Merry Christmas!

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Merry Christmas!" on Jill on Money with Jill Schlesinger

Release Date: December 25, 2024

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Introduction to the Holiday Episode

In the special holiday edition of "Jill on Money with Jill Schlesinger," host Jill Schlesinger joins co-hosts Mark T. McGowan and Theo McGowan for a festive conversation celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah. Straying from the usual financial topics, the episode focuses on holiday traditions, favorite movies, and personal anecdotes, providing listeners with a warm and engaging seasonal experience.

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Holiday Greetings and Festive Cheer

Mark T. McGowan opens the episode with a cheerful welcome, acknowledging the unique convergence of Christmas and Hanukkah:

"It's a very odd thing about today being Christmas. It's one of those strange confluences where it's both Christmas and Hanukkah at the same time."
[02:00]

The hosts exchange warm holiday wishes, emphasizing the spirit of the season. Jill Schlesinger joins in the festive mood, sharing her plans and extending greetings to listeners.

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Favorite Holiday Movies and Traditions

The conversation naturally shifts to beloved holiday films, sparking a lively discussion about classics and personal favorites.

Charlie Brown Christmas Mark expresses his fondness for the timeless classic:

"My absolute favorite Christmas show is a Charlie Brown Christmas."
[02:17]

Holiday Inn and White Christmas Mark reminisces about the vintage charm of "Holiday Inn" and the iconic "White Christmas" song:

"Holiday Inn is like an old Bing Crosby Fred Astaire movie where the premise is that there is a little inn in Connecticut where they're only open on holidays and they do these great musical numbers."
[03:03]

He humorously notes some outdated aspects of the film but acknowledges its enduring legacy, particularly the beloved "White Christmas" song.

Wicked and Paddington Mark shares his excitement about current and upcoming holiday movies:

"I really want to go see Wicked."
[04:08]

Theo mentions his recent experience watching "Wicked" with his child, highlighting the challenges of introducing young ones to longer films:

"The end is a little scary for a five-year-old."
[04:10]

They also discuss "Paddington," a family-friendly film that has captured Theo's affection:

"Paddington, which he loves."
[04:35]

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Personal Holiday Experiences

The hosts delve into their personal holiday traditions and experiences, adding a relatable and heartfelt dimension to the episode.

Mark T. McGowan shares a touching memory from the original Broadway cast of "Wicked":

"I cried. Jackie and I were the only people there who didn't have children. We stood up at the end of the first act, bouncing up on our feet crying and shrieking. We were so happy."
[04:50]

This anecdote underscores the emotional impact that holiday performances can have, fostering a sense of community and shared joy.

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Closing Holiday Wishes

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts reiterate their holiday greetings, blending humor with heartfelt sentiments.

Mark humorously advises moderation in celebrating Hanukkah:

"Remember, gang, Hanukkah is not that big a holiday. Don't go crazy with it."
[05:43]

Theo adds his own warm wishes:

"Happy holidays to everybody."
[05:43]

Mark wraps up the episode with gratitude towards the listeners:

"Have a wonderful holiday. Have a great day, and we are delighted and grateful for you, and thank you so much for listening."
[05:58]

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Notable Moments and Quotes

• Mark on Holiday Confluences
  "It's both Christmas and Hanukkah at the same time."
  [02:00]

• Favorite Christmas Show
  "My absolute favorite Christmas show is a Charlie Brown Christmas."
  [02:17]

• Reflections on "Holiday Inn"
  "Holiday Inn is like an old Bing Crosby Fred Astaire movie... but some of the numbers are really bad."
  [03:03]

• Excitement for "Wicked"
  "I really want to go see Wicked."
  [04:08]

• Emotional Broadway Moment
  "We bounced up on our feet crying and shrieking. We were so happy."
  [04:50]

• Final Holiday Wishes
  "Happy holidays to everybody."
  [05:43]

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Conclusion

"Merry Christmas!" offers a delightful departure from the usual financial discourse, enveloping listeners in the warmth and joy of the holiday season. Through heartfelt conversations, nostalgic reflections, and shared laughter, Jill Schlesinger and her co-hosts create a memorable episode that celebrates the essence of the holidays, making it a perfect listen for anyone seeking festive cheer.

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For more insightful discussions and financial advice, tune in to "Jill on Money with Jill Schlesinger" on Audacy. Have a happy and financially savvy holiday season!

Transcript

[Jill Schlesinger]

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[Mark T. McGowan]

Welcome to the Jill on Money show. It's Wednesday, December 25th. Hey, Mark. A very odd thing about today being Christmas. It's one of those strange confluences where it's both Christmas and Hanukkah at the same time. So that's kind of interesting and fun.

[Theo McGowan]

Oh.

[Jill Schlesinger]

Oh, gosh.

[Mark T. McGowan]

We're not doing a real show today, are we? No, no, no. I mean, I hope they didn't sell too much advertising against this show, but it's just fun for us to come in your ear and talk to you else. As everybody now knows, my absolute favorite Christmas show is a Charlie Brown Christmas.

[Theo McGowan]

Oh. As we record this, it's obviously not Christmas. We're recording this ahead of time. But last night, Theo watched the whole.

[Mark T. McGowan]

Episode and he liked it.

[Theo McGowan]

He enjoyed it.

[Mark T. McGowan]

Okay, good, good. I'm so happy. That makes me feel so good. What about a Christmas movie? What about that? Is this like a It's a Wonderful Life for you, Mark, or what now? What do you.

[Theo McGowan]

This is gonna sound very cliche, but.

[Mark T. McGowan]

If you say A Christmas Story, I'm gonna kill you.

[Theo McGowan]

No, but that's a good one. No, it's nothing you're thinking of, but it's this time of year. One day or another, at some point, we will have on love, actually.

[Mark T. McGowan]

Oh, that's a cute movie.

[Jill Schlesinger]

That is a good movie.

[Theo McGowan]

Love it.

[Mark T. McGowan]

All right. I have a movie that is, I think, maybe been canceled. I'm just gonna tell you. I'm not kidding you. And it's called Holiday Inn. It's like an old Bing Crosby Fred Astaire movie where the premise is that there is a little inn in Connecticut where they're only open on holidays and they do these. These great musical numbers. Unfortunately, some of the numbers are really bad. And like, one of them is like these, you know, two white talented guys in blackface, which is probably not great. So I don't even know if it can be found anymore. It may be kind of scrubbed from the universe, and maybe it's just White Christmas. The song White Christmas premiered in the movie Holiday Inn. And so then it was actually a whole other movie with Rosemary Clooney. Okay, too much information for you. Are you going to see any movies during the holidays?

[Jill Schlesinger]

I hope to. I have.

[Mark T. McGowan]

I really want to go see Wicked.

[Theo McGowan]

Oh, we just saw that.

[Mark T. McGowan]

And it was too long for you, right?

[Theo McGowan]

We went again as we record this. We went the last weekend we took Theo. It was his first movie theater experience. It was a long movie. It was, you know, almost three hours.

[Mark T. McGowan]

Yeah, that's too long.

[Theo McGowan]

He got through it. He wasn't. He wasn't crazy about it because the end. The end is a little scary for a five year old.

[Mark T. McGowan]

Yes. Okay, interesting. So, I mean, we'll see how he does a year from now, I guess.

[Theo McGowan]

Yeah, I mean, we're gonna go take him to see the. The. The next Lion King is coming out and Paddington, which he loves. Paddington.

[Mark T. McGowan]

So I like Paddington myself. A nice bear. Also, maybe this means you should go see Wicked on Broadway.

[Jill Schlesinger]

That's a possibility.

[Theo McGowan]

Perhaps.

[Mark T. McGowan]

Perhaps that's a good one to see. I would go and Joe would take him to that. I love that. I love that show so much, I cried. Jackie and I were the only people. They were in the original cast. We were the only people there who didn't have children. We stood up at the end of the first act, by the way, the first act is where your movie just ended and defying gravity is the, you know, sort of the. The curtain at the end of the first act, we bounced up on our feet crying and shrieking. We were so happy. So, you know, that's. That's how we roll, baby. All right, listen, it's Christmas Day. Enjoy yourself. I got lasagna to serve. I got a whole family coming. I got friends coming. I got a nice group of 12, Mark, so that's an easy one for me. And I wish everybody a merry Christmas and a happy Hanukkah. Remember, gang, Hanukkah is not that big a holiday. Don't go crazy with it. Okay? Anything else you need to say before we sign off here, Mark?

[Theo McGowan]

Nope. Happy holidays to everybody.

[Mark T. McGowan]

Can you say it in. Chris, can you please say Christmas? Bona natale? How about in Chinese?

[Theo McGowan]

I don't know. I don't know. You got me on that one. Where's Theo?

[Mark T. McGowan]

Theo? Where's Theo? We'll find out. Anyway, gang, have a wonderful holiday. Have a great day, and we are delighted and grateful for you, and thank you so much for listening. We'll talk to you tomorrow.

[Sharon McMahon]

Hey, friends, I'm Sharon McMahon, host of here's Where It Gets Interesting. Each week, I speak with authors, experts, and thought leaders on everything from American history and democracy to how to be a better person on the Internet. And don't miss my extremely popular docu series, which educate you on things you never learned in history class. Follow and listen to here's Where It Gets Interesting on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.