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The Holiday Greetings we run at Channel 6 have evolved dramatically over the years.  The only requirement from our bosses these days is keep it under 30-seconds.

More than 10-years ago, my first one included a Christmas tree on a set near the Channel 6 studio.  In the mind of viewers, my wife didn't exist.

A few years later, my wife finally said she would go along with it and be on camera.

In the early years, we didn't have children.  I thought it would be funny if we borrowed children from another family for the promotion.  (Maybe I'll do that someday?)

Now that my son is older and can participate more, I try to make it a 30-second mini-movie.  He certainly enjoys it.

This year's greeting takes place at Union Station.  They graciously allowed us to bring an ax to the Durham Museum and use their tree in the make-believe story.  Santa was added bonus.  He was on the other side of the tree finishing his shift and wandered over.  My wife thought it would be fun if he took part and he didn't mind at all.

While my son loved seeing Santa in person, he did bring up a couple of questions.  One -- as we were collecting the camera equipment and lights, we saw Santa drive away in a car.  My son wondered where the sleigh was.

Two -- in earlier videotaped takes, my son proudly shouts at the end of the promotion, "And a Happy New Year!"  But when Santa ad-libbed the "Ho!  Ho!  Ho!" at the end, it drowned him out.  My son was a bit crushed that his line he'd been practicing that night was overshadowed in the final product.  I think the only saving grace is that it was Santa and not me who did it.