Welcoming back NJ author Caseen Gaines, writer of Inside Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Untold, Unauthorized, and Unpredictable Story of a Pop Phenomenon! and soon to be new book A Christmas Story: The Making of a Holiday Classic!
Please support Caseen’s new Kickstarter Project before December 26th to help him fund upcoming promotional events!
In this episode:
- the success of Caseen’s book Inside Pee-Wee’s Playhouse,
- working with publisher ECW Press,
- book promotion,
- scary Tim Burton movies,
- when and why do movies and TV shows fade out of pop culture?,
- re-runs and constant TV franchise reboots,
- Bronies,
- Caseen’s upcoming book A Christmas Story: The Making of a Holiday Classic,
- the Christmas Story House near Cleveland, Ohio,
- Caseen’s book release coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the film,
- his $20,000 Kickstarter to help promote the book,
- his Kickstarter rewards including Christmas cards designed by Ian Petrella,
- Caseen appearing on the TV Guide Network,
- the still tight-knit cast,
- the first sequel My Summer Story (1994) starring Charles Grodin,
- the second sequel Christmas Story 2 (2012) starring Daniel Stern,
- Jean Shepherd’s original A Christmas Story book,
- the enduring legacy of A Christmas Story,
- and the full length version of the 1970 Night Before Christmas Read-Along Classic.
Download this episode:
66 minute MP3 file – 30.5 MB (right-click to save)
Listen to this episode:
cassen is such an engaging guest that i couldn’t help but be swept along; even if the subject is something i know little about. i’ve never seen ‘a christmas story’ and don’t know if it has ever been shown over here. i have heard other american podcasts talk of it and i sense it is a seasonal staple. i guess i know what dvd to ask for christmas. so glad to hear “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL… AND TO AAALL… A GOOOD NIIIGHT!!”
David, it’s on Blu-Ray too I believe. By the way, the reason I played the entire (somewhat mangled) Night Before Christmas thing at the end is that the narrator sounded a lot like Jean Shepherd. He wrote A Christmas Story and narrated that and My Summer Story as adult Ralphie.
http://wrestlecrap.com/newinduction0.html
There’s a blast from the past, Wrestlecrap.com of all places did a thorough review of A Christmas Story 2. HA HA HA.
David, glad you enjoyed our interview. I hope Caseen reaches his Kickstarter goal.
I ended up watching a new Lifetime Christmas movie called Finding Mrs. Claus, starring Mira Sorvino and Will Sasso. I’ll review it the next time Greg and I record. Nothing will top that old Read-Along Classic tape though. :)
And Frank Nora of The Overnightscape is a long-time Jean Shepherd fan.
I went to the Christmas Story House this year, the day after Thanksgiving and it was great. If you feel like it, you can listen to me talk about the trip here on onsug.com:
http://onsug.com/archives/9647
Great show, best of luck Caseen with your book.
Bob, that’s a great experience! They really have a ton of stuff in there. Great anecdotes you retold.