Advent Calendar House

Latest Episodes:

The Muppets - Single All the Way Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

🎄 It’s been 10 years since the Muppets’ 2015 TV series gave us the gift of a Christmas episode, so it’s time to stay Up Late with Miss Piggy and find out if we can take it seriously, or if it left us because we couldn’t stop making jokes about it.

🎙️ Becca Petunia and J.D. Hansel of ToughPigs.com join the chaos including, but not limited to: a rigged Secret Santa! Gross and unhelpful mistletoe strategy! And, of course, Echosmith!

📺 You can find “Single All the Way” on Disney+.

Becca’s also on A Prairie Dawn Companion and Here Comes Tomorrow.

J.D. is also on The Great Muppet Fandom Panel and Stick to Shorts.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

ToughPigs’ review of “Single All the Way” (2015)

The Muppets at Midseason: The Good, the Bad, and the Deadly (ToughPigs.com, 2016)

70 Years, 70 Muppets: Yolanda the Rat and Chip.

The Muppets’ a cappella cover of “Cool Kids” by Echosmith.

“Bright” by Echosmith.

Sam the Eagle’s paintball-themed minigame in “Muppets Party Cruise.”

The Swedish Chef is married because one time Steve Whitmire forgot to take off his wedding ring and they just decided it’s canon now.

Chip has synesthesia.

An extremely rare one-on-one scene with Miss Piggy and Fozzie.

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📼 Commercials:

Pizza Hut “4 for All” Pizza Commercial starring the Muppets (2004)

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Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Find us at adventcalendar.house.
Hosted by The Retro Network.

#s15 #2010s #muppets #disney

Sonic Christmas Blast Dec 06, 2025

Show notes

🎄 If you thought Christmas was fast approaching, hang onto something as we zip back to 1996 and do our best to keep up with Sonic the Hedgehog on a mission to save Christmas.

🎙️ Mike (Bitter Karella) and Ethan (The Hungry Reader) from A Special Presentation, or ALF Will Not Be Seen Tonight join the quest to rescue Santa from the evil Robotnik Claus, obtain the Secret to Ultimate Velocity, and find a gift for Sonic’s girlfriend from another universe.

📺 You can watch “Sonic Christmas Blast” for free on YouTube.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

How Sonic scored two different animated series at the same time (Polygon, 2020)

This specially was originally called “An X-tremely Sonic Christmas” to promote a Sega Saturn game that ended up getting canceled.

Jay Brazeau (Santa) as the referee in “Air Bud” who says the line.

The robot queen in “The Great Mouse Detective.”

“Let the Heartaches Begin” by Long John Baldry (Robotnik).

The original “Ugly Sonic” movie trailer.

Dr. Robotnik’s in-game design looks like both an Eggman and a walrus.

The other cartoon’s theme song.

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📼 Commercials:

Sonic & Knuckles Christmas Elves Commercial (1994)

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Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Find us at adventcalendar.house.
Hosted by The Retro Network.

#s15 #1990s #videogames #dic

The Town Santa Forgot Dec 04, 2025

Show notes

🎄 Found under a pile of too many toys, enough for 442 boys, is a little-known gem of a Christmas special from 1993.

🎙️ Chad Young from the Horror Movie BBQ, Jeff Loftin from the Lost Christmas Podcast, and Sean Sotka from ChristmasPodcasts.com join us for the story of Jeremy Creek, a kid so greedy, Santa mistook his list for an entire town’s. Featuring the voices of Dick Van Dyke, Hal Smith, and the kid from “Kindergarten Cop” who gave us an anatomy lesson.

📺 You can find “The Town Santa Forgot” on the Internet Archive.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

The original poem: “Jeremy Creek” (Indianapolis Star, 1985)

Jeremy Creek (no relation) from the “Smallville” pilot.

Miko Hughes (Jeremy) in People magazine (2024): “Kindergarten Cop Child Actor Recalls Working with Arnold Schwarzenegger — and the Origin of That Iconic Line.”

Today’s TV Trope: Signs of Disrepair.

One of Hal Smith’s final voice acting roles during his lifetime. (He had a posthumous credit in “Zelda’s Adventure.”)

Larry Walters has a flying lawn chair and a BB gun.

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📼 Commercials:

NBC Commercial Break during the original 1993 airing of this special, including “The Muppet Christmas Carol” on VHS, and Wendy’s Big Bacon Classic.

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Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Find us at adventcalendar.house.
Hosted by The Retro Network.

#s15 #1990s #hannabarbera

The Simpsons - ’Tis the Fifteenth Season Dec 02, 2025

Show notes

🎄 “This just in: Santa Claus is dead… or he might as well be, because there’s an even fatter man who’s holding families at nice-point!”

’Tis the Advent Calendar House’s 15th season, so this December’s dozen begins with a similarly titled episode of “The Simpsons” from 2003.

🎙️ Shane Keating from ToughPigs.com, Erin Evans, and Joey O. join the mission to stop being selfish and start being good.

📺 As of this recording, “’Tis the Fifteenth Season” (Season 15, Episode 7) is available on Disney+.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

This episode premiered the day after Saddam Hussein was caught.

Marge’s couch gag anime costume: Jun the Swan from “Gatchaman.”

“How Low Can DVD Players Go?” (New York Times, 2003)

Kathy from Personnel.

The Joe DiMaggio rookie card is real.

Today’s TV Trope: Art Shift — “Christmas with the California Prunes” and “The Year Santa Got Lost,” animated by the Chiodo Bros.

Animaniacs’ 50 State Capitals.

Of course I looked up the astrolabe’s coordinates.

Convoy, and the cover by Sifl & Olly.

Operation: The Simpsons Edition.

The first on-screen appearance of Nelson’s mom.

The end of “Treehouse of Horror IV.”

Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television — and America — Forever, by Alan Siegel.

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📼 Commercials:

Bart vs. the Space Mutants (1991)

Butterfinger - The Power Cut (1993)

A Bomb for Christmas 2: Past, Present, and Future on the Can’t Wait for Christmas Podcast.

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Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Find us at adventcalendar.house.
Hosted by The Retro Network.

#s15 #2000s #simpsons

Psych - The Polarizing Express Nov 01, 2025

Show notes

🍍 I’ve hidden a pineapple somewhere in this episode, and if you can find it… you get nothing. Sorry.

The Advent Calendar House is back for Christmas Podcast Day. This year, a bunch of your yuletide podcast pals are dropping episodes themed to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and that gave me a premonition to take a closer look at a very merry episode of “Psych” from 2010.

🎙️ Gerry Davila from Totally Rad Christmas joins this examination of our superego, taking the form of renowned actor Tony Cox as himself… kind of.

Find more “Wonderful” episodes in the Christmas Podcasts directory.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

“Psych’s Take on ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Changed Shawn’s Character” (Collider, 2023)

Maggie Lawson (Jules) on “Boy Meets World.”

Corbin Bernsen (Henry) has a collection of over 8,000 snow globes.

Today’s TV Trope: Good Angel, Bad Angel.

Keshia Knight Pulliam as Gus’s sitcom wife.

Behind-the-scenes photo of dream sequence Jules, Lassie, and Chief Vick.

Skyler Gisondo as Young Shawn.

The Canadian Motion Picture Park Backlot standing in for the least Miami-looking Miami.

Oh, there’s the pineapple.

“This Is Christmas” by Curt Smith.

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📼 Commercials:

Corn Pops: “Pops Locked in the Car” commercial starring Dulé Hill (1994)

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Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Find us at adventcalendar.house.

#s15 #2010s #itsawonderfullife

The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries - The Nutcracker Scoob Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

🎄 We wrap up Christmas in July with an old-fashioned scary ghost story.

🎙️ Adam Pope and Donnie Storms join the trip aboard the Mystery Machine back to 1984 for Scooby-Doo’s very first Christmas special, in which the gang tries to save an orphanage with the power of pageantry, and stop the mysterious Ghost of Christmas Never.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries opening was riding the “Thriller” wave.

Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue.

Mr. Wizard and the Talking Head Illusion.

Our experience with Christmas pageants, including some unfortunate elementary school play featuring the song, “Santa Claus, Santa Claus, you are much too fat.”

The elf costumes look like Tingle.

The Mystery Sleigh!

Go-Gurt + Scooby-Doo = Ro-Gurt!

Today’s TV Trope: Read the Fine Print.

The Scooby-Doo Character Reference Guide.

“The PTA has disbanded!”

The Little Rascals (1994) boys crash the ballet.

Mr. Burns collapses on a sundial after being shot.

Scooby Apocalypse.

Adam’s stitched Scooby-Doo portrait.

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📼 Commercials:

The Kodak Disc (1984)

Remember That Show?

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Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Find us at adventcalendar.house.

#s14 #1980s #hannabarbera

The Thanksgiving Promise Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

🦃 This Thanksgiving in July, I’ve decided to treat y’all to a feast of a special I’ve had tucked away in my memory for decades, but it’s finally time to cross those Bridges.

🎙️ Chad Young and Tommy Coombs hop onto either side of our tractor for a hayride back to 1986 to watch a very special Disney family movie directed by Beau Bridges and featuring 3 generations of his family, along with teenage Jason Bateman and Courtney Thorne-Smith, and an injured goose named Chester.

📺 “The Thanksgiving Promise” is on YouTube with or without commercials.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

We all hung out!

TV Guide’s Close Up feature from 1986.

“Chester, I Love You,” the original book.

“In the Bag” (bump, bump).

Beau Bridges in “The Wizard.”

Lloyd Bridges as Izzy Mandelbaum on “Seinfeld.”

The Christian Cringe podcast on “The Buttercream Gang.”

Courtney Thorne-Smith (Sheryl) and Norm MacDonald on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (1997).

Jason Bateman’s (Steve) turkey costume.

The “Gleaming the Cube” chicken scene.

Today’s TV Trope: Teetering on the Edge.

This Milk PSA with the most forward-thinking bullies ever (circa 1988).

McDonald’s put Fievel on a Christmas stocking. “An American Tail” opens with him celebrating Hanukkah.

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📼 Commercials:

Pringles Butter N Herbs (1986)

Bingo Bear (1986)

Kingdom Chums (1986)

“Nazi Hunter: The Beate Klarsfeld Story” (1986)

McDonald’s: “One-Ups-Man-Ship” (1986)

“Gung Ho” TV series promo (1986)

Juicy Fruit: Skiing (1985)

Nutrasweet ad starring William “Refrigerator” Perry and his daughter (1986)

Cool Kids Club Podcast

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Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Find us at adventcalendar.house.

#s14 #1980s #thanksgiving #disney

Taz-Mania - No Time for Christmas Jul 19, 2025

Show notes

🎄 Join us for a short spin back to 1993 as I spend 48 minutes blah blah blah yackety schmacketing about Taz’s attempt to spread Christmas cheer.

🎙️ Sammy Hain and Joey O. join us for Summer in December during Christmas in July in a land that’s way under Down Under.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

Tasmania was once home to the world’s tallest decorated Christmas tree.

John Astin (Bull Gator) in “Return of the Killer Tomatoes.”

How the origins of Taz’s creation involve Errol Flynn and the Los Angeles Zoo.

Hot Dr. Pepper.

Bing Crosby’s Minute Maid Orange Juice Commercials.

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📼 Commercials:

Tornado Taz Plush (1997)

Christmas Creeps.

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Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Find us at adventcalendar.house.

#s14 #1990s #warnerbros

Santabear’s High Flying Adventure Jul 17, 2025

Show notes

🎄 This episode is stuffed with surprises, so get your propeller spinning and take off back to 1987 to go barnstorming — or bearnstorming — above the South Pole with Santabear.

🎙️ Ethan “The Hungry Reader” is our co-pilot as we nosedive into a Midwestern Christmas tradition we wish found a place to land elsewhere.

📺 You can find “Santabear’s High Flying Adventure” on the Internet Archive, or a recording with the original commercials on YouTube.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

Mike on A Special Presentation, or ALF Will Not Be Seen Tonight, for “Poochie” and “The Hugga Bunch Movie.”

“Santabear’s First Christmas,” the original book and the 1986 special.

IMDb claims Dennis Hopper is in this, but I didn’t hear him.

Antarctica’s Christmas Traditions, including a “Race Around the World.”

The Odd Case of Dennis the Menace.

Today’s TV Trope: Spot the Imposter.

What is the history behind the Dayton's Santa Bear? (WCCO-TV, 2022).

An official list of every Santa Bear made, 1985–2007 (WDIV-TV, 2023).

The Dayton’s Project’s 2024 Santa Bear.

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📼 Commercials:

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Christmas Commercial and Santabear Sweepstakes (1987)

Oreos for Santa (1986)

Holiday M&M’s (1987)

Wild Puffalumps (1987)

Doublemint Gum (1987)

The Studio Demands It!

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Theme song by Bronwen’s Ghost.
Find us at adventcalendar.house.

#s14 #1980s

The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss - Mrs. Zabarelli’s Holiday Baton Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

🎄 Now it’s time for a Muppety holiday fix, so let’s turn the clock back to 1996, to a show I’m excited to reintroduce: it’s “The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss.”

🎙️ The Advent Calendar House welcomes 2 of Muppet Wiki’s finest, Tony Whitaker and Shane Keating, to join our Jingle Day pageant.

📺 You can watch “Mrs. Zabarelli’s Holiday Baton” on the Jim Henson’s Family Hub YouTube channel.

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💬 Topics & Tangents:

Where in the who-heck is the Grinch?

“The noozle at the end of the hoose,” (surprisingly not a Dr. Seuss reference).

Michael K. Frith on Muppet Wiki.

The Muppets on “Family Feud” (2001).

Kathy Mullen (Morton) interview with ToughPigs.com (2013).

These aren’t Whatnots; they’re Whozits.

“Sesame English,” an English as a second language “Sesame Street” series.

“Good grief! The comedian’s a bear!”