(courtesy Hachette Australia) When you think about it, Christmas as a concept and an idea, as opposed to the reality of the season, is full to the tinsel-draped, eggnog-soaked brim with magical realism. It’s in the original Biblical tale – not a diss; I grew up in the church and Continue Reading
Why ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ almost didn’t air − and why it endures (curated article)
(courtesy IMDb) In 2024, the beloved special is streaming on Apple TV+. Stephen Lind, University of Southern California It’s hard to imagine a holiday season without “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The 1965 broadcast has become a staple – etched into traditions across generations like decorating the tree or sipping hot Continue Reading
Festive movie review: I watched Christmas Karma
(courtesy IMDb) Charles Dickens lives again! Well, not so much the author who long shuffled off this mortal coil and who may yet be haunting people at Christmas to scare them into leading and more selfless lives; rather, in Christmas Karma, by Bend It Like Beckham‘s Gurinder Chadha, we are Continue Reading
Festive book review: All Together for Christmas by Sarah Morgan
(courtesy Harper Collins Publishers Australia) One of the hallmarks of Christmas, and no, we are not talking about the branded festive romcoms, is how wonderful it can often be to gather with family (of the birth and chosen varieties). It’s especially the case when you are live far apart, and Continue Reading
Wicked: For Good goes full LEGO in this fun featurette
SNAPSHOT“You’re the only friend I ever had…” The final chapter of the untold story of the witches of Oz begins with Elphaba and Glinda estranged and living with the consequences of their choices. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized [sic] as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden Continue Reading
60th birthday book review: I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You by Miranda Hart #AndyAt60
(courtesy Penguin Books Australia) Miranda Hart, known for her whimsy and goofy good humour, would like us all to get a little serious for a moment. Or perhaps a lot, and you can trust her, it’s for a very good reason, one which came to define her life in ways Continue Reading
60th birthday movie review: Wicked: For Good #AndyAt60
(courtesy IMP Awards) When your parting gift to audiences at the conclusion of the first part of Wicked is the delivery of the scene stealing, future defining showstopper song “Defying Gravity”, where colours are nailed to the flag (no prizes for guessing which ones) and entreaties are made by both Continue Reading
Happy 60th birthday to me … my 60 favourite TV shows #Andyat60
(via Shutterstock) There was a time, believe or not, when TV terrified me. Way back in the mid-1960s, when Mum and Dad were missionaries in what is now Bangladesh, we lived in a number of small hinterland towns where TV was NOT; so, the first time I encountered it was Continue Reading
A celebration of me, Grover #Andyat60
(courtesy Sesame Workshop) Grover, sweet, loveable, funny, silly, thoughtful blue-furred Grover has been my favourite Muppet since I can remember loving any Muppets. I can’t remember when I first encountered him, but it would’ve been in the early Seventies when my family and I had just returned to Australia from Continue Reading
The short and the happy Benny’s Birthday short of it … over and over and amusingly over again … #AndyAt60
(courtesy IMDb) SNAPSHOTBenny wakes up seeing that it’s February 8, meaning that it’s his birthday. But he’s not in the mood and shuns it, until the Minions wake him up saying “happy birthday!”, Benny sees that the whole place is in a birthday party style. The Minions take him to his cake with one of Continue Reading