The Christmas Lookback: A Chipmunk Christmas

Christmas  The Flashback 

   Today's  post must be read in a high pitched squeaky voice... ok we are a kidding (maybe)  we are doing a lookback at A Chipmunk Christmas . It first appeared on NBC , who also aired the 80's Saturday Morning cartoon (which we looked at before ) , actually this came out less than 2 years before the series started.  It was created by Ross Bagdasarian JR, the son of the creator of the Chimpunks.   Also animated by Chuck Jones.
        The special starts with a sick child named Tommy (who has  unnamed cartoon sickness ) where the doctor says the outlook is not good. Then it goes over to the Chipmunks (wait, do we capitalize them or not ? darn it )  where they are singing "It's beginning to Look A Lot like  Christmas".

 "Not sure you did that right, Dave"

      Alvin doesn't like the idea of having to work on Christmas (Dave was latter visited by 3 ghosts that night)  , but he is easily bribed by getting to play is harmonica. (Darn Union rules)  The Chipmunks (really is this capitalized or not?)  go window shopping . Alvin shows his harmonica another harmonica. (what?)  This is what connects  that boy who was introduced in the beginning to the Chipmunks. (capt... never mind)  When Alvin overhears the boy's sister talking about how much Tommy really wants that harmonica. He also overhears the mother saying that Tommy is very very sick.  Alvin follows to the two just in case he hears anymore , I guess. 

          

The kid seems to be an Alvin Fan. where are the Simon fans? / Copyright  

    Alvin  visits Tommy (that's why he kept following the mother and sister to see where they lived.. that makes sense in context)  and gives him his harmonica.  Now a Chipmunks Christmas song break. (Otherwise this wouldn't be a Chipmunks special)  Alvin says he has to save his money to get a new harmonica after Christmas.  But then fate takes over (or mean writers)  and Dave announces that they get to play for a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall on Christmas Eve. (That doesn't sound so bad) They want Alvin to do a harmonica solo.  Alvin then decides he has to make money quick  to buy a new one. 

 Have your picture taken for 25 cents what a deal!/ Copyright 

You don't have to pay us 25 cents more after the Jump 

The Lookback : One Saturday Christmas: Pepper Ann : A Kosher Christmas

The Flashback  Christmas 

     This time we delve in to  Disney's One Saturday Morning on ABC line up for  a look at some Holiday episodes .  Pepper Ann is one of my favorite toons from One Saturday Morning  and still is now so let's lookback at the Holiday episode called "A Kosher Christmas"
 
  Pepper Ann is giving a report in class about her recent holiday experience.  Her mother celebrates Hanukkah  and her  father celebrates Christmas and this becomes the focus of our episode.  At a school play Pepper Ann begs to play both Hanukkah and Christmas to her teacher's dismay.  Meanwhile her friends, Milo and Nikki have holiday plans to go to Hawaii with his father in Milo's case and Nikki to help those less fortunate.  Pepper Ann though  feels stressed to have to remember the lines  while also doing her Hanukkah activities
                                                        .

                                           I don't care... I want that hat / copyright Disney
   
      Milo's plans have been shattered  and he won't be go to Hawaii to see his dad, so instead has to deliver muffins baskets for his Mother and Step-Father.  While Nikki is  beginning to feel slightly over stressed on all work she's been doing.  (Holidays are stressful for children now)   There' s a montage of Pepper Ann doing all her holiday play practicing and preparing for the holidays.  On play day she messes up her line (dressed a a menorah and sings a Christmas song instead) her grandmother is hyperventilating and overhears her mother and father saying "she's going to choose " and she thinks this about her having to choose between Hanukkah or Christmas.    Since the show is normal  two eleven minute episode segments we have a full length this time so part 2 is where we see Pepper Ann trying to pick between the two holidays. (The Holiday Choice : coming to the CW)
        There's  a montage of Pepper Ann celebrating both holidays  as she writes  the thing she likes on a list to compare the two holidays and it ends in a tie.( While Presidents Day doesn't score well)

                                                       

                       for a better look at her list click here  / "Rudolph" interesting/ copyright Disney

      It's Christmas Day (yay! where my .... oh wait nevermind)   and Pepper Ann visits  Nikki at the soup kitchen where she is helping out. Pepper Ann still bothered she can't make up her mind while Nikki is feeling un happy.(Holidays really killed her)  Milo takes a break and talks with some down on their luck laid off workers. Pepper Ann  walks home and annoyed by a singing Christmas Tree and menorah (makes sense in context?)  and realizes that she is not going to choose a holiday after all.   She finds out that it was a misunderstanding that she had to choose a holiday it was more about her Grandma had to pick a doctor.
                                                   

                                                   Ummm what was in those muffins? / Copyright Disney
         Her report in class is finished as  TV news reporter comes into the classroom to honor Milo for helping those less fortunate   he says that  Nikki really deserves it  for all her hard work.  By the end all the friends go on the trip to Hawaii.(Hawaii the Holiday State)

    That's our lookback  it's a good episode for the holidays as we follow Pepper Ann, Milo, and Nikki's  holidays and what they learn from them.

  Tune in next time , but first we we need a nap , seeing talking Christmas tree and a menorah playing golf with the Easter Bunny again.

The 2016 Golden Globes Nominations announced

Golden Globes 
    The 2016 Golden Globe awards nominations have been announced.   They are hosted by Ricky Gervais  and will air on NBC on January 10th.

Here is the full list


Best Motion Picture – Drama
"Carol"
"Mad Max: Fury Road"
"The Revenant"
"Room"
"Spotlight"

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
"The Big Short"
"Joy"
"The Martian"
"Spy"
"Trainwreck"

Best Actor – Motion Picture, Drama
Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"
Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl"
Will Smith, "Concussion"

Best Actor – Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Christian Bale, "The Big Short"
Steve Carell, "The Big Short"
Matt Damon, "The Martian"
Al Pacino, "Danny Collins"
Mark Ruffalo, "Infinitely Polar Bear"

Best Actress – Motion Picture, Drama
Cate Blanchett, "Carol"
Brie Larson, "Room"
Rooney Mara, "Carol"
Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn"
Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl"

Best Actress – Motion Picture. Musical or Comedy
Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy"
Melissa McCarthy, "Spy"
Amy Schumer, "Trainwreck"
Maggie Smith, "The Lady in the Van"
Lily Tomlin, "Grandma"

Best Supporting Actor
Paul Dano, "Love & Mercy"
Idris Elba, "Beasts of No Nation"
Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"
Michael Shannon, "99 Homes"
Sylvester Stallone, "Creed"

Best Supporting Actress
Jane Fonda, "Youth"
Jennifer Jason Leigh, "The Hateful Eight"
Helen Mirren, "Trumbo"
Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs"
Alicia Vikander, "Ex Machina"

Best Director
Todd Haynes, "Carol"
Alejandro González Iñárritu, "The Revenant"
Tom McCarthy, "Spotlight"
George Miller, "Mad Max: Fury Road"
Ridley Scott, "The Martian"

Best Screenplay
Emma Donoghue, "Room"
Tom McCarthy and Josh Singer, "Spotlight"
Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, "The Big Short"
Aaron Sorkin, "Steve Jobs"
Quentin Tarantino, "The Hateful Eight"

Best Original Score
Carter Burwell, "Carol"
Alexandre Desplat, "The Danish Girl"
Ennio Morricone, "The Hateful Eight"
Daniel Pemberton, "Steve Jobs"
Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto, "The Revenant"

Best Original Song
"Love Me Like You Do" (from "50 Shades of Grey")
"One Kind of Love" (from "Love & Mercy")
"See You Again" (from "Furious 7")
"Simple Song #3" (from "Youth")
"Writing's on the Wall" (from "Spectre")

Best Foreign Language Film
"The Brand New Testament"
"The Club"
"The Fencer"
"Mustang"
"Son of Saul"

Best Animated Feature Film
"Anomalisa"
"The Good Dinosaur"
"Inside Out"
"The Peanuts Movie"
"Shaun the Sheep Movie"

TV is after the jump 

The Lookback : Rugrats : Chanukah

The Flashback 

          Like with Thanksgiving , it's very hard (read :rare) to have a Hanukkah special , but The Rugrats comes to our rescue in this case, since it had one and darn good one too.( sorry, we said darn, please write us no bad letters)  Let's dive in.
 
       First off ,back story time , the network , Nickelodeon, had given the "Rugrats" team an idea for a Hanukkah themed special  and this idea became .... A Rugrats Passover in 1995. ( well then... I know things change from ideas but that's  a stretch)  After the Passover episode , they came back to the idea. It premiered on December 4th 1996.

     Our specials begins with the story of Hanukkah being read by Tommy's grandmother  and we see these images depicted by the Rugrats and some other random kids. This takes up the first couple minutes (it also was done  kind of this way for the Passover special)  and it gets cut off as Didi needs help with the latkas. (Gosh, Didi,that can wait we need rest of the story ,seesh)   Meanwhile, our sub-plot for Angelia is where she wants to watch her Christmas special about Cynthia. (For those that don't know Rugrats, Cynthia is  like the Rugrats world Barbie, and  Angelica has the doll and other stuff) .  The other plot line is Boris , Tommy's Grandfather, is in a stage play for his synagogue  and he has an antagonist , Shlomo, that will play in our main story.  The Rugrats are confused of what's going on  , it takes Angelica to tell them that it's Hanukkah (though she uses more flem then a person should use)  well not very well.    Stu is trying  to show his wife that he is supportive of her Family's holiday by making a giant menorah. (as you do?)  Though in Stu fashion it falls apart.
                                                           

                             Coming soon to Santa Versus the Alien...make it happen/ copyright Viacom 
           The Rugrats in true show style... miss hear the Meaning of Hanukkah as the "Meanie of Hanukkah" and they want to put the meanie to a nap. (Thanks to Chuckie's suggestion)  Angelica continues her search for a TV. (Angelia : the Quest for Television: coming soon to NBC)  While the Babies go a search for the meanie , and they see Shlomo and Boris picking at each other and they think he is the meanie.  (He does poke and poke) While they are  away  in a play area (they tried to rush the stage)  the play is not going well as  Boris and Shlomo start fighting each other.   Angelica finally gets to see her special  after uses the babies to get her TV plans. (How to use Babies to do your bidding, coming soon to MTV) She ends up tripping into Sholomo and breaks the TV and starts crying, the babies go to help save her as Tommy hads him the Hanukkah Book.
                                                     

                      "Can you read this book? I would do it my self but I can't read"/copyright Viacom
    Now , the  telling of the story of Hanukkah continues  (the  Macabees Won). Stu finally makes it with his giant menorah and well that explodes and we see  the Rugrats , Grandpa Boris, and Sholomo  and they wrap up the play.


      It's a good Hanukkah special  is our verdict.  It  tells the story of Hanukkah simplified .  The Boris  Shlomo rivalry  story is kind of more deep even though see the goofy poking and stuff. Many can maybe empathize with Angelica going somewhere you don't to be  when all you wanna do is something.  It's a good one for families,  adults and kids to watch and enjoy even if you aren't a Rugrats fan or know of the show.

Come in next time when we wonder why Santa vs the Alien  has not been made yet.

The Peanuts lookback : What A Nightmare , Charlie Brown

The Flashback  Peanuts 

                       

         Our last installment for the year , and  since our rule is no holiday specials  this one works for the month and season without being a holiday, this is "What A Nightmare , Charlie Brown".  

      It's winter and Charlie Brown doesn't understand  that beagles are not sled pulling dogs and he wants snoopy to play sled dog.  (As Lucy would say.. "Blockhead")      Charlie Brown then sets to show Snoopy by hooking himself up the the sled and Snoopy then forces Charlie to pull him. 

    Charlie Brown has decided to be weird /copyright Peanuts

      After all that fun Snoopy makes himself some Pizzas and an milkshakes and he gorges on the meal.  Charlie Brown tells Snoopy he's too civilized.  (not that Snoopy cares) Snoopy falls a sleep and this takes us to the meat of our episode... Snoopy's Nightmare. (yumm nightmare)   

   Snoopy dreams that he is part of dog sled team as he is dragged along  in the middle of harnessed.  The others also don't let Snoopy eat the meal the sled driver gives out.   The next day, the same thing  happens where Snoopy is mistreated and not allowed to eat or drink.  That evening  they are stopped at bar where Snoopy sneaks a sandwich, drinks some rootbeer and plays cards , until he is kicked out after a bad   can-can incident. ( is there a such thing a good one?)  

    After all the running along with the not being able to eat or drink Snoopy breaks down and starts crying this turns into rage as he  starts walking on all fours ,bearing his teeth . He fights the head dog and sets the other dogs into their place and eats their food and takes a drink. 

              

                     

                                             

                                         I am Snoopy , hear me Roar/ copyright Peanuts

  Snoopy becomes head of the pack as he leads the sled,    But then  they fall into a broken piece of ice into a lake of ice water and Snoopy tries to pull them out but he falls in to when he then wakes up.    He then asks Charlie Brown to let him and acts out the events  , Charlie Brown allows him to sleep in his room but first Snoopy had to get a snack. (never learns does he)
    That's our lookback at this special : It's not heavy in beef but it's the snowiest Peanuts I've ever seen .  It's an interesting one as besides the opening and closing with Charlie Brown , there's no dialogue in the special and Snoopy  has to carry the special himself. (Very well to say the least) It has some humor  like  when Snoopy is at  the bar and playing cards.

  That's our Peanuts lookback...  hope you enjoyed them through out the year , as it was the Peanuts 65th anniversary of the strip and 50th of the first TV special . This feature will continue in the new year we may turn to look at the movies  and longer specials and all that is to be determined.

  Tune in next time when we have  a special where  Charlie Brown gets locked outside his house and sits out there the whole 30 minute special . (Ummmm)

CBS announces winter schedule and programming

CBS  TVLOOKFALL2015 

     CBS has announced  their winter programming.  There will be  anew comedy block on Wednesdays  filling the gap during "Survivor" breaks  the return of  "Mike and  Molly"  in it's new season and a return of "The Odd Couple" coming in spring.

Here's a look:

Undercover Boss will run for 3 Sundays between  December 20th  and January 3rd.   Airing at around 8:30PMET/8pt on the 20th and January 3rd (due to Football) and  at 8pmet/pt on the 27th , then normal Sunday Line up returns.

January 6th
8PMET  2 Broke  Girls (new time slot)
8:30PMET Mike & Molly (new Season)
9PMET   People's Choice Awards (special)

January 7th
8PMET  The Big Bang Theory
8:30PMET  Life in Pieces
9PMET    MOM
9:30pmet  Angel from Hell (new series)
10pmet  Elementary

January 8th
8PMET   Undercover Boss (time period Premiere)
9PMET    Hawaii Five-0
10PMET   Blue  Bloods

January 13th
8PMET  2 Broke Girls
8:30PMET  Mike & Molly
9pmet   Criminal Minds
10PMET   Code Black

February 12th (CBS Friday )
8PMET  The Amazing Race (new season)
9PMET  Hawaii Five -0
10PMET   Blue Bloods

February 17th
8-9:30PMET   Survivor (new season )

February 24th
8PMET  Survivor
9PMET   Criminal Minds
10PMET   Code Black (Season Finale )

March 2nd  (new Wednesday Line up)
8PMET   Survivor
9PMET   Criminal Minds
10PMET   Criminal Minds :Beyond Borders (new series)

April 7th
8PMET  The Big Bang Theory
8:30PMET The Odd Couple (new season )
9PMET  Mom
9:30PMET   Angel from Hell
10PMET   Elementary

full press release after the jump

Thanskgiving Land : Hey Arnold : Arnold's Thanksgiving

Thanskgiving  The Flashback 

                                                                 

     We have decided to use another Nicktoon as way to get around our Thanksgiving lack of specials so thanks  Nickelodeon.  (You're welcome)   So, this one is an episode of "Hey Arnold"  (what gave it away?)  let's get started.

    The special starts with Arnold on a bike  seeing the city's  replica of the Mayflower being ..made a city landmark. (huh?, darn tax money at work?)   The School is having  a Thanksgiving play  (a play about the big day than happening on the day)   While Gerald is talking about his perfect Thanksgiving , while Arnold is bothered by his  because his Grandmother celebrates the 4th of July on Thanksgiving. (makes sense in context) Helga laments her's as well  because her family annoys her.   Arnold and Helga are having what they see as miserable Thanksgivings.  Arnold even suggests that they have  a traditionalist  one but that falls flat and Helga is irritated by her family.

                                                           

                   You know , Arnold without Ben Franklin , there would be no Thanksgiving /Copyright Viacom

       Arnold and Helga both give up and go outside   Arnold in a quiet way  and Helga in an angry rant.  Meanwhile , Arnold and Helga  bump into each (small city?) they bond over their awful Thanksgiving experiences.  (Also,the Mayflower replica has a Titanic moment)  They decide to find a better Thanksgiving (Aisle 12 at Bed, Bath and Beyond, you know in the Beyond section )  so they visit their teacher Mr.Simmons because they think he's having a perfect Thanksgiving. Though , the surprise is ,his Thanksgiving isn't going well either.  (The People at the play had the same name as those in the play)  Arnold and  Helga than realize that Mr.Simmons had the same problem they both had and he says that  he is truly thankful for what he has and loves his family (get those onions away from here)  and  they decide to go back to their homes.
     Helga's Family , was looking for her they think she has gone missing and spent their time looking for her. (Bob was worried sick)  Arnold was watching in the window and says "Happy Thanksgiving , Helga" as he returns home.
                                                               
                                       
      Arnold is home and he finds that his family has left the roof and his grandpa looking like the ghost of Christmas past and then he shows  that the family decided to have  a surprise party for Arnold with the traditional Thanksgiving foods though  Arnold does hope that  there are fireworks and his grandma says of course there will be and special ends with fireworks.

  Is this episode Thanksgiving special worthy?  Yes , yes it is  It's very muted for a cartoon though Hey Arnold! was good at getting moments right.   It's nice to see Hegla and Arnold getting along and also the message is interesting. That maybe there's no such thing a perfect Thanksgiving that  maybe a strange tradition might not be what people see as normal but  hey , it's something you have. Families come in all forms and many times people can be jerks and odd balls but  maybe there's something to be thankful for anyway.

     I think it's worthy of  being an annual Thanksgiving special even if you never watched the show , you don't have to watch the series to understand this episode that much.

Disney Channel's Fa-la-la -lidays programming announced

Disney Channel  Christmas 

 
    Disney Channel announces their holiday programming plans.

via press release

    DISNEY CHANNEL SPREADS HOLIDAY CHEER WITH ITS ANNUAL WINTER PROGRAMMING EVENT, "FA-LA-LA-LIDAYS"
--Includes New Holiday-Themed Episodes of "BUNK'D," "Girl Meets World," "K.C. Undercover," "Best Friends Whenever," "Austin & Ally," "Liv and Maddie" and "Disney Channel Fa-La-La-Lidays Celebrates a Radio Disney Family Holiday," hosted by Sabrina Carpenter
--Walt Disney Animation Studios' Short-Film "Frozen Fever" Makes Its Disney Channel Debut --
Disney Channel's fifth annual "Fa-La-La-Lidays" programming event kicks off with the television premiere of the Walt Disney Animation Studios' short-film "Frozen Fever" on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29 and continues throughout December with holiday-themed episodes of "BUNK'D," "Girl Meets World," "K.C. Undercover," "Best Friends Whenever," "Austin & Ally" and "Liv and Maddie," beginning FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4. Also premiering on that day is "Disney Channel Fa-La-La-Lidays Celebrates a Radio Disney Family Holiday," (9:00 p.m., ET/PT). Hosted by "Girl Meets World" star and Hollywood Records recording artist Sabrina Carpenter, the special will include performances by some of today's most popular Radio Disney artists and will be available via WATCH Disney Channel the following day, Saturday, December 5.
"Fa-La-La-Lidays" further celebrates the season with special on-air events, including "Toy Story That Time Forgot" (Saturday, December 5 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT), a new animated special "Bob's Broken Sleigh" (Friday, December 11 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT) and the Disney Channel premiere of "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" (Friday, December 20 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT). Also returning to Disney Channel are holiday classics, including the Rankin-Bass specials "Frosty Winter Wonderland" (Saturday, December 5 at 8:30 p.m., ET/PT), "The Year Without a Santa Claus" (Monday, December 21 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT) and "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" (Monday, December 21 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT).
The "Fa-La-La-Lidays" schedule is as follows (all times ET/PT):
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29
"Frozen Fever" - (Premieres During "Descendants" at 6:30 p.m., ET/PT)
It's Anna's birthday, and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but when Elsa catches a cold, her powers may put more than just the party at risk. Voice talent includes Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4
*All series episodes are available to verified viewers on WATCH Disney Channel, beginning Friday, December 4*
8:00 p.m. - "BUNK'D"
"Secret Santa" - Ravi's advice to Emma and Lou on their CIT gift exchange doesn't go as imagined. Meanwhile, Skai, Xander, Jorge and Tiffany run into a disgruntled man they are convinced is Santa and must work together to save Christmas.
8:30 p.m. - "Girl Meets World"
"Girl Meets The New Year" - Farkle tells Riley that she has until midnight on New Year's Eve to tell everyone how she really feels about Lucas.
9:00 p.m. - "Disney Channel Fa-La-La-Lidays Celebrates a Radio Disney Family Holiday"
Hosted by "Girl Meets World" star and Hollywood Records recording artist Sabrina Carpenter, the special will include performances by some of today's most popular Radio Disney artists, including Carpenter, Andy Grammer, Charlie Puth, current 'NBT' featured artist Jacob Whitesides, Forever In Your Mind and Radio Disney country-music rising-star Mickey Guyton. The special will also feature appearances by Disney Channel stars, including Sofia Carson ("Descendants").
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6
8:00 p.m. - "K.C. Undercover"
"'Twas the Fight Before Christmas" - When K.C. gives her dad the perfect Christmas gift - a surprise visit from his father - she is the one who is surprised when she learns Craig and her Poppa Earl don't really get along, and he has no idea they are all spies. Guest starring is George Wallace as Poppa Earl.
8:30 p.m. - "Best Friends Whenever"
"The Girls of Christmas Past" - Things spin out of control when Cyd travels back to Christmas the year before to try and figure out the perfect gift for Shelby. Meanwhile, Barry and Naldo's Winter Wonderland experiment sparks an elf war, with Bret and Chet leading the charge.
9:00 p.m. - "Austin & Ally"
"Santas & Surprises" - When one of Austin and Ally's music students is sad about spending Christmas away from her father, the gang rallies around her to try and make her happy.
9:30 p.m. - "Liv and Maddie"
"Joy-To-A-Rooney" - Liv invites her "Voltage" director and crew over for the Rooney's traditional Christmas Eve dinner but is forced to enlist Artie's help to prepare the famed meal. Meanwhile, Maddie and Willow's gift exchange takes a surprising turn.
Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family-inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 96 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney ABC Television Group.
WATCH Disney Channel lets verified viewers of participating pay TV services watch a 24/7 live feed of the network and popular episodes on demand via desktops, smartphones, tablets and connected TVs.