The Wilhelm Holiday Feedback Special 2023

[00:00:00] Hello everybody and welcome to Wilhelm. me for this episode. And because it is the end of the year, it is my final episode of 2023, I wanted to do something special. Hence, this holiday feedback special, where what we're going to do is I'm going to reveal to you my own personal top five lists of favorite movies, Christmas movies that I that are essential for me every in. And I'm gonna sprinkle some of my personal favorites in along the way of my top five list. We'll go through some feedback submissions and we'll do a top five list of mine. We'll go through some more feedback. We'll do the other top list, five list of mine. We'll do some more feedback. And then we'll wrap things up. And I'll try not to keep you guys too long

[00:03:01] because it is of course Christmas day.

[00:03:03] And I want you to be able to spend that time

[00:03:05] with your family.

[00:03:07] But I am also very appreciative of the fact turn to from time to time. Lastly, you mentioned least favorites. I honestly can't stand a Christmas story. It's boring and plotless. However, the new sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, was quite cute and fun, much better than its predecessor, Merry Christmas Ben. Peek, that's a great way to start things off

[00:04:21] because you know what?

[00:04:23] Love actually was a movie that I was very late to.

[00:04:25] I didn't watch it until maybe about

[00:05:26] I can't really say that I'm with you on that one, but I will make an effort. I will make an effort into 2024 to watch Black Mirror, especially White Christmas.

[00:05:31] As for a Christmas story, I don't know if I agree that it's boring and pointless.

[00:05:37] However, TNT or TBS, whichever station it of the now part of the podcast can network. So I want to make sure that I'm plugging everybody who wrote in. I want to make sure I'm plugging all of their great stuff as well because that's what you do. You share the love, especially this time around Christmas. So if you're a fan of like monster

[00:07:02] movies and you know, monster, you know, movies where hard. We mentioned love actually already. And the 1951 of Christmas Carol is just, it's so good. I mean, I don't really know if there's kind of a bad version of the Christmas Carol. It's a story that's been told so many times, but I don't know if there's really a bad, I'm sure there is and I'm sure people can criticize me if you're listening, but I apologize for

[00:08:23] that. But thank you Daphne, of that's one of my favorite things I love about Paul. So yeah, this list is not going to be traditional. But number five, he has gremlins. Great, great choice. Number four, Scrooge, aka A Christmas Carol from 1951.

[00:09:41] That is the Alistair Sim version we mentioned earlier in Daphne's feedback.

[00:09:44] Number three, Christmas Evil.

[00:09:46] That is not one I have not read any of this feedback ahead of time. I am reading it and listening to it for the first time

[00:11:00] to share that experience with all of you.

[00:11:02] So the reactions I'm giving you are very,

[00:12:04] There's music in it, original music in it. That is just quirky and

[00:12:11] Can't be beat. It is a stop motion special. So they're really paying tribute to a lot of those rank and bass

[00:12:18] You know Rudolph and Frosty specials that we all grew up with and we love so it's just a great Christmas special

[00:12:20] from a great Great show that I still watch number four on my list season one episode seven of Mr. Bean

[00:13:24] every year, a Christmas episode with this one coming. The new doctor's Christmas episode,

[00:13:25] his first full episode coming up this Christmas.

[00:13:29] At the time you're listening to this, it is out

[00:13:31] and I can't wait to watch it.

[00:13:34] I might have already watched it

[00:13:35] by the time you're listening to this

[00:13:36] and I'm probably loving it

[00:13:38] because Shooty Got While is just gonna be

[00:13:40] an amazing new doctor.

[00:13:41] I can't wait to see it.

[00:13:43] But going back to 2010,

[00:13:45] Doctor Who A Christmas Carol, again, and alone special, you know, about with everything that's going on. It kind of separates away from the main story of season two, but still concentrates on the characters. It has some great delightful heartfelt moments and quite frankly, one of the most hysterical moments of the entire series.

[00:15:02] So for that reason, I love that.

[00:15:05] We haven't even gotten to that episode yet in our coverage on the Revisited Podcast. of your day, however long the episode is, and it's just, it gets me every time I watch it. Not just because of my love for Robin, but just in general. It is a fantastic episode of Christmas. And I'll throw out a couple honorable mentions as I usually do when I do these top five lists. I won't do too many, but of course the Office Season 2 Episode 10, titled Christmas Party.

[00:16:23] It is just a fun, great fun standalone episode as I mentioned and it's just, I highly recommend it. If you've never seen the X-Files, it's, again, you don't need to have watched all the other episodes. It stands alone on its own. It's just a fun, fun episode to watch. So there you have it.

[00:17:40] My personal top five favorite TV themed episodes of her as I see that familiar story play itself

[00:19:04] out again.

[00:19:05] I don't mind saying that it brings me to certain levels of emotion that I feel I need this movie, but I really came to appreciate it after I got married. My wife and her family regarded as the greatest Christmas movie ever made. They quoted to each other, sent memes through social media all December long with the Griswold family in them, and I think they could act out the entire script if they wanted to. It's funny just to see them go back and forth. Hope this helps.

[00:20:20] Mike, it absolutely helped, and again, thank you Willis. It's a Christmas story. I mean, the Dan thing

[00:23:03] is on 24 hours straight for a reason, right He keeps thinking I'm going to fire him for some reason because he used to be on my network. He's still on my network, but he keeps thinking I'm going to fire him. And Pat, I want to reassure you on my me know when. Merry Christmas, bitches. I'm sure I could list more, but I've made you read enough. Happy holidays to you and yours my friend and to all the good night. Friend Pat Johnston. He is the host as I mentioned and producer of the melting pat. So Steve left me a voicemail with some of his, so we're gonna play that now. This is a voicemail from my good friend Steve Brown with his Christmas feedback. Hello Ben, this is Steve and this is for the holiday movie special feedback. Of course,

[00:27:00] we can't, I can't go a year without hard to and leave the weapon. And then, you know, of course, if you're gonna watch die hard to you, might as well go on to die hard with the engines. I mean, it's not Christmas, but it's Samuel Jackson, and Bruce Willis driving a cab through Central Park. You know, my favorite line in that movie is, I told you part drive would be packed.

[00:28:20] I didn't say part drive.

[00:28:21] I said through the park, so love it.

[00:28:25] But anyway, I don't wanna go on too long here.

[00:29:21] I've been doing it for so long now. So to hear like, I'm doing the great job,

[00:29:24] it's just, it means so much.

[00:29:26] So thank you for that.

[00:29:27] And die hard, die hard too, die hard with the vengeance.

[00:29:31] What you mentioned is not a Christmas movie,

[00:29:33] but I can't fault you for wanting to watch it

[00:29:35] because it's a great movie.

[00:29:37] And yes, Lethal Weapon is also included in that

[00:29:40] as I mentioned.

[00:29:41] So thank you again, how the Grinch stole Christmas, Charlie Brown Christmas, Frosty the Snowman. These are all givens, so I avoided those and I avoided like the adult violent movies like Violent Night or Silent Night. They're great. I watched them every year. first one is, Home Alone 2. I will argue this, just like Die Hard is a Christmas movie, Home Alone 2 is better than its predecessor. Home Alone 2 Lost in New York is better than one. With the exception of one cameo that happens in it, we actually just discovered today,

[00:32:22] actually on the day of recording this,

[00:32:24] that apparently that particular person more fun and it's just it's a blast to watch. If you haven't seen it, highly recommend it and please, if somebody out there with the powers of B are listening, make this a stage show because one, I want to see it and two, I want to audition for it. I want to be a part of it personal childhood. It was six years old when this movie came out. That's showing my age that I just watch it every year still to this day and it holds such a special place. But that leads me into my number one. This is and has been my favorite Christmas movie

[00:35:03] for as long as I can remember and it is saved for Christmas Eve and it is the last thing I watch before I go to bed on Christmas. So, Christmas Eve. Love this movie so much. But that leads me just to a couple honorable mentions and then we're going to wrap things up with the last of the feedback that I have before I kind of let you go and I release you to the Christmas holiday.

[00:36:22] The Santa Claus from 1994, Tim Allen, as Santa. Another relatively newer movie, 8-bit Christmas. This was an HBO Max movie from 2021 with Neil Patrick Harris and Steve Zahn and June Day in Rayfield. This is a fantastic movie that really touches on the nostalgia of the 1990s.

[00:37:41] You know, again, something else going back to my childhood,

[00:37:44] that, you know, about how to get your hands on a Nintendo

[00:37:48] and original Nintendo. go though. So let's dive into some more of that. And I'm going to go with another fellow podcaster friend of mine. Long time friend, he's the reason why I'm friends with so many other people. And that is my friend Jason Kebasi. He has been on this podcast before he's the creator of the podcast like a network and all the great podcasts that are there. He

[00:39:04] is the pod father, as we call him. But love the sweetness and innocence mixed with the devilishness and darkness. And like Die Hard, it's surprisingly Christmassy with the message of not being scrooge-like. You might find yourself being injected

[00:40:21] through the window of your mechanized,

[00:40:23] stairlift seat by tiny monsters

[00:40:25] and connecting with the people you care about.

[00:40:28] Agreed, I love that. And number one, Christmas vacation. This is still, this is the one I still enjoy the most.

[00:41:43] So funny, Chevy Chase's Clark Griswold is a very long time, but when we did before moving from New Jersey to Colorado, TBS always had a marathon on Christmas Eve where they would play a Christmas story for 24 hours straight. TBS, thank you for that. Watching that movie at least once on Christmas Eve and once on Christmas

[00:43:03] Day, if we can fit it in, is a call Merry Christmas, Ben. I hope you enjoy the season, and I can't wait to listen to your end of the year show, all the best, Jamie. Jamie, thank you so much for contributing to this. And I love, I already knew and was already aware about your towards the night before Christmas tradition with your dad.

[00:44:20] I love your mom and dad.

[00:44:21] I've known them for years as well.

[00:44:22] I didn't see them in forever.

[00:44:24] I might have to make a point to have a collective indifference to some classics like a Christmas story and the Grinch, so that works out. No matter where we are, whether we're together or not, we all watch National Land Boots Christmas Vacation on Thanksgiving night to kick off Christmas season, and then again,

[00:45:44] to end Christmas Eve night.

[00:45:45] We've been doing this since my brother and friends like to get together and make fun of these hallmark cheesy Christmas movies.

[00:47:01] I want you to do me a favor and check out,

[00:47:03] and this goes for anybody out there

[00:47:04] that kind of makes fun at these hallmark cliche movies. So get together with your best friends and watch Christmas with the Campbells. I promise you I don't think you'll be disappointed by it at all

[00:48:22] especially if you have fun you know making up a few years back. So now we switch off every year with either a themed Star Wars lineup, whether it be 4-6, 1-3-3, 7-9, before Rebellion, TV series, etc. or we watch all the Harry Potter films. This year is Star Wars.

[00:49:40] We decided on a shotgun order where we all choose our favorites, my husband chose Empire,

[00:49:45] my son chose Revenge of the Sith.

[00:49:46] I chose Rogue One.

[00:49:47] We'll talk about that later. So that's why I'm I was kind of saving it for last to go out on another voicemail book ending these these sections With a voicemail and this one comes from my friend Billy Taylor He has been on the podcast with me before as well as a matter of fact He co-hosted with Jamie's husband Sean and I for the doctor who 60th anniversary special But he's been on before and he's another fellow podcaster infinite Taylor verse look for it wherever you find podcasts

[00:51:06] Facebook comms slash infinite Taylor verse

[00:52:05] five favorite Christmas movies. Now we all know there's the classics like Home Alone and Elf, the National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and the Granch and all these. So obviously those are

[00:52:09] great ones that I have to watch every year, but here's my big list of must watch movies every year.

[00:52:15] The first one on there, this is a new-ish one. It's Rise of the Guardians. That's such a fun one.

[00:52:20] It's animated and I got more into it since I've had kids of my own and I will argue to the death that this is a Christmas movie. I have to watch it every Christmas. It's just one of the things I have to do. And my number one on the entire list, my must watch, if it's the only one I get to watch, I have to watch it. It is the Muppet Christmas Carol. That movie brings me so much joy. I love all the different versions of the Christmas Carol, but this one is my favorite one by

[00:53:42] far, and it's a definite must watch in our house. I loved that series and I love that it takes place around Christmas. Number four, that's gonna be for nerds like me who loved the show Chuck. There was the episode season two, episode 11 called Chuck versus Santa Claus. Ah, I love that episode so much. Next on my list is gonna be Smallville, an episode called Lexmus, season five, episode nine.

[00:55:03] We kind of have a what if you know my life took a different turn type of a scenario episode with Lex that were my favorite that didn't quite make the list but almost did were. Lois and Clark, the new Adventures of Superman, there's one called Seasons Greetings in season 2. And then there's one called The Night Before Mixmas, season 4, episode 11. Man, those were some of my favorite shows as a kid and I still get a lot of pleasure out of watching those. And then of course the office, the episode called Christmas Party from season 2.

[00:56:21] Again, it was very hard making the TV episode list but those almost made into the list.

[00:56:27] They just wound up being my honorable mentions. and a Happy New Year to everyone as well. How? How? How did I forget about Hawkeye? May I Billy? Thank you for bringing that up. I completely forgot that series, that entire series is a Christmas special. It is Christmas in New York. I love that series.

[00:57:43] It is my favorite of all the Marvel series matter what it is Thank you for taking a little bit of your time to contribute some feedback for this episode I really greatly appreciate it. You made this special feel full

[00:59:04] You warmed my heart with all of your recommendations and your reasonings why you chose them is going to continue into 2024 as for, so as for revisited as I mentioned, right now we are currently covering Ted Lasso. We just kicked off season two, so we still have a little ways to go, but we're going to be through that before the end of 2024. So we're going to be picking a new show. You know, we started with Lost, we dove into Ted for Wilhelm, going into 2024, I'm gonna continue doing what I'm doing. We're gonna kick off on New Year's Day with another episode of our continuing coverage of Monarch Legacy of Monsters, which is the Apple TV Plus series. My friend Mark and I have been covering that on the weekly since it debuted,

[01:01:42] and I know it was Wilhelm's first foray

[01:01:46] into weekly coverage of a television series, those conversations. As for the conventions that I mentioned too, I have audio recordings of panels I have done, a number of panels I have done over the years, over the year in 2023 that I've yet to release. And they're gonna be coming your way. I've got audio with Anson Mount, Chris Sarandon, members of the Brat Pack, Molly Ringwald, Allie Sheedy,

[01:03:03] Anthony Michael Hall and Andrew McCarthy,

[01:03:05] Greg Nicotero from The Walking Dead, Wilhelm, Facebook.com slash Wilhelm podcast, make sure you like the page, and you'll be able to see that as well. I know most likely be on YouTube as well, on the Wilhelm YouTube page, which I believe is youtube.com slash Wilhelm podcast or at Wilhelm podcast. So you'll be able to catch that there. But I think as far as podcasting goes,

[01:04:21] I think that just about covers everything

[01:04:24] to wrap up with this.

[01:05:42] Thank you for being there for me,

[01:05:44] whether it's professionally, personally, podcasting,