Frasier was one of the best sitcoms ever made, and like any good show they did a far amount of holiday episodes. I decided to rank them based on how much I like them, omitting the two Thanksgiving shows because I've discussed them elsewhere. I am including the New Year's Episode.
High Holidays
This episode makes the top of the list by default since it's really not a Christmas episode. Aside from the Decor, this could have been an episode set anytime during the final season. It's not a bad episode, but it is a bad Christmas episode.
I have been putting this one off for a few years now, for a few reasons. One is that it has been done, a lot. Another being that there really aren't that many examples to pick from. However with all the talking I have done about this franchise it would only be right to do this subject. So...
Star Trek has often dropped mention of holidays, especially in the early days. One episode had a clear Thanksgiving call out and another was a full-blown Halloween episode. Christmas has also had a few nods here and there.
Here now are five examples of Christmas in Star Trek.
So I was watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade when this ad came on:
It got me thinking, they don't make Christmas commercials anymore like they used to. There was a real charm and quality to those old ads. So, since it's been ten years since I discussed favorite Christmas commercials, it's only right to do another 12.
I did a whole article discussing Coca Cola's Christmas commercials. So it's about time Pepsi got some love. And is one of their better holiday ads.
Usually once a cereal mascot gets popular, they stick around. Oh sure the designed may change or be refined, but it's the same character. Some cereals have trouble finding that perfect gimmick however. And even when they do the character inexplicably disappeared after a while. Usually the mascot vanishes because the product did (Poor Fruity Yummy Mummy) but not always. The creators just decided they had enough of one mascot and it was time for something new! This makes sense when the product is brand new and searching for an identity. Frosted Flakes had a kangaroo before they realized Tony was better. Cocoa Puffs had an uncle for Sonny who vanish (but did make a comeback) and even Lucky Charms dropped Lucky for a lame wizard. It didn't take.
Here are five cereals which had more trouble with mascots, switching them out for no really good reason,
Cookie Crisp
Ok I am going to date myself here and freely admit it. I remember seeing the old commercials with the wizard Jarvis. He was a wizard in the 70's. Jarvis later introduced cookie crook and the officer chasing him whose name eludes me. There were several commercials of these two before cookie crook got a dog sidekick. The dog always giving away the crime by crying coookiee crisp. These three did a bunch of ads before the cop and robber vanished and it just became about the crazy dog. But he outlived his usefulness eventually and today we have the silver fox in a jacket guy, if he has a name, I don't feel like looking it up. And yes I at Cookie Crisp and loved them, it's chocolate chip cookies for breakfast what's not to love???
Over the years I talked about my favorite commercial mascots and others that are creepy. But what about the forgotten mascots? It's funny to be as old as I am, and see some mascots have disappaewred that were common when I was a kid. And there are some that faded away so long ago that even I can't remember them! Here are five examples of characters who were a big deal once but now no one remembers them. And let's overlook cereals for now, that's another article!
Geoffrey (Toys R Us)
This could count as a cheat since the image of Geoffrey has returned in an cartoon form. But actually, the character has taken many forms. He was a live giraffe awhile back, and before that a more anthropomorphic giraffe who appeared in commercials. There were also animated versions. What happened to him?
I have been wanting to talk about him for a long time. One of my favorite voice actors who did the voice for some iconic characters. The amazing thing is that unlike a lot of voice actors, he is also a great character actor and has made many appearances on TV shows all the way back to the Andy Griffith Show. Here is a sample:
Movies:
Did I just say TV? Oh yeah he has done his share of voice work for movies too and the classic has to be Falkor in Never-ending Story. He does a great job making Falkor kind and gentle. He also did the voices for the Rock Biter and the narrator. Other movies he did include "The Hindenburg", "Westworld", "Freaky Friday", and "9".
Peanuts has been around for ages now with no end in sight. After 71 years, these characters aren't going anywhere! I love the characters from Charlie Brown to Linus to, of course, Snoopy. But of course they can't all be great and some were so bland they literally faded away over the years. Some didn't but weren't liked much regardless. Here are my five picks for worst Peanuts characters.
#5.Peppermint Petty & Marcie
I know lots of people would expect to see her as #1, but while Patty has her flaws she has her nice moments. For example her frustration at Marcie in the Easter special still makes me laugh. She will admit when she is wrong and I like how she isn't perfect in school. But she can also be such a bitch, from her lusting over Chuck in the New Year's special to what she does in the Thanksgiving special. As for Marcie, I really don't know what to say. She's clearly there to be Patty's conscience. I wish her character developed more.
