid on the block their hearts’ desire. But what happens when he finds out he’s not the winning idea man he thought he was? 

 

 

Interestingly, Christmas in this movie is used as a metaphor, rather than a depiction of the December celebration. Despite a lack of Christmas story, the movie usually ends up running on TV each December anyway.

The cast includes Dick Powell as Jimmy, Ellen Drew as Betty, and William Demarest as Mr. Bildocker.

 

Actor Alex Nicol played Jimmy in the TV version.

TV fans should note that an adaptation of this Hollywood movie was produced for television in 1954. An efficient, one hour-long version aired on The Lux Video Theatre on NBC on Sept. 9, 1954. The cast includes Alex Nicol as Jimmy MacDonald, Nancy Gates as Betty, and Raymond Walburn repeats his role as Dr. Maxford from the original movie. 

Thanks for reading along. More Christmas in July TV episodes, specials, and movies coming up.

Joanna Wilson is a TV researcher and book author specializing in Christmas entertainment. More about the TV programs mentioned on this website can be found in her book "Tis the Season TV: the Encyclopedia of Christmas-themed Episodes, Specials, and Made-for-TV Movies." Her latest book "Triple Dog Dare: Watching--& Surviving--the 24-Hour Marathon of A Christmas Story" was released in 2016. She is currently updating and expanding the encyclopedia for a 2021 release. Her books can be found at the publisher's website: 1701 press.com

*Support this website and its research by purchasing the books at 1701 press.com