Just Because...

And last photo posted for 2014

Classic Television - Special

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve

Original channel

NBC (1972–73)

ABC (1974–present)

Original run

December 31, 1972 – present

Presented by

Dick Clark (1974–2004, 2006–12)

Regis Philbin (2005)

Ryan Seacrest (2006–present)

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve is an annual television special that airs every New Year's Eve on ABC. The special broadcasts from New York City's Times Square, and prominently features coverage of its annual ball drop event, along with live and pre-recorded musical performances by popular acts from Times Square and Hollywood, respectively.

Its creator and namesake was entertainer Dick Clark, who conceived New Year's Rockin' Eve as a direct competitor to Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians' popular and long-running New Year's Eve broadcasts on CBS from the Waldorf-Astoria. Clark personally felt Lombardo's big band music skewed too old and did not appeal well to younger viewers, leading to his show putting a focus on pop music. The first two editions, which were hosted by Three Dog Night and George Carlin respectively, and featured Dick Clark assuming the role of Times Square reporter, were broadcast by NBC for 1973 and 1974 respectively. In 1974-75, the program moved to its current home of ABC, and Dick Clark assumed the role of host. Following the death of Guy Lombardo and the decline of the Royal Canadians' special, New Year's Rockin' Eve grew in popularity, and became ingrained in pop culture—even prompting Clark himself to make appearances on other programs in parody of his role. To this day, New Year's Rockin' Eve has remained the most highest rated of the New Year's specials broadcast on the United States' major television networks; its 2012 edition peaked at 22.6 million home viewers – not including viewers watching from public locations which are not measured by Nielsen.

Dick Clark would host the special annually from 1974 through 2004, interrupted only by special coverage of the year 2000 celebrations produced by ABC News—where Clark joined overall host Peter Jennings as a correspondent from Times Square. The complications of a stroke suffered by Clark in December 2004 had a major effect on his role in the special. Clark was replaced as host by Regis Philbin in 2005. Clark would return to the special beginning in 2006, but his participation was affected by a speech impediment that resulted from the stroke. Clark would cede hosting duties to Ryan Seacrest, although he continued to make limited appearances during the special. The death of Dick Clark on April 18, 2012 left Seacrest as the sole host of the special beginning with its 2012–13 edition.

Happy New Year, Bitches

Question of the Day...

How will you celebrate New Years Eve?

Bad postcards of the week:

The mystery of New Year's naughty gnomes

From: The Grand Rapid Press

OK, your guess is as good as mine.
But happy new year!

  What do three gnomes, a crescent moon and money bags have to do with New Year’s Day?

I’m hoping someone knows, because we have a mystery on our hands -- several of them, actually, when you count our wonderful reader contribution this week.

Apparently while we are all glued to the television complaining about the bands on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and waiting for the ball to drop in Times Square, a trio a rogue gnomes makes unauthorized withdrawals from the local branch of First Moon and Trust.

I stumbled across this bad postcard of three hoodlum gnomes caught in the act of swiping bags of, well, something from a crescent moon and loading them in a getaway sled.

And, in the course of their shenanigans, we are wished New Year’s greetings, which is nice.

A similar scene of mischief.

I do like the black and white checked shoes belonging to one of the gnomes, which means he is a member of a 1980s new wave band. He’s holding some sort of card with five red dots. Red dots also are on the bags.

While researching this presumed act of misbehavior, I found two similar postcards – but no answers.

Based on the other cards, the gnomes apparently can access the moon by rope or gangplank. Hello, NASA.

And a third. These guys are bus

 And, the moon has some kind of slot to place the five-dotted object – pretty handy – and icicles. And each of the bags is labeled with a 1,000. That could mean money, it could mean cookies. We just don’t know.

The cards seem to date from the early part of the 20th century, just like our peeping and cycling Santa and amorous ornaments. And, like those cards, the backs here reveal nothing other than instructions on where to write.

Somebody must know what the heck is going on here.

They're German hedgehogs. And they edit.

Reader contribution

Karen Sova of Saginaw must love a good mystery, too. She sent me two awesome postcards to share.

One appears to be made of leather and just didn’t scan well, so I apologize for not posting it.

The other is German, and I’m guessing from the 1950s. The back translates into “From the films of Gebruder Diehl and editorial hedgehog HOR ZUI"

I like the idea of editorial hedgehogs. But I’m not sure what’s going on here. I’m guessing that that lady editorial hedgehog is taking a nap in the hay, and her editor is gently reminding her that a deadline is fast approaching, and perhaps this would not be a good time to doze off.

It also explains why they removed hay piles and sticks from the newsroom a long time ago.

There’s German writing on the front of the card: “Was sich liebt, das neckt sich!” 

Google translates that to “The quarrel of lovers is the renewal of love.” Switching that to “Was sich neckt, das liebt sich” changes it to “Teasing is a sign of affection.”

Either way, German hedgehogs look like they’re pretty high maintenance. Thank you, Karen, for sharing!

...AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

SANTA’S HELPER

Photography by BT

Oh fuck, it’s Christmas again. Naughty BT from Melbourne, Florida has been sending in photos of his butt — in various jockstraps, with or without touches of leather, in a sassy tropical thong, posing in a cowboy hat, sporting little but a shamrock for Saint Patrick’s Day — from every angle imaginable since last summer. Today seemed like the right time to drop one of his holiday-themed butt shots.

Early Morning Men in Motion

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS

Lit

From:  Favorite Hunks & Other Things

For the first few years I was online it seemed the same old naked Santa shots were yanked out (like those ornament) each and every year. Thankfully things have changed! Talented artists light up FH with incredible imagery all year round but I want to especially thank all those who have provided so many great holiday themed images to the blog over the years. I know some find them cheesy and some photographers don't go near them, but... when done right, when done creatively, they like the holidays themselves, can be wonderful and bring much joy. 

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT THE MALL

Christmas Men in Motion

Old School Christmas: Mardi by Chris Teel

From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things

 December 24, 2013

Although winter only officially began on Saturday, those of us on the East coast know the snow, wind and ice began weeks ago. Sunday many were pelted with rain, snow, sleet and freezing rain. On the plus side, with the power out for several hours I finally got around to finish packing and wrapping gifts. Given I will also be away for a few days, (if the highway clears) I also finalized my Christmas Day posts for the blog.

Chris Teel was also without power for part of Sunday, Toronto was particularly hard hit by ice and freezing rain. Despite that, Chris was able to dig back into his archives and find this holiday themed shoot with Mardi. Chris's style has changed considerably in the close to five years since this shoot but I still really loved the joy, and sexiness captured in the shoot.

The look and feel of ornaments and decorations has certainly changed over the years. Glass has mostly morphed into plastic, candles are now mini lights, and quality, well made decorations are now built cheaply, made to turf and replace each year. The themes thankfully remain the same. Santa's and candy canes, Angels and lights and of course lots and lots of glitter! Beneath all the glitter however, when the Santa Suit is peeled off and the wings are removed sexy thankfully remains beautifully consistent! 

Chris Teel On Model Mayhem

 

Favorite Pic of the Day: December 23, 2007

From: Favorite Hunks & Other Things

EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT

I WANT THE WHOLE PACKAGE!

Pulp Fiction

Holiday Gay

That Man From C.A.M.P. Comes For Christmas!

By Don Holliday

Bad postcard of the week:

Santa's unsuccessful experimentation with other transportation options

From: The Grand Rapids Press

Santa experimented with other transportation options before deciding on a sleigh.

  It’s a little known fact that Santa didn’t always get around on Christmas Eve in a big red sleigh.

I know this because of this week’s bad postcard, a glorious linen card depicting St. Nick experimenting with other forms of transportation.

We see Santa fancying himself has a cyclist, trudging through the snow.

It looked like he’s being chased by two hooligans who are unhappy about being on the naughty list. They're chasing Santa down after discovering coal in their stocking.

Santa doesn't appear to be able to shake the well-dressed ruffians, probably because he’s weighed down by his heavy sack. He’s also not practicing safe cycling, for some reason trying to carry a small evergreen.

This probably didn’t end well for Santa.

The incident probably prompted the switch to flying reindeer. They’re high-maintenance, and you have to put up with all those reindeer games. But you never have to patch a flat tire.

 Plaque mysteries revealed! 

I’m sure you remember the bad postcard with two Kansas City parents and their toddler, whom we named “Little Harry,” gazing reverently at a plaque dedicated to the family of Harry S. Truman in the Truman Corners shopping center. Actually, Little Harry wasn't gazing reverently: He was expressing outrage.

 I mistakenly assumed the plaque was Harry with his wife and daughter, and two “mystery Trumans.” Well, I got Harry correct. The other floating heads belong to his parents, sister and brother.

I know this because a reader who likes to be known as “Suit & Tie Guy” sent me an early Christmas present.

“Hi. I was going through some old photos, and found this. Then after Googling to see what the shopping center was up to lately, I came on your ugly postcard post on MLive.com and thought you might like a copy of this photo.

I took this photo when I was there in 1999. My car had stranded me there and I was just walking around near the hotel I was staying at. This plaque amused the (heck) out of me; you should be able to read it now.

The plaque reads:

“Two boys, Harry S. Truman and J. Vivian Truman, and their sister Mary Jane Truman, once lived on, worked and ploughed the farmland on which this shopping center now stands. In the great American tradition, one boy went from these fields to become the president of the United States. The brother and sister became outstanding civic leaders. Now, in one lifetime, the farm again contributes to the great American dream of opportunity and progress by become the site of one of the nation’s finest shopping centers. Truman Corners Town and Country Shoppers’ City. Dedicated to the Truman family, the people of Greater Kansas City and all the United States. This could only happen in America.”

Suit & Tie Guy sent another photo showing us a little more of the shopping center, and, well, the ice cream store looks nice.

Classic Television - Special

The Great Santa Claus Switch

Original Network

CBS

Original Air Date

December 20, 1970

Narrator

Ed Sullivan

Starring

Art Carney

Muppet Performers

Jim Henson

Fran Brill

Richard Hunt

John Lovelady

Jerry Nelson

Frank Oz

Danny Seagren

The Great Santa Claus Switch was a Christmas special featuring Jim Henson's Muppets. It first aired on CBS on December 20, 1970. It was directed by John Moffitt, written by Jerry Juhl, with music by Joe Raposo and puppets by Don Sahlin.

The special, narrated by Ed Sullivan, begins at the North Pole with Santa Claus and his Christmas Elves getting ready for another Christmas. However, Cosmo Scam has hatched a plan to kidnap Santa and take his place. As part of the plan, Cosmo plans to abduct Santa's Christmas Elves one by one and replace them with his evil henchmen.

Hot, Hot, Hot Santa!

Scruffy “Freaker” Models Keep Our Liquids Insulated This Holiday Season

From: Queerty

Looking for a funky last minute stocking stuffer? We just discovered this new line of designer koozies. You know, those things that keep your beer bottle from sweating in hot weather?

 Freaker USA claims its products will keep your “liquids insulated in style.” That’s great, but we’re more interested in their scruffy male models. We can’t get enough of these beer drinking bad boys.