Darlene Love

Congratulations Darlene Love! She is one of the new inductees into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Of course, she's being honored for her work as a singer. She has a long list of hit songs as a member of the girl group The Blossoms as well as her solo work.

Darlene Love also has several connections to Christmas on TV. Her annual appearance on Letterman's late night talk show where she performs the 1963 hit song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" has become a much anticipated tradition.

Love on 'Late Show with David Letterman' Christmas 2010

Love's vocals are also the attraction to the Robert Smigel stop motion animated segment that appeared on Saturday Night Live as a TV Funhouse short in 2005. This parody song is entitled "Christmastime for the Jews." This short remains a viewer holiday favorite and can usually be found among the clips in the Best of SNL Christmas shows.

Animation from 'Saturday Night Live'

And, it is the same Darlene Love who took up the role of Trish Murtaugh (Danny Glover's wife) in the 1980s Lethal Weapon buddy cop films. Many people still enjoy watching the first in the successful franchise of action movies, released in 1987, which took place at Christmas.

Again, congratulations to Darlene Love on her most recent success and much deserved place among rock n' roll royalty. I can hardly wait for December to see her perform on Letterman again.

1980s Christmas: Saturday Night Live

I'm starting a new series: I'm going to be writing about my favorite Christmas TV moments from the 1980s. I'll be writing these blog posts until my national book tour begins the first week in November. If you have a favorite 1980s holiday TV moment--let me know and I'll see if I can post about it too.

The sketch comedy institution Saturday Night Live has produced some of television's most memorable holiday comedy moments. I only need to mention Adam Sandler's 'Chanukah Song' and most people probably can begin singing it. How about Alec Baldwin's appearance on the mock NPR radio program, 'Delicious Dish,' talking about his Schweddy Balls--or Justin Timberlake's parody of an R&B music video 'Dick in a Box' that went on to be a viral sensation?

My favorite SNL holiday moments are slightly older than those. Do you remember:

1986's Lost Ending to 'It's A Wonderful Life' sketch?




Acknowledging that Mr. Potter never suffers any consequences for his greed in the original 1946 movie, this sketch sees the residents of Bedford Falls finally delivering their own justice. Actor Dana Carvey does a fantastic impression of Jimmy Stewart. I always laugh at Jan Hooks, as Mary Baily, violently jumping up and down on Potter's body! Too funny.

Do you remember: 1982's sketch 'Merry Christmas, Dammit'--the Gumby TV Christmas special?

I'm Gumby, Dammit!

Eddie Murphy as his recurring character, Gumby, hosts his own Christmas TV variety special with special guests Frank Sinatra, and Donny and Marie Osmond among others. Joe Piscapo as Frank Sinatra is classic--he absurdly sings the TV theme songs to 'Woody Woodpecker and 'The Flintstones.' And, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Gary Kroeger as Marie and Donny Osmond cracks me up every time! They sing a very affectionate version of 'Blue Christmas.' It's funny because it's so wrong.

Do you remember: Steve Martin's 1986 sketch 'A Holiday Wish?'




Comedian Steve Martin's generous holiday spirit quickly devolves into 'the crap about the kids' to all the money in the world and a month long orgasm. It's a classic.

What are you favorite SNL holiday moments?