Balladeer’s Blog’s 2023 Christmas Carol-A-Thon continues! This particular blog post will examine episodes of television shows where the Carol was adapted to incorporate the program’s regular cast of characters.
WKRP IN CINCINNATI
Episode Title: Bah, Humbug
Original Broadcast Date: December 20th, 1980
Comment: Mr. Carlson (Gordon Jump), the station owner, is the Scrooge stand-in in this fairly good sitcom version of the Carol.
Eating some of DJ Johnny Fever’s drug-laced brownies, a stressed-out and grumpy Carlson dreams about visits from the Ghost of Christmas Past – sexy Jennifer (Loni Anderson), Present – black DJ Venus Flytrap (Tim Reid) and Yet to Come – Dr. Johnny Fever (Howard Hesseman)
Obviously, as with all such television episodes adapting A Christmas Carol, major liberties are taken, but that’s part of the fun. Johnny Fever’s Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come closes out his time with Carlson/ Scrooge by telling him “They say you can change your fate just by missing a bus” to encourage him in his efforts to reform. Continue reading
FIRST QUARTERFINAL – The COLLEGE OF IDAHO COYOTES were on the road at the GRAND VIEW UNIVERSITY VIKINGS (should be Zebras). Grand View U. was on top 3-0 in the 1st Quarter and 9-0 come Halftime. The Coyotes cut their deficit to 17-14 in the 3rd Quarter on their way to a 31-17 comeback victory.
SECOND QUARTERFINAL – Up next the GEORGETOWN (KY) COLLEGE TIGERS hosted the INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS. Neither team scored in the opening Quarter but the Tigers took a 21-0 lead with them into the Half. The Wildcats outscored GC 21-10 after the break, but the Tigers won 31-21. 
ADVENTURE COMICS Vol 1 #461 (February 1979) 
Synopsis: Bill Jensen, a corrupt former D.A. just released from prison, has been gifted with superpowers like the ability to shoot mystic energy blasts, conjure up unearthly fire, walk up walls, produce a force field and more. He refuses to reveal how he has gained these powers. 
ANDROMEDA NEBULA (1967) – My review of this pioneering science fiction film from Russia about organized space travel in the far future. Sort of a combination of Dune, Star Trek and Alien. CLICK 
THE GRAND DETECTIVES (1975) – A French television series in the tradition of Rivals of Sherlock Holmes and which presented other fictional detectives solving mysteries. Classy production. Featured American detective Nick Carter, French detective Monsieur Lecoq, Belgian Inspector Wens, Irish detective Slim Callaghan and, of course, Auguste Dupin and Sherlock Holmes. CLICK 
NEW YEAR’S DAY (1989) – My review of this early film featuring David Duchovny. Directed by Henry Jaglom. CLICK 
CARRY ON CHRISTMAS (1969) – Balladeer’s Blog’s 14th Annual Christmas Carol-A-Thon continues with this 50-minute British television version of the Carol starring most of the Carry On regulars. The Carry On movies were long before my time and weren’t my kind of humor for the most part. (I’m more of a Monty Python, Blackadder, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore and Absolutely Fabulous sort of guy.) 
Reactions to Balladeer’s Blog’s reviews of silent movies have been positive enough that I’d like to offer a quick take on a few multi-part documentary series on the subject. Both were from British Film Historian Kevin Brownlow, who did a better job of depicting the Age of Silent Movies than any Americans ever did. 
PART ONE – From Vaudeville to Movies: Brownlow and his colleagues scoured the best available footage remaining from Buster Keaton’s silent comedies. (For newbies to silent film history I’ll mention that countless movies from that period are lost forever due to decomposition prior to efforts to preserve them.)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2006) – This computer-animation version of the Dickens classic was produced by BKN and distributed by Genius Entertainment, Kidtoon Films and Image Entertainment. Ric Machin directed. The 48 minute film had a brief theatrical run in November of 2006 before being released on home video. 
ROUND TWO: GAME TWO – The defending national champions – the NORTHWESTERN (IA) COLLEGE RED RAIDERS – hosted the DORDT UNIVERSITY DEFENDERS yesterday. The 1st Quarter ended in a 7-0 Red Raiders lead. And then … the defenses dominated so thoroughly that no more points were scored the rest of the way, making 7-0 the final – if flukish – tally. 
FANTASTIC FOUR Vol 1 #44 (November 1965) 
Through a comic book coincidence, the Human Torch gets caught in the middle of a fight between the super villainess called Medusa and her fellow Inhuman called Gorgon. 
If it’s the Friday after Thanksgiving, then regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog know it’s the day when I kick off my annual Christmas Carol-A-Thon in which I review several versions of A Christmas Carol. I look at movies, television shows, radio shows and books which adapt the Dickens classic. Every year I present new reviews with a few old classics mixed in since newer readers will have missed them. 
THE PASSION OF SCROOGE (2018) – This 62-minute offering which is out on video is one of the opera versions of A Christmas Carol, NOT the x-rated version which is titled The Passions of Carol. I want to avoid any confusion, right off the bat. 
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