Famous N.S. talking Christmas tree’s fresh face gets nod from Fallon
It's been less than one week since the big reveal – re-introducing Woody the Talking Christmas Tree to a legion of fans – old and new.
“I’m very happy I’m back at Mic Mac Mall too,” Woody told one visitor to his snowy corner of the mall Wednesday.
Joe Voudrau, 46, spent a few nostalgic moments talking to the towering tree.
“I remember I was here, must have been 2001, it was a long time ago,” he recalls.
Anne Shea brought her young granddaughter Isla out for her very first outing at a mall – and to see Woody for the first time as well.
“I think it's fantastic,” said Shea. “Lots of memories from our childhood and from our children's childhood.”
Emily Shea says one is never too old for the experience.
“I’m 22 and I love Woody,” she exclaims.
Young Kinsley Rhodenhizer needed her dad’s help to reach the microphone to talk to Woody.
When asked what she thought of the talking tree, she said, “I never saw one before, and I never talked to one before.”
Seeing Woody back again has brought forth a flurry of social media posts, tributes, and memes.
Some call the tree “creepy," while others reflect on fond memories of seeing Woody when they were children back in the 1980s. It’s been 15 years since Woody was at the mall, after he made a departure from public appearances in 2006.
Tuesday night, the conversational conifer reached the peak of popularity - with a mention from late-night talk show host, Jimmy Fallon.
“Some people think it's pretty cute, while others think it's pretty creepy, check it out,” said Fallon.
In an exclusive interview with CTV News, Woody said he was “excited” to see himself on TV and said he had sent Jimmy a “thank you note.”
“I'm an iconic Christmas tree, and there's something floating around on the internet that shows he's an iconic Christmas tree too, so I’d like him to come talk to me,” said Woody. "Maybe we can have a dance-off."
The chatter about Woody's re-appearance has some folks remembering what he used to look like back in the day.
It turns out when Woody decided to make his comeback - he wanted to do it in style.
“It was pretty cool to be able to work on a project like this,” says Mohammed Issa, founder of a 3-D printing and laser engraving “workshop” called Eurekatec in Lower Sackville, N.S.
“We wanted to make sure that a lot of people from when they remember old Woody from the past, they get to see a new fresh face,” says Issa.
The refresh took a team of six three weeks to complete, with workers often hand-applying finishes with the finest attention to detail.
Catlyn Smith is one of the people who worked on Woody’s makeover.
“I remember Woody from when I was a teenager, so I was really excited when we heard he was coming back,” Smith says.
Their favorite part of Woody's new look?
“Definitely the eyes, those lashes are really, really nice,” laughs team member Adrian Georgescu.
“We've had some pretty tough years,” says Issa, “and (now) we’ve put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces on a lot of people.”
“Kids were a little creeped out,” he laughs. “But that’s part of Woody.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Pearson gold heist suspect arrested after flying into Toronto from India
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Millions of cyberattacks per hour as B.C. government investigates multiple breaches
Careful attention to government statements and legislation is required to get a handle on the level of risk British Columbians’ information is under, as investigators probe multiple breaches under a continued barrage of attacks.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Debate on abortion rights erupts on Parliament Hill, Poilievre vows he won't legislate
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Justin and Hailey Bieber are expecting their first child together
Hailey and Justin Bieber are going to be parents. The couple announced the news on Thursday on Instagram, both sharing a video that showcases Hailey Bieber's growing belly.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
New 'Lord of the Rings' film coming in 2026
The Oscar-winning team behind the nearly US$6 billion blockbuster 'Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies is reuniting to produce two new films.