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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


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Discussion Thread: 148 comments

Old E.
I got the Ultimate Superman set early last week.
The Superman 2 Donner cut, and all the documentaries make it well worth the money.

Ghosted by AoDfan @ 11/28/2006 9:01 PM EST


How appropriate is this? I’m listening to “The Ultimate Christmas Album Volume Five” and “Christmastime Is Here” from “Charlie Brown Christmas” just came on, plus I watched my DVD copy of “Charlie Brown Christmas” while eating dinner (hot turkey and cheese) tonight. The Christmas decorations will be going up later this week, after I get everything in the apartment scrubbed within an inch of its life. Despite the warm temperatures in Southern New Jersey (hit 63 today), I’m feeling very seasonal. Bring on the Mares!

Ghosted by starwenn @ 11/28/2006 9:16 PM EST


While watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” tonight, I felt like something was missing. Then I found it on YouTube and everything became right with the world. Click on my name for some ’80s goodness.

Ghosted by Lackadaisical @ 11/28/2006 10:12 PM EST


Squee! Advent calendar!

Ghosted by Mara @ 11/28/2006 11:10 PM EST


Evin, way up there at the top of the page…
That would be an AWESOME idea for the new Advent Calendar. X-E’s Advent Calendar 2006: The Search For X-E’s Advent Calendar 2002!

Ghosted by DocDragon @ 11/29/2006 12:01 AM EST


I’m just checking in to see what’s up. I’m in the middle of watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. It’s the scene where Schoeder is trying to pick the music he should perform in the Christmas play, when Lucy tells him Beethoven wasn’t so great.

Ghosted by Thomas @ 11/29/2006 12:25 AM EST


I’m very disappointed in myself as I am JUST NOW finding out there were Halloween themed Amazin’ Fruit. Now they should make Christmas ones so I don’t cry. ;.;

Ghosted by Mystie @ 11/29/2006 12:31 AM EST


Great American christmas looks great…cant wait to see it

my mom is getting my shih tzu puppy a christmas dress….i promise pics when it happens

I have to take her to this pet store on saturday or sunday to get her pic with santa…

Ghosted by mandy_Reeves @ 11/29/2006 12:32 AM EST


Of all the things I read on here that are hard to explain to my wife, I think this is the hardest ever.

Ghosted by Dane E. Coffey @ 11/29/2006 12:50 AM EST


Oh so THAT’s Mare Winningham! The picture in the first Advent calendar is so washed out I couldn’t tell who it was (and I guess I was too lazy to look her up). Yeah, that lady has always creeped me out (but not as much as Kevin Bacon). She’s the one who’s always getting the shit beat out of her on a crappy Lifetime movie.

My favorite Advent Calendar moment (even though I’m new) is the 2004 finale. Oh, jeezus. I laughed so hard I cried.

Mandy_Reeves, I wanna see pictures of your dog in a Christmas dress!! I’m a sucker for that kind of cuteness.

And who’s bright idea was it to play “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in NOVEMBER?? Does anyone remember when they used to play Christmas specials near… let’s see… Christmas?!

Ghosted by broomstickjockey @ 11/29/2006 1:03 AM EST


It is near Christmas. What with global warming and all, Christmas will gradually extend to cover 70% of the calendar year.

“Happy birthday, Jesus! Hope you like crap.”

Ghosted by Welsh Rabbit @ 11/29/2006 1:06 AM EST


Hah.. I’ve been going to X-E for a good 7 years now and yet, this is the first time I’ve posted!

Amazing.. began reading XE in 6th grade. That’s insane.

Ghosted by Aza @ 11/29/2006 1:46 AM EST


Well, welcome to the blog Aza!
I’ve been reading the Advent from the start, and it gets better every year…Today I organized the office Secret Santa pool, watched Charlie Brown Christmas, and reviewed Advents past. The season has officially begun!

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 11/29/2006 3:31 AM EST


I’m also one of the “old-timers,” I guess. My first X-E article was the review of the Captain N meets Link episode, from summer 2001. I can remember the long drought year when Matt only updated the site once a month if you were lucky. Yes, it was like that once.

Look what I found in the comments for the “CBS Special Presentation” video:
Here’s a bit of trivia: This “Special” theme song was written by Mort Stevens, who also composed the “Hawaii 5-O” theme; and was actually ripped from music played in a Hawaii 5-O episode

WHICH EPISODE???

Ghosted by Mars @ 11/29/2006 4:03 AM EST


Yay advent calendar! i forgot to mention that last night. Mare Winningham was in this one movie called God Bless The Child…about this lad who had to give up her daughter for adoption to have a better life because her character was homeless

Ghosted by mandy_Reeves @ 11/29/2006 8:27 AM EST


Oh hell yes, I’m so ready. I too have been following the advent calendar since it’s incarnation. Wowwww, I’ve been reading X-E a lonnnnnnng time. :)

Ghosted by Denise @ 11/29/2006 9:11 AM EST


Put up the lights in our apartment today, but still no tree- honestly, I want to wait until Dec. 1st- Xmas tree and advent calendar day!

I was at the bookstore yesterday, looking at audio books (I have a lot of driving to do everyday, and so I have started listening to books on tape). Stephen King’s new book, ‘Lisey’s Story’ inrigued me- I flipped it over to read the back and THE BOOK IS READ BY MARE WINNINGHAM! I laughed out loud in the store.

Ghosted by Muppet Baby @ 11/29/2006 10:15 AM EST


Theory on why they played Charlie Brown Christmas in November: Because Thanksgiving came early enough in the month, they could slip CB Christmas in afterwards and still make November sweeps.

Ghosted by Lori @ 11/29/2006 12:45 PM EST


2 more days ’till another epic drama sweeps the X-E Universe.

I think Matt should do a Crisis on Infinite Advent Calendars in 2010. Imagine multiple Knacks and Kuses, and Waiterbots. That would further explain all the Mares and Santa’s. Clones, but not from OUR reality.

I’m getting my tree on Saturday. Can’t wait. Been listening to the Christmas Jukebox since 2 weeks ago.

That’s a lie. I’ve been listening to it on and off since June…

I really like Christmas…

Ghosted by Darth Galvatron @ 11/29/2006 12:48 PM EST


I’m reading the old calendars today because, really, I don’t have anything better to do. And I’m.. I’m…

Wait! You’re telling me that the original Mare Winningham was actually a boy figurine!?

I’ve been living a lie for five years. FIVE YEARS!

Ghosted by Katherine @ 11/29/2006 2:14 PM EST


katherine:
As Have I, And Its Tearing Me Up Inside :P

Ghosted by JoshC @ 11/29/2006 2:23 PM EST


I wonder if this year we’ll have the forgotten Lego Santa return in a vengeful manner…

Ghosted by Ragnarok @ 11/29/2006 3:02 PM EST


She put out an album!! Check it!

http://www.marewinningham.com/home.html

Of course the site was last updated in 98.

Ghosted by K- @ 11/29/2006 3:56 PM EST


Christmas lies are the sweetest lies.

Ghosted by kingklash @ 11/29/2006 4:15 PM EST


http://www.rickmoranis.com/ I hope it is better than this one.

Ghosted by Old E @ 11/29/2006 4:23 PM EST


News update on Christmas Crunch: Talked to a local grocery manager. Turns out, Quaker Oats wanted stores to order it in JUNE, so they wouldn’t make too much. Now I’m stuck begging at Wal-Mart, hoping against hope that they have some. GAHHH! I need that $5 coupon for Xmas DVDs! Well, and the cereal. It’s not Christmas without it.

Ghosted by Terror Claws Cole @ 11/29/2006 4:25 PM EST


YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot wait. I am breathlessly awaiting. I did buy the Lego Calendar for my kids. I will have to decide when to time my reading of XE, before or AFTER the RL Opening.
We also got the Willy Wonka Gingerbread house. Construction in progress.

Ghosted by RedKat @ 11/29/2006 5:59 PM EST


RedKat I had the LEGO caledndar last year. I tried to read X-E after opening my calendar. I liked the surprise every day and knowing didn’t ruin the X-E experience because, really, it’s not so much what you get as much as what Knacks and Kuse do with them.

Ghosted by Rhino @ 11/29/2006 7:25 PM EST


yay, my favorite time of the year. I hope to really get into it this year.. last year I was such a bah humbug and never got the “spirit” I usually do.

Ghosted by AtomicPup @ 11/29/2006 7:41 PM EST


RHINO- Good Point.You are right. There is no way we could put them through what Matt does.
We’ll talk about the Bumble later:)

Ghosted by RedKSt @ 11/29/2006 8:26 PM EST


BRING BACK MEGAMARE!

Ghosted by Anonymous @ 11/29/2006 10:10 PM EST


BRING BACK MEGAMARE! SHE WAS THE BEST CHARACTER!

Ghosted by BRANDON @ 11/29/2006 10:10 PM EST


“Christmas lies are the sweetest lies.”

Ooh, Kingklash, I love that. It should be in a Christmas card… but what would be on the front?

Ghosted by Welsh Rabbit @ 11/29/2006 10:39 PM EST


YES!!! It has returned!! The advent calender graphic is up…so pumped. I’ve got my Santa house playset and Waiterbot and Waiterbetty figures ready to re-enact wacky adventures at home. Whee!

Ghosted by Terror Claws Cole @ 11/29/2006 11:55 PM EST


Just got back from a drinkin’ fun-night. I love small lego’s from the avent calander that can cram a vacuum. EAT IT, HOW’S LUNCH?

Rick Moranis made an F’n country album . There is no God. Or maybe there is Old E and he has a better sense of humor than me.

Ghosted by Bill @ 11/30/2006 12:02 AM EST


Whoo! I am absolutely stoked for this. Thank-you Matt for giving me something to look forward to. You know, other than Christmas.

For some reason I can’t remember if I read them all, but I’m sure I did. And 2002 was never finished,:(, but looking back it didn’t really matter.

I saw the Playmobil Advent Calendar a couple weeks ago and chuckled.

And I’ve always been wondering, who the hell is Mare Winningham? I’ll go look at K-’s site.

Ghosted by Tutsuro @ 11/30/2006 1:09 AM EST


It would be nice if we got to see the return of Bird and Petey Pooch from the 2003 calendar. We probably won’t, but it would still be nice.

Ghosted by Mikel @ 11/30/2006 1:14 AM EST


For what it’s worth, I THINK Rick’s album is humorous. The two songs you can listen to are anyway, with one being a reversal of I’ve Been Everywhere, made famous by Johnny Cash.

At least, I keep telling myself that it’s a humorous album, to keep the insanity at bay :D

Ghosted by K- @ 11/30/2006 1:21 AM EST


Hey folks!

Formal post forthcoming, but our friend Brian has once again rocked the house with an all-new Advent Calendar design on the blog’s main page. Tomorrow night: The first article. Also note that we’re going to update the jukebox for 2006 this weekend, and basically, it all comes together then. (Get ready to) Enjoy!

Ghosted by Matt @ 11/30/2006 1:33 AM EST


::licks her finger and presses it on Matt::

Sizzle.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 11/30/2006 1:37 AM EST


Ooh! Ooh! Pretty design! Pretty pretty!

Ghosted by Katherine @ 11/30/2006 1:40 AM EST


Listen to Mare here, cause we all know you want to :P

Ghosted by K- @ 11/30/2006 1:41 AM EST


Hey!!!!,CHRISTMAS ALMOST COMING

Ghosted by FLIPPYFAN @ 11/30/2006 1:48 AM EST


I told my family today there was no way I could make it to Christmas at my parents’ house…but then I saw the setup for the Advent calendar, and I feel much better! Thanks, Matt! Woo hoo! :)

Ghosted by Moony @ 11/30/2006 1:54 AM EST


Finally starting to feel seasonal as we have a cold front passing through Waco tonight. 5 hours ago it was 78 degrees…now it’s 45. Serioulsy, the high Wednesday was 80. The high tomorrow is 44. It’s freakin’ awesome!

Ghosted by Cameron T. @ 11/30/2006 2:05 AM EST


Yay! The advent calendar! I’m getting ready to put out my own Playmobil advent calendar. We got snow on Wednesday morning, not much though. It was all melted by mid-morning. :-( Hopefully, Rio Rancho gets a white Christmas this year. It’s been a while.

Ghosted by Donata05 @ 11/30/2006 2:14 AM EST


OMG I literally SQUEALED when I saw the new calendar layout! I can’t wait for the calendar now!

Tonight we decorated our tree… for the second time. We finally decided the kitten just wasn’t ever going to stop climbing the tree, so we took down all our expensive glass ornaments and put up new plastic ones. It actually looks better now than it did before.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 11/30/2006 2:46 AM EST


I love the new updated christmas stuff on X-E and I cant wait till the countdown starts i love this time of year on X-E i cant believe its been 4 years ive been reading this site (since dec of 2002)my how time flys

Ghosted by JaM @ 11/30/2006 3:19 AM EST


I am so happy the new advent calendar is almost here. Last year was my first Christmas reading the advent calendar, and I was sooooooooo jealous of your Lego calendar, Matt, since I’d never seen one before.

The day before yesterday, I got home from a bleh day of work and school, and there was a mystery package on my porch. Inside, was the Lego advent calendar from my mother!! I am so psyched to have my own Lego presents to play with while I read along.

Thank you for this new and completely fantastic holiday tradition.

Ghosted by KateTheGreat @ 11/30/2006 8:59 AM EST


awesome. Thank you Brian, very nice. That was good to see this morning.

Ghosted by kb @ 11/30/2006 9:12 AM EST


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