4 'Mum time' lessons from binge-watched Mummers TV

Mere hours remain until Mummers step off onto a new parade route on New Year's Day.

Mummers competing in comic, wench brigades, fancy division, string band and fancy brigade divisions didn't start preparing for the parade last week, nor did I.

Those living a dedicated "Mum Life" started rehearsing the 2015 shows months ago. Practices grew more intense through Christmas, with finishing touches on props and costumes continuing through New Year's Eve.

As a "Mummabe" — yes, I've just coined a phrase for a Mummer wannabe better than "moupie," a Mummer groupie — I've done some preparing of my own.

I've watched more hours of Mummery since 'PHL-17 started airing vintage parade footage Dec. 4 than I've watched in my entire 30 years.

Through tons of hours in front of the tube — foregoing Netflix originals and reruns of "Friends" — I've learned a couple things about Mum Time.

Steve Highsmith — a case study on sweaters

Highsmith, PHL-17's longtime anchor, is a major part of Philadelphia's Mummer community. He's respected for immersing himself in Mum culture and imparting accurate Mum facts to viewers during the New Year's Day TV broadcast the station has dominated since the mid-1990s. In 2011, he was inducted into the city's Mummer Hall of Fame.

Oh, those sweaters, though.

Most have been well-played — a solid red or blue zip-up. But it's 2003's multi-colored block sweater that made the rest of my year.

Highsmith said he's going "lower key" in 2015 — in spite of my gentle suggestions to add sequins and plumes to whichever he wears on air.

Fancy Brigades insist on creating/destroying the universe

In spite of the glitter, feathers and sequins, Fancy Brigades remain the most bad-ass Mummery sect.

The sets and props are massive. The music — mostly techno — beats like a war drum pushing the army of plumed dancers across the Philadelphia Convention Center floor.

If Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal and WWE pro-wrestler John Cena were in charge of planning a dance recital, the Fancy Brigades would be the product.

This year, the themes are as tough as expected:

Avenuers performing "CarnEvil."

Spartans with "The Pharaoh's Revenge."

Clevemore presenting "Ritual the Devil's Domain."

PHL17 Anchors ain't judges

It's not that Highsmith and co-parade anchors aren't qualified. Highsmith might just know more about Mummery than the Mummers. His co-hosts throughout the years — from Margie Smith to Alicia Vitarelli — insist on pointing out the difficulty in judging one show-stopping act after another.

Let's say it together this time: "I'd hate to be one of the judges."

1990s technology was ... cute

Highsmith built a pretty vibrant Twitter presence since the social media site went mainstream in the late 2000s. Two decades ago, though, the anchor plugged 'PHL-17's AOL email address encouraging viewers to "write in" with questions and comments. A careful observer of the crowds in earlier broadcasts would notice photos and videos shot with something called a camcorder and a thingy referred to as a point-and-shoot camera. It used ... film?!

Follow @CarlyQRomalino on New Years Day as she mingles with Philadelphia and South Jersey Mummers on and off the 2015 Mummers Parade route.

Share your New Years Day Mummers Parade photos with the Courier-Post by tweeting to @CarlyQRomalino or @cpsj using #2015MumMoments