Episodes

What’s up, dudes? Perhaps you can help… solve a mystery. Robert Stack has put on his holiday voice — which still sounds like a missing-persons bulletin wrapped in tinsel — and we’re diving into a special holiday edition of “Unsolved Mysteries”! I’ve got Joe Martinez from Now Watch This and CM Chuck from Just Another Friday Night here to unpack the miracles, the tip lines, and the tonal whiplash.

Stack promises stories that capture the spirit of the season, then delivers the full UM buffet: seven-year-old Chucky McGivern of Philly slides from chicken pox into a Reye’s syndrome coma right before Christmas 1982, while his parents pin a Saint John Neumann relic to his pillow and a mystery kid ghost-visits the ICU like the world’s most intense Candygram. Cue anointing of the sick, a dream full of presents, and a shrine portrait that makes Chucky point and say “that was my best friend.” Then — because this is still Unsolved Mysteries — we hard-cut to Odessa, Texas, a burned body in a trash fire, and a drifter named Bill who treats a stolen pickup like a Christmas list item. 

Then Gallup, New Mexico: nine-year-old Anthonette Cayedito vanishes, a year-later phone call gets cut off mid-name, a napkin under a plate says please help me, and a Navajo medicine ceremony becomes prime-time television. Finally the soft landing: a Florida couple shares sandwiches and five bucks with a hitchhiker who vanishes like fog, then spends the next five Christmases cashing anonymous $500 checks from “your Christian friends.” Miracle? Angel? Incredible luck? Stack shrugs in gravel: a rational explanation is hardly necessary.

Relic flipping on the pillow? Got it. Unknown kid who hangs around the hospital? He’s there too. Anonymous Christmas checks that keep landing like clockwork? Only to a kind elderly couple! So grab your cocoa, keep one eye on the tip line, and hit play with us on this episode all about “Unsolved Mysteries!”

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What’s up, dudes? Halloween is creeping up on us, so we’re checking into the spookiest resort on Saturday morning TV. It’s the 1980 Hanna-Barbera monster mash Drak Pack and the episode “Hideout Hotel”! I’ve got Joe Martinez from Now Watch This with me to talk all about it!

Drak Jr., Frankie, and Howler (the teenage descendants of Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man, who fight crime to make up for their ancestors being total jerks for a few centuries) are stuck freezing in the snow back home while their great-great-uncle Big D is soaking up the Florida sun at the 300th-anniversary reunion of the Transylvania Retired Spooks, Spectres, and Spirits Society. Too bad Dr. Dred picked the same hotel. He sends Vampira in as a sea monster to clear the beach, kicks out every paying guest, and reopens the place as Dr. Dred’s Hideout Hotel, a luxury resort for the world’s worst criminals. It comes with a Wall of Crime, prison-bar doors, and a lobby where you check in with your fingerprints. The Drak Pack show up and immediately get buried up to their necks in the sand with high tide coming in (“Enjoying the view, Quack Pack?”). They bust out with a head-bonk Drak Whack and some werewolf sandblasting, then pick off O.G.R.E. one by one: Mummy Man gets wrapped up, Fly gets stuck in the shade, and Vampira’s seagull disguise goes straight into the drink. With hundreds of hoods pulling up in black limos, Frankie accidentally has the idea of the century. It’s a crooks’ convention? Well, Big D has a convention too! Cue skeletons in the closets, beds floating out the windows, and a dragon in the bathtub of Room 521 (“Do we allow pets?”). It’s all voiced by a total ’80s Saturday-morning dream team: Hans Conried (Captain Hook himself!) as Dr. Dred, Alan “Skeletor” Oppenheimer as Big D, Papa Smurf’s Don Messick as Toad and Fly, Duckworth’s Chuck McCann as Mummy Man, and Clumsy Smurf’s Bill Callaway pulling double duty as Frankie and Howler.

Wall of Crime? Check. Sand sculpture of Dr. Dred built by the world’s biggest suck-up? Yep. A dragon in the bathtub? Better call the front desk! So grab your beach towel, register your fingerprints, and check in to this episode on Drak Pack “Hideout Hotel”!

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PARENTAL WARNING: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE WITH CHILDREN PRESENT!

What’s up, dudes? Cue the piano, because we’re gonna have a watch-along party for the 1965 Peanuts classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas”! I’ve got Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas podcast and Jeremy Phelps the Alamo City Santa  with me to provide commentary and enjoy the ride!

This is the special CBS was pretty sure they’d just made a mistake. Charles Schulz wrote it, Bill Melendez directed the animation, Lee Mendelson produced it, and Coca-Cola sponsored it after an ad guy asked if they had a Christmas show and Mendelson said yes before he asked Schulz. They built it in about six months on a $76,000 budget (and still went about $20,000 over), with real kids talking, no laugh track, and Vince Guaraldi playing jazz like it belonged next to the tinsel. Schulz got up and left the room when somebody assumed there’d be canned laughs. Mendelson scribbled the words to “Christmas Time Is Here” on the back of an envelope. The network watched a cut and called it slow. Then it aired on CBS on December 9, 1965, at 7:30 p.m. ET, in The Munsters’ Thursday slot, and 45% of the people watching television that night stayed with it. An estimated 15,490,000 homes. Number two, behind Bonanza. An Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program and a Peabody showed up after that, which is a wild trophy case for a half-hour everybody in the room thought was too quiet.

So press play with us. We’re not gonna recap it like you’ve never seen it. We’re riding the ice, visiting Lucy’s five-cent psychiatric booth, clocking Snoopy’s doghouse light display, and taking Lucy’s very sincere pitch for a big shiny aluminum tree. Charlie Brown, being Charlie Brown, comes back with the little real one. When the rehearsal falls apart, Linus still has Luke 2 and a blanket he is willing to put down. Peter Robbins is Charlie Brown, Christopher Shea is Linus, and the kids recorded the whole thing in a day (Jefferson Airplane was next door and swung by for autographs, because of course they did). Hit play, keep the blanket nearby, and talk through it with us.

Aluminum tree? Check. Nickel therapy? Got it. Guaraldi plus a scripture reading network TV was not ready for? That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown! So grab the sad little sapling, drop a nickel in the booth, and skate on over to this episode on “A Charlie Brown Christmas”!

Lost Christmas Podcast
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What’s up, dudes? Grab your camp flashlight and whatever you do, don’t touch the plunger — we’re gonna talk Nickelodeon’s Salute Your Shorts classic “The Ghost Story / Zeke the Plumber!” I’ve got Mike Westfall from Advent Calendar House, Chad Young from Horror Movie BBQ, and Joe Fulton the Christmas Aficionado with me to provide commentary and enjoy the ride!

It’s Camp Anawanna, June 1991, and Budnick’s weaponizing bedtime. He spins the legend of Zeke — camp custodian, parrot-bit nose, couldn’t smell a gas leak, lit a match, and became what Budnick lovingly calls a human party-popper. All that’s left is a cursed plunger: touch it, and Zeke haunts your dreams, sucking secrets out of your head like a spectral toilet-snake. Telly and Michael take the bait, the whole bunkhouse wakes up traumatized, and the campers — with Ug’s help — challenge Budnick to spend the night on Zeke’s death ground. Pranks, spider webs, a fake noseless plumber who somehow still “smells” fear… then Budnick goes full Scooby-Doo, unmasks Ug, and still somehow loses the fear-off. Shorts saluted. Nightmares achieved.

Cursed plunger? Check. Missing-nose ghost janitor? Yep. Budnick vs. spiders? Camp Anawanna, baby! So put toothpaste around your bed, spit in your hand, and slap your forehead to this episode on “The Ghost Story / Zeke the Plumber!”

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Christmas Aficionado

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What’s up, dudes? Grab your fold-out poster and your secret word, because we’re cracking open one of the most Christmas-adjacent kids’-mag crossovers of the late ’80s — Muppet Magazine #17, Winter 1987, the “Pee-Wee & Kermit: Playhouse Pals!” cover! I’ve got Tim Babb from Can’t Wait for Christmas  and Mike Westfall from Advent Calendar House with me to talk all about it!

It’s Volume 5, Number 1 of the Henson Company’s full-color quarterly, and the cover alone is peak Saturday-morning destiny: Kermit the Frog hanging with Pee-wee Herman right when Pee-wee’s Playhouse and Muppet Babies were sharing the CBS morning lineup. Inside, Frog-In-Chief Kermit drops by the Playhouse for a visit/interview (Fred Newman on the byline vibes), Miss Piggy goes jogging with Ari Meyers and Allison Smith, Rowlf sits down with Jonathan Silverman for “Barking Beach Memoirs,” and the Muppet Babies crash Clement C. Moore with Louise Gikow and Bruce McNally’s “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Plus the pull-out that every ’80s kid fought over — “Hip Holidays from M-MTV!” featuring the Electric Mayhem — because nothing says Winter 1987 like a Muppet MTV Christmas parody and a mailbox full of Miss Piggy’s Advice.

Playhouse pals on the cover? Check. Muppet Babies night-before-Christmas comic? Got it. Fold-out Hip Holidays M-MTV poster? Definitely! So hang your Muppet Magazine on the fridge, whisper the secret word, and flip to this episode on “Muppet Magazine #17 Winter 1987!”

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Can’t Wait for Christmas
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What’s up, dudes? Grab your pillowcase and your leftover Halloween candy, because we’re gonna have a watch-along party for A Pup Named Scooby-Doo’s holiday-adjacent spookfest “Ghost Who’s Coming to Dinner!” I’ve got Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas podcast with me to provide commentary and enjoy the ride!

Kid-sized Mystery Inc. is trick-or-treating when they stumble on the Johnsons’ ramshackle haunted house — the one Shaggy swears used to belong to pirate Boobeard. Inside: a kindly couple, a park full of trees somebody wants to bulldoze, and the one (1) Scooby-Doo ghost who is actually a ghost. Bartholomew Byfard Boo, a sweetheart of an ectoplasm roommate, will poof out of existence if the house comes down, so of course a nasty pirate spook shows up demanding they vacate. Velma’s got blueprints, Daphne still refuses to believe in ghosts while standing next to one, and the “Boobeard” terrorizing the neighborhood is Jack the handyman, flipping the Johnsons’ land for cash like it’s the most obvious real-estate Scooby scheme in Coolsville.

Friendly ghost roommate? Check. Pirate landlord with a demolition clause? Yep. Handyman named Jack in a bedsheet? Like, totally! So unmask that pirate, save Mr. Boo, and scooby-dooby-doo into this episode on “Ghost Who’s Coming to Dinner!”

Lost Christmas Podcast
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What’s up, dudes? I’m dreaming of a white Christmas… and also punk Christmas, pizza-place Christmas, power-metal Christmas, and New Kids on the Block Christmas! Today we’re diving into the ’80s versions of Irving Berlin’s classic “White Christmas!”

Before the neon snowstorm hits, a quick rewind: Berlin wrote it around 1940, Bing Crosby introduced it on radio at Christmas 1941, then recorded it May 29, 1942 for Holiday Inn. Wartime America lost its mind for that wistful fireplace fantasy — 11 weeks at No. 1, an Oscar for Best Original Song, the 1954 movie, a 1947 re-record that became the one everybody knows, and roughly 50 million copies as the best-selling physical single ever. So of course the ’80s had to get weird with it. Country legends, pop stars, punks, metalheads, jazz cats, claymation raisins, and yes — animatronic ShowBiz Pizza bears — all took a crack at dreaming of a white one.

Punked-up Yobs? Check. Animatronic Rock-afire Explosion? Got it. Helloween sneaking holiday chaos onto a metal EP? Absolutely radical! So dust off the vinyl, cue up the cassette (or that shiny new CD), and dream along with this episode on “’80s Versions of White Christmas!”

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PARENTAL WARNING: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE WITH CHILDREN PRESENT!

What’s up, dudes? We’re closer to Christmas, so we’re gonna have a watch-along party for the absolute classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”. I’ve got CJ Bélanger from Rose Suchak Ladder, Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas podcast, and Jeremy Phelps the Alamo City Santa with me to provide commentary and enjoy the ride!

The story chronicles the seasonal psychosis of the Grinch, a green, cave-dwelling misanthrope whose undersized cardiovascular organ has left him irrationally enraged by the annual Christmas festivities of the Whos down in Whoville. Unable to tolerate another year of singing, feasting, and unsolicited noise pollution, the furry sociopath disguises himself as Santa Claus, turns his long-suffering dog Max into a discount reindeer, and launches a one-man Yuletide home-invasion spree. Throughout the night, the Grinch burglarizes an entire town, stealing everything from presents and stockings to Christmas trees, food, and apparently even the last can of Who-hash. His crime wave is briefly interrupted by Cindy-Lou Who, a dangerously trusting toddler whom he deceives with an easily disproven story about repairing her Christmas tree. After hauling the stolen merchandise to the top of Mount Crumpit for ceremonial disposal, the Grinch discovers that the Whos are somehow celebrating Christmas without any consumer goods whatsoever. This revelation causes his heart to spontaneously triple in size, granting him superhuman strength and presumably creating an immediate medical emergency. Newly rehabilitated, the Grinch returns the stolen property, receives absolutely no legal consequences for dozens of felony burglaries, and is inexplicably invited to Christmas dinner, where the former domestic terrorist is given the ceremonial honor of carving the roast beast.

Roast beast? Check. Loveable curmudgeon? Yep. Bassiest bass voice that ever bassed? It’s grrreeaat! So make your own Santa suit, hop on your ramshackle sleigh, and climb down the chimney to this episode on "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

Rose Suchak Ladder
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Lost Christmas Podcast
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PARENTAL WARNING: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE WITH CHILDREN PRESENT!

What’s up, dudes? It’s one of the bleakest Christmas movies ever made—and Disney apparently decided dead parents, unemployment, bank robberies, and existential despair were exactly what kids needed for Christmas! Yes, it’s “One Magic Christmas!” I’ve got Santa Ambassador Matt Spaulding from North Pole Radio, and Jeremy Phelps the Alamo City Santa here to discuss it.

In this 1985 film, Ginny Grainger is a financially struggling mom who has completely lost her Christmas spirit. Her husband Jack is unemployed, the family has to move out of their company-owned house, and Ginny is working nights at the grocery store while her kids, Cal and Abbie, are still desperately trying to enjoy Christmas. Enter Gideon, a mysterious Christmas angel who apparently decides the best way to restore Ginny’s faith is through some good old-fashioned Yuletide psychological trauma. After Abbie mails a letter to Santa, a desperate bank robber shoots Jack during a robbery, kidnaps the kids, and drives them off a bridge. Merry Christmas from Walt Disney Pictures, everybody!

Luckily, Gideon gives Ginny the chance to travel to the North Pole, where she meets Santa Claus himself and retrieves Abbie’s letter. Ginny finally understands what Christmas—and her family—really mean to her, and some convenient Christmas magic rewinds the nightmare. Jack is alive, the kids are safe, Ginny embraces the season, and Santa even leaves Jack the bicycle he’d wanted when he was a kid.

Christmas angel orchestrating an elaborate supernatural intervention? Yup. Children plunging into an icy river? Got it. Harry Dean Stanton lurking around town with a harmonica like the Ghost of Christmas Existential Crisis? Absolutely! So mail your letter to Santa, hold your family close, and maybe keep Dad FAR away from the bank as we rediscover the Christmas spirit with “One Magic Christmas!”

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PARENTAL WARNING: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE WITH CHILDREN PRESENT!

What’s up, dudes? It's July, and it's ridiculously hot, so we’re gonna have a watch-along party for the Rankin Bass classic “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”. I’ve got CJ Bélanger from Rose Suchak Ladder, Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas podcast, and Jeremy Phelps the Alamo City Santa with me to provide commentary and enjoy the ride!

The story chronicles the rise of Kris Kringle, an abandoned ginger baby who grows up with a family of toy-making elves and eventually decides to deliver their wares to the miserable children of Sombertown. Unfortunately, the town is ruled by Burgermeister Meisterburger, a goose-stepping fun-hater who declares toys illegal after suffering a workplace-related yo-yo injury. Along the way, Kris befriends future Mrs. Claus Jessica, teaches the icy Winter Warlock the restorative power of choo-choos, and recruits a small army of flying reindeer for his increasingly elaborate toy-smuggling operation. After being jailed for spreading unauthorized merriment, Kris escapes, grows a beard, changes his name to Santa Claus, and relocates his entire operation to the North Pole like some sort of Yuletide witness-protection program. Eventually, the Burgermeister dynasty dies out, everyone realizes banning toys was incredibly stupid, and Santa becomes an immortal international trespasser celebrated for breaking into millions of homes every December.

Icy Sauron? Check. Megalomaniacal tyrant? Yep. Late ‘60s acid trip hippie song? Only with psychedelic background effects! So grab your magic feed corn, hop on your flying reindeer, and climb down the chimney to this episode on "Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town!"

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What's up, dudes? It's been a beast of a week. We lost two legends of their respective industries. Dolly Parton was one of the greatest people of our time. She was a musician, actress, and humanitarian. Her Christmas albums, all of which were accompanied by a tv special, have been staples of many a family's Christmas season. We've even covered some of her '80s Christmas endeavors on this show previously. 

Tim Curry was a genius in his own right. Had he not made it as an actor, he could've been a prolific musician as well. His role as Wadsworth has so much energy and wit! From Pennywise to Rooster to Darkness to the Concierge, he proved that the term "character actor" is not a bad thing.

Requiescat in pace. Amen.

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What's up, dudes? Remember standing in line for hours to get that one toy? Your parents probably did, especially after you sat down and circled all the toys you wanted in the Wishbook? Vinnie Brezinsky from Huey and Bax joins me to talk holiday shopping and wishbooks! Malls and shopping and commercials! Oh my! 

From Toys 'R' Us to Sears, from JC Penney to Kmart, we talk all about shopping and wishbooks. The Sears Wish Book began in 1933 as a special Christmas edition of the Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog, packed with toys, games, dolls, bicycles, clothing, and other gifts that quickly made it a beloved holiday tradition for American families. Over the decades, the catalog grew into a massive annual showcase—often hundreds of pages long—where generations of children eagerly circled, dog-eared, and dreamed about the presents they hoped Santa might bring. As department-store catalogs declined and shopping shifted online, Sears discontinued the traditional Wish Book in the 1990s, briefly revived it in print and digital forms in later years, and left behind an enduring piece of Christmas nostalgia.

Toys? Check. Clothes? Yeah, they're in there too. Christmas decorations? Of course! So grab your red marker and circle all the things you want in this episode on 1980s holiday shopping and wishbooks!  

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What’s up, dudes? It’s Christmas in July, and apparently Santa is getting a serious head start on his deliveries! The Rainbow Panthers are seeing red—and white—when the big guy himself drops by in Pink Panther and Sons “Insanity Claus!” Yes, Panky believes in Santa, even when everyone else thinks he’s completely crackers! I’ve got Jeff Loftin from Lost Christmas and Alamo City Santa Jeremy Phelps with me to talk all about it!

Pinky, Panky, and the Rainbow Panthers are having a slumber party when a mysterious stranger comes down the chimney. It’s Santa Claus! There’s just one little problem: it’s July! Santa claims he’s getting an early start on Christmas, but the Panthers aren’t buying it. Everyone assumes the jolly old elf is actually a burglar in disguise—everyone, that is, except Panky!

Determined to protect Santa, Panky tries to hide him from his suspicious friends. Unfortunately, the would-be Kris Kringle is eventually discovered and hauled off to jail! Panky insists they’ve arrested the real Santa Claus, and despite everyone thinking he’s been duped, the little panther refuses to give up. Sure enough, the gang eventually discovers that Panky was right all along. Santa really was getting a jump on Christmas!

Christmas in July? Check. Santa breaking and entering? Got it. Kris Kringle in the clink? Only until Panky proves that sometimes you’ve just gotta believe! So grab your sleeping bag, keep an eye on the chimney, and don’t call the cops on Santa as we go completely Christmas crazy with Pink Panther and Sons “Insanity Claus!”

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What’s up, dudes? What are you people? On dope?! I’ve got Michael May from After Lunch, Crestwood House, and Hellbent for Letterbox, Scott Leopold from Holly Jolly X'masu, and Tim Williams from 80’s Flick Flashback are with me to talk the Christmas-adjacent movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High!”

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) follows a group of Southern California teenagers as they stumble through a school year filled with first jobs, romance, sex, friendship, and the everyday humiliations of being young. At the center is Stacy Hamilton, a shy sophomore who begins exploring dating and relationships with encouragement from her more experienced friend Linda Barrett. Meanwhile, Stacy’s older brother Brad watches his seemingly perfect life unravel after losing his job and his girlfriend, while Stacy’s awkward friend Mark “Rat” Ratner tries to work up the nerve to pursue her. Their stories unfold against the backdrop of Ridgemont High and the local mall, capturing teenage life with a mix of raunchy comedy and surprising sincerity.

The film’s most memorable character, however, is perpetually stoned surfer Jeff Spicoli, whose laid-back attitude puts him in constant conflict with stern history teacher Mr. Hand. While Spicoli dreams of surfing and Van Halen, the other students gradually discover that adulthood is arriving faster than they expected—and it comes with consequences. By the end, relationships have shifted, friendships have been tested, and several characters have grown up at least a little. Directed by Amy Heckerling and written by Cameron Crowe, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” became a defining teen comedy of the 1980s, balancing outrageous moments and endlessly quotable humor with a remarkably grounded look at the uncertainty, mistakes, and small victories of adolescence.

Forgotten wallet? Check. Santa who got peed on? Poor kid. Most paused movie scene ever? You know you did! So grab your surfboard, put on your pirate costume, and scalp some tickets to this episode!

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After Lunch

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What’s up, dudes? Kevin Williams from ‘Tis the Soundtrack joins me to talk about Rainbow “Snowman!” Yes, the former Deep Purple guitarist took Howard Blake’s song from the 1982 classic and reworked it as an atmospheric synth and electric guitar anthem!

Rainbow was formed in 1975 by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore after he began to tire of Deep Purple and the band’s changing musical direction. Deep Purple had already replaced Ian Gillan and Roger Glover with David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes, but Blackmore remained unhappy with where the music was headed. What began as Blackmore recording a single with members of the band Elf ultimately grew into a full album and the creation of Rainbow. The band quickly became known for its larger-than-life live shows, whose centerpiece was a massive computer-controlled rainbow containing some 3,000 lightbulbs and stretching 40 feet across the stage. Rainbow also became notorious for its revolving door of musicians, with original vocalist Ronnie James Dio departing in 1978 over disagreements about the band’s increasingly commercial musical direction. After further lineup changes, Joe Lynn Turner eventually took over as lead singer, ushering in Rainbow’s more radio-friendly early-’80s era. That lineup would lead to Bent Out of Shape, released September 9, 1983, which featured the song in question as the album’s ninth track.

Rainbow’s instrumental “Snowman,” featured on their 1983 album Bent Out of Shape, is based on “Walking in the Air,” the haunting theme written by composer Howard Blake for the beloved 1982 animated film The Snowman, itself adapted from Raymond Briggs’ 1978 children’s book. Blake had actually composed the melody around 1970 before later adapting it for the television special, where it became the musical centerpiece of the story. The Snowman—which went on to become a seasonal television favorite in Britain and Finland—follows the fleeting adventure of a young boy and the snowman he brings to life. During their magical flight to the North Pole, “Walking in the Air” accompanies the pair as they soar through the night before attending a gathering of snowmen and meeting Santa Claus and his reindeer. In the original film, the song was performed by St. Paul’s Cathedral choirboy Peter Auty, whose recording was later reissued in 1985 and 1987. Ritchie Blackmore was captivated by the composition’s haunting, melodic beauty and, having long enjoyed adapting classical and traditional melodies into rock instrumentals, transformed Blake’s delicate vocal theme into “Snowman.” Rainbow’s version builds atmospheric tension around the familiar melody before giving Blackmore the opportunity to let loose with a soaring, emotional electric-guitar lead—turning one of animation’s most delicate Christmas themes into a distinctly Rainbow instrumental.

Synth flute? Check. Fuzzy guitar? Got it. Brad Fiedel The Terminator-style synth percussion? Definitely! So grab your guitar, stand behind that keyboard, and rock out to Rainbow “Snowman!”

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What's up, dudes? It's another minisode! Today we're celebrating Halloween and Christmas with the John Barrett penned Ted E. Bear story "Christmas Comes to Monster Mountain!" It’s a the literary sequel to “The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas” and “The Great Bear Scare.”

John Barrett came up with the story to “The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas” and developed the teleplay for the special which was subsequently produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises in 1973. The special stars Ted E. Bear as a curious bear who yearns to discover and experience Christmastide, even as he endures ridicule from the entire bear community. Barrett also wrote several sequels to the special, including “The Great Bear Scare.” In this adventure, the bears of the city of Bearbank hear rumors that Count Dracula and the other monsters from Monster Mountain are going to invade and conquer Bearbank on Halloween. Teddy believes he has found a way to deter and repel the creatures, and indeed he does save the day. In fact, “The Great Bear Scare” was turned into a special layer in 1983, though the animation is stilted and incomplete. Dracula also has trouble turning into a bat for some reason.

That now brings us to “Christmas Comes to Monster Mountain.” Developed by the LeFave Company, it was published in 1981 by Children’s Press. The illustrations were done by Rick Reinert Productions in the style of the original special. 

Dracula, the leader of the monsters, is running for re-election, and needs a scheme so vile that it secures his victory. His diabolical plot: kidnap Santa. I wonder if Jack Skellington took notes from this book. He writes a letter to Santa pretending to be a young boy so that the good saint will visit him. Sure enough, on Christmas Eve, Santa comes down Dracula’s chimney and is caught in his trap. When Santa doesn’t come back up the chimney, his reindeer fly off to get help. Enter Ted E Bear! He agrees to help, and since he can’t rescue Santa from Dracula, he delivers all the presents in Santa’s stead. On Christmas morning, as Dracula revels in his success, Ted shows up and reveals that the ploy failed because he himself delivered the presents. Dracula is sure he will lose the election; however, Santa always brings extra gifts on his trip. Ted E Bear handed them out to all the monsters for Christmas. The monsters are so overcome with joy that Dracula wins in a landslide. He brought Christmas to Monster Mountain.

Scary monsters? Check. Undaunted protagonist? Got it. Learning to fly Santa’s sleigh in no time? For sure! So grab your flight map, hop on the sleigh, and deliver presents to this episode!

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What’s up, dudes? It’s the greatest store ever to an ‘80s kid! Yes, it’s Toys “R” Us, the category killer! Today we’re talking the Toys “R” Us Christmas Dream Book 1986!

Toys “R” Us goes all the way back to 1948, when Charles Lazarus opened a little Washington, D.C. shop called Children’s Bargain Town, selling baby furniture. Eventually he pivoted from cribs and strollers to playthings. In 1957, Lazarus opened the first store under the Toys “R” Us name, built like a supermarket for toys—long aisles, stacked shelves, self-service shopping, and wall-to-wall kids’ stuff. 

This book provides a huge variety of toys. From ThunderCats to Cabbage Patch Kids, there’s something for everyone. The Milton Bradley games provided hours of fun, and Cats Lair gave the ThunderCats a base and place of respite in between fighting mutants and berserkers. Of course, Robotech 3 3/4in figures were great to incorporate on your Joe team!

Electronic Battleship? Check. Lazer Tag? Rad! The Hart Family? Only if it's a surprise party playset! So grab your ThunderCats figures, throw them in your Sling ‘Em Fling ‘Em Wrestling Ring, and circle your favorites in this  Toys “R” Us Christmas Dream Book 1986!

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What's up, dudes? I've got Ken Kessler from Sounds of Christmas and Scott Leopold from Holly Jolly X'masu here to talk the jangle pop/alternative rock album by the Chris Stamey Group “Christmas Time!” After a stint with the dB's, Chris Stamey went out on his own as a solo artist. He invited his former bandmates back for a fun Christmas album.

"Christmas Time" was released as a 7-song vinyl EP under the credit Chris Stamey Group with Special Guests The dB’s. The EP mixed original songs with inventive takes on Christmas music, emphasizing chorused and reverbed guitars, melodic power pop, and quirky holiday charm. The record was mostly comprised of original tunes, the exception being a reworking of Deck the Hall by Cathy Harrington called Sha La La (Deck the Halls). Something Came Over Me is a reflective, melodic original that balances bittersweet lyrics with shimmering guitars and sophisticated pop arrangements. The opening title track is a bright, jangly power-pop original featuring Chris Stamey and Peter Holsapple’s harmonies, chiming guitars, and an infectious holiday hook that perfectly captures the warmth and excitement of Christmas. 

The Only Law That Santa Claus Understood is a witty folk-pop original by Ted Lyons that pairs clever storytelling with acoustic instrumentation and understated charm, offering one of the collection’s most unique lyrical perspectives. Snow Is Falling is a lush, atmospheric ballad featuring bass ostinato and Mary’s haunting lead vocal, slowly building into a dreamy meditation on the quiet beauty and peaceful solitude of a snowy Christmas evening. Both are followed by the acoustic guitar instrumental It's a Wonderful Life which quotes What Child is This? to end on a remarkable, intriguing disquiet.

Keyboards? Yep. Guitars? Got ‘em. Outlaw wild west Santa? For sure! So grab your record player, put on “Christmas Time,” and listen to this episode!

Sounds of Christmas
FB: @SOCMusic
Twitter: @SOCMusic
IG: @socmusic

Holly Jolly X'masu
FB: @HollyJollyXmasu
Twitter: @HollyJollyXmasu
IG: @hollyjollyxmasu

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What’s up, dudes? I wanna rock and roll all night while dreaming of a white Christmas! Yes, we’re talking KISS “White Christmas!” I’ve got my whole band with me: Adam Pope from Wizards! The Podcast Guide to Comics and The Retro Network (Geekster), and Remember That Show?, Jeremy Phelps the Alamo City Santa, Vinnie Brezinsky from Huey and Bax, and Kathryn Sugg!

On Dec 19, 1987, KISS came out for an encore and sang the Irving Berlin classic “White Christmas!” The a capella harmonies were tight! And yes, Gene helps the audience keep the beat as they start clapping.

Also, Paul took over MTV for the Paul Stanley Guest VJ Hour! He’s joined by two present wrapping helpers in sexy Mrs. Claus outfits. He introduces videos, and does a QVC-style gift demo. Some are wild, like the mini car for Gene.

Makeup? Check. Guitars? Got ‘em. Waterbugs and ‘80s robots? What?! So paint your face, hop in your little car, and sing an encore to this episode on KISS “White Christmas!”

Wizards!
Twitter: @WizardsComics
IG: @wizards_comics
FB: @TRNsocial

IG: @alamocitysanta 

Etsy: North Pole General Store 

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What’s up, dudes? If you’re looking for the ultimate Dolly Christmas special, her 1990 NBC holiday TV event “Dolly Parton: Christmas at Home” is a heartwarming trip back to a simpler Christmas. CJ Bélanger from Rose Suchak Ladder and I have a blast with this one! 

The special was made to coincide with the release of her new Christmas album. It follows Dolly from a charming Christmas store to a garland-filled Nashville recording studio in the middle of July—where she records holiday classics surrounded by enough tinsel, bows, and magnificent mullets to make any child of the ‘80s smile. From there, she heads home to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, reuniting with her family for playful sibling teasing, treasured childhood memories, and unforgettable performances of Christmas favorites including “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Deck the Halls,” “We Three Kings,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” It’s classic Dolly: equal parts laughter, storytelling, heartfelt nostalgia, and sparkling holiday magic.

As the special continues, Dolly visits a nursing home, takes children through Dollywood during Christmastime, shares touching stories about homemade gifts and family traditions, and celebrates the true meaning of Christmas with performances of “Little Drummer Boy,” “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Joy to the World,” “The First Noel,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” and a beautiful closing rendition of “Silent Night.” Watching today also offers a delightful time capsule of 1990 Christmas commercials, featuring Chevy, Kodak, McDonald’s, Toys “R” Us, Tylenol, and other nostalgic favorites that instantly transport viewers back to the golden age of holiday television. Filled with faith, family, unforgettable music, and enough Christmas spirit to light up the Smoky Mountains, this is one Dolly Parton Christmas special that deserves a place on every retro holiday watchlist.

One hundred year old carousel? Check. Wagon rides? Got it. Brothers teasing a sister’s looks? Definitely! So grab your guitar, sing about the wisemen, and visit a nursing home with this episode on “Dolly Parton: Christmas at Home!”

Rose Suchak Ladder
IG: @rosesuchakladderpod

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