Doctor Who Conquers the Martians

On Saturday night, the eighth season of Doctor Who came to a close in “Death in Heaven.” I’m not here to talk about that. I’d rather discus the teaser for the forthcoming Christmas episode, with Nick Frost (probably best known to Americans for his collaborations with Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright — Shaun of theContinue reading “Doctor Who Conquers the Martians”

On Christmas Traditions

My friend Todd has recently been on a Christmas Carol watch-a-thon. He wanted suggestions, and last night I said, “Surely you’re watching Blackadder’s Christmas Carol; I watch it every year on Christmas Day.” It hadn’t occurred to him, to watch, not the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge, but the corruption of Ebenezer Blackadder. Hopefully, it’s inContinue reading “On Christmas Traditions”

On Christmas Traditions

Many people have Christmas traditions. I don’t. It comes, I think, from having worked retail for so many years. The “holiday season” was anything but a holiday. And while I enjoyed certain things about the season, one thing I really wanted was for it to be over. A few years ago I started a traditionContinue reading “On Christmas Traditions”

On Christmas Viewing

Last night, wrapping presents, I watched that classic film — Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. For those unfamiliar with the film, it’s the story of Kimar, leader of the Martians, and his plan to kidnap Santa Claus and bring him to Mars in order to make the Martian children happy, but along the way twoContinue reading “On Christmas Viewing”

On a Murderous Santa

One of my employees, Natalie, brought this to my attention. Joel Krupnik’s home Christmas display consists of a blood-splattered Santa Claus holding a decapitated head. The meaning of this display? To quote: [H]is family thought it would be a fun way to make a comment about the commercialization and secularization of Christmas.” Ooo-kay. I’ve seenContinue reading “On a Murderous Santa”