Winds of Christmas

Started off the morning with breakfast and the second Christmas episode of the Disney Muppet Babies. "It's a Wonderful Elf-Bot," Bunsen and Beaker's newest creation that can make any present from art supplies. The kids are supposed to use it to create a gift for Statler and Waldorf, but they get so carried away making presents for them, they forget about their older friends. It isn't until the Elf-Bot overloads that they realize they have no art supplies left for Statler and Waldorf. Bunsen learns a lesson of his own when he blasts his shrimp-flavored milk boxes into outer space when his friends complain about him dumping them in their yard. He ends up having to clear the boxes from Planet Gonzo in "A Merry Litter Christmas."

Worked on writing for a while after breakfast. Major Mint (Bill Daily) is a goof and a chatterbox, but he can get results. He gets his wind-up troops lined up to fight the mice. Debralee is more worried about the huge mouse that's arrived among the others...

Broke for lunch at 1. Watched Yogi Bear's All-Star Comedy Christmas Caper as I ate lunch and got ready for work. Yogi and Boo Boo head to the big city to find the rest of their Hanna-Barbara funny animal buddies, not realizing they've gone to visit them at Jellystone. Ranger Smith calls the police to retrieve them. They hide from the cops dressed as Santa in a department store, where they encounter poor little rich girl Judy Jones. Upset that her wealthy father ignores her, Judy joins them in the park. While Ranger Smith and the police chase Yogi, his buddies look for Judy's father. 

Last night's rain carried into the morning hours. Thankfully, it had finally ended by 1:30. The streets were wet, but the precipitation was long gone. I rode to work normally on my bike with no trouble other than strong wind.

Thankfully, I spent tonight sweeping and pushing carts. Had to sweep up some spilled sugar at one point, but otherwise, no major problems. We weren't even really that busy, especially later. I was in and out pretty quickly.

Mixed feelings on my schedule. In good news, Tuesday and Thursday off, which I appreciate. I figured I'd be lucky to get one day off next week. Two 8 1/2 hour days in a row, though, one on Christmas Eve. Now I'm glad I took the week between Christmas and New Year's off. 

Went straight home and into Match Game '74. South American hunk Alejandro Rey and magic-loving Juliet Mills joined in this week. The new champ had more luck with "Mother of __" in an Audience Match later in the episode than with "Mason __." 

Put away all the baking supplies I bought for the cookies during Match Game '79. A wild episode started with Charles blowing pipe smoke at Brett and Betty doing a strip tease when Gene asked her about it. It ended with Gene accidentally throwing his own answer into a question, making them start the whole thing over. 

Finished the night online after a shower with variations on A Christmas Carol. My favorite live-action version is the British one with Alistair Simms as Scrooge from 1951. Simms is a perfect Scrooge, whether he's sneering at his nephew for marrying a woman with no money, or dancing around his bedroom on Christmas morning after he's seen the light. I also like how they handled the charwoman. She reacts pretty much the way any sensible person who saw a miser turn into a dancing fool overnight - she screams and asks him if he wants her to keep his mouth shut. We also have an expanded past sequence that shows just how Scrooge went from an idealistic apprentice to a ruthless businessman. 

Mickey may be the title character of Mickey's Christmas Carol, but the real star is Uncle Scrooge McDuck as Ebeneezer Scrooge. He's absolutely hilarious wondering why the Ghost of Christmas Past (Jiminy Cricket) isn't taller and trying to snitch all the goodies from the Ghost of Christmas Present (Willie the Giant). Love Goofy as one of the funniest Jacob Marleys on record, too. 

Rankin-Bass also dove into the Christmas Carol well with their version of Stingiest Man In Town from 1978. I went further into this animated adaptation of a 50's TV musical at my Musical Dreams Movie Reviews blog in 2020. 

Animation Celebration Saturday - The Stingiest Man In Town (1978)