Hi, everyone!
At this time of year, it seems like a lot of people start to lose their spirits. The novelty of the new year has worn off and they start giving up on their resolutions. The holiday season has ended, but the cold weather and limited daylight remain.
Well, one thing I love to do on Jammin’ with Jamie is motivate you!
In fact, one of the best ways to get motivated is to have a song in your head, so with that in mind, let’s jam to…
Hi, everyone!
I’m ba-ack!
That’s right: Jammin’ with Jamie is back on the air on 89.3 WNUR FM every Saturday morning from 6:00 to 7:00 am!
It seems that we’re finally getting some winter weather!
But, after such a warm holiday season, it can be difficult to adjust to weather we would usually be used to by now.
So, how do we get into the season?
Don’t worry: I have a plan! Join me as we jam to…
Remember how I said I’d love to write more about Pee-wee Herman?
Well, here I am, doing just that!
Check out Pee-wee Herman’s official website!
Christmas (and the holiday season in general) is, obviously, about giving to others, especially those less fortunate than us. It’s also a time to reunite with friends and family. Mix generosity with friends and family, and you have the perfect recipe for craziness and fun. And who has more crazy fun than Pee-wee Herman?
So “come on in, and pull yourself up a chair,” because it’s time for…
Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (1988)!
I do not own any of the following images or videos!
Here’s a treat: a promo for the special from 1988! Check it out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9CHz-W9WAs
This is the perfect year to watch it, too: to get yourself ready for the premiere of Pee-wee’s Big Holiday in March on Netflix!
If you like Pee-wee Herman, you’ll love Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special! Not one bit of the show’s trademark anarchic insanity or subversive nature was sacrificed to create this double-length episode.
This special has everything you’d expect to see in a traditional Christmas special: guest stars galore, seasonal music, almost every Christmas/holiday/winter symbol you can think of, and even a reminder of why people celebrate Christmas in the first place.
If you need something to make you laugh, something to show to kids, or something to make you stand out when it’s your turn to pick in the Christmas movie marathon, look no further than Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special!
You’re invited to the coolest Christmas party EVER!
As with anything Pee-wee Herman-related, if you’ve never seen Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special before, it’s best to go into it without knowing too much about it. Think of it this way: would opening Christmas presents be as fun if you knew what every single gift was beforehand? The answer is no. The surprise is part of the fun!
Go watch Pee-wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special (which is streaming on Netflix), and then come back here to read the rest of this post.
Go. Now. Don’t worry: I’ll wait.
Spoilers lurk beyond this point!
I had so much fun writing about Halloween movies, I decided to extend the series and write about films perfect for Christmas/the holiday season! Most will probably be about Christmas, but I’m leaving myself wiggle room for other holidays and general winter movies.
Remember, these are not reviews: I’m writing about films and TV specials that I love and recommend.
My favorite Christmas movies generally have a nice mix of humor, fun, wackiness, and heart––– and some good music doesn’t hurt, either.
This first film has all of that, and more. Warm up your voices, because it’s time for…
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)!
By the way, if you like the Muppets, make sure you check out The Muppets on ABC!
I do not own any of the following images or videos!
Here’s the trailer:
I’m not sure why there’s music from Beetlejuice in the trailer, but it works.
I’m smiling already!
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Plot: Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy, bitter businessman, despises Christmas and all forms of kindness and charity; but this Christmas, he just might get a chance to redeem himself…
Spoilers lurk beyond this point!
It’s time to give yourself over to absolute pleasure, as we dive into the wonderfully weird and wacky world of…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)!
I do not own any of the following images or videos!
Here’s the trailer…
I found out about this movie by a strange coincidence. One of the mainstays of Six Flags’ Fright Fest every year is the family-friendly musical comedy monster mash, Love at First Fright. While the basic plot stays the same, jokes and references change every year, keeping the show fresh and just as fun and entertaining for veteran viewers as for newbies.
The musical numbers are all existing songs from various sources, so I knew most of them. But one of my favorite songs from the show remained a mystery. After the show, I asked one of the cast members where it was from. It turns out that it, as well as another song from the show, is from The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Which songs? I’ll reveal them later…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show is one of those movies that I bought and watched pretty much “blindly,” meaning that I knew almost nothing about it, other than the fact that it would have those two particular songs. Late one night a few years ago, I popped in the DVD and watched it for the very first time. I watched it alone, which in hindsight, was probably a good idea. Given my age at the time, watching it with my parents would’ve been really awkward.
The movie immediately hooked me with its tone and humor. In an instant, I was laughing and dancing along. A few scenes later, my jaw dropped. I found out that I was watching one of the funniest, weirdest, and most downright insane films I’d ever seen.
… And I loved every frame of it.
Here’s the basic, spoiler-free rundown…
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Plot: A clean-cut, newly engaged couple gets a flat tire on an abandoned road during a thunderstorm late at night and goes to a nearby castle in hopes of using a phone to call for help.
Villain(s): That would be a spoiler! It’s kind of up for interpretation, anyway.
Scare Factor: This movie is so ridiculously fun that the few minimal scares are more humorous than nightmare-inducing.
Gore Factor: The gore’s pretty minimal.
Family-Friendly Factor: If your family has members that are teenaged or older, then you can probably watch this one together. There’s a fair amount of swearing, though most of it’s pretty mild. In case you’re a complete Rocky Horror “virgin,” there’s a lot of sexual content.
VERY different…
ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK! Spoilers lurk beyond this point!
Hi, everyone!
Our final Jammin’ with Jamie jam session is this Saturday, June 13, from 6:00 to 9:00 am!
Well… here we are.
From the instant I found out I was going to be on the air for the first time in October 2011––– before the show was even called Jammin’ with Jamie––– I knew the show would have an end date.
I expected the end date to be “as soon as someone other than my parents heard my voice on an audio-only medium.”
I had to re-apply for my slot three times a year, so for a while, there was also the possibility that someone else would get the slot.
But at this point, I’m moving on to a new chapter in my life. I’m filled with that trademark mix of excitement and worry that comes every time you embark on a new start––– something I always encourage you Jammers to do on my show, making sure I always give you the proper motivational melodies to get stuck in your head and give you that extra push when you need it.
I want to assure all of you: the last time I sign off of Jammin’ with Jamie isn’t the last you’ll hear from me. In fact, it’s just the beginning. Make sure you keep checking this website, my Twitter, and my YouTube account, and we can keep up with each other’s adventures together!
So with that, I give you our final Jammin’ with Jamie jam session theme. Are you ready?
Hi, everyone!
Our final Jammin’ with Jamie jam session will be Saturday, June 13, from 6:00 to 9:00 am!
After four amazing years, our wonderful Jammin’ with Jamie ride is slowly coming to an end.
I know what you’re thinking: First Letterman leaves, then Jon Stewart, now Jamie?! What is the world coming to?!
Well, the last time I sign off of Jammin’ with Jamie isn’t the last you’ll hear from me. In fact, it’s just the beginning. Make sure you keep checking this website, my Twitter, and my YouTube account, and we can keep up with each other’s adventures together!
I love so much about doing Jammin’ with Jamie. One of the things I love is getting to share the music I love with all you Jammers out there!
So now that the end (for now) is in sight, I think it’s high time we put as many of them as we can together and jam to…
Hi, everyone!
Jammin’ with Jamie will be two hours this week! We’ll be jammin’ from 6:00 to 8:00 am!
In case you missed my announcement last week, after four amazing years, Jammin’ with Jamie is, unfortunately, coming to an end. Including this week, we have three precious jam sessions left together.
Our final Jammin’ with Jamie jam session will be Saturday, June 13.
As for this week’s theme…
For students and everyone else involved in education, the school year is coming to an end, if it hasn’t already. It’s the time when everyone scatters to go home, go on vacation, move someplace new, or even just explore a different part of town.
Whether you know where you’re headed this summer or not, jam with us as we go on a musical road trip through a set of…
Hi, everyone!
It may not feel like it, but believe it or not, it’s almost June!
Everyone has his/her/their favorite summer activities. Unfortunately, while it is getting warmer, it’s still not quite warm enough for many of these activities.
But we all should still stock up on sunscreen, keep our shorts at the ready, and know where our towels are (in true Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fashion!), because suddenly, it’ll be 100 degrees and humid outside!
So of course, we’re going to use this jam session to prepare for just that. Imagine how great it’ll be when you walk out all decked out in summer gear and ready for fun while everyone else is still shocked and adjusting to seeing the sun again, and all because you jammed with us to…
Hi, everyone!
Even though it may not feel like it, it is indeed officially spring!
Spring is one of those times when it seems like everything gets the chance to start new––– trees’ leaves grow back, flowers start blooming again, and animals are running around outside again, many with new families!
So this week, we’re going to expand our audience to welcome our animal friends and shake our tail feathers to…