Jimmy's Juke Joint

Comic News Insider Episode 587 - CNI's New Year's Rockin' Eve!

Comic News Insider: Episode 587 is now available for free download! Click on the link or get it through iTunes! Sponsored by Dynamic Forces.

Reviews: Captain Stone #1, Garbage Pail Kids Comic Book Puke-Tacular #1, Mono #1, The Multiversity: Thunderworld #1, Robin Rises Alpha #1, Ascension, Doctor Who Christmas Special

It's the hot CNI New Year's special for you! Jimmy welcomes podcast wife Erica Schultz and Geek Syndicate Managing Editor Sharlene Mousfar to the CNI studio for a New Year's extravaganza! They chat about what nerdy stuff they got for Christmas and what the new year ahead will bring. News includes: Danielle Corsetto to call it quits on Girls With Slingshots, Constantine gets saving...kind of and Netflix's Daredevil series will be dark in tone. Have a safe and happy new year! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love!

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Blogmas Day 31: New Year's Eve

Now THAT was a great New Year's Eve in 2005! I spent it with Summer Glau and other good pals. (She was dating a friend at the time). I haven't had a NYE off from the bar in ages so wasn't sure what to do when I found myself off this year. Alas, friends came through and had plans. So a steak dinner, a house party and perhaps a drink or 2 with other friends later. Great way to cap off Blogmas and 2014! 

It's amateur night out there, kids. So do be careful and safe. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a great New Year!

And I hope you enjoyed me blogging again. I know social media has killed blogging a lot but I liked doing this and may keep it up for a bit. Perhaps themed months. I might not do it every day but we'll see where the blog takes me. Let me know if you want me to keep it up! 

Cheers!

Blogmas Day 30: Still Christmas

I know it's December 30th but Christmas lasts all month for me as you can tell by me doing this Blogmas! Even though Christmas the day is over, it isn't for me what with the watching of Christmas movies and listening to Christmas albums. I can't get enough!

 

After I got home from my sister's on the 25th, I watched a bunch of the UK Christmas specials like Miranda, Downtown Abbey, Doctor Who, Call the Midwife, etc. And even checked out a movie or 2 that I hadn't gotten to yet. Including a new one this year called Get Santa starring Jim Broadbent as Santa. He's brilliant! It's basically Miracle on 34th Street meets Elf meets The Shawshank Redemption. Oh yeah! Fun stuff. 

And yes, I'm still listening to Christmas music. Got some new albums this year as I do every year. Currently enjoying the Christmas at Downton Abbey one. It's classic Christmas tunes and you even have "Carson, the Butler" (Jim Carter) reading out 'Twas the Night Before Christmas! Love Idina Menzel's new one too. I also listen to a ton of classic ones as well as neo-classics. Loving The Puppini Sisters and Brian Setzer ones at the moment. 

And I'm also watching some of the animated Christmas classics. The Flintstones, The Smurfs, The Jetsons and more. And I've even watched some of the UK animated Christmas specials like Peppa Pig. 

I've still got the apartment somewhat decorated for Christmas. That wont come down til late January. You can't keep my Christmas spirit down! Keep enjoying the spirit of Christmas and spread the love. 

Do you still keep Christmas going all month long like I do? Happy Christmas! 

Blogmas Day 29: Favorite Christmas Movies

If you've been following this blog or know me at all, then you know It's A Wonderful Life is my favorite movie ever. Which, of course, makes it one of my favorite Christmas movies! Each year, I watch it along with many others as I'm feeling the spirit. Some I don't watch each year and only recently disovered. Plus, I'll watch various TV specials both old and new and both US and UK in origin. Here are my favorites in no particular order:

• Miracle on 34th Street - Little Natalie Wood is astounding in this film. And I defy anyone to think Edmund Gwenn is not the epitome of Santa Claus! 
• White Christmas - This is obviously Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney's movie but I tell ya...to me, it's all Vera-Ellen. Her dance moves mesmerize me every year I watch it and she's just magnetic on screen. Danny Kaye is hilarious as always. 
• Love, Actually - While not really a movie all about Christmas, just things happening around that time, it's completely British and the Anglophile in me loves it. I know there is a lot wrong with it but it's just so goddamn charming and heartwarming. Martine McCutcheon steals my heart each time. 
• Elf - I KNOW HIM! Will Ferrell is great in this as the fish out of water Elf. And there is still a lot of heart to it showing the innocence and love of Christmas that a lot of us forget each year. 
• Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas - This Henson underrated gem has been a favorite of mine since childhood. Poor Emmett and his Ma are just trying to get by. Great songs and a heartwarming tale with puppets by Jim Henson. 
• Christmas Vacation - Chevy Chase is so great in these movies and Beverly D'Angelo is the unsung hero. I love Julia Louis-Dreyfuss as well. 
• Arthur Christmas - One of my new favorite animated Xmas movies. Also, charmingly British with the voice cast. THERE'S ALWAYS TIME FOR A BOW!
• Scrooged
• A Christmas Carol (numerous versions).
• The Muppets Christmas Carol
• The Ref
• Rare Exports
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• The Catherine Tate Christmas Show
• Gavin & Stacey Christmas Special
• Miranda Christmas Special
• The Hogfather
• Peewee's Playhouse Christmas Special
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• Peppa Pig Christmas Specials
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
• The Year Without A Santa Claus
• A Christmas Story
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Home Alone

Sure, movies I love like Gremlins and Die Hard take place at Christmas but that isn't the focus of it. I suppose a few others up in my list might be as well but I'm keeping them there! I'd also add pretty much any animated series Christmas special. Animaniacs, SpongeBob, Flintstones, etc! 

What are your favorite Christmas movies? 

Blogmas Day 28: Christmas Cards

Do you send out Christmas cards every year? I sure don't. I used to do it and I loved doing it. And, what started as a joke but people seemed to dig, I'd throw in my "year in review". Alas, social media has stopped that (at least for me) since we now know what one another is doing every minute of every day.

I really liked doing Christmas cards. Sometimes I would hand make them with cardboard paper and add a superhero trading card on it. But usually I would buy all different kinds of cards and write in personal notes. I'm not sure why I stopped doing it but I'm guessing the aforementioned social media had a lot to do with it. 

I still have friends that do it and I love getting them. Even if it's just a quick note or a picture of their family. I got one this year with a beautifully handwritten note from my UK friend Chloe catching me up on things in her life. It was really nice to get and read because people (like myself) just don't handwrite long letters any more. 

Perhaps next year I'll pick the tradition back up. So just know that if I start asking for home addresses in early December then you'll know why. 

Hope you had a Happy Christmas! And let me know if you sent or received Christmas cards this year. 

Blogmas Day 27: Christmas Haters

I've never quite understood the hatred some people have for Christmas. To me, it's a short time when people, for the most part, seem to want to spread cheer and be happy. Why hate on that? If you don't celebrate it for religious reasons, then how about just enjoying the positive spirit of Christmas? 

I guess I get if something traumatic happened during Christmas time. Then you may always associate the time with the holiday. You know, like Phoebe Cates in Gremlins. 

 

So, don't be a Grinchy McScrooge! Enjoy the season, have fun and spread the Christmas cheer! 

Blogmas Day 26: Christmas Dinner/Leftovers

Yes! Still doing Blogmas and am going to do all of December!

Every year, my sister and brother-in-law Bob host Christmas dinner. He's got a big family that is all nearby so they go all out. This year they fried a turkey, roasted a ham and cooked up some venison!. Christmas meaty goodness! They also made a lot of sides and some people brought some over including green bean casserole (one of my faves), macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, brussell sprouts, corn, and more! SO delicious! 

Normally, I can never take any leftovers home because there is no room in my bags. But this year, I made sure there was room. And just had some scrumptious venison and sides for lunch! 

I know how lucky I am to have that option each year and it's so awesome. In my early days of living in NYC (mid-late 90's), a bunch of us would always get together and make food for each other (on Thanksgiving too) and we callled it our "Theater Orphans Christmas" since we were all actors whom didn't go home for Christmas. It was fun and relaxing. But I am so thankful that my sister is nearby and I can go visit. (If you're wondering why I never spent Christmas with my sister back then, well that's a whole other story. I only found out I had a sister in 1996 and didn't find her until 2000), 

How was your Christmas dinner? What did you have? What's your favorite dish? 

Blogmas Day 25: Christmas Time!

CHRISTMAS!!! 

If you've been following, then you know I'm out at my sister Marsha's house in New Jersey and having the best time with the 6 year old nephew Maximus and 5 year old niece Chloe. We go as all out as we can for them and boy howdy did they make out. 

A not so great shot of the tree surrounded by presents as we woke up at 6am or so. Then...it was on!

Since I love comic books and sci-fi and do a podcast (COMIC NEWS INSIDER) about all that, I'm always trying to buy them nerdy things. To their credit, the kids seem to like superheroes and Star Wars and the like. I also buy sis and brother-in-law Bob nerdy stuff too. And this was just the best. Sis and I bought the exact same thing for each other!

And the fam got me some more great swag. 

Yes, I know. It's not all about the gifts. But the look on the kid's faces as they opened up some of their favorite toys is worth it all. I'm grateful that I have my sister and the kids to come hang with every year. Christmas is always my favorite time of year and having them in my life has made it all the more special. I hope everyone is having the greatest Christmas ever as well! 

Oh yeah. And this happened last night. 

 

#Help #YesIForgotToTurnCameraSideways

 

Blogmas Day 24: Carol of the Bells

Yup. That's my fam, The Bells. Sister Marsha and brother-in-law Bob with the kids. Niece Chloe (age 5) and nephew Maximus (age 6). I love this picture. LOOK AT CHLOE'S FACE SHE'S SO IN TO IT AND IT'S LIKE SHE'S ABOUT TO MAKE A TOAST! This is their annual Christmas card that got sent out. And here's the back of it. 

If you haven't guessed it, I'm out in New Jersey visiting my sister and the kids for Christmas. I love coming out here especially at Xmas time. Last minute shopping, late night gift wrapping, drinking some egg nog with bourbon, playing with the kids and catching up with sis and Bob. 

Oh and please check out Max's Christmas list for Santa. 

Real lightning. Hells yeah! I'll call my friend Thor and sort that right out. 

I hope everyone whom gets to spend time with their family and/or friends has the happiest of Christmases! 

Comic News Insider Episode 586 - Last Minute Christmas Shopping & Zombie Carols

Comic News Insider: Episode 586 is now available for free download! Click on the link or get it through iTunes! Sponsored by Dynamic Forces.

It's the Comic News Insider Christmas Special! Jimmy brings you a quick solo yuletide gingersnap of an episode. No reviews or news in this one kids. Just pure Christmas goodness. He gives some great last minute suggestions for Christmas presents for the nerd in your life and keeps the holiday theme going with his Top 3 picks. And yes, there may even be some carols sung! But not your traditional ones so be warned. Here's hoping everyone has the happiest of Christmases ever! Leave your iTunes comments! 5 stars and nothing but love!

Also, get a hold of us!

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