I got some e-mails over the weekend from readers wondering if the Calendar's actually going to get done on time. Well, YES -- because if it doesn't get done on time, I know I'll never do it at all. (see: last year) I do it at my own pace because I'll hate the results if I don't, but I think we're on target. Just a few more days to go...and good lord, I still have a shitload of Christmas crap I haven't even touched upon yet. To tell you the truth, the Playmobil side didn't seem that attractive to me when I started this year's calendar, but it's really grown on me. I hope Playmobil shits out a new one next year, because I'd hate for our story to end this Christmas.
REPLIES: 60 comments
That's the coolest christmas tree I've ever seen. My family opted for the 'distuingished' kind, so basically only red and silver balls, and yellow lights. It's probably the most depressing tree we ever had. Thanks for sharing Matt, now I can pretend ours looks like that!
Chestnuts roasted by David @ 12/22/2003 08:40 AM EST
Nooooo!!
How could she do it!?
They melted Mr.Snowman!!! Please say that hat can pull a Frosty and bring him back, Matt!
Chestnuts roasted by Melissa @ 12/22/2003 08:52 AM EST
Oh my god Mista Snowman MISTA SNOWMAN!!!
Man, I haven't had a grin like this on my face since that brain eating stuff in Hannibal...
Chestnuts roasted by David @ 12/22/2003 09:02 AM EST
Long time reader, first time poster...Is that tree as tilty in real life as it looks in the photo? Looks like it's about to topple! That would be a bummer...shards of festive glass everywhere....
Chestnuts roasted by B-Dawg @ 12/22/2003 09:17 AM EST
The TMNT and Grover ornaments kick ass!
Chestnuts roasted by J-Dog @ 12/22/2003 09:29 AM EST
What an awesome tree. Mine is somewhat similar, except it still manages to stand upright. It's actually LOADED with ornaments my sister and I made as a child. One is a Santa Claus that looks all too similar to Hitler. Which is ironic, since I'm half Jewish. But nothing says Christmas like a completely loaded Christmas tree. :)
Chestnuts roasted by alice1drland @ 12/22/2003 10:05 AM EST
NOT MISTAR SNOWMAN!!!! NOOOOOOOOOO!
Chestnuts roasted by Orko @ 12/22/2003 10:09 AM EST
what is up w/ me and posting number 8. maybe that's my lucky number. hell anything to do w/ x-e updates is lucky... I LVOE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT!
Chestnuts roasted by brandon @ 12/22/2003 10:42 AM EST
Looks like my tree, exact bubble lights and all. Did any of yours go out? I lost two already, or they were out when I put them on. Who knows?
Chestnuts roasted by Matt (#2?) @ 12/22/2003 10:42 AM EST
Shock and awe...my roommate had been asking about the further Playmobil adventures. I got her up to date last night and now I have to report that Mista Snowman is a puddle trapped in a bottle? I think he wrote a message on that little slip of paper. In a way, maybe it is for the best. After all, Mista was hollowed out, according to the pictures of him on the sled. It's no doubt due to the harsh treatment to that point.
Matt, your tree looks like it is burdened with several hundred pounds of decorations :) Cool. I personally don't care when the calendar gets finished. As long as we find out what happens at the end. I hope it's violent :)
Chestnuts roasted by Killer Duck @ 12/22/2003 10:43 AM EST
Shock and awe, indeed...just PLEASE don't let this turn into some kind of cheesy 80's movie in which Mare realizes the error of her ways and has some kind of miracle epiphany.
An enraged Mark killing Mare and M.B., then making another Mista Snowman out of "Christmas Snow" a la Frosty the Snowman...
(but then, we've no clue what's in those last six Playmobil boxes...)
Chestnuts roasted by Monster Dog @ 12/22/2003 11:20 AM EST
Sheeshs, thats treez seeemms strights ta meigh. alll of yous is warng itellya. Thaz the bestes treee in da whole whirrled./
Chestnuts roasted by Jimmboughw @ 12/22/2003 11:23 AM EST
My tree has 450 lights and 37 beer cans on it.
Still working on the beer cans.
Chestnuts roasted by spazzamatic @ 12/22/2003 11:36 AM EST
Uhh, Mark drank some of Mista S., guys. I sense mutation on the way. Unless Mista is like JACK FROST TH' KILLA SNOWMAN!! eep! I think one more kid is about to show up, or Santa. Two main Marvel Universe rules: Only Bucky stays dead, and Unless you see a body, no one dies. (and that one is more of a guideline.)
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/22/2003 12:15 PM EST
i dont know guys "cheesy 80's" is kinda what matt's all about i'd say the story will conclude on a somewhat heart waming note
Chestnuts roasted by Scourge @ 12/22/2003 12:41 PM EST
maybe the animals will avenge the demise of their non human companion?
Mare is evil, but i think mysterious boy is just misguided.
Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 12/22/2003 02:01 PM EST
Mista Snowman is d...d..dead? NOOO! BOO! HISS!
Chestnuts roasted by Rob @ 12/22/2003 02:02 PM EST
Orange County Tree??? I want a tree like in FoxTrot last Sunday, or at least a Lidless Eye topper. Once, as a child (not the socially retarded, emotionally stunted, immature adult you now see before you) We cut out ornaments from a box of Sugar Crisp. 'Twas a beau'iful fing, it was, until the cat got 'em. Hoo-Hah!
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/22/2003 02:29 PM EST
Mista Snowman? Noooooo! How could she do that?
Chestnuts roasted by Paul @ 12/22/2003 02:39 PM EST
You have a half-pint microwave, don't you? I recognize those buttons....that evil, evil snowman killing machine.
Chestnuts roasted by Celandine Midori @ 12/22/2003 02:39 PM EST
MOO FAMILY CHRISTMAS MOOFAMILYCHRISTMAS!!! i hate the moo family christmas
Just had to vent there. Sorry.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/22/2003 03:04 PM EST
The Kids' Cuisine thing should have used buffalo meat instead of chicken. That way, when you decided to write the name of the meat over and over again, you'd be forming actual sentences.
Chestnuts roasted by gmfbrown @ 12/22/2003 03:07 PM EST
Mutation...mmmmmmm...mutant snowman water. Maybe Bird the Evil Crow will peck everyone's eyes out in an amazing display of solidarity with his now liquid acquaintance. I thought Mark was going to fall through the lake that Mare sent him too so I'm pretty surprised.
Am I the only person who thought as a kid that the ghost of Christmas present in A Christmas Carol was really the Ghost of Christmas Presents? I never understood what was so bad about a ghost who gave gifts. Then again, my older sister tried to convince me that on the Christmas episodes of the Brady Bunch, Mrs. Brady changed her name to CHristmas Carol so I used to be gullible.
Chestnuts roasted by Killer Duck @ 12/22/2003 03:23 PM EST
Buffalo meat sounds good to me, but I'm Native American. Eat any animal that has poor eyesight and can turn a bus over with little effort, that's my philosphy. That, and National Lampoon's "Deteriorata."
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/22/2003 03:56 PM EST
cool tree. i have one of those clip on santas near the top of my tree too. impressive.
oh, and i love your site.
Chestnuts roasted by allie @ 12/22/2003 03:59 PM EST
Well, the untimely death of Mista Snowman certainly killed the buzz I got from seeing the Flintstones ad a couple of days ago. I'm all for the Christmas spirit and caring for your fellow man, but I can't say i'd be disappointed to see Mare beheaded sometime before this Advent Calender saga ends.
Chestnuts roasted by Goggles Pisano @ 12/22/2003 04:59 PM EST
On the 8th day of Christmas my jilted ex-lover gave to me 5 burning sores on my crotch.
Chestnuts roasted by Yankee Clipper @ 12/22/2003 05:04 PM EST
Holy crap, that must be the most loaded down Christmas tree I've ever seen. I think you have more lights on your tree than the Griswalds had on their house. Hail to the king, baby!
Chestnuts roasted by HuggyBear @ 12/22/2003 05:21 PM EST
If Playmobil only made the two advents, maybe next year Matt can mix'n'match to make his own all new one. Then again, that would mean we would be subjected to more Mare than any X-E poster should be exposed to.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/22/2003 05:28 PM EST
ahah, drinking Mista Snowman. how funny is that?
oh... but, wait... does that mean he's not coming back? no more happy snowman?!? FOREVER? perhaps he could be resurrected as a Christmas Miracle. excuse me, as a Winter Holiday Miracle.
Chestnuts roasted by zann @ 12/22/2003 06:45 PM EST
Haha oh my god, that was great. It's like that episode of South Park where Scott Tenorman sells Cartman his pubes and as payback Cartman tricks him into eating chili made from his parents. Hey Matt, have you ever tried your hand at cult leadership? I think there are enough regular posters on here to start a commune.
Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 12/22/2003 06:57 PM EST
Killer Duck, I was just saying to my friend yesterday as I was watching the Christmas Carol that when I was little I thought the he was the ghost of Christmas presents. Especially since he was the most jolly one and he has all that food. I just assumed he gave food as presents. I never saw the whole thing so I didn't know there were ghost of past and future. I never saw what the big deal of the Christmas Carol was, it was just a ghostly Santa Claus. I guess that is all about being a kid though, your mind automatically goes to PRESENTS!! Thank you so much, I thought I was the only freak that thought that. I feel better that there are others like me!
Chestnuts roasted by Y2JB78 @ 12/22/2003 06:58 PM EST
Matt, do you have any tree under all those ornaments?
I've seen most of the candy at the small Acme where I work. It's very basic stuff. I don't know about the Gobstoppers or the Junior Mints, but I have seen the York Peppermint Patty snowflake and the Disney/Crunch medallions in the last 22 days. I'm a fan of peppermint patties anyway (that low-fat thing comes in handy at this time of year), so I'd have to say the snowflakes rule.
So, Miss Mare and her man has nuked Mark's dearly beloved Mista Snowman. However, take a good look at that sleigh. What Christmas icon drives a sleigh? (And no, this is not a trick question.)
I think poor Mista Snowman may have himself a merry little Christmas after all. And where the heck are the animals?
Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 12/22/2003 08:59 PM EST
What we need is Mysterious Boy regaining his memory and turning against Mare, or a hotter, good girl to rescue him, or both. I'm guessing the sleigh driver based on the box cover, and I hope he buries Mare in coal!
And now, a moment of silence for Mista L. Snowman.
...
...
...
We can only hope that Christmas is indeed a time for miracles. And being a Christian, I believe it is, so let's all pray (or whatever you atheists do--and that's a joke, son!:) that the "L" stands for Lazuras. And that I spelled Lazuras right. :)
Chestnuts roasted by ShadowWing the Technorganic Reindeer @ 12/22/2003 09:20 PM EST
Y2J-this is not the first time we've thought alike...scary. I think maybe Mista Snowman's leftovers should be frozen into an ice puddle and then Mare falls and breaks her neck. Damn, that sounds too much like the Wonder Twins from the old Super Friends show. The girl always turned into some kind of animal and the boy could only take water forms. Then the damn moneky would have to get a bucket to carry the boy around in. Too funny.
Chestnuts roasted by Killer Duck @ 12/22/2003 10:05 PM EST
hehe...listened to the ren & stimpy christmas album last night. it is officially christmas time for me!
Listen to it every year. Great songs! Hilarious too! Hard to review since it's audio though, so it probably wont be on the site. :(
Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 12/22/2003 10:07 PM EST
Hahahahaha! I remember the wonder twins and the stinkin monkey too! The girl would never turn into what I wanted her to turn into though. It was always some animal that made no sense for the current situation.
Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 12/22/2003 10:10 PM EST
Your tree looks like mine when my family actually puts an effort in getting all the oranments out of the garage. Last year we really just decorated our tree with things around the house. I put pokemon toys and my little ponies in the tree.
Chestnuts roasted by pikachulover @ 12/22/2003 11:01 PM EST
Heeloyd, no shit like she'd turn into a damn gorilla or an elephant and as an elephant she'd use her trunk to suck up her brother the water and squirt him at the bad guys. And the animal was always shades of purple. Thing is, it was the one things kids mimicked all the time at school. The dumbass fist punch/ring thing and, "Wonder Twins power activate!" Though my friend and I always mimicked scenes from the movie Airplane! and stayed away from the other kids a lot. You never realize how twisted your childhood actually was until you start to tell strangers about it.
Chestnuts roasted by Killer Duck @ 12/22/2003 11:37 PM EST
That South Park episode hit me too while reading the Playmobil update.
And all I can say is "Please God no!!!! Not Mista!!!"
I hope this turns out well
Chestnuts roasted by Spiffy McKracken @ 12/23/2003 12:08 AM EST
that tree is the coolest ever. i wanna put heaps of christmas crap on mine when i get my own house..... no one else is into the x mas spirit like me in my house. i had to actually go out and get tinsel myself.:-/
Chestnuts roasted by Rachel Cakes @ 12/23/2003 12:50 AM EST
NOOOOO!!!....
Man...Mista Snowman....
Where did you go wrong?...
*music starts playing*
(to the tune of "The Cheat is Not Dead" from Strong Bad Email "Caper")
Poor Mista Snowmaaaan...(uh!)
Got nuked by Satan's daughter...(uh!)
Cooked in the microwaaaave....(uh!)
Now he's just a bottle of water!
Drank by Mark Winninghaaaam!
But I dont' believe he is dead!
Mista Snowman's not deaaaad! (clap!)
Don't think Mista Snowman is dead!
Mista Snowman's not deaaaad!
(clap!)
Don't think Mista Snowman is dead!
Mista Snowman's not deaaad!
(Dead!)
Don't think Mista Snowman is dead!
Mista Snowman's not deaaaad!
(Dead!)
Don't think Mista Snowman is dead!
Just the claps!
Just the claps!
Chestnuts roasted by The Dragon @ 12/23/2003 01:05 AM EST
Well hell, The Dragon, that's friggin clever as hell :)
I never heard of the song or group but damned if your version didn't bring a tear to my eye all the same...well, it actually didn't but I still liked it :)
Chestnuts roasted by Killer Duck @ 12/23/2003 02:41 AM EST
Hey Matt, A Little To The Left
Chestnuts roasted by Big Will @ 12/23/2003 04:56 AM EST
Does anybody else wonder what Playmobil would think of the countdown?
Chestnuts roasted by D @ 12/23/2003 07:43 AM EST
Just finished exams and I've been catching up on the advent calendar story. I need closure, here. I want Mista Snowman's memory avenged with the business end of a Playmobil hockey stick.
Hey Matt, the little green house sitting near the bottom centre of your Xmas tree looks like it came from the same Christmas village set we had when I was growing up. I'm such a sucker for Christmas village sets: when I help my friends set up their Xmas decorations, they always humour me and let me do the Xmas village. My favourite set is the one that has the gun turrets. . .to take aim at Santa Clause, I guess. . .
Chestnuts roasted by Molten @ 12/23/2003 10:03 AM EST
Duck, great minds think alike! If we didn't all think alike I don't think so much of our lives would revolve around this damn site!
"Dah e-mail, dah e-mail, ooh ohh dah e-mail." Dragon, are you Trogdar's long lost brother.
"I said consummate S's!"
Chestnuts roasted by Y2JB78 @ 12/23/2003 10:15 AM EST
Killer Duck- about the song that The Dragon posted. It's not an actual group but a HILarious online animated cartoon. I'm a HUGE fan. Go to: www.homestarrunner.com , click on Toons, then click on Features and go to Strong Bad e-mail. I've stayed up until 2 in the morning watching those things. It's guaranteed hilarity. Enjoy!
Chestnuts roasted by alice1drland @ 12/23/2003 10:19 AM EST
As for The Dragon--you rock man. GoooOOOOO DUMPLES!
Chestnuts roasted by alice1drland @ 12/23/2003 10:20 AM EST
So, who do you think would win in a fight, Matt or StrongBad? Matt has the hight advantage, but SB is a fiesty one. Still, I'll go with Matt, he would make SB tap to the devastating Cobra Comander Clutch
Chestnuts roasted by Goodolwt @ 12/23/2003 11:13 AM EST
Santa, Paulie, and Bird, when there's an avenging to be had, these three are on the case, and in your face! This is gonna be a X-Mas dream come true, with hockey sticks, amnesia, black birds o'doom, dogs wearing saddles, and some good old fashioned wrestling holds. Just save me a ringside for this holiday ham-and-egger, and I'll bring the clown hammers.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/23/2003 11:48 AM EST
ya know this has nothing to do w/ the rest of these posts, but who give a rats ass right? I was just going over my favorite articles under the 3 year anniversary links and read the original green bamboo peanut, then realized a link a the top for "previous article" It was a review of "Small Wonder" a horrible 80's sitcom about a little girl robot. http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/9.html the review is a great look at the improvements Matt has made to his writing style and the site. I'm gonna go see if I can get any earlier articles!
Chestnuts roasted by brandon @ 12/23/2003 12:01 PM EST
ok, the earliest article accessable is http://www.x-entertainment.com/messages/3.html "Cereals you never knew existed" you know I think I remember reading this when it was still kinda new
Chestnuts roasted by brandon @ 12/23/2003 12:04 PM EST
Brandon don't forget you can use the Internet Archive:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/x-entertainment.com
Alf is back for a new TV show:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=797&ncid=762&e=8&u=/eo/20031223/en_tv_eo/13155
Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 12/23/2003 12:10 PM EST
Alice, thanks for the link, I'll have to check it out.
Ever rub the business sides of two CDs together? It's strangely satifsying until they get too scratched up.
Chestnuts roasted by Killer Duck @ 12/23/2003 12:45 PM EST
Killer Duck, no problem. Always willing to share the joy. 'Tis the season, right? And no, sadly, I've not experienced the "wickee wickee wah" of the CD rubbage...someday I'll have to try that.
Chestnuts roasted by alice1drland @ 12/23/2003 12:53 PM EST
Ah, yes. The days when X-E was called Subvulture and Matt was called MacBeth... I don't remember those days. Did I even internet back then? I'll have to check my records. For that matter, what did I have for breakfest today?
Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Mr. Mr. @ 12/23/2003 01:01 PM EST
yes I remember the web archive, I just like going there for direct links...btw there was a broken link for the Small wonder theme song. I was wrongly curious, so I searched it out on Google, to find this http://www.classictvhits.com/showcards/smallwonder/Theme1.mp3 may those of you who download it, I hope you're deaf before hand, cuz you'll dig your ears out w/ a baseball after you hear it.
Chestnuts roasted by brandon @ 12/23/2003 01:02 PM EST
What kind of decorations do you guys have up around the collective domicile? I've had to climb aout the front porch like an overweight Spiderman so Ma could have her lights up and the inflatable bear ready to greet my bro when he came home. Only family can make you risk your neck, ya dig?
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 12/23/2003 02:03 PM EST
I put up the Christmas chimp this year. I usually let my brothers cousin's uncle do it, but this year it was a special thing. Good times.
Chestnuts roasted by Frankomatic @ 12/23/2003 05:01 PM EST
Two more updates on the Advent Calendar -- 
