The secrets behind your favorite Christmas movie classics
Updated: 9:44 AM EST Nov 26, 2022
charlie, you still got the glass ball right. All you gotta do is shake it whenever you want to see your dad, Welcome to miss mojo and today we’re counting down our picks for where the cast of the santa claus is now can we take *** direct flight back to reality or do we have to change planes in Denver? Larry take charlie here and get him some challenge for this list. We’ll be looking at what the actors from this classic christmas comedy have been up to since 1994. Are you going to watch the santa clauses let us know in the comments number 10 mary Gross. Those who grew up in the eighties might recognize gross from SNL when she co anchored weekend update and appeared as characters like the sarcastic none. You cannot continue to be sarcastic and serve God you do want to serve God, don’t you? Oh no, I’m *** nun. I want to worship satan and dance naked at *** black mass. Nineties kids will know her as charlie’s teacher in the santa claus, Gross made the most of her limited screen time as Miss Daniels who forces herself to smile through an uncomfortable career day while teaching her students the political correctness of saying elves bobby. We don’t say stupid and we don’t say elves, they’re little people aside for *** couple of other movies like practical magic, Gross primarily made tv guest appearances from dramas like six ft under to sitcoms, like that’s so raven to daytime soaps. Like general Hospital Gross has been retired from acting for nearly *** decade. Her last credit being *** 2012 episode of raising hope. I look forward to seeing you again real soon. Oh yeah, real soon. Number nine Stevanovic, Stevanovic’s screen time in the santa claus is also brief, but he plays an integral role in one of the most memorable sequences concerned by his sudden weight gain. Scott consults Voinovich’s Doctor Novo’s well nuts. Oh no, your pulse is great. I don’t know scott, you’re you’re as healthy as *** horse. Yeah, Clydesdale. Although scott’s belly literally jiggles like *** bowl full of jelly, the doctor assures his patient that he’s somehow in good health. Funnily enough, Voinovich later played another doctor on Tim allen sitcom, Home improvement. As far as guest starring roles, Go Voinovich’s most significant was perhaps playing one of the few people who hates Raymond, so it’s true. You do hate me man. You ought to learn to quit while you’re ahead. Voinovich has popped up in several broadway shows like waitress playing the kindly joe and lent his voice to various animated projects, including puffin in the swan princess franchise, The Prince wants *** fighting Air force and it’s my job to get you birds in shape. You’re in puffins army now. Number eight frank Welker Speaking of voice actors, you might not know frank Welker’s face, but you’ve definitely heard his voice from dogs to monkeys to Bigfoot. There isn’t *** creature under the sun that Welker hasn’t provided noises for. This extends to reindeer in the santa claus. Easy Rudolph excuse me. While fellow voice actor bob Bergen inherited the role of Comet in the Sequels welcome remains one of the definitive artists in the business decades later, he’s still voicing transformers and Disney characters, including *** boo and cave of wonders. Oh why Sultan, how may I serve you? He’s most notably the voice of fred jones and Scooby doo. *** franchise he’s been associated with for over 50 years recently, he received *** Children’s and family Emmy nomination for voicing both characters as well as himself on Scooby doo and guess who what exactly? Hm You know, it’s kind of funny scoob, I’ve been doing it for 50 years now, but I’m not really sure I know how to explain it. Number seven Peter Boyle. Peter Boyle was already an established character actor before appearing as scott’s boss. Mr Whittle Calvin, you don’t believe in santa, do you Calvin, can we get back to the presentation? His resume ranged from classic comedies like young Frankenstein to gritty dramas like taxi driver Boyle was at his most popular during his later years, winning an Emmy for his 1996 guest spot on the X Files, He’d received eight more Emmy nominations for his regular stint on everybody loves Raymond as frank Barone, probably his most celebrated role. I bet you can’t even name the reindeer, no Rudolph Donner blitzen, those are the main ones, we rotate them so they wear evenly while mr Whittle doesn’t appear in the santa claus Sequels, Boyle would return as Father Time. Why do Father Time and Whittle look the same? Maybe it’s *** glitch in the space time continuum. The escape clause would be among boils final rolls hitting theaters just *** month before he died in 2006, 27 days, 20 hours and 17 minutes is what I do. Number six paige Tamada. The elves in the santa claus are played by kids but they’re older than they look kid kid who’s in charge. Here you are and I’m not *** kid, pointy shoes judy. The Elf for example, is 1000 200 years old, although actress paige Tamada was closer to nine when the film came out, tomato had already popped up in an episode of home improvement as *** girl who repeatedly best tim in toy car racing, hang it up, old man, can I go with my friends now, you know, you’re starting to tick me off *** little bit after giving scott his hot chocolate tomato would appear in other sitcoms like Seinfeld and Ally Mcbeal before leaving the acting scene at the turn of the century. Now, living *** private life tomato reportedly attended the University of California and the University of Amsterdam going on to build *** career for herself in Hr I must say look pretty good for your age. Thanks, but I’m seeing someone in wrapping number five David Krumholtz, This jewish american actor got his big break as the nerdy Joel Glick er in adam’s family values but we remember him best for playing santa’s no nonsense head Elf. Hey Barabbas Bernard, Oh sorry Bernard, you might also know him as Goldstein from the Harold and Kumar movies or as Michael Eckman from 10 things I hate about you like me. Krumholz reprised his role as Bernard in the santa claus too. Although *** scheduling conflict got in the way of him returning for the escape clause 2011 was *** difficult year for Krumholz as he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer thankfully Krumholz was declared cancer free in 2012 and 10 years later, news broke that he’d be coming back for santa claus is number four. Wendy Crewson the santa claus is among the rare films featuring divorced parents who refreshingly. Don’t get back together normalizing to household families, one of those households, just so happens to be at the North Pole. Do you want to go for *** quick ride? Yeah, of course it’s up to your mom, Please mom, go on, get out of here. Wendy Crewson played scott’s ex wife and charlie’s mom in all three santa claus movies. We imagine raising charlie was easier than dealing with Henry in the good son tim, Allen might fly santa’s sleigh but Krewson flew Air force one with Harrison Ford’s president marshall needed to be done and you did it. You spoke from your heart and that’s what I heard tonight. While no stranger to us audiences, Cruisin is even more iconic in her birthplace of Canada, where she has been honored with the Earl Gray award and on the walk of fame, she also won two Canadian screen awards for her work on saving hope and slasher And she’s the grandmother in it. But I get to put *** whole new slant on granny. So that’s been very interesting. # three, judge reinhold, the Santa Claus also subverted the misconception that step parents have to be villains. Where did you hear that? I learned *** lot from him. He listens to me while Neil miller isn’t always the nicest guy, he genuinely cares about laura and charlie plus it makes sense why *** psychiatrist would be skeptical of scott’s new career as santa. What about the reindeer? Have you ever seen *** reindeer fly? Yes, well I haven’t judge Reinhold helped to make the character funnier and more likable than anticipated. It didn’t hurt that. Reinhold was already *** seasoned comedic actor starring in Fast Times at Ridgemont High Gremlins and the Beverly Hills cop trilogy. Ryan hold has done some of his funniest work on television, mastering the art of close talking on Seinfeld. He’s even played himself on arrested development and clerks, the animated series in both cases serving as *** judge, it was bound to happen eventually. I’m sorry Judge, that’s ok. It’s more laughs than I got in head office. Number two eric Lloyd, You believed in me when nobody else did you helped make me santa. While eric Lloyd is best known for playing scott’s son, charlie in the santa claus, nineties kids will also recognize the former child star from Dunston checks in and the goose bumps escape from horror Land video game. What do actor kevin Arnold from the Wonder Years, Bruce Wayne from batman and Robin and Billy Crystal from My Giant have in common Lloyd played younger versions of all three. Lloyd has done some voiceover work as well, playing blankie in the brave little toaster Sequels, grandpa Sebastian. Very, how about you? Oh yes, very comfy. Opening *** studio in 2015. Lloyd has been more focused on the production side of Hollywood as of late but he’s not retired from acting. Lloyd returned for the santa claus Sequels and the santa clauses as charlie who’s all grown up now. So for the good of christmas, I’m retiring, wow, I didn’t even know you could do that. I think we see what the rest of world is like as normal people before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos, you have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them. If you’re on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications. Number one tim Allen by 1994 tim, Allen was already the lead on one of tv’s highest rated sitcoms home improvement with the santa claus. The tool man proved that he was movie star material as well. Allen went from one hit movie to another voicing Buzz Lightyear in the following years. Toy story to infinity and beyond. Since then we’ve seen Alan go from jungle to jungle helm, the N. S. E. *** protector, become *** shaggy dog and attempt to skip christmas in another holiday comedy. While much has changed, Alan hasn’t strayed too far from his roots. What is that? It means you put on the suit, you’re the big guy in recent years. He’s remained prominent on the sitcom scene as mike Baxter on last man standing voiced buzz again in Toy Story four and played scott Calvin for the fourth time in the santa claus is Who are you santa claus? Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Miss mojo and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos
The secrets behind your favorite Christmas movie classics
Updated: 9:44 AM EST Nov 26, 2022
Watching Christmas movies is a whole tradition unto itself. Every family has their mainstays, whether it’s an animated classic from yesteryear or a more modern take on holiday cheer.Get to know some of the fascinating stories behind the stories, so you can watch your old favorites with fresh eyes. (And bother everyone with your newly acquired trivia.)’A Charlie Brown Christmas’ was supposed to be a flop”A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a cozy holiday classic now, but some of the people involved in its production thought it was going to bomb with audiences. The 1965 film was created as a TV special with financial backing from Coca-Cola, but was put together in just a matter of weeks to meet broadcast demands.Several iconic aspects of the film, like the simple animation and unique jazz score by pianist Vince Guaraldi, were a bit odd for the time. Director Bill Melendez even reportedly declared, “I think we’ve ruined Charlie Brown.”Lo, all those worries were for naught. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was an immediate hit, and all of the things producers worried made it too strange were the things that made it beloved.Classic songs were reused, rewritten and dubbed for ‘White Christmas’The 1954 film “White Christmas” is brimming with behind-the-scenes lore, especially when it comes to the music. Most well-known is the fact that Vera-Ellen, who played Judy Haynes, didn’t do any of her own singing. (Her dancing, though, was a different story.) Singer Trudy Stevens provided Judy’s voice.All of the songs in “White Christmas” were written by Irving Berlin, the legendary songwriter who wrote hundreds of hits, including “God Bless America.” “White Christmas” is one of his most famous tunes, and it was originally performed in the 1942 film “Holiday Inn.”The song “Snow,” sung by the starring “White Christmas” foursome as they head to Vermont, was originally called “Free,” and was written for a musical called “Call Me Madam.” It had a completely different set of lyrics, which Berlin changed to fit the film’s holiday feel.A whole new language is used in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’Do you know “Seussian Latin?” The term describes the robust collection of made-up words used by author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. For the 1966 animated classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” producers wanted the musical feeling of a Christmas special, but didn’t want to include elements that would seem out of sync with Seuss’ fantastical world.Thus, Whoville’s Christmas songs were written in Seussian style. Viewers even wrote in after the special aired asking for translations. Alas, “Fahoo fores, dahoo dores” doesn’t actually mean anything. Trimming the tree with “bingle balls and whofoo fluff?” Just use your imagination.Hundreds of Jack Skellingtons appear in ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’Stop-motion animation is an art form forged with exquisite craftsmanship and a lot of patience. The animators behind 1993’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” used about 400 different hand-sculpted heads to bring Jack Skellington to life. In a behind-the-scenes special about the film, animators explain that every sound and facial expression Jack made required a different head that could be popped on and off of the character’s puppet body. With that kind of painstaking work, it’s no wonder the film took three years to make!A woman was the voice of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ but she didn’t get credit at firstRudolph may have been a cute little boy reindeer in the 1964 TV special, but he was brought to life by Canadian voice actor Billie Mae Richards. Most of the voice cast for this stop-motion classic was actually Canadian because it was cheaper to record audio for the special in Canada. However, in the original credits of the film, Richards is noted as Billy Richards.That wasn’t an accident — she was intentionally credited that way to obscure her gender. She once said kids wouldn’t believe it when her own grandchildren told them she did Rudolph’s voice — but she could prove it by doing the voice on the spot.Michael Caine did a literal balancing act during ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’By all accounts, Michael Caine had a great time acting as one of the sole humans in 1992’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” However, being a giant among puppets comes with a few challenges. The bottom of the sets were made up of a series of pits to allow room for Muppet puppeteers. That meant Caine and his fellow humans had to walk on boards above the puppeteers, kind of like an advanced version of “the floor is lava.” (The floor is people, perhaps.)Set designers also used forced perspective to keep everything in proportion — a common set trick that’s also used at numerous theme parks. They also included a nice nod to Caine: One of the signs on the street set reads “Micklewhite’s,” which is Caine’s real last name.Soap was used to make ‘snow’ in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’Not all movie magic is high-tech. In the 1940s, when “It’s a Wonderful Life” was produced, movie crews typically used painted cornflakes as snow. Though melt-proof, they were also a little too … crunchy. The film’s director Frank Capra decided to try something quieter, and landed on a custom blend for his winter scenes: Ivory soap flakes, chipped ice, and Foamite, a compound used in fire extinguishers. According to the “It’s a Wonderful Life” museum, if you pay close attention to the scene with Clarence and George in the river, you can see some tell-tale soap suds floating by.’Trading Places’ includes an operatic Easter eggPerk up your ears while watching the 1983 comedy “Trading Places.” The classical music heard in the opening scene, and throughout the movie, is from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro.” Christmas movies and classical music go together like milk and cookies, (“Ode to Joy” and “Die Hard,” anyone?) but Elmer Bernstein, who scored the film, was especially clever to add this particular piece.”The Marriage of Figaro” is a tale of madcap misunderstanding, in which a servant tries to get the best of his pompous, wealthy employer — similar to how “Trading Places'” Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy get revenge on two scheming executives.
Watching Christmas movies is a whole tradition unto itself. Every family has their mainstays, whether it’s an animated classic from yesteryear or a more modern take on holiday cheer.
Get to know some of the fascinating stories behind the stories, so you can watch your old favorites with fresh eyes. (And bother everyone with your newly acquired trivia.)
‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ was supposed to be a flop
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” is a cozy holiday classic now, but some of the people involved in its production thought it was going to bomb with audiences. The 1965 film was created as a TV special with financial backing from Coca-Cola, but was put together in just a matter of weeks to meet broadcast demands.
Several iconic aspects of the film, like the simple animation and unique jazz score by pianist Vince Guaraldi, were a bit odd for the time. Director Bill Melendez even reportedly declared, “I think we’ve ruined Charlie Brown.”
Lo, all those worries were for naught. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” was an immediate hit, and all of the things producers worried made it too strange were the things that made it beloved.
Classic songs were reused, rewritten and dubbed for ‘White Christmas’
The 1954 film “White Christmas” is brimming with behind-the-scenes lore, especially when it comes to the music. Most well-known is the fact that Vera-Ellen, who played Judy Haynes, didn’t do any of her own singing. (Her dancing, though, was a different story.) Singer Trudy Stevens provided Judy’s voice.
All of the songs in “White Christmas” were written by Irving Berlin, the legendary songwriter who wrote hundreds of hits, including “God Bless America.” “White Christmas” is one of his most famous tunes, and it was originally performed in the 1942 film “Holiday Inn.”
The song “Snow,” sung by the starring “White Christmas” foursome as they head to Vermont, was originally called “Free,” and was written for a musical called “Call Me Madam.” It had a completely different set of lyrics, which Berlin changed to fit the film’s holiday feel.
A whole new language is used in ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’
Do you know “Seussian Latin?” The term describes the robust collection of made-up words used by author Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. For the 1966 animated classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” producers wanted the musical feeling of a Christmas special, but didn’t want to include elements that would seem out of sync with Seuss’ fantastical world.
Thus, Whoville’s Christmas songs were written in Seussian style. Viewers even wrote in after the special aired asking for translations. Alas, “Fahoo fores, dahoo dores” doesn’t actually mean anything. Trimming the tree with “bingle balls and whofoo fluff?” Just use your imagination.
Hundreds of Jack Skellingtons appear in ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’
Stop-motion animation is an art form forged with exquisite craftsmanship and a lot of patience. The animators behind 1993’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” used about 400 different hand-sculpted heads to bring Jack Skellington to life. In a behind-the-scenes special about the film, animators explain that every sound and facial expression Jack made required a different head that could be popped on and off of the character’s puppet body. With that kind of painstaking work, it’s no wonder the film took three years to make!
A woman was the voice of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ but she didn’t get credit at first
Rudolph may have been a cute little boy reindeer in the 1964 TV special, but he was brought to life by Canadian voice actor Billie Mae Richards. Most of the voice cast for this stop-motion classic was actually Canadian because it was cheaper to record audio for the special in Canada. However, in the original credits of the film, Richards is noted as Billy Richards.
That wasn’t an accident — she was intentionally credited that way to obscure her gender. She once said kids wouldn’t believe it when her own grandchildren told them she did Rudolph’s voice — but she could prove it by doing the voice on the spot.
Michael Caine did a literal balancing act during ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’
By all accounts, Michael Caine had a great time acting as one of the sole humans in 1992’s “The Muppet Christmas Carol.” However, being a giant among puppets comes with a few challenges. The bottom of the sets were made up of a series of pits to allow room for Muppet puppeteers. That meant Caine and his fellow humans had to walk on boards above the puppeteers, kind of like an advanced version of “the floor is lava.” (The floor is people, perhaps.)
Set designers also used forced perspective to keep everything in proportion — a common set trick that’s also used at numerous theme parks. They also included a nice nod to Caine: One of the signs on the street set reads “Micklewhite’s,” which is Caine’s real last name.
Soap was used to make ‘snow’ in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
Not all movie magic is high-tech. In the 1940s, when “It’s a Wonderful Life” was produced, movie crews typically used painted cornflakes as snow. Though melt-proof, they were also a little too … crunchy. The film’s director Frank Capra decided to try something quieter, and landed on a custom blend for his winter scenes: Ivory soap flakes, chipped ice, and Foamite, a compound used in fire extinguishers. According to the “It’s a Wonderful Life” museum, if you pay close attention to the scene with Clarence and George in the river, you can see some tell-tale soap suds floating by.
‘Trading Places’ includes an operatic Easter egg
Perk up your ears while watching the 1983 comedy “Trading Places.” The classical music heard in the opening scene, and throughout the movie, is from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro.” Christmas movies and classical music go together like milk and cookies, (“Ode to Joy” and “Die Hard,” anyone?) but Elmer Bernstein, who scored the film, was especially clever to add this particular piece.
“The Marriage of Figaro” is a tale of madcap misunderstanding, in which a servant tries to get the best of his pompous, wealthy employer — similar to how “Trading Places'” Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy get revenge on two scheming executives.
