One of the slightly odd memories of the Christmas season of my youth was a television presentation called "the Yule Log". It was traditionally shown on an independent, syndicated station in a nearby major Metropolis on Christmas Eve. It generally consisted of film footage of large logs burning on massive andirons in ornate fireplaces, accompanied by muzak-style Christmas carols.
It sort of made sense from a programming point of view. Who could be expected to be at home watching television on Christmas Eve back in the 1970's before the wide availability of VCRs? It seems logical to say "very few people". It was therefore logical for TV stations to find something very cheap to show on Christmas Eve. I think "the Yule Log" fit that bill rather nicely.
Fast forward to the night of the 2005 Super Bowl. I believe that the Animal Planet network has come up with the modern equivalent of "the Yule Log". It's called the Puppy Bowl. The show consists of a small set that looks much like a miniature football stadium. Puppies available for adoption are occasionally pushed through a tunnel-like opening into the stadium. An NFL-type announcer and flashy computer graphics describe the name, breed, age, and other vital statistics of each puppy as it enters. Otherwise, the show is just camera footage of puppies playing with each other and various doggy toys in this make-believe stadium. Think of it as a large cardboard box that says "free puppies" that is visible nationwide.
Did you see the Puppy Bowl last night?
said drgeek
on 2005-02-07 at 3:39 p.m.
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The Wayback Machine - To Infinity And Beyond
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