Top 10 Christmas Movie Locations We'd LOVE to Live In! (Christmas Countdown Podcast)

Episode Recap

Eric Petersen and Danny Jordan kick off the season with a debate about what counts as “chilly” in Southern California. Eric recalls Chicago winters, when cars had to warm up and soda cans sometimes froze and exploded in the garage. Producer Chris shares that he got a fall-leaves emoji tattoo.

The autumn nostalgia leads to a more reflective conversation. The hosts share their intentions for the season: making more time for family, slowing down, and savoring the small moments.

Countdown: Christmas-Movie Locations

The episode’s central countdown asks: Which Christmas-movie location would you most want to live in? The hosts consider iconic homes, cozy cottages, and imaginative versions of the North Pole.

Eric’s Top Five

1. North Pole from Santa Claus: The Movie — Eric loves the film’s soft, nostalgic look and its magical workshop.
2. Stone family home from The Family Stone
3. Hobbs family’s Central Park West apartment from Elf
4. Bedford Falls from It’s a Wonderful Life
5. Columbia Inn from White Christmas

Danny’s Top Five

1. McCallister house from Home Alone — Danny praises its welcoming family-home feel, attic and basement, and location near Chicago.
2. Cottage from The Holiday
3. Hobbs apartment from Elf
4. Klaus’s cabin and workshop from Klaus
5. North Pole from The Christmas Chronicles

Other memorable choices include Eric’s Victorian London populated by Muppets and Hogwarts at Christmas, as well as Danny’s Polar Express train, Whoville, and the Christmas with the Kranks neighborhood. Danny’s #10 pick, the Plaza Hotel, surprises Eric, who expected it to rank much higher.

Guest: Mayor Doug Downey

Before the countdown, the hosts welcome Doug Downey, mayor of Carlinville, Illinois, recently named Hallmark’s first “Merriest Christmas Town.” Downey describes the town’s Christmas market, decorated square, tours, and local festivities. He also shares that Hallmark plans to film a Carlinville-centered movie there in 2027.

The hosts congratulate Downey and note that the announcement has already brought visitors and business to town.

Fan Mail and Holiday Music

A listener named Bree, whose birthday is Christmas Eve, explains why she loves having a holiday birthday: time off, festive decorations, and family gatherings. Eric offers gift ideas for a 10-year-old, while emphasizing that a special outing or one-on-one time can mean more than another toy.

In Tinsel Tunes, the hosts recommend newly released or seasonal tracks by Dean Martin, Cody Fry, Cynthia Erivo and Jimmy Fallon, and Josiah and the Bonnevilles.

Games and Jokes

Eric shares holiday dad jokes, including “Saint Nick-o-less,” “I-da-ho-ho,” and “Spruce Springsteen.” The hosts also get stuck on a joke about Comet and Cupid not attracting bids on eBay because “they were two deer,” and ask listeners to explain what they might be missing.

A round of “Thurl or Burl?” trivia about Thurl Ravenscroft and Burl Ives ends in a tie. The hosts repeatedly guess wrong before finally landing some answers.

Personalities Appearing

• Eric Petersen
• Danny Jordan
• Producer Chris
• Mayor Doug Downey