Dec 8, 2025
Do you hear the bells and festive music? Feel that cold weather
nipping at your toes? Smell the gingerbread and peppermint? I guess
that means only one thing: Meika, cue up the Ed Asner clips because
the yearly Sam Pancake Holiday Special is upon us once more and
we're all out of Paul Lynde specials to cover.
Today's episode takes us on a sentimental and heartwarming journey
through ABC's 1977 Hanna-Barbera produced made-for-tv film The
Gathering, starring legendary actors Ed Asner and Maureen
Stapleton. Also of note, the movie was written by Academy Award
winner James Poe, who gave us the screenplays for Around the World
in 80 Days and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Ed Asner plays a grumpy and blunt middle-aged executive who finds
himself facing a terminal illness diagnosis. He is forced to
confront the prospect of leaving behind the life that he has built
and the family he loves but has often taken for granted. In the
end, The Gathering
becomes more than just a family reunion. It’s a cathartic and
emotional journey, one that teaches the importance of love,
forgiveness, and the fleeting nature of time. With his
characteristic stubbornness and unflinching honesty, he shows his
family the value of coming together when it matters most, even as
he faces his own mortality.
From everyone at Sam Pancake Presents: The Monday Afternoon Movie,
we'd like to wish you all a very merry holiday season. May it be
filled with all of the things you love and cherish.
Love what you hear? Want to show your support for Sam Pancake & The
Monday Afternoon Movie? Make sure to follow on the official Patreon
page and pledge a few bucks if you are able, and get access to a
new bonus episode every month, 4 behind-the-scenes exclusive
videos, as well as all past episodes and content for hours upon
hours of Pancake action.
Sam's Patreon Page
Show Links:
Watch today's film: The
Gathering
Sam Pancake's Instagram
Sam Pancake's Linktree
Alonso Duralde's Instagram
Alonso's Patreon page: Linoleum Knife
Check out Alonso's book, Have
Yourself a Movie Little Christmas
Alonso's previous episode on Monday Afternoon Movie: Horror at 37,000 Feet
This episode was engineered & produced by Meika Grimm.