On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we dive into Cheers: “Thanksgiving Orphans” from 1986 — one of the most beloved Thanksgiving sitcom episodes ever made. We talk the chaos that unfolds when everyone’s plans fall through and the gang ends up at Carla’s house. Norm forgets to cook the turkey, Diane arrives in full pilgrim attire, Sam’s date cancels and we are reminded of the struggles of the big box TVs. We talk the sharp writing, perfect pacing, and heart beneath the humor. The legendary food fight that begins with a spoonful of cranberry sauce and ends in sitcom history. It’s classic Cheers:  fast, funny, and somehow deeply human — capped by Sam’s quiet toast “to Coach,” creating one of the show’s most touching moments. We go behind-the-scenes: the mostly improvised food fight, Rhea Perlman hiding her pregnancy behind props, and how the studio reportedly smelled like Thanksgiving dinner for days after filming. Vera finally “appears,” sort of, and Diane’s colonial costume gets the send-up it deserves. Thanksgiving Orphans is a reminder that the best holidays aren’t always the ones you plan — but the ones you survive together. Text your favorite Thanksgiving memories to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! Talk Shawtly

On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we finish the Halloween preseason strong. We talk Boris Pickett — the man behind the Halloween anthem that just won’t die — and his forgotten B-sides from the Spooky World days in New England. We then turn to Elvira, Mistress of the Dark — her Groundlings beginnings, her decision to finally hang up the black wig, and Cassandra Peterson’s honesty about aging, authenticity, and her simple truth that keeping secrets makes you sick. She’s still got her wit, her wisdom, her Mistress of the Dark Autumnal Gin, and a few surprising stories the kind of inside baseball that you only get on The Holiday Specials We Love. From boxed Ben Cooper costumes and Woolworth’s popcorn to Spirit Halloween pop-ups, we trace how the holiday has evolved, how it’s somehow gotten bigger as kids have vanished from the streets. We cover Silly String, Wham-O toys, Evil Knievel crashes, and the lost art of egging. We talk a fav costume of every kid in the ’70s: the hobo, complete with a stick and bandana. A nod to a real American subculture still celebrated each August at Hobo Day. A different time, a different world. It was a smorgasbord of Halloween history and nostalgia with a few laughs and a fun-size Snickers for Jesus along the way. Text us what you would love to hear us cover next 351-251-2511, and please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts! We’ll Talk Shawtly!

On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we continue the Halloween preseason with The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror V from 1994 — widely considered the one of best of the series. We dive in to the three unforgettable segments: “The Shinning,” a brilliant parody of The Shining where Homer unravels without TV or beer; “Time and Punishment,” where a time-traveling toaster sends Homer through chaos and alternate realities with a fun cameo by Sherman and Mr. Peabody; and “Nightmare Cafeteria,” where Springfield Elementary’s lunch menu takes a dark turn. We talk how the sharp writing, balance of scares and laughs, makes this episode stand out and how it pushed the limits of what animated comedy could do in the early 90s. Marge quietly steals scenes, Willie takes another axe to the back, James Earl Jones makes an unforgettable cameo, and yes, watching the Tonys would have made us go mad as well. We talk the creative freedom that made these early Halloween specials so great, and how The Simpsons helped shape the next generation of animated comedies. Funny, dark, and brilliantly done — a perfect Halloween classic that still holds up three decades later. Text your thoughts or favorite Treehouse of Horror memories to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts!

The Holiday Specials We Love: Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985) On this episode of The Holiday Specials We Love, we continue the holiday preseason with Garfield’s Halloween Adventure, the 1985 CBS special that gets us rolling into the season. Halloween is our “spring training,” Thanksgiving, the All-Star break, and from here it’s straight into the holidays. After the disappointing Thanksgiving special, this one is a step up. The pirate ghosts land, the 110-year-old man adds some edge, and Odie saving Garfield brings a little heart. Garfield even shares his candy — progress! We also ask: is Garfield made for cat people? His sarcasm, dry humor, and attitude fit perfectly, while dog lovers can’t help cheering for Odie — happy, loyal, and always game. Production-wise, the music is uneven — the opening song doesn’t fit, but the pirate tune and closing credits actually work. It’s a reminder of how much a soundtrack matters. We also talk the late Lorenzo Music, Garfield’s iconic voice,and how AI could soon recreate voices like his. We talk how Halloween decorating has taken off — neighborhood contests, lights, and displays that almost rival Christmas. Not quite, but close. Not perfect, but charming, funny and worth a rewatch every 5th October. Text your thoughts or Halloween special suggestions to 351-251-2511, and don’t forget to leave us a 5-star review on Apple!

The Holiday Specials We Love: Season 4 Holiday Preseason  On this episode of HSWL we cover candy through the decades from the 1950's to the 1980's.  The Hershey's chocolate lineup vs. the Nestle lineup. Twizzlers vs. Red Vines.  Krackel vs. Nestle’s Crunch. Clark Bar vs. Butterfinger, Now and Laters vs. Mike and Ikes and more. Who was into Necco Wafers, Chuckles and Bit O' Honey?  What is gimmick candy and why the gimmick achieved success rather than the taste. Razzles, Pop Rocks, Wax Bottles we are talking about you! Can someone bring back the Marathon Bar? The 80's trend toward sour and non-chocolate. What was a Zagnut bar? This 90-minute pilot has all the hot takes that will have you eating Skittles right out of your hands. We didn’t cover Circus Peanuts or Lifesavers but we have years of programming ahead to get there! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple.  Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 We will soon be rebranding The Holiday Specials We Love The Holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Hey CSWL FANS!  A lot of laughs and quite a bit of nostalgia as we watch some of the most iconic Easter Commercials of the 70s & 80s.  How Easter was WAY bigger then and why we never hear Easter Carols. How Dudley of ‘Shake and Egg’ fame was the poster child for all things Easter. How the Cadbury Cream Egg commercials were the BEST, but, how they as a candy were ‘just a bit much’.  Would helicopter Moms of today drain the yellow and white filling for their kids? Are Pretzel & Peanut Butter M&Ms too far out of the lane? Why Vincet Price as Egghead was ‘Eggactly’ what we needed. How heartfelt cards are so nice and what Netflix and Hallmark have in common. How Cookie Puss is NO Fudgey the Whale and Carvels Easter Chick cake of old. Is it ‘Car-A-Mel’ or ‘Carm-el’? How Ann Arbor’s newspaper journalist Meg Perry provides insight into the REAL egg crisis - the Cadbury egg crisis. How when you see Angels and Guides-just say thank you. A lot of laughs and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season! As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Hey CSWL FANS!  Well well well – after much back and forth over if we should or should not- we did it- join us for this fun ride as we discuss The Berenstain Bears Easter Surprise Special. While there was some debate that the CSWL research team got the spelling incorrect- it is indeed, according to sources including Wikipedia, The Berenstain Bears, while some still refer to it Berenstein- Berenstain it is! Could THIS fact lead to a future episode covering the Bears? We think not, as an official apology has been issued to the Berenstain Bear community and all those who love them. This slow paced, sing song rhymer received the official first CSWL “N/A’ - not even a single basket rating but a mere pile of plastic grass. Was this just true to form for the lazy writing of the 70s? And what was with the goofy Dad? Was this just a poor man’s Dr. Seuss? How the all-day Atari players of the 80s were ‘pioneers’. How the premise of the long winter pre-empting Easter was actually good. How Cherry Red Boy is the spirit of the holidays and how Mike Berenstain probably has at least 10k in the bank. A lot of laughs and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season!   As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351-251-2511 and find us on Facebook. The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Hey CSWL on this CWSL Chat edition, we went deeper into the meaning of Easter and the Easter season.  Warning: this isn’t a discussion on baskets and bunnies but the emotional and spiritual meanings.  Seeing homes with Christmas lights still up and illuminated?  Think there’s meaning? Kev has been seeing many. What does AI have to say about the meaning behind that? How AI can really offer insight into dream analysis and our unconscious selves. What our Shadow Self reveals and how some say: “There are no bad parts”. How we are truly all part of the Human Collective and that, we really are just here for a cup of coffee. How teachers like Clark Kegley and others can awaken us and teach us that we are made of so many different frequencies, and the art of surrender. How being judgmental is just vibrating low and how what is in your brain is what you find and that lent and the Easter Season really are the perfect time to give up the judgements.     Kev and Anne went a little deeper but shared a few laughs and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season!   As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple.  Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook.  The EASTER season HAS arrived!  Talk Shawtly   CLARK KEGLEY YOUTUBE

Hey CSWL FANS!    This one had us feeling all the feels as we cover this 5 Easter Basket (Candycanes? Carrots? Bunnies?) Special: The Davey & Goliath Easter Special “Happy Easter” yes- the one where Davey’s grandmother dies. We of course digress to issue a CSWL legal statement and apologies to the Cadbury Egg Community as well as the Berenstain Bear Community. Does D& G as a series need to be revisited? Modernized? How D&G are similar to Roblox and will the Peppa Pig Community also be offended? Why it’s okay to stray from the Boston accent when discussing “Garbage” and how we not only attempted to save Christmas- but we are attempting to save Easter as well. Did Religion peak back in the day and how everyone back then had extra panes of glass in attics and garages to fix broken windows. Will the Dick Beals society come after us and was Davey a tad agro to Goliath? How barter is a lost art, what prompted Lawrence Welk to say “too much cheesecake” and, how amazing was Grandma Hansen in D & G. A lot of laughs, a few tears, and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season!   As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Hey CSWL FANS!  Hold on to your Easter Bonnet and snuggle into your leisure suit as we talk most things Here Comes Peter Cottontail. How close was this to our beloved Santa Claus is Coming to Town? Was the interstitial 2D animation a cost cutting measure or for story telling? Was Peter just feeling FOMO when he was ‘overserved’ the night before the biggest day of his life? How Danny Kaye doesn’t “have people”, why we may need to find a new world leading expert on Milk Duds and how so often people would rather WIN than be Happy. What happened to Iron Tail at the end and if Peter was redeemed- why then is Blarney Bunny still lying? Was Sassafras a bit too snarky? Could he have sold Amway? We go deep with fellow holidaholics The Thorton W. Burges Research League and the Cultural History of Peter Rabbit. A lot of laughs and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season!   As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Hey CSWL FANS!  Happy Easter SEASON and Happy CSWL Season 4 Kickoff! We talk all things Easter past and a bit of present, the Berenstain Bears and Cadbury Egg ‘Communities,’ how Lent and Easter are a time for transformation. From Tony Robbins to the OG Hawaii 5-0 and, should the leisure suit (an Easter Suit staple) or the male jumpsuit make a comeback?  The days of receiving baby chicks on Easters of the past and how baskets of yesteryear differ from those of today. Should we cover more Easter Specials - including the heart-wrenching Davey & Goliath episode? Is the Hollow Chocolate or Vanilla Bunny your go-to?  Lots of laughs and a little bit of insight as we March into the Easter Season!  As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple.  Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook The EASTER season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Christmas Eve Traditions Hey CSWL FANS! Merry Christmas Eve! We MADE IT! The CSWL 12 Days of Christmas! We talk all things Christmas Eve past and present, John Denver, why one celebrity hires Catholics and how late night AM Radio on Xmas Eve is go to for Holiday Insomniacs. Northeast folk and Hollywood execs who  “don’t disagree.” What do Catholics and the Baby Bear's bed have in common and the true meaning of Boston Strong. Frosty’s airing removes the words 'Christopher Columbus'.  How 20 miles away on Christmas Eves of the past seemed like a journey to Mars. Childhood bedrooms turning into sewing rooms, wrapped or unwrapped presents on Christmas morning, Covid changing Christmas and how a Kardashian’s Xmas differs from a Stallone Xmas.  Should the Norwegian classic lefsa just be a side dish and people doing brunch on Christmas Day.  As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly  

40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s Part Two Hey CSWL FANS! We’re doing our best to save Christmas by diving into fan-shared Things Boomers Like: 40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s. In part two, Lawernce Welk’s “too much cheesecake”, Marie Osmond’s hair, Byron Allen's Real People and more as we continue our 12 days of Christmas episode drop.  Also, Frosty’s Winter Wonderland and Andy Griffith's A Face in the Crowd. And let’s settle it: Is Rhoda officially cooler than Mary Tyler Moore? How Kristi McNichol and Robbie Benson didn’t know how to add enough coal to the fire, and how DisneyWorld vs. Disneyland proves to be more 70s than 50s. How if someone is on TV long enough, they eventually 'get over.'  Mimes,  Iowa traffic reporters, the boys regular haircut and Christmas on Sesame Street. The three Jimmys : Baio, McNichol and Osmond. The only reason we still know the Pink Panther.  Life behind the scenes on the set of Donnie and Marie Osmond. And how did Raggedy Ann and Andy’s Dog Arthur and Return of the Jedi somehow end up in the same category? Happy Days’ disappearing Chuck, and Pete Best? We wrap things up with a breakdown of why intramural sports might just hold the key to Bertrand Russell’s philosophy and why a mid-week Christmas is really the best. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s Part One Hey CSWL FANS! We’re doing our best to save Christmas by diving into fan-shared Things Boomers Like: 40 Beloved Christmas Specials of the 70s. In part one we tackle the first 20. From Bob Hope’s holiday specials to Cher’s star power and Rich Little’s impressions. Funny how The Glenn Cambell Christmas special led us to discuss how comedy changed with disruptors like Woody Allen and David Letterman, why slapstick like pie-in-the-face humor might’ve always been overrated, and how subtitles can make things funnier. How did The Waltons seem like they were based on a real mountain family and their surprising connection to It’s A Wonderful Life? Remember when a 50-mile trip was a journey? Are Christmas Angels suggesting you try ayahuasca? How Christmas variety shows of the 70s unveil insight into why Nancy Kerrigan’s story still matters, and why skipping Family Affair could land you a corner booth at “Victim Con,” Were the 70s just a big 60s hangover? Also, what’s the deal with whistling janitors, and could John Denver have taken a page from Billy Joel? How Captain Kangaroo’s appearance in a Christmas Special led to chats about random encounters with legends like George Burns or John Cleese? As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Alt Christmas Movie Picks Part 2 Hey CSWL Fans! We’re back with Part 2 of the Alt Christmas Movie Picks. We’re diving into the genius of Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, why a 100-year-old’s advice still hits hard, and how Christmas is the season to embrace love and connection. Dickens's own story of writing A Christmas Carol may be more moving than the story itself.  We talk Spirited, The Man Who Invented Christmas, and the criminally underrated 29th Street. We’re breaking it all down, including how a certain Ghostbusters character channels big CSWL energy. Could all this vintage movie and TV talk spark a CSWL Summa Series? And what’s the deal with comparing it all to the 2004 Red Sox? As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511, and let's keep the convo going on Facebook. Talk Shawtly

Alt Christmas Movie Picks Part One Hey CSWL Fans! We’re diving into Part One of the must-see Alt Holiday Specials, and – we may have digressed-just a little. Just like "The Little Drummer Boy," we’re giving our all to save Christmas. Ever thought about what "Revenge of the Nerds" and *The Little Drummer Boy* have in common? Discover why "Fat Man" is your gateway to "Violent Night" and why the latter should be retitled to "Santa’s Last Stand.” Is there a love for all things *A Christmas Carol*? Bad Santa, Billy Bob Thornton and his unexpected link to “The Thorn Birds”. A look at the series Thirtysomething—and how today it would be titled Sixtysomething? As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Rankin Bass Twas the Night Before Christmas Hey CSWL Fans! We're back with a semi-deep dive into the 1974 Rankin/Bass classic, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, awarding it a solid 4½ Candy Canes. Is this special a counterpunch to Hanna-Barbera's The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't?  What was this time period's obsession with mice and mice living in walls with archway openings in the baseboard? Does Albert the Mouse from this special mirror today's youth? Star Trek's notion regarding intelligence without experience and two-dimensional thinking. Is this the most underrated soundtrack of all the Christmas specials? How this cartoon Santa may have cost the special half a candy cane in ratings. Why Cobra Kai stands apart from Land of the Lost? We further digress to reminisce about Jordan's Furniture in Waltham, MA, and their infamous Marshmallow couch—if you know, you know. We've also got a surprise appearance from Maria Menounos while introducing the concept of a 'Very Venmo' Christmas?   As always, please leave us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and join our community on Facebook. The holiday season is in full swing-Talk Shawtly

Hey CSWL Fans! We're back covering Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol, giving it a solid 3½ Candy Canes. This 1962 classic was the first-ever animated Christmas special produced specifically for television as Mr. Magoo takes on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, bringing his brilliance to the Dickens masterpiece. We discuss the brilliance of the writers, portraying Magoo as the star of a Broadway show. And all things “Magoo”: how funny the show really was, political incorrecttions that have muted the TV series today and how, even though he is oblivious, Magoo always wins! We talk Jim Backus, the voice of Mr. Magoo, and the beloved Mr. Howell of Gilligan’s Island. We also digress into some 'inside baseball', sharing insights on entertainment icons like Tina Louise, Rose Marie, and Mr. T. As always, we value your feedback. Please give us a 5-star review on Apple, text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and join our community on Facebook. The holiday season is in full swing! Talk Shawtly

Christmas Happenings Chat  Hey CSWL Fans! It's a CSWL 'Chat Edition' featuring hosts Kev and Anne.  Kev shares his experience on Connecticut's famous Polar Express train ride. He also talks about Christmas outdoor  decoration innovations - how Walmart inexpensive indoor trees can be used outdoors as well as the magic and history of Santa's actual home - in Finland! Back in Florida- Anne talks holiday boat shows and golf cart Christmas parades before diving into Kev’s Annual 'New Friends' Christmas Party and how it could be the tradition you're missing As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly

Rankin Bass Rankings Being that the Rankin and Bass holiday specials are the reason we started the CSWL, we decided to take an episode to do some R and B Rankings, Superlatives, Favs and Not So Favs.  Kev shares more 'inside baseball' with some behind the scenes gossip, and insight into why Santa Claus is Coming to Town is his own personal Dianetics plus Anne's fave R and B character that was her unlikely childhood crush. We go over top characters in order of greatness as well as the top specials too. If you love R and B specials, you won't want to miss this one. As always, please give us a 5-star review on Apple. Text us your thoughts at 351 251 2511 and find us on Facebook. The holiday season HAS arrived! Talk Shawtly