Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Yep, I'm Still Here

 


Hello all! I hope you had a great holiday season and are starting off the new year on the right track.

For me, blogging during the winter months has become difficult as I've gotten older. I'm busier, have different responsibilities than when I first started blogging way back in 2007 (!), and my inspiration for blogging takes a hit. After being so focused on blogging about holiday-related topics for three months, I'm left with an "OK, now what?" situation January through September. I'll get the occasional idea, but if I don't note it down somewhere, it vanishes in the ether between my ears, often never to appear again.

Plus, on top of the usual "getting back to business" activities that seem to make up January, this week in particular I've been hampered with COVID (bout number 3 for me since January of 2022) as well as snowy/frigid weather. I nearly slipped on ice on the stairs outside my house; I caught myself, but not without twisting something in one of my knees. COVID plus snow shoveling plus twisted knee equals WTF!!!

So please be patient with me. I do intend to be a year-round blogger; just hang in there and I'll amaze you with some wondrance you didn't know you needed but can't do without!

Thanks! Happy New Year!

Friday, December 29, 2023

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve '86

 


Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the Rockin' Eve production I featured earlier this week that welcomed 1982. Today, I feature the show that welcomed 1986. Enjoy below or on YouTube here.

I'll be back after the holiday. Happy New Year!


Wednesday, December 27, 2023

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve '82

 


Hello all! I hope you had a very Merry Christmas--I certainly did! I spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with family, great gifts, and great food. That's all you can ask for Christmas! Now it's time to look ahead to New Year's Day, and we do that with the full presentation of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve welcoming in 1982!

Every network has it's own New Year's Eve program these days, but back in the day, Dick Clark was the only game in town. Here he welcomes 1982 with performances by Alabama, Rick Springfield, Barry Manilow, and others. Hosted by Charlene Tilton and Tom Wopat (man, this really IS 1982!)

Enjoy the show below or directly on YouTube here. I hope to have another Dick Clark program this week. Thanks!


Friday, December 22, 2023

The Gathering, Christmas TV-Movie starring Ed Asner (1977)

 


Here we are, my last Christmas post before the big day! And today I have a sobering but untimately life-affirming film for you.

The Gathering is a TV-movie produced by Hanna-Barbera (!) and stars Ed Asner as an embittered husband, father, and businessman who re-enters his family's lives after walking out on them many years ago, seeking reconciliation for his actions before he dies of a terminal illness. Maureen Stapleton plays Asner's estranged wife, who urges the rest of the family to forgive Asner for his bitter ways. Originally airing on ABC TV on December 4th, 1977, the film also stars Gregory Harrison, Bruce Davison, Veronica Hamel, James Karen (the Pathmark guy!), and John Randolph (Clark Griswold's father from Christmas Vacation!), among others.

Unfortunately, the YouTube channel administrator doesn't allow embedding for their videos, so please watch the movie directly on YouTube here.

Enjoy! I'll have more holiday-themed stuff for you next week.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Classic Christmas TV Commercials 2023 Edition

 


Today's post will be lean and mean, as my free time is increasingly less free the closer we get to Christmas Day.

Here, I offer some Christmas commercials of the past, with less commentary than I usually give. Enjoy these holiday-themed shills for Woolworth's, Ponderosa, Seafood Shanty seafood restaurants, and more!

Thanks!


Monday, December 18, 2023

TV Commercials for Children's Christmas Music Albums

 



One of the joys of being a child in the '80s was being the target of many commercials for various products. It made us feel special to know that things were being made just for us. This was especially true around Christmas, and one of the things marketed heavily to us were christmas music albums.

They usually aired in the fall to allow plenty of time for delivery before the season, but it excited us to see them as a sign that Christmas was soon approaching. Here are a few examples.

Here are two commercials for Christmas albums created by Disney. I loved seeing these ads appear every year! Unfortunately, I never had either of these albums myself.



One I'm not sure I remember, but I find amusing nonetheless, is this commercial for a Christmas album recorded by...the Smurfs! This recording has nothing to do with the US TV cartoon, so don't expect the voices to sound like the cartoon, but if the Smurfs are your thing, this might be for you!




I'm sure the audio for these albums can be found on YouTube, so if you have the urge, I suggest you search there. I just might do the same myself.

Thanks!

Friday, December 15, 2023

WKRP In Cincinnati, "Jennifer's Home for Christmas"

 


Welcome to the end of Week 3 of the Countdown to Christmas!

WKRP In Cincinnati will forever be associated with the holidays thanks to the hilarious Thanksgiving episode "Turkeys Away." But that doesn't mean the series doesn't have other fine holiday offerings. Case in point: this Christmas episode.

In "Jennifer's Home for Christmas," Jennifer (Loni Anderson) is unhappy about the forthcoming holiday, so the rest of the staff decide to attend her home to lighten her Christmas. The usual WKRP hijinks ensue.

Basically, the whole series is great. Try to see more of it however you can.

Enjoy below or on YouTube here. Have a great weekend!