Christmas at Ground Zero

Weird Al Lets Loose with a Holiday... Classic?

"Weird Al" Yankovic put out this video, "Christmas at Ground Zero," deep into the Ronald Reagan Presidency (1986, a year of actual nuclear disasters), so naturally the Gipper makes a genial cameo appearance. That now seems like a lost, wonderful time, which no doubt was not the impression Yankovic was striving for at the time. But the video is fun as a look at a bygone era and its peculiar preoccupations.

President Reagan gets the very rare honor of spoken dialog in an Al Yankovic video. Don't think he didn't appreciate it!

There are quick scenes from some long-forgotten classics. Did you notice the quick look at "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians"? Whoever strung these clips together was an expert on cult films of the 1950s and 1960s.

My local college radio station has this on heavy rotation during the run-up to Christmas. Cynical? Nah, just a little Christmas cheer.

As a special bonus, here is "Weird Al" with "The Night Santa Went Crazy," complete with special guest appearances by Sculley and Mulder.


Now, you're ready for Christmas! Happy Holidays!

2018