Advent Calendar House

Mike Westfall
  • 4.8 (61)
  • TV Reviews
  • Updated Bimonthly

A salute to all TV holiday specials, but mostly the Christmas ones. Revisit 12 holiday classics and not-so-classics each December and July.

  1. 1d ago

    Santa vs. the Snowman

    🎄 Today’s adventure finds us caught in the middle of a battle for the North Pole in multiple dimensions.  🎙️ Sammy Hain and Jeff Loftin join the march back to 1997 to witness the Christmas clash of Santa vs. the Snowman, a TV special from creator Steve Oedekerk and director John A. Davis, who’d later team up to write and direct “Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.”  📺 You can find “Santa vs. the Snowman” on YouTube, both an original 1997 broadcast with commercials, and its 2002 update for IMAX 3D.  ****  (00:00) - Intro  (02:16) - Guest and Special Histories  (07:31) - 3D Opening  (12:58) - Act 1  (26:19) - Retro Commercial Break  (28:51) - Act 2  (52:19) - Act 3  (1:00:50) - Final Thoughts  ****  💬 Topics & Tangents:  Don LaFontaine in “Five Guys in a Limo” (1997)  Don LaFontaine’s final TV voiceover role on “Phineas and Ferb.”  Ben Stein’s “Confessions for the Holidays” (2005) taken way out of context.  Hershey’s Chocolate Tour: Holiday Edition.  Today’s TV Trope: Animated Outtakes, and an example from “A Bug’s Life.”  ****  📼 Commercials:  Bell Atlantic: Wild Things Are Happening (1997)  Old Navy: A Very Magic Holiday Special (1997)  The Lost Christmas Podcast  ****  “Santa vs. the Snowman” © 1997, 2002 Steaming Monkey, Inc.  Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  Find us at adventcalendar.house.  Hosted by The Retro Network.  #s16 #1990s

    Santa vs. the Snowman

  2. 3d ago

    Elmo Says BOO!

    🎃 It’s Halloween in July, and it’s time to spookalize!  🎙️ Becca Petunia joins us as we creep back to 1997 for a howling good time at the spookiest address on Sesame Street, as Elmo pays a visit to Count von Count with one mission: To tell him a bunch of funny, scary jokes!  📺 You can find “Elmo Says BOO!” on YouTube.  ****  (00:00) - Intro  (02:19) - History of the Special and Accompanying Album  (14:12) - Funny, Scary Jokes!  (48:26) - Retro Commercial Break  (49:43) - More Funny, Scary Jokes!  (1:02:29) - Into the Pyramid  (1:07:53) - Even More Funny, Scary Jokes!  (1:26:28) - More About the Album and Final Thoughts  ****  💬 Topics & Tangents:  Muppet Wiki notes this Halloween special doesn’t mention Halloween… on purpose.  The “Elmo Says BOO!” album featuring songs not in the special, including a weird “Monster Mash” cover.  ToughPigs: My Week with Halloween: Elmo Says BOO!  A Definitive Rating of All 15 Funny, Scary Jokes in Elmo Says BOO!  Becca discusses “Kermit Unpigged” on Movin’ Right Along.  The Count and Susan Sarandon in a “Rocky Horror” spoof.  Jim Henson’s Monster Cereals.  “The Song of the Count” art by Luke Flowers.  Shriek on “Batman Beyond.”  Julia Roberts shares a limo with the Two-Headed Monster.  “Java.”  Mike’s Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets preview and interviews with Imagineers and Electric Mayhem guitarists.  Elmo’s debut in the original “We Are All Monsters,” and the redub that’s a rare instance of Elmo speaking in the first person.  Bert & Ernie’s Pyramid Scheme: The Sesame Street Sketch You Might Have Repressed.  The Other Top 70 Muppet Moments.  “Fem myror är fler än fyra elefanter” (It’s Swedish for “Five ants are more than four elephants.”)  Frazzle shows his range of emotions.  J.D. Hansel interviews Noel MacNeal, including his work on “The Batty Bat.”  Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2” as performed by Tom Cat and Bugs Bunny.  “Mysterioso Pizzicato,” or “The Villain’s Theme.”  Jackman Wolf on home video and at Sesame Place.  ****  📼 Commercials:  Elmo Says BOO! VHS Commercial (1997)  Micro Machines Micro Lights (1990)  ****  “Elmo Says BOO!” © 1997 Children’s Television Workshop.  Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  Find us at adventcalendar.house.  Hosted by The Retro Network.  #s16 #1990s #halloween #muppets

    Elmo Says BOO!

  3. 5d ago

    The Teddy Bears’ Christmas

    🎄 It’s Christmas time for teddy bears in this 1992 prequel to what I thought until very recently was a one-off special called “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic.”  🎙️ Ethan “The Hungry Reader” and Anthony Strand join us as we meet the title teddy from a later cartoon series called “The Secret World of Benjamin Bear,” his first encounter with his friend, Wally, and a new, but familiar set of rules of being a living teddy bear. Many comparisons to “The Christmas Toy” ensue.    📺 You can find “The Teddy Bears’ Christmas” on YouTube.  ****  (00:00) - Intro  (02:09) - The History of Benjamin Bear  (05:26) - Act 1  (23:22) - Act 2  (35:40) - Retro Commercial Break  (36:50) - Act 3  (1:08:44) - Final Thoughts  ****  💬 Topics & Tangents:  “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic” (1989)  “The Secret World of Benjamin Bear.”  Today’s TV Trope: Sliding Scale of Living Toys.  “A celebrity is not a people.” — Lew Zealand.  Mike on A Special Presentation for “The Hugga Bunch Movie.”  The Price of His Toys store catalog.  When Houses Had Built-In “Milk Doors.”  Goofy gets kissed by the milkman (“Father’s Day Off,” 1953)  “The Birthday Dragon” (1991)  “Rollin’ with Saget” by Jamie Kennedy and Stu Stone (Wally), featuring Bob Saget.  Garfield: “Pooky has two ears and no mouth.” (1985)  More talk about Santabear.  Mike previewed the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets… and interviewed the Electric Mayhem for ToughPigs.com!  ****  📼 Commercials:  TV Teddy (1993)  Christmas Creeps.  ****  “The Teddy Bears’ Christmas” © 1992 Longboat Productions, LLC.  Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  Find us at adventcalendar.house.  Hosted by The Retro Network.  #s16 #1990s

    The Teddy Bears’ Christmas

  4. Jul 9

    Recess - Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave

    🎄 It’s that time of year again: Time to deal with smarty-pants 4th-graders who think they know how Santa Claus works.  🎙️ The Advent Calendar House welcomes Caleb Cote from Insert Reference Here and Robert Nicholas from Behind the Bells as we watch a very special 1998 Christmas episode of Disney’s “Recess,” featuring elementary school hierarchy, a globally televised Christmas pageant, and the dulcet tones of a 10-year-old who sings like Robert Goulet.  📺 “Recess” is available on Disney+. “Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave” is Season 2, Episode 10.  ****  (00:00) - Intro  (02:26) - Our Histories with Recess  (10:49) - Our Histories with “Recess”  (24:11) - Act 1  (1:03:55) - Retro Commercial Break  (1:06:12) - Act 2  (1:29:02) - Act 3  (1:48:48) - Final Thoughts  ****  💬 Topics & Tangents:  Caleb introduces us to Goalball.  Mike talks about The Legend of Zelda on Insert Reference Here.  Dabney Coleman (Principal Prickly) in “The Muppets Take Manhattan.”  Robert Goulet sings “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” on “The Simpsons.”  Today’s TV Tropes: Cast Calculus, Noodle Incident, and Glass-Shattering Sound.  Kevin sits on Santa Michael’s lap on “The Office.”  Ronnie Schell (Mayor Fitzhugh) as Peter Puck.  “Local Politician” by The Arrogant Worms.  ****  📼 Commercials:  Bubble Tape (circa 1991)  ****  “Recess” and “Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave” © 1998 Disney Enterprises, Inc.  Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  Find us at adventcalendar.house.  Hosted by The Retro Network.  #s16 #1990s #disney

    Recess - Yes, Mikey, Santa Does Shave

  5. Jul 7

    Yogi the Easter Bear

    🐰 This Easter in July, we’ve hopped back to 1994 on a rather stressful and dangerous trip through Jellystone Park.  🎙️ Sammy Hain and Gerry Davila join us for a visit to the Easter Bunny, the Magical Easter Chicken, and the world’s least eco-friendly plastic factory, all of which somehow call Jellystone Park home.  📺 You can find “Yogi the Easter Bear” on the Internet Archive.  ****  (00:00) - Intro  (02:23) - Guest and Special Histories  (05:50) - Act 1  (46:15) - Retro Commercial Break  (47:50) - Act 2  (59:22) - Act 3  (01:18:36) - Final Thoughts  ****  💬 Topics & Tangents:  There’s a whole franchise of Jellystone Park campgrounds.  Don’t feed bears chocolate!  Today’s TV Tropes: “Oh, Crap!” Smile and Bat Scare.  The International Ranger Federation was founded way more recently than I expected.  Sesame Street News Flash: Holiday Mix-Up.  The creepy Easter Bunny from “Teen Titans Go!”  “The Simpsons,” Duff, Duff Light, and Duff Dry.  “Saturday Night Live,” Colon Blow.  Easter Sammy’s Spring Breakers T-shirt, designed by Jayme!  ****  📼 Commercials:  Cadbury Bunny Tryouts (1994)  Totally Rad Christmas  ****  “Yogi the Easter Bear” © 1994 Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc.  Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  Find us at adventcalendar.house.  Hosted by The Retro Network.  #s16 #1990s #easter #hannabarbera

    Yogi the Easter Bear

  6. Jul 5

    The Dukes - A Dickens of a Christmas

    🎄 Well, them podcast boys have run into another Scrooge Sunday, and this time, the ghosts from “A Christmas Carol” are haunting Boss Hogg in the Dukes of Hazzard’s Saturday morning cartoon counterpart.  🎙️ Michael DiGiovanni and new guest Ken Kessler from The Sounds of Christmas join the ride through Christmas past, present, and future as the Dukes take a holiday from their race around the world in an episode that made us wish they’d get back to racing.  📺 You can find “A Dickens of a Christmas” on the Internet Archive.  ****  (00:00) - Intro  (02:23) - Personal and Series History  (10:03) - Act 1: Big Jake Marley’s Ghost  (23:27) - Retro Commercial Break  (25:29) - Act 2: Christmas Past and Present  (37:19) - Act 3: Christmas Future and The End of It  (48:35) - Final Thoughts  ****  💬 Topics & Tangents:  John Schneider and Tom Wopat made a Christmas album.  Sorrell Booke (Boss Hogg) as Santa on “Full House.”  Christmas in Russia is on January 7th.  Is this story’s Belle substitute the only time we ever meet Uncle Jesse’s late (or, in this case, future) wife?  ****  📼 Commercials:  “The Dukes” Saturday Morning Promo (1983)  Kentucky Fried Chicken Christmas Commercial (circa 1987)  Snow in Southtown  ****  “The Dukes” and “A Dickens of a Christmas” © 1983 Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc.  “The Dukes of Hazzard” © 1983 Warner Bros., Inc.  Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  Find us at adventcalendar.house.  Hosted by The Retro Network.  #s16 #1980s #scroogesunday #hannabarbera

    The Dukes - A Dickens of a Christmas

  7. Jul 3

    A DuckTales Valentine

    💝 We’re celebrating Valentine’s Day in July with a deep dive into a 1990 “DuckTales” special that aired on “The Magical World of Disney.”  🎙️ Erin Evans and Joey O. join us as we tune our heart-shaped TVs to watch Scrooge McDuck search for the lost treasure of Aphroducky, which nearly ends in him marrying the avian goddess of love and angering her Honeymooner of a husband.  📺 You can watch “A DuckTales Valentine” on Disney+.  ****  (00:00) - Intro  (02:26) - Our Histories with DuckTales  (08:34) - The Magical World of Disney Intro  (10:32) - Act 1  (31:45) - Retro Commercial Break  (35:29) - Act 2  (54:42) - Final Thoughts  ****  💬 Topics & Tangents:  The accompanying shorts: “Mickey’s Delayed Date,” “Mr. Duck Steps Out,” and “Canine Casanova.”  This special’s intro featuring Michael Eisner and original commercials.  Michael’s Disney varsity jacket is on eBay.  Terry McGovern (Launchpad) in a “Back to the Future” deleted scene.  Terry McGovern on voicing Stormtroopers and accidentally inventing the word “Wookiee.”  Get the Phillies Feeling (circa 1988)  Today’s TV Trope: Cupid’s Arrow.  “Stop the presses!” from “The Great Muppet Caper.”  Sesame Street’s Love Boat.  Peter dives into a money bin on “Family Guy.”  Revenge of the Turducken Hunger Games.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: “The Lost Queen of Atlantis.”  “Donald Duck: Instant Millionaire.”  ****  📼 Commercials:  Isuzu Trooper Commercial starring Joe Isuzu (1990)  Holidays After Dark  ****  “DuckTales” and “A DuckTales Valentine” © 1990 The Walt Disney Company.  Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  Find us at adventcalendar.house.  Hosted by The Retro Network.  #s16 #1990s #valentinesday #disney

    A DuckTales Valentine

  8. Jul 1

    Frosty Returns

    🎄 Somehow Frosty returned.  🎙️ The Advent Calendar House is back open for Christmas in July as Donnie Storms and new guest Collin Murr from Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Podcast drop in seeking shelter from “Frosty Returns,” which despite the title, is not a sequel, and not even a Christmas special. From Lorne Michaels and Kermit the Frog’s ghostwriter comes a message about the environment delivered by the voices of John Goodman, Jonathan Winters, and a young Elizabeth Moss.  📺 You can find “Frosty Returns” on the Internet Archive.  ****  (00:00) - Intro  (02:10) - Guest Histories  (05:57) - The History of Frosty Returns  (12:06) - Act 1  (44:41) - Retro Commercial Break  (45:57) - Act 2  (01:08:14) - Act 3  (01:22:28) - Final Thoughts  ****  💬 Topics & Tangents:  An interview with story writer Jim Lewis (The Muppet Newsflash, 2007).  Today’s TV Tropes: Stern Teacher and Right-Hand Cat.  “Dick Tracy Special: Tracy Zooms In.”  “Donald’s Snow Fight.”  “I have a hole in my stomach!” from “Death Becomes Her.”  The parade from “Batman” (1989).  ****  📼 Commercials:  Trix Cereal Christmas Commercial (circa 1992)  Festive Foreign Film Fans  ****  “Frosty Returns” © 1992 CBS Inc.  Hosted by The Retro Network.  Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.  Find us at adventcalendar.house.  #s16 #1990s #frosty

    Frosty Returns
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About

A salute to all TV holiday specials, but mostly the Christmas ones. Revisit 12 holiday classics and not-so-classics each December and July.

Information

  • Creator
    Mike Westfall
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    209
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    ©2017–2026 Advent Calendar House. Programs reviewed are property of their respective owners.
  • Show Website
    Advent Calendar House

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