Valentine's Day TV Commercials

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

And what better way to celebrate a day devoted to love than with--commerce!

Today I present a few Valentine's Day TV commercials. I post holiday-related commercials all the time, but I don't think I've ever posted them for Valentine's Day before. Here goes!

Celebrate your sweetie with a Carvel ice cream cake!

Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown is one of the most underrated Peanuts specials, and you should seek it out if you haven't seen it. Here is a quick promo for the special from 1979, preceded by another romatic program--an episode of the live action Spider-Man series. OK, maybe not.

McDonald's commercials are a longtime staple of this blog. Here is one for awesome-looking Valentines featuring your favorite McDonaldland characters!

This is a touching commercial from Kmart, featuring a teenage boy preparing a lovely Valentine's Day for his suprising sweetheart. Awwww!

Here is a low-tech and local commerical for Philadelphia Candies from 1987. Local, low-tech, from the '80s, and Philly-centric. It hits all my sweet spots!

Finally, here is another commerical from 1987, this time for the long-gone discount chain Woolworth's. I think everyone from Generation X and older has at least one fond memory of Woolworth's, if not more!

Once again, Happy Valentine's Day. Show your special someone how much you love them!

I may have another Valentine's Day post later this week. Stay tuned, and thanks!

The Popeye Valentine Special: Sweethearts at Sea

 

Ahoy maties! Valentine's Day is just days away, and I've discovered a nautical way to celebrate the day. With the 1979 animated TV special The Popeye Valentine Special: Sweethearts at Sea!

In this special, Popeye forgets to get Olive Oyl a gift for Valentine's Day, so she goes on a cruise to find a new man. When Popeye finds out, he goes to sea to win back his longtime love. However, the villianous Sea Hag and Bluto have their own Valentine's Day plans for our heroes.

The special aired on CBS on Valentine's Day 1979. I had no idea this existed until recently, and I'm happy to share it here.

Enjoy! And stay tuned for more Valentine's Day fun the next few days, and maybe even after the big day! I'm getting a late start, but I have more for you to love this year, and I'd like to get it all in.

One more thing--

GO EAGLES!

OK, now I'll show the special. 😊

A Charlie Brown Valentine (2002)

 

Hello everyone! It's officially February. The first month of the new year is already in the past. We welcome the new month with the forgotten TV special A Charlie Brown Valentine.

This special, not to be confused with the more famous Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown, features several vignettes starring the Peanuts gang in various instances of unrequited love. This special doesn't have the gravitas that Be My Valentine does, but for a Peanuts fan like me, any holiday Peanuts special is welcome.

Enjoy!

Celebrate Valentine's Day the Teen Titans GO! Way

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great holiday season! Sorry for the long delay, but I've been very busy getting back into the swing of things in the new year. I only have a quick minute to jump in and move into a different holiday coming our way, Valentine's Day.

A time for love, romance, flowers, and candy. And superheroes.

Yes, superheroes!

Today I present a collection of clips from one of my favorites TV shows of the last few years, Teen Titans GO! Although deemed a "kids show," it really is for anyone who loves great comedy, and Teen Titans GO! is exactly that. In these clips, you will see a sampling of the hilariously failed romance attempts among the titular Titans. It's enough to make Charlie Brown feel lucky in love.

Enjoy!

Muppet Babies, "My Muppet Valentine"

Happy Valentine's Day!

I come back from a much too long hiatus to bring you a Valentine's Day episode of the beloved 80s Saturday morning cartoon Muppet Babies. The Babies share with each other their ideas for a great Valentine's Day. Cute lil' hilarity ensues.

Enjoy! I hope you don't mind the first five minutes, which are ads for other Muppet-related videos. Maybe you'll want to seek them out!

Also, last year I was a guest on the Advent Calendar House podcast with host Mike Westfall and guest Joey O, discussing the Muppet Show pilot The Muppets Valentine's Show from 1974. You can listen to the podcast here.

Thanks!

The Muppet Valentine Show on the Advent Calendar House Podcast!

Hello everyone, Happy Valentine's Day!

I have a great way for you to celebrate this lovely day--by listening to me and two other fine folks discuss an obscure Muppets special!

Last month, I was lucky enough to be invited to participate in an episode of the Advent Calendar House podcast, which discusses classic Christmas TV specials and movies, with occasional forays into other holidays. This time, Valentine's Day is a foray!

Podcast host Mike Westfall and guest Joey O and I discuss 1974's The Muppet Valentine Show, a special that doubled as a pilot for The Muppet Show. The special is quite different from the celebrational, Muppetational program we all know and love. You can check out the special on YouTube here, and listen to the podcast below!

Enjoy! And thanks once again to Mike for allowing me on the show. Thanks Mike! Happy Back to the Future Day!

List O'Links for Friday, February 15, 2013

Sorry for the lack of fresh articles folks, but boy have I been busy! To make up for it, here are some awesome links to people who have made better efforts than I to entertain their readership.

Valentine's Day may have been yesterday, but with a holiday weekend ahead, you may want to keep the romantic mood going. Here is a fun article about the power of the Peanuts special Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.

Say I love you to your sweetheart the right way--the Indiana Jones way!

Sesame Street is most revered for the wonderful Muppet performers, but it's also had some great animation throughout its 40+ span. Here is the story behind the first animation ever created for the groundbreaking children's series.

Power Records was a budget children's record label that put out great story records featuring beloved superheroes. Here, Batman and Robin face--the Man-Bat!

Finally, with his own forthcoming movie announced by Disney, here are 22 important things you should know about Yoda. Not thinks you may want to know, things you SHOULD know!

Have a great (hopefully long) weekend!

Happy Valentine's Day from the Peanuts Gang!

Tuesday's Forgotten Film, Valentine's Day Edition: Only You (1994)

"Love is in the air, it's everywhere I look around..." Hello lovers! Yes, it's Valentine's Day, a day to express your undying devotion to your significant other. I wish a Happy Valentine's Day to my bride of 12 years (I love you!) as well as to you and yours. To mark the occasion, I present a special edition of Tuesday's Forgotten featuring the romantic comedy Only You.

This movie stars Marisa Tomei as a Catholic grade school teacher who has spent her life as a dreamy-eyed believer that everyone is destined to meet their true love. A flashback to her childhood shows that a carnival fortune teller claims she will one day meet her intended love named Damon Bradley. Back in the present, a tip leads her to Italy to find the mysterious Mr. Bradley, with her older sister (played by the excellent Bonnie Hunt), a woman who thinks her husband is cheating on her, in tow.

There Tomei meets a man, played by Robert Downey Jr., who claims to be Damon Bradley at first, then quickly admits the truth, rightfully ticking off Tomei. Downey stands his ground, stating that perhaps fate has brought the two of them together instead. Does destiny bring Tomei in union with her dream man, and if so, is his name Damon Bradley?

You can find out through the usual retail and online outlets, as the film is readily available on DVD. Here is the film's trailer. Thanks, and once again, Happy Valentine's Day! For more overlooked audio and video, please visit my friend Todd Mason's blog Sweet Freedom here.

A Special Valentine with the Family Circus

Valentine's Day may not be until Monday, but I'm sure lovers will be celebrating the special day throughout the whole weekend. For an innocent way to enjoy the day, spend some time with the Family Circus. Enjoy!

Romie-0 and Julie-8

Valentine's Day is just a few short days away, and it's time we start feeling the love here. We can start by enjoying yet another far-out animated special from the early days of Nelvana Studios. This time, it's the classic love story Romeo and Juliet--with the principal characters as robots. I present to you Romie-0 and Julie-8 (not to be confused with R2-D2 and C3PO, but that's another love story altogether). Thanks!

Happy Valentine's Day 2010! Donald Duck, "Donald's Valentine Dollar"

Better late than never, Happy Valentine's Day! Sorry I'm posting this just a couple of hours before the holiday is over, but as I've said previously, it's been crazy in Casa de Geek lately. If you're still in the Valentine mood, here is Donald Duck in "Donald's Valentine Dollar." Enjoy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Indeed, good wishes to one and all. I hope you've enjoyed my Valentine's Day posts, but this one is the most special of all, as it's addressed to one person--my amazing wife Joanne!

Honey, I hope you're having a great day today, and I can't wait to see you and the kids tonight. Thank you for your gifts, but being a part of this family is the greatest gift of all. Let's share a dance to our wedding song--I Love You!

- Shameless
Uploaded by tressage

Love Is In The Air

Keeping the love alive, here is Vanessa Williams with "Save The Best For Last," my high school prom theme.



One of the most popular on-screen couples of the last ten years, Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet from Titanic.



Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze share a moment in Ghost, assisted by the Righteous Brothers.



Lastly, a rather unconventional but still amusing Valentine ode, courtesy of "Marty," whoever he may be. He wrote a love song based on lines suggested from Internet fans, with fun results. This was posted by an anonymous reader in the comments section of my previous entry--thanks!



There will be one more Valentine post for the year, and it's a special one. See you then!

Valentine's Day Love Songs

Continuing with the Valentine's Day l'amour, here are some songs to get you in the mood (of the holiday).

What better way to start than with a song simply called "Valentine?" Performed by Jim Brickman with Martina McBride on vocals.



Next, one of the most famous love songs from the 1980s, "Up Where We Belong," by Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, from one of the most famous romantic films of the 80s, "An Officer and a Gentleman."



Here is another great 80s love song, also from a film, "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins. I know Phil gets a lot of criticism for being too sappy, and a lot of the time it's warranted, but this is a great song.



A great love song you don't hear much on the radio anymore, "The Search is Over" by Survivor.



Finally, one of my all-time favorite love songs by any artist from any era--"Open Arms" by Journey.



Once again, please don't hesitate to make a request or send feedback of any kind in the comments section or to my email address in my profile.

More romance to come!

On-screen Romance

February sure is a busy month for holidays and observances: Groundhog Day, Mardi Gras (no Fat Tuesday clips this year, sorry), the Super Bowl (congrats NY Giants), even Super Tuesday (go Mike Gravel!). Next Thursday is, of course, the most famous February holiday, Valentine's Day. Being the festive guy I am, let's begin the lovefest!

What better way to start it off than with the most famous scenes from one of the most romantic films of all time, Casablanca? "Here's lookin' at you, kid!"





Next, another classic scene, this time "From Here to Eternity"



Poor Lloyd Dobbler. In love with the prettiest girl in town and things are going south. Time to bring out the big guns. Of course, he turns to Peter Gabriel.



Rocky and Adrian a classic screen romance? Why not?



No one, perhaps, may make a better on-screen couple than Homer and Marge:



Any Valentine requests? Please let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear from you!