The Born Loser by Art and Chip Sansom for December 11, 2021

Let’s see—how old are you, Brutus?

I’m with ya, Brutus. This is therapeutic.

The old reliables just don’t go out of style, do they? sigh

And “A Charlie Brown Christmas” will be on for its only showing this Christmas season for all of us on 12-19. Check your local PBS listings for the time.

I’ll add a couple of shows to Brutus’ list:

- “Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol” (1962). My first exposure to Dickens’ classic tale – I was 9 – and in my opinion a good starting point. I watched a few hours ago via streaming.

- “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (1983). I grew up reading Carl Barks’ “duck” comics – great stuff – and a Christmas Carol with Scrooge McDuck seems so natural. Not bad. I hope they show it on network TV; I can’t justify subbing to Disney’s streaming service just for one special.

Every Christmas I also watch a couple of old stinkeroo movies: “Santa Claus” (1959 from Mexico) and “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” (1964 from the good old USA).

How about “Olive, the Other Reindeer”?

I do that too. But I don’t stop there. I also watch my favorite classic movies as well. They include, but are not limited to It Happened On 5th Avenue, The Man who Came To Dinner, Christmas In Connecticut and Holiday Inn.

Bought them on Dvd a few years ago so I can spend Christmas Day with all my favourite Christmas characters and memories,

Pretty much what I have on the TV while I wrap Christmas presents. :) Plus a few other Rankin/Bass Christmas specials.

a charlie brown christmas also features probably the best soundtrack of all time (RIP vince guaraldi)…

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058548/

Doesn’t everybody Brutus’s age?

He could have said Miracle on 34th st and The Bells of St Marys

The Year Without a Santa Claus. Can’t forget the misers!

yeah, my family still gets to visit them too.

Don’t forget Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol!

I spend an evening with Jack D! Very calming evening at this time of year.

I’d like to see, again, Miracle on 47th Street. I’ll have to see if that is on YouTube. I remember seeing The Ten Commandments during this time, I guess due Xmas’s closeness to Passover.

I remember seeing other films during the Xmas time. How about the classic Miracle on 47th Street or Scrooge (the movie). We often watched The Ten Commandments, possibly due to Xmas’s closeness to Passover.

Brutus my friend, so do I. My wife doesn’t, even though she is older than me and really should; not sure why though. Those will always be my Christmas friends and sometimes my spring and summer friends when I need a dose of Christmas Cheer……

Don’t forget Clarence the Angel! And Ralphie!

I do the same thing!

Now that is a winner! You are never too old?

I miss those childhood days also Brutus. Steps moved a little slower back then. Now everyone is rush rush rushing but doing nothing. Put the coffee on – I’ll join you kind soul.

My favorite is frosty the snowman.I watch it every year.

Someone is not being a born loser lately! During a pandemic, he is spending extra time in a happy, safe way, with his family.

Not to mention “White Christmas” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”

Brutus left out some old favorites: Jack Daniels, Haig & Haig, the Jameson’s, my Old Grand-Dad, my Pappy VanWinkle, and some of my crazy friends, known affectionately as The Wild Turkeys…. All great companions on a frosty December evening. ; )

Bru, I know you watch the YouTube video of Porky Pig singing “Blue Christmas”. No way you left that goldie out of your Merry Christmas.

Well it appears that Brutus at least has fond memories of his childhood.

…and “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town,” “The Year Without a Santa Claus,” and “The Little Drummer Boy.”

Good choices, Brutus. Enjoy them before some idiot finds a stupid reason to cancel them because they offend someone, somehow.

I’m 51 and those will always be my favourites.

And Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas, The Bells of Fraggle Rock, and Claymation Christmas as well.

I guess with streaming, it would be possible to watch all of them in one evening.

I own 6 different versions of ‘A Christmas Carol/Scrooge’. I watch them in December every year.

Me, too!

You’ll probably want to skip this if you ever want to watch Frosty the Snowman again (especially with any kids):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6p6LRtQ2WY&t=1215s

It took me years to realize it, but that must’ve been pretty scarring for that poor girl to sit there and watch him melt away like that :^(

Thank you, Brutus! I’m with you all the way!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I liked and identified with this particular strip so much that I cut it out and saved it when it appeared in 2019 ! The date between the first 2 frames was changed; but if you look between the 2nd and 3rd frames, it still says 2019. This is the 2nd time (that I’m aware of) that they’ve printed a “rerun”.