Merry Musical Christmas Volume 1

My latest book Merry Musical Christmas Vol.1 is the first in a five volume series of books about the best Christmas music found in films and television.  Volume 1 focuses on the best Christmas music in TV sitcoms and dramas.  It is now for sale as an e-book and in paperback.  Click the following links for the Amazon listing: e-book and paperback.  You can also purchase a paperback version directly from the publisher--and even get an author signed copy--through this website.  Click the link on the ride-hand side of the blog.

From the introduction:

"While you might not immediately think of television as a medium to access Christmas music, there is in fact quite a bit of Christmas music to be seen and heard on TV during the holidays.  Whether we watch a favorite Christmas movie on DVD or the newest TV special, there is a long tradition of holiday specials and music within TV episodes, specials and movies.  Some of the carols we enjoy each year such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Silver Bells” were originally written for and first heard in Hollywood films.  Still other carols have been the starting point for some of our favorite animated TV specials including Rudolph, Frosty The Snowman, and The Little Drummer Boy, helping to further cement these songs in the culture and making them Christmas standards."

Also from the introduction:

"One thing that hasn’t changed about Christmas on TV over the decades is the presence of music.  We still love to surround ourselves with music.  We may listen to the Christmas hits of our grandparents or hear the same songs sung by the latest teenage boy band, but music is an essential part of creating our cultural Christmas spirit.  And, music is an important part of narrative stories on television at Christmas time.  From television’s earliest success stories such as I Love Lucy and The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet to contemporary fan favorites like Community and Glee, Christmas music is to be found throughout our favorite TV shows.  Just as you listen to and sing Christmas songs, so too our favorite TV characters celebrate their Christmases to a festive soundtrack, they also sing Christmas songs to express their spirit of the season."

Remember the hilarious version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" sung by the cast on The Mary Tyler Moore Show?

In this first volume, I discuss some of the best and most memorable musical performances in TV sitcoms and dramas, arranged in chronological order by series.  The book begins with television series from the 1950s and '60s and continues up through 2011.  My discussion includes shows as diverse as The Honeymooners and Bonanza, Sanford and Son and Ally McBeal, and Home Improvement and Doctor Who.  Sometimes these outstanding musical performances are made by cast members and sometimes by special guests.  You can read about the Christmas episodes where Patti LaBelle, Josh Groban, Kelly Rowland, Boyz II Men, and Tom Petty perform.  You can also read about the holiday episodes where legendary Christmas music-makers such as Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day, Johnny Mathis, and Mel Tormé perform.  And so much more.

Christmas music can be the emotional thread woven through an episode’s story.  Remember this holiday episode of Community from 2010?

I even highlight a holiday TV tradition of the musical revue or show-within-a-show format.  This is where the characters in a sitcom find an opportunity to entertain an audience during the holidays and TV viewers are treated to a variety show featuring the regular cast of actors.  I discuss Christmas musical revue episodes found in Car 54, Where Are You?, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Good Times, Benson, Laverne & Shirley, The Facts of Life, and even South Park.

In the past, some TV casts recorded their own Christmas albums.  Today, it is possible to not only download Christmas music from particular holiday episodes--but the episodes as well.

The next four volumes of Merry Musical Christmas will cover the best of Christmas music in children's TV programming, movies, animated TV specials, and variety TV series.

From the introduction:

"My goal is to remind you of precious music memories from Christmas entertainment of the past, and to perhaps introduce you to something new.  Then you can share these musical moments with your family and loved ones in your own home in front of the television, perhaps inspiring you to create your own cherished Christmas memories.  I encourage you to not only read about the musical moments but to seek out and watch the TV episodes, specials and movies again.  Christmas music is one of those special experiences where hearing is believing."

So grab a copy of my new book, your remote control, and sing along.

Santa Hustle & Book Signing

The Santa Hustle 5k and Half Marathon race is just ten days away--Sunday, Dec. 16th.  I'm excited about running the 5k.  I won't be setting any land speed records but that's not really my motivation for running the Santa Hustle anyway.  I'm looking forward to joining all the other runners for a fun activity, reaching my goals for my workouts, spreading some holiday cheer--and finding another excuse to wear a silly outfit.

Half of me hopes it snows--the other half hopes for a sunny day with 50 degree temperatures.  It's northern Ohio in mid-December, there's really no predicting what the weather may be like on race day.

Whatever the weather, I'll be there running the 5k.  Afterwards, I'll be greeting runners and their families at the Post-Race Party.  Feel free to share with me the title of your favorite Christmas TV special.  People also like to ask me about Christmas TV movies and specials from the past that they can't remember the name of--hoping I'll help them out with a title.  I'm usually pretty good at that!  If you'd like to get one of my three books, I'll have copies available there, and I can even sign one if you'd like.  A signed book may make a special gift for that TV junkie/pop culture enthusiast on your Christmas list.

Again, I'll be at the Santa Hustle at Cedar Point, in Sandusky, Ohio on Sunday, Dec. 16th.  Check the website for more details on the event and its location: SantaHustle.com

I'll see everyone on Dec. 16th--and good luck with your race!

INSP Network Christmas Programming

As if being in the New York Times wasn't enough, this month I'm also the guest blogger on the INSP television network's website.   I wrote one essay about the Christmas movies that I'm most looking forward to watching in their holiday schedule.  Click HERE for the link to my essay on the INSP website.  I also wrote a second post about the Christmas-themed TV episodes they are airing.

Do you receive INSP from your cable/satellite provider?  I do--it's ch. 387 on Akron Time-Warner.

You'll notice that INSP is offering a sweepstakes attached to my blog post on their website.  They are giving away twelve titles in a grand prize as well as daily prizes.  The sweepstakes ends Dec. 12th--and the winners will be announced on TV!  You don't want to miss out on this opportunity.  Click HERE for the link to the INSP sweepstakes.

Back in October, I created a list of their holiday TV listings.  Click HERE to see the INSP Christmas programming schedule again.   They're airing quite a few Christmas TV movies, several of which are exciting favorites that are a little more rare such as Ebbie, The Christmas Secret, and The Christmas Tree.
 

INSP is also airing the Christmas episodes from the TV series The Brady Bunch, Happy Days, The Big Valley, Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  In a second blog post for INSP website, I share my thoughts on my favorite episodes among the TV series.  Click HERE for the link to see the INSP post I wrote about the Christmas-themed TV episodes. 

Don't hesitate to enter the network's sweepstakes!  What a wonderful prize package they are offering.  And of course, don't forget to watch the complete line-up of treasured Christmas classics that are airing on INSP throughout the month of December.

Book Signing at Home Alone Screening

Don't forget, I'll be greeting readers and signing books at a local screening of Home Alone.  Will I see you there?  The event is Saturday, December 15th at the Plaza Cinemas at Chapel Hill in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.  Click HERE for the link to the theater's Facebook page.

How many times have you seen this 1990 movie?

I'll be in the lobby area at least a half hour before the movie the first movie begins and you can find me there again after the movie is over.  I'll be there before the start of the second screening at well.  The first screening of Home Alone begins at 9:30pm and the second screening begins at 11:55pm.  The links to the FB events: 9:30pm screening and 11:55pm screening.

Remember John Candy's bit part--as the polka king?

Not only can you talk to me about your favorite Christmas TV special or movie--but I'll have copies of all three of my books for sale.  This would be an ideal time to get a signed copy to give as a gift for that someone special in your life.  Then you can watch everyone's favorite Christmas movie Home Alone on the big screen--tickets are just $5 each.

Too much aftershave?

Last year, I wrote a little about Home Alone for the blog during our 1990s Christmas in July marathon.  Click HERE to see the Home Alone post again.

Who's gonna bring the green tic tacs?

I'll see everyone on Saturday, Dec. 15th!

TV Confidential to Re-Air My Interview

I've gotten word that my interview from last year on TV Confidential will be re-airing this week. If you didn't hear it last year, Show #114 was my first appearance on TV Confidential in November 2011.  In it,  I discuss my obsession with The Peanuts character Peppermint Patty, the inspiration for writing my two books, the common themes in Christmas TV stories, the sidebars in my encyclopedia, and my love the Christmas episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show.  I also spoke about my upcoming appearance at the screening of the Christmas TV movie The Homecoming and The Waltons cast reunion.  Click the links to read my blog posts about those experiences from December 2011: Waltons Part 1 and Waltons Part 2. 

From the press release:

Composer Charles Fox, actor/singer Robert Davi, and author Joanna Wilson will join us on a special encore presentation of TV CONFIDENTIAL, airing Nov. 28-Dec. 4, 2012 at the following times and venues:

WROM RadioDetroit, MI
Wednesday 11/28
8pm ET, 5pm PT
Sunday 12/1
8pm ET, 5pm PT
Click on the Listen Live button at WROMRadio.net  

Share-a-Vision Radio
San Francisco Bay Area
Friday 11/30
7pm ET, 4pm PT
10pm ET, 7pm PT
Click on the Listen Live button at KSAV.org

Talktainment Radio
Columbus, OH
Friday 11/30
3am ET, Midnight PT
Noon ET, 9am PT
9pm ET, 6pm PT
Click on the Listen Live button at TalktainmentRadio.com

The Coyote KKYT 93.7 FM
Ridgecrest, CA
Sunday 12/1
9pm PT
Monday 12/2
Midnight ET
Click on the Listen Live button at Coyote395.com

The Radio Slot Network
San Francisco, CA
Monday 12/2
8pm ET, 5pm PT
Click on the Talk Slot button at RadioSlot.com

Passionate World Radio
Ann Arbor, MI
Tuesday 12/3
10:30pm ET, 7:30pm PT
Click on the Listen Now button at pwrtalk.ning.com
We'll go back in time to November 2011 as we replay our conversation with Charles Fox, the Grammy-winning composer of "Killing Me Softly with His Song" (one of the most-performed songs ever in music history), and a man who has also composed the scores for hundreds of film and TV productions, including Goodbye, Columbus, Barbarella, Foul Play, 9 to 5, One on One, The Last American Hero, Two Minute Warning, The Other Side of The Mountain and Victory at Entebbe, as well as the theme songs for Love, American Style, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, Wonder Woman, The Love Boat, The Paper Chase, the original theme to Monday Night Football and the famous theme to Wide World of Sports.

Charles' memoir, Killing Me Softly: My Life in Music, tells the stories behind these great songs while also paying pays tribute to the teacher who started it all for him, Nadia Boulanger. We'll not only talk about Charles' journey in music, we'll also play some of his most famous compositions when he joins us in our second hour.
Our first hour will include an encore presentation of our January 2012 conversation with Robert Davi, the actor known to many of us as Agent Malone in Profiler, Franz Sanchez in License to Kill, Jake Fratelli in The Goonies, and other film and TV productions, including Contract on Cherry Street with Frank Sinatra. In addition to being an accomplished actor, Robert is a classically trained singer with a deep-seeded love and appreciation for many of the greatest musical artists of all time, including his friend and mentor, Frank Sinatra.

Robert's first album, Davi Sings Sinatra: On the Road to Romance, pays tribute to not only Ole Blue Eyes, but also The Great American Songbook, which Robert considers to be "the Shakespeare of America." Robert will be performing music from Davi Sings Sinatra at the Vibrato Grill Jazz in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Dec. 12 and Thursday, Dec. 13. For more information, go to www.DaviSingsSinatra.com.
Our first hour will also feature a replay of November 2011 conversation with Joanna Wilson, pop culture expert and the leading authority on the subject of holiday TV programming. Joanna's books include The Christmas TV Companion: A Guide to Cult Classics, Strange Specials and Outrageous Oddities and Tis the Season TV: The Encyclopedia of Christmas-Themed Episodes, Specials and Made for TV Movies, both of which provide engaging looks at Christmas specials over the years.
TV CONFIDENTIAL: A radio talk show about televisionWed and Sun 8pm ET, 5pm PT on WROM Radio
Fri 7pm ET and PT on Share-a-Vision Radio, KSAV.org
Fri 9pm ET, 6pm PT on Talktainment Radio
Sun 9pm PT, Mon Midnight ET on The Coyote KKYT 93.7 FM (Ridgecrest, Calif.)
Mon 8pm ET, 5pm PT on The Radio Slot NetworkTue 10:30pm ET, 7:30pm PT on Passionate World RadioTape us now, listen to us later, using DAR.fm/tvconfidential
Also available as a podcast via iTunes, FeedBurner and now on your mobile phone via www.stitcher.com/TVConfidential
Follow us online at www.tvconfidential.net
Like our Fan Page at www.facebook.com/tvconfidential

A Christmas Story 2 (2012)

This sequel was released directly to video about a month ago.

Anyone else already see A Christmas Story 2?  Ever since news broke about its release, people have been moaning about what a travesty this film must be.  I don't believe in judging films before I see them--that makes no sense to me.  So now that I've seen it, let me share what I think about it.

A Christmas Story 2 takes place several years later.  Now Ralphie is almost 16 years old and still friends with Schwartz and Flick.

If you’re looking for this sequel to equal the original 1983 theatrical release film A Christmas Story, you will be disappointed.  But this direct-to-video release is not as bad as others predicted it to be.  This story picks up the familiar characters of the Parker family, several years later--Ralphie is now about to turn 16 years old and he’s looking forward to not only getting his driver’s license but the adolescent fantasy of catching the attention the most beautiful girl in school.

Ralphie really wants to have a car to impress the prettiest girl in school.

The story's main plot concerns itself with Ralphie setting out to earn the money to pay for a debt he’s accrued--he damaged a car on a car salesman’s lot and needs to pay for the repairs.  Ralphie enlists his trusted friends Schwartz and Flick to get jobs with him at the nearby Higbee’s department store during the weeks before Christmas to earn the money.

Loyal friends Schwartz, Ralph, and Flick takes jobs together at Higbee's department store to earn money for Ralph's debt.

However, the boys’ teenaged inadequacies and inexperience means they are moved from job to job within the store after repeated screw-ups.  In plot twist that reveals Ralphie's good nature, he earns just enough money but instead decides to use some of it to help a needy family he's met.

Mrs. Parker brings the Old Man a hot drink while he waits to catch his Christmas dinner.

Another major plotline surrounds Mr. Parker, Ralphie’s father, who is known for being a tightwad.  Unwilling to buy a turkey (at 40 cents a pound) for the family’s Christmas Eve meal, the Old Man sets out to catch his own seafood meal in the nearby frozen lake.  His stubborn, frugal efforts result in sitting for long hours in below freezing temperatures trying to convince the fish to take his bait.  The resolution of this plot line is anticipated by the problem-solving mother, Mrs. Parker. 

Does this film’s story repeat the same charm and eccentricities found in the original?  Certainly not.  However, the characters are solidly re-created by those with the same love and respect we all have for the original movie.  Is it possible to catch lightning in a bottle twice?  That’s not an easy task but I appreciate the effort of continuing these beloved characters.  This isn't even the first sequel to A Christmas Story--have you seen 1994's My Summer Story with Charles Grodin, Mary Steenburgen, and Kieran Culkin?

Aunt Clara is still sending handmade and embarrassing outfits each Christmas.

 Though most of the obstacles for Ralphie to overcome are predictable and not very overwhelming or insurmountable, I wouldn't have liked the story to stray too far from reality.  It shouldn't be an action film--all we want from a Christmas movie is a story with a little heart and warmth.  This story has it’s strengths too--it’s not the same story we see in most Christmas movies.  Even theatrical release Christmas films (the live action ones at least) are telling smaller, more domestic stories just like holiday TV movies have been doing for years.  Instead of a story aimed at a female, middle-aged audience looking for a holiday romance or a story about a family reunited after experiencing challenging circumstances, in A Christmas Story 2 we have a story about a less traveled road for a teenager trying to grow into a responsible man.  Even if this is a sequel, that’s not a typical Christmas movie storyline and I found that refreshing.  Jean Shepherd's short stories--from which the original A Christmas Story is derived--are human stories about growing up.  Though I don't know Shepherd's body of work well enough to know if A Christmas Story 2 is derived from it, but I do know that this movie is very much in keeping with Shepherd's tradition of storytelling.

At Higbee's, Flick tests the suction of the vacuum tubes.

If you love the first A Christmas Story, then you'll appreciate the many gags and references to that original story that fill this sequel.  The Old Man still loves his precious leg lamp, Flick once again, finds himself drawn to putting his mouth where it doesn't belong, the family still enjoys eating Chinese food at their local restaurant, the Old man is still battling the ancient furnace, Aunt Clara's annual Christmas outfit is still humiliating for a young boy, and this movie also includes a narrator whose voice sounds a lot like Shepherd's.

An older and much wiser Ralphie finally gets to tell the mean department store Santa Claus what he thinks of him.

One style choice made in this sequel was that it seems much more visually brighter than the 1983 film.  I kind of prefer a darker, less well lit image for a story that is trying to recapture the past.  In the original, the darker tones seem to match how viewers may "remember" the past with fuzzy highlights and shadowy memories.  In A Christmas Story 2, the image seems visually brighter--leaving more of a innocent, optimistic feel of the 1950s.  (The story takes place sometime after 1946--one can see the movie It's A Wonderful Life is scheduled on a movie marquee in background shots).  Despite the change, the visual effect seems to match the story.

This isn't my favorite Christmas movie of the season--but I've already seen much worse.  I expect to  see A Christmas Story 2 airing on television in the future.  It's a nice extension of the original characters we already know we love.

The cast includes Daniel Stern as the Old Man, Stacey Travis as the mother, and Braeden Lemasters as the teenage Ralphie.

Santa Quiz # 2

I'm so excited to be running the Santa Hustle 5k next month--all the runners receive a Santa hat, beard, and Santa race shirt!  There will be thousands of Santas at the starting line--I'm looking forward to bringing my camera!  You may want to come down to check out the Santa spectacle for yourself.  I'll be sticking around for the Post-Race Party at the Sandusky, OH race, so come, find me, and tell me your favorite Christmas TV special.

I'll also have my books for sale so this would be a great opportunity to get a signed copy to give as a gift to that pop culture junkie in your life.  If you're a runner and would like to join the Santa Hustle 5k or Half Marathon, click the link/badge on the right-hand side of the blog to find information about registering. Or, click HERE for the link to the website.

Let's play another little game:  how many of these photos of Santas do you recognize?  Each photos is taken from a Christmas TV episode, special, or movie.  Name the series or program's title by commenting below.  Some of these are harder to identify than others.  Show off your Christmas pop culture skills.  Good luck!

The Addams Family--1965's "Christmas With the Addams Family"

South Park--1999's "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics"

The Three Stooges--1949 film short "Malice in the Palace"

The Tick--1995's "The Tick Loves Santa!"

1982's Ziggy's Gift

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour's 1973 Christmas Show

Alice--1977's "A Semi-Merry Christmas"

Beavis & Butt-head-- 1996's "Beavis & Butt-head Do Christmas."

Golden Girls--1986's "Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas"

Invader Zim--2002's "The Most Horrible Christmas Ever"