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Tis the Podcast

Keeping the Christmas spirit alive 365 days a year.

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Christmas Movie Podcast — All Episodes

358: Look’s Like Someone’s Been Rubbing The Partridge. (Candy Cane Lane)

Happy Monday, Christmas Fanatics! 

This week, the elves welcome back to the show their good friend - and OG listener - Charlyn Lewis to discuss the brand new, Amazon Prime Original Holiday movie, "Candy Cane Lane"! 

Also discussed this episode: Christmas band season; Harry Potter; movie plots explained badly; movies with children that Anthony actually likes; and much, much more!

So whether you're in the throes of gift-wrapping, or peacefully relaxing by the fireside, we hope you enjoy this fun, festive episode! As always, thanks for your love and support y'all! We're thrilled to be part of your holiday season, especially with Christmas two weeks away from today! Get excited! ❤️🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes

357: Santa Took Christmas From Us. Let’s Take It Back. (The Naughty Nine)

Happy Monday, Christmas Fanatics! And Happy First Monday in December! We're in the home stretch now, if you can believe that!

To mark the occasion, Santa Claus himself - Matt Spaulding of "North Pole Radio" - joins the "Tis the Podcast" elves this week to discuss the brand new, Disney Plus original holiday film, "The Naughty Nine"!

Anthony is on warpath in this episode, raging against modern-Disney movies and the ability of the child actors they continue to cast, pitting him against Julia, Thom, and Matt - who all really enjoyed the movie - in an absolute Battle Royale of a discussion!

What worked in this movie? What didn't? And do all four hosts find any points of agreement during the discussion? You'll just have to tune in to find out! Needless to say, this is one festive and fun episode you want to be sure not to miss!

So, settle in with your favorite holiday drink, relax, and enjoy! As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! ❤️🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes

356: You’re Not Gonna Melt Their Faces. You’re Just Gonna Melt Their Heats. (Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas)

Happy Monday, Christmas fanatics! And happy last week of November!! Can you believe how fast the holiday season is flying? We sure can't!

With Thom away visiting family for Thanksgiving, it's just Julia and Anthony this week, and they gather to talk the brand-new, extraordinarily festive Apple TV holiday special, "Hannah Waddingham: Home For Christmas"! 

We won't play coy - both Julia and Anthony adored this incredible special, which gave them all of the Christmas feels, and they spend an hour gushing over the amazing Hannah Waddingham, the cast of "Ted Lasso", all of the other featured celebrity guests, and the song arrangements sung over the course of this quick forty-five-minute variety special. 

Also discussed: both Julia's and Anthony's Thanksgivings' thoughts on all of the "Scream 7" controversy; Anthony's thoughts on his 2023 Thanksgiving watchlist as well as his thoughts on new movies he's seen this past week, including: "Thanksgiving", "The Holdovers", "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes", and "Napoleon"; and much, much more!

This is one cheerful, festive, and fun episode you want to be sure not to miss! It's the perfect antidote to those Monday blues and will inject a healthy dose of Christmas feels into your week! So, settle in with your favorite holiday drink and enjoy! As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! ❤️🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes

355: Tis the Podcast Interviews Taniya Nayak of ”The Great Christmas Light Fight” and Steve Morgan of ”Straight No Chasers”!

Happy Friday, Christmas Fanatics! And Happy Black Friday to all of our American listeners! We hope you're enjoying your long holiday weekend and getting a jump start on all of your holiday shopping with all of the Christmas sales in effect!   As a special treat - an extra Thanksgiving treat to show all of you how grateful we are for your listenership - please enjoy this special bonus episode in which Julia and Anthony interview not one, but TWO very special guests.   First up, the incredible Taniya Nayak, host of ABC's hit show, "The Great Christmas Light Fight", which returns for its Season 11 premiere this upcoming Sunday, November 26th!   Second, to promote his group's 2023 "Sleighin' It Tour", the personable and talented Steve Morgan of "Straight No Chaser"!   Listen as Julia and Anthony question them about their careers, their inspirations, their love for the holidays, and much, much more! This is a fun, different, and informative episode you want to be sure not to miss! So once you're done with your Black Friday shopping, sit back, relax, and enjoy! As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! ❤️ 🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️
Show notes

354: Just Look All Around And You’ll Realize, There Is So Much To Be Thankful For. (A Thanksgiving Tale)

Happy Thursday, Christmas fanatics! And Happy Thanksgiving! 

As a special Turkey Day treat for y'all, Julia, Thom, and Anthony have gathered to discuss the 1983, Jim Henson production, "A Thanksgiving Tale"!

What do the elves think of this holiday special, that is definitely a product of its time? Truth be told, they're split on it - which is quite unusual for them when it comes to anything even tangentially Muppet related! Where do they each fall? Does a lack of nostalgia do this special a disservice? And regardless of quality, does it feel sufficiently Autumn-y and Thanksgiving-y to our hosts? Well - you'll just have to tune in and listen to find out!

So in your post Thanksgiving feast haze this evening, put your feet up, relax, and enjoy this holiday gift from us to you! We hope you have the most wonderful day filled with turkey trots, parades, football, food, drinks, family, friends, and an abundance of love. We are so thankful for each and every one of you, your love, and your support. We're so excited to countdown the remaining weeks until Christmas with all of y'all! ❤️🍂🦃🍽️🍷🏈🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes

353: Might Be A Bird, But I Sneak Just Like A Mouse. (Robin Robin)

Happy Monday, Christmas fanatics!

This week, join Julia, Thom, and Anthony as they journey into the realm of Netflix Original Holiday Movies to cover the 2021, stop-motion musical animated short, "Robin Robin"! 

In a turn of events that doesn't often happen, Anthony and Thom find themselves on the same side of the divide in this episode against Julia, who adores this special! Why do the boys hate it? Well, you'll have to tune in to find out! Though Anthony has a theory the British element might have something to do with it if History is any indicator!

Despite their differences of opinion, this is one cheery and festive episode you want to be sure not to miss! So, settle in with your favorite holiday-flavored-drink, relax, and enjoy! As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! ❤️ 🍂🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes

352: Who Do You Think Gave Me The Nickname ”Scary Poppins”? (The Royal Nanny)

Sprinkle some tinsel onto your Tuesday folks as you join us for another festive episode of "'Tis the Podcast"! As we journey deeper into the heart of November, the magic of Christmas is growing stronger every day!

Join our merry band of elves as we dive headfirst into another Christmas-filled adventure! Listen as they discuss Art the Clown’s Christmas-themed poster for the upcoming, holiday set "Terrifier 3"; reminisce about the 20th anniversaries of "Elf" and "Love Actually"; geek out over the release of "Iron Flame"; and discuss  the merits of real versus artificial Christmas trees! And for the main event? We unwrap our thoughts on the charming 2022 Hallmark movie, "The Royal Nanny"!

Despite being a tad late this week, remember, it's always Christmas here and we're determined to spread that holiday cheer 365 days per year! So hop on the sleigh and let's spread some of that cheer together!

Enjoy, y'all! Thanks for your love and support, as always! ❤️ 🍂🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes

351: Christmas Didn’t Quite Turn Out Like I Thought It Would. It Was Better. (Haul Out the Holly)

Happy Monday, Christmas Fanatics! And Happy November! We are officially in the most wonderful time of the year!

To kick off the official start of the holiday season, the elves decide to delve into the large and ever-growing world of Hallmark Christmas movies by covering the 2022 original, "Haul Out the Holly" - starring the channel's new indisputable queen, Lacey Chabert!

How does this film fare to the plethora of royal-themed content that the channel puts out and the elves tend to prefer? And does it do anything to wet the hosts' whistle for 2023's upcoming sequel? You'll just have to tune in to find out, but one thing's for certain - this is one merry episode you want to be sure not to miss!

So settle in with your favorite Starbucks holiday drink, sit back and relax in front of your Christmas tree, and enjoy! As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! ❤️ 🍂🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes

350: But The Era Is Over - The Worlds Reunite! (Halloweentown High)

Hey there, festive spirits of Halloween and Christmas! 🎃 Our elfish gang is back this week and they're ready to chat about Halloween costumes, new holiday tunes 🎶, and the sneak-peek Disney released of the second season of "The Santa Clauses"! And that's all before they delve into the main topic of discussion this week: thrice-removed sequel of "Halloweentown", "Halloweentown High"! 🧙‍♀️

So, ready your cauldrons, brew up a merry potion, and tag along with your beloved hosts as they gear up to wrap up this bewitchingly spooky month! 🎅🌙👻🎃

Show notes

349: Freddy Died By Fire, Jason By Water. How Can We Use That? (Freddy vs. Jason)

Happy Tuesday Christmas fanatics!

Apologies again that this episode is dropping a day late, but as you know - life gets in the way at times! Which is also the reason why Thom is absent from this episode and we had to reshuffle our schedule a bit! So while we were originally planning our return to Halloweentown this week, instead, Julia and Anthony continue the show's sojourn through Spooky Season by traveling to Elm Street and Camp Crystal Lake to cover the 2003 Slash of the Titans, "Freddy vs. Jason"! 

Not only has Julia never seen this movie before, but she's never seen any movie featuring Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees before! Which, of course, makes her the perfect elf to host tonight's show! What does she think of it? Well, you can probably guess - but that doesn't make this episode any less entertaining! Especially since she finds herself at odds with Anthony who unabashedly loves this film! 

Listen as your two hosts walk you through the plot beat-by-nonsensical-beat, critique the horrific acting, and fill in key pieces of context and history from the two iconic slashers individual franchises as needed! Also discussed: Mike Flanagan's various horror shows; Amazon Prime's new film, "Totally Killer"; the teased "Seinfeld" revival; the Halloween plans of Julia's children; and the end of Anthony's hunt for Hallmark's popular Betty White/Rose Nylund "The Golden Girls" ornament! 

This is one fun episode you want to be sure not to miss! (As is the bonus episode we dropped in your feeds this past Sunday, so make sure you give that one a download and listen as well!) So settle back with your Pumpkin Spiced Lattes, put your feet up, and enjoy! And, as always, thanks for your love and support y'all!  ❤️ 🍂 🎃👻🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes

348: ”What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie?” - The 2023 ”Tis the Podcast” Ultimate Horror Movie Bracket

Happy Sunday, Christmas fanatics! 

To celebrate the fact that as of today we're officially halfway through October, we thought we'd drop this bonus Spooky Season episode in your main feeds as a little surprise for you!

You've heard us refer to it a few times already in other episode, but it's finally here: The 2023 "Tis the Podcast" Ultimate Horror Movie Bracket!

In this special episode, Anthony is joined by a whole slew of special guests and self-labeled horror aficionados to determine the best horror movie ever, March Madness style! The guests include:

Listen as they debate and argue in real time to determine which horror movies advance through this NCAA-esque scary movie bracket as iconic films are pitted against one another in four different "divisions" for a chance to be named the best horror movie!

  • Are Christmas-themed scares frightening enough to go far?
  • Will Freddy or Jason best the other?
  • Does Ghostface stand a chance against Michael Myers?
  • Can The Warrens successfully exorcise Pazuzu?
  • Can "Jaws" take a bite out of "Alien"?
  • Is a psychopathic adult posing as a child scarier than a child who is literally the Antichrist?
  • Will Art, Pennywise, or "The Klowns" reign supreme as the scariest movie clown(s) and can any of them win it all?
  • Are Hitchcock or the Universal Monsters timeless enough to overcome more modern horrors?
  • Can Jigsaw outmaneuver participants of the Purge?
  • Despite its undeniable style, does A24 offer enough substantive scares in its movies to go the distance?

All of these questions and much, much more are answered in this extraordinarily fun episode full of quotes, impressions, trivia, nostalgia, and laughs. This is one you definitely do not want to miss - even if it'll take you a few sittings to finish it given its length. (That's What She Said.) But that's what happens when you get a bunch of scary movie buffs onto a recording together - there's a lot of passionate gushing and vigorous debate going on here in an episode that took three recordings and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to finish, which is why we've decided to drop this in your main feed instead of on Patreon.

So settle in with your Pumpkin Spice Lattes, relax, and enjoy! And make sure to let us known on social media what your hosts got right, what they got wrong, and which horror movie you think should have come out on top!

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

*Note: As this episode was originally intended for Patreon, there may be some adult language and content in this episode that hasn't been edited out. So keep that in mind before listening with truly young ears!*

 

Show notes

347: True Trilogies Are All About Going Back To The Beginning And Discovering Something That Wasn’t True From The Get-Go. (Scream 3)

Happy Monday, Christmas fanatics! And Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Canadian friends and family! We are so thankful for all of you and hope that you have an amazing one!   This week, Julia, Thom, and Anthony continue their Spooky Season journey by returning to Woodsboro - or at least the set of Woodsboro at Sunrise Studios - to cover the film, "Scream 3", which, in the year 2000, was meant to serve as the definitive ending of the "Scream" trilogy/franchise! And joining them on this journey are two huge "Scream" fans - Kendall Farrae of "Two Girls, One Crypt" and (for the first time on the main show!) Lindsey Grelis of "Film Strip Podcast"!   "Scream 3" is the most divisive in this beloved horror franchise with both general audiences and critics alike. What do your five hosts think of it? Is it underrated? Is it secretly good? Is it so bad it's actually fun? Or is it just plain bad? Needless to say, opinions differ dramatically, and yet - somehow - they all end up on the same page for the most part!   This is one sprawling, fun, interesting conversation full of behind the scenes anecdotes; a discussion about the movie in the context of the "Me Too" movement and what it says about the pressures faced by young actresses in Hollywood; Courtney Cox's bangs; whether it lives up to the promises of Jamie Kennedy's Randy regarding what the final chapter of a trilogy entails; a debate on whether the finale's twist and series retcon works and makes sense; whether the series has jumped the shark and become a parody of itself with this installment; and laughs and quotes galore amongst so much else! Trust us when we say you don't want to miss this one!   So settle in with your Pumpkin Spiced Latte, put your feet up, relax, and enjoy! As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all!   *NOTE: There are some issues with Thom's audio this episode. He sounds muffled for large portions of it. We apologize for the quality of his mic and are working to ensure it's fixed for next week's episode.*
Show notes

346: Can I Keep You? (Casper)

Happy Monday, Christmas fanatics! And Happy October! We are that much closer to Christmas, as well as the other 'Ber Month holidays that we love - Thanksgiving and Halloween!   To officially kick-off Spooky Season, the elves welcome back the amazing Natalie Bickel to discuss the first live-action theatrical outing of the friendliest ghost you know, "Casper"! What do they think of this '90's classic that isn't afraid to go quite dark and depressing at times? (Much to the uncomfortable amusement of one particular elf.) Especially given the fact that only two of them have seen the movie in full before? You'll just have to tune in to find out!   Also discussed: Natalie's published works; Julia's continuing Adventures in Vudu-land; and much, much more! This is one fun episode you want to be sure not to miss!   So, settle in with your Pumpkin Spice Lattes, relax, and enjoy! As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all!
Show notes

345: Christmas Is More About Warding Off Evil Spirits Than Halloween. (Black Christmas [2006])

Happy Monday, Christmas fanatics! And happy last episode of September! Can you believe how quick this month went by? We sure can't!

This week, Julia and Anthony begin to transition the show into Spooky Season by discussing the 2006 remake, "Black Christmas" - the last of the "Black Christmas" movies they've yet to cover! 

What's that you say? They're covering schlocky, slasher horror? Yes indeed, and you know what that means! To join the conversation, they welcome the always awesome horror fanatics, Jay Skipworth and Ron Hogan of "Film Strip Podcast",  onto the show to discuss it with them!

How does this iteration of "Black Christmas" compare to the original 1974 version and the abysmal 2019 version? You'll just have to tune in to find out in an episode full of pop culture trivia and an episode that introduces "Tis the Podcast"'s newest segment: "Julia's Adventures in Vudu-Land"! 

So settle in with your pumpkin spice lattes, grab an Apple Cider donut, relax, and enjoy this fun-filled episode! And get excited - because we kick off Spooky Season "proper" next week as we enter October, and you know what that means! That's right - we're barreling even closer to Christmas! It is truly the most wonderful time of the year! ❤️ 🍂 🎃🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes

344: I Want To Wish You Both A Merry Christmas In Hell. (The King of Queens - Last Four Christmas Episodes)

Happy Monday, Christmas fanatics! This week, Matt Eurich of "TGI Podcast" joins the elves yet again to discuss the final four Christmas episodes of the hit CBS sitcom, "The King of Queens"! For those who want to follow along at home, the episodes we discuss are: Season 5 - Episode 11 - Mentalo Case Season 6 - Episode 11 - Santa Claustrophobia Season 7 - Episode 7 - Silent Mite Season 8 - Episode 11 - Baker's Doesn't How do these specific episodes stack up when it comes to the holiday feels compared to the first batch of episodes covered a few weeks ago? Well, you'll just have to listen to find out! So, settle in with your favorite pumpkin-flavored drink, relax, and enjoy this super fun episode! As always, thanks for your love and support, y'all! ❤️ 🎅🏻🎄🎁 🦌🦉⛄️🔔🚂 🤶🏻 🎀 ❄️

Show notes