Nostalgic G

This year we finally got a Special Edition of another one of John Hughes Holiday Classics: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles . I love this movie and the new edition finally includes some decent enough special features. My only complaint is that Paramount chose to release this great film on DVD only, completely ignoring the Blu-Ray fan base. Last year we got new editions of two other Paramount comedy classics with new special features: Coming to America and Trading Places , for those releases Paramount put out the Blu-Ray editions simultaneously. So it really doesn't make any sense to have this film as a DVD only release. John Candy was a wonderful actor and seeing this film again reminds us of how his talents truly went far beyond comedic acting. In the midst of all the mayhem there truly are some memorable, tender, and touching moments in this film and Candy is the heart of each and every one of those. A few weeks ago I talked about how much I love National Lampoon's Christmas ...

Originally airing on December 15, 1982 "A Christmas Story" was the show's first ever Christmas themed episode. A blizzard forces the Keatons to spend Christmas at home instead of going on a ski trip. Elyse's gift to Steven, an album filled with old photos, sparks a series of flashbacks to the birth of their three children. We soon discover that Alex was born in Africa in 1965 as the Keatons were in the country doing work for the Peace Corps. Another flashback sequence reveals the Keatons at the hospital for Jennifer's birth on election day in 1972. When Nixon wins the election we see a very young Alex celebrating through the halls of the hospital. The episode also features Peter Jurassic from Babylon 5 in a guest role. Here it is in its entirety.

In a couple of weeks I'll be posting my first ever "Best of" list. The list will consist of my favorite collectibles, toys, movies, TV shows, and even food items for 2009. Lets take a look at some of the categories. - Best Film - Best Event - Best Hangout Spot - Best TV Show - Best Album - Best Blu -Ray release - Best Book - Best Comic Book - Best Toy line (Movie based) - Best Toy line (Retro) - Best Action Figure - Best Vehicle - Best Playset - Best Accessory /Role play item - Best Lego Set - Best Collectible And more...

One of the most requested titles in the Rankin / Bass collection of TV specials is finally out on DVD through Warner Brother's Archive Collection DVD on demand service. You can order it directly through the WB online store or via amazon.com. I just placed my order so I don't have it yet but I'm glad to finally be able to see this one again. My brother has a VHS recording of the version that has aired in past years on ABC Family as part of their 25 days of Christmas line up, but it was edited down for broadcast and its missing an entire musical number among other trims. The special aired for the first time on CBS on December 17, 1985. I'll have a full review of this disc as soon as I get to watch it. The special will also be airing again this year on December 22 on ABC Family. Or if you don't mind seeing it in a small screen with low resolution you can watch it on youtube thanks to a brave soul that uploaded it recently.

Over the past few months William Shatner has been showing up on The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien to read comments from former VP candidate Sarah Palin. Tonight "the Shat" was back, and to everyone's surprise Palin came out to read excerpts from his autobiography "Up 'till now". This truly is "must see T.V."

This past Tuesday was the annual broadcast of A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS on network television. For the past couple of years the rights to the Charlie Brown Holiday specials have been owned by ABC. These specials have brought joy to millions of families for over 40 years and what does ABC do to celebrate it? They come in with their greedy little network executive hands and start whacking off scenes from this classic in order to fit more commercials into the half hour. Even more annoying is all the time they dedicated to promoting their new brainless Disney CG special "Prep and Landing" - which being as humble as they are they already started describing it as the "soon to be a classic" special. I just saw this open letter sent in by an annoyed viewer to ABC and I thought it was a perfect comment on this sad attitude from a major network towards such a classic as A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS. Here it is in its entirety: TO: ABC FROM: Leon Lynn RE: Desecration of “A Charl...

Here's another one of my favorite Holiday shorts. Produced by Fleischer Studios and released by Paramount on December 4, 1936 Christmas comes but once a year features the character of Grampy from Betty Bop fame in a rare solo appearance. We had this as part of a Videotape my Mom got us featuring some of the classic public domain Christmas shorts. We used to watch it multiple times during the Holidays each year. It's a lot of fun and quite touching, plus the song is very catchy. I still can't get it out of my head after so many years. Hope it makes all of you feel like running out and donating some toys to Toys for Tots . Enjoy...