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11/28/2006: The History of X-E’s Advent Calendar.

Well, it’s almost time for the fifth annual X-Entertainment Advent Calendar. I’ve at times tried to write a summary of the entire story, but it never quite pans out — if it seems confusing to me, surely it’d be too confusing for those who haven’t been reading for the PAST FIVE YEARS.

Let me give it a shot: Every year, the Playmobil toy company releases an “Advent Calendar” playset. It contains many things, but it especially contains many living, breathing action figures named Mare Winningham, who bear no strong relation to the real Mare Winningham, but look just like her.

Mares are born evil, but they don’t have to stay that way. After a wild and destructive romp in 2003, teenagers Knacks and Kuse, taken with the legend of Mare, dug up her gruesome remains and used voodoo tricks to resurrect her. Literally born again, this chief Mare (who in reality is just one of many, many Mares — all clones, see) softened and became good friends with her teenage saviors. In 2004, the trio enjoyed sushi and the many fruits of that year’s Advent Calendar, ultimately saving Santa Claus, and by extension, Christmas itself.

Sadly, Mare sacrificed her own life for that good deed — but don’t fret! With a little Christmas magic, the thought-to-be-unrelated Mare that sprung off the 2005 Advent Calendar remembered her roots and fought for the forces of good once more. Now a brunette, Mare and the typically downtrodden Kuse (who was born without facial features and was ultimately given a new face, albeit an ugly, gray, scarred face, from Santa Claus) forged a romantic relationship, and Christmas was saved once more.

And that’s just the tip. There are evil Mares. There are LEGO Advent Calendars. There’s an unscrupulous fellow named “Waiterbot,” who is essentially a talking brain who can commandeer the body of anyone who gets too close to his hollow head. There are new Santa Clauses, year after year, some good, some evil. There’s even a bit player with eight heads all stacked one right on top of the other.

When we last saw our friends, things were good. Mare and Kuse were enjoying their honeymoon period. Knacks got to ride in Santa’s sleigh. Waiterbot and his bride, Waiterbetty, joined forces with the heroes for no readily apparent reason. But, things change quick in Advent Calendarland, and until it’s time, there’s just no telling what trials, what horrors and what mayhem our friends might face.

It all starts December 1st. Know your history by reading the previous installments…

X-E Advent Calendars Of The Past!
2002200320042005


Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

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Discussion Thread: 148 comments

Wow…sounds almost like what Mel Gibson’s Apocalytpo looks like! I can’t wait to see axe-wielding jungle savages just in time to get me in the Christmas mood! :)

Ghosted by venison @ 11/28/2006 1:17 AM EST


I’m ashamed to say that I’d never taken the time to learn of Mare Winningham’s origins until last week when I read all four previous calendars in one day. Whew. What a ride.

Ghosted by Hey I'm Jeff @ 11/28/2006 1:22 AM EST


Um, yeah. I think I forgot to read last year’s. I’ll do that straight-away.

Ghosted by K- @ 11/28/2006 1:28 AM EST


and so it begins…again!!!!

Ghosted by King Chachi @ 11/28/2006 1:32 AM EST


My first year for the “Advent Calendar.” I’m ready. I haven’t read thru the archives, yet, but I love Christmas count-downs. Whatever the hell they are, if they count down to Christmas, I’m game!

As a kid, I made these construction paper chain things to count down to Christmas. You’d pull a link of the chain off every day until Christmas. We usually started Mid-November and counted from there. It didn’t matter if you miscounted at the beginning because you’d check your calender to the number of links you had left, you’d always have too many at some point, you’d just rip off links until you balanced the chain to day ratio.

I LOOOOOOVE CHRISTMAS!

I started Christmas about 1-2 weeks before Thanksgiving….oops!

Ghosted by kyjlm @ 11/28/2006 1:39 AM EST


Sorry for the double post….

AND….

We used to have an “Advent Calendar” in my house growing up. It was fabric and you moved a Santa from “day” to “day.” No “presents.” Just another way to count the days until Christmas.

Ghosted by kyjlm @ 11/28/2006 1:42 AM EST


Oh God, I can’t wait to see what Mare Winningham cooks up this time. I wonder if Mista Snowman will make an appearance?

Wow, I just realized that I’ve been following XE for 5 years now (if this is indeed the fifth Calendar)….

Ghosted by Cameron T. @ 11/28/2006 1:51 AM EST


I’ve been spending my nights at work catching up on the old calendars! These are your tax dollars at work, people! Okay, maybe not YOUR tax dollars but the people in my city anyway. :D

On a side note, who’s going to be watching The Great American Christmas with me on the 28th?!

Ghosted by broomstickjockey @ 11/28/2006 2:05 AM EST


Wow, really five years. I’ve only been here since 03 but five is a mile stone. Great diligence Matt. It’s nice to see people who excel at what they are good at and share it with others. Especially those of us who are 28 and still have warm thoughts of finding an Imperial Shuttle under the tree someday.

Ghosted by Bill @ 11/28/2006 2:14 AM EST


YES! This really is just the thing I need after a day at my sucky job! Playmobile makes it all worthwhile! You rock, Matt!

Ghosted by Larry @ 11/28/2006 2:18 AM EST


You’re a braver man than I, opening the unfinished 2002 calender can o’ worms… Une salade de lapin…

Ghosted by Katherine @ 11/28/2006 2:23 AM EST


(I can’t believe I just spelled calendar wrong…)

Ghosted by Katherine @ 11/28/2006 2:24 AM EST


Ahh, the X-E advent calender. The one thing that comes close to making Christmas bump Halloween off the #1 spot on my favorite holidays list.

Also, don’t let Matt lie to you. Waiterbot isn’t a talking brain. He’s a Krang.

Ghosted by Jeff @ 11/28/2006 3:11 AM EST


Hello everyone,

It’s nice to see that the X-E home page is in full swing for the Christmas season. I kinda like how Matt left the Creature from the Black Lagoon in place, albeit with a Santa hat.

Ghosted by Hoverbored @ 11/28/2006 3:17 AM EST


OooooooOOoooOOO, Pretty front page!

Ghosted by Jester @ 11/28/2006 3:50 AM EST


I now have a plan. I will re-read the old calendars in preparation for the new one. Also I will listen to my audio version of Lisey’s Story so that I will have Mare’s real actual voice permanently stuck in my head.

Ghosted by X @ 11/28/2006 3:52 AM EST


Drrrble pst. With no “o”. I was readin’ the first advent calendar and am sad because I can’t see the last three days of the calendar. And I don’t remember how it ends.

Ghosted by X @ 11/28/2006 5:00 AM EST


Oh, it’s going to be a Mare-y Christmas after all!

Someone inform me who Mare is named after; I’ve never heard of an actual Mare Winningham.

Ghosted by Mars @ 11/28/2006 5:07 AM EST


I’m pretty sure that it didn’t end.

Ghosted by Jeff @ 11/28/2006 5:07 AM EST


http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001858/

Sorry for the double post. Mars, I didn’t see your post until after I had posted.

Ghosted by Jeff @ 11/28/2006 5:09 AM EST


I sincerely hope that Knacks and Kuse find the remains of the very first advent calendar so we can finally fuckin’ see what the last 3 days were.

Jeez, that poor Santa. He must look like HELL after all this time stuck in a box.

Ghosted by Evin @ 11/28/2006 6:32 AM EST


I look forward to this every year. I can’t wait.

Ghosted by Geoffinsanity @ 11/28/2006 8:50 AM EST


Yes! The advent calendar is on its way! When I was in Korea teaching English, Matt’s advent calendar was the only thing that actually made it feel like Xmas time over there….Thanks, Matt! :) Can’t wait to get going on this year’s installment. And I cannot believe I have been reading your calendar for 4 years now. Wow.

Ghosted by Muppet Baby @ 11/28/2006 9:27 AM EST


Yay! I’ve also read the advent for the last 4 years, and I read about the 2002 debacle. Wow.

broomstickjockey, I’ll be watching “Charlie Brown Christmas” tonight! (first year in a while that I’ll be seeing it on tv! Silly me, I thought it was gonna be on yesterday…)

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 11/28/2006 10:29 AM EST


Sadly, this will be only my third year with the Advent Calendar, but I’ve read them all and I, too, can’t wait until Friday, sweet Friday…

P.S. The Photog book is coming along very well. I will now put out my near-threadly request for any files related to that debacle. bboyelwood@aol.com

Ghosted by Rhino @ 11/28/2006 10:53 AM EST


ah this will be my 4th advent calander being read as it happens…is it bad that i get almost more excited about this than anything else during the holidays?

Ghosted by thejyav @ 11/28/2006 10:56 AM EST


AWwwwwwwww yeeeaaahhhhh!!

Advent Calendar is on the way. Is it sad to say I pee’d myself a little when I read the blog entry today?

Can’t believe it’s been so many yars. I guess I’ve been coming to this site for 7 years. Actualy, I discovered the site when I started the job I’m still at now, and I’ve been here almost 8 years. Wow, I can’t believe it’s been that long.

Suffice it to say, X-E is now a Christmas tradition for me.

Fucking awesome!!

Ghosted by Darth Galvatron @ 11/28/2006 11:28 AM EST


the new christmas layout looks awesome!

Ghosted by drbong @ 11/28/2006 11:29 AM EST


ha i seem to remember the christmas countdown ring thing using cut up pieces of red and green construction paper, probably at school?

damn my childhood is foggy

Ghosted by drbong @ 11/28/2006 11:31 AM EST


I survived my job for weeks at a time by busying myself about the task of catching up on Adventcalendar land! I got so excited about the whole thing that I ran out and bought one, and now I’m pretty much BURSTING with anticipation. I can’t wait to release my very own Mare on my wee little apartment, and see what havoc she wreaks.

Ghosted by BrilliantPrincess @ 11/28/2006 11:53 AM EST


What an awesome birthday gift you’re giving me Matt,the start of another holiday season with Mare Winningham (yes my birthday is Dec. 1st). I just realized I didn’t witness 2003 (Mare year 1) and just skimmed through it now. My favorite: the bunny salad. Looking forward to see where Mare’s adventures take us this year…

Ghosted by Melissa Y. @ 11/28/2006 1:24 PM EST


Man I can’t find Christmas Crunch anywhere!! Where are you guys finding it? I’m in KC, MO. I’ve checked every store I can think of almost every day. Anyone? I need that DVD coupon!!

Ghosted by Terror Claws Cole @ 11/28/2006 1:37 PM EST


Yes! Along with 24 hrs of a Christmas Story and radio stations playing Christmas music round the clock starting before Thanksgiving (and I found out today Sirius added 2 Christmas only channels!!), the Advent Calendar is my favorite part of the Christmas Season. It really gets me in the mood and adds to the anticipation of Christmas coming. You know, now that I’m 28 and know everything I’m getting I need something to keep up the suspense.

Ghosted by Y2JB78 @ 11/28/2006 1:40 PM EST


I found my Christmas Crunch at Wal-Mart, but they do run out quite often.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 11/28/2006 1:42 PM EST


I think I know what the Chia Plot was all about!
Singing Chia alarm clocks. Have you seen the ad?

Ghosted by kingklash @ 11/28/2006 2:04 PM EST


Y2JB78 wroteI found out today Sirius added 2 Christmas only channels!!

Isn’t that great? XM has four channels, including a novelties only channel that plays all kinds of parodies and bizarre versions of traditional carols and just weird stuff. They play stuff off of the Star Wars Christmas album at least once a day.

Ghosted by LemurCat @ 11/28/2006 2:47 PM EST


Done and done. I’m ready for the festivities to begin. Love Triangle, Love Triangle, Love Triangle!!!

Ghosted by K- @ 11/28/2006 2:52 PM EST


Eeeee I’m so excited! The advent calendar has become one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

And I also remember those red-and-green paper chain things. I think adults had us make them so we’d shut the hell up asking how much longer until Christmas.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 11/28/2006 3:19 PM EST


I love your advent calendar entries Matt. My advent claendars as a kid sucked like a Hoover. They were always crappy CANDY related ones from our local dollar store. For some reason though, I would still rush downstairs to open another fake window and get another piece of crap candy every morning. I am doing one with ACTUAL presents this year for my daughter. I spent a total of 30 bucks on 24 gifts. They may be small, but at least it is not crappy candy.

Ghosted by Old E @ 11/28/2006 4:20 PM EST


Sighting alert!

I was at the South Shore Mall an hour ago, and saw Biz Markie! Sadly, I wasn’t able to get a pic of him, but I did run into him a few times.

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 11/28/2006 4:36 PM EST


YAY!! This has been my most favorite XE feature. Thanks, Matt, for keeping it going. I still haven’t been able to sit and do the parade thing from Thanksgiving. I need to get on that and re-read the past calenders. Does anyone alse feel as thought part of the work in their work day includes gettin caught up on XE? Not that it’s work, but just a need-to-do item. I never did know that Knacks and Kuse were teenagers. I really do think this site had several books worth of publishable material. publishable? good word. My mother just sent an advent calender, the kind with the really crappy chocolate. But, it’s the thought and my son loves candy in all forms.
invader I’m with you on the peanuts tonight.

Ghosted by kb @ 11/28/2006 4:43 PM EST


You, you got what I need
but you say he’s just a friend
And you say he’s just a friend, oh baby
You, you got what I need
but you say he’s just a friend…

Good times

Ghosted by K- @ 11/28/2006 4:45 PM EST


Gotta agree with a previous poster – checking out the X-E Advent Calendar has become a Christmas tradition, like listening to the “A Charlie Brown Christmas” soundtrack and selling trees. Five years in and it just keeps getting better.

Ghosted by Lackadaisical @ 11/28/2006 5:17 PM EST


biz markie!

Ghosted by drbong @ 11/28/2006 5:24 PM EST


Umm…thanks, kb, but a slight twist of fate came up…I was just called into work at 6, and I’m gonna miss it! Again!

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 11/28/2006 5:34 PM EST


I remember the video for “you got what I need” being on Beavis and Butthead. I loved it when they would rip music videos to shreds. I was SOOOOOOO mad when I box the FIRST and SECOND boxed sets only to find out there were no music videos. Now they have versions with the videos, but why would I buy more boxed sets just to get those. Serious bummer people.

Ghosted by Old E @ 11/28/2006 5:54 PM EST


box = bought

Ghosted by Old E @ 11/28/2006 5:54 PM EST


I thought it was ridiculous that those boxed sets didn’t have the music videos, Old E. I mean, do we really just want to see Beavis and Butthead being themselves and wonder what’s with the tiny, tiny pants? Luckily I’d only Netflix’d them…

Ghosted by Katherine @ 11/28/2006 6:31 PM EST


Katherine,

Yes consider yourself lucky, cause without the buffer of the music video rants, the cartoons get old really quickly. It sucks to have bought what was billed as “the definitive Beavis and Butthead Collestion” only to have no videos, and then a couple years later here comes another set with the videos all nicely labeled and organized onto one little DVD.

On a side note, I HAVE TO buy the Superman box set they are advertising with ALL of the Superman movies together with the new one. It would be very cool not only to see the movie for the first time, but to also see it as it was intended to fit into the storyline by watching it in succession. I hope Superman Returns was good. I can’t take much more superhero dissapointment after X3.

Ghosted by Old E @ 11/28/2006 6:42 PM EST


It may seem weird, but it feels like the Christmas season just isn’t off to a proper start until X-E kicks in the yearly festivities and whatnot.

Keep on truckin’, Matt.

Charlie Brown Christmas being on tonight certainly helps, too.

Ghosted by ChibISoma @ 11/28/2006 7:59 PM EST


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