143. The Full Cast and Crew Weird Christmas Spectacular: 'Black Christmas' (1974), 'An American Christmas Carol' (1979), Xmas eps from 'Alice' (1979) 'The Bob Newhart Show' (1972), Esoteric Christmas songs and MORE

Show Notes

As we wrap up the Full Cast and Crew year, I'm sharing some off-beat Christmas cheer with you all in this, our first-ever Weird Christmas Spectacular.  Frequent listeners to the pod have heard me say "weird is good" many times, and the picks in today's episode reflect not films or tv shows or songs that are weird for weird's sake; they reflect things with a decidedly bent holiday spirit in all the right places. 

Rick Brown joins me as we share our picks for a weird-is-good Christmas film, TV episode, and song that represents something essential to us respectively.

Films discussed: Henry Winkler's 'An American Christmas Carol' from the peak of his Fonzie/Happy Days tv superstardom is a refreshingly dark and candid look at the Dickens classic. 

Also in the film category: 'Black Christmas', a film that predates "Halloween" and "Blow Out" owe a hell of a lot to. Starring Margot Kidder, Keir Dullea, Andrea Martin, and John Saxon, this is a really funny and impressively malevolent film.

On the TV side, Rick tries his best to convince me that the "Alice" episode 'Mel The Magi' is, of all the worthy 1970's sitcom Christmas episodes, something to celebrate.  

MY pick, the Bob Newhart Show episode 'His Busiest Season' proves easier to defend.

Finally, we explore some off-the-beaten-path Christmas songs, with Rick selecting the 1940's classic big-band composition 'Snowfall' as sung by Doris Day and me choosing something right out of the FCAC wheelhouse; 1981's 'Christmas Wrapping' by The Waitresses, with lead vocals by the irrepressable, irreplaceable Patty Donahue.

Happy Holidays to all the listeners and thank you for making 2022 our best year ever on the Full Cast and Crew podcast!