Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for December 07, 2020

I see Dad is already in the Christmas spirit.

But, A Charlie Brown Christmas…

And just where in Calvin’s pigsty bedroom would he put a TV?

You’re twisted pops! ;/

I guess Calvin isn’t watching the Grinch yet.

Must be an interesting program to make the TV jump around like that!

Those Christmas specials are a gold mine! About a thousand TV stations pay $1000 each to show a special every December, and they’ve been doing it for decades! Do the math…

I did have my own TV when I was a kid. Black and white with a bad power connection I just lived with. Don’t recall ever opening the back to see if it was an easy fix. Watched all the Fourth Doctor Who shows on that machine.

Calvin is learning about the latest toys on sale or the less healthy food options. Probably both.

I’ve pretty much abandoned commercial TV but I’m guessing the contrast Calvin’s dad (according to Wikipedia he’s a patent attorney) speaks of is worse than ever.

Okay fine dad, you should be pleased to hear that nobody else in the family is planning this year to leave you a present under the tree. No greed and waste for you, unless you count that lump of coal the neighbor left for you as extolling waste?

A Socialist comic if there ever was one. No one ever talks about Government greed and waste wherein it all lies.

Those of us who grew up in the 50s remember when there was ONE commercial break in a half hour show, and there was actually some thought put into the commercials that made them at least tolerable, if not pleasant to watch. And when Pay TV was first discussed, the whole concept meant NO commercials. I cannot believe folks pay so much money to watch all those obnoxious commercials these days.

Only every 7 minutes?

I got a paper route in D. C. when I was a kid about Calvins age. Saved up my money and bought me a tv for my room. Watched what I wanted to watch.

Dad nails it but Calvin ignores. Typical offspring behaviour.

A Spaceman Spiff Christmas, brought to you by chocolate coated Sugar Bombs.

I’m learning that Dad was a total buzzkill.

Good TV monitoring by Dad. Some time the lesson we learn is what NOT to do.

Geez, Dad what’s your solution? Only showing them on Apple TV+?

Two observations: (1) Why is the TV floating? (2) I’ve never heard anyone use the word “extolling” in conversation in my life.

Would Dad like it better if we all celebrated Charles Manson’s birthday?

If Dad doesn’t like what he is learning perhaps Dad should teach him something different instead of just walking away.

Meanwhile Dad glues himself to a 15 minute program that last for four hours every Sunday afternoon, 3 1/2 hours of it are all commercials. The kicker is that in January when the season finials are being played they get "new’ Commercials!

Who(?)does ‘channel selection’ for our young hero that makes him want to select his own programming ???

Dated strip. These days it’s about 2 – 3 minutes of program followed by 4 – 5 minutes of commercials. With most spots these days going 30 seconds, it seems to be never ending. And I am sick of the French singing insurance commercial, Flo, Jake from State Farm, and everything Geico. The ATT girl is also becoming an annoyance. I don’t see how these companies can make any money. They advertise non-stop on any and all sporting events. These days I never watch a game live. I record it so I can fast forward through the commercials.

I’m still reminded of how Coca-Cola originally sponsored “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” one of the first TV specials to keep to the true meaning of Christmas and (ironically) complain about its’ over-commercialization.

I have noticed, now politics is over with, seems hundreds of commercials for 10 to 15 minute each of show. When I record I do a lot of fast forwarding.

The whining about the supposed “evils” of commercialism is misplaced. I think it’s great that we celebrate our prosperity, exchanging gifts, putting up colorful displays, having parties, etc. When I see all the lights, the display of material goods, etc. I think “what a wonderful expression of plenty and warmth!” Calvin’s dad sounds like the modern equivalent of the Puritans, who were grimly determined to stamp all the joy out of life, to the point of even banning what they called the “Bacchanalian Christmas extravagances”. No feasting. No dancing. No performances of plays. Thank God people finally told the Puritans to get lost, even though Watterson makes it clear that such grimness hasn’t gone away entirely.

I love the way the TV is always floating/jumping around when it is on. Conveys high energy being used by programmers (not necessarily a good thing, either). Doubt they had wall mounted TVs with extension arms back then!

Bumbles bounce!

Try the French Laissez Faire attitude, dad!

Wonderful depiction of idiot box wobbling and spewing out soaps in between commercials. I wonder what would Calvin do in these times of Netflix, amazon prime, youtube.

most excellent

Sadly, channels have to make money off the specials. Have a no-commercial show, and investors will have a fit.

We now know that it has become shows extolling greed and waste to promote company’s (particularly pharmaceutical) extolling greed and waste. I hope Calvin’s Dad just decided to read more in his old age.