Talking Christmas TV: an interview with Joanna Wilson by Made for TV Mayhem's Amanda by Night
Amanda: Let's start with the basics. You're a bit of a pop culture aficionado. When did television become an obsession for you?
Joanna: [laughing] I prefer to think of my "obsession" as an "impassioned, lifelong dedication." I grew up watching TV and going to the movies. Television was the medium through which I fell in love with old, black-and-white movies and Hollywood stars which inspired me to study Film in college. I've never really been drawn to making movies but instead found my passion was in studying story, structure and the history of film. I'm a very analytical person. I also earned two degrees in Philosophy and my former professors will attest to the fact that I wrote many of my papers using examples from film and television. It all turned out to be excellent training for what I do now: researching and writing about TV.
You write about TV—what about you? Would you say you're obsessed?
Amanda: Oh yeah, I actually have memories of being a toddler wrapped up in my favorite blanket watching stuff like re-runs of The Monkees and Sesame Street! But it was my misguided teen years that made me the television nut I am today. I was all “I'm gonna be a loner,” and soothed my soul with Magnum P.I. and One Life to Live. It's funny how tumultuous my teen years were, but when I look back on the pop culture I think nothing but good thoughts! TV saved me in a way, I suppose... I have to say Christmas shows were a highlight of those years and I know lots of people who are big fans of the such specials, like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer but what is it about the holiday that has struck you so deeply?
Joanna: Well, I include myself in that group of fans who grew up watching Rudolph, A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch. Watching these specials year after year for many of us becomes one of the traditions that makes that time of year feel like Christmas. It's become as much of a holiday ritual as decorating the tree, wrapping presents and baking Christmas cookies.
Anything that was a part of your childhood Christmases ends up becoming a sentimental part of your adult Christmases. Since TV was so important to me as a child, those Christmas specials of my youth are still an important part of my adult expression of what Christmas means to me. I know I'm not alone in this feeling—most people have come to associate some part of their Christmas with something they've seen on television. Whether it's watching The Grinch again or the latest holiday concert of The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, most of us look forward to the Christmas programming on TV.
Amanda: Speaking of childhood memories, I just recently saw a clip of Diana Canova on Perry Como's Early American Christmas. Como is synonymous with Christmas and he definitely tugs at the nostalgic heart strings. Would you say he did the best Christmas musical specials or are there others I should seek out?
Joanna: Perry Como is definitely known for his sentimental and prolific Christmas specials. He comes from a whole generation of great performers who put out excellent Christmas variety specials including Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Dean Martin and Judy Garland. My favorite is the holiday episode of the short-lived Frank Sinatra Show with special guest Bing Crosby. Not only does it have the sentimental Christmasy feeling but these two music and Hollywood legends are at their swinginĠ best.
Read Joanna's blog, Christmas TV History, where it's Christmas every day.
