Reader’s Christmas Viewing Recommendations!

Reader here, and I have to admit, this year, getting into Christmas mode has been quite a process.

Between lots of work stuff, still getting settled into my new place (I know – I’ve been there since the end of July, but I’m still finding space for the last few things!), band concerts and other happenings, it’s taken a while for me to truly get into festive mode!

However, slowly but surely, it’s been happening.

With a couple of band Christmas shows (the All That Jazz Big Band’s Christmas show at the Painted Hand Casino, and the Community Concert Band concert at the Anne Portnuff Theatre), along with an evening at the Legacy Co-op Wonders of Winter by the Yorkton Lions Club, the Christmas spirit definitely got a boost!

Then, last week, I finally got my Christmas tree up and decorated, and put out my other decorations, so it finally feels festive around my place!

I’ve had the Christmas music going around the house (and on Cruz FM – don’t forget you can stream us anytime at https://www.cruzyorkton.com/ , listen through our completely free app, or through your smart devices!)

And finally, last night, I started watching some of my holiday favourites, starting with a classic, “Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean!

Whether its his Christmas shopping misadventures, picking out a tree, leading the brass band, or getting his romantic evening with Irma Gobb (including a turkey on the head that “Friends” 100% ripped off, but can you blame them?  It’s hilarious!) completely wrong, everyone loves Mr. Bean!

Some of my other choices?

How about “A Garfield Christmas Special,” in which Jon packs Garfield and Odie up in the car, and they make the trip out to spend the holidays at the farm with Jon’s family, where Garfield overcomes his natural inclination to want everything for himself, to learn about how special it can be to give to others.

Of course, you can’t forget “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” when Clark W. Griswold wants to put on the perfect family Christmas, and as you’d expect, things don’t turn out as he expects (especially when Cousin Eddie unexpected rolls up in the R.V.!)

A newer fave?  Well, there are now two “Christmas Chronicle” movies, starring one of the greatest actors of this or any era, Kurt frickin’ Russell as Santa Claus himself!

Finally, there’s my personal favourite, one that can only be found on YouTube, 1987’s “A Muppet Family Christmas,” which falls under the category of IYKYK (if you know, you know).

Everyone always raves about “A Muppet Christmas Carol,” which is cool, but “A Muppet Family Christmas” will always be my fave.

Kermit the Frog, Fozzy Bear, Gonzo the Great, and the Muppet Show gang are driving out to surprise Fozzy’s mom and spend the holidays at the farm with her.  But little do they know that she’s made plans to rent out the farmhouse over Christmas, and head to warmer climes for the holidays.  The crew shows up, as do the renters – Doc and Sprocket from “Fraggle Rock,” and hilarity ensues, especially when the Sesame Street bunch arrive, leading to a packed house and new friendships!  It’s hard to describe in a few sentences, so I recommend you just watch it and see for yourselves:

What’s special about this special?  It’s the only time you see all of the Muppet Show, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock crews all together at once, not to mention a sweet little cameo at the end, by the creator of all of it, the late, great Jim Henson!

So there you have it… some of my favourite Christmas classics.  What are yours?  I’d love to hear your recommendations!

In the meantime, here’s another of my most beloved holiday tunes, by Queen, featuring one of the greatest voices in the history of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the one and only Freddie Mercury.  Enjoy!