Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for December 12, 2022

I wonder how Dad would feel about the Hallmark Christmas movies.

Calvin would definitely enjoy watching “The Grinch”.

Dad is feeling the future pressure of holiday bills

Watterson seems to despise the reality of how TV programming is paid for. Is he happier with a pay per view model?

God bless America.

I feel your pain, pops.

Not gracefully at all. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go to the kitchen to get a sticky bun.

What spirituality? Holiday celebrations are way more about religiosity than spirituality. Now that’s something that mixes perfectly with the other commercial aspects of the world.

Now, for the BIG money — how many actually mention the birth of Jesus?

Dad’s the best!

And that was back then…imagine what he would be saying about the movies and specials on all those cable networks that are on today!

It could be worse. We could be celebrating Charles Manson’s birthday.

On December 9th, 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the first time. Hard to believe it’s been 57 years.

No Calvin, Dad is just aware that Christmas now is just one big commercial venture.

Me too!

Yet another time when the further I get from childhood the more I relate to Calvin’s dad

I miss Perry Como and the Kraft commercials ‘’… take 4 cups of Miracle Whip and a 2 Pounds of Kraft Cream Cheese. Blend in a large bowl with 16 whole eggs and a barrel of heavy cream….’’

You could have a coronary, just by watching the commercials.

Bah Humbug

It’s still entertainment, and isn’t that the real point?

Pay per view would be a great idea. if you didn’t still get all the commercial BS!

We have most of the holiday specials on DVD but it’s odd that without the interruption of commercials the pacing of things like charlie brown and the grinch seems off.

I object to CBS moving beloved classics to a pay streaming service and if you have hard media they can’t edit it. The other night my wife and i watched “Black Adder Xmas” on brit box- one of the streaming services we do have, and they edited out one of my favorite lines from Baldrick.

I first thought the comments were coming from Calvin, until I looked more closely.

I’m with Dad, I hate adds and really don’t care “if they pay for the programming”.

For what it’s worth, I remember the shows just fine. I can’t remember a single commercial. (except maybe that whole “Where’s the beef?!” thing)

If it’s any consolation to Calvin’s dad, they don’t bother with the spiritual part of the equation anymore.

It’s kinda funny to hear the grandkids echo their parents rants. Must be hereditary.

Good thing Dad never had to experience “The Lizzo and Ice-T Christmas Hoopla” sponsored by butt deodorant and unattractive dancers making doctor’s appointments.

Like father like son.

I’m with dad! Don’t even get me started about commercialism!

A 60 min program has about 20 min of commercials…..or more! It’s disgusting!

Funny how so many chastise the commercialization, yet few comment on the fact that Christmas was a pagan holiday stolen by Christians and placed at a time of year that has been proven endless times to be a false story. The Roman tax based head count was every 5 years in the early fall after harvest and when the spring born creatures did not need as much tending. NOT at the end of December. And the meaning of Christmas is more about buying a turkey on sale than anything else.

Television exists to sell advertising.

I dunno…looks to me like he’s got a real bead on it.

…and there were no wise men or gifts at the manger to begin with, they came later when Jesus was a toddler and in a house. The entire Christmas experience is a farce based not on the Bible at all but I do like the lights!

He forgot to mention the snack cake companies…someone must have zapped his Zinger…

I bet there’s a product for that. :(

I think the TV is jumping higher than usual. Definitely the Christmas spirit.

Who can blame him,with all time inflation

What a whiner. Take a pill.

Commercialism is a bit of a menace. I’m still shaking my head at how fast the corporations jumped on Pride Month.

Yeah, I remember how Coca-Cola was the original sponsor for “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” and they and CBS initially both objected to that special discussing the true meaning of Christmas!

Television is a vast wasteland speech, 1961. https://www.history.com/speeches/the-vast-wasteland-of-television

What a great insight into where young Calvin get’s his somewhat cuastic approach to life.

Christmas, Christmastime is here / Full of artificial cheer.Two weeks to the 25th / Let’s just get it over with.“Peace on earth, good will towards men” – / Next month, you’ll hate them again!Chock full of hypocrisy, / So Christmas ain’t for me!

These days, product consumption and popular entertainment have successfully squeezed spirituality out of the equation.

It’s even more harmonious. No more conflicting ideals, only “obey” and “buy”.

Maybe Dad should teach Calvin about Krampus.

I get it.

I’m quite happy sans commercials. Actually, sans TV is best.

“That doesn’t change the fact that dad is a proxy for Watterson’s views” – actually, this is possible, but it’s not a fact, just an idea, with some supporting evidence, but it could be conflating a character with the author, and Calvin’s response, written by Watterson, shows the author is aware that this character’s griping could be viewed very differently, likely because Watterson himself is a complex, thoughtful artist.