SantaLand Diaries from David Sedaris' collection 'Barrel Fever.' Enjoyed it so much I went horse reading it to long suffering friends and family over Christmas.
If you ever get hacked off at him, and you need a truce device, think of this very good favor he did for you. You'll sprout an olive branch out your @$$. Happy New Year.
I work at a santa set at a mall. I was working at the front one night. We were pretty slow, I was pretty bored. This guy walks up to me and asks me "Have you heard of David Sedaris?" I responded with "No." He told me that I should look him up and listen to him. He said that because I work at a santa set I might relate to this stuff. He was right. I am so glad he told me about this, becuase if he didnt I might never of found out about this. If the man who told me about this video is reading this, Thank you. I didnt want to work that night, I was tired. But after you told me about this that made my night. So again, thank you
I watch this video every year on xmas eve. I've always hated this holiday because of some stuff in my past but I like this. It's certainly christmasy but not aggressively cheerful or in your face. It's chill. Thanks for posting
The whole thing is pretty much comedy dynamite, but I was just about "... havin' the Big One, Elizabeth!" when he busted out in the Billie Holiday voice. This particular part never fails to make me laugh so hard that tears run down my face. The neighbors sure know when I'm listenin' to it again...
I just laughed and laughed at the Away in a Manger rendition like Billie Holiday at minute 29. That was priceless. It was worth the whole listening on NPR tonight....one night after Christmas 2018. I was driving through blinding rain and frustrated, but this made my day! I would like to have heard the rest of the song sung like that!
I listen to this every year on my drive home to visit my family for the holidays. It's such a perfectly sardonic read of prose and compelling wit that is the perfect antidote for the Holiday Blues. Truly a legacy of joy for my Holiday season for years and years to come.
This was a family tradition for our family as well, starting in '92 when it first aired. We later got a copy of the full version played on TAL. We still play it at family gatherings. Really captures the Christmas spirit 😫😋🎄🎅 "Oh little elf, little elf...!"🧝🏻
I LOVE THIS! It ain’t Christmas until I hear Andy Williams sing “hoop-Dee-doo & dickers-dock,” and listen or read the full Santaland Diaries ! One of the funniest stories ever! (I’ll never listen to “Away in a Manger” the same way again!)
Love hearing David Sedaris reading Santaland diaries. It is unfortunate that the story is cut off before the actual end however. The original ends with Sedaris leaving work to catch a flight home to see his family and he witnessed a co-worker engaging in a verbal fight with an angry customer.
Deee-umm! I've been enjoying this for at least 15 past Christmases and I've NEVER heard the ending with the co-worker and customer having a confrontation. Dammit. Am I missing much?
@@zacharyanderson3767 I will find that. I was incorrectly assuming it was part of the recording that had been cut off at the end. I never would have known the right place to look if you hadn't been so kind to answer. Happy Hollerdays.
I rather appreciate the ending as presented here, sort of left in the middle. You know there's more to be told, and you can only imagine how bad, good, or strange it's going to get.
Still can't believe my parents let me listen to this every year from the time I was six and they still don't see how odd that is. Great show, but not really your typical childhood Christmas story.
This is who Charlie Brown grows up to be---"good grief". lol lol lol OMG those poor, ghost of neurotic Christmas future, Jersey kids. The wife should have asked for the husband not to "dangle" like an elf. lol lol lol. '
I would’ve gladly traded ... anything! ... to be a member of the Sedaris family. Satirical royalty! Since hearing Mr. Sedaris perform a reading of SantaLand Diaries at The Atlantic in '95, his sensitive, jaded gentleness has kept me in tears. Billy Holiday's "Away in the Manger" sends me to the Urgent Care every time!
I don't know what method Anthony Swafford used to compose Jarhead, but he was my student in a undergrad poetry class & he was already an incredibly masterful prose writer. The genius was already in him.
David, would you please drop a Christmas Record, Billie Holiday inspired of course, including but not limited to Judy Garland's " Have yourself Merry Little Christmas" for the gays like me. just asking.
I can't think of a comment that would add anything to this priceless piece of prose. David Sedaris is Christmas past, present and future. God bless us everyone...
Thankyou David you are part of my yearly Christmas "traditions".... and thank you Ri for introducing me all those years... i no ow have a disproportionate books by david compared to any othef author. Merry Christmas everyone ❤🎉 woohoo! M
"I usually avoid leaflets but it breaks my heart to see a grown man dressed as a taco"
It's that time of year, again 😁
Step on the magic star and see Cher
Yep it’s that time
Sent to me by my brother.....
If you ever get hacked off at him, and you need a truce device, think of this very good favor he did for you. You'll sprout an olive branch out your @$$. Happy New Year.
Love jason
“My urine had roaches and stems floating in it” LOL
I work at a santa set at a mall. I was working at the front one night. We were pretty slow, I was pretty bored. This guy walks up to me and asks me "Have you heard of David Sedaris?" I responded with "No." He told me that I should look him up and listen to him. He said that because I work at a santa set I might relate to this stuff. He was right. I am so glad he told me about this, becuase if he didnt I might never of found out about this. If the man who told me about this video is reading this, Thank you. I didnt want to work that night, I was tired. But after you told me about this that made my night. So again, thank you
Dombuscus What a lie.
Your videos show your lying.
Other families gather 'round the TV for "It's a Wonderful Life". We gather 'round the radio when NPR plays "The Santaland Diaries" every year.
Kristin Strong Congratulations!
Bob sez: And Sedaris is commercial-free!
Listen to the six-minute version on NPR, then replay the long version right here!
There's room in this vast world for both.
They quit, though - too subversive and non-PC. Sad.
I watch this video every year on xmas eve. I've always hated this holiday because of some stuff in my past but I like this. It's certainly christmasy but not aggressively cheerful or in your face. It's chill. Thanks for posting
Love the Billie Holliday impersonation. LOL!!!!
Long live David Sedaris.
This one never gets old. I've heard it probably a dozen times. Sedaris is a gift to humanity! Thank you David and Ira.
Yep
The retard bit has gotten old
Yes!
It's my annual tradition.
It's not officially Christmas until I've listened to this! Thanks David!
Snowball just leads elves on...Snowball is playing a dangerous game!
Snowball is hands down adorable...
Sedaris' producer said he nearly messed up the recording when Sedaris broke out in Billy Holiday, he laughed so hard.
It’s gotta be nigh impossible to hear this for the first time & not bust up laughing, there’s no way I could pull it off
The whole thing is pretty much comedy dynamite, but I was just about "... havin' the Big One, Elizabeth!" when he busted out in the Billie Holiday voice. This particular part never fails to make me laugh so hard that tears run down my face. The neighbors sure know when I'm listenin' to it again...
''I failed the drug test. My urine had roaches & stems floating in it and still they hired me.'' Rock on Krumpet!
I just laughed and laughed at the Away in a Manger rendition like Billie Holiday at minute 29. That was priceless. It was worth the whole listening on NPR tonight....one night after Christmas 2018. I was driving through blinding rain and frustrated, but this made my day! I would like to have heard the rest of the song sung like that!
Bless you for noting the time stamp for that song -- it never fails to make me laugh so hard I end up with tears running down my face.
I'd forgotten the Billie Holiday. This guy's definitely invited to my next party.
This has been a thirty year listen for me (ya I can't believe it either), and every year it seems fresh and new.
I do love it...
II cannot believe it has already been 25 years since I first ROTFLMAO to this.
+CATHERINE -- I'm still laughing. How is that possible?
Christmas decorations are up. Time to pour myself a mulled wine and listen to Santaland Diaries
Thanksgiving has Alice's Restaurant, Christmas has SantaLand Diaries.
I reminded him that I have a name, Krumpit.
The Billy Holiday bit still lights me up! So unexpected!
Billie
I listen to this every year on my drive home to visit my family for the holidays. It's such a perfectly sardonic read of prose and compelling wit that is the perfect antidote for the Holiday Blues. Truly a legacy of joy for my Holiday season for years and years to come.
He nailed the Billie Holiday
“Little elf , oh little elf... lol. Never gets old...
Heard this for the first time this morning on (you guessed it) NPR, had to pull over because I was laughing too much.
"I'm gonna get you fired"--I've heard that! And I thought nearly the same thing, who do these people think they are??
The original "Karen."
One of my favorite parts of the recording, 11:57. Every line worker in the service industry can relate.
The first time I heard his Away in a Manger I nearly wet myself.
Why did you not post the entire story ? I'm gonna have you fired,LOL.
It breaks my heart to see a grown man dressed as a taco(LMFAO).
Omg he did holiday like, holiday!! I died!!! Hysterical.
This was a family tradition for our family as well, starting in '92 when it first aired. We later got a copy of the full version played on TAL.
We still play it at family gatherings.
Really captures the Christmas spirit 😫😋🎄🎅
"Oh little elf, little elf...!"🧝🏻
I listen to this every Christmas Eve. Happy Holidays everyone. See ya next year
If you all like this....check out 6 to 8 Black men by Dave Sedaris. ...sooooo funny...Merry Christmas
Christina Shepard will do, thanks
Fantastic ☺️☺️☺️ new Christmas tradition lol gonna play this every year 😂😂
A staple of my Christmas run-up.
The ending is so perfect and so ambiguous. Not happy, not sad, it just is.
This is my Christmas eve tradition. Merry Christmas everyone!
David Sedaris finally got the dream he wished for 2 minutes into this essay, and boy did he ever deserve it.
I LOVE THIS! It ain’t Christmas until I hear Andy Williams sing “hoop-Dee-doo & dickers-dock,” and listen or read the full Santaland Diaries ! One of the funniest stories ever! (I’ll never listen to “Away in a Manger” the same way again!)
NPR has butchered this beyond recognition over the years. The 5-minute edit they ran this morning barely even makes sense.
That may be true but NPR also gave him national exposure with that edited version in the early 90s.
My Christmas ritual too: Santaland Diaries and It’s a Wonderful Life.
I really needed this this year. Thank you for posting!
My family gathers around the fire and have hot cocoa and listen to this every Christmas Eve. 🎄
Love hearing David Sedaris reading Santaland diaries. It is unfortunate that the story is cut off before the actual end however. The original ends with Sedaris leaving work to catch a flight home to see his family and he witnessed a co-worker engaging in a verbal fight with an angry customer.
Deee-umm! I've been enjoying this for at least 15 past Christmases and I've NEVER heard the ending with the co-worker and customer having a confrontation. Dammit. Am I missing much?
@@imhere653 it's in the print versions, like the compilation "Holidays on Ice"
@@zacharyanderson3767
I will find that. I was incorrectly assuming it was part of the recording that had been cut off at the end. I never would have known the right place to look if you hadn't been so kind to answer. Happy Hollerdays.
I rather appreciate the ending as presented here, sort of left in the middle. You know there's more to be told, and you can only imagine how bad, good, or strange it's going to get.
Still can't believe my parents let me listen to this every year from the time I was six and they still don't see how odd that is. Great show, but not really your typical childhood Christmas story.
This has become a Christmas Eve tradition for me over the years.
This is who Charlie Brown grows up to be---"good grief". lol lol lol OMG those poor, ghost of neurotic Christmas future, Jersey kids. The wife should have asked for the husband not to "dangle" like an elf. lol lol lol.
'
First time hearing this, and it's going to be a family tradition along with Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe episode, Dave Cooks a Turkey.
After all these years, I still love this! So clever, so great & fun to listen to. I remember One Life To Live, lol.
Holiday just the way I like it. Bitter no sweet.
"I said I THOUGHT it was the line with all the WOMEN in it!"
In England Santa Claus gets mince pie and a glass of wine.
I wish this was adapted as a Movie
There is a stage version of it.
I would’ve gladly traded ... anything! ... to be a member of the Sedaris family. Satirical royalty! Since hearing Mr. Sedaris perform a reading of SantaLand Diaries at The Atlantic in '95, his sensitive, jaded gentleness has kept me in tears. Billy Holiday's "Away in the Manger" sends me to the Urgent Care every time!
You can join Tiffany. If you think being a member of that famiky is so great
This story is a family tradition and I think it is hilarious and genius
He writes like how Anthony Swafford wrote JARHEAD
I don't know what method Anthony Swafford used to compose Jarhead, but he was my student in a undergrad poetry class & he was already an incredibly masterful prose writer. The genius was already in him.
Good Lord, I love this. :-)
David Sedaris talks like a Peanuts character that grew up
Thanks for posting this!
David, would you please drop a Christmas Record, Billie Holiday inspired of course, including but not limited to Judy Garland's " Have yourself Merry Little Christmas" for the gays like me. just asking.
who do these people think they are? Love it!
Christmas classic!
I can't think of a comment that would add anything to this priceless piece of prose. David Sedaris is Christmas past, present and future. God bless us everyone...
Awesome! A holiday tradition.
a christmas tradition for me, merry christmas everyone :-)
This has become a yearly tradition for me. David Sedaris is wonderful!
Sorry, man, I don't date other guys! HA!
Wowwwwwwwww. Thank you for this. Thank you.
Thankyou David you are part of my yearly Christmas "traditions".... and thank you Ri for introducing me all those years... i no ow have a disproportionate books by david compared to any othef author. Merry Christmas everyone ❤🎉 woohoo!
M
That last line breaks my heart. Why do people do this to themselves?
that wasn't the last line...he didn't finish uploading the story...it has another 15 minutes.
Thanks fella, your a clever & funny guy. A proper storyteller - thanks again & again ...,........
My favorite Christmas story. Needs to be turned into a cartoon!
Step on the magic star and you can see Cher!
Oh little elf little elf...
I heard this for the first time yesterday and I think that it has improved my sarcasm 10 fold !!
I will always love this!
This story is a perfect example how a crappy job can kill your morality inside.
Love this story! Soooo funny!
I love you David 😊
I love this!!!
Are there different versions of this ?
Maybe another for the BBC ..
"Where's the rest of it"?, she said grumpily.
That Billie holiday impersonation tho smh dead on
This longer version first aired on December 20, 1996, on the Public Radio International program "This American Life."
My favorite Christmas story!
Oscar Wilde of our times?
Great lol
Classic.
One of the GOAT stories of our time. Never gets old, up there with his brother’s f***it bucket story. Thanks David & thanks for posting this Mr Parvin
"It won't be quite as sad as being some big french fry out on a street corner."
I laugh every time
is this complete story from the book Santaland Diaries?
The story is the Santaland Diaries within the collection Holidays On Ice.
Merry Christmas everyone
A friend of mine in Europe played an elf and they had a Santa Santa too. Won't break character and rails on about chemtrails.
I'm gonna have you fired
Heard that one before.
Who’s here after that crappy CBS Sunday morning bit?
I just S’d myself over Sedaris Billie Holiday!
Imagine Sheldon Cooper having this experience.
9:11