Christmas in July 2021: Same Time, Next Christmas (2019)

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #23 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). 

This week I'm sharing Hawaiian yuletide programs. Today's Christmas in July discussion is on the 2019 TV movie Same Time, Next Christmas which made its debut on ABC.

 

 

Every family has different traditions for celebrating Christmas. The Andersons and the Williams family both celebrate at the same resort every year in Hawaii. That is, until Jeff’s mother unexpectedly dies during his teen years. Fifteen years later, Jeff and his father return to the resort to find that the Anderson family still comes there each year at Christmas, including Jeff’s former best friend Olivia. Now grown, Jeff and Olivia feel that same spark for each other that they’ve always had for one another, however their relationship timing is not right. Jeff decides to give his broken relationship with his wife one last go, and a following year Olivia becomes engaged to her co-worker Gregg. In Hawaii at Christmas, will Jeff and Olivia ever admit they feel that they are each other’s soulmate?

The cast includes Lea Michele as Olivia Anderson, Charles Michael Davis as Jeff Williams, Bryan Greenberg as Gregg Harris, George Newbern as Olivia’s father Woody Anderson, Nia Vardalos as Olivia’s mother Faye Anderson, and Phil Morris as Jeff’s father Alec Williams.

 

After its initial debut on ABC, this Christmas TV movie also aired in 2019 on Freeform. Lea Michele’s version of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” is heard at the movie’s start, and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” with Jonathan Groff, at the movie’s end. Both of the songs can be found on her 2019 album “Christmas in the City.” 

Our Christmas in July party discussions will continue all month long. Got another favorite tropical, Christmas in Hawaii program? 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: Biggest Little Christmas Showdown (2020)

 

The reality competition series Biggest Little Christmas Showdown.

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #22 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). 

This week I'm sharing Hawaiian yuletide programs. Today's Christmas in July discussion is on the 2020 episode "Mini Mele Kalikimaka Christmas" from the HGTV series Biggest Little Christmas Showdown.

 

 

 

This Christmas reality competition series features teams of designers and miniaturists building holiday doll houses for a $50,000 prize. The host is Tony-winner James Monroe Iglehart, with HGTV’s Genevieve Gorder, miniaturist June Clinkscales, and Hollywood visual effects artist Dave Asling as judges.

In this first episode of the series, the three teams must construct a scene interpreting the holiday theme of Mele Kalikimaka--Christmas in Hawaii. The mother-daughter team of Tracy & Renee are working on a one-story beach house decorated for Christmas. The team of friends Greg & Katie are constructing an Aloha Abode: a three-story Barbie Dreamhouse in a tropical setting. And the team of fiancés Amanda & Bree are constructing Santa’s tiki boat anchored off the beach. After the teams begin working, the challenge of a water feature is added. Tracy and Renee win the challenge with their coy pond. The teams are adding details to their structures up until the final seconds of the competition. The winners move on to the finalé. 

 

This four-episode series is an example of a new style of series that has recently EXPLODED on television: reality competition Christmas series. I'm not talking about a single Christmas episode found within a series. I'm referring to whole series in which every episode is Christmas-themed. Biggest Little Christmas Showdown is an example, but so is The Great Christmas Light Fight (on ABC), Holiday Baking Championship (on Food Network), Christmas Cookie Challenge (also on Food network), Top Elf (on Nickelodeon), The Christmas Caroler Challenge (on the CW), Buddy Vs. Christmas (also on Food network), Wrap Battle (on Freeform), Rocket Around the Xmas Tree (on Discovery), Sugar Rush Christmas (on Netflix), Cake Wars Christmas (also on Food network), Christmas Cookie Matchup (on Hallmark Drama), Holiday Home Makeover with Mr. Christmas (on Netflix), Nailed It Holiday (on Netflix), and more. These are all reality competition series with contestants competing in activities as diverse as cookie baking to rocketry to choir-singing to gift wrapping to building miniatures! It's an exciting time to be watching Christmas entertainment, right?

Got a favorite Christmas reality competition series? Feel free to leave comments down below. Our Christmas in July party discussions will continue all month long.

 

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: Magnum P.I. (1983)

L to R: Rick, Higgins, TC and center is Thomas Magnum.

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #21 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). 

This week I'm sharing Hawaiian yuletide programs. Today's Christmas in July discussion is on the 1983 episode "Operation: Silent Night" from the TV series Magnum P.I. Fans of the series remember that this series takes place in Hawaii so it perfectly fits in with our tropical Christmas theme this week.

In this episode, TC, Higgins, Rick, and Magnum crash land their malfunctioning helicopter on a deserted island. Not sure how long they may be stranded, they each busy themselves with ways to be rescued. The men miss out on their holiday plans but it becomes the least of their problems when the small island is shelled by the Navy during a training exercise. 

 

 

The cast includes Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, Larry Manetti as Rick, Roger E. Mosely as T.C., and John Hillerman as Higgins. Don't miss Magnum dressed in a Santa Claus suit. In the final scene, the men share in singing “Silent Night.”

 

The first season's holiday episode.

There's also an earlier episode, 1980's "Thank Heaven for Little Girls and Big Ones Too" from the first season. Magnum is hired by five little girls to find their missing school teacher and her boyfriend. However, the investigation is a scam in order for the girls to steal a valuable painting from the Masters' estate that Magnum is responsible for protecting. The episode's story takes place at Christmas too.

Our Christmas in July party discussions will continue all month long. Got another favorite tropical, Christmas in Hawaii program? 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: Jim Nabors’ Christmas in Hawaii (1981)

My copy of the 1981 album soundtrack was autographed by Carol Burnett!?

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #20 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). 

This week I'm sharing Hawaiian yuletide programs. Today's Christmas in July discussion is on the 1981 TV variety special Jim Nabor's Christmas in Hawaii. The rare and forgotten, one-hour syndicated Christmas music special was shot in Hawaii, hosted by singer/actor Jim Nabors. His special guests are Carol Burnett, Tom Selleck, Susan Anton, the Brothers Cazimero, and the Honolulu Boy Choir. Fans of The Carol Burnett Show will remember that Nabors guested quite a bit on her show. It's nice to see him welcome the talented Burnett on his special too.

The highlights include Nabors’ reverent performances in a church with a live audience of “O Come All Ye Faithful/Adeste Fidelis” and “O Holy Night” accompanied by the Honolulu Boy Choir. Nabors also sings “Silent Night” at Pearl Harbor. It is a shame that this TV special is overlooked and forgotten. I'd love to see the comedy sketch with Tom Selleck, and the Hawaiian-themed version of the song "Twelve Days of Christmas"--two performances hinted at in photos on the soundtrack album.

 

The TV special’s soundtrack was released under the title Christmas in Hawaii with Jim Nabors by Blue Water Records. The song listing for Side 1: “Christmas All Over the World,” “Doodle Ee Doo,” “Little Drummer Boy,” “Twelve Days of Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Side 2 includes “Jingle Bells,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Aloha Kalikimaka,” “Hasegawa General Store,” “The First Noel,” “Away in a Manger,” and “Silent Night.”

Our Christmas in July party discussions will continue all month long. Got another favorite tropical, Christmas in Hawaii program? 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: Bob Hope's Christmas in Hawaii (1989)

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #19 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). 

This week I'm moving on to share Hawaiian yuletide programs. Today's Christmas in July discussion is on the 1989 TV variety special Bob Hope's Christmas Show from Waikoloa, Hawaii. Bob Hope’s guest stars are Barbara Eden, The Judds, the Associated Press’ All America Football Team, and Rose Queen Yasmine Delawari. The show is shot at the Hyatt Regency in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

Comedian Bob Hope opens his variety show, like he does every year, on stage with a comedy monologue. Here, he does it on a stage outdoors at the Hyatt Regency in front of a live audience. Next, Naomi and Wynonna Judd perform as The Judds singing “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.” Actor Barbara Eden joins Hope on stage to exchange punchlines. The show continues with a second monologue by Bob in front of a live audience. This is followed by Hope introducing the latest Associated Press’ All America Football Team. Hope and Eden stroll through the palm trees and tiki torches to sing “Silver Bells.” This is followed by a comedy sketch “Steel Petunias” a parody of the movie “Steel Magnolias.” The sketch features Naomi Judd as Sally Field’s character M’Lynn, Wynonna Judd as Julia Roberts’ character Shelby, Barbara Eden as Shirley MacLaine’s character Ouiser, and Bob Hope in drag playing Dolly Parton’s role Truvy. Next, Hope introduces the beauty pageant winner 1990 Rose Queen Yasmine Delawari and they volley jokes back and forth. The Judds harmonize on “Winter Wonderland” standing above a waterfall feature. Once again, Hope re-airs the clip of himself with John Wayne, first recorded on Hope’s Christmas special in 1976 in which they sing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

 

 

Bob Hope is well known for his two types of Christmas variety specials. First are his Christmas USO tours escorting dancers, singers, and comedians around the world to various American military bases to entertain the soldiers. Second are Hope's network studio Christmas variety specials. This 1989 one is later in Hope's career. It combines the outdoor location stage productions of the USO tours with the production values of the more controlled studio specials.

Our Christmas in July party discussions will continue all month long. Got another favorite tropical, Christmas in Hawaii program? 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: Perry Como's Christmas in Hawaii (1985)

 

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #18 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). 

This week I'm moving on to share Hawaiian yuletide programs. Today's Christmas in July discussion is on the 1985 TV variety special Perry Como's Christmas in Hawaii. Crooner Perry Como's annual holiday specials became a tour of romantic and exotic locations starting in 1975. Como's musical guests in the 1985 special are Marie Osmond, Burt Reynolds, the Tihati dancers, the Kamehameha School Concert Glee Club, and the Hawaiian Young Singers.

 

Perry opens his show relaxing on the beach singing Irving Berlin’s “Happy Holidays” and “Christmas in Hawaii.” Perry and Marie Osmond enjoy a hayride over the lush green Hawaiian terrain while singing “Sleigh Ride” and “Jesus Is Born Today.” Next, Marie and Perry attend a Christmas luau, and together they sing “Mele Kalikimaka.” Como and actor Burt Reynolds share a conversation on the beach, and sing “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening,” “How About You?,” and “Don’t Fence Me In” together. The Hawaiian Young Singers perform “Joy to the World” at a historic church on the islands. Perry joins the Young Singers to sing “Deck the Halls” as they decorate a Christmas tree together, and then “Silent Night.” Marie and Perry also take an island tour, and go deep sea fishing. The couple duets on “Far Away Places.” 

 

Perry joins a group of children building a sand (snow)man on the beach, and he sings “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Perry notes how Hawaii is a location that inspires romance, and Marie sings “There’s No Stoppin’ Your Heart,” followed by Perry and Marie singing Stevie Wonder’s hit song “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” A Hawaiian children’s choir sings “The Little Drummer Boy” with bamboo percussive instruments. On the beach, there’s a Hawaiian-style living Nativity display. A chorus sings “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” Perry Como performs “The First Noel,” Marie Osmond sings “Away in a Manger,” and Perry sings “O Holy Night.” And, Como with the Kamehameha Choir perform “Ave Maria” in the hills above the beach.

 

 

 

Sorry this clip isn't a Christmas song. But it was just too good, too kitchy and too campy to not share!

Perry Como entertained at Christmas on TV for decades, on his own series and with annual holiday variety specials. However, in 1975 he began an annual tradition of Christmas specials shot away from stuffy, confined network studios and took his cameras to exotic locations, often shooting outdoors.

The best thing about Como's destination holiday specials was his immersion in the culture. He usually included artists and performers from the local culture to perform in their native language. He also filmed at local landmarks and included remarks about local customs and Christmas traditions. From the summary above, you can see how Como's special included Hawaiian artists and attempted to reflect the customs and traditions of the region. This is typical of the other destination Christmas specials as well.

Como's annual destination Christmas specials took him to far-off places, such as Mexico (in 1975), Austria (in 1976), the Holy Land (in 1980) and Paris (in 1982). He also explored closer destinations but included the same romanticism and charm as the others, including his Christmas special in the historic Williamsburg, Virginia (in 1978), New Mexico (in 1979), and Christmas in New York (in 1983). Como's Christmas in Hawaii in 1985 was his next to last Christmas destination special. His final major network Christmas TV special was 1986's Christmas in San Antonio. His last Christmas special was 1994's Perry Como's Irish Christmas, a live concert taped in Dublin, for PBS.

Our Christmas in July party discussions will continue all month long. Got another favorite tropical, Christmas in Hawaii program? 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: Christmas Camp (2019)

 

 

Happy Christmas in July! It's Day #17 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). 

This week I'm sharing summer camp yuletide stories. Today's Christmas in July discussion is on the TV movie Christmas Camp--think: summer camp getaway with a Christmas theme.

 

This Hallmark Movies & Mysteries TV movie debuted during the network's “Christmas in July” block of programming in 2019. The movie is adapted from the book by Karen Schaler. In this story, Haley Hanson really wants the toy company campaign at her work but her boss thinks she’s doesn’t have the right attitude to work on a Christmas promotion. Willing to prove her boss wrong, Haley commits to a week-long Christmas camp held at an inn to earn her certificate of completion. But the camp is far more difficult than Haley anticipated. Leaving behind her work duties and her cell phone are her first biggest challenge. As Haley participates in the camp’s daily activities centered around a theme such as love, hope, giving, sharing and inspiration, Haley gets closer to the Inn’s owner Ben and his son Jeff. When Haley helps Ben with a business idea about turning the Christmas camp into a franchise, Jeff is frustrated by her meddling with his father.

The cast includes Lily Anne Harrison as Haley Hanson, Bobby Campo as Jeff, and John James as Ben.

 

 

 

Our Christmas in July party discussions will continue all month long. Got another favorite summer camp Christmas program? 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