Ira Finkelstien’s Christmas

RACHELLE HENRY: Welcome to The Lightning Hour. A holly, jolly energy drink for your mind. Three hosts, three actors, three friends, three perspectives and fantastic guests. Every Friday at noon. I’m your host, Rachelle Henry.

RICO E. ANDERSON: I’m your host, Rico E. Anderson.

SASHA KERBEL: And I’m your host, Sasha Kerbel.

RACHELLE HENRY: Prepare yourself for high voltage conversation.

RICO E. ANDERSON: And get ready to supercharge your brain.

SASHA KERBEL: Because it’s time for The Lightning Hour.

RACHELLE HENRY: Tis the season to be jolly. And everyone’s asking, “What? What? Ira? Where’s Ira?” A phrase coined by Academy Award nominated legend Mr. Elliott Gould in the Sue Corcoran Christmas classic. “All I Want Is Christmas.”

And today, we’re here celebrating an almost ten-year anniversary since filming, “All I Want Is Christmas” family reunion. We have the director and some of the leading cast with us today.

RICO E. ANDERSON: Ira J. Finklestein is obsessed with Christmas. He’s seen every movie ever made, and his dreams are filled with reindeer, sleigh and snow. The problem? Ira is Jewish, and at 11 years old, Christmas is passing him by. So, when Ira’s hopes for a holiday vacation in Aspen are dashed, he hatches a plan to finally get the Christmas of his dreams. Flying unaccompanied to visit his grandparents in Florida, he swaps tickets with Mikey, another 11 year-old, on his way to Christmastown, Washington. Ira gets more than he bargained for when he experiences his first white Christmas.

SASHA KERBEL: Co-written by Sue Corcoran, Angie Louise and Douglas Horn, “All I Want Is Christmas” was co-produced and directed by Sue Corcoran. Originally titled “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas.” Watching this Christmas movie has become a tradition in many homes and is available now to kick off your holiday season. DirecTV, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Vudu, FandangoNow, Google Play, On Demand and more. It can also be seen in the U.S. and worldwide.

RACHELLE HENRY: Welcome to today’s guests. Sue Corcoran, director of “All I Want Is Christmas,” starring Elliott Gould and David DeLuise, and director of “Gory, Gory, Hallelujah!”

Academy Award-nominated legend, Mr. Elliott Gould, known for his roles in “M.A.S.H,” his Oscar-nominated performance in “Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice,” and most recently, his portrayal of old-time con artist Reuben Tishkoff in “Ocean’s 11,” “Ocean’s 12,” “Ocean’s 13,” “Ocean’s Eight” and countless other roles, including portraying Ira’s grandfather, Sam Finkelstein.

And welcome David DeLuise, perhaps the most popular dad on TV for his portrayal as the popular family patriarch Jerry Russo, on the hit Emmy award-winning Disney Channel series, “The Wizards of Waverly Place,” and many more, including playing Ira’s dad, Max Finkelstein in “All I Want Is Christmas.”

RICO E. ANDERSON: Angela DiMarco plays Rosie Finkelstein, Ira’s mother and event planner extraordinaire. She is known for “Grimm,” “Z Nation,” “The Parish,” and her directorial debut, “Always.”

Elijah Nelson is known for playing Evan on the show “The Thunderbirds,” Brendan on “Crazy Ex-girlfriend” and the leading role of Ira Finkelstein in “All I Want Is Christmas.”

Justin Howell is known for the role of Mikey, the boy who swaps places with Ira and can be seen in “The Scheme of Things,” “Criminal Minds” and the feature film, “Sadie.”

SASHA KERBEL: Tony Doupe is known for his roles in many films, including “Wild,” starring Reese Witherspoon, “Laggies,” starring Keira Knightley, “Bad Samaritan” starring David Tennant and playing Walt Wilson in “All I Want Is Christmas.”

Cynthia Geary, best known for her role as Shelly Tambo in “Northern Exposure,” for which she was nominated for two primetime Emmys. “8 Seconds” with Luke Perry and portraying Libby Wilson, Mikey’s aunt in “All I Want Is Christmas.”

Julianne Christie plays the ever-dramatic movie star, Jennifer Cameo, a.k.a “Desperate Jane” in our Christmas classic. Julianne is not only known for her roles in “The Nutty Professor,” “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Enterprise.” She is known for “The Good Doctor,” “The Flash” and “Lucifer.”

RICO E. ANDERSON: Now, to get in the holiday spirit, let’s take a look at the trailer for “All I Want is Christmas.”

RACHELLE HENRY:  Thank you guys so much for joining us today. We are just so excited to talk about this Christmas classic. This was such a great memory for us to do. It’s been almost ten years since we filmed. I was ten years old when I got to sit right next to Sue’s mother-in-law, Carol, and right behind Mr. Elliott Gould and Mr. David DeLuise during that Christmas play that we all know. And it was such a life changing experience for me as an actor and as a filmmaker, and it was so inspiring. I’m so happy that we got to have this reunion together with everyone today.

My first question is, Sue, what inspired you, Doug Horn and Angie Louise to write the story? And for you actors, what drew you to be a part of “All I want Is Christmas,” formerly “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas”? So, Sue, how about you?

SUE CORCORAN: I’m just a big fan of Frank Capra, and I love Christmas movies, and my neighbors growing up were Jewish and we used to always swap holidays. And I have always considered myself an honorary Jewish person, although I don’t think I actually qualify and I don’t know. So, the story came to mind and we just decided to do it.

RACHELLE HENRY: Such a cute film. It’s adorable.

SUE CORCORAN: You guys are good in it. You guys are all amazing.

RACHELLE HENRY: Mr. Gould, what drew you to be a part of this film?

ELLIOTT GOULD: Well, as Sue Corcoran has had so much energy and is so enthusiastic and I just had to do it. I’m a grandfather in real life as well, and I’m really privileged to be a part of this picture. Thank you.

RACHELLE HENRY: Oh, I love that. How about you, David?

DAVID DELUISE: Sue, Elliott, and you. You know, listen…to work with Elliott because Elliott, I think in 1964, did “On the Town” in London with my mom.

ELLIOTT GOULD: ‘63.

DAVID DELUISE: ‘63. I’m sorry. I was close. And, you know, to work with Elliott and to play his son and to be a part of being in a movie with Elliott, period, was a wonderful draw, and to play a fun part. I didn’t wear glasses then, by the way. I got a little older. I just turned 49. So now I need glasses now, right? But in the movie, there was a whole (fixing his glasses) I did this. I watched the movie, I did that a million times. And then we all were in together with the glasses. I don’t know what I’m saying. I really had a great time.

SUE CORCORAN: I just want to say, wait, I have to say this, David. When I stalked your beautiful wife on Instagram and I saw that she told the story, that she said, “Do you know there’s nobody more handsome at 49 than you?” And you said, ”Have you heard of Brad Pitt?” I agree with your wife.

DAVID DELUISE: And then she said, “He’s not 49.” That’s what she said.

RACHELLE HENRY: You know, I remember Elliott on set, to keep him light, like reflecting too much off your glasses. You would smudge them with your fingers. And I found that so interesting.

ELLIOTT GOULD: That these glasses, when I wear these glasses in a movie, they’re always tinted. So that the camera department doesn’t get a glare. I have no special effects with me.

RACHELLE HENRY: But I was ten. So, I remember snippets of everything, but of course, you know, you go back and you watch it and you try to remember more and more of it. I remember like that’s where I met Angela. I remember Angela talking to me about the life of an actor and how acting is a business, and so many parts of this have been a big life changing event for me.

So actually, speaking of Angela, how about you tell us what drew you to this?

ANGELA DIMARCO: For me, this was before David and Elliott were on board. I think Elijah and I had auditioned at this point. I’m not sure if he was cast already, but when we had auditions here in Seattle, Sue I’ve known Sue for years, but really in a different medium, more with corporate videos. But I met her when I was in my early twenties.

So, then flash forward to 2011 and I remember auditioning and I’m Italian, but same thing as Sue when I grew up, you know, my mom, we had a lot of friends, Italian and Jewish, and we both always say like, “We’re all the same tribe.” It’s always La Familia. Mishpocha. You know, so like it’s all very similar.

So, when I auditioned, I just thought, okay, I’m going to go in and show me. And I remember at my callback, I kind of held back a little because I wasn’t sure which lane the film would go. And at my callbacks, Sue said, “Angela, show me some of that Mama DiMarco. Give me some more Angela.” And I was like, “Oh, okay. Game on.”

So as soon as I knew I was allowed to be my gregarious self, I was offered the role. And that day that Rachelle, you keep talking about, I remember meeting you. I remember you sitting behind me and David and Elliott, and I remember you striking up a conversation and, on that note, what I remember telling you was to make sure, and it wasn’t that I wanted you to get another job besides acting, that you, because I was producing by then, that you find another artistic path in addition to acting. And I’m not going to take credit for all the wonderful things you do. But I mean, look at you, honey. We’re here being interviewed by you. So, drop the mic. Love it.

RACHELLE HENRY: And also, like on that note, I’m so inspired by women in film. Like all these ladies here. Go women in film! And for me, that was the first feature I was ever on, and to see Sue run that set the way she did, like that has changed my life. Seeing Sue run the set. She was professional, she was kind. She thanked everyone for being there. It just felt like a big family. So, thank you, Sue. Thank you so much for everything you did.

Sue Corcoran directing David DeLuise and Elijah Nelson in “All I Want is Christmas” / “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas”

ANGELA DIMARCO: And I think, Rachelle, to your question, too, and this is for any actors watching and I hope we all agree in that, at least for me, instead of me being star struck by Elliott or David. Or being worried like, Oh, with Elijah, Justin. I have these two kiddos and I want to make sure they’re comfortable because I was a child actor that I think if you guys connect as a cast, whether you’re pretending you’re in LA or on the moon, all that other stuff is just going to become another layer that you get to add as long as you guys are connected as a cast. And so I remember when I first met David or Elliott, instead of like, “Can I have your autograph?” Or like geeking out on them, which some people did. I just was like, “Hey, do you like coffee? Let’s go get coffee.” And Dave and I went and got…I remember we were in Christmastown, or maybe before Christmastown, but like Dave and I immediately went coffee and like, we we’re checking out women together too. I don’t know, but it was good. I don’t know. No, it was. It was just like immediately connecting and Elliott, same thing. Eliott just started talking to me about family, and we started talking. And then same with Elijah, just making people feel comfortable and connected. And then, you know, Sue gives us the direction.

RACHELLE HENRY: And that makes me think of a few random memories like you were mentioning those high heels. I remember Sue personally coming over and rubbing you and Meg’s feet during the Christmas play between takes. I mean, that was just oh, that was amazing to see. And like Julianne, who did your blitzed out woman makeup, like the tears all over your face?

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: Jennifer Popochock was doing hair and Jeanne.

SUE CORCORAN: And Jeanne Kobayashi.

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: And she wanted to go further. I was like, I think we’re there.” She’s like, “Let’s just go a little further. Let’s just get this hair popping out of this mole right here. This one was brown. She cracked. It was done. And before that scene, we all know how fun it is to get into our moments before we’re even shooting. And before that scene, Sue, you just let me just go off. I was just losing my shirt in the dressing room. And how good does that feel when you’re paid and promoted to have a bit of a breakdown? Like that’s bliss, right? In the name of creativity.

ELIJAH NELSON: I think we could all use a paid break down right now.

SUE CORCORAN: Thank you. Whatever you need.

RACHELLE HENRY: Oh, I forgot to ask Justin about, like, Florida. You have a scene where you’re in a swimming pool. Was it freezing in the pool or was it actually warm in there?

JUSTIN HOWELL: Well, I didn’t actually get in the pool. I was just floating on some sort of flotation device. I don’t remember what it was. I was floating on something.

SUE CORCORAN: The pool was warm, though, just so you know. It was actually indoors.

JUSTIN HOWELL: It was an indoor pool. Yeah, right.

RACHELLE HENRY: Good. Keep you warm.

SUE CORCORAN: You know what’s a cute thing that Elliott taught me about the Florida thing? We were going to make him really tan, you know, in the movie because he lives in Florida and he’s like, “No, no, Sue. A lot of, you know, older people live in Florida, and they don’t get tan in the sun. They watch their skin.” And I was like, “Oh, yeah, he’s right.” So, you know, you got to listen.

ANGELA DIMARCO: Good call.

SASHA KERBEL: Yeah, that’s a good observation. Tell us about the funniest moments each of you had on set. What was each of your favorite scene or scenes in the film? Any improvised moments that we haven’t heard about that made it into the movie? Let’s start with Sue.

SUE CORCORAN: I’m going to start with Elliott and David.

SASHA KERBEL: Let’s start with Elliott and David.

DAVID DELUISE: I already answered this question. The one.

SUE CORCORAN: Find another one.

RACHELLE HENRY & ANGELA DIMARCO: What? Ira? What, Ira? What, What?

SUE CORCORAN: Let Elliott do it.

ELLIOTT GOULD: That was it for me. And as I said, Sue going with it, because I thought it was sort of bold and I don’t think it was expected. You know, I thought, what can I do? I’ve had this kid here. He’s, I thought, thinking he’s my grandson and he’s not. He’s someone who’s someone else. And so the idea of shock and it’s not nothing intellectual, it’s purely emotional and again, that was the idea that we went with it, was really important to me. And that Sue allowed us to go with it that, that’s a great moment for me.

RACHELLE HENRY: Can you do the What? Where’s Ira? Because none of us can do it justice.

ELLIOTT GOULD: I do it all the time. When I go, I have a shower. I go “What? What?”

ANGELA DIMARCO: Nailed it.

DAVID DELUISE: If I may say it, it is a matter of trust, right? So, we have to trust Sue and she has to trust us. And we all have to trust each other that it’s then it’s working, you know. But I think, you know, a big testament to Sue is allowing that to happen. And also being a judge of that, you know. And as a lot of us have been directing now, it’s hard not to go, okay, this is exactly what I thought about this last Friday and we had to do this exact thing. And that’s what, you know, to have trust and enough confidence in yourself to allow this to happen. I mean, obviously, for me, I would say, “Elliott, do whatever you want because it’s genius.” But that is a big thing that I learned from both of you in this arena that we’re playing in, if you have that trust, you’re very lucky, you know? And on this film, we all got along and we had a great time. But sometimes people are not very nice and you don’t get along and you still have to do your job. You know, you still have to get through it and do your best to make it as real as possible, you know, and that’s one of the big things that I learned from Elliott is…not about being nice or not nice, but just analyzing what’s going on. How would I react in this situation? What’s the reality of what’s happening in this moment? You know? Okay. And one other thing. The other moment, when Elliott leans to me and says “She sounds like Barbra Streisand,” it was a real moment for me, too.

RACHELLE HENRY: Oh my gosh!

SASHA KERBEL: That is so funny.

SUE CORCORAN: I wanted to just, could I quickly give David a compliment that I’ve wanted to give him since it’s a little bit of a love fest? What I really like about how you played his son, you played Elliott’s son is you really played it like you had this very deep relationship, to me. Like, I really see the layers that you put on as an actor of how you love him, and he drives you crazy. And that combination, and the way you guys played that together, I really believed you were related. And I really see that relationship and I thought it was really, really lovely.

DAVID DELUISE: Thank you for that and thank you, Elliott.

ELLIOTT GOULD: I love David’s father, Dom.

ANGELA DIMARCO: Yes!

SUE CORCORAN: Totally.

ELLIOTT GOULD: We…it’s very moving to me. We wanted to work together, and I had some thoughts about that. And so, and in relation to the depth of a relationship, regardless of how we act, there’s something deep in us and I really appreciate that we’re able to have it. The only time between us on screen.

RACHELLE HENRY: I remember you guys on set actually talking about that. I mean, I got to hear you guys, you know, improvise and just talk to each other between takes. And I do remember that conversation. It’s beautiful looking back on those memories and thinking about that and that you could really feel the chemistry in the relationship between you guys.

So what about you, Justin? What was some of the funniest scenes that you had to film?

JUSTIN HOWELL: I’ve been preparing this question before…ever since I found out about the podcast, because this one scene is the most memorable scene of my career, probably. So it was the final scene, when we’re all in the audience and the play’s going on. And in one take, in the middle of the middle of the take, I had this horrible pain in my stomach. And I, as soon as they yelled cut, I just like, bent over in pain. And I think it was Christian came over to me and he asked me…he was a guy who took care of me on set. He asked me what was wrong and I said, “I need to get fresh air.” So I started to walk towards the exit. And once we got towards the exit, my mom was with me and she asked me if I just had to fart. And so I didn’t know, but I was, “I’ll try.” So I went to the bathroom and I farted and I felt much better. But I walked back over and I’ll be very curious to know of Elliott and David remember this. I walked back over to Elliott because I talked to them pretty much between takes all the time, and I told them what happened. And Elliott told me that the first step to becoming a great actor is being able to fart in front of people and not care. And so in front of them, and I said, “Well, I guess I just took my first step.” And then I walked away.

ELLIOTT GOULD: That’s a great story. That should be in the sequel, Sue.

ANGELA DIMARCO: Real. That’s character. Proud of you.

SASHA KERBEL: That is so funny.

RACHELLE HENRY: Okay, Tony. What was your funniest story on set?

TONY DOUPE: Well, I don’t know if it’s funny, but to me I just so it was a big, small crew, if that makes sense. And there were some big scenes that we shot with a lot of people. And the airport scene to me was one of my most memorable because it was this choreography that was really tight and it just established so many dynamics with not a lot of words as far as how our family functioned. And if you watch it, there’s so many these physical bits that go on that are really subtle, that kind of show the dynamics of how Cynthia and I worked as parents. And so that was probably my most memorable scene and when I watch that, I just think of how the chore that Sue had with her crew, with those hitting scenes, but pulled it off so well. So that’s one of my favorites. I mean, it’s not a funny scene per se, but subtle. There’s some subtlety that I really love.

ANGELA DIMARCO: It’s cool when you get a whole like segment of Sea-Tac and we just got to like take over the airport. That felt pretty baller. I thought that felt pretty amazing.

TONY DOUPE: Yeah, we shot at Wenatchee, right?

ANGELA DIMARCO: Oh, we were at Sea-Tac. Okay. Yeah.

TONY DOUPE: So, two airports and one film.

ANGELA DIMARCO: Come on, now.

TONY DOUPE: Yeah.

SUE CORCORAN: So, Angela, it was Elijah that had to run on that moving walkway.

ANGELA DIMARCO: Right.

ELIJAH NELSON: I remember that. Yeah.

ANGELA DIMARCO: I remember that walkway. I was in those four-inch heels. Now I do want to say this. Everybody said the “What? The “What” is my favorite improv? Because for me as an actress, it wasn’t my first feature, but it was definitely one of the bigger films and better roles and amazing casts for me and working with Sue. Oh my God.

So being able to improv with Elliott and then David and I to improv with Elliott, amazing. But I got to shout out my son, Elijah. So, I think for me, my favorite scenes, and some of them had some ad libbing in there that Sue let us do, was when David and I and Elijah all met for the first time at our house. And we had to do a lot of the family establishing scenes. So, there was with the tree, there was me with the groceries. And then the next day was a beautiful scene where we came up into his bedroom and wanted to make sure he felt okay. But for improv and mishaps, it would be me and Elijah and that Chihuahua on the patio. And he’s like up on the…I remember Elijah’s just up on the bench and he’s like, “He bit me, and I have a scar.”

And that dog was like scraping into me and I’m like, “It’s fine. He’s nice.” And it was just her, and we’re trying to get the dog to sit and the dog’s like, “I’ll stand.” And we’re trying to get the dog to stand. He’s like, “I’m going to sit.” I mean, that dog was a diva. That’s all I’m going to say.

Yeah, but working with Elijah, and I’ve been honored and blessed to work with him again as a teen, I played his mom again. He’s incredible. Kid was 11. I mean, now you’re a little superstar, but you were so there and present. And I’m like, when David and I would start riffing, you were just like, okay, and jump right in. Incredible, incredible.

ELIJAH NELSON: Thank you for those kind words, Angela.

SUE CORCORAN: I have to say in Elijah’s story, because he was very mature as an actor at that age. And he had his, your older sister, Mary, I believe Mary as an acting coach. And he would ask me for what he needed, which was really mature for his age. And I thought that was just so sweet. You’d say, you know, like when you had to do the scene where you had to cry in the tree…and he really needed a moment, you know, he just needed that actor’s moment to go away and just talk to his sister and get himself prepared for the scene, you know, and me get out of the way. And I just thought that was so great that a kid that age could ask for what he needed so he could do his scene. And that was really…I really respected him for that.

ELIJAH NELSON: Thank you, Sue.

RACHELLE HENRY: That’s amazing. So were you actually playing violin?

ELIJAH NELSON: So, first of all, I would just say Sue and Angela, thank you so much for those kind words. Really like I was just trying to keep up and learn as much as I could from you guys, Elliott, David, everyone on set. Yeah. And it was just such a memory that stuck with me. That violin was funny because I could not play to save my life. I think. I think. Sue, you brought in a real violin instructor, and the guy tried to teach me how to play violin. By the end, the guy was just like you just…whatever. Just do your best, because I could not get it. And so on the day, Angela, I remember that day, like in the bedroom, the audio on the day was like the most awful thing you’ve ever heard. And then Sue did movie magic and put a real professional violin player over it, and it sounded amazing. Yeah. So that was a funny, just like off camera, but…

SUE CORCORAN: But not too amazing. Believable.

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: It (he) was still 11. Yeah.

SASHA KERBEL: Oh, my God. That’s hilarious. How about you, Cynthia? Do you remember any moments that were the funniest, the most memorable for you?

CYNTHIA GEARY: My favorite, no doubt, was the last scene with the culmination. And I was just in the audience, and I believe that the best acting is when you’re not acting, you’re reacting. And I got to stand there and be a part of the audience. I met Elliott there and David and we chatted. It was lovely. I mean, you know, I was teary just watching the kids up there and watching Shaye’s scene. And it was so…I felt like I was in the audience watching my children. I mean, that’s the environment that Sue created so that we didn’t ever really have to act. I mean, even when you’re improvising and doing crazy, silly things, the environment that she created is so comfortable and the costumes, the sets, everything make it so easy that you just be…in it and it’s fun. We don’t really have to work at it. And thank you, Sue. And I have to say another Sue thing on that same subject. I mean, we’re all talking about how great Sue let’s us do these things in improv and try new things when she’s got to shoot 20 pages or 12 pages a day. And that is a real testament, because under that kind of pressure, on a low budget movie, you can’t go back and shoot it again. And to be able to have the confidence to let your actors play around, it’s great. And thank you.

SUE CORCORAN: Well, you’re welcome. But I get schooled every day. I mean, I work with actors and do a lot of media. But every time I’m working with people and I’m going back to David’s comment about that thing of like I had it in my mind this way? Just the more I work, the older I get, I’m always like, “I hadn’t imagined it that way.” That’s interesting, you know? And like, let somebody do it and then maybe do an adjustment so that you have some options and edit. And then I swear, half the time, more than half the time, I get into an edit, I’m like, they did it right the first time. Their instinct was better. I cast a good actor. They did a great job, you know.

SASHA KERBEL: Exactly well, theater and movies are teamwork and as we all know, teamwork makes the dream work.

And Julianne, how about you?

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: It was all fun for me. It was. She was…

SUE CORCORAN: Except for the cheese.

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: That was a lot of cheese.

ANGELA DIMARCO: And that dog. And that was the dog again.

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: It was, you know, but it was fun. It was fun. The mishaps with the dog. It wasn’t probably as fun for Sue as it was for us because of the time crunch of things. 

SUE CORCORAN: You guys, you cut to a close up of the dog and then you go back to wherever you were.

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: Yeah, we got enough of the dog and we could just fill the dog in. But it was just like even when you’re playing a big character, it’s the realness and the authenticity of her that just allowed me to actually surprise myself, working with these geniuses. Like, I just…I had the best time. David and Elijah and I had the best time with the tree thing at the beginning when he’s like, “You’re not my mom, and you’re not my Christmas.” Right? And just like that, just sort of like that little rivalry that we had at the beginning. And with Jennifer, you know, it’s all about her. And so it was just sort of fun to play in this world. And, you know, it was all fun. Working with David, in the dressing room, when I was hammered and just, you know, just spent…just was like I said, I think one of my very favorite memories of my funny career.

SASHA KERBEL: And Desperate Jane is such a great character. I mean, I was watching the movie and I wish it was a show so there would be some more back stories of each character, including Jane and how she got to this point.

RICO E. ANDERSON: This is “The Lightning Hour” with Rachelle, Rico and Sasha. We’re here today with Sue Corcoran, co-writer, director and producer, Mr. Elliott Gould, Mr. David Louise, Angela DiMarco, Elijah Nelson, Justin Howell, Tony Doupe, Cynthia Geary and Julianne Christie. They are the director and leading cast of the Christmas classic “All I Want Is Christmas,” available on streaming platforms in the US and across the world.

Let’s take a look at a scene from the movie.

DAVID DELUISE: What happened with the… Why is there 17 names for the movie?

SUE CORCORAN: Do you think I had any control over that?

DAVID DELUISE: Oh, okay.

SUE CORCORAN: Oh, no. I have a contract with the distributor that said, “I have complete control over the branding and the title and everything.” And then they just did what they wanted and said to me, “Well, I guess you’ll have to sue us.” So I’m sorry. I thought you knew about this business, David.

DAVID DELUISE: I do. That’s what Disney said to the creator of “Wizards of Waverly Place.” He got X amount of percentage from the merchandise and he was like, “They’re not sending it to me. I don’t understand what’s going on.” And they said to him, “Oh, you don’t know. You’ll have to sue us to get it.” Yeah. And they just went in there and said that. I was like, “Oh, that’s crazy.” Well, whatever he was supposed to get, $1,000,000, but it’ll cost, you know, $500,000 to sue. And I’m going to stop talking there, but thank you, Sue.

SUE CORCORAN: But just so you know, I see these crazy, you know, distribution receipts that show a lot of money on streaming. And then the distributor says there’s all these debts against the movie, but I get the movie back. So that’s what they do. And I get the movie back next year and I’m just going to rerelease it as “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas” because people keep watching it. It’s a lovely movie. And then when that money actually comes in, that’s going to you guys and investors, and I have not given up on it as at least you guys are wonderful. And any dime I can get you, I will.

DAVID DELUISE: And that’s great. And you know what we should do? We should maybe do a commentary or something like we can do a talk thing about it or a little interview or something. Let me know when you do get it back and we’ll push it out there.

SUE CORCORAN: I will. Absolutely. And now I have to figure out how to take this awesome sequel script and write it. How old are you now, Elijah?

ELIJAH NELSON: 21.

SUE CORCORAN: Okay, well, you could play like 16, right?

ELIJAH NELSON: I play 16 all the time. That’s all I play. And Sue, I want to tell you. To this day, to this day, I will go into casting rooms and then the casting director would be like, “You know why I brought you in here? It’s because I watched “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas.” And I love that movie. “Like, you recognize me?” Yes, to this day, I still get recognized.

RACHELLE HENRY: Oh, my gosh. That’s perfect, though.

SUE CORCORAN: It’s Ira and his grandpa in a ‘57 Chevy driving through Mexico to go find David DeLuise on the set of his movie down there where he’s making a horror movie.

DAVID DELUISE: Listen, Sue. You can use my house. We can use this place.

SUE CORCORAN: Done! I’ll get the money. We can’t wait. We’ve got to get this done.

SASHA KERBEL: And it’s time for the lightning round. And here we ask our guests the tough questions. Each of you will get your own question. And here’s a question for you, Sue. What is your favorite Christmas song to perform with your husband, Vince Gates and Angie Louise?

SUE CORCORAN: Wow. Wow. You mean when I’m doing my shows or for the movie? Mine is me and Vincent’s original song called “Hang Your Lights on the Christmas Tree, Baby.” I’ll give you a recording of it. We’re about to release it.

RACHELLE HENRY: I’d love to include that in here. And I hope that you can make that sequel, because that would be hilarious!

All right, Mr. Gould, I have a great one for you. Latkes or knish.

ELLIOTT GOULD: Latkes.

DAVID DELUISE: That was so quick. What a quick answer.

ELLIOTT GOULD: Well, I see what you say. Latkes, potato pancakes. Well done. My grandma Esther used to make them for me.

RACHELLE HENRY: Oh, I mean, we had references in the movie to all this. The Jewish snacks, and I was like, “What is your favorite?”

SASHA KERBEL: Delicious. Yeah.

DAVID DELUISE: I was at. Oh, God, I’m embarrassed now.I was at a certain Jewish gathering. And I was like, These latkes are amazing. So I had a couple and then I went back and I had some more and I was like, you know, nobody else is going. And I had some more. And then the mom said, “You’ve had nine. Stop it.

SASHA KERBEL: That’s what I usually do when I bake them every year. I start…I will just try one and then like, okay, I think I ate all of them. I need to start all over for the rest of the family. I did it. David, I have a question for you.

DAVID DELUISE: I am so nervous right now. Hold on.

SASHA KERBEL: Oh, yeah. It’s a tough question. What is your favorite holiday tradition around “the Christmas?”

DAVID DELUISE: My favorite. Hold on 1 second. “Hello? No, I’m doing an interview right now. Yeah, no, I have to call you. I’m sorry, guys. Hold on 1 second. I’ll call you back, okay?” My favorite Christmas tradition was that my family, we would get together and we would play games and do just games, and all day, we’d open stuff, and then we would just interact and play games. I miss that. That’s the thing that you can’t just recreate. But I play games now with my wife. We play games.

RACHELLE HENRY: What games?

DAVID DELUISE: We play, UNO. Oh, and Settlers of Catan. There’s this two-person Settlers of Catan, which is really fun. So that’s my favorite Christmas thing that I used to do with my family.

RACHELLE HENRY: Oh, I love that.

SASHA KERBEL: Lovely.

RACHELLE HENRY: All right, Angela. I have one. Seahawks, Mariners, Sounders or our new hockey team, the Kraken. Which one is your favorite?

ANGELA DIMARCO: Well, is Seahawks an option in there? Well, obviously, if you know me or my husband, pretty much 20 years ago when David S Hogan and I started dating, it was very clear for us to continue doing so, his parents needed me to get into football. I’ve always been a Sonics basketball fan. As you guys who follow basketball know, we no longer have them. So he started educating me on the Hawks and yeah. Just got that W yesterday, so yes, Go Hawks! And I have to say because for those who like non-football followers, totally fine. But Pete Carroll, their coach, is so much like how David and I are as educators. He’s all about positivity. He’s all about staying neutral and in the moment and living in the now and just taking it one game at a time. And that’s what we should do as actors.

RACHELLE HENRY: Well, you have actually in your coaching of me and in your classes, you have talked about the Seahawks and like their game. But, you know, you do reference them and I love it.

ANGELA DIMARCO: I should be getting a kickback from them.

RACHELLE HENRY: Right. Come on, NFL!

ANGELA DIMARCO: Yeah, good call. Good call, Rachelle.

SASHA KERBEL: Now, Elijah.

ELIJAH NELSON: I must say all these questions are so, like, tailored to each person. You guys have done excellent research, like, really tailored questions. I’m ready for mine. I’m excited.

SASHA KERBEL: Thank you. Now get ready for yours. Which do you prefer making content for? TikTok or YouTube?

ELIJAH NELSON: You have done your research! You’ve done amazing! I like TikTok because it’s shorter, it’s like 15 seconds. You know, YouTube, you got to look at it more as a whole, like a short film. But with TikTok, you just need one good joke. You’re like, “Hey, you know what’d be funny? If David DeLuise picked up a banana in the middle of an interview and started like, right? And that’s one joke. And then that’s a TikTok.

RACHELLE HENRY: You had a video go viral on YouTube the other day.

ELIJAH NELSON: And it was number two on trending. A couple of our videos these past few weeks have gotten 20 million views, which for us is just like…So yeah, that’s a fun thing I do when I’m not acting on TV shows.

SUE CORCORAN: So you’re going to have to use your cred to promote this movie.

ELIJAH NELSON: Yeah. Plug it.

RACHELLE HENRY: You’re our influencer.
Now, Justin, because all three are referenced in the movie: Tennis, football or baseball?

JUSTIN HOWELL: Oh, man. Well, I’m not much of a tennis player, and I really didn’t like baseball because I was afraid of the ball. So I’m going to have to go with football because I really enjoyed football. So yeah, I’m going to go with that one.

SASHA KERBEL: So Tony, which would you rather attend a rodeo or a football game?

TONY DOUPE: Oh, I’m in Angela’s camp and that’s football! There’ll be times when Angela and David and I would be working together, teaching, and we’d all have our Seahawk hats on, and it was crazy!

ANGELA DIMARCO: What’s going on? David, it’s not a Hawks hat!

DAVID S HOGAN: It’s an Oregan hat. That’s the State of Oregon. That’s a basketball. Oh, you guys here? If you wanted me to come in here.
I’m here to talk about…

SUE CORCORAN: It’s like real life. You just came out, and I have Angela cast in something in real life, and somehow David Hogan will find a part somehow.

RACHELLE HENRY: Love you, David!

ANGELA DIMARCO: They love you.

SASHA KERBEL: Now, Cynthia, hot chocolate, eggnog or apple cider, spiked versions included.

CYNTHIA GEARY: Eggnog spiked, of course.

SASHA KERBEL: Yes, that’s my camp.

CYNTHIA GEARY: Sometimes.

RACHELLE HENRY: Now, Julianne, I have a very, very tough one for you. What was Pookie’s motivation?

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: Pookie’s motivation was to make it Pookie: The Film. It’s all about Pookie’s Christmas. Pookie was pretty sweet. He was just a fat boy dog. And you know, I think he had an identity crisis because we were calling him Pookie and turned him into a villain, dressed him like a girl. And he was experiencing void and identity issues.

RACHELLE HENRY: But the red nail polish on him. Oh, my gosh.

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: Just the whole thing. I love working with animals and I love them around me all the time. And it’s so nice to come into a set where, as you are all said and are correct, that this is a true family, with the animals just really make that even more like home, right? You’re just so in your moment and so present when the animals are involved. So I’m hoping with the work I’m doing I’m going to bring in baby goats and dogs and just have them just wandering.

ANGELA DIMARCO: Oh, my God. Yes.

RACHELLE HENRY: Mama DiMarco! I see Bruno!

ANGELA DIMARCO: He knows when stuff is wrapping up. Oh. And he’s in his Hawks jersey.

DAVID DELUISE: Oh how nice.

RACHELLE HENRY: Oh, my goodness. He’s so sweet.

SUE CORCORAN: Your movie wife is crazy. David.

DAVID DELUISE: I know, and she’s awesome.

ANGELA DIMARCO: Thank you. It’s why it works. It’s why it works.

RACHELLE HENRY: You’re great at working and being married to Davids.

ANGELA DIMARCO: I’m good with Davids. That’s in my writer. And Elijah can be my only son. It’s true. All other movies, I’ve only had daughters, so it’s like I only can be with Elijah. That’s it.

SASHA KERBEL: Let’s now, let’s find out where people can find you on how people can find you actually on social media. Eliott, let’s start with you.

ELLIOTT GOULD: I don’t know. I mean, you can try. You know, I really don’t do it sometimes. The recent television series, the network has demanded that we do it. So I would think that it’s out there and it can be found. And then other people take your name, too. But I don’t know. I mean, years, but I’m findable here on this earth. You know, all you have to do is look into yourself.

DAVID DELUISE: My God. Elliott Gould is so deep.

RACHELLE HENRY: David, how about you?

DAVID DELUISE: Well, first of all, I want to say that Elliott is my hero and that I think, yes, I’ll give you the information. You know, I’m on Twitter and Instagram, but getting off of those every once in a while, is amazing. Elijah, Congratulations on your getting a lot of views. And I know that that’s a big part of what happens. But I’m going to just say this. I produced an audio play for kids called “Grandma for President.” It’s on Audible. And if you go to my Instagram, it’s all over there. But that was so fun and we got Mel Brooks to do a part in it and it’s cute. It’s about a little 11 year old who writes the thing about his grandmother and she becomes an actual viable candidate, which is really fun. And I got to produce it with my wife, which was really great and wonderful experience. But so yes, I’m on the Instagram and the Twitters and stuff.

RACHELLE HENRY: You’re on Instagram,  Twitter, and you’re promoting “The Christmas” in this movie.

SUE CORCORAN: And that audio book. Yeah, it’s very good. And I went and I got it off Audible, David.

RACHELLE HENRY: Elijah, how can people find you on social media?

ELIJAH NELSON: Yeah, I’m on Instagram and then, like I said, TikTok and YouTube. But it’s under the name Shiloh & Bros, because that’s the channel.

SUE CORCORAN: What is it?

ELIJAH NELSON: Shiloh & Bros. I make it with my siblings.

SUE CORCORAN: Oh, right. “Bros.”

ANGELA DIMARCO: Shiloh & Bros.

SUE CORCORAN: Yeah, no, I get it. I get it now. And I wrote it down. I wrote it down.

ELIJAH NELSON: My sister’s name, Shiloh and I’m one of the brothers, so.

SASHA KERBEL: How about you, Angela?

ANGELA DIMARCO: Twitter and IG is @ I’m Angela DiMarco. Facebook is just Angela DiMarco or Mama DiMarco and yeah, all actors out there, need some mightytripod.com.

SASHA KERBEL: Yes. Wonderful. How about you, Justin?

JUSTIN HOWELL: Well, I’m on Instagram and YouTube and TikTok. I’m not nearly as big as Elijah, but for about the past year I’ve been doing YouTube and Tik Tok with my girlfriend. So it’s called Justin and Ariel on YouTube and TikTok. And then my Instagram is Justin. T Howell but check it out.

SASHA KERBEL: Wonderful. Cynthia?

CYNTHIA GEARY: Well, you would have to ask my children because my daughter made my Instagram and my Facebook account and I don’t know, but I think if you Google me, you can probably find I’m like, Elliott, you know, I think I’m out there somewhere, but, you know, but you ask me how to get there.

SASHA KERBEL: Okay? We will find you. Tony.

TONY DOUPE: I’m not on any social media either. Never Have been, but I still have a phone on my wall in the kitchen and I use that one quite a bit. And I use something. I use something called the email. And that one’s pretty good too, as well.

RACHELLE HENRY: So, I always love contacting you on the email.

SASHA KERBEL: Julianne?

JULIANNE CHRISTIE: Tony, are you really not out there because someone hacked you and just followed me.

TONY DOUPE: I get hacked a lot. I get hacked a lot. I know.

JULLIANNE CHRISTIE: Anyway, I Instagram. I’m under the Vancouver Actors Guild. We’re also known as The Badge. It’s a television comedy series that I’ve created here in Vancouver. So it’s the Vancouver Actors Guild Facebook. I’m Julianne Christie. I’m not there too much, to really use it for networking and for, you know, just sort of sharing big ideas. I’m on Twitter. It’s become darkly too political for me with some of the people in this last couple of weeks. It’s been like really hard on my cuticles. So it’s pulled away just a little bit. I’m just doing a little bit of a cleanse. But, you know, I’m easy to find.

SASHA KERBEL: All right. And you, Sue?

SUE CORCORAN: Well, I’ve got a website vonpiglet.com. It’s not really updated but you know, there’s a little bit of social media. I did get on Twitter recently, but I started harassing Trump so badly that I had to stop. I had to back off. So yeah. So, I’m going to try to, you know, up my game. I’m learning from the kids, you know, so maybe TikTok will happen sometime. I don’t really know. I’m a behind-the-camera person. I’m not in front of the camera person. You know what I mean?

RACHELLE HENRY: You’re beautiful.

SUE CORCORAN: I don’t do that, though. I make you people, then the thing goes somewhere else…

DAVID DELUISE: The thing with the whatnots.

SUE CORCORAN: And it goes over there with…

ANGELA DIMARCO: With the “What?” “What?”

DAVID DELUISE: “What?” “What?” We used to write a bunch of Christmas cards, like 1,500 Christmas cards a year. And we would lick them and put them out and everything. And then the email happened and my Mom was responding to all these emails. People were like…and she went and and responded to everybody and said, like, Tony, “I am here. You can call me or you can write me a letter. I’m not doing emailing. She just was like, “No.” I mean, my parents had an assistant, but she was like, “I’m out. I’m not doing it.” And she had so much more enjoyable time in her life because she wasn’t controlled by it, you know? So I just wanted to say…

SUE CORCORAN: That is definitely a point. And I just wanted to say, David, I know your mother passed recently, and I just wanted to tell you, we’re sending you so much love.

DAVID DELUISE: Thank you. Thank you. The Friday before she passed, she had Alzheimer’s for 11 years. And Elliott, I want to say thank you for calling and checking in our mom. That was very, it’s very touching to me. And I got to be with her and a compassionate visit. I was able to hold her hand and give her a hug two days before she passed away. And, you know, in this crazy COVID time, that was everything. It’s just, it’s so amazing that just a hug is so important right now. You know? Thank you for saying that, Sue.

RACHELLE HENRY: Well, I’m sending lots of love your way. And to all of you, I mean, I know this time has been crazy for everyone, but I’m very happy that we all had this opportunity to reconnect.

SUE CORCORAN: Thank you. Thanks to you, Rachelle and Sasha. Thank you for having a show.

RICO E. ANDERSON: Thank you. Our guests today were the amazing director, Sue Corcoran, and the incredible cast, including Academy Award nominated Mr. Elliott Gould, David DeLuise, Angela DiMarco, Elijah Nelson, Justin Howell, Tony Doupe, Cynthia Geary and Julianne Christie, who are all part of the Christmas classic “All I Want Is Christmas,” also known as “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas,” also known as “Switchmas.”

SUE CORCORAN: Should be “Ira Finkelstein’s Christmas.”

RACHELLE HENRY: We love Ira. I have loved having guys on the show and I love you guys so much and I’m so happy that we got to spend the holidays together in this way. So thank you so much for being here. This really means a lot to me and I hope that we can do something like this again because that would be so much fun.

SUE CORCORAN: Make a sequel. David will come.

DAVID DELUISE: Yes, soon!

SUE CORCORAN: With Elliott.

RACHELLE HENRY: Let’s do one more photo really quick.

SASHA KERBEL: Let’s all say “WHAT?”

RACHELLE HENRY: One, two, three. “WHAT?” So much fun!

DAVID DELUISE: Thank you so much for having us!

EVERYONE: Bye. Be safe everyone!

ANGELA DIMARCO: Mishpocha! MISHPOCHA!

EVERYONE: (Blowing goodbye kisses)

RICO E. ANDERSON: Our guests today were Director Sue Corcoran and cast: Academy Award nominated Mr. Elliott Gould, David DeLouise, Angela DiMarco, Elijah Nelson, Justin Howell, Tony Doupe, Cynthia Geary and Julluiane Christie. All in the Christmas classic “All I Want Is Christmas” now streaming on platforms including Direct TV, Amazon Prime, iTunes, Google Play, Fandango, is now and more. Thanks, everybody. Thank you so much for joining us and for the fun conversation. Happy Holidays!

RACHELLE HENRY: This was “The Lightning Hour.” I’m Rachelle Henry.

RICO E. ANDERSON: I’m Rico E. Anderson.

SASHA KERBEL: And I’m Sasha Kerbel.

RACHELLE HENRY: Don’t forget to support us by giving this video a “LIKE.” Subscribe to our YouTube channel and click the little bell sign so you can get notifications when we post new shows.

RICO E. ANDERSON: Follow us on social media to learn more about “The Lightning Hour” and the three of us, its hosts. You’ll find the links below as well as info about our guests when we post new shows.

SASHA KERBEL: We encourage you to post your questions for us in the comments section as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We will be answering them in future episodes. Thanks for watching and we will see you next Friday, same time, same place. Have a great weekend!

RACHELLE HENRY: Bye! Merry Christmas!

RICO E. ANDERSON: Happy Holidays!

RACHELLE HENRY: Happy Hanukkah!

RICO E. ANDERSON: Happy Kwanzaa!

SASHA KERBEL: Happy Holidays!