12/03/2005: The Giant Snowflake.
Much of my time this past week has been spent leading a giant, walking gift box around Central Park. We’ll leave it at that for now, but I am dog friggin’ tired.
In my travels, I got some peeks in at the giant tree at Rockefeller Plaza, which wasn’t lit at the time but still looked mighty green and completely capable of wreaking mass havoc if it fell. Also snapped a pic of what you’re seeing up there — the official UNICEF snowflake, which lights up all nice and purdy around 57th Street. The city’s really nice this time of year. Even our office lobby has a pair of 12′ Christmas trees that are just begging to be knocked over.
Advent & Advert Calendars have been updated for Saturday, and God, I almost forgot how much I love writing lines for Knacks and Kuse. Would that I could Advent it year-round. I’ll be back with more, but here’s yer Saturday Night Thread.
Discussion Thread: 77 comments
Let’s see if the doho curse prevails.
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dohopoki @ 12/03/2005 5:42 PM EST
That stationary jamie lee totally doesn’t look like jamie lee, yet you say it is.
I’m scared.
Maybe my mind is stuck in "young Jamie" mode after watching the Fog.
That said, that is an awesome snowflake of human kindness.
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FangsFirst @ 12/03/2005 5:59 PM EST
I’m so lonely this weekend. Least I have Kuse.
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Trance @ 12/03/2005 6:23 PM EST
Gotta say, seeing as my family is no longer all that celebratory, and I no longer have any friends, X-E is going to be the highlight of my Christmas. Hell, I already like the entries that I’ve seen so far. Pretty damn funny.
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Nate @ 12/03/2005 6:35 PM EST
Sweet, I remembered the SNT for a change!
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IHAQ @ 12/03/2005 6:35 PM EST
Can someone point out the first appearance of Kuse and Knacks? Was it somewhere in 2003?
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G Bailey @ 12/03/2005 6:36 PM EST
I get to chime in on a SNT before I head home, and we get a picture of the tree-topper that Kal-El came to Earth in. Life is good, and space is weird.
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kingklash @ 12/03/2005 6:38 PM EST
G Bailey, Kuse and Knacks first appeared last year.
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Matt @ 12/03/2005 6:40 PM EST
It’s not quite Christmas time until my mom tells me not to shop for myself until after the holidays. I guess she is sick of buying things for me that I picked up during a Christmas sale somewhere!
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Mike @ 12/03/2005 6:42 PM EST
Mrs Claus has lumps!
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Sarah @ 12/03/2005 6:49 PM EST
Is that reindeer the same one from the 2003 Advent Calendar?
And right when I relized when Mrs Claus has some nice…Tinkertoys, I scrolled down to that huge closeup. This had to be one of the funniest entires I’ve read yet of any of the calendars.
And I’ve been watching some of the Rankin-Bass specials ABC Family has been running today. I saw for the first time: The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus, Nestor The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey, The First Christmas (kind of, got bored after the main titles) and Twas The Night Before Christmas was just on (which wasn’t Rankin-Bass). Santa Claus is Coming To Town comes on at 8, and A Year Without A Santa Claus comes on at 10.
and heads up for later tonight: Dane Cook is hosting SNL this week. When was the last time they had an actual standup comic on the show?
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Invader Norbert @ 12/03/2005 6:56 PM EST
My night is sort of sad because my friends were supposed to come down to a teeny tiny Christmas party, but the person with the car (my sister, by the way) decided that it wasn’t important. The surreal quality if Suzanne Somers in that commercial is almost enough to make up for my Christmas-party-less December.
Almost.
is there a jukebox up yet?
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pdac @ 12/03/2005 7:08 PM EST
Did some shopping today. Now instead of working on my two final projects I’m watching NCAA Bball. Sadly, it looks like I’m not gonna get the ‘Cuse game tonight. =(
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Jeff Mack @ 12/03/2005 7:19 PM EST
Where did Santa Claus’s house come from?
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mindsuckr @ 12/03/2005 7:32 PM EST
Good job on the the Christmas sections so far Matt. By the way, while I was at Comic Carival (a local comic shop), they had a couple boxes of the limited Jones Christmas drinks, with flavors like salmon. I think they had about six or seven cases there with five different drinks per box.
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Rirse @ 12/03/2005 7:37 PM EST
Hey. My highest place ever for the Saturday Night Thread.
Typically I go out on Saturday night with my friends to get some drinkin’ done. This weekend, however, we went out last night to toast the last night we’ll be able to smoke in a bar in Washington (the last night is actually the 7th, but we probably won’t be at a bar again until after that). Bah! I’m an ex-smoker, but I took it up last night as a show of respect. So tonight I have no idea what I’m going to do. The Japanese horror-thriller Pulse is playing in town tonight, so maybe I’ll go check that out. Anything good on tv tonight?
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Chris Martin @ 12/03/2005 7:38 PM EST
I love the advent calendar more than anything else on the internet. It truly makes the season bright.
I only wish my life was as exciting as Knacks and Kuse, but instead I’m studying for exams. In less than two weeks, I’ll be home for the holidays and I can’t wait.
Twas The Night Before Christmas was just on (which wasn’t Rankin-Bass).
I’m such an idiot…it WAS Rankin-Bass. Saw Rudolph’s Shiny New Year and saw animation in the same style.
And I’ve nopticed something…Rankin-Bass never had the same model for Santa. He looks completely different in each special, along with a different voice.
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Invader Norbert @ 12/03/2005 7:54 PM EST
Mrs Claus SOOO got implants.
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Jennz @ 12/03/2005 8:10 PM EST
I was also wondering where Santa Claus’ house came from…
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Sarah @ 12/03/2005 8:22 PM EST
I’m such an idiot…it WAS Rankin-Bass. Saw Rudolph’s Shiny New Year and saw animation in the same style.
And I’ve nopticed something…Rankin-Bass never had the same model for Santa. He looks completely different in each special, along with a different voice.
Oh. I thought "Rankin-Bass" was some kind of slang. Like "Man, their hamburgers are Rankin-Bass". I’m the king of ding-a-lings :/
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RewolfJ @ 12/03/2005 8:47 PM EST
Okay, early Saturday thread….this might be the time where I might get an answer, so I’ll ask it again:
Where did Matt get a tape of a Pebbles commercial from the mid-70’s? And in a related question, how early were VCRs first sold in the United States?
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Mars @ 12/03/2005 8:54 PM EST
"In 1970 the Dutch electronics company Philips developed a home videocassette format. Confusingly, Philips named this format "VCR" (although it is also referred to as "N1500", after the first recorder’s model number). It used square cassettes and half-inch (1.3 cm) tape, giving a recording time of one hour. The first model, available in the United Kingdom in 1972, was equipped with a crude timer that used rotary dials. At nearly £600, it was expensive and the format never caught on for home use. However, a later (and incompatible) long-play version ("VCR-LP"), which used the same tapes, sold quite well to schools and colleges."
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dohopoki @ 12/03/2005 9:01 PM EST
Damn faces.
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dohopoki @ 12/03/2005 9:02 PM EST
You know what’s great about not being in school this time of year?
Well, that’s basically it. Not being in school this time of year. It’s, uh. It’s keen.
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Jedoc @ 12/03/2005 9:12 PM EST
Damn dohopoki! Nice.
I went shopping today, and to see Santa. 1 1/2 hour line and 15 dollars later I have the pic for my Chrstmas card. YAY. AND it snowed heavy all day.
I like hearing all your NYC stories Matt. I know there’s mllions of people there, some who have lived there forever. But to me it’s this magical movie set that only exists in pictures and movies. Someday I’ll have to go there and ruin the illusion for myself.
P.S. tomorrow is my B/D I think this year should go backwards, I’d like to call myself 25 again. 27 sounds old.
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kb @ 12/03/2005 9:15 PM EST
pdac, check the comments on the last entry for a link to the jukebox.
I think Santa’s house was from a prior Playmobil incarnation?
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squee4242 @ 12/03/2005 10:27 PM EST
We’re only on day 3 of the Advent Calendar, and I’m already on the floor in giggles. The close-up of Mrs. Claus’…um, lumps…was classic. At least we know how Knacks and Kuse are going to spend their Saturday night. I spent mine working and eating turkey soup while watching college football with my mother and brother, then coming home on a semi-full bus.
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starwenn @ 12/03/2005 10:44 PM EST
My first SNT! I’m bored as hell here in Stillwater, but this is making it more bearable. Thanks X-E’ers!
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Rosella @ 12/03/2005 10:48 PM EST
Off-topic: Does anyone remember the old 90’s cartoon Pro-Stars with Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretsky, and Bo forgot his last name? Well, I was at a Family Dollar the other day and they had a 3-episode DVD of it for $5. On the back was an ad for Action Man (which they also had) and the futuristic COPS cartoon. Just plain weird.
Speaking of lumps, anyone hear the latest Black Eye Peas song? Oh boy.
Nothing really going on around here. Just waiting for SNL.
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JLAJRC @ 12/03/2005 11:13 PM EST
OMG I completely forgot about that cartoon! It was Bo Jackson, right?
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Rosella @ 12/03/2005 11:15 PM EST
You’re right Rosella, thanks.
I think Lego Mrs. Claus is the first toy I’ve ever had a crush on. Never felt that way about Barbie, but Mrs Claus, YOWSA!
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JLAJRC @ 12/03/2005 11:22 PM EST
Wow, I had forgotten all about that Pro-Stars cartoon. I’m as big a fan of Bo as the next guy (mostly because of TECMO) but isn’t it a bit strange that he’s paired with THE two figures who embodied their sports?
Ditto on the Mrs. Claus comments. Santa is a lucky guy.
Okay, I mentioned in the "Holiday Traditions" thread that I annualy scale the tree outside my folks’ house in order to string and/or maintain the Christmas lights. Here are some shots of me up there this year.
Sadly the star isn’t salvageable. We ordered a new one from Bronners and it is en route. I hope to have the whole shebang photog’d and posted for next week’s thread. Until then…
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Rhino @ 12/04/2005 1:26 AM EST
AH! Bronners! THAT is something that Matt should review to get in the Christmas spirit. Granted, it’s about 500 miles away from New York - but if you ever wanted to get yourself into the Christmas mood, THAT is the place to do it.
Greatest, largest, coolest Chistmas store on earth!
I have the dual pleasure of having grown up in NY, but being married to a Michigander! Bronner’s DOES rule! Right by the Freeway Fritz 
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Another Matt @ 12/04/2005 1:57 AM EST
Sadly the star isn’t salvageable. We ordered a new one from Bronners and it is en route. I hope to have the whole shebang photog’d and posted for next week’s thread. Until then…
Heh Heh…photog’d. That’s so Bitner.
And SNL didnt suck tonight! Dane Cook kicked ass. One of the best sketches was the digital film where Jason Sudekis and Will Forte were talking about some bad news…while eating lettuce. Just as good an random as it should be. And NONE of the sketches dragged on!
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Invader Norbert @ 12/04/2005 2:06 AM EST
I always thought New York would be rad around Christmas–maybe it’s because I watched Home Alone 2: Lost in New Yorkabout a hundred times growing up..
now it seems like everyone likes Kuse better. Does anyone prefer Knacks? I mean…i don’t…but someone has to.
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conchristador @ 12/04/2005 4:13 AM EST
Ahh, great stuff. Will twice the toy-related goodness = twice the fun, though? Last year’s calendar was pretty damned great, that’s a mighty hard bar to raise. And as anyone who’s ever walked into one can vouch, those things hurt like hell.
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onslaught86 @ 12/04/2005 4:25 AM EST
Since someone asked, the VHS VCR was introduced to America sometime around 1977 (and Beta soon followed.) The existing ocpies of the Star Wars Holiday Special were supposidly recorded on VHS back in 1978. They also had U-Matic 3/4" tapes back in the 70s, but cost tens of thousands of dollars and mostly schools had them. And then there was kinecoping, recording TV shows on movie film (all the Star Wars commercials on the famous "56 reel" were kinescoped, I believe.)
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Destro @ 12/04/2005 4:44 AM EST
If they were tto do an updated Pro-Stars cartoon, what athletes would be chosen today? Other than Lancee Armstrong amd Tiger Woods, nobody really embodies their sport today.
You know what would make for an interesting Christmas articles: Reviews of Killer Santa movies. Silent Night Deadly Night, Santa’s Slay, etc. He’s done a killer snowman movie (Jack Frost) why not go all the way.
Once again, Congrats to Matt on the Wizard mention.
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JLAJRC @ 12/04/2005 8:17 AM EST
Ah, sweet advent calendar. Today’s entry made me grin like a loon no less than three times, and the giant smiley at the end made me spray a little of my coffee back into the mug. Gross. Does anybody have any theories as to why Officer Jones looks like he just smelled dirty socks? Maybe the next box should contain some Playmobil Febreeze for our lads.
I was actually a bit surprised that a search for "Santa’s Slay" didn’t bring up any articles. It appears to me that movies like that are concieved, written, and directed for the sole purpose of ending up on X-E.
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Jedoc @ 12/04/2005 9:00 AM EST
I have nothing to add, except that I am in continuous awe every time a new entry pops up.
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mtrox @ 12/04/2005 9:09 AM EST
I like Knacks better, mostly because I feel kinda sorry for the guy. I’d be annoyed if I kept getting cats and shitpans and the guy next to me was getting his own squad of personal firefighters and police.
I am living proof that Wal-Mart induces temporary insanity. I went in yesterday to pick up a gift for the boyfriend, and since he wasn’t there to tap his foot impatiently while I looked at the craft section, I decided to go in there. I came out with the supplies to make REALLY COOL personalized foam doorhangers for the kids I work with. I don’t know why, but I was somehow convinced this would be cooler than actual store-bought toys that cost a dollar but that the kids don’t KNOW only cost a dollar. And I’ve already spent the money and started the projects, so I’m stuck giving them the doorhangers even though they are turning out considerably less cool than I’d envisioned. Luckily they usually get presents from the teacher, and the aide, and several parents, so if my presents fall flat it won’t ruin Christmas. Actually they’re really lucky - I know regular ed kids with 20 in a class do not get individual gifts from their teachers, nor do they have three adults in their classrooms to get gifts from. It’s kind of ironic that "special" kids are the only ones in classes small enough to receive real gifts, and most of them aren’t lucid enough to appreciate it. Not that that makes up for having your future likely to be dependent on non-profit organizations, but for the time being it sure is a nice perk.
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jazzy @ 12/04/2005 9:13 AM EST
Let’s see if the doho curse prevails.
And boy how it did!
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dohopoki @ 12/04/2005 10:21 AM EST
Okay, what is the doho curse?
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Matt @ 12/04/2005 10:24 AM EST
Manimal observed, I believe last week , that when ever he’s part of the SNT it’s a slow night. I told them that I could say the same thing about myself and that when I missed the first SNT I started a curse. Manimal then told me that they had also missed the first SNT and that must be what it is. So this week I named it the doho curse. If Manimal were here he might have named it the Manicurse or something to that extent but I had dibs on first comment so I egotistically dedicated it to myself.
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dohopoki @ 12/04/2005 10:43 AM EST
Am I the only one who thinks that the kid in the Underoos ad looks like Corey Feldman?
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MirrorGrod @ 12/04/2005 10:57 AM EST
I think there’s just something about focusing on the fact that it’s a SNT that breaks the charm, myself.
Yesterday (instead of finishing final projects) I went on a store crawl to pick up props for the Xmas card photo. Running a bit late on the whole project, but I figure if I can get my pup to model cooperatively it’ll come out unbearably adorable so I’m stoked.
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squee4242 @ 12/04/2005 11:00 AM EST
I’m going to disagree with squee. Mostly because I wanted to say disagree with squee.
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dohopoki @ 12/04/2005 11:42 AM EST
Bo knows cartoons.
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Bo Jackson @ 12/04/2005 12:02 PM EST
I love Dane Cook.
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LuLu @ 12/04/2005 12:12 PM EST
Definitely. SNL doesn’t suck tonight.
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Mattman @ 12/04/2005 12:24 PM EST
Finally home on Saturday night for a thread. Finally.
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Rhino @ 12/04/2005 12:54 PM EST
Finally, a dramatic turn on day 4 of the Advent!
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Rosella @ 12/04/2005 1:04 PM EST
No, MirrorGrod. I thought the exact same thing.
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Mystie @ 12/04/2005 3:10 PM EST
I saw the show at Radio City Music Hall of Friday!! It was really good, although my brother chose the most innappropriate moment to burst out laughing…the Living Nativity. Apparently, his girlfriend said something to the extent of "They use the same camel!" I thought it was supposed to be a SOLEMN moment.
The next day, the boyfriend and I went shopping at one of my local malls to get some of our Christmas shopping done. We got Chinese takeout and rented Madagascar, which was REALLY funny. He went home last night b/c he was working on Sunday (b/c he took Friday and Saturday off). Needless to say, it was the LONLIEST viewing of "Saturday Night Live" I’ve endured in a while (almost a year–one b/c I was sick, and the other b/c of that damn snowstorm we had in January).
Today, I went shopping at the same mall, and my mom and I went to Target, where I purchased 2 (!) cases of the 2005 Jones Soda Holiday Pack. Mom is now well educated in the ways of Jones soda. Go mom! I told her about the fun we have on this site talking about it. So why two cases? Do I have a deathwish? You bet. Actually, one pack is for Christmas Eve with the boyfriend’s family–I was going to conduct a "tasting party" (I think I can credit King Klash for this idea) with his extended family. THEN, on Christmas Day, we’ll do the "Taste Test" on MY extended family. I don’t see it becoming a tradition, but it will certainly be interesting. I’ll keep everyone posted.
I think tonight I’m going to watch a Christmas DVD and a classic SNL episode, since the NBC All Night SNL "classic" aired in December 1997 (when I was in 9th grade–sure it was a while ago, but still…its not a classic yet). As long as they show any of the following this year…1. Dennis Miller and Dana Carvey "narrate" "Twas the Night Before Christmas," 2. Dennis Miller, Dana Carvey, and Tom Hanks "sing" "Jingle Bells," 3. Schwetty Balls…I’ll be perfectly happy.
And speaking of Schwetty Balls, Alec Baldwin is returning to host SNL on Saturday…which I’ll be taping on account that I’ll be at Casesars on Saturday night seeing George Carlin.
And this morning, I saw that old Folgers Commercial where "Peter" comes home. This ad is from the late 1980s? My mom thinks that the ad is so old the actors don’t get royalties anymore, this ad is free to air. Come on, it looks ANCIENT!!!
Ok, I’m done. That was long.
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Allison @ 12/04/2005 6:47 PM EST
I think the kid in the Superman Underoos was either Corey Feldman or the kid from the Disney movie "The Blud Yonder." What do you guys think?
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Allison @ 12/04/2005 7:07 PM EST
Yea, that’s a young Corey Feldman at the end of that commercial! (Corey voiced the young Copper in "Fox and the Hound".) Well isn’t that cool… an old Underoo commercial with a "before they were a star" twist at the end.
I never wore Underoos though!
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Leanne @ 12/04/2005 7:55 PM EST
will the christmas jukebox be back this year?
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Real Ghostbuster @ 12/04/2005 8:00 PM EST
Find the Xmas Jukebox here 
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squee4242 @ 12/04/2005 8:03 PM EST
Thanks Leanne. Mystery solved. I knew that had to be him.
I got one for everyone–sorta random though–I’m sure you guys remember the whole "animated opening credits" thing that seems to pretty much populate comedy movies from the mid to late 1980s, and sort of died out with the early 1990s, right? Anyone remember any off hand? Can you name any?
My list:
Troop Beverly Hills
Madhouse
Don’t Tell Mom the Baby Sitter’s Dead
Christmas Vacation
License to Drive
These were always pretty good movies, you know? I think it may be "too 80s" to bring this trend back, but it did make for some memorable stuff for its time.
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Allison @ 12/04/2005 8:42 PM EST
I got my picture if front of the Rockefeller Center tree on Friday night around dusk–its really beautiful. If can see it in person this year, or ever, do it.
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Allison @ 12/04/2005 8:43 PM EST
For a second, I thought I was in the wrong Blog.
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Hawk EyE @ 12/04/2005 9:17 PM EST
WAITERBOT!!! Nice.
Allison- You forgot ‘Honey I Shrunk the Kids’
Finally saw some Xmas stuff on TV today- spent the day watching Xmas stuff (Muppet Christmas Carol) reading XE and wrapping gifts. Excellent.
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Muppet Baby @ 12/04/2005 9:33 PM EST
Also, Knacks is my favorite character in our little Advent world.
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Muppet Baby @ 12/04/2005 9:35 PM EST
I’m sure no one will care but Kenny Rogers and Lionel Richie are doing a duet on TV right now singing "easy" by the commodores. I think I almost shit my pants……
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phunqsauce @ 12/04/2005 9:50 PM EST
The front page isnt as christmassy as I expected
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REDTEAMGO @ 12/04/2005 9:58 PM EST
This was the sacrifice needed to make sure Christmas doesn’t last until July again.
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Matt @ 12/04/2005 10:05 PM EST
For the purposes of this Christmas, the front page doesn’t exist. It’s all about the Blog!
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Rosella @ 12/04/2005 10:10 PM EST
Better off Dead and One Crazy Summer both start with the animation thing.
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LuLu @ 12/04/2005 10:10 PM EST
Crap!! I’ve missed posting a few days. All I can say is WAITer-Fucking-BOT!!! YEss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m betting that some form or MAre right there…
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Galvatron @ 12/05/2005 4:13 PM EST
Thanks for replying to the random question. I purposely left some out just to see what people came up with, but I knew about One Crazy Summer and Honey I Shrunk the Kids.
I bought my friend’s baby a mini Hokey Pokey Ernie!! He’s so cute. Nikolas (my bud’s tot) is starting to watch Seasme Street (he’s 21 months old), and I love Ernie to death (sounds like Kermit–I love Kermit to death). Ernie does the dance, but since he’s in the box, he’s kind of limited for the time being. I can’t wait to bring his gifts to him. Yea!!!
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Allison @ 12/05/2005 7:22 PM EST
Allison - Also the My Pet Monster Movie.
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Mystie @ 12/06/2005 3:38 AM EST
Matt:
Do you by chance have any early N1500 or N1700 recordings of Top Of The Pops performances, early 1970’s ? I love that show and am trying to find more clips. Any assistance would be grand indeed.
Cheers, Lance.
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Lance @ 06/27/2007 2:19 AM EDT
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