HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

From all of us at 20 Years Before 2000 to our readers, friends and family...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Merry Christmas 2018!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! Hope all your wishes came true. Enjoy these scenes from Christmas past!

Favorite gifts from Santa

Santa was really good to me as a kid. Most of the time I got what I asked for and loved it! Some of those gifts though, bring back more nostalgia than others. Not too say those other toys were complete bombs, but some just hold a really special place in my heart. Like I said Santa was good to me and even the year he kinda screwed me over (Read all about that here) he gave me one of my most favorite toys of all time. That toy was...

Real Ghostbusters Slimer (Kenner, 1984)

I loved this toy! I was a huge Ghostbusters fan, so anything Ghostbusters would have been a winner, but Slimer was super cool. I would always have him flying around sliming my brother's Ghostbusters team and eating anything and everything he could. Am I the only one who still remembers the smell of the plastic food Slimer came with? That smell alone is Christmas to me!

M.U.S.C.L.E. Thug Busters Set (Mattel, 1985)

This was a fun gift! This big box of M.U.S.C.L.E. characters was a combo gift for me and my brother. We tried to split them up equally. Usually my older brother would take advantage of this situation, but I feel like I made out pretty good. After this Christmas we always had a pocket full of these little, rubber pink guys to keep us entertained on any trip our Mom took us on!

Thundercats Cat's Lair (LJN, 1986)

1986 was another year of disappointment for me as you may have read already. This amazing play set didn't show up under the Christmas tree, but came a few weeks later. When it did though, the battle for Third Earth was on! The Cat's Lair was incredible and stands as one of my fave places to play of all-time!

Super Mario 2 & Adventure of Link (Nintendo, 1988)

This was a big one. We usually got our big console gifts at Christmas. Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Playstation, but the biggest joy came from getting these games in 1988. Every kid wanted these games in their collections, but the rumors of a chip shortage causing delays to The Adventure of Link led many kids to believe they would never see this game at Christmas. I was one of those kids. That year during mine and my brothers annual snooping we discovered these in my parent's closet. We couldn't wait til Christmas. When it came we were full of joy and elation!

Nolan Ryan Limited Edition Kit (Mennen, 1994)

This one is kind of an odd ball. Who really likes getting these bathroom sets at Christmas? I didn't really want it, but I used it and the smell of Skin Bracer takes me back to the holidays of the early 90's. Isn't it crazy how certain smells or certain songs can instantly take you back to the good ol days? I still have that Nolan Ryan ball in my sports collection to this day.

Comic Book Pick 12/19/18

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

CATWOMAN #6

Selina's forced into a seriously sinister Sopranos-style sit-down! While the cops continue to hunt her for a murder she didn't commit, Catwoman's forced to take a meeting with secretive crime boss Mrs. Creel. Here's the pitch: work for us or die! Selina counters with some blackmail of her own, but the offer fails to blow away Creel and her meta-crew. That leads to a breakneck chase that drives Catwoman right into the crosshairs of the local authorities.

(W) Joelle Jones (A) Joelle Jones (CA) Stanley Lau

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 12/17/18

It's that time of the week again here at 20 Years Before 2000...It's time for the THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK! These are the jams currently on my trusty Creative ZEN MP3 player and they encompass everything from Motown R&B classics to hip-hop and rap from the 90s! I would like to share them with you in the hopes that they can get you on your feet and bring back some sweet nostalgic memories! So throw on your Santa Hat, cut your hair in the fresh fade style and grab some Rice & Stuffing, macaroni & Cheese as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: TLC

Song: Sleigh Ride
Album: A LaFace Family Christmas (Released 1993)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: N/A

Bonus Fun Fact: This song is a modern remake of the original song written by Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parish in 1950!

A look at EVEN MORE ornaments!

Christmas is almost here! It is one of my favorite times of the year! I actually got all my shopping done recently for my kids and my family back home. I am so glad I have no last minute shopping to do...I think? One of the best parts of the season is going out with the kids and picking out a tree for our home. Then my wife puts up the lights! She is so specific about how the lights have to look, that I don't even ask if I can help anymore. After the lights are up then it's time for the best part... the ornaments! Each year we purchase a new ornament to put on the family tree. Here are some of my faves that we have amassed over the years.

Buzz Lightyear aka Small Fry (Hallmark, 2013)

The Grinch Steals Christmas (Hallmark, 2008)

Apprentice Mickey Sorcerer's Hat (Disney Parks, 2014)

Rainbow Brite (Hallmark, 2016)

TMNT Raphael (Carlton, 2016)

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favorite Christmas Tree Ornaments. Now, get your tree ready for Santa, enjoy the holidays and open some presents! Merry Christmas! BTW, here are some great Christmas commercials from the 80s for your viewing pleasure!

Check out some more awesome ornaments from 2017 & 2016!

Comic Book Pick 12/12/18

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #1

Balancing his normal life, school, parents, etc...and super-heroing has never been easy, but when the Rhino and a cadre of mysterious criminals start plaguing Brooklyn, things take a dark turn. And Miles doesn't even know the half of it yet. Eisner Award-winner Saladin Ahmed (BLACK BOLT) and Young Gun Javier Garr n (ANT-MAN & THE WASP) bring you the latest incarnation of the coolest character in the Marvel Universe!

(W) Saladin Ahmed (A) Javi Garron (CA) Brian Stelfreeze

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 12/10/18

It's that time of the week again here at 20 Years Before 2000...It's time for the THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK! These are the jams currently on my trusty Creative ZEN MP3 player and they encompass everything from Motown R&B classics to hip-hop and rap from the 90s! I would like to share them with you in the hopes that they can get you on your feet and bring back some sweet nostalgic memories! So throw on your Santa Hat, cut your hair in the fresh fade style and grab some Rice & Stuffing, macaroni & Cheese as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: Kurtis Blow

Song: Christmas Rappin'
Album: The Best of Kurtis Blow (Released 1979)

Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: N/A
Bonus Fun Fact: This song was the first rap song released by a major record label and it took 8 years to become certified gold! The R&B group NEXT sampled this song in their 1998 hit "Too Close"!

My fave background characters in The Christmas Toy

Watching Jim Henson's Christmas Toy holiday special has been a yearly tradition in my family since the special aired on December 6th, 1986 on ABC! We recorded the puppet driven special onto a VHS tape that me and my brother would watch countless numbers of times. Over the years we lost that tape, but a few years ago I discovered the Christmas Toy on DVD and picked it up. Now my 3 kids can enjoy this amazing holiday tradition each year. 

The Christmas Toy has 3 main characters that are the center of the story. Rugby, Apple & Mew. But there are so many fantastic background characters in this movie that you can watch this every year and discover someone new in the playroom. Below are 5 of my favorite toys:

 Bleep The Robot

Bleep actually plays a fairly large roll in the film and has a few fun moments. I have always been a fan of the old school looking tin robots and Bleep fits the bill.

Defenders of the Castle

These colorful little soldiers never leave their post, but they will take a break from their duties to sing a rousing number called "Toys Love to Play"! I always thought these guys and their castle playset would have been so much fun to have.

 Dauntless Dragon

What kid wouldn't love a huge stuffed dragon like Mr. Dauntless here? Unlike some of the other toys in the play room he is huge and you can easily spot him in some of the scenes. He really is a very cool looking toy.

Ditz The Clown

Ditz has a very small part in The Christmas Toy, but it's a big one! He is the first toy we see get frozen after he is spotted out of place by one of the humans that live in the house. Thank goodness Christmas spirit can save the day. His name should tell you all you need to know about this toy's personality. 

The Rabbit in a Baseball Jersey

I don't know why, but I have always loved this little guy. He is truly a background character in this movie. He has no lines is mostly in the back of every shot he is in and he doesn't do anything that affects the overall story. He is just a cuddly looking bunny ready to smack a few home runs and that's pretty awesome to me!

The Christmas Toy is one of my favorite holiday movies and I hope one day it will be released in HD with it's original open and ending featuring Kermit The Frog! Until then I can always enjoy these clips on YouTube.

Comic Book Pick 12/5/18

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

SHAZAM #1

The superstar team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Dale Eaglesham reunite to launch the first all-new SHAZAM! monthly title set in the DC Universe in almost 20 years! (What took you guys so long?!)

Teenager turned super-hero Billy Batson struggles to balance school and superheroics! (Guess which one is more fun?) But when Shazam unlocks a shocking secret deep within the Rock of Eternity, it challenges everything he knows about the worlds of magic and his family's future as its champions! Also, witness the bizarre team-up of Dr. Sivana and Mr. Mind as they set off to build a society all their own! Don't miss the start of an epic run in the making as "Shazam and the Seven Realms" begins!

(W) Geoff Johns (A/CA) Dale Eaglesham

SRP: $4.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 12/3/18

It's that time of the week again here at 20 Years Before 2000...It's time for the THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK! These are the jams currently on my trusty Creative ZEN MP3 player and they encompass everything from Motown R&B classics to hip-hop and rap from the 90s! I would like to share them with you in the hopes that they can get you on your feet and bring back some sweet nostalgic memories! So throw on your Santa Hat, cut your hair in the fresh fade style and grab some Rice & Stuffing, macaroni & Cheese as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: RUN DMC

Song: Christmas In Hollis

Album: A Very Special Christmas (Released 1987)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 78
Bonus Fun Fact: This holiday classic was produced by Rick Rubin and was voted Rolling Stones "Best Video Of The Year" award in 1987, beating out Michael Jackson's BAD!

It Came From The Closet!

Recently I was searching for something in our back basement closet and as usual I dug out the boxes of old loose toys for my kids to play with. I want them to have the same great memories of playing with these figures as I did as a kid. These are the memories of happiness that have stuck with me for a lifetime, also it makes me happy to see them bringing joy to another generation. Okay, let's get past the sentimental gushy stuff, because as I was cleaning I rediscovered some cool stuff that I forgot I even owned! These are just a few of the items I have packed away.

The Adventures of Batman & Robin: Action Packs

I bought this full box of Batman cards at the local Goodwill for a couple dollars. I intend to one day have a room that I can display my collection of retro goodies. My plan is to have a section devoted to my full boxes of retro trading cards. For a few dollars this was worth the pickup!

Kevin Smith Autographed Inaction Figure

I spent the first 20+ years of my life growing up in NJ and when I noticed a fellow Jersian was making it big as a movie director I was on board. I enjoy Smith's View Askew movies like Clerks, Chasing Amy and Mall Rats, so on one of my return trips to NJ I visited the Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash comic shop in Red Bank where I purchased this autographed figure for around $10. I actually got the chance to interview Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier on their tour bus a while ago. He is a great guy and took the time to answer my questions, pose for some pictures and give me some swag. If you have the chance to see Smith live, I recommend you go!

Gremlins & The Goonies VHS Tapes

The Gremlins VHS is actually the tape I had as a kid! I loved this movie and every year during the holidays I try to convince my kids to watch it with me. So far, I have had no takers, but I feel like 2018 is the year my kids will give in and watch Gizmo & Billy fight the good fight against Stripe and his evil mischief causing Gremlins! The Goonies VHS, I saw at a thrift shop for a quarter and I just couldn't say no!

Signed Pointer Sisters Poster!

The Pointer Sisters were hot stuff back in the 80s, so when I found this old autographed poster in my office I had to take it home! Every year our local theater hosts a big fundraising event and in 2004 the station I work for was the media sponsor. As a thank you the headliners of the fundraiser, The Pointer Sisters, signed this event poster and presented it to the station. Obviously nobody cared to hang it, because I found it jammed between a locker and filing cabinet. I was so excited to find this! BTW am I the only one who thinks of that Saved By The Bell episode were Jessie over does it with the caffeine pills when you hear the song "I'm So Excited"?

Power Rangers Tiger Electronic Game

Not much to say here. I was a fan of the Tiger electronic handheld games as a kid, my younger brother was into Power Rangers when they were at the height of their popularity and seeing this game at a thrift store brought a bunch of those memories flooding back. It was only 50 cents, but when I got it home and popped in some AA Batteries, it didn't work. I just don't have the heart to throw it out!

Puff Daddy feat. Jimmy Page: Come With Me CD Single

I admit that I was a huge fan of Puffy back in the day and when the hype train for the new Godzilla came rolling into town this song played through it's horn! I actually liked the song and bought the Cassette single. I had a friend at school who asked if I would trade my cassette single for his CD single and I said yes. It is still in my collection today! My son has become a big fan of the Godzilla movies and we recently watched the 1998 Godzilla movie and he enjoyed it, so it was no surprised he started jamming out when the song "Come With Me" played during the end credits. Man, I remember this video being one of those big MTV events that they hyped up for weeks.  

Comic Book Pick 11/28/18

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

MARVEL ACTION SPIDER-MAN #1

Readers of all ages can get tangled up in these all new adventures of Spider-Man and his astonishing friends! Peter Parker has thrown down with deadly villains and legendary heroes, but high school life might be his greatest challenge yet. Luckily, he has a shot at making the grade with a little help from his new friends... Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy! A Marvelous new era begins here!

(W) Delilah S Dawson (A/CA) Fico Ossio

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 11/26/18

It's that time of the week again here at 20 Years Before 2000...It's time for the THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK! These are the jams currently on my trusty Creative ZEN MP3 player and they encompass everything from Motown R&B classics to hip-hop and rap from the 90s! I would like to share them with you in the hopes that they can get you on your feet and bring back some sweet nostalgic memories! So throw on your shades, cut your hair in the fresh fade style and grab some Taco Bell as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: Hammer

Song: 2 Legit 2 Quit

Album: Too Legit To Quit (Released 1991)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 5

Bonus Fun Fact: The music video for this song was over 15 minutes long and still ranks as one of the most expensive to produce of all time and includes cameos by Deion Snaders, Chris Mullin, Eazy-E, Queen Latifah and Tony Danza, just to name a few.

Happy Thanksgiving 2018!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! I hope you are having fun watching football, enjoying some time with your family and stuffing yourself silly! In case you need a break from any of that festiveness, I have provided you with some Thanksgiving specials to kill some time below!

 

A Chipmunk Thanksgiving (1994)

Garfield's Thanksgiving (1989)

1994 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Compilation of 80s Thanksgiving Commercials

Comic Book Pick 11/21/18

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

GO-BOTS #1

Go-Bots have changed our way of life. Leader-1 is a self-aware fighter jet on a hostage rescue mission with his partner, Commander Nick Burns. Scooter is the personal transport and best friend to undergrad A.J. Foster. Turbo is Matt Hunter's transforming race car in the hottest sport in America, Go-Bot Racing. Cy-Kill is the champion of the illegal, underground Go-Bot Fighting League. A sophisticated sci-fi epic from the visionary creator that brought you Transformers vs. G.I. JOE. They say they're here to help us, but are they here to replace us?  From the creative mind that brought you IDW's Transformers vs. G.I. JOE! Visionary creator Tom Scioli unleashes his imagination on the bizarre, absurd, and wonderful world of Go-Bots!

(W) Tom Scioli (A/CA) Tom Scioli

SRP: $3.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

Throwback Jam of the Week: 11/19/18

It's that time of the week again here at 20 Years Before 2000...It's time for the THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK! These are the jams currently on my trusty Creative ZEN MP3 player and they encompass everything from Motown R&B classics to hip-hop and rap from the 90s! I would like to share them with you in the hopes that they can get you on your feet and bring back some sweet nostalgic memories! So throw on your shades, cut your hair in the fresh fade style and grab some White Castle as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: Beastie Boys

Song: Brass Monkey

Album: Licensed To Ill (Released 1987)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 48

Bonus Fun Fact: This song was produced by Rick Rubin. Brass Monkey is also the name of a cocktail made of rum, vodka and orange juice.

Stan Lee Favorites

As I'm sure you have heard, legendary creator Stan Lee passed away at the age of 95 this week. Stan Lee was a titan in the comics industry and in his lifetime he was a playwright while in the military, editor in chief, writer and founder of several media companies and conventions. Lee will be best known for his time at Marvel Comics where he created or co-created such iconic pop culture characters as Spider-Man, Hulk, The Fantastic Four and so many more. I will always admire his writing, but there are a few moments from his life that standout to me more than others mostly because of the enjoyment they gave me. Here are a few of those great moments.

Deadpool 2 Trailer Cameo
I had come to expect the usual Stan Lee cameo in most Marvel movies, but never did I expect him to show up in a trailer for the movie of a character he didn't even create! I was anticipating the release of the new Deadpool movie since I really liked the first one, so when this new teaser trailer came out I was all over it. I started watching and chuckled as the Merc with a mouth struggled to put on his costume in a phone booth ala Superman. But the biggest laugh came when Mr. Pool jumped out only to hear Stan Lee say "Nice Suit". In which Deadpool replied "ZIP IT STAN LEE"! Loved it!

Spider-Man PS1 Game Voice Over
I loved this game! It was fun, had some challenge and it contained tons of cool Easter Eggs. One thing that stood out though was the narration by Stan Lee. No matter how old he was, you could always hear the excitement in his voice whenever he was talking about comics or one of his many creations. This carried over to his voice acting roles. You could just tell he was having fun, which made this gaming experience all the more better!

Teen Titans Go to the Movies Cameo
I just recently watched this animated feature with my kids a week or two ago. I had read that Stan Lee had a cameo appearance in the film, but totally forgot about it by the time we watched the DVD. Once again Stan Lee steals the show in a scene with characters from DC! My kids burst out laughing as he was hit by a runaway golf cart only to be tossed aside while finally delivering his signature line, "EXCELSIOR"! 

Big Hero 6 Cameo
This one totally caught me by surprise. I had no idea Stan Lee had a cameo in this Marvel/Disney animated film. During the movie one of the heroes, Fred, stares at a portrait of his family and I thought his dad looked like Stan Lee. I just thought this was a nice little Easter egg to the man himself, but in the post credits scene it turns out Fred's dad really was played by Stan Lee and he outs himself as a legendary super-hero! Great scene! Wish they could have expanded on this in the inevitable sequel.

Just Imagine...Stan Lee creates the DC Universe

This was a totally crazy idea from the minds at DC. It was almost a What if scenario. Just Imagine Stan Lee created Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, etc. What would that have looked like? Well, we got a peak into that world and we got some great stories and some not so great stories. This was just a really cool idea and I enjoyed reading Lee's take on these super-heroes. They universe he created in these one-shots has even become cannon in the DC Universe as Earth-6!

Hopefully these few examples took you on a nice trip down memory lane. Stan Lee may be gone, but his influence, characters and love for comics will last forever in the hearts of all the true believers out there. I hope you all enjoy the legacy Lee has left and pass those memories and works on to your family. Thank you Stan Lee and EXCELSIOR!!!

Comic Book Pick 11/14/18

This week the comic book I am most excited to read is...

UNCANNY X-MEN #1

THE CHILDREN OF THE ATOM ARE BACK!

New ongoing series kicking off with a 10-part weekly epic, the flagship X-Men series that started it all is back and better than ever! Starting with a mysterious and tragic disappearance, the X-Men are drawn into what might be...their final adventure?! X-Fan favorite writers Ed Brisson (EXTERMINATION), Matthew Rosenberg (PHOENIX RESURRECTION) and Kelly Thompson (MR. & MRS. X) and all-star artists Mahmud Asrar (X-MEN RED), R.B. Silva (X-MEN BLUE), Yildiray Cinar (WEAPON X) and Pere Pérez (ROGUE AND GAMBIT) join forces to bring you...X-MEN DISASSEMBLED?!

(W) Kelly Thompson, Matthew Rosenberg, Ed Brisson (A) Mahmud A. Asrar (CA) Rob Liefeld

 SRP: $7.99

Synopsis Provided By: PreviewsWorld.com

R.I.P. Stan Lee

It is with a heavy heart that I say Stan Lee has passed away at the age of 95. He truly did impact the lives of millions of people around the world with his brilliant creations, never give up attitude and fighting spirit. He was an inspiration to many and will be missed. Thank you for all that you did to entertain us all. Now say it together with me true believers...EXCELSIOR! 

Stanley Lieber aka Stan Lee: December 28th, 1922 - November 12th 2018

Throwback Jam of the Week: 11/12/18

It's that time of the week again here at 20 Years Before 2000...It's time for the THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK! These are the jams currently on my trusty Creative ZEN MP3 player and they encompass everything from Motown R&B classics to hip-hop and rap from the 90s! I would like to share them with you in the hopes that they can get you on your feet and bring back some sweet nostalgic memories! So throw on your Starter cap, cut your hair in the fresh high top fade style and slip on your Timberlands as we take you back! Without further ado, here is the 20 Years Before 2000 THROWBACK JAM OF THE WEEK...

Artist: Luther Vandross/Janet Jackson feat BBD & Ralph Tresvant

Song: The Best Things In Life Are Free

Album: Mo' Money Soundtrack (Released 1992)
Peak Billboard Hot 100 Position: 10

Bonus Fun Fact: This song made it to #1 on the "Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs" chart in 1992! Was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals" but lost to Boyz II Men for their song "End of the Road"!

Records, Records Everywhere!!!

Recently the sounds of vinyl have been making a comeback. Supposedly the sound is better coming off one of these round miracles of recording science versus a compressed mp3. I'm not 100% sure about that, but what I am sure about is that listening to a record takes me back to the 80s when myself and my siblings would listen to my Dad's old rock n roll records on the family stereo or hearing the sounds of Madonna coming from my sisters room. The crackling sound of these rotating wonders really is a nostalgia trip for me. A few weeks ago our GM at work decided we needed to make more room in our audio recording booth and the old station collection of vinyl had to go! I was first in line to grab some free records and here is a sampling of what I discovered!

Breakin' Movie Soundtrack 

Released: 1984 Polygram Records

Notable Songs: Ain't Nobody by Rufus & Chaka Khan, Showdown by Ollie & Jerry

The Godfather Music From The Motion Picture

Released: 1972 Pickwick International

Notable Songs: Main Title (The Godfather Waltz) by The Italia Concert Orchestra

The Official Music of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 1984

Released:1984 CBS Inc.

Notable Songs: Street Thunder by Foreigner, Junku (Field Theme) by Herbie Hancock

Prince: Controversy

Released: 1981 Warner Brothers

Notable Songs: Controversy, Let's Work

Star Wars: Music Form The Sci-Fi Film Composed By John Williams

Released: 1977 Damil Record Sales

Notable Songs: Princess Leia's Theme & The Return Home by The London Philharmonic

Ray Parker Jr. - Christmas Time Is Here

Released: 1984 Arista

Oh man, listen to those sweet sounds! I am so happy I was able to grab these records up! Like I said this is just a sampling of what I found. There are about 20 other albums I got including everything from The Beach Boys to Shalamar. Also, my Mom still has my record collection from when I used to DJ back in collage. I need to go home some day and add them back into my vinyl collection. Now I just need to pick myself up a record player so me and the fam can jam out in style! I guess I now know what to ask Santa for this Christmas!