Wonder Woman Episode 212, "The Deadly Toys"

 

Welcome on and all to the (tardy) start of the 2024 Countdown to Christmas! Sorry I'm late, but I'm ready to share great Christmas offerings with you this year. And to kick it off, I have a fun one--a Christmas episode of the 1970s Wonder Woman TV series starring Lynda Carter!

In "The Deadly Toys," a former military major is in cahoots with a deranged toymaker (Frank Gorshin having a blast) to substitute top scientists on a secret government project with android replicas, thereby allowing the major and toymaker to have control over the project. In comes Diana to the rescue, but not before she fights an android replica of herself!

Yep--big, dumb fun!

Enjoy! And yes, I know I included the Season 1 theme song before a Season 2 episode, but I like that version of the theme better, so there! :)

CBS airing of A Garfield Thanksgiving and Bugs Bunny's Thanksgiving Diet, November 22nd, 1989 With Commercials

 

Hello, everyone! I hope you're all having a wonderful November, a month that is a favorite of mine. It's the calm before the holiday storm, as well as a time of quiet reflection.

It's also a time to watch fun cartoons.

And that's what I have for you today: two Thanksgiving-related cartoon specials recorded off of live TV on November 22nd, 1989. The first is the debut (!) of A Garfield Thanksgiving, followed by the 1979 special Bugs Bunny's Thanksgiving Diet. And for you commercial fans--like me--the commercials that aired during those specials are included!

Enjoy the specials embedded below or directly at the Internet Archive here, and Happy Thanksgiving!

But wait, what's this?

The Countdown to Christmas is coming! Monday, December 2nd. Be there. HO HO HO!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

The Real Ghostbusters, "Xmas Marks the Spot"

 

Welcome to Week 3 of the Countdown to Christmas! We're exactly two weeks from Christmas Day. Be prepared!

Today I present a fun, early episode of The Real Ghostbusters. The boys accidentally capture the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, so it's up to Venkman and the gang to convert Ebeneezer Scrooge from his wicked ways.

Ghostbusters--they're not just for Halloween!

Enjoy below or on YouTube here. Thanks!

'Twas The Night Before Christmas TV adaptation starring Paul Lynde (1977)

 

To cap off this week, I present the 1977 TV special 'Twas The Night Before Christmas.

Airing December 7, 1977, the special stars Paul Lynde as a grumpy husband and father (!) who learns the true meaning of Christmas. The special costars Anne Meara, Alice Ghostly, Foster Brooks, and Anson Williams. Apparently, the special was so poorly received critically and commercially that it was never rerun, nor was it ever made available on home video.

Is it really that bad, or is it just a typical 1970s TV special? I'll let you be the judge. Please enjoy the special embedded below or directly on YouTube.

Thanks! Have a great holiday season weekend! Happy Chanukah!

Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special Movie Adaptation (2002)

 

Today's entry in the Countdown to Christmas is a wacky one, but that's exactly why I'm including it!

The Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special was a movie made by filmmaker Scott Leberecht and others with an educational grant from the American Film Institute and not intended for commercial release. It is, however, based on an actual comic book one-shot published by DC Comics in 1991 (see the cover to that comic above).

In the comic and movie, Lobo, an alien intergalactic hitman, is hired by the Easter Bunny to "whack" Santa Claus, so that the Easter Bunny gets more love and attention. If the money is right, Lobo is up for the job! The actor playing Lobo is Andrew Bryniarski, know for playing Leatherface in several Texas Chainsaw Massacre reboot films in the 2000s.

Enjoy! Watch it embedded below or directly on YouTube here.

The Price is Right Christmas Episode, December 25, 1979

 

Welcome to Week 2 of the Countdown to Christmas! Today we have something special for those old school kids to got to watch this show when they were home sick from school.

Today I offer an episode of The Price is Right that aired on Christmas Day 1979. The studio, which usually looks very festive on a normal day, is decorated for the holiday and increases the excitement factor even higher than usual. Consider this also a tribute to Bob Barker, who we lost earlier this year.

Enjoy! Watch embedded below or directly on YouTube here.

Cher Variety Show Christmas Episode, December 21, 1975

 

Welcome to December 2023! Now we really get into the Christmas season full swing! I hope today's post gets you in the Christmas spirit.

Legendary artist Cher has released her first-ever Christmas album this year. However, this doesn't mean she hasn't performed Christmas numbers before. Back in the '70s, she had her own short-lived variety TV series after her divorce from Sonny Bono. Below is the series' Christmas episode, which aired on CBS December 21, 1975. She performs Christmas songs, appears in comedy sketches, and features guest stars The Lennon Sisters, The Hudson Brothers, and Redd Foxx--very '70s! See the embedded video below or watch directly on YouTube here.

Enjoy! Have a great December weekend! Roll out the holly, hang up those stockings, get some shopping done, be Christmasy!

The Muppets Perform "The Reindeer" On The Ed Sullivan Show, December 22, 1968

Today on the Countdown to Christmas, I present an appearance of the Muppets on The Ed Sullivan Show from December 22nd, 1968.

Here, lead reindeer Dasher is concerned that he and the other reindeer won't be able to deliver Christmas presents around the world because there's no snow in the North Pole just three days before Christmas. The other reindeer, however, don't take the threat seriously and instead make jokes and sing Christmas carols. In the end, the reindeer decide to dance a "snow dance" to make it snow. The usual Muppet humor permeates the entire sketch.

The Muppets had performed this same sketch back in 1965 on The Kraft Music Hall hosted by Perry Como in black and white, but I prefer this later color performance better. The Sullivan version is embedded below; you can check out the Como version here and make your own decision.

Enjoy!

 

Welcome to the 2023 Countdown to Christmas!

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving! Welcome to the 2023 Countdown to Christmas!

Despite my participation in, and love for, the Countdown to Halloween, Christmas is in fact my favorite holiday. It's my favorite anything! And I love to share holiday joy with all of you via this blog. This year, I have a lot of great stuff to show you. Please stay tuned all December long, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, for delightful holiday joy.

But that's not all. On some of my social media pages, I'm presenting Brian's Musical Advent Calendar, in which I'll post a holiday song every day starting today and through at least Christmas Day, perhaps even after. The Calendar will be available on my Facebook, X/Twitter, Tumblr, Threads, and Bluesky accounts. Please check it out!

Once again, Happy Holidays, and stay tuned!

The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979)

 

Here we are--two days to Christmas! And what a season it's been!

Today I feature my final offering before the big day--the 1979 TV-movie The Man in the Santa Claus Suit. In this film, three men--an uptight political operative (Bert Convy), a homeless man (John Byner), and a lonely schoolteacher (Gary Burghoff)--rent Santa Claus suits from an elderly tailor (Fred Astaire, in his final film), each desperate to fulfill a need by renting the suit. Each man goes through a personal journey by wearing the suit. And that tailer seems to show up in different guises throughout the film. Is there something--different about him? Watch and find out!

The movie debuted on NBC in 1979, and was a staple of syndicated Christmas programming through most of the '80s. I've never seen the whole thing, but it's always looked interesting, and I'm happy to present it to you now.

Well, that's the last article before Christmas! I have LOVED doing this Countdown to Christmas--and it's not over yet! I plan on sharing a couple of New Year's Day related items next week, so please stay tuned. And remember that the holiday season doesn't end on December 26th. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are also part of the holidays--celebrate them!

Enjoy the film, below and directly on YouTube here. And if I don't see you during the rest of the season, Happy Holidays! Happy Hanukkah! Merry Christmas!

Dancin' On Air Christmas Episode from 1981

This is it! The final week until Christmas. It's down to the wire. Let's party! And today, we party like it's 1981!

Today I feature an early episode of the local Philadephia series Dancin' On Air. It was a successor of sorts to Bandstand, in which local teens dance on camera to the hits of the day. This is a Christmas-themed episode from its inaugural year, 1981.

Admittedly, there's not much Christmasy about this episode with the exception of the studio decorations, but I'll use any excuse to showcase Philly 80sness.

Enjoy! You can also see the episode on YouTube here.

 

Max Headroom Christmas Special (1986)

 

Wait-wait-wait-wait WHAT? Max Headroom had a Christmas special?

Yep! And I'm as surprised as you are!

I knew Max Headroom had released a Christmas music single, "Merry Christmas, Santa Claus," back in the day, because I saw it on the shelf at Tower Records in Philadelphia in 1986 and contemplated buying it (I didn't). What I didn't know was that the song was part of a full Christmas TV special.

The Max Headroom Christmas Special debuted in the US on Cinemax on December 18, 1986; it was later shown in the UK on December 26 of that year under the name Max Headroom's Giant Christmas Turkey. The show features Max, played by Canadian comedian and actor Matt Frewer, being Max--singing, talking to friends and celebrities, including Robin Williams and Tina Turner, and being his usual zany, stuttering self. Rocker Dave Edmunds also appears.

Oddball specials such as this are one of the things that keep me blogging all these years. I love finding this strange, forgotten stuff and sharing it with others, especially when it's something I didn't know existed before.

Enjoy! You can also watch the special directly on YouTube here.

This is the last weekend before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so make it a jolly one! And starting this Sunday night--Happy Hannukah!

Casper Saves Christmas

Today I feature my first cartoon of the Countdown to Christmas, and it's a cute one. Casper the Friendly Ghost hears the cries of a poor young boy lamenting that Santa Claus has never visited him. Feeling the Christmas spirit, Casper dresses as Santa and makes toys to make the boy's holiday a happy one.

Enjoy!

Al Alberts Showcase Christmas (1988)

Welcome to Week 3--3!--of the Countdown to Christmas. Today I share a local treat from my hometown of Philadelphia.

This is a Christmas episode of Al Alberts Showcase, a local Philly variety show hosted by Al Alberts, who had been a member of the vocal group The Four Aces decades before. He hosted this series in Philly for decades, featuring children and teen performers singing, dancing, and telling jokes. As corny as the show was, it was beloved here in Philadelphia. I previously shared an hour-long Christmas special from Alberts from 1979; here is a half-hour special from 1988. If you love kitchy local TV like I do, you'll love this.

Enjoy!