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PODCAST

Advent Calendar House

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

tv & film tv reviews

All Episodes

01:02:57

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Christmas Aliens

Advent Calendar House ·

2025/07/09

🎄 Cowabunga! In nearly 40 years of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV series, 2004’s “The Christmas Aliens” is somehow their only animated Christmas episode. Join Michelangelo and a kitty named Klunk on a Christmas Eve car chase as they save a truckload of stolen Little Orphan Alien dolls meant for a group of little orphan human Earthlings, all while Splinter makes a sewer full of guests wait for Mikey to arrive before they eat. At press time, “The Christmas Aliens” is available on Paramount+. ****

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01:23:03

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

Advent Calendar House ·

2025/07/07

🐰 It’s Easter in July, and those two things together are the least confusing thing about today’s episode. In 1971’s “Here Comes Peter Cottontail,” the first Rankin/Bass non-Christmas holiday special, it’s a race across the calendar to reclaim the title of Chief Easter Bunny from the evil January Q. Irontail, voiced by Vincent Price. You can watch it on Tubi, or this restored version on the YouTube channel “The Rankin Bass Archive.” **** 🎙 Guests: Michael May (MichaelMay.online, After Lunch,

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01:02:28

The Mary Tyler Moore Show: Not a Christmas Story

Advent Calendar House ·

2025/07/05

🎄 We’re snowed in a bit earlier than expected, so we’ve hunkered down to have a Christmas feast from around the world. Our colleagues from the newsroom upstairs are less than enthusiastic, but that’s not stopping us from enjoying this 1974 non-Christmas Christmas episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” **** 🎙 Guest: Alonso Duralde (Have Yourself a Movie Little Christmas, The Film Verdict, Linoleum Knife, Maximum Film, Breakfast All Day, Deck the Hallmark, Hollywood Pride, Bluesky). **** 💬

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00:45:53

Futurama: A Tale of Two Santas

Advent Calendar House ·

2025/07/03

🌴 In Part 2 of our “Futurama” Xmas double-header, we meet the only thing worse than an evil robot Santa… two evil robot Santas. **** 🎙 Guests: Michael DiGiovanni (Pop Culture Retrofit, Bluesky) Erin Evans (Bluesky) Joey O. (Y-Not Radio, Bluesky) Donnie Storms (Bronwen’s Ghost, Bluesky) **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: “Box Car Blues” (1930). Santa’s Death Fortress sure looks like Elsa’s ice palace. Coolio’s final acting role before his death was a return as the voice of Kwanzaa-bot. An ode

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00:04:01

Futurama: Xmas Story

Advent Calendar House ·

2025/04/01

🌴 It’s either 1999 or the year 3000, and a killer robot Santa is…wait, what month is it?Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost. Full show notes and social links at adventcalendar.house.

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01:40:00

Friends: The One with the Holiday Armadillo

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/25

🎄It’s the year 2000, and Christmas and Hanukkah have crossed path at my doorstep in the form of Santa Claus and his part-Jewish friend… a weird turtle man. In honor of Christmas Day and the first night of Hanukkah sharing a day on the calendar this year, we’re revisiting some old Friends, an escaped tarantula, a restaurant we may never be allowed in or out of again, and an unforgettable interfaith holiday mascot fit for a new millennium. **** 🎙 Guests:Becca Petunia (ToughPigs.com, Bear in the

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02:05:00

Babes in Toyland (1986)

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/24

🎄It’s 1986, and the only way Drew Barrymore can save her new friends is to believe in the magic of toys… and Cincinnati. From director Clive Donner comes a bonkers adaptation of “Babes in Toyland” starring Drew Barrymore, Keanu Reeves, and Richard Mulligan as a weird, evil guy who lives in a bowling ball. **** 🎙 Guests:Molly Patton (MollyPatton.com) Becca Petunia (ToughPigs.com, Bear in the Big Blue Podcast, Bluesky) Adam Pope (The Retro Network, Wizards: The Podcast Guide to Comics, Remember

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02:28:48

Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/22

🎄It’s 2010, and I’m hiding in a closet from a flying shark that ate half my screwdriver. I’ve finally caught up with the timeline of people who have been requesting that I watch the “Doctor Who” Christmas specials, particularly this twisted take on “A Christmas Carol” starring Michael Gambon in the Scrooge role and the 11th Doctor as at least 2 ghosts of Christmas. **** 🎙 Guests:Andre Bennett (Bluesky) Jack Ford (Total Christmas Podcast) Anthony Strand (ToughPigs.com, Movin’ Right Along,

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01:18:10

Santa and the Three Bears

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/20

🎄It’s 1970, and a couple of bear cubs have jumped through my window and are eating all my marshmallows. Join us on a deeper than expected dive into a Christmas special by former Hanna-Barbera animator Tony Benedict that almost wasn’t released till the owner of a now-defunct Florida theme park swooped in and saved it. CONTENT WARNING: No animals were harmed in the making of this podcast. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about one of the 4 versions of this special. **** 🎙 Guests:Gerry Davila

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01:07:08

Justice League: Comfort and Joy

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/18

🎄It’s 2003, and nothing puts me in a festive mood quite like a bar fight. Join us as we spend Christmas break with the Justice League — well, most of it. Wonder Woman’s off doing something else, and Batman… you know, smells. **** 🎙 Guests:Joey O. (Y-Not Radio, Bluesky) James Riley (Twitter) **** 💬 Topics & Tangents:1. Mike talks “Comfort and Joy” on Tis the Podcast. 2. Paul Dini’s notes on “Comfort and Joy,” including what where Wonder Woman and Batman were. 3. The Shrine of the Silver

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01:13:57

Mama’s Family: Santa Mama

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/16

🎄It’s 1986, and Santa looks different after arriving late to the mall due to a flat reindeer. Unfold that TV Guide you crafted into an angel centerpiece and join us for a semi-festive Christmas episode of “Mama’s Family” that will have you believing in either Santa or ghosts at the end of it. **** 🎙 Guest:Joe Fulton (Christmas Aficionado) **** 💬 Topics & Tangents:1. “Santa Mama” on the Internet Archive. 2. A Mama’s Family reunion on “Vicki!” 3. Vicki Lawrence sings “The Night the Lights

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00:57:57

Count Duckula: A Christmas Quacker

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/14

🎄It’s 1990, and Santa’s lost in my confusing network of chimneys. Prepare yourself for a more silly than spooky Christmas special that takes us from Castle Duckula to a concussion-induced space adventure and back. **** 🎙 Guest:Adam Parker Sibun (Merry Britsmas) **** 💬 Topics & Tangents:1. “A Christmas Quacker” on the Internet Archive (it’s mislabeled as another episode). 2. Nick Knacks on “Count Duckula.” 3. Count Duckula’s first appearance on “Danger Mouse.” 4. UK Christmas TV, an

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01:20:23

Alien Xmas

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/12

🎄It’s 2020, and a gift-wrapped puppy licked my face and made my skin turn blue. From the Chiodo Brothers comes a charming stop-motion Christmas special about how an alien invasion of the North Pole almost ruined Christmas — and the entire planet’s gravity, but also Christmas. Plus: A “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” Easter egg, some cameos from “Elf,” and Santa with nunchucks. **** 🎙 Guests:Michael DiGiovanni (Pop Culture Retrofit, Bluesky) Sammy Hain (Sammy’s Easter Tails, Bluesky) **** 💬

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01:39:36

The Love Boat: The Christmas Presence

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/10

🎄It’s 1982, and I’m trapped at sea while Mickey Rooney butts into everyone’s conversation. Join us as we embark on a Christmas cruise aboard the Pacific Princess for a very merry episode of “The Love Boat” featuring Maureen McCormick, Donny Osmond, and Mickey Rooney as an angel in disguise as your nosy neighbor. **** 🎙 Guests:Guy Hutchinson (Pointless Nostalgia, GuyHutchinson.com) William Bruce West (West Week Ever, Remember That Show?) **** 💬 Topics & Tangents:1. “The Christmas Presence”

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01:43:00

Blackadder’s Christmas Carol

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/08

🎄It’s 1988, and the Spirit of Christmas just broke down my bedroom door to say hello. This edition of Scrooge Sunday turns everyone’s favorite festive tale of redemption on its head and blows it out its enormous, muscular backside as great philanthropist and all-around softy Ebenezer Blackadder learns from watching his ancestors and descendants that it’s good to be bad. **** 🎙 Guest: Jack Ford (Total Christmas Podcast) **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: 1. “Blackadder’s Christmas Carol” on

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01:54:19

Barbie in The Nutcracker

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/06

🎄It’s 2001, and a rock giant is chasing us across the ocean, which has been entirely frozen over by fairies with minty fresh breath. From the makers of “ReBoot” and Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing” music video comes Barbie’s first feature-length movie, complete with motion capture of the New York City Ballet, revolutionary hair animation, and Tim Curry as an extra sassy Mouse King. **** 🎙 Guests:Kristi and Bri from Bad Princess Movies. **** 💬 Topics & Tangents:1. “Barbie and the Nutcracker”

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01:22:55

You Can’t Do That on Television: Christmas

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/04

🎄It’s 1984, and Santa’s in front of a firing squad because his executioner didn’t appreciate the socks he got last Christmas. The slime is an extra festive shade of green in this Christmas episode of the show that defined Nickelodeon’s early years, featuring an all-star cast of the 5 most featured kid actors of “You Can’t Do That on Television.” **** 🎙 Guests:Shawn Robare (Plastic Rocket Pop, Cult Film Club, Wolfman’s Got Nards) Steven (UFO Club, The Bigfoot Club) **** 💬 Topics &

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01:17:00

Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/12/02

🎄It’s 1995, and Robert Downey Jr. may or may not be holding Kermit the Frog hostage until he gets his perfect Christmas tree. The Advent Calendar House is back in time for a freakin’ country bear jamberoo as a family of Muppet mice risk their lives to bring home the top of the top of the top of the top of a Christmas tree fit for an eccentric future Iron Man. Also starring shy butler Leslie Nielsen, homesick Swedish maid Stockard Channing, and a pre-Bobo Bobo the Bear. **** 🎙 Guests:Anthony

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01:42:00

It’s a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/07/23

🎄It’s 1992, and there’s no such thing as Buster Bunny. The Advent Calendar House wraps up Christmas in July with the unofficial series finale of “Tiny Toon Adventures,” when Buster wishes he’d never been on the show, and the horrors within Montana Max’s Biff Tannen Pleasure Palace or whatever. **** 🎙 Guests: Adam Pope (Geekster, YouTube, Remember That Show?) William Bruce West (West Week Ever, Remember That Show?) Chad Young (The Horror Movie BBQ) **** 💬 Topics & Tangents: 1. I found

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01:15:21

Quantum Leap: A Little Miracle

Advent Calendar House ·

2024/07/21

🎄It’s 1990… or 1962… and a quantum physicist forgot to powder his boss’s underwear. This Scrooge Sunday edition of the Advent Calendar House involves time travel of a different sort as we follow Dr. Sam Beckett on a mission to save a mission, and the soul of the man trying to tear it down. * CONTENT WARNING: This episode briefly discusses the death of actor Charles Rocket and the would-be death of his Scrooge-like character, Michael Blake. **** 🎙 Guests: Erin Evans (@mserinevans). Joey O

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201 results

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