Christmas in July 2021: Camp Lazlo (2007)

 

Remember the campers of Camp Kidney? (L to r): Cam, Raj, and Lazlo.

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #14 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). 

 

On an excursion, the campers come across Santa Claus!

 

This week I'm sharing summer camp yuletide stories. Today's Christmas in July episode is from the animated series Camp Lazlo from Cartoon Network. In the 2007 episode "Kamp Kringle," the campers go on another Camp Kidney field trip, this time to the Mt. Whitehead where they discover Santa’s new home and toy workshop. It is July and Santa is ahead of schedule in toy production, ready to take a well-deserved vacation. But tragedy strikes when a falling meteorite destroys all the pre-made toys. Santa requires a relaxing vacation so Lazlo promises St. Nick a rest at Camp Kidney rather than canceling Christmas all together. While Santa finds extreme pleasure in tetherball, Scoutmaster Lumpus has taken over Santa’s workshop.

This episode’s talking meteorite pays homage to the Sam the Snowman character from the Rankin/Bass’ “Rudolph” TV special. Just when you think you’ve seen it all: the flatulence performance of “Jingle Bells” at the episode’s end certainly ties in to summer camp exuberance. (I was looking for a video clip--can't find it. Sorry. Look for the whole episode--it's worth it.)

 

 

Our Christmas in July party will continue all month long. Got another favorite summer camp Christmas episode? There's more to come. 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: Camp Candy (1989)

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #13 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 Camp Candy, in which comedian/actor John Candy runs a summer camp! In the first season episode "Christmas in July," the campers become nostalgic for Christmas during a hot summer day in July. John suggests they celebrate Christmas in July by decorating a pine tree in the middle of camp, creating snow on the ground, frosting the cabin windows and singing carols. But the wealthy, snooty camper Vanessa doesn’t want to join the others in the fun and prefers to eat a box of chocolates all to herself. When Vanessa gets a stomachache, she experiences a dream where she’s visited by the Spirit of Last Month and the Spirit of Next Month. The spirits show her the consequences of her selfishness and its effects on the future of Camp Candy.  Just like Dickens’ Scrooge, Vanessa awakens to want to share Christmas and the rest of her chocolates with all the other campers.

The voice cast includes John Candy as himself, and Willow Johnson as Vanessa.

 

 

 

I love a Dickens adaptation in a summer yuletide story. Our Christmas in July party will continue all month long. Got another favorite summer camp Christmas episode? There's more to come. 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: 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