A Cosmic Christmas
By special request, this episode of the official podcast of teaching aliens about Christmas takes you on a domesticated goose chase back to 1977 through the first fully animated feature by Canadian studio Nelvana.
Full show notes with links at: https://adventcalendar.house/episodes/a-cosmic-christmas
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???? On This Episode:
• Mike Westfall (@fallwestmike), excitable mayor shouting at everyone else to remain calm.
• Jeff Fox (@chrspecials), the Internet’s foremost expert on this special, from Name That Christmas Special.
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???? Topics & Tangents:
• Jeff’s collection of A Cosmic Christmas music and scanned promotional items.
• Joanna Wilson’s Christmas TV History.
• This special got George Lucas’s attention and led to Nelvana producing the animated segment of the Star Wars Holiday Special.
• The Nelvana Story: Thirty Animated Years.
• Today’s TV Trope: Big Ball of Violence.
• Jellybean looks like the red-eyed Pac-Man on the side of the arcade cabinet.
• Duncan Regehr (Amalthor) as Dracula in The Monster Squad.
• Marian Waldman, Mrs. Mac from Black Christmas, also has a quick line or two.
• The Castle Thunder stock sound effect.
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???? Retro Commercial Break:
• Burger King Doll Christmas Commercial (1977).
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???? And Now, These Messages:
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“A Cosmic Christmas” © 1977 Nelvana Enterprises, Inc.
The Advent Calendar House can also be found tap-dancing with geese on Twitter (@adventcalhouse) and Instagram (@adventcalendarhouse).
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