♪♪ >> ERIC: REGULAR VIEWERS MAY HAVE NOTED WE'VE PLAYED A LOT OF ARCHIVAL CLIPS FROM THE COLEMAN-FRANKEN U.S. SENATE RACE RECENTLY.

WHEN THAT CANVASSING BOARD MET IN DECEMBER OF 2008, IT WOULD BE NEARLY SEVEN MORE MONTHS BEFORE AL FRANKEN WAS FINALLY DECLARED THE WINNER.

SO WE MAY SHARE MORE FUN FOOTAGE IN THE COMING MONTHS.

THERE'S YOUR WARNING.

OKAY, TIME FOR THE HISTORY PORTION OF THE SHOW.

OUR QUESTION FOR YOU INVOLVES A ONE-TIME MINNESOTAN, NOT SEEN HERE.

HE OR SHE MADE THEIR FAME AND FORTUNE AFTER LEAVING MINNEAPOLIS AND HEADING TO THE WEST COAST.

THIS WASHBURN HIGH SCHOOL GRAD CREDITS A GRANDPARENT FOR TEACHING THEM BASICS OF THEIR PROFESSION AT A YOUNG AGE.

THIS PERSON SPENT 35 YEARS CREATING SOMETHING THAT WAS UBIQUITOUS IN CHILDHOOD HOMES ACROSS AMERICA, BECOMING A COLLECTORS'’ ITEM FOR MANY.

WHO IS THIS FAMOUS "CREATOR" WITH MINNESOTA ROOTS?

EXTRA CREDIT IF YOU CAN TELL US WHAT THEY CREATED THAT HAS RECENTLY SEEN A RESURGENCE IN POPULARITY.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING FROM HAT LAKE, STOCKING LAKE, OR GUNNY SACK LAKE IN BEAUTIFUL ITASCA COUNTY.

651-229-1430 IS THE HANDY NUMBER TO OUR VOICEMAIL SYSTEM.

KEEP IT BY YOUR BEDSTAND IN CASE THE RIGHT ANSWER COMES TO YOU IN A DREAM.

YOU CAN ALWAYS DROP US A NOTE.

ALMANAC@TPT.ORG IS OUR EMAIL INBOX.

MAYBE YOU HAVE ONE OR MORE OF THESE COLLECTORS'’ ITEMS IN YOUR HOME.

SEND US A PHOTO, AND WE JUST MIGHT PUT IT ON THE AIR.

BEFORE WE GET TO OUR SHOW-ENDING MUSIC TONIGHT, WE HAVE A FEW HOUSEKEEPING DETAILS FOR YOU AND A SPECIAL GOOD-BYE.

THIS WAS OUR LAST LIVE PROGRAM OF THE YEAR.

TUNE IN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT FOR A SPECIAL HOLIDAY EDITION OF "ALMANAC."

CATHY AND I AND THE REST OF THE "ALMANAC" STAFF WILL SHARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE SEGMENTS FROM 2023.

AND THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE WILL BE RESTING UP AND GETTING READY FOR THE NEW YEAR, SO NO "ALMANAC" FOR YOU TWO WEEKS FROM TONIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK LIVE IN EARLY JANUARY.

SPECIAL TUNE-IN NOTE FOR VIEWERS IN THE NORTHLAND TONIGHT.

COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES AT 8:00 P.M., "ALMANAC NORTH" WILL AIR A SPECIAL HOUR-LONG PROGRAM TO SAY GOOD-BYE AND HONOR TWO LONG-TIME EMPLOYEES WHO ARE RETIRING.

LONG-TIME CO-HOST JULIE ZENNER WILL BE ON THE SET FOR THE LAST TIME TONIGHT.

AND THE SHOW'S ORIGINAL PRODUCER, GREG GRELL, IS ALSO RETIRING.

THE "PBS NORTH" PROGRAM WILL TAKE A LONGER HOLIDAY HIATUS THAN NORMAL AS THEY CREATE A NEW SET, WELCOME A NEW CO-HOST TO JOIN DENNY ANDERSON, AND A NEW PRODUCER COMES ON BOARD.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE NORTHLAND ON THEIR LONG CAREERS.

TERRIFIC WORK BY BOTH OF THEM.

WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH TIME FOR SOME SHOW-ENDING MUSIC FOR YOU.

ST. THOMAS MUSICIANS AND VOCALISTS RETURNED TO ORCHESTRA HALL EARLIER THIS MONTH TO PERFORM "ST. THOMAS CHRISTMAS: REFLECTIONS OF GRATITUDE."

THE TELEVISION PREMIERE OF THE HOUR-LONG CONCERT IS NEXT MONDAY AT 8:00 P.M. ON TPT-2.

TUNE IN OR HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE, TPT.ORG, TO FIND OTHER VIEWING OPTIONS.

HERE'S A SELECTION FROM THE CONCERT, A TRADITIONAL CAROL.

SING ALONG AT HOME IF THE SPIRIT MOVES YOU.

HERE'S "JOY TO THE WORLD."

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR.

BE CAREFUL.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> ♪ JOY TO THE WORLD ♪ ♪ THE LORD IS COME ♪ ♪ LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING ♪ ♪ LET EVERY HEART ♪ ♪ PREPARE HIM ROOM ♪ ♪ AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING ♪ ♪ AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING ♪ ♪ AND HEAVEN, AND HEAVEN ♪ ♪ AND NATURE SING ♪ ♪♪ ♪ JOY TO THE WORLD ♪