National Lampoon Productions
Only four new programs had their premieres this week in just two decades — two science-based series, and two Christmas specials that have not gone on to become holiday perennials. 1993 included a scientific series that was eventually hosted by a beloved TV actor, and an animated Christmas special that has been mostly forgotten today. 2003 had another scientific series, and a TV movie sequel set around a supporting character in a popular Christmas feature film. It too has not gone on to an annual holiday rotation. Check out the titles below and tell us if you remember any of them!
1953
- No new series premiered this week in 1953.
1963
- No new series premiered this week in 1963.
1973
- No new series premiered this week in 1973.
1983
- No new series premiered this week in 1983.
1993
- December 17 – Scientific American Frontiers (PBS, Fifteen seasons, 96 episodes)
- December 23 – A Cool Like That Christmas (FOX Kids, Animated holiday special)
Scientific American Frontiers was a companion to Scientific American magazine. The series was hosted by MIT professor Woodie Flowers until 1993, and then by Alan Alda until the series ended, and was then known as Alan Alda in Scientific American Frontiers. Alda got car sick while driving an experimental virtual reality vehicle, and while in the mountains of Chile experienced strangulation of his intestines which nearly killed him because of the remote location.
A Cool Like That Christmas was an animated holiday special that featured the voices of Tommy Davidson, T.K. Carter, Whoopi Goldberg, T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Phil LaMarr, Dawnn Lewis, Tone Loc, Ron Taylor and Reginald VelJohnson. Boyz II Men, Doctor Dré, Patrick Ewing, Orlando Jones and Ed Lover voiced themselves as animated characters.
2003
- December 20 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2 (NBC, Holiday TV movie)
- December 21 – Ancient Discoveries (History, Six seasons, 42 episodes)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2 is known by the longer title National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure, and features Randy Quaid and Miriam Flynn reprising their roles from the original 1989 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Dana Barron also reprised her role as Audrey Griswold from the original 1983 National Lampoon’s Vacation.
Michael Carroll narrated the first season of Ancient Discoveries, followed by Phil Crowley for the rest of the series. Season 3 was the first to be presented in a widescreen format on the History Channel.
2013
- No new series premiered this week in 2013.
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