Dolly Parton (and Tim Curry) Tribute (w/ Ken, Scott, CJ & Anthony)

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 LadderIG: @rosesuchakladderpodLost Christmas PodcastFB: @LostChristmasPodcastTwitter: @LostChristmasP1IG: @lostchristmaspodcastIG: @alamocitysanta Etsy: North Pole General Store FB: @northpolegeneralstore                             IG: @northpole_generalstore Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

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!”Alamo City SantaIG: @alamocitysanta Etsy: North Pole General Store FB: @northpolegeneralstore                              IG: @northpole_generalstore Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

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!"Rose Suchak LadderIG: @rosesuchakladderpodLost Christmas PodcastFB: @LostChristmasPodcastTwitter: @LostChristmasP1IG: @lostchristmaspodcastIG: @alamocitysanta Etsy: North Pole General Store FB: @northpolegeneralstore                             IG: @northpole_generalstore Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

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.Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

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!  Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

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!”Lost Christmas PodcastFB: @LostChristmasPodcastTwitter: @LostChristmasP1IG: @lostchristmaspodcastAlamo City Santa                                                    IG: @alamocitysanta Etsy: North Pole General StoreFB: @northpolegeneralstore                                                                                              IG: @northpole_generalstoreGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

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!80’s Flick FlashbackFB: @80’s Flick Flashback podcastTwitter: @80_podcastIG: @80sflickflashbackHolly Jolly X'masuFB: @HollyJollyXmasuTwitter: @HollyJollyXmasuIG: @hollyjollyxmasuAfter LunchGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

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!”‘Tis the SoundtrackYouTube: @TisTheSoundtrackIG:  @tisthesoundtrackGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

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!Give us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!

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 ChristmasFB: @SOCMusicTwitter: @SOCMusicIG: @socmusicHolly Jolly X'masuFB: @HollyJollyXmasuTwitter: @HollyJollyXmasuIG: @hollyjollyxmasuGive us a buzz! Send a text, dudes!Check us out on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram,  Totally Rad Christmas Mall & Arcade, Teepublic.com, or TotallyRadChristmas.com!  Later, dudes!