Christmas

About this Episode

The brothers reconvene for a special one-off on the merriest day of them all. Look for Season 3 in the new year. Recommended and referenced resources include:

• Poetry: "The First Coming" by Madeleine L'Engle, "Journey of the Magi" by T.S. Eliot, "For the Time Being" by W.H. Auden, "Descending Theology: The Nativity" by Mary Karr

• Movies: The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Holly and the Ivy, Children of Men, 8-Bit Christmas, The Holdovers, Midnight Clear (but also Joyeux Noel, some details of which John mixes into his description)

• Television: Call the Midwife Christmas Special, "How We Used Christmas Lights to Fight a War" TED Talk by Jose Miguel Sokoloff, "Christmas Story" The Andy Griffith Show (S1:E11)

• Artwork: "Winter Landscape" by Caspar David Friedrich

• Books: The Haunted Man by Charles Dickens, Martin Luther's Christmas Book

• Music: The Animals Christmas by Jimmy Webb

• Songs: “Jesus Christ” by Big Star, “Christmas Was Better in the 80s” by The Futureheads, “Sock it to Me Santa” by Bob Seger & the Heard, “Christmastime Is Here Again” by The Flirtations, “Let’s Get It Together this Christmas” by the Harvey Averne Band, “Always in a Manger” by Paul Westerberg, “O Holy Night” by Duvall, “Silent Night” by Richard Hawley, “Thankful Heart” from A Muppet Christmas Carol, “Santa Claus Is Coming” by The Harmony Grits, “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Annie Lennox, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, “Once in Royal David City Bells” by Sufjan Stevens, “What Child Is This?” by Carrie Underwood, “The Decree” by Art Garfunkel, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Bob Dylan