What I Watched in December

 

I'm quite late for this posting but for good reason. You see, my dear friends, 2 brothers, were in a car accident. Right after Christmas, they were driving to exchange gifts with their niece and nephew when the one brother either fell asleep or blacked out. They went careening, like the Dukes of Hazard, over a ditch and into a plowed field. The one brother suffered a fracture in his lower spine while the other, who was driving, also suffered a fractured back, but a little higher, but also a fractured sternum. They have been in the hospital ever since. I have been visiting them and trying to see their 86 yr old mom who is not in good health. Their sister has been visiting everyone but she will be gone to Cuba come the 11th. Her husband is quite manipulative and she can't say no to him. Another friend and I are trying to coordinate times to see their mom. Anyway, that's the news here and I didn't get home until 10pm last night Thursday. I've been at the hospital, their mom a d trying to take down Christmas decor.

I am hoping to make the rest short and sweet

1. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE-1946 

George is discouraged with his life but an angel, 2nd class, does his best to show George how wonderful his life truly is. My favourite film. Sorry that I have just the colourized version....I hate it and so did Jimmy Stewart. Promise never to watch this film in colour.

2. IT HAPPENED ON 5TH AVE.-1947

A bum, Victor Moore, finds a way into a fancy mansion and stays there during the winter. He brings in another and another. The daughter of the owner ends up there and so does her father. It's fun, sweet and a lively movie.

3. THE HOUSE WITHOUT A CHRISTMAS TREE-1972

A Hallmark TV movie starring Jason Robards as a disagreeable dad mourning the loss of his wife  and having to deal with an irritating daughter who wants to have a Christmas tree. Cheap budget but still nicely done.

4. WHITE CHRISTMAS-1954

Bing, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen all end up going to Vermont and helping out an old man the guys remember as a mighty General. They bring the crew to put on a really big show and no Mickey Rooney in sight!

5. SCROOGED-1988

Bill Murray over-acts in this retelling of a Christmas Carol. I love that they brought back the nostalgia of the campy variety specials of the 1970s. The best is Carol Kane as the ghost of Christmas Present who just keeps beating up Murray.

6. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS-2000

Jim Carrey is irritating as the Grinch who hates Christmas and wants to take it away from the weird town of Whoville. I love the dog but give me the original any day.

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS-2017

Dickens is having a Dickens of a time trying to come up with a story. He has writer's block but needs to come up with a good story. He finally starts writing A Christmas Carol when the characters come to life as it were. Christopher Plummer makes a good Scrooge but Dan Stevens( Matthew from downton Abbey fame) just is meh for me. 

TV SHOWS

1. THE GREAT BIG TINY DESIGN CHALLENGE-2022

This is another British show I found and just love, love, love! You have the host, 2 professionals and the people trying to win the trophy. There is a doll house and each week they must create a room, could be Edwardian, Victorian, Rococo, in style but all tiny. It was just so cool how they created the food, fireplaces, furniture etc... using tiny things. I was emotional because my mom would have loved this show. She could create the tiniest things and the tinier the better  she used to say. It's just wonderful to watch.

2. CHEERS-1982-1993

Norm! Woman chasing, recovering alcoholic, former baseball player Sam Malone owns a bar and you get to know the waitresses and the patrons of this establishment. Diane Chambers fights but loves Sam and vice versa. Carla is an evil little imp who gets pregnant at a drop of a hat. Coach hands out the beer etc.. a d was Sam's coach but has had too many baseballs hit him in the head. Norm is fat, lazy and adores beer and Cliff is a know it all postman who can drive anyone crazy. Fantastic show that brought in Frazier Crane and got better when Shelley Long( Diane) left the show thinking she will make it big in the movies or was she fired..not sure on that one. Kirstie Alley came in as Rebecca Howe and when Nicholas Colasanto died, Woody Harrelson came in as the innocent boy from the Midwest who is as dumb as a board. It's just brilliant!

2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-1964

I always try to watch this and Santa Claus is Coming To Town but I only saw this one. I've been watching this since I was a kid. When I was young and, even a teen, I wanted to go to the island of misfit toys because I was a misfit too. Who doesn't love Yukon! By the way, when my brother was 4 or 5, he got frightened by the Abdominable ..hahaha but then he found out Bumbles bounce.

EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND-1996-2005

Hilarious show about a sports writer married to spunky Debra, with a little girl and twin boys. The problem? They live across the street from his parents and his cop brother who lives with mom and dad since his marriage broke up. The brother has hang ups especially with his younger brother. The parents are from hell but it's so funny. I laugh out loud st almost every show, just like CHEERS. 

What did you watch in December?