A Merry Christmas to all! Who's excited about dinner with the in-laws? With any luck, Aunt Madge will be too sauced on cooking sherry to ask if you're trying to break your mother's heart by not having kids or if you're just infertile - that was enough fun last year, right? Plus, cousin Timmy usually does something emergency room worthy, so that should take some pressure off... yup, he's trying to smooch Fluffy (the homicidal kitty) under the mistletoe, so the ambulance should be here within the hour.Till then, you've got some time to kill - why not try these holiday-themed spectaculars? Just a few things I've seen recently that made me chuckle... or at very least made me happy that it wasn't another Rankin Bass special.
1. A Wish For Wings That Work (Bloom County Christmas) - This one flew (forgive the pun) under the radar when it came out in 1991, and is the only animated tale from Bloom County, home of Opus the Penguin and Bill the Cat. Whether or not you enjoyed the comic strip, the sight of a group therapy circle featuring a pig who thinks he's a rhinoceros should be enough to make you snort Nog out your nose. (YouTube, of course, has it here.)
2. The Big Bang Theory - The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis - This episode of the increasingly charming series featured one of the most hilarious scenes I've ever witnessed. Sheldon (played by the Emmy-worthy Jim Parsons) has become one of the best characters to ever grace the small screen, and his reaction to Penny's gift is tears-streaming funny. (For a look at that final exchange, check YouTube here.)
3. The Pogues (and Kirsty MacColl) - "Fairytale of New York" - An alternative Christmas classic! What's your favorite part? Holidays in the drunk tank? Or Yuletide sentimentality like "You're a bum/You're a punk/You're an old slut on junk"? Oh, or the rotting Irish teeth?! (Whatever your favorite part, check out the vid on YouTube.)
4. A Very Supernatural Christmas (Supernatural, season 3 episode) - Ah, Christmas with the Winchester boys. Candy canes, gingerbread houses and... ah, there it is - the Anti-Santa swooping down the chimney for a festive slaying. From the start of the episode, complete with the classic 1970's swirling neon "SPECIAL" sign straight out of some lousy variety show, this one gave a sly nod-and-a-wink to viewers who were paying attention - including a version of "Silent Night" by Sam & Dean (which, I guess is only truly funny when you know that the lead characters are named Sam and Dean, but now you know...). (YouTube seekers, check here.)
5. Robert Earl Keen - "Merry Christmas From The Family" - Ah, now here's the man who put the fun in dysfunctional. Every gathering should be as amusingly sketchy! (YouTube it here.)
So you say you're drunk and that damn ambulance still isn't there? You may be ready for the bonus round:
6. Star Wars Holiday Special - Ah, nostalgia. This may be the worst thing you'll ever see - but on its 30th anniversary, it may just be time to revisit this piece of space garbage. The worst of all worlds: the 70's variety special (complete with Harvey Korman and Bea Arthur) and the TV/movie crossover. Chewbacca goes home to visit his family, hijinks ensue. The only redeeming quality might have been the Boba Fett cartoon in the middle, but I may have just been hallucinating by that point. (Check it out for yourself on YouTube here.)
Okay, Timmy's trying to take the bandages off and cousin Lily is burning Barbie's hair in the fire - you better go. But have a great one, and I'll have more for you soon. Ho Ho Ho!
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