A CHRISTMAS STORY Reunion Panel - Steel City Con December 2023

A Christmas Story actors Peter Billingsley, Zach Ward, Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz, R.D. Robb, and Yano Anaya gave a panel at Steel City Con December 2023 to talk about the film, their experiences, and to answer fan questions.
Peter Billingsley played Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story and the sequel A Christmas Story Christmas. He is also known for Spider-Man: Far from Home, Sherman Oaks, Punky Brewster, Beverly Hills Brats, and many more.
Zach Ward portrayed Scut Farkus in A Christmas Story and the sequel. He is also known for Freddy vs. Jason, Transformers, Postal, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Z Nation, Doll House, Deadwood, and many more.
Ian Petrella was Randy Parker in A Christmas Story and the sequel. He’s also known for Once a Hero, Who’s the Boss, Crafty, CHiPs, and more.
Scott Schwartz played Flick in A Christmas Story and the sequel. He’s also known for The Comeback Kids, Rags to Riches, Kidco, The Toy, The Quarantine Bunch, and more.
R.D. Robb was Schwartz in A Christmas Story and the sequel. Other roles include The Brady Bunch Movie, Matilda, The Goldbergs, Little Arliss, Eight Days a Week, and more.
Yano Anaya portrayed Grover Dill in A Christmas Story and the sequel. He was also in Better Off Dead, The Blue Iguana, Sunday Mornings, and more.
This panel was recorded on December 8th, 2023.
To learn more about Steel City Comic Con, visit www.steelcityc...
-------------------
📺 Subscribe for more fandom content! www.youtube.co...
____________
💛 Support us on Patreon!
/ fandomspotlite
____________
👕 Check out our Merch at www.teepublic....
📖 Check out Captain Kyle's book on cosplay: amzn.to/2ON6mkL
If you enjoyed this video, please like and share. We love comments and don't forget to subscribe. Click the bell icon to receive notifications of new videos.
-------------------
📺 Check out our channel at / fandomspotlite
📘 Follow us on Facebook: / fandomspotlite
🐦 Twitter: / fandomspotlite
📷 Instagram: / fandomspotlite
🌐 Website: www.fandomspotl...
-------------------
#FandomSpotlite #achristmasstory #steelcitycon #achristmasstorychristmas

[@alwaysabeliever108]

The world is a better place because this movie is in it.

[@DavidSmith-lp6yt]

I was there. These guys are the best of friends. It was great that all six were there. I was the one who asked the question about their scenes that didn't go well, but still made it in the movie. Peter, Scott, R.D., Zak, Yano and Ian, thank you for being at Steel City Con. This is the BEST Comic Con so far.

[@patrickprendergast9589]

tell us more dave

[@teambeining]

That’s so great for them.

[@Robert-nu4vc]

My girlfriend and I went that weekend. Seeing the Christmas Story cast, the cast of The Lost Boys, and the cast of Scream was a ton of fun! That was a really epic comic con.

[@tamaradavis4054]

I always liked the dad’s line, “you used up all the glue ON PURPOSE!”

[@georgewilliams8357]

@tamaradavis4054 "Not a finga"!!!

[@AudiophileTommy]

It’s a MAJOR award ❤

[@silntstl]

Darren McGavin stole the show in that movie. The Fragile line is part of the American lexicon to this day. Talking about the Oldsmobile freezing up again and fighting that furnace reminded me so much of what my grandfather was like in those days. I'm sure many related their fathers the same way.

[@trish7754]

mind power

[@pacificrules]

SHONS OF BISHES, BUMPUSHES!!!

[@brettconv83]

Never thought to go see these guys, I’m not much of a convention guy but I can’t overstate how massive this movie was to my childhood. How many Christmas mornings we watched it 24/7

[@lynnturman8157]

So glad you talked about Melinda Dillon and why she wasn't in the movie. And so glad Ian first saw her in Close Encounters and not Slapshot.

[@ssherman]

Melinda's topless scene with Paul Newman in slapshot is forever burned into my brain. She was stunning.

[@kurtb8474]

Darren's swearing always got me. Substituting harmless words for what he was supposed to really be saying. Then Jean says "My old man wove a tapestry of profanity that is still hanging out over Lake Michigan." That floors me every time. My father-in-law actually grew up in that part of the country during that time. He was from South Bend. He just loved the film. The line he really liked was "Some men are Catholics and some are Protestants. My dad was an Oldsmobile man."

[@susanmacdonald4288]

I love that inarticulate phrase that he comes out with after the lamp gets broken...the best I can translate is "Gattafinga!"

[@bigbrowneyes4u]

This sequel is absolutely WONDERFUL. My husband and I watched it for the first time this month, and it brought tears several times, laughs of course, and we both loved it. My husband doesn't usually get into Christmas movies like I do, but he has mentioned it repeatedly that he enjoyed it so much. I got him hooked on the original movie when we met years ago, as it was a part of my childhood and beyond. It's my all time favorite Christmas movie. Now the 2022 installment will be another tradition in our family every year, without a doubt.

[@timmurphy479]

Loved it when they made the snowman out of the fire hydrant

[@bigbrowneyes4u]

@@timmurphy479 Yes! Loved how they handled the bullies with that 😂

[@silntstl]

My wife and I watched earlier this month and I was most impressed at how they paid tribute to The Old Man. That was a very classy thing to do to honor Darren McGavin and the character that so many of us identified with.

[@DJGlenR1979]

@@timmurphy479 "HE DONE PISSED HIS PANNTTSSS" :D:D:D:D:D hahahahaha

[@Robert-nu4vc]

I was at this Steel City Con last weekend. It was awesome seeing the Christmas Story and Lost Boys actors. My girlfriend and I had a great time and can't wait for the next one.

[@SaKOTR]

A Christmas Story Christmas is great. I hope they do "A Grand Christmas Story" some time in the future. With them as grandparents around the early 00's with the burst of technology, trying to show their grandkids how to celebrate Christmas like the old days. I feel like 10-20yrs from now Christmas magic will be lost with alot of people.

[@edwinstringer6951]

😊

[@vipnick191]

I chatted with Yano and Scott on a few Zoom calls. They are genuinely the 2 of nicest guys I have ever met! Scott actually helped me get Peter's autograph a few years back.

[@benjamineckles]

One of the greatest Christmas movies.

[@user-wi6sh6vh8u]

Right on up there with 1961’s “KING OF KINGS”.

[@sheiladyck4768]

OMG Scott Schwartz is SO full of himself! The rest were great!

[@sheshe6166]

Yes!!!

[@antoniocruz5596]

He’s the Corey Feldman of the bunch.

[@decker14626]

How many times did he say I worked with Gleason and Pryor?...

[@queenmum698]

That was the guy who played Flick, right?

[@barbaralamort9933]

So obnoxious! How can the other guys stand him?

[@buckminsterfullerene11]

God I loved this movie so much back in '83 or '84 when I first saw it. And I love it as much today in 2024! Timeless masterpiece

[@KevboKev]

This was definitely great to watch. Thank you. Panel could have done without Scott Schwartz....pretty annoying.

[@jbuelman2025]

This is proof that something so innocuous such as this film was back in 1983, resonates with so many today. I was a Junior in high school and found this gem some years later. It's our yearly must watch with my family. I'd love to have been there for this. Now there's a second film that they are in as older people that's a yearly must watch.

[@mikefagan6840]

I remember Peter Billingsley as Messy Marv, Quik commercials and Real People and Scut Farkus from Titus. 😉👍🎄🎅🎄❤

[@wabankik]

...Really!, He Was Messy Marvin from the Quick commercials!, Classic!...

[@mikefagan6840]

@@wabankik He also appeared as a guest host on REAL PEOPLE TV show.

[@michaellomeli8096]

Ralphie Has Not Changed. Love Peter Billingsley. Great Great Movie. RIP To Melinda Dillion

[@binko969]

“Randy lay there like a slug, it was his only defense” 😂 awesome, I had to work or idve been there. Thanks for posting!

[@binko969]

Would have loved to have asked Scott Schwartz what it was like to work with the king, Jackie Gleason, how many people alive today can say that? Also Richard Pryor, would have loved to have had a conversation with either or both of them. Comedic genius’ both of them. I mean top of the heap. Who was a bigger star than Gleason for decades. They were both legends

[@newlifeforoldshtuff7810]

I seen the “Christmas Story “ in 1983 in theaters. Then when it came out on vhs had to get it as well as dvd. This movie is a classic and a must watch every year. My family loves this movie as well. Thank you.

[@FleosFlicks]

KidCO was one of my favorite movies!

[@AbandonedExplorationUrbex1979]

Would have been cool if they were able to show short clips of the scenes that were mentioned.

[@TheSameoldjoe]

The best attribute of this classic movie is the phenomenal storytelling, and the wonderful characters of Jean Shepard will never be forgotten.

[@deanevangelista6359]

When I was a preteen in 1970-72, I would hear Jean Shepard on the radio when vacationing in NY. He told some great stories.

[@TheSameoldjoe]

@@deanevangelista6359 I listened to his radio broadcast, watched his PBS television show, and read his short stories. Jean Shepard was a superb storyteller.

[@whereisthebalance5732]

They should have gotten keith olbermann to narrate this one

[@GNXXRAY]

I saw this in the theater in 1983 while my parents and cousins parents were Christmas shopping. I was 13 years old and immediately asked for a BB gun and got a Crosman 760 air pump rifle. The 24 hour Marathon is AMAZING. My dad passed away in 2021 but we played it every Christmas and it became a family tradition. My mom would roll her eyes every time she walked into the room and we are laughing. She did not understand how we could still laugh at something we have seen 100x.

[@antoniocruz5596]

The old man (Darren McGavin, RIP), will always be Kolchak the Night Stalker to me!

[@koreancardboard]

Thanks so much for posting all of these interviews from the con. Much appreciated.

[@Gen-X-Memories]

It's good to see all of these guys are still around. So often you see many kid stars just don't transition well into adulthood.

[@emmabauer1906]

It's great to see them all together. Hadn't seen a few of them in different things grown up so it was nice to see them now. Could still tell by their faces who they are. A Christmas Story has always been one of my faves. Wish they would've discussed Darren McGavin more.

[@james7275able]

You're right. They asked about working with Darren and Melinda and they only talked about her but forgot to mention him. Would've been neat to hear some behind the scenes stories about him. RIP to Melinda as well. I didn't know she passed this past January.

[@susanmacdonald4288]

It was interesting hearing them talk about the casting process, and how it boiled down to the right chemistry between the kids.

[@krisk4513]

I can’t imagine a better voice narrating the movie - it was his true medium, a master 😊

[@ezwages]

what a gift - I'm glad they finally mentioned Shep at the end. He doesn't get enough cred.

[@PhilFry-gj6xq]

Thank you so much for this sit down talk. Long time huge fan. Have re-watched every year for the last 30 years and counting. The famous house is actually only one hour from where I live!

[@carlnoble7895]

Thank You Guys For Being A Huge Part Of My Life As A Child And As A Current Adult @62 Years Of Age!! I Continue To Watch A Christmas Story Each And Every Day!!! Each And Every One Of You Are Like Family!! I Love Each And Every One Of You!! Also Melinda And Davin, I Love You Both Very Much!! I Miss You Davin And Melinda Very Much, Thank You So Much For The Memories!! God Bless Each And Everyone Of You!!

[@andreadeamon6419]

As a clevelander that has been to the house so many times and is my favorite movie of all time - thank you for getting all of the guys together for 1 setting.

[@kathiewool4292]

My dad so loved a Christmas story because it was so like his childhood. I’m sad he didn’t get to see the sequel.

[@JulieCaptivatedinFl]

Bob Clark gave us 2 Christmas classics. This one and Black Christmas. So sad to learn about Bob Clark and his son passing in a tragic traffic collision. His work will be a lasting legacy for us all.

[@christopherbenson9942]

Man this was so great!!!! This movie came out at a perfect time in out childhood....

[@mariacabrera2850]

I got to meet the cast (minus Schut) in Hammond, Indiana a couple of weeks ago. They were all so kind, especially Peter who went out of his way to be kind & chat with me.

[@vincentschmitt7597]

I watched this yesterday from another uploader. It is worth watching for any fan of the movie. Loaded with great behind the scenes stories.

[@job4391]

A Christmas Story Christmas was so great, our family loved it as much as the original.

[@cjmacq-vg8um]

Peter Billingsley and Zach Ward still look like they did in the original movie. i saw zach in the 2013 film "in the void" and 2014's "don't blink." he was excellent both those films.

[@timafiggy]

the new movie was so Awesome. yes tears were Involved. i cried . My old fav line Randy gets pushed in the snow " I CAN"T GET UP! "

[@wilber53]

Loved this...Always wondered about the scene with the Christmas goose getting it's head chopped off, if that was Melinda Dillions acting or her original reaction. Peter answered that question.

[@JRay410]

I really hope Peter Billingsley and the rest of the cast come to Megacon Orlando sometime😁

[@NipItInTheBud100]

This was a fantastic watch! It was just fun to see these guys laughing and having fun! I loved the split screen that you did! Made it so much more enjoyable to watch!

[@robertoso8796]

the best part of the movies is the narration. ralphie's worldbuilding was spectacular and laid everything important out in such a perfect way from a kid's POV. i didn't watch it until i was in igh school the first time and i've never celebrated christmas but i had an instant connection to these kids. my favorite thing is the grand mythos that they've built up around dad who worked in profanities the way the masters worked in clay or oils.

[@heiresskat]

I saw the movie, and it was a surprising homage to the original. My expectations were low, and by the end, I was like, this was great. As a huge fan of the original, I was so happy to see the characters respected.

[@dustinspencer5691]

Look forward to the movie every Christmas and watch it at least 5 times every year.

[@coolbabe4940]

My husband and I keep the original running for decades now. I worked at a video store back in 1985. We always kept it running on a VCR.People would stop and watch renting movies. We took our dogs to St. Augustine Florida and watched the new movie and ate dinner on the ocean in our condo we rented. Priceless on the original and the reunion movie. We came home and ordered Chinese food on the 40th Anniversary to celebrate and I didn’t have to cook…All was right with the world.

[@shannonlambert8826]

Best Christmas movie ever !!!!! I’m 47 and been watching it since I was young . It’s Christmas Day 2023 and it’s on my tv as I watch this . I’ve watched it 6 times since last night . Can’t get enough of it . I love this movie so much my wife got me the DVD years ago .

[@timmythomas4273]

The greatest Christmas movie ever

[@user-wi6sh6vh8u]

Right alongside of 1961’s “KING OF KINGS”.

[@hmsweet5227]

R.D. Robb went to the same day camp I did when we were kids!

[@sxymike12]

I had a shit Christmas season this year all up until Christmas Eve and Christmas Day which were fantastic and this happened to be on before I went to bed and when I heard his last narration I was like SPOT ON. Great Movie and has the warmth of the other one, it wasn't just a call back, it was a story not perfect or what everyone would want to happen but it was brilliant.

[@slbellue6874]

I’m sorry you had a terrible time this year. I hope 2024 brings you peace and blessings.

[@chuckhenson6896]

Love both of these movies

[@krisk4513]

Me and my family watch this loyally every Christmas season and have it on TBS/TNT to see the 24 full hours of it. We love it!

[@Carbabydoll]

One of the best sequels ever made and destroys Christmas Story 2. The real sequel and now this will be part of the classic story that started it all💖💕

[@debselby1141]

Merry Christmas to Me! Just caught this before starting my Christmas festivities, and I am now complete! 24 hours at my moms during Christmas, uh, Forever, is how it is. I only found "A Christmas Story Christmas" about a month ago, totally by accident! I love it! My dad passed in 2017, and, a day wouldnt go by without some form of tidbit comment from the movie. It is inbedded in my vocabulary. I am 63 and family and millions of others thank you all for this life changing holiday event!

[@John_Locke_108]

Defintely going to watch this once I get some free time.

[@briandrum1]

No matter what time of the year, I use "sons of bitches Bumpuses" almost on a daily basis. A Christmas Story and a Christmas Story Christmas are both *great* movies. They did a wonderful job with the sequel!

[@aliciahavard3268]

I was pregnant with my first born and we had date night. Loved this movie. I have watched this movie with my kids and now grandchildren since . Best Christmas movie ever. Second is Christmas Vacation.

[@user-wi6sh6vh8u]

With 1961’s “KING OF KINGS” in 3RD place.

[@alitlweird]

A Christmas Story Christmas nailed it. Thanks for making it.

[@mctaguer]

Great event; glad to see it. Thanks!

[@JacobDean88]

The new movie was actually pretty good. I wouldn't mind another one. Everyone did very well. My only and very only disappointment was switching out moms.

[@FandomSpotlite]

They do explain why in the panel, I believe.

[@JacobDean88]

​@FandomSpotlite I remember hearing why but I don't remember what it was.

[@JacobDean88]

​@FandomSpotlite This was awesome tho!! Thanks!!

[@Robert-nu4vc]

Melinda Dillon was supposed to be in it but she got sick and couldn't do it. She sadly passed away 2 months after the movie was released.

[@Garsons-oq4lh]

​​@@Robert-nu4vc Peter says in this panel that Melinda was intrigued by the sequel but ultimately said no because she was done with acting.

[@Dee-743]

It is wonderful to see these guys together after all these years. Of course it is one of my most favorite Christmas movies. We have a Ralphie figure who does mischievous things. He is our Ralphie on a shelf. It just proves that wholesome movies are still the favored. I cannot wait to see the new movie.

[@amazingsnow]

Well done nailed the first and the REAL second one with you guys

[@joaniezapata2548]

I truly love these guys A Christmas Story is always a movie for me during the holidays it’s a must and when the new one came out it hit home for me personally because I lost my Dad in October so not only do I love the original but the new one is even better, y’all rocked it thank u so much for making such a great film and doing it justice

[@Okguy4life]

The leg lamps creator was from chickasha Oklahoma! 50 ft leg lamp there check it out

[@user-rz8bu6vl8x]

This movie is a Christmas tradition every year, 24 hours on Christmas Eve❤️

[@erichirsch583]

Looking great guys!!!

[@saraine82]

Thanks for uploading!!

[@NickyHelp]

I could be mistaken, but if I remember correctly, most or some of the cast in the first movie had a true reunion in the third movie A Christmas Story Christmas (2022).

[@NordicDan]

I was so happy that the new one held up to the original so well, and the way it ultimately segways into the original was just so seamless and perfect. The original is an absolute classic and a family tradition, now including the new one. My pre teen kids love it too. I even have the full size leg lamp on my antique radio right in the middle of my living room window 😂 So cool to see them together and interacting with each other 40 years later.

[@hollygolden9673]

Wonderful panel! Would love to see them live. The new movie is excellent!

[@mickywinters8451]

I watched this movie from after Halloween to Christmas probably 80 times 😂

[@TobaccoRoadAI]

Thank you for sharing

[@mchin9531]

Such excitement, pride and confidence! I agree it would have been perfect with Melinda Dillon back as the mom. Wish they could have bribed her to come back. ❤

[@Mntguy-nr9vl]

Agreed it's what I don't like about the sequel it takes me out of it because the actress they chose is horrible. I wish Melinda Dylan would have found a way even from her bed in a nursing home it's not the same not having her. Even with all the guys.

[@user-wi6sh6vh8u]

Now she belongs to the ages.

[@mikemckague9506]

So awesome that Peter Billingsley now lives in my home state!!!

[@user-wi6sh6vh8u]

Where’s that?

[@mikemckague9506]

@@user-wi6sh6vh8u Eagle Idaho!

[@neilsmith9066]

Great Sequel!!! Love for The Old Man!

[@cathypeterson4527]

I just wanted to say hi to peter billingsley 😊I love your movie 🍿 I had been to the Christmas house in Ohio

[@erikmutthersbough6508]

The wonderful irony of this is. I have a Christmas Story on in the background as they are talking about people watching the 24 hours of A Christmas Story. This is coming from a guy that has worked in film 🤷. On another note, my brother is watching it in Hawaii while I am watching it in Nebraska 😂..

[@user-uo5kp8nr7p]

LOVE THIS!!!!

[@chucksmith465]

One of my favorite scenes from the original movie is one that I only recently noticed. Right after the old man tells Ralphie to get back in the car for saying the “F” word, the old man gives the faintest hint of a smile, like he knows how boys talk and is amused to hear it from his son. Its so subtle and so quick that I missed it for years. I wonder if Darren McGavin was adlibbing or if this was directed. Love both the original and the new movies!

[@LinzYoutube]

I would've loved to have been there and met them!!!

[@user-wi6sh6vh8u]

They need to come to the comic book conventions in either Lexington, Kentucky, let alone Huntington, West Virginia.

[@bryanforis1839]

I listen to Jean shepherd from 1967 1981 listening to thousands hours tv show I know people in movie so they did great job down to the mothers robe and the food and talking to stars who loved and hated him and after the movie Jean hated bob he was so much love for the actor his was the real bully when in a baseball game someone was trying to beat Jean up and his was hero

[@robertandres7594]

I've always wondered how they did the snowball to the face scene. I just assumed they paused the shoot, manually mashed snow into his eye, then resumed filming so it'd look as if it hit him.

[@DiamondPaintWithDiamondDave]

The director sounded pretty brutal...lol...now I have to wonder if he actually had Flick stick his tongue to a real frozen pole...lol

[@hectorlopez1069]

I will forever love a Christmas story. Ralphie got his wish to get a bb gun for Christmas.

[@reginastock5546]

I love the line from the dad when he sees Ralphie in the bunny suit , “ You look like a deranged Easter bunny.” Gets me laughing every time.

[@crazy8skml]

I had never seen the movie until the first Marathon. This is the first year that it wasn’t playing non stop. I somehow forgot.

[@briandd27]

I love the new movie. It definitely made me cry.

[@user-wi6sh6vh8u]

Interesting.

[@lmm1586]

I love this !!

[@RPG_Gaming318]

I love those movies

[@ginajennings1664]

A Christmas movie is mine and my granddaughters favorite Christmas movie.

[@DFord-rv3nz]

One of my Christmas staples.

[@MarkSinacori]

I feel Yano needed to be Scutt's assistant officer in the drivers seat. The triple dog dare with Flick/Schwartz was fun to see and Scutt's return was perfect. The casting of the Mother was also good! I feel the Mother would have been like that as the kids got older, a lot more fun as Father was pretty strict but the way they described him was he loved Christmas so much.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

"You were ALWAYS jealous of this lamp!!!!"

[@msterious-zt5pq]

Will they release the bloopers of a Christmas story? They need too

[@waynewhitworth4932]

Seriously, Flick would not shut up. Loved most of this video

[@uglysideup]

They used to show it in Germany every Christmas for all the kids free, lived in CFB Baden

[@jasonaustin1038]

I'm ready for the next one with the whole gang focused on Halloween. Make it happen.

[@navy4181]

“Not a fing-AH!!!!”