Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Podcast

On this episode of Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Podcast, I'm going through Letterboxd reviews that go against the norm. I'll be reading 1/2-star and 1-star reviews of unpopular versions, and 4 1/2-star and 5-star reviews of unpopular version. Just a fun diversion from the standard show! In fact, there were so many reviews that this is simply part 1. Stick around until the end, where I talk a...

For nearly 20 years, Lionel Barrymore played Ebenezer Scrooge on the radio, and some of these broadcasts survive. I'm covering these two decades, while also reviewing the existing broadcasts. From Orson Welles to the Hallmark Hall of Fame, Barrymore played Scrooge on multiple networks in various time slots, and with various scripts. Sources used in this episode: Radio Hall of Fame blog Comet O...

It's another episde about a non-Christian holiday. It was only a matter of time until beloved children's media franchise Veggie Tales did their own take on A Christmas Carol. However, 1) It's not about Christmas and 2) It came at a time when the frachise was going through major changes. Has it unfairly gone under the radar? Video about the history of Veggie Tales

I'm wrapping up my series on the silent adaptations of A Christmas Carol with two adaptations from the 1920s (and a bit on a lost version from 1916). Plus, I wrap up this mini-series as a whole. I promise we'll be back with Christmas Carols with sound next month. The special effects continue to evolve here, with some quite impressive ghost effects. Source: A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptat...

Last time, we looked at the very earliest versions of A Christmas Carol, from an incomplete silent version to a version we only know about in writing. This week, I'm looking at two complete versions from the 1910s, one of them starring Seymour Hicks, who would more famously play the part in 1935. We're still firmly rooted in the stage, but we do start to see these evolving as films.

This week, I'll be releasing episode 2 of my Silent Christmas Carols series. Plus, I've recorded a bonus episode about one of my favorite actors, who passed away last week at 95. Robert Duvall brought such humanity to every role, whether it was the star of the show or one of the supporting players. It's very laid-back and off-the-cuff, and I just wanted to talk about some of my favorit...

I started this podcast with the sound versions, but there were plenty of A Christmas Carol adaptations before the advent of sound film. On this episode, I'm covering the first three: Scrooge, or Marley's Ghost (1901) , A Christmas Carol (1908) , and A Christmas Carol (1910) . One is incomplete, one is lost, and all are pretty short, but they are also all interesting steps along the way on...

In this episode, I close out season 2 with recap, thoughts, and responding to viewer comments. Plus, find out what I'll be doing in the offseason this year. I've had a lot of fun going from Mickey Mouse to the Muppets this season, as well as covering some lesser known versions. It's always bittersweet that the Christmas season is over, but there will always be more to look forward from...

It's the second of two interviews about The Muppet Christmas Carol. In this one, I'm talking with Joe Boccia Jr., a Muppet fan and filmmaker who got to see the film in theatres on the day of the interview! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ScroogeAChristmasCarolPodcastTwitter: https://x.com/scroogepodBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/scroogepod.bsky.social

It's my first of two interviews about The Muppet Christmas Carol. In this one, I'm talking to my friends Liz Scher and Ian Taylor, both of whom are big Muppet fans. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ScroogeAChristmasCarolPodcastTwitter: https://x.com/scroogepodBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/scroogepod.bsky.social

It's the one you've been waiting for: the iconic The Muppet Christmas Carol . It may feel like everything that can be said about Muppet Christmas Carol has, but I have a lot to say anyway. How does it stand up against the countless other versions of the story I've seen? In addition, on the same day this drops, I'll be releasing some interviews with friends of mine who are big fans...

We all know about the iconic versions from the 1980s and early 1990s, but there are also plenty of lesser known adaptations from the same era. A Christmas Carol with the Uncle Remus animals? Martin Sheen and James Earl Jones playing the characters? Another Disney version? They're all here. Check it out! For my list of references and additional material, check out the YouTube link! Patreon: htt...

One of the more divisive takes on A Christmas Carol , Scrooged from 1988 is a beloved comedy to some and a missed attempt to others. Regardless, it is very much the most '80s take ever on the tale, with Mary Lou Retton, Lee Majors, references to Chernobyl, and even a Richard Pryor joke. The first part of the episode is my standard format, and it's followed by an interview with Aricka Rode, a lifel...

Everyone knows Scrooged , which I'll be covering next week, but there's another modern-day Christmas Carol from the '80s. Robert Guillame directs and stars in John Grin's Christmas , a 1986 TV movie about a Scrooge-like toy executive who needs to learn about the spirit of giving. Is this actually a lost classic, or has it been forgotten for a reason? Patreon: https://www.patreon.co...

This week, I'm covering the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol starring George C. Scott, my personal favorite adaptation. What makes this version stand out among the rest? This one also features David Warner, Edward Woodward, Susannah York, Angela Pleasence, and Roger Rees. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ScroogeAChristmasCarolPodcast Twitter: https://x.com/scroogepod Bluesky: https://bsky....

Alright, it's time to talk about the two weirdest Christmas Carols of the '80s. First up, it's Scrooge's Rock 'N' Roll Christmas, a truly bizarre TV special starring western actor Jack Elam as Ebenezer Scrooge, who has to not only change his mind about Christmas but also rock 'n' roll. Will the music of Three Dog Night, Mike Love, and the mysterious Bridget change h...

It's episode 2 of season 2 of Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Podcast, and I'm covering A Christmas Carol (1982) from Australiia. Ron Haddrick is back as Ebenezer Scrooge, reprising his role from the 1969 film. It's twenty minutes longer than the previous version, but is it better? There are some truly surprising moments here. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ScroogeAChristmasCarolPodcast Twitter: h...

It's Season 2 of Scrooge: A Christmas Carol Podcast, and we're going From Mickey Mouse to the Muppets. Mickey's Christmas Carol was my introduction to the story, and I know it was a lot of other people's as well, so we're starting there. Learn the long history of Disney and A Christmas Carol, including 2 separate album versions before they ever adapted it for film, and revisit...

There are countless versions of A Christmas Carol, but which is the most accurate to the book? I've listed 100 important plot points and character descriptions, and I'll be scoring 12 versions (from 1935-1979) on their accuracy. Most podcasts are audio only, but this episode is best watched as a YouTube video. Watch here: https://youtu.be/Kt3KFYaRicE If you're new to the podcast, I&#39...

It's a preview episode of Scrooge TV, a new series for my backers on Patreon where I will review a TV episode based on A Christmas Carol. This episode is free for all, and you can access a new one every month for $5 a month on Patreon. It's Christmas Eve, and Mr. Spacely is making George Jetson work late. When he falls asleep, he's visited by some Christmas ghosts who help him change h...

Collin wraps up A Christmas Carol Deep Dive with this episode covering the final stave of the book. What does "Walker!" mean? Who is Joe Miller? What on earth is a Laocoön? It's all here! Links used in this episode: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laoco%C3%B6n https://victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/xmas/pva116.html http://grammarphobia.com/blog/2021/12/hookey-walker.html https://en.w...

In this episode of A Christmas Carol Deep Dive, Collin breaks down the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come portion of the story. Learn about 'Change, Victorian burial traditions, offal, and much more. Sources used in this episode and additional reading: https://www.britannica.com/story/where-does-the-concept-of-a-grim-reaper-come-from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exchange_Alley https://www.etymonline....

On this bonus episode, I'm counting down my 25 favorite films since the year 2000, in honor of the recent New York Times poll. Hopefully you'll find something to check out or revisit! Let me know what yours are.

Since it's the only version of A Christmas Carol based around July 4, Collin is taking this month to review An American Carol. From David Zucker (The Naked Gun, Airplane, Top Secret, and apparently the Republican party) comes this 2008 political comedy. Michael Malone (Kevin Farley) is a documentary filmmaker who needs to love the 4th of July, and he'll have his views changed with the repr...

It's the second half of the Ghost of Christmas Past, and this episode covers Scrooge and the Ghost visiting lighthouse keepers, sailors, and miners, Fred and his friends, and of course the children Ignorance and Want. Find out what all those games Fred was playing are about, what a "children's Twelfth Night party" is, and much more. Sources and additional links: https://victorian...