Author: douglove1225

As Seen on TV: Family Guy/American Dad

The anti-Simpsons barfed and farted briefly, before it was taken up as a cause célèbre by the slacker generation and became to big to fail, despite the best efforts of boy-men writers.

Comedy Christmas bits include the “Peter Griffin Christmas Album” full of mumbly, nonsensible parodies. Hee hee. Oh, and an ironic take on “Jesus Child” as brainwashed braying of the brethren. Bazinga!

Rerun: the best are the big musical numbers like “Christmas Time is Killing Us” (black humor), and “All I Really Want for Christmas” (naughty).

The later series leans on more groovy music. “The Steve and Krampus Duet” is an R+B jewel in a sad ‘Beauty and Beast’ takeoff. Not much Christmas here, but it’s got Slavic tradition.

As Seen on TV: The Fairly Odd Parents

Although cancelled by Nickelodeon, this popular toon was resuscitated and is now the 2nd longest running cartoon series on that network (behind SpongeBob).

Musical numbers tend to be classy, rather than silly (perhaps due to the aged magical helpers).

Timmy apparently never watched that Elmo special and wishes for “Christmas Everyday” in an early episode, much to all’s dismay. Jazzy.

More comical, “Not on the List” is a symphonic tribute to all the kids’ regrets the day after. Frantic.

As Seen on TV: Lazy Town

This Icelanidic people-wearing-puppet-outfits oddity made its way to Nick Toons for a while, but creeped out kids with a hero who looks like the Captain America villain Batroc, and a bad guy handsome as Bruce Campbell.

Stephanie, the irrepressible eight-year-old never seen without a smile, sings “Jolly Holidays” and “I Love Christmas.” Believe (in exercise)!

As Seen on TV: Grey’s Anatomy

Slushy, sudsy, and saccharine, this replacement for human life weathers on yet today. The background music is brilliant at telegraphing the ‘complex’ emotions the scenes wreak within you. Some of it is well worth sharing, i will admit. Music from Grey’s Anatomy is nearly an industry in itself, despite the season often breaks around Xmas without addressing the holidays much.

SEASON 2: “This Christmastime” by Mascott is charming folk pop.

Any excuse for The LeeVees, please! “Latke Clan” bounces in that same realm.

“Christmas After All” by Maria Taylor is that self indulgent grown up pop that sounds better than it is.

SEASON 6: “A Magical Season” by Tim Myers is also adult bubblegum. YAWN.

“All I Want for Christmas (Is to Give My Love  Away)” by The Rescues is late nite FM porn. So sweet.

Ingrid Michaelson restores a tiny bit of integrity with authentic folk in “Snowfall.” Still too weepy by half.

SEASON 7: “It’s Christmastime” by Jules Larson is upbeat altpop. Something danceable at last.

Back to melancholia from Boy Least Likely To with “First Snowflake.” So thoughtful… snore.

“Nun Gimmel Heh Shin” by The LeeVees recites the dreidel faces with much ponderous portent.

As Seen on TV: Dawson’s Creek

Ah yes, teens. The conscience of the world, but the solution as well (think canon fodder). This ’90s melodrama needed insta-mood for establishing its quick scene settings. So, maestro! (Thanks to fanforum.com as a reference so i don’t have to watch this classic televised bildungsroman.)

Not a lot of cool undiscovered songs here, so let’s go with best of from the only two Xmas episodes.

Season 4’s “Christmastime” by Smashing Pumpkins. Soulful alt.

Season 6’s “Wild Christmastime” by Chris Trousdale. Playful pop.

As Seen on TV: Scrubs/30 Rock/How I Met Your Mother

While the hilarious show was often stuffed with musical bits (including a musical episode), most were pop songs from the charts. Nothing original for Christmas… unless we count this angry ’12 Days’ parody. Thank you, very much.

Hyperventilating comedy nearly as jam packed with schtick and ideas as a live action The Simpsons, this show did include a slight bit about Tracy Jordan’s ill advised holiday album and a sliver of his big hit “It’s a Jordan Christmas.” Just improv? you ask. Why would that matter?

While a few standout songs peppered the perfectly cast series, not much in the way of Xmas tunes. So Neil Patrick Harris murders a few carols insinuating how much he’d like to have sex with Ted’s sister. Let’s watch the entire “Barney Stinson Christmas Songs” bit, shall we?

As Seen on TV: The O.C.

Time for prime time networks to sell albums. I mean, movies do it. Fox begins this trend with the soapy young troubles kind of shows (The WB/CW perfects it later). Background montage soundtrack might cover only a minute or so of the song, but stars are made from excited fans who want to recreate their lives from their special fictional friends’ lives.

“Maybe This Christmas” by Ron Sexsmith from season 1’s ep. ‘The Best Chrismukkah Ever.’

“Christmas with You is the Best” by The Long Winters appears in that episode and also season 2’s ‘The Chrismukkah that Almost Wasn’t.’

In the latter is “Christmas” by Leona Naess. Slow funky alt folk. Moody.

Season 3’s ‘The Chrismukkah Bar-Mitzvahkkah’ has “Christmas Day in the Sun” by Hot Hot Heat. A banger.

One song that was a character’s favorite, but was not a mood setter was “Just Like Christmas” by Low. Alt pop, but bach pad good.

 

As Seen on TV: South Park BLUE ALERT

Trey Parker and Matt Stone didn’t just change television cartoons… okay, they actually haven’t done much else (maybe a B’way musical hit–but that’s it).

The 1999 holiday album was a great boon for us in the novelty fan base, so let’s visit the few songs i haven’t mentioned over and over.

“Christmas Time in Hell” revisits Satan, a family favorite, name-dropping the disfavored. The song, nevertheless, is showtune heaven.

Given our current political climate, let’s celebrate “Merry Fucking Christmas” to fight the war on equity.

As Seen on TV: The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy/Clone High/Invader Zim

A Cartoon Network show that never caught on (too hip?), but was reincarnated at least twice, season 4’s ender was jolly romp to cure Santa of vampirism with Death and the Head Vampire (Malcolm McDowell) trailing the way to the North Pole. As is their wont, these mythoids sing while trekking (cf. ‘The Wizard of Oz’). Thus “We’re Off,” a snippet of silliness (near the end of this cute clip).

More envelope pushing, this time from MTV. Clones of historical icons are raised in a gov’t facility, and go through awkward puberty all at the same time. But they have limited cultural influences. No actual Christmas, although they celebrate clone day with lamb tacos, cabbage patch dances and the holiday’s figurehead, a pirate named Snowflake Jake, who brings children delicious spices if they threaten him just right.

You’re getting this, right?

Don’t believe me! Try a mock album of “Snowflake Songs” by the JFK clone.

A Nick Toon that didn’t get off the ground (or enslave the planet), a dark allegory for the hopelessness of man, a so-so sci-fi apocalypso (of cult proportions)… the end of the series was the usual Santa as doombot. (Well, it’s usual NOW.) “Bow Down” from the series was reprised at this year’s SanDiego Comicon by the creators (about minute 8), and also gets a cover by youtuber Meri Amber.