Hallmark Christmas Films: One Starry Christmas

Just when you think Hallmark couldn't possibly come up with another idea for a Christmas film, they come up with fifty. Let's guess what this one is about, shall we?

Okay, that guy is carrying a guitar and a hat- he must be a big country star whose car breaks down, forcing him to rely on the blonde woman for accommodations/transportation/whatever. Caught up in the flashy world of showbiz, he ha forgotten the simple pleasures of the holiday, pleasures that this eager young lady plans to re-teach him. Will he take that bus to Nashville or will he stay with her for Christmas? Ah, he's probably going to stay with her.

TV Quote Weekends

"What's happening to me? There's still food, but I don't want to eat it. I've become everything I've ever hated."

TV Quote Weekends

"There's nothing like revenge for getting back at people."

BeatleToons!

Happy Thanksgiving

"As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!"

Rest in Peace, David Canary

Television legend David Canary has passed away at age 77. Best known for his legendary role on All My Children as ruthless businessman Adam Chandler, Mr. Canary had previously earned a spot in television history on Bonanza.

Playing a foreman named Candy who worked on the Ponderosa Ranch, Mr. Canary served two stints on the classic show, leaving after a salary dispute, but returning for the final seasons. His biggest role would come in 1983 on All My Children. His dual role as twins Adam and Stuart Chandler won him five Emmys and many new fans.

Mr. Canary retired in 2009, but returned to All My Children in 2011 and 2013 for short stints. He is survived by his wife of over 30 years and three children.

A Thankful Bart

"I'm thankful I ate before I came."

Hallmark Christmas Films: A Cookie Cutter Christmas

Okay, aside from the obvious jokes, what could this film be about? Let's guess! I bet this duo work at a company that makes cookies. While his life is full of predictability and time worn traditions, her free spirit leads her down strange and unknown paths. These two are perfect opposites and they'll never get together- or will they?

Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse! The Mickey Mouse Club

1980's, programmers at The Disney Channel noticed something strange- one of the most popular shows on their schedule was the 30 year old Mickey Mouse Club and it wasn't just wistful adults watching; their kids were watching in droves as well. If the classic show was such a hit, would a new version be just as successful?

The company was a bit gun shy after a late 1970's version failed to connect with kids. However, times had changed. The company had its own channel now, so a huge flop wouldn't be too big of an embarrassment. Also, the new Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park at Walt Disney World was having problems getting shows to actually film there, so a new Mouse Club show would actually fill a void at the park while also promoting it to viewers. The network gave the green light and soon production began on Disney-MGM's first and ultimately only production- MMC: The New Mickey Mouse Club.

 

The show took the mainstays of the original show, gave them some 1980's polish and hit the cable airwaves in 1989. It was a phenomenon, quickly becoming the channel's top rated show and introducing America's kids to an impressive number of future superstars.

Future stars included Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, J.C. Chasez, Keri Russell and Ryan Gosling. The show didn't really help in luring more television productions to Orlando, but it did attract viewers. Disney Channel wouldn't have as big a hit until Lizzie McGuire premiered nearly ten years later.

Happy Life Day!

Leia sings holiday songs to the tune of the Star Wars theme!

Chewbacca has a family!

Yes, it all happened on Life Day! On November 17, 1978 CBS premiered The Star Wars Holiday Special, a two hour WTF moment with little involvement from George Lucas. Produced and written by CBS' staff of variety show veterans, the special landed with a thud back in 1978. Mr. Lucas disavowed the special, bought out CBS and locked the special up in his vault. Other than the promotional materials released in conjunction with the special's premiere and old videocassettes recorded on first generation VCRs, the special was mostly forgotten. When the show was uploaded to the Internet it exploded back into pop culture. Its kitsch value was enjoyed by a new generation, stunned that such a colossal failure came from a monumental success.

About the only thing that came from the special that became part of the Star Wars canon was the animated sequence which featured the legendary character Boba Fett. While Lucasfilm is now more accepting of the special and internal databases refer to the various characters, only the cartoon was accepted from the beginning.

By the end of the special, it was clear to anyone still awake that this special would go down in history for all the wrong reasons. One last question remained, however- why is Chewbacca wearing this weird red robe? Is it some kind of Life Day tradition? The answer is extremely fitting, considering the rest of this debacle. Lucasfilm was not required to provide the costumes or robotics for free. CBS was required to rent the various costumes and suits from George Lucas. Due to the over budget production, the network sought to reduce costs any way they could. By putting Chewbacca into a robe, CBS saved money by only having to rent the head for the conclusion. A fitting conclusion to a disastrous production.

Life Day! Ackmena's Cantina

CBS tried the best it could to recreate the lavish sets used in Star Wars for its holiday special, despite not having access to any of the original sets or designs. Since the network had planned to make its special a variety show, it only made sense to try replicating the Mos Eisley Cantina which would allow for a musical number. Enter Ackmena, a woman played by famed actress Beatrice Arthur.

Ackmena runs a cantina in Mos Eisley (though not the same one from the film). During the sequence in the special, a pervy alien (one of many perverts in this special) named Krelman tries to seduce Ackmena and she repels his advances. After performing a song and trying to oust the degenerates populating her bar, Ackmena wraps things up.

Ackmena was a character created specifically for the special. Beatrice Arthur was not familiar with the Star Wars movies, but she was a friend of the gentlemen who wrote the song for this sequence, so she agreed to film this scene. She knew that this was for a variety special on CBS, but didn't know much else. The sequences were all filmed separately, so other than Harvey Korman, Ms. Arthur didn't interact with any of the special's other stars. While the overall special wasn't well received, the cantina sequence was often held up as one of the best parts of the special. Of course, whether the kids watching the special enjoyed the sequence is a matter of debate. Regardless, Ackmena remains one of the more popular lesser known characters in the Star Wars world. 

Quote Weekends

"It is indeed true that at times like this R2 and I wish we were more than mechanical beings and we were really alive so we could share your feelings with you."

TV Quote Weekends

"Would you look at Lumpy! He's sure grown, huh? And I think his voice is changing!"

-Han Solo