Tis the Podcast

You're Supposed To Be The Leading Lady In Your Own Life, For God's Sake! (The Holiday)

The elves gear up for Valentine's Day week with the 2006 romantic comedy The Holiday starring Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, and Jack Black. Throughout the conversation, they discuss favorite movies with the leading actors and actresses, rom-coms as a film genre, sentimentality, and what can keep a movie from being a Christmas movie. Snuggle up with that special someone and join us for this romantic episode!

The World's Most Pissed Off Snow Cone! (Jack Frost [1997])

This week, the elves tackle the 1997 horror-comedy film, Jack Frost - not to be confused with the still yet-to-be-covered 1998 comedy, Jack Frost, starring Michael Keaton. Does this low-budget, campy movie fall into the same "so bad it could be fun to mock" category as Santa's Slay, or will it even come up short of that standard? Given the length of this episode, and keeping in mind Disco54's "Laws of Tis The Podcast", I'm sure you can guess what Julia, Thom, and Anthony think of this film before listening to it! It's not a complete waste this week, however, for the hosts get surprisingly sentimental when discussing a question posed to them by listener, Martin Achatz ("What would you put in your Christmas time capsule?") and a classic Christmas carol is used as the show's outro music! In addition, sunnier and more romantic times lie ahead, which Julia makes clear when announcing the movies that will be covered in the next two weeks!

And The Grinch Raised His Glass, And Led The Whos In A Toast, "To Kindness And Love, The Things We Need Most!" (Dr. Seuss' The Grinch [2018])

This week, Julia, Thom, and Anthony return to Whoville for the first time in over a year in order to talk about the 2018 animated film, Dr. Seuss' The Grinch." All Out War" broke out amongst the hosts the last time they talked about the Grinch and his dog, Max - will they be more in sync while discussing this remake of one of their favorite Christmas tales? (A remake that all three were wary about upon it being announced!) The less you know about where they stand on this film going in, the better, but we can promise you that this is an extremely fun episode that will not only make you want to whip up a cup of your favorite holiday drink, but which will also put you right back into the Christmas spirit! 

Link By Link By Horrifying Link! (A Christmas Carol [2004])

This week, the elves tackle their eighth iteration of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol - the 2004, made-for-TV musical, A Christmas Carol: The Musical! This specific version stars an all star cast of some of the most popular television actors from the late '90s and early 2000s, and what can go wrong when you combine Dr. Frasier Crane, George Costanza, Jenna Maroney, The Flash's inevitable father-in-law, and the Ghost Whisperer into a flashy musical version of a perennial holiday classic? In addition to a fun discussion about Scrooge and his otherworldly friends, this episode also includes a lesson about how to properly pronounce the name "Anastasia" from the "worst" host, as well as Julia's quick thoughts about the 2018, Supernatural-horror film, Hereditary.This is one episode you don't want to miss, especially if you're still suffering from those post Christmas blues! 

You'll Always Be Fat To Me, Chris. (Just Friends)

This week the elves tackle the 2005 questionably holiday movie Just Friends. Tune in as we discuss the film, the acting prowess of both Ryan Reynolds and Anna Faris, which co-host is the worst, our early memories of R-rated movies, and more.

Six Bucks And My Right Nut Says We're Not Landing In Chicago. (Planes, Trains and Automobiles)

Julia, Thom, and Anthony kick off 2019 this week by covering John Hughes' beloved 1987 comedy, Planes, Trains and Automobiles. While definitely a holiday film, is it actually a Christmas film? Also discussed this episode, which of the elves would be Steve Martin's Neal Page in real life to John Candy's Del, whom the other two embody? (Spoiler Alert: Neither of these questions are hard to answer!) Enjoy - and don't despair, because while Christmas is still 50 Fridays away, we'll be here throughout the year helping to keep the spirit alive for all of you! 

Another Year Over, And A New One Just Begun.

It's hard to believe, but 2018 is now over. Join the elves in a reflective look at the past year, discuss this Christmas season, plans for 2019, and talk Christmas music in our year-end wrap up!

Christmas Eve 2018 Story - O. Henry's 'The Gift of the Magi'

Merry Christmas, everyone! We hope that Santa was good to you, and hope you have a wonderful day celebrating with your family and friends. Our little gift to you this year is a special, mini, bonus episode in which the elves read one of their favorite holiday short stories: O. Henry's The Gift of the Magi. We hope you like it, and enjoy the story as much as we do. *Note* - Sorry for the bad audio during Thom's portion. We tried to clean it up the best we could, but that's the best we could get it to sound!

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid! (A Christmas Story)

Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! This week, just in time for TBS' annual 24-hour-marathon, the elves discuss the much beloved, 1983, quintessentially American holiday Classic, A Christmas Story. But while many people have fond memories of this film, there is no unanimous praise for little Ralphie Parker or his quest for a Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun on this episode, as a battle so fierce that it rivals that of the Old Man and his wife over his infamous Leg Lamp breaks out over the movie's merits amongst the three hosts - with Julia and Thom on one side, and Anthony on the other. Not since 2017's infamous Grinch episode have the three been so divided over such a well-known and oft-played movie, but it makes for a fun (and nowhere near as contentious!) discussion, in which the elves' giddiness over Santa's impending visit tonight is palpable the entire time. Also discussed this episode are the gifts from childhood, which were never received, that Scott Calvin's Santa Claus would drop down from his sleigh to Julia, Thom, and Anthony if he flew by on Christmas Eve. So as you're doing last minute prep work for your Christmas Eve and Day celebrations, wrapping the last of your gifts, taking a break from the yearly TBS marathon of this film, or simply spending a relaxing day as you wait for Santa to come down your chimney tonight, make sure to tune in to this fun episode full of holiday cheer! 

Now, All Those Within The Sound Of My Voice, And All Those On This Earth Everywhere, Know That Henceforth You Will Be Called 'Santa Claus'. (Santa Claus: The Movie)

This week, one week out from Christmas(! Can you believe it?!), the elves discuss the cult classic, criminally underrated, 1985 holiday film, Santa Claus: The Movie. While a formative film in the childhoods of both Julia and Anthony, Thom is going in completely fresh, and the discussion yields some interesting differences in how he views certain aspects of the story compared to how his two cohosts do. One thing becomes evident though the longer the in-depth conversation goes on: David Huddleston is Santa Claus, and the superhero-like mythology built around the Christmas figure in this movie has shaped countless personal and pop-culture perceptions as to who exactly Santa is, and what his world should look like. Also discussed in this episode is new Christmas music that have made our playlists this holiday season! So settle back with a cup of hot cocoa, put those carols on the radio, and enjoy, because not only is this a fun episode you don't want to miss, but Christmas is nearly upon us - make sure to savor every last second of this upcoming week.