On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we go all things Brady with the 1969 classic “The Voice of Christmas,” the very first holiday outing for The Brady Bunch. How the Brady’s Zoom-before-Zoom opening sends us into a nostalgia spiral — three channels, UHF antennas, and a time when families watched TV together. We talk the mix of sweetness and “wait… was this always a little dribble?” that hits on rewatch, and how losing Carol’s voice turns into one of the most faith-forward Christmas plots network TV ever allowed before the 70s sanitized everything. We talk how Cindy emerges as the show’s true believer, the iconic church finale, and Florence Henderson’s real-life hoarseness woven into the storyline. We also break down the episode’s writing bumps — from the suddenly “worst Christmas ever” meltdown to the mall Santa who’s clearly just working for his Schlitz, Winstons, and scratch-offs. We talk cast chemistry, how this episode cemented the Bradys as favs, and why the nostalgia hits harder now as their fanbase ages out. Plus: real trees shedding under hot lights, politically incorrect musical cues, HGTV’s Brady renovation, and even a detour that adds Gilligan’s Island’s Christmas episode to the winter viewing program. This one lands a solid 3½ candy canes. Text your thoughts or favorite Brady holiday memories to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Talk Shawlty
On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we dive-into or ummmm cry into Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, the 1977 Rankin & Bass Special with German roots. We talk how that what we perceive as our weaknesses can often become our greatest strengths. We cry with Nestor from the abuse from the other animals, being literally thrown into the snow, to losing his mom, to being physically and emotionally abused. We talk the sleezy salesman who says long ears are on-trend- to Mary’s Jedi Mindtrick. To Nestor- listening to the voices on his journey thru the sandstorm helping Mary and Joseph reach Bethlehem. Where was the apology from Olaf? Did Tilly have to shine SO bright? And Spieltoe-What? Why? A strong 4¼ - 4 ½ candy cane rating, although not sure this will be an every year watch- it’s just a bit much. As always Text us your thoughts and any Q&A to 351-251-2511. Please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Christmas Season is in Full Swing! Talk Shawtly!
Welcome back Holiday Specials We Love fans, On this episode we talk “2000 Miles” and the real story behind the Pretenders Christmas song, the importance of a full package Christmas —Christmas Eve magic, Christmas Day travel, matching pajamas, family celebrations, and why anything less than the full package just doesn’t work. We assign The Brady’s and Nestor the Long-Eared Donkey as part of the Winter Reading Progrum. Talk the need to promote Christmas Eve Eve, The “Wait…we’re working today?” and the belief that this day should already be a holiday. We talk gifting the community — a backyard setup complete with a shed for Santa, decorations, lights, and even a movie screen. The philosophy is simple: do the heavy lifting first, then bring in the elves. We dive deep into hot chocolate — memories of growing up with “scalding brown water,” to Kev’s winter hack: warm milk, maybe a little cream, and real whipped cream (love and light to the Cool Whip community). There’s even a name drop over the Kraft family’s silky, decadent hot chocolate at the Patriots game, which instantly set a new bar for what cocoa should be. Text us at 351-251-2511, and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help more people find the show! Talk Shawtly!
On this Black Friday edition of Holiday Specials We Love, we talk about how most people don’t buy because they want the item — they buy because they want the feeling they think the item will give them. And how that feeling is almost always tied to some form of scarcity. We look at how consumption becomes an attempt to patch an internal leak with an external object, and how that leak usually carries the same message: you're not enough. We ask the real questions behind the impulse. We get into how joy can free us from overconsumption, what “California sober” actually means, and why saying “never” with any addiction may not always be the most effective strategy. And what’s with people who don’t like dogs or Christmas trees? Happy Black Friday and Happy Thanksgiving! Text us at 351-251-2511 and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Talk Shawtly!
On this Black Friday edition of The Holiday Specials We Love, we talk Black Friday Madness and not madness —the years when Black Friday really was Black Friday. We talk numbers-the peak of 2013–2014: midnight openings, camping outside Best Buy, packed malls, doorbuster chaos, and the kind of scenes that made the news (for both the right and wrong reasons). We compare that with Black Friday of today: shopping from your phone, Cyber Week deals starting before the turkey is carved, Buy Now Pay Later acting as the new layaway, and AI suggesting half your cart. The numbers show the shifts — fewer dollars per shopper, more people out hunting deals, and a whole lot less “rush the doors at 3 a.m.” We digress to talk old-school radio DJs, SiriusXM holiday channels, and the pure childhood thrill of listening to school closings (hearing your school’s name really did feel like winning the lottery). We talk stores still open on Thanksgiving, the malls that haven’t given up, and the ones opening later and later. Happy Thanksgiving & be safe out there! Text your black Friday memories and Christmas Chat show ideas to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. Talk Shawtly!
On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we dive into Bob’s Burgers and its first-ever Thanksgiving special — An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal — the episode that launched an entire holiday tradition. We talk about the absurd brilliance of Bob’s devotion to Thanksgiving, his meltdown over being separated from his beloved turkey, and how one too many sips of absinthe send him into a full-blown hallucination starring a talking bird named Lance. Kevin Kline chews the scenery as the landlord Calvin Fischoeder, Linda turns family chaos into theater, and the kids take their fake-family roles way too seriously — in the best possible way. We also talk why this one works so well — the mix of heart, dysfunction, and total unhinged humor that Bob’s Burgers does better than anyone. It’s the perfect reminder that Thanksgiving doesn’t need to be flawless to be special. Sometimes all it takes is family, food, and maybe a little absinthe. Text your favorite crazy Thanksgiving moments to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Talk Shawtly
On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we dive into Cheers: “Thanksgiving Orphans” from 1986 — one of the most beloved Thanksgiving sitcom episodes ever made. We talk the chaos that unfolds when everyone’s plans fall through and the gang ends up at Carla’s house. Norm forgets to cook the turkey, Diane arrives in full pilgrim attire, Sam’s date cancels and we are reminded of the struggles of the big box TVs. We talk the sharp writing, perfect pacing, and heart beneath the humor. The legendary food fight that begins with a spoonful of cranberry sauce and ends in sitcom history. It’s classic Cheers: fast, funny, and somehow deeply human — capped by Sam’s quiet toast “to Coach,” creating one of the show’s most touching moments. We go behind-the-scenes: the mostly improvised food fight, Rhea Perlman hiding her pregnancy behind props, and how the studio reportedly smelled like Thanksgiving dinner for days after filming. Vera finally “appears,” sort of, and Diane’s colonial costume gets the send-up it deserves. Thanksgiving Orphans is a reminder that the best holidays aren’t always the ones you plan — but the ones you survive together. Text your favorite Thanksgiving memories to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Talk Shawtly
On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we finish the Halloween preseason strong. We talk Boris Pickett — the man behind the Halloween anthem that just won’t die — and his forgotten B-sides from the Spooky World days in New England. We then turn to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark — her Groundlings beginnings, her decision to finally hang up the black wig, and Cassandra Peterson’s honesty about aging, authenticity, and her simple truth that keeping secrets makes you sick. She’s still got her wit, her wisdom, her Mistress of the Dark Autumnal Gin, and a few surprising stories the kind of inside baseball that you only get on The Holiday Specials We Love. From boxed Ben Cooper costumes and Woolworth’s popcorn to Spirit Halloween pop-ups, we trace how the holiday has evolved, how it’s somehow gotten bigger as kids have vanished from the streets. We cover Silly String, Wham-O toys, Evil Knievel crashes, and the lost art of egging. We talk a fav costume of every kid in the ’70s: the hobo, complete with a stick and bandana. A nod to a real American subculture still celebrated each August at Hobo Day. A different time, a different world. It was a smorgasbord of Halloween history and nostalgia with a few laughs and a fun-size Snickers for Jesus along the way. Text us what you would love to hear us cover next 351-251-2511, and please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! We’ll Talk Shawtly!
On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we continue the Halloween preseason with The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror V from 1994 — widely considered the one of best of the series. We dive in to the three unforgettable segments: “The Shinning,” a brilliant parody of The Shining where Homer unravels without TV or beer; “Time and Punishment,” where a time-traveling toaster sends Homer through chaos and alternate realities with a fun cameo by Sherman and Mr. Peabody; and “Nightmare Cafeteria,” where Springfield Elementary’s lunch menu takes a dark turn. We talk how the sharp writing, balance of scares and laughs, makes this episode stand out and how it pushed the limits of what animated comedy could do in the early 90s. Marge quietly steals scenes, Willie takes another axe to the back, James Earl Jones makes an unforgettable cameo, and yes, watching the Tonys would have made us go mad as well. We talk the creative freedom that made these early Halloween specials so great, and how The Simpsons helped shape the next generation of animated comedies. Funny, dark, and brilliantly done — a perfect Halloween classic that still holds up three decades later. Text your thoughts or favorite Treehouse of Horror memories to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts!
The Holiday Specials We Love: Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985) On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we continue the holiday preseason with Garfield’s Halloween Adventure, the 1985 CBS special that gets us rolling into the season. Halloween is our “spring training,” Thanksgiving, the All-Star break, and from here it’s straight into the holidays. After the disappointing Thanksgiving special, this one is a step up. The pirate ghosts land, the 110-year-old man adds some edge, and Odie saving Garfield brings a little heart. Garfield even shares his candy — progress! We also ask: is Garfield made for cat people? His sarcasm, dry humor, and attitude fit perfectly, while dog lovers can’t help cheering for Odie — happy, loyal, and always game. Production-wise, the music is uneven — the opening song doesn’t fit, but the pirate tune and closing credits actually work. It’s a reminder of how much a soundtrack matters. We also talk the late Lorenzo Music, Garfield’s iconic voice,and how AI could soon recreate voices like his. We talk how Halloween decorating has taken off — neighborhood contests, lights, and displays that almost rival Christmas. Not quite, but close. Not perfect, but charming, funny and worth a rewatch every 5th October. Text your thoughts or Halloween special suggestions to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple!
The Holiday Specials We Love: Season 4 Holiday Preseason On this episode of HSWL we cover candy through the decades from the 1950's to the 1980's. The Hershey's chocolate lineup vs. the Nestle lineup. Twizzlers vs. Red Vines. Krackel vs. Nestle’s Crunch. Clark Bar vs. Butterfinger, Now and Laters vs. Mike and Ikes and more. Who was into Necco Wafers, Chuckles and Bit O' Honey? What is gimmick candy and why the gimmick achieved success rather than the taste. Razzles, Pop Rocks, Wax Bottles we are talking about you! Can someone bring back the Marathon Bar? The 80's trend toward sour and non-chocolate. What was a Zagnut bar? This 90-minute pilot has all the hot takes that will have you eating Skittles right out of your hands. We didn’t cover Circus Peanuts or Lifesavers but we have years of programming ahead to get there! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 We will soon be rebranding The Holiday Specials We Love The Holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly
Hey CSWL FANS! A lot of laughs and quite a bit of nostalgia as we watch some of the most iconic Easter Commercials of the 70s & 80s. How Easter was WAY bigger then and why we never hear Easter Carols. How Dudley of ‘Shake and Egg’ fame was the poster child for all things Easter. How the Cadbury Cream Egg commercials were the BEST, but, how they as a candy were ‘just a bit much’. Would helicopter Moms of today drain the yellow and white filling for their kids? Are Pretzel & Peanut Butter M&Ms too far out of the lane? Why Vincet Price as Egghead was ‘Eggactly’ what we needed. How heartfelt cards are so nice and what Netflix and Hallmark have in common. How Cookie Puss is NO Fudgey the Whale and Carvels Easter Chick cake of old. Is it ‘Car-A-Mel’ or ‘Carm-el’? How Ann Arbor’s newspaper journalist Meg Perry provides insight into the REAL egg crisis - the Cadbury egg crisis. How when you see Angels and Guides-just say thank you. A lot of laughs and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly
Hey CSWL FANS! Well well well – after much back and forth over if we should or should not- we did it- join us for this fun ride as we discuss The Berenstain Bears Easter Surprise Special. While there was some debate that the CSWL research team got the spelling incorrect- it is indeed, according to sources including Wikipedia, The Berenstain Bears, while some still refer to it Berenstein- Berenstain it is! Could THIS fact lead to a future episode covering the Bears? We think not, as an official apology has been issued to the Berenstain Bear community and all those who love them. This slow paced, sing song rhymer received the official first CSWL “N/A’ - not even a single basket rating but a mere pile of plastic grass. Was this just true to form for the lazy writing of the 70s? And what was with the goofy Dad? Was this just a poor man’s Dr. Seuss? How the all-day Atari players of the 80s were ‘pioneers’. How the premise of the long winter pre-empting Easter was actually good. How Cherry Red Boy is the spirit of the holidays and how Mike Berenstain probably has at least 10k in the bank. A lot of laughs and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351-251-2511 and find us on Facebook. The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly
Hey CSWL FANS! This one had us feeling all the feels as we cover this 5 Easter Basket (Candycanes? Carrots? Bunnies?) Special: The Davey & Goliath Easter Special “Happy Easter” yes- the one where Davey’s grandmother dies. We of course digress to issue a CSWL legal statement and apologies to the Cadbury Egg Community as well as the Berenstain Bear Community. Does D& G as a series need to be revisited? Modernized? How D&G are similar to Roblox and will the Peppa Pig Community also be offended? Why it’s okay to stray from the Boston accent when discussing “Garbage” and how we not only attempted to save Christmas- but we are attempting to save Easter as well. Did Religion peak back in the day and how everyone back then had extra panes of glass in attics and garages to fix broken windows. Will the Dick Beals society come after us and was Davey a tad agro to Goliath? How barter is a lost art, what prompted Lawrence Welk to say “too much cheesecake” and, how amazing was Grandma Hansen in D & G. A lot of laughs, a few tears, and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly
Hey CSWL FANS! Hold on to your Easter Bonnet and snuggle into your leisure suit as we talk most things Here Comes Peter Cottontail. How close was this to our beloved Santa Claus is Coming to Town? Was the interstitial 2D animation a cost cutting measure or for story telling? Was Peter just feeling FOMO when he was ‘overserved’ the night before the biggest day of his life? How Danny Kaye doesn’t “have people”, why we may need to find a new world leading expert on Milk Duds and how so often people would rather WIN than be Happy. What happened to Iron Tail at the end and if Peter was redeemed- why then is Blarney Bunny still lying? Was Sassafras a bit too snarky? Could he have sold Amway? We go deep with fellow holidaholics The Thorton W. Burges Research League and the Cultural History of Peter Rabbit. A lot of laughs and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly
Hey CSWL FANS! Happy Easter SEASON and Happy CSWL Season 4 Kickoff! We talk all things Easter past and a bit of present, the Berenstain Bears and Cadbury Egg ‘Communities,’ how Lent and Easter are a time for transformation. From Tony Robbins to the OG Hawaii 5-0 and, should the leisure suit (an Easter Suit staple) or the male jumpsuit make a comeback? The days of receiving baby chicks on Easters of the past and how baskets of yesteryear differ from those of today. Should we cover more Easter Specials - including the heart-wrenching Davey & Goliath episode? Is the Hollow Chocolate or Vanilla Bunny your go-to? Lots of laughs and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly
Christmas Eve Traditions Hey CSWL FANS! Merry Christmas Eve! We MADE IT! The CSWL 12 Days of Christmas! We talk all things Christmas Eve past and present, John Denver, why one celebrity hires Catholics and how late night AM Radio on Xmas Eve is go to for Holiday Insomniacs. Northeast folk and Hollywood execs who “don’t disagree.” What do Catholics and the Baby Bear's bed have in common and the true meaning of Boston Strong. Frosty’s airing removes the words 'Christopher Columbus'. How 20 miles away on Christmas Eves of the past seemed like a journey to Mars. Childhood bedrooms turning into sewing rooms, wrapped or unwrapped presents on Christmas morning, Covid changing Christmas and how a Kardashian’s Xmas differs from a Stallone Xmas. Should the Norwegian classic lefsa just be a side dish and people doing brunch on Christmas Day. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly
40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s Part Two Hey CSWL FANS! We’re doing our best to save Christmas by diving into fan-shared Things Boomers Like: 40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s. In part two, Lawernce Welk’s “too much cheesecake”, Marie Osmond’s hair, Byron Allen's Real People and more as we continue our 12 days of Christmas episode drop. Also, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland and Andy Griffith's A Face in the Crowd. And let’s settle it: Is Rhoda officially cooler than Mary Tyler Moore? How Kristi McNichol and Robbie Benson didn’t know how to add enough coal to the fire, and how DisneyWorld vs. Disneyland proves to be more 70s than 50s. How if someone is on TV long enough, they eventually 'get over.' Mimes, Iowa traffic reporters, the boys regular haircut and Christmas on Sesame Street. The three Jimmys : Baio, McNichol and Osmond. The only reason we still know the Pink Panther. Life behind the scenes on the set of Donnie and Marie Osmond. And how did Raggedy Ann and Andy’s Dog Arthur and Return of the Jedi somehow end up in the same category? Happy Days’ disappearing Chuck, and Pete Best? We wrap things up with a breakdown of why intramural sports might just hold the key to Bertrand Russell’s philosophy and why a mid-week Christmas is really the best. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly
40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s Part One Hey CSWL FANS! We’re doing our best to save Christmas by diving into fan-shared Things Boomers Like: 40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s. In part one we tackle the first 20. From Bob Hope’s holiday specials to Cher’s star power and Rich Little’s impressions. Funny how The Glenn Cambell Christmas special led us to discuss how comedy changed with disruptors like Woody Allen and David Letterman, why slapstick like pie-in-the-face humor might’ve always been overrated, and how subtitles can make things funnier. How did The Waltons seem like they were based on a real mountain family and their surprising connection to It’s A Wonderful Life? Remember when a 50-mile trip was a journey? Are Christmas Angels suggesting you try ayahuasca? How Christmas variety shows of the 70s unveil insight into why Nancy Kerrigan’s story still matters, and why skipping Family Affair could land you a corner booth at “Victim Con,” Were the 70s just a big 60s hangover? Also, what’s the deal with whistling janitors, and could John Denver have taken a page from Billy Joel? How Captain Kangaroo’s appearance in a Christmas Special led to chats about random encounters with legends like George Burns or John Cleese? As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly
Alt Christmas Movie Picks Part 2 Hey CSWL Fans! We’re back with Part 2 of the Alt Christmas Movie Picks. We’re diving into the genius of Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, why a 100-year-old’s advice still hits hard, and how Christmas is the season to embrace love and connection. Dickens's own story of writing A Christmas Carol may be more moving than the story itself. We talk Spirited, The Man Who Invented Christmas, and the criminally underrated 29th Street. We’re breaking it all down, including how a certain Ghostbusters character channels big CSWL energy. Could all this vintage movie and TV talk spark a CSWL Summa Series? And what’s the deal with comparing it all to the 2004 Red Sox? As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511, and let's keep the convo going on Facebook. Talk Shawtly
Lori Gray
Great spin off from Regular Guy Friday. Thank you for making this Gen X kid smile.