The Holidays always feature a number of TV “Specials” and 2024 is no different. I watched A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter on Netflix and An Evening With Dua Lipa on CBs (and streaming on Paramount+).

Sabrina Carpenter blends traditional Christmas songs and new original songs to give her Christmas Special a unique flavor. Clearly, Sabrina is having fun for the whole 50 minutes.

A Nonsense Christmas has a retro feel to it. Sprinkled in amid the songs are scenes of Sabrina backstage talking directly to the camera. There are plenty of duets and “guest stars,” too! If you’re in the mood for a fun Christmas Special, A Nonsense Christmas is worth watching and singing along with! GRADE: B

SONG LIST:

buy me presents by Sabrina Carpenter Lyrics 

It’s the Most Nonsense Time Of The Year by Sabrina Carpenter Lyrics

This Christmas (Hang All The Mistletoe) by Tyla & Sabrina Carpenter Lyrics

santa doesn’t know you like i do by Sabrina Carpenter Lyrics

Santa Baby by Shania Twain & Sabrina Carpenter Lyrics

What Do I Get My Brother-In-Law? by Sabrina Carpenter (Ft. Jillian Bell & Kyle Mooney) Lyrics

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by Kali Uchis & Sabrina Carpenter Lyrics

Last Christmas by Sabrina Carpenter & Chappell Roan Lyrics

cindy lou who by Sabrina Carpenter Lyrics 

A Nonsense Christmas by Sabrina Carpenter

An Evening With Dua Lipa— the English and Albanian singer– is a musical extravaganza! Dua Lipa is accompanied on stage of Royal Albert Hall by a 53-piece orchestra and musicians related to the artist, notably the Heritage Orchestra conducted by Ben Foster. This 90-minute performance features Dua Lipa’s hits like “Houdini” and “Levitating.”

The crowd loved the duet with Elton John singing “Cold Heart.” Between some of the songs, Dua Lipa talks about her musical influences and the trajectory of her amazing career. I liked the S–shaped catwalk that looped around Royal Albert Hall that provided a launching pad for Dua Lipa’s dancers. If you’re looking for an entertaining musical experience, An Evening With Dua Lipa delivers! Do you have a favorite Holiday TV special? GRADE: B+

SONG LIST:

1.	“Overture”	Ben Foster Charles Monneraud William Bowerman	1:46
2.	“End of an Era”	Dua Lipa Kevin Parker Danny L Harle Caroline AilinTobias Jesso Jr.	3:59
3.	“Houdini“	LipaParkerHarleAilinJesso	3:56
4.	“Training Season“	Lipa Parker Harle Ailin Jesso Nick Gale Martina Sorbara Shaun Frank Yaakov Gruzman Steve Mastroianni	3:40
5.	“These Walls“	Lipa Andrew Wyatt Harle Billy Walsh Ailin	3:50
6.	“Whatcha Doing”	Lipa Parker Harle Ailin Jesso Ali Tamposi	3:58
7.	“French Exit”	Lipa Parker Harle Ailin Jesso	3:45
8.	“Illusion“	Lipa Parker Harle Ailin Jesso	3:57
9.	“Falling Forever”	Lipa Ian Kirkpatrick Harle Emily Warren Tamposi Ailin	4:00
10.	“Anything for Love”	Lipa Kirkpatrick Harle Jesso Julia Michaels Ailin	3:09
11.	“Maria”	Lipa Wyatt Harle Ailin Michaels	3:45
12.	“Happy for You”	Lipa Parker Harle Ailin Jesso	4:23
13.	“Love Again“	Lipa Bing Crosby Chelcee Grimes Stephen Kozmeniuk Irving Wallman Clarence CoffeeMax Wartell	6:02
14.	“Pretty Please“	Lipa Michaels Kirkpatrick Ailin	3:25
15.	“Levitating“	Lipa Coffee Sarah Hudson Jason Evigan	4:24
16.	“Sunshine”	Cleopatra NikolicDean Cover	4:42
17.	“Cold Heart” (with Elton John)	Elton John Bernard Taupin Andrew Meecham Samuel Littlemore Nicholas LittlemorePeter Mayes	5:28
18.	“Be the One“	Gale Jack Tarrant Lucy Taylor	4:49
19.	“Dance the Night“	Lipa Ailin Wyatt Mark Ronson	4:07
20.	“Don’t Start Now“	Lipa Ailin Kirkpatrick Warren	4:25

I’ve seen Spamalot twice and laughed a lot each time. Of course, I grew up watching Monty Python’s Flying Circus with Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam presenting their own unique brand of humor. Some of that quirky humor shows up in Spamalot because the musical is based on the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The musical offers a highly irreverent parody of Arthurian legend, with the title being a portmanteau of Spam and Camelot.

The original 2005 Broadway production directed by Mike Nichols received 14 Tony Award nominations, winning in three categories, including Best Musical. During its initial run of 1,575 performances, the production was seen by more than two million people and grossed over $168 million.

While Eric Idle was working with Mike Nichols on developing Spamalot, he kept a diary about the give-and-take of getting a musical to Broadway. If you’re interested in how a musical is put together with stars like Tim Curry (as King Arthur), Audra McDonald (as Lady of the Lake), Hank Azaria (as Lancelot), David Hyde Pierce (as Robin), and Roger Bart (as Galahad), The Spamalot Diaries takes you behind the scenes to see how a show comes together. I found The Spamalot Diaries fascinating and revealing! Are you an Eric Idle fan? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction — xi

To New York City for the first read — 1

Anxiety and final rewrites before rehearsal — 35

New York rehearsals begin — 49

November in New York — 75

December in Chicago — 87

The New York opening — 145

Afterword — 185

Acknowledgments — 187

The 3-11 New England Patriots take on the 11-3 Buffalo Bills in a “flexed” game that was moved from the 1:00 P.M. time-slot to the 4:30 time-slot. The Bills are 14-point favorites.

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen is on fire! In the past three games, Allen has 1,027 total yards, 14 total touchdowns, no turnovers and has not taken a sack. He’s tallied seven passing touchdowns, six rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in that stretch.

Allen has led Buffalo to at least 30 points in eight straight games, tying the longest such streak in NFL history.

How will your favorite NFL team fare today?

During the Holiday Season, I like to enjoy eggnog. I’ve tried over a dozen different brands of eggnog over the years–both non-alcoholic and alcoholic–and currently my favorite eggnog is Southern Comfort Traditional Non-Alcoholic Eggnog. It has a rich, creamy flavor. If you’re a fan of eggnog, you’ll love this!

HONORABLE MENTIONS: Almost as good as Southern Comfort Traditional Non-Alcoholic Eggnog is Turkey Hill Eggnog. And, as a bonus, Turkey Hill also sells Turkey Hill Eggnog Ice Cream during the Holiday Season! Yummy!

I’m also fond of Hood’s Golden Eggnog which tastes like melted ice cream: thick and rich. You can’t go wrong with any of these three wonderful eggnogs! Do you like eggnog? What’s your favorite?

Just in time for the Holidays, Hard Case Crime offers a gift for that Hard-to-Buy-For person on your Gift List. Ms. Tree: Heroine Withdrawal features a new collection of classic detective stories featuring a P. I. at her graphic best.

Ms. Tree: Heroine Withdrawal is the fifth volume Hard Case Crime has published in their Ms. Tree series. Max Allan Collins and artist Terry Beatty provide these noirish tales with plenty of action and adventure.

Who wouldn’t want a fabulous book like Ms. Tree: Heroine Withdrawal under their tree? GRADE: A