Christmas Movie Podcast — All Episodes

🎃🧙‍♀️ This week on Tis the Podcast, Thom, Julia, and Anthony descend into the magical (and divisive) world of Return to Halloweentown! Was the franchise’s final entry a treat or a trick? The hosts break down everything from recasting controversy, missing “Halloweentown vibes,” awkward production choices, the infamous Dominion cult plotline, and why the iconic Cromwell magic just didn’t sparkle this time around. Plus: nostalgia debates, tales from Oklahoma, theme park Halloween makeovers, and the movies and shows on our radar for the 2027 slate.

It’s a full house of hot takes, “wait, what?” moments, and listener feedback—including that infamous recasting drama. Settle in as the crew reviews one of Disney Channel’s most controversial sequels and look ahead to next week, where they promise… something with a lot more magic. Don’t miss your weekly fix of festive fumbles and Christmas cheer—all year long!

Happy Monday, Christmas Fanatics! This week, Julia and Anthony (sans Thom because life sometimes gets in the way!) are joined by Kendall Farrae of "Two Girls, One Crypt" and Jay Skipworth of "Film Strip Podcast" to discuss the legacy sequel, "Scream 5"! (Otherwise known as "5cream"; Otherwise known as "Scream"; Otherwise known as "The One Where Ghostface Has An Oscar"!) 

Everyone knows Anthony is in the bag for this franchise, but where do our two horror guests stand? And does this one work better for Julia, who loved the original film but was disappointed by the previous three sequels? Well, you'll just have to tune in to find out! But one thing we can guarantee: this is one fun episode you don't want to miss, filled with plenty of movie recommendations and film trivia! 

So settle back with your pumpkin spice lattes, relax, and enjoy! And, as always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! 🍂🎃👻🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🚂🔔 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

*Side Note: You may want to listen to this one without the young children around, as there's some questionable language used within when quoting the film!* 

Happy September, Christmas Fanatics! And Happy Labor Day! We made it to the most wonderful time of the year! The Ber Months have arrived, and with it, the official start of Spooky Season! To kick things off, Julia, Thom, and Anthony gather to discuss the 1968, George Romero classic, "Night of the Living Dead"! There's no overplaying how important this film in the pantheon of horror cinema and cinema in general, but how does it play for our three elves? You'll just have to tune in to find out! So settle back with your Pumpkin Spice Lattes, relax, and enjoy!  As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! 🍂🎃👻🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🚂🔔 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Happy Monday, everyone! And Happy August! This is it! The final stretch before the Ber Months! We are officially on the cusp of the most wonderful time of the year! How exciting is that?

To mark the occasion, and kick off the week the right way, Julia, Thom, and Anthony gather to discuss the five Disney shorts that make up 2023's "Mickey's Christmas Tales"! Spoiler alert: not much can top when Disney tackles Christmas, and we guarantee this is a fun, festive discussion that's sure to brighten your day!

So settle back, relax, and enjoy! And, as always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! 

Happy Thursday, Christmas Fanatics! And Merry Christmas in July! Can you believe we're a mere month away from the Ber months? A mere five months away from the best day of the year? Where has the time gone?

To celebrate the occasion, Julia, Thom, and Anthony gather for a very special bonus episode in which they travel to the Isle of New Berk at Christmastime - or should we say Snoggletog time? - to cover the 2019 animated Christmas special, "How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming"!

Listen as they discuss their histories with this franchise, gush over the animation style, revel in how warm and cozy this special is, and fawn over Toothless! It's the perfect, festive stocking-stuffer to end your week with and celebrate this merry summer day! So settle back, relax, and enjoy! And, as always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! 🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🚂🔔 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Happy Monday, Christmas Fanatics! And Happy Christmas in July week!

This week, the elves gather to discuss the one Christmas episode of the early aughts sitcom, "Grounded for Life": Season 2's Episode 7, "I Saw Daddy Hitting Santa Claus"! 

Also discussed: recent movies Anthony's seen, Thom's new job and upcoming priestly vows, Julia's recent mini-vacation, and first photos from the production of HBO's "Harry Potter" reboot! 

Trust us when we say that this is one fun, festive episode you don't want to miss! So settle back, relax, and enjoy! And make sure to keep an eye on your podcast feeds for a special Christmas in July bonus episode later this week! As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! 🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🚂🔔 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

It’s July, it’s hot, and the elves are back together to keep the Christmas spirit alive—even if the only snow in sight is digital! This week, Anthony, Julia, and Thom wrangle some nostalgia and take on 2015's "Jurassic World" to answer the most important question: does a single Christmas song and a December setting make this dino-blockbuster a holiday film, or is it just a T-Rex-sized summer popcorn flick with a festive aftertaste?

Pour yourself a glass of eggnog (or a margarita, Jimmy Buffett-style) and join us as we:

• Reminisce about our first "Jurassic Park" theater experiences and why that original movie still gives us chills (and maybe a few nightmares).

• Break down the plot, the characters, and the sheer spectacle of "Jurassic World"—from Chris Pratt’s raptor whispering to Bryce Dallas Howard’s high-heeled heroics.

• Debate the movie’s “Christmas credentials”—from the opening scene’s holiday music to the glaring lack of decorations in the park. (Seriously, where are the lights? Where’s the tree? Universal, call us!)

• Laugh about the best cameos, the most over-the-top dino moments, and why theme parks never learn their lesson.

• Share our signature ratings and decide if "Jurassic World" deserves a spot on your Christmas watchlist, or if it’s best saved for a heatwave movie marathon.

As always, expect plenty of tangents, pop culture references, and a healthy dose of snark. Whether you’re here for the dinosaurs, the nostalgia, or the ongoing “is it a Christmas movie?” debate, we’ve got you covered.

Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, join our Facebook group to share your thoughts (and your favorite "Jurassic Park" moments), and keep the conversation going on Twitter and Instagram. And don’t forget—Christmas is never more than a podcast episode away!

This week on “Tis the Podcast”, Julia, Anthony, and Thom bravely (or foolishly) tackle Hallmark's "Hall Out the Holly: Lit Up." Was this sequel as cheery and charming as the original? Or was it, as some might say, a piece of "hot garbage?"

Before diving into the HOA drama and Christmas light competitions, the elves talk "Megan 2.0”, upcoming movie plans, and time spent in urgent care. Plus, they discuss the new “Winnie the Pooh” Christmas movie coming to Amazon!

So grab some cocoa and tune in for a brutally honest (and hilarious) review of a Hallmark holiday misfire!  As always, thanks for your love and support, y’all! ❤️ 🎅🏻 🎄 🎁 

Happy Wednesday, Christmas Fanatics! And Happy Leon Day! That's right! As of today, we are *officially* halfway to Christmas 2025! 

To celebrate the occasion, Julia, Thom, and Anthony gather to discuss fifteen of their favorite Christmas commercials from the eighties! Done "Round Robin" style, allowing each elf to discuss the five that they picked, this is one festive and warm conversation filled with holiday cheer - and tons of eighties throwbacks! - that's sure to put you in the Christmas mood on this hot June day!

So settle back, blast that air conditioning to simulate winter, and enjoy! And get excited because as of tomorrow, we are *officially* closer to this upcoming Christmas than we are last Christmas! 

As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! 🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🚂🔔 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

"Reunited and it feels so good!" 

That's right, all three elves are back this week after most of the month of June spent apart! To celebrate the occasion, they sit down, travel to Boston, and discuss the "Frasier" revival's second Christmas episode (and, as it turns out, series finale!): Season 2, Episode 10's: "Father Christmas"! We can guarantee this is one fun, laugh-filled discussion because even a lesser episode of "Frasier" is still better than a lot of content out there! 

So settle back, relax, enjoy, and get excited because this week marks the officially halfway point to Christmas 2025! 

As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! 🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🚂🔔 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Deck the halls with chaos, cutaways, and cranberry sauce! This week, Thom and Anthony dive deep into five more uproarious "Family Guy" Christmas episodes, from Dickensian parodies to Meg’s mall-Santa trauma, and Lois’s Grinch-worthy meltdowns. With Julia taking a festive hiatus, the guys hold down the fort with unfiltered banter, personal holiday horror stories, and their signature spicy takes.

Inside this episode:

🎁 "Don’t Be a Dickens at Christmas" (S16E9): Peter’s Scrooge moment, Patrick Swayze’s ghostly pottery lessons, and why Dog Farts haunt the afterlife.

🎁 "Christmas is Coming" (S18E9): Meg’s very awkward Santa encounter (Anthony’s 7/10 vs. Thom’s 4/10—yikes!).

🎁 "The First No L" (S19E9): Lois rage-quits Christmas, the Griffins craft a tear-jerking gift, and a Muslim neighbor takes the blame.

🎁 "Christmas Crime" (S20E10): Brian cancels Christmas (and crashes a nativity), Mayor West’s villain era, and the dark truth about "Asking Panda."

🎁 "Return of the King of Queens" (S22E9): Kevin James crashes Quahog! A sitcom star fights irrelevance (and network TV’s demise) in the least Christmassy ep yet.

Plus: 🍸 Thom’s church bee-pocalypse vs. Anthony’s Disney meetup with Julia Gulia! 🎤 Their "Family Guy" musical hot takes (RIP, Carrie Fisher’s Angela!). 📺 A HUGE MILESTONE: After 8 years, they’ve covered every "Family Guy" Christmas episode! 💌 Feedback? tisthepodcast.com/Linktree (We read it on air!)

So settle back and enjoy! Next week, we'll be covering the "Frasier" revival’s Christmas finale!

 

Happy Monday, Christmas Fanatics!

While Julia enjoys Disney World with her family, Thom and Anthony soldier on by tackling something Julia has successfully avoided for years - “Family Guy”! In this episode, the guys review six of Seth MacFarlane's Christmas specials, from the classic "A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas" to "How the Griffin Stole Christmas."

Which episodes capture genuine holiday spirit? Which ones rely too heavily on failed attempts at humor? And which ones earn a perfect ten on the “Family Guy” scale? Thom and Anthony don't always agree in their ratings (what else is new?), but you can rest assured that they share plenty of memorable quotes and scenes along the way in this festive episode!

Additionally, they discuss the new “Harry Potter” HBO casting, complain about the cost of Disney World, and count down the days to Christmas!

Listen now and join us next week for Part Two of our “Family Guy” Christmas marathon!

Don't forget to leave us a review - they're the best Christmas-in-June gift you could give us! As always, thanks for your love and support, y’all! 🎁

 

Happy Monday, Christmas Fanatics! This episode was recorded pre-Memorial Day, but due to life, didn't get edited until this past weekend! Better late than never though, right?

Kick off your week the right way by joining Julia, Thom, and Anthony as they gather to discuss the one Christmas episode of the comedy, "Last Man on Earth"! For those following along at home, the episode in question is Season 2, Episode 10: "Secret Santa"!  Regardless of the elves' opinions on the episode, and the show in general, we guarantee this is one festive, fun episode that's sure to inject some holiday spirit into your Monday morning! So settle back, relax, and enjoy! And, as always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! 🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🚂🔔 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

This week on "Tis the Podcast", the elves are back to keep the Christmas spirit alive all summer long! Thom, Julia, and Anthony dive into the final three festive episodes of "Last Man Standing", sharing laughs, hot takes, and a few heartfelt moments along the way.

First, the crew unpacks “The Gift of the Wise Man,” where Mike Baxter’s attempt to delegate Christmas duties goes hilariously off the rails.

Then, they tackle “My Name is Rob,” an episode that brings Eve home from the Air Force Academy with her new boyfriend, Rob. 

And finally, the team reviews “The Gift of the Mike Guy,” highlighting cast changes, the bittersweet humor of naming streets after the living, and the heartwarming tradition of decorating the family tree—even if the new Mandy’s energy just isn’t quite the same.

Along the way, there’s talk of summer reading by the pool, the latest "Superman" trailer, and the eternal debate over the best hot cocoa recipe. We'd love to hear from you and have share your own holiday drink secrets! (But be warned: Swiss Miss fans need not apply).

Tune in for a blend of nostalgia, critique, and Christmas cheer - we guarantee you it's the perfect dose holiday magic to get you through the long, hot week! Enjoy! And, as always, thanks for your love and support, y'all!