Christmas — Nothing is sacred as Ralphie and Mouseballs!

Why, why, why would someone think it's a good idea to do a remake of "A Christmas Story?"

The original, Jim Gearhart says, is perfect. It's a "very important part of my life around Christmas." A lot of us can relate. But "A Christmas Story Live?" — it's redundant, and pointless, Jim says.

"To make a new version of that is sacrilegious — or as close to that as you can possibly get," Jim says in the latest installment of the Jim Gearhart Show podcast, available here as well on iTunes and Google Play. "Why are they doing this? It would be impossible to top (the original). They can only make an inferior version of this."

He continues: "What if somebody said 'Oh, we're going to do a paint-by-numbers version of the Michelangelo Sistine Chapel ceiling?'"

There are certain traditions Jim values dearly. And longtime listeners of his quarter-century-spanning show on New Jersey 101.5 know one of his favorites: Mouseballs!

The giggles were already hard for the morning gang to control when, all those years ago, Jim first read through an internal company memo, written without a hint of irony, on the "long-awaited replenishment of mouse balls.”

“If a mouse fails to operate or should perform erratically, the necessary ball replacement may be accomplished in the field," was bad enough. But when Jim told the crew what happens after excessive handling … well, you’ll need to listen to find out.

"Mouseballs" is a Christmas tradition — but it's just part of what Jim takes on in the latest installment of his podcast. Check out the full episode to hear the rest. And Email Jim at Jim@NJ1015.com.

The Jim Gearhart Podcast is available every week on New Jersey 101.5 and in the New Jersey 101.5 app. You can also subscribe with your favorite podcasting app for iPhones, Android devices or your computer:

Subscribe to the Jim Gearhart Show on the NJ 101.5 app to get alerts of new episodes.

Love podcasts? Also check out Forever 39, Annette and Megan's new podcast about turning 40 — and loving life along the way. This week, they recount their own favorite Christmas movies, and how people make friends when they're ... well, not Forever 29 anymore.

And on Speaking Millennial, Patrick Lavery, New Jersey 101.5 newsman, millennial and owner of a magic voice joins Bill, Jay, and Jessica for chat about radio voices, creepy craigslist ads, "finstas," and what a late-night "like" of a two-year-old bikini picture really means.

— Townsquare Media staff

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