The Christmas TV Companion: a Guide to Cult Classics, Strange Specials and Outrageous Oddities
I'm reading a wonderful book right now -The Christmas TV Companionby Joanna Wilson. It's a collection of all the great, not-so-great, and weirdly oddball Christmas themed specials and series episodes we all grew up with (no matter what your age is) and it's a well-written and thoroughly researched delight. I'm a sucker for the classic holiday TV episodes and I enjoy watching my favorites in the run up to the holidays - this book does a great job of bringing those shows to life. There are loads of pictures and so many classic television faves to explore like the Dr. Who, Mork & Mindy, The Tick, Night Gallery and Pee Wee's Playhouse holiday forays. The author even details more obscure Christmas moments on variety hours like The Frank Sinatra Show, Elvis' comeback special, and The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. I really enjoyed reading about what looks like a hilarious 1965 musical special - The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood with Liza Minnelli, Vic Damone, and Eric Burdon & The Animals. Crazy!The Christmas TV Companionis witty, breezy and fresh; it's written in an intimate style that is instantly likeable. I can't recommend this book highly enough but be warned - it will put you in the Christmas spirit! --Billy Ingram, TVparty.com --Billy Ingram, TvParty!I thought I'd seen just about every Christmas-themed television show out there. I was wrong. Joanna Wilson'sChristmas TV Companionhas sent me searching for all kinds of obscure oddments of which I had never heard and now can't wait to watch. In an engagingly amusing way, this book points out how versatile television has been in embracing, celebrating, satirizing, and abusing this single holiday. --Robert Thompson, Director of the Bleier Center of Televsion and Popular Culture, Syracuse UniversityFans of my animated shorts will love this book! WithThe Christmas TV Companionas your guide, you're bound to have the most demented Yuletide Season ever! --Corky Quakenbush, animator of Raging Rudolph, The Reinfather and A Pack of Gifts Now