The Holly Leaf

Christmas Primetime TV Programming for the Week of December 21, 2009

admin — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:15:45 +0000

I know this post is late. I apologize. I’m trying to get my last minute shopping done. I’m sure you are, too! Once again, I’ll post what’s left of Monday now and check back in an hour or two for the rest of the week.

Monday, December 21, 2009

9pm Santa Baby 2: Christmas, Maybe on ABC Family

9pm A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride on Lifetime

9pm Unwrapped: Holiday Favorites on Food Network

10pm One Special Night on Lifetime Movie Network

10pm Finding John Christmas on Hallmark

10:30pm Holiday Inn on AMC

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

7pm Gingerbread Championships on Food Network (from 2005)

7pm More Crazy Christmas Lights on TLC

7:15 pm Phineas and Ferb: Christmas Vacation on Disney

8pm Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special on FOX

8pm The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney

8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on AMC (repeats at 10:15pm)

8pm Home Alone on FX (repeats at 10pm)

8pm Jingle All the Way on WGN America

8pm Most Wonderful Time of the Year on Hallmark

8pm The Christmas Hope on Lifetime Movie Network

EDITOR’S PICK 8:30 pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Cartoon Network

9pm Undercover Christmas on Lifetime

10pm When Angels Come to Town on Hallmark

10pm An Accidental Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

10pm Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special on ABC

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

7pm Disney Prep & Landing on ABC Family

EDITOR’S PICK 7:30pm Miracle on 34th Street on ABC Family

8pm A Home for the Holidays with Faith Hill on CBS

8pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas on ABC

8pm A Christmas Carol on TNT (from 1999)

8pm Comfort and Joy on Lifetime Movie Network

8pm Eloise at Christmastime on Disney

8pm Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: A North Pole Christmas on Food Network

8pm Deck the Halls on FX

8pm The Ultimate Gift on Hallmark

EDITOR’S PICK 9pm Holiday Switch on Lifetime

9pm Larry the Cable Guy’s Hula-Palooza Christmas Luau on CMT

9:45pm Phineas and Ferb: Christmas Vacation on Disney

10pm The Polar Express on ABC Family

10pm The Nativity Story on TNT

10pm Recipe for a Perfect Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

10pm Dinner: Impossible: Robert & Guy’s Holiday Havoc on Food Network

10pm Deck the Halls on FX

10:30pm A Season for Miracles on Hallmark

10:30pm Larry the Cable Guy’s Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza on CMT

Thursday, December 24, 2009

7pm Rudolph’s Shiny New Year on ABC Family

7pm Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special on Comedy Central

7pm Challenge: Holiday Cake-Off on Food Network

7pm Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure on Nick Jr

7pm Casper’s Haunted Christmas on Cartoon Network

7pm Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh! on Nickelodeon

7:42pm Meet the Santas on Hallmark

EDITOR’S PICK 7:45pm The Santa Clause 3 on Disney

8pm It’s a Wonderful Life on NBC

EDITOR’S PICK 8pm White Christmas Marathon on AMC (plays continuously 7 times, begins at 9:00am on 12/24)

8pm Santa Claus is Coming to Town on ABC Family

8pm A Christmas Story Marathon on TBS (movie plays continuously for 24 hours, starts at 8pm EST 12/24)

8pm Faith Hill, Joy to the World: A Soundstage Special Event on PBS

8pm Disney: Prep & Landing on ABC

8pm The Backyardigans : The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve on Nick Jr

8pm Home by Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

8pm 2009 Hollywood Christmas Parade on My TV

8pm White House Christmas 2009 on HGTV

8:30pm Wonder Pets! : Save the Nutcracker! on Nick Jr

9pm Year Without Santa Claus on ABC Family

9pm Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas on Cartoon Network

9pm Great Performances : Sting: A Winter’s Tale on PBS

9pm 12 Men of Christmas on Lifetime

9pm The Man Who Saved Christmas on WGN America

9pm Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! : O Figgity-Fig Tree; Snow Day on Nick Jr

9:30pm Olivia and the Family Photo; Olivia Claus on Nick Jr

9:45pm Christmas in July on TCM

9:45pm Mr. St. Nick on Hallmark

10pm Miser Brothers Christmas on ABC Family

10pm The Christmas Shoes on Lifetime Movie Network

10pm Franklin’s Magic Christmas on Nick Jr

10:30pm Ace of Cakes: Merry Cakemas on Food Network

Friday, December 25, 2009 (ALL DAY)

6am A Christmas Story Marathon on TBS (still going!)

6am National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Marathon on AMC (plays continuously all day)

6am Holiday Blunders on TLC

6am PowerPuff Girls: “Twas the Fight Before Christmas” on Cartoon Network

6am Christmas Videos on VH1 Classic (until 1pm)

6am Mr. St. Nick on Hallmark

6:30am Divine Design : “Family, Food and Holiday Fun” on HGTV

6:30am Imagination Movers : “Present Problem” on Disney

7am Jack Frost on ABC Family

7am Arthur’s Perfect Christmas on PBS

7am Christmas Out of the Box on TLC

7am The Backyardigans : “The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve” on Nickelodeon

7am Handy Manny: A Very Handy Christmas on Disney

7am Johnny Bravo Christmas on Cartoon Network

7:30am Mickey Mouse Clubhouse : “Mickey Saves Santa” on Disney

7:30am Yo Gabba Gabba! : “Christmas” on Nickelodeon (repeats at 10:30pm)

7:30am Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy: ”Billy and Mandy Save Christmas” on Cartoon Network

8am Together Again for the First Time on Lifetime Movie Network

8am Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas on PBS

8am Very Merry Curb Appeal on HGTV

8am Crazy Christmas Lights on TLC

8am Wonder Pets! : “Save the Nutcracker!” on Nickelodeon

8am White House Christmas 2009 on HGTV

8am Most Wonderful Time of the Year on Hallmark

8:30am Chowder : ”Hey Hey It s Knishmas” on Cartoon Network

8:30am A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All! on Comedy Central (repeats at 3pm)

9am A Christmas Carol on TCM (1938)

9am Faith Hill, Joy to the World: A Soundstage Special Event on PBS

9am Cranberry Christmas on ABC Family

9am Max & Ruby : “Ruby’s Gingerbread House; Max’s Christmas Passed; Max’s New Year” on Nickelodeon (repeats at 6:30pm)

9am Ed, Edd n Eddy’s Jingle, Jingle, Jangle on Cartoon Network

9:30am Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special on Comedy Central (repeats at 4pm)

9:30am Dora the Explorer : ”A Present for Santa” on Nickelodeon (repeats at 7pm)

9:30am Imagination Movers : “Ha Ha Holidays” on Disney

9:30am Olive, the Other Reindeer on Cartoon Network

EDITOR’S PICK 10am Disney Christmas Parade on ABC

EDITOR’S PICK 10am Great Performances : “Dance in America: San Francisco Ballet’s `Nutcracker” on PBS (repeats at 8pm)

10am A Smokey Mountain Christmas on Hallmark

10am His and Her Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

10am SpongeBob SquarePants : ”Patchy the Pirate Presents the SpongeBob SquarePants Christmas Special” on Nickelodeon (repeats at 3:30pm)

10am Jungle Junction : “The Night Before Zipsmas; A Gift for Zooter” on Disney

10am More Crazy Christmas Lights on TLC

10:30am Scooby Doo Christmas on Cartoon Network

10:30am Little Einsteins : “The Christmas Wish” on Disney

11am It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie on WGN America

11am Celebrity Holiday Homes on HGTV

11am My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Sleuth Christmas Movie on Disney

11am Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas on Cartoon Network

11am Invasion of the Christmas Lights on TLC

11am Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh on Nickelodeon (repeats at 6pm)

11:30am Jingle All the Way on ABC Family

Noon The Santa Clause 3 on Disney

Noon Great Performances : “Sting: A Winter s Tale” on PBS

Noon Casper’s Haunted Christmas on Cartoon Network

EDITOR’S PICK Noon Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle on Hallmark

12:15pm Christmas in Connecticut on TCM

EDITOR’S PICK 1pm iCarly: iChristmas on Nickelodeon (repeats at 8pm)

1pm Comfort and Joy on Lifetime

1:30pm Barefoot Contessa: The Holiday Meal on Food Network

1:45pm Suite Life of Zack & Cody : “Christmas at the Tipton” on Disney

2pm Christmas at Belmont 2009 on PBS

2pm Under the Mistletoe on Lifetime Movie Network

EDITOR’S PICK 2pm Meet the Santas on Hallmark

2pm Sandra’s Money Saving Meals : “Holiday Cocktail Party” on Food Network

2pm Yogi’s First Christmas on WGN America

2pm Fairly OddParents : “Christmas Every Day” on Nickelodeon

2:30pm Fairly OddParents : ”Merry Wishmas!” on Nickelodeon

2:45pm Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation on Disney (repeats at 9:25pm)

3pm The Road to Christmas on Lifetime

3pm Back at the Barnyard : “It s an Udderful Life” on Nickelodeon

3pm Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! : “A Great and Grumpy Holiday; The Super-Special Gift” on Nick Jr

3:30pm The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney

3:30pm Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack : “Low Tidings, Part 1; Low Tidings, Part 2″ on Cartoon Network

3:30pm Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! : “O Figgity-Fig Tree; Snow Day” on Nick Jr

4pm Miracle on 34th Street on ABC Family

4pm Holiday Wishes on Lifetime Movie Network

4pm Fanboy & Chum Chum : “Excuse Me; Night Morning” on Nickelodeon

4pm Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure on Nick Jr

4:12pm Mr. St. Nick on Hallmark

EDITOR’S PICK 4:30pm Holiday Affair on TCM

5pm Eve’s Christmas on Lifetime

5pm Christmas Town on ION

5pm Wonder Pets! : “Save the Nutcracker!” on Nick Jr

6pm A Boyfriend for Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

6pm Max & Ruby : “Christmas Tree; Grandma s Present; Snow Plow” on Nick Jr

6:18pm The National Tree on Hallmark

6:45pm Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas on Disney

7pm A Golden Christmas on ION

7pm Secret Santa on Lifetime

7:30pm Home Alone on FX

7:30pm Go, Diego, Go! : “Diego Saves Christmas” on Nick Jr

EDITOR’S PICK 8pm Elf on USA Network (repeats at 9:28pm)

8pm The Three Gifts on Hallmark

8pm Behind the Magic: Disney Holidays on HGTV

8pm Chopped: Season’s Choppings on Food Network

8pm Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas on NBC

8pm Undercover Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

8:05pm Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas on Disney

8:30pm Ben 10: Merry Christmas on Cartoon Network

8:30pm The Troop : “The Good, the Bad and the Icki Doll” on Nickelodeon

8:30pm Wonder Pets! : “Save the Reindeer!” on Nick Jr

EDITOR’S PICK 9pm Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer on CW

9pm Thomas Kincade’s Christmas Cottage on Lifetime

9pm The Christmas Clause on ION

9:30pm Deck the Halls on FX

10pm Call Me Claus on Lifetime Movie Network

10pm I’ll Be Home for Christmas on Hallmark

10pm L.A. Holiday Celebration 2009 on PBS

11pm Toot & Puddle: I ll Be Home for Christmas on Nick Jr

EDITOR’S PICK 11:30pm The Family Stone on FX

11:30pm That’s So Raven: Escape Claus” on Disney

Saturday, December 26, 2009

8pm The Christmas Card on Hallmark

9pm Surviving Christmas on TBS

10pm Silent Night on Hallmark

Sunday, December 27, 2009

7pm Toot & Puddle: I ll Be Home for Christmas on Nick Jr

EDITOR’S PICK 8pm Moonlight and Mistletoe on Hallmark

10pm A Diva’s Christmas Carol on Hallmark

Christmas TV Programming for the Week of December 14, 2009

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:47:05 +0000

Monday, December 14, 2009

7pm Scooby Doo Christmas on Cartoon Network

7:30pm Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer on Cartoon Network

8pm Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas on ABC

8pm ‘Twas the Night Before Good Eats on Food Network

8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on AMC

8pm A Town Without Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

8pm The Ultimate Christmas Present on Disney

8pm The National Tree on Hallmark

8:30pm Gotta Catch Santa Claus on Cartoon Network

9:35pm Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation on Disney

10pm Crazy for Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

10pm A Christmas Carol on Hallmark (2004 TV version)

10:15pm Santa Claus: The Movie on AMC

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

7pm Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys on ABC Family

7pm Crazy Christmas Lights on TLC

7pm Chowder: Hey, Hey, It’s Knishmas on Cartoon Network

7:30pm Johnny Bravo Christmas on Cartoon Network

8pm Charlie Brown Christmas on ABC

8pm Olive, The Other Reindeer on Cartoon Network

8pm Eve’s Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

8pm I’ll Be Home for Christmas on Hallmark

8:30pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York on ABC Family

9pm The Family Holiday on Lifetime

9pm Elf on USA Network

9pm Unwrapped: Holidays on Food Network

9pm Larry the Cable Guy’s Hula-Palooza Christmas Luau on CMT

9:30pm The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Holiday on Food Network

10pm The Road to Christmas on Lifetime Movie Network

10pm Meet the Santas on Hallmark

10pm Chopped: Season’s Choppings on Food Network

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

7pm Challenge: Edible Ornaments on Food Network

7pm Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale on Cartoon Network

8pm Disney Prep & Landing on ABC

8pm Mickey’s Christmas Carol on ABC Family

8pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Cartoon Network

8pm Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle on Hallmark

8pm Secret Santa on Lifetime Movie Network

8pm Paula’s Cookie Swap on Food Network

8:30pm Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too on ABC Family

8:30pm Ed, Edd, n Eddy’s Jingle, Jingle, Jangle on Cartoon Network

9pm Christmas Child on Lifetime

10pm Surviving Christmas on TNT

10pm Deck the Halls on Lifetime Movie Network

10pm Dinner: Impossible – Mission: Holiday Hope on Food Network

10pm Fallen Angel on Hallmark

10:30pm Frosty’s Winter Wonderland on ABC Family

Thursday, December 17, 2009

7pm Jack Frost on ABC Family (1 hr)

7pm Challenge: Giant Gingerbread on Food Network

7pm Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer on Cartoon Network

8pm Saturday Night Live Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas on NBC

8pm Iron Chef: All Star Holiday Dessert Battle on Food Network

8pm Christmas in Connecticut on Turner Classic Movies

8pm Jack Frost on ABC Family (2 hrs)

8pm Holiday in Your Heart on Lifetime Movie Network

8pm Moonlight & Mistletoe on Hallmark

8pm Chowder: Hey, Hey, It’s Knishmas on Cartoon Network

8:30pm Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack : Low Tidings, Part 1; Low Tidings, Part 2 on Cartoon Network

9pm Home by Christmas on Lifetime

9pm Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special on Comedy Central

9pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Cartoon Network

9:30pm Scooby Doo Christmas on Cartoon Network

10pm Holiday Affair on Turner Classic Movies

10pm Jingle All the Way on ABC Family

10pm All I Want for Christmas on Hallmark

10pm Lost Holiday: The Jim and Suzanne Shemwell Story on Lifetime Movie Network

Friday, December 18, 2009

7pm Elf on USA Network

7pm Disney Prep & Landing on ABC Family

7pm The Santa Clause on Disney

8pm Frosty the Snowman on CBS

8pm Frosty Returns on CBS

8pm Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas on The History Channel

8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on AMC (repeats at 10:15pm)

8pm Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives : A North Pole Christmas on Food Network

8pm Christmas in Canaan on Hallmark

8:50pm The Santa Clause 2 on Disney

9pm An Accidental Christmas on Lifetime

10pm The Nativity Story on TNT

10pm Most Wonderful Time of the Year on Hallmark

Saturday, December 19, 2009

7pm The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney

7pm The Christmas Shoes on Lifetime

7pm Chopped: Season’s Choppings on Food Network

8pm Elf on CBS

8pm Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa on NBC

8pm The Santa Clause 2 on ABC

8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on AMC (repeats at 10:15pm)

8pm Celebrity Holiday Homes on HGTV

8pm Christmas with the Kranks on FX

8pm The Three Gifts on Hallmark (repeats at 10pm)

9pm A Golden Christmas on ION

9pm Thomas Kincade’s Christmas Cottage on Lifetime

10pm The Family Stone on FX

Sunday, December 20, 2009

7pm National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 2009 on PBS

7pm The Family Stone on FX

7pm Christmas Town on ION

7pm Franklin’s Magic Christmas on Nick Jr

7pm Deck the Halls on Lifetime

7pm Challenge: Edible Ornaments on Food Network

7:30pm Nicholas Nickleby on CW

8pm Christmas in Washington on TNT

8pm The Three Gifts on Hallmark

9pm A Golden Christmas on ION

8pm The Santa Clause 3 on ABC

8m A Christmas Carol on AMC

8:10pm Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas on Disney

9pm The Nativity Story on TNT

9pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Cartoon Network

9pm Eve’s Christmas on Lifetime

9:30pm Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation on Disney

9:30pm Scooby Doo Christmas on Cartoon Network

10pm Prancer on AMC

10pm The Christmas Choir on Hallmark

Christmas TV Programming for the Week of December 7, 2009

admin — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:49:22 +0000

Monday, December 7, 2009

8pm Santa Claus is Coming to Town on ABC – 1970 animation featuring the voices of Fred Astaire and Mickey Rooney.

8pm Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special on FOX – Featuring Brad Paisley, Kristen Chenoweth, David Cook, Christina Applegate, and more.

8pm All I Want for Christmas on AMC – Two children try to reconcile their divorced parents.

8pm Unaccompanied Minors on ABC Family – Kids traveling without parents get stranded at an airport on Christmas Eve.

8pm Santa Maybe on Hallmark – A teen has to care for his nieces and nephew after a family tragedy.

8pm on The Man Who Saved Christmas on WGN America – Erector set inventor is asked by the government to urge people to cancel Christmas and buy war bonds instead.

8:30pm Good Eats: The Cookie Clause on Food Network – Alton Brown attempts to bake the perfect cookie to leave out for Santa Clause.

10pm Jack Frost on ABC Family – 1979 musical where Frost falls in love and longs to become human

10pm Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: A North Pole Christmas on Food Network – Guy Fieri visits North Pole, Alaska to sample Christmas favorites

10pm A Diva’s Christmas Carol on Hallmark – A twist on the Dickens’ classic featuring Ebony Scrooge.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

7pm Mickey’s Christmas Carol on ABC Family – 1983 animated version of the Dickens’ classic

7pm Scooby Doo Christmas on Cartoon Network – A ghost guards an emerald atop an evil neighbor’s Christmas tree

7pm Challenge: Holiday Cake-off on Food Network – Six teams compete

7pm Invasion of the Christmas Lights on TLC – Christmas light displays around the country

7:30pm Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too on ABC Family – Pooh accidentally messes up the delivery of wish lists to Santa

7:30pm Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer on Cartoon Network – Grandma’s shop must be saved from a greedy cousin

8pm Charlie Brown Christmas on ABC – from 1965, a beloved classic

8pm Year Without Santa Claus on ABC Family – 1974 animation about a bummed out Santa

8pm A Season for Miracles on Hallmark – Two chidren’s lives are transformed

8:30pm Disney Prep & Landing on ABC – An experienced elf is passed over for a promotion

8:30pm How the Grince Stole Christmas on Cartoon Network – Animated classic from 1966

8:30pm Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation on Disney XD – holiday special for the popular and hilarious cartoon

9pm Miser Brothers Christmas on ABC Family – Santa Claus is injured in a sabotage effort and the Miser Brothers are assigned to conduct his gift-delivery duties.

9pm 12 Men of Christmas on Lifetime – After losing her job, a PR executive escapes to Montana and ends up using her skills to raise funds for a local rescue fund

10pm Our First Christmas on Hallmark – A blended family faces conflicting Christmas traditions.

10pm Rudolph’s Shiny New Year on ABC Family – 1976 animated classic

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

7pm Challenge: Extreme Holiday Cakes on Food Network – Teams compete to create cakes that spin, smoke and explode

7pm Back at the Barnyard on Nickelodeon – Santa gets sick on Christmas Eve and the reindeer promise to fill in for him

7pm Rudolph’s Shiny New Year on ABC Family – plays again

8pm Shrek the Halls on ABC – Christmas special based on the popular animated film series

8pm The Nightmare Before Christmas on Disney – The leader of Halloweentown tries to kidnap Santa and takeover Christmastown

8pm Secret Life of…Christmas on Food Network – This history of Christmas with a food focus

8pm The Ultimate Gift on Hallmark – A spoiled heir must find meaning for his life before he can receive his inheritance

8pm Santa Claus is Coming to Town on ABC Family – plays again

9pm Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys on ABC Family – A mysterious Toy Taker steals Santa’s toys three days before Christmas. Rudolph must devise a plan to get them back.

9pm A Boyfriend for Christmas on Lifetime – Santa fixes up a social worker with an attorney

10pm Dinner: Impossible, Robert and Guy’s Holiday Havoc on Food Network – Guy Fieri surprises Robert Irvine and challenges him to make a holiday meal for the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Rosa, CA

10pm The Santa Clause on TNT – the first in the film series starring Tim Allen as a reluctant Santa Clause

10:30pm ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on ABC Family – A town’s newspaper denounces Santa

Thursday, December 10, 2009

7pm Bah, Humduck! A Looney Toons Christmas on Cartoon Network – Another animated version of the Dickens’ classic

7pm Santa Claus is Coming to Town on ABC Family – plays again

8pm Holiday in Handcuffs – A waitress kidnaps a customer to impress her parents at Christmas

8pm 2009 Hollywood Holiday Parade on My TV – Soap opera star Susan Lucci is the grand marshall. Taped Nov 29, 2009.

8pm Fallen Angel on Hallmark – An attorney realizes what’s important in life when he returns home to Maine for his father’s funeral

9pm Recipe for a Perfect Christmas on Lifetime – A woman visits her busy daughter in Manhattan but gets distracted by a young restaurateur

10pm Flintstones Christmas on ABC Family – Santa is injured on the Flintstones roof, so Fred and Barney finish Santa’s toy delivery

10pm Silver Bells on Hallmark – A widower finds love in NYC with a widow.

Friday, December 11, 2009

7pm Patchy the Pirate Presents the Spongebob Squarepants Christmas Special on Nickelodeon – Story of the Bikini Bottom’s first Christmas

7pm Year Without Santa Claus on ABC Family – plays again

7:30pm Penguins of Madagascar on Nickelodeon – Four Central Park Zoo penguins have commando skills.

8pm Yes, Virginia on CBS – A girl in 1897 writes to the newspaper to find out if Santa is real.

8pm Prancer on AMC – A girl finds an injured reindeer and thinks its part of Santa’s team

8pm Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle on Hallmark – A widower hires a nanny because he needs help with his twins.

8pm The Santa Clause 2 on ABC Family – Santa must find a wife before Christmas

8pm Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation on Disney – plays again, this time on Disney

8pm Guy’s Disney Holiday on Food Network – Guy Fieri visits Disneyland for a look at the park’s holiday eats

8pm Deck the Halls on FX – neighbors compete for the best holiday lighting display

9pm A Christmas Proposal on Lifetime – An attorney goes up against ex-boyfriend and fellow lawyer over a small ski town scheduled to be demolished

10pm A Renaissance Christmas on PBS – Renaissance and baroque pieces played by Chicago’s Music of the Baroque Chorus and Brass Ensemble

10pm Santa Claus: The Movie on AMC – Santa hires a sloppy elf to work at the North Pole

10pm Mr. St. Nick on Hallmark – Santa’s son, who lives in Florida, turns his back on the family business and then falls for a charity scam.

10pm Unaccompanied Minors on ABC Family – plays again

Saturday, December 12, 2009

7pm The Polar Express on Disney – A boy who doubts Santa is taken on an adventurous train ride to the North Pole

7pm Guy’s Disney Holiday on Food Network – plays again

8pm It’s a Wonderful Life on NBC – Small town banker wishes he hadn’t been born – and finds out what life would be like if he wasn’t.

8pm Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on CBS – 1964 animated classic

8pm Paula’s Cookie Swap on Food Network – Paula Deen hosts a holiday cookie swap

8pm Sandra Lee Celebrates: Season of Surprise on HGTV – Sandra plans a party for a family who helped a couple whose triplets were born premature

8pm Holiday Affair on Lifetime – 1949 classic where two men vie for the affection of a widow.

8pm Christmas in Canaan on Hallmark – A widower tries to get his son and a classmate to get along.

8pm The Polar Express on ABC – A boy who doubts Santa is taken on an adventurous train ride to the North Pole

8pm The Santa Clause 3 on ABC Family – Jack Frost tricks Santa into giving up his role

8:50pm Eloise at Christmastime on Disney – Eloise tries to break up a Christmas Eve wedding of the Plaza’s daughter to a crook

9pm The Flight Before Christmas on CBS – A young reindeer aspires to be on Santa’s team. He trains with a Finnish family of aerialist squirrels.

9pm Holiday Switch on Lifetime – A struggling housewife is transported to an alternate reality where she learns what her life would have been like to marry her high school sweetheart instead.

10pm Unwrapped: Holiday Favorites on Food Network – Fruitcake, candy canes, glazed honey hams, and more

Sunday, December 13, 2009

7pm An Accidental Christmas on Lifetime – Children try to reunite their parents during Christmas

7pm Challenge: Extreme Holiday Cakes on Food Network – plays again

8pm Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe on ABC Family – Santa’s daughter is asked to takeover the family biz when Santa retires, but she likes running her own business in New York City

8pm White Christmas on AMC – the 1954 classic starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney

8pm Challenge: Edible Ornaments on Food Network – Teams compete to decorate an entire tree with edible ornaments. Surprise assistants announced just before contest begins.

8pm Sandra Lee Celebrates: Holiday Homecoming on HGTV – Sandra plans a party for a returning Peace Corps volunteer

8pm The Christmas Hope on Lifetime Movie Network – A couple ready to divorce each other take in a foster child just before Christmas.

8pm Christmas in Canaan on Hallmark – plays again

9pm Elf on TBS – A human raised by elves goes to New York to meet his dad.

9pm A Very Merry Daughter of the Bride on Lifetime – A woman tries to stop her mother’s quick romance, but soon finds herself involved in one of her own

9pm The Christmas Shoes on Lifetime Movie Network – A workaholic’s life converges with that of a boy whose mom is dying.

9pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Cartoon Network – plays again

10pm Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special on ABC – Oprah Winfrey visits the White House to see holiday preparations at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

10pm Finding John Christmas on Hallmark – A woman searches for a man she believes to be her long-lost brother.

10:45pm Holiday Inn on AMC – 1942 musical starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire

75 Web Sites Offering Gifts that Give Back

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:38:37 +0000

Sorted according to cause/source that benefits.

Animal Rescue & Wildlife

Fair Trade/Co-Op Chocolate

Fair Trade/Co-Op – Coffee

Fair Trade/Co-Op – Clothes, Accessories and Home Goods

Fair Trade/Co-Op – Sports

Fair Trade Sports

Fair Trade/Co-Op – Toys

Fair Trade/Co-Op – Wine

Hurricane Katrina

Its-las-tik

Poverty and Hunger

Literacy

At First Sight Braille Jewelry (Braille Literacy)
The Literacy Site

Medical and Health

Miscellaneous

BeautywithaCause – a different cause every month

45 Christmas Games for the iPhone/iPod Touch

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:27:36 +0000

Speed Tap Games

Christmas with Weezer (aka Tap Tap Revenge featuring Weezer’s 2008 Christmas EP) – $4.99

Christmas Elf – $1.99

Save Santa – $0.99

Gift Grab – FREE

Xmas in Space : Play-a-Long Christmas Carols – FREE

iHoHoHo – $0.99

Racing Games
Santa Wings: Rudolph’s Christmas Flight – $1.99

The Reindeer Games – $0.99

Adventure

iSanta – $0.99

iEscapade XmasIsland – $2.99

Elf Run – $0.99

Kusari Christmas Edition – $0.99

JingleJumble – FREE

Trivia

Christmas Trivia: Are You Smarter Than Santa? -$0.99

Stacking Games

Christmas Gift Stack – $0.99

Gaia Christmas Edition – $0.99

Word

Christmas Spell - $1.99 (or try the FREE Lite version)

Christmas Characters – $0.99

Linking Pieces Games (a la Bejeweled)

Snowed in 7 – White Christmas – FREE

Match ‘n’ Burst – $1.99

Menzel’s Christmas Game – $0.99

Puzzle

Christmas Puzzle – $1.99

iFinity – Christmas Edition – $1.99

iJiggle – $1.99 or iJiggle2 for $2.99

Christmas Puzzles – $0.99

Matching/Memory Games

Christmas Matching for Kids – $0.99

Christmas Match – Kids Memory Game – $0.99

Christmas Match – FREE

meromy + Christmas edition $0.99 or FREE

Christmas memory game – $0.99 or FREE

Santa’s Memory Tuner – $0.99

aMatch Xmas – $0.99

X’mas PhotoMatch – $0.99

Connecting Games

Christmas Lights Plus – $0.99 or FREE

Neon (shine) – $0.99

Target

Gift Feaver – $0.99

iSnowFight – Christmas Game – $0.99

Santa’s Night Shift – $0.99

Collecting Pieces

GoSanta! – FREE

Jingle Balls – $0.99

helpSanta – $0.99

Casino

Santa Slots – $0.99

Miscellaneous

perspico xmas – $1.99

Mini Golf Holiday Edition – $0.99

iLander – Christmas Edition – $0.99

Christmas TV Programming for the Week of November 30, 2009

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:06:51 +0000

Monday, November 30, 2009

7pm The Dog Who Saved Christmas on ABC Family – A man gets a dog to protect his house and family during Christmas, except the dog is not watchdog material.

8pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas on ABC – animated version of the famous Dr. Seuss book

8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on AMC – The Griswolds experience a chaotic Christmas, to say the least.

8pm Good Eats: ‘Twas the Night Before Good Eats on Food Network – Alton Brown prepares long-lost holiday favorites.

8pm Moonlight & Mistletoe on Hallmark – A man and his daughter fight to save the family business, a Christmas-themed attraction called Santaville

8:30pm Shrek the Halls on ABC – Christmas special based on the popular films

9pm Naughty or Nice on ABC Family – A radio DJ switches his approach at the request of a sick boy, but his ratings suffer.

10pm Mr. St. Nick on Hallmark – Santa Claus’ son falls for a Christmas scam while living in Florida

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

8pm Charlie Brown Christmas on ABC – the classic that was first aired in 1965 cancelled for Presidential address. Will air on Tuesday, December 9 instead.

8pm The Santa Clause 3 on ABC Family – third installment of the Tim Allen comedy

8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on AMC – plays again

8pm A Christmas Carol on Hallmark – Kelsey Grammar plays Scrooge in this version of the Charles Dickens classic

8:30pm Disney Prep & Landing on ABC – An experienced elf is passed over for a promotion and gets stuck working with a new elf. cancelled for Presidential address. Will air on Tuesday, December 9 instead.

9pm The Best Thing I Ever Ate: Holiday on Food Network – Network chefs talk about their favorite holiday fare.

10pm A Grandpa for Christmas on Hallmark – a girl meets her grandfather for the first time when she goes to live with him after her mother is injured in an accident

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

8pm Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer on CBS – The animated musical first telecast in 1964

8pm Christmas in Rockefeller Center on NBC – Zachary Levi and Jane Krakowski host. Performances by Michael Buble, Aretha Franklin, Barry Manilow and the Roots.

8pm Mr. Christmas on PBS – A father struggles to support his family but still buys his daughter a Christmas present.

8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on AMC – plays yet again

8pm The Ultimate Christmas Present on Disney – Two teens bring L.A. to a halt when they use a weather-making machine to bring a snow storm.

8pm Challenge: Giant Gingerbread on Food Network – pastry chefs compete to create a gingerbread house that’s a minimum of 6 ft tall

8pm The Christmas Choir on Lifetime – A man organizes a choir at a local shelter with help from a nun.

9pm Lost Holiday: The Jim and Suzanne Shemwell Story on Hallmark – A blizzard traps a couple while on a snowmobiling trip just before Christmas.

10pm I’ll Be Home for Christmas on Hallmark – a college student hurries home after his dad promises him a Porsche if he is home for the holidays

Thursday, December 3, 2009

8pm A Christmas Carol (1938) on TCM – directed by Edwin Marin.

8pm A Diva’s Christmas Carol on Hallmark – this deviation from the Dickens classic stars Vanessa Williams as Ebony Scrooge

8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on AMC – just in case you didn’t see it the previous three nights.

8:30pm The Polar Express on ABC Family – A boy who doubts Santa Claus is taken to the North Pole by way of a very adventurous train ride

9pm Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus on Lifetime – Santa’s son courts a busy single mom.

10pm Ms. Scrooge on Hallmark – another variation of the Dickens classic

Friday, December 4, 2009

7pm Home Alone on FX – a boy is left behind when his family leaves for Christmas in Paris

7pm The Santa Clause 2 on Disney – Tim Allen stars as Santa Clause – who must find a wife before Christmas

8pm Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa on NBC – The muppets accidentally prevent three letters from reaching Santa.

8pm The National Tree on Hallmark – A blogger and his father travel cross-country when a tree from their farm is selected as the White House Christmas tree.

8pm Paula’s Southern Christmas on Food Network – Paula Deen cooks up a Southern Christmas in Georgia

8pm 25 Great Holiday Ideas on HGTV – tips for decorating your home for Christmas

8pm Merry Christmas Drake & Josh on Nickelodeon – Christmas special based on the popular kids TV series

8pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on AMC – You guessed it – it’s playing again tonight.

9pm Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer on CW – Grandma’s shop is being threatened by a greedy cousin.

9pm Christmas with the Kranks on FX – A couple decides to skip Christmas after their daughter decides not to come home for the holiday.

10pm Unwrapped: Holiday Favorites on Food Network – Fruitcake, candy canes, glazed honey ham, pumpkin pie, Korbel champagne

10pm Meet the Santas on Hallmark – Santa’s son plans to marry his fiancee on Christmas Eve, but family members meddle in the plans

10pm Larry the Cable Guy’s Christmas Spectacular on VH1 – the comedian’s holiday special

Saturday, December 5, 2009

7pm Undercover Christmas on Lifetime – A waitress is forced to spend Christmas under the protection of a handsome FBI agent

7pm The Santa Clause 2 on Disney – plays again

7pm Christmas with the Kranks on FX – plays again

8pm White Christmas on AMC – Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star in this beloved Christmas movie

8pm Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle on Hallmark – A widower hires a nanny to help with his twins.

8pm Sandra Lee Celebrates: Magical Merry Christmas on HGTV – Sandra plans a holiday party for a teen who has had cancerous tumors removed

9pm Guy’s Disney Holiday on Food Network – Guy Fieri visits Disneyland and samples the Christmas eats

9pm 12 Men of Christmas on Lifetime – A PR girl from New York loses her job and her engagement. So she escapes in Montana and uses her skills to raise money for the local rescue squad.

9pm The Santa Clause 3 on Disney – plays again, this time on Disney

9pm Deck the Halls on FX – neighbors try to outdo each other with the Christmas lights

Sunday, December 6, 2009

7pm A Christmas Proposal on Lifetime – A lawyer fights her ex and colleague over a small town ski resort set to be demolished.

8pm Phineas and Ferb Christmas Vacation on Disney XD – the Christmas special for this hilarious cartoon

8pm Celebrity Holiday Homes on HGTV – Jewel, Kathie Lee Gifford and Holly Robinson Peete pair up with designers to decorate for Christmas

8pm Challenge: Extreme Holiday Cakes on Food Network – chefs compete to make cakes that spin and explode. from 2008

8pm Crazy Christmas Lights on TLC – elaborate displays from around the U.S.

8pm Dora’s Christmas Carol Adventure on Nickelodeon – holiday special for the popular cartoon Dora the Explorer

8pm Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle on Hallmark – plays again

9pm Invasion of the Christmas Lights on TLC – more crazy displays

9pm 12 Men of Christmas on Lifetime – plays again

10pm The Christmas Card on Hallmark – A soldier returns from duty to receive a holiday greeting from a stranger. He embarks on a mission to find out who the sender is.

The Anti-Gift Guide: What NOT to Get Geeks

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:13:35 +0000

Last week, we offered up a gift guide for geeks that aimed to leave out some of the quirky and not-truly-wanted gifts. This week, we’re giving you the DO NOT BUY list. These are things that make it on to Geek Gift Guides and geek products sites across the web, but aren’t really such a great idea.

Cufflinks

Most geeks hate to dress up and the only time you wear cufflinks is when you’re getting totally souped up for a uber-fancy event. I don’t care if the cufflinks feature a piece of code or some Star Trek symbol – they make crappy gifts for a true geek.

Ties

Same explanation as the cufflinks. So what if that tie looks like it came from The Matrix? Buy The Matrix (the first one only – not the entire Trilogy) on Blu-Ray instead.

Binary Clocks

Just. No.

Cheap Tech Gadgets/Accessories

You may see a good deal on some earbuds, computer keyboards or other tech accessories. But when it comes to tech gadgets and accessories, you generally get what you pay for. A true geek would rather have one really great gadget than a bunch of cheap ones.

WiFi Detectors

If your geek needs Wifi, the device s/he wants to use the Wifi on will detect whether or not there is, in fact, Wifi available.

Any HD product in 720p

If you’re going to get a geek something in HD – make sure it’s 1080p. You don’t have to understand it – you just have to do it.

GPS Devices

Most mobile phones are offering features and applications that do the same or close enough to the same thing as a GPS Device. The only exception here is if you’re geek is into geo-caching. Then just make sure you know exactly what type of GPS device your geek is salivating over.

Mobile Phones

This is a tempting gift because new mobile phones come out all the time and geeks generally love gadgets. But don’t fall into this trap. Your geek knows which phones s/he likes. If your geek has an iPhone, s/he is no doubt frustrated with things like dropped calls. That doesn’t mean they want a replacement. They probably still love the device.

Laptops

This is the holy grail of geek-dom. Do NOT attempt to buy a geek a laptop – EVER. Unless you know the EXACT specifications that your loved geek one wants. You may think all geeks want a MacBook Pro – but your specific brand of geek may be a Linux junkie. If you have no idea what that last sentence meant – banish all considerations of laptops as a gift from your mind permanently.

Christmas TV Programming for the Week of November 23, 2009

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:59:59 +0000

Monday, November 23, 2009

7pm A Holiday to Remember on ABC Family – A woman returns to her hometown and ends up reuniting with her ex-fiance.

9pm Unlikely Angel on ABC Family – A country singer dies too soon, but can’t enter Heaven until she performs an earthly mission at Christmas.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

8pm All I Want for Christmas on Hallmark – A boy wishes for a husband for his single mom.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

7pm The Sons of Mistletoe on ABC Family – A businesswoman threatens to close down a foster home at Christmastime.

8pm Most Wonderful Time of the Year on Hallmark – A woman ends up entertaining a stranger in her home when her visiting uncle brings a woman he met on the plane.

9pm Christmas List on ABC Family – A perfume saleswoman sees her wishes come true after dropping her wish list into Santa’s mailbox.

Thursday, November 26, 2009 (Thanksgiving!)

8pm Charlie Brown Thanksgiving on ABC – Ok, this isn’t a Christmas program – but close enough!

8pm Home Alone on FX – An 8 year old boy is accidentally left behind while his family goes on their Christmas vacation.

8pm Miracle on 34th Street on ABC Family – Remake of the 1947 classic.

8pm Old Fashioned Thanksgiving on Hallmark – based on a short story by Louisa May Alcott (hey, we’re suckers for holidays)

8pm 25 Great Holiday Ideas on HGTV – home decorating ideas for the holidays.

9pm Elf on USA Network – hilarious comedy starring Will Ferrell

9pm Love Actually on Lifetime – Rated R – Follows several characters whose lives randomly intertwine at the holidays.

9pm Larry the Cable Guy’s Christmas Spectacular on VH1 – the standup comedian’s Christmas special

Friday, November 27, 2009

7pm Elf on USA Network – Will Ferrell comedy plays again

8pm Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Encore (premium channel) – Dr. Seuss’ take on the classic Christmas tale.

8pm I’ll Be Home for Christmas on Hallmark – A college student hurries home for the holidays after his father promises a Porsche if he does.

9pm The Family Stone on FX – A funny yet poignent look at a complicated family Christmas.

9pm The Santa Clause on TBS – A business executive reluctantly takes on his new role as Santa Claus.

9pm Call Me Claus on Lifetime – A female TV producer is called on to replace Santa.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

7pm The Santa Clause on TBS – plays again

7pm The Santa Clause 2 on Disney – The second in the series starring Tim Allen

7pm Secret Santa on Lifetime – Journalist regains holiday spirit after investigating a charitable donation.

8pm Merry Madagascar on NBC – repeat of Christmas special based on the popular Madagascar movie series

8pm The National Tree on Hallmark – teenage video blogger and his dad travel cross-country after their tree is selected as the national Christmas tree.

8pm Sandra Lee Celebrates: Holiday Homecoming on Food Network – celebrity chef prepares a party for a returning Peace Corps volunteer

8pm Home for the Holidays on WGN America – A woman dreads spending Thanksgiving with her family

9pm Jingle All the Way on TBS – A father tries to find a popular toy on Christmas Eve.

9pm Elf on USA Network – plays again

9pm Comfort and Joy on Lifetime – A single career woman gets in an accident and ends up in a coma. She wakes to find herself a married homemaker with children!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

7pm A Town Without Christmas on Lifetime – A romantic connection develops between a reporter and children’s author as they seek the child who wrote a dark letter to Santa.

8pm Challenge: Giant Gingerbread on the Food Network – Pastry chefs compete to build the best gingerbread house – and it must be a minimum of 6 feet tall.

8pm Behind the Magic: Disney Holidays on HGTV – Behind the scenes of decorating for Christmas at Disney World

8pm While You Were Sleeping on SOAP Network – A woman pretends to be a man’s fiance after saving him from death on the rails of a commuter track on Christmas day.

8pm Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh on Nickelodeon – Christmas movie special from the popular kids’ show

8pm The Dog Who Saved Christmas on ABC Family – After a string of burglaries in his neighborhood, a man gets a former police dog to protect his family. But the dog doesn’t bark and acts like a puppy instead.

8pm and 9:30pm The Santa Clause on TBS – yup, again

8pm The National Tree on Hallmark – also plays again

9pm Home for Christmas on Lifetime – A woman struggles after a divorce leaves her with little.

9pm A Dog for Christmas on CBS – A developmentally challenged boy tries to get every family in town to adopt a dog for Christmas.

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments.

17 Gifts Geeks REALLY Want for Christmas

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:59:50 +0000

Every year, I peruse geek gift guides in search of gift ideas for my husband. Most lists don’t seem to have a good grasp of what geeks really want. For example, I don’t know too many geeks that truly want a freakin’ binary clock. Yet, it’s always included on the holiday geek gift lists.

So, I’ve set out to create the ultimate geek gift guide. I know that not all geeks are the same. But the following gifts are ones that you’d have a hard time going wrong with. We start off in expensive fantasy land and end with stocking stuffers. Happy shopping.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II 21.1MP Full Frame CMOS Digital SLR Camera

Captures both still photographs and video footage. Even Saturday Night Live has been using this (and the 7D) to shoot some of its programming.

Available at Amazon, B&H Photo, Best Buy and the like for around $2700. That’s just for the camera body. You’ll need to shell out more for the lenses. Yeah, I know, dreamland. Do not, I repeat, do not get this and leave your geek lens-less.

LG LED-LCD TV

Your geek probably has an HDTV, but they probably won’t mind replacing it with an LED-LCD HDTV from LG. This baby is super-thin and features an 2 million-to-one dynamic constrast ratio (yes, that’s good). You’ll get a 24p Real Cinema mode and a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio (yes, still good). It has a USB port, is ENERGY STAR qualified. The features go on and on.

Available at Best Buy. Starts at $1999 for 47″

Crucial M225 2.5″ Solid-State Drive, 256GB

This will make your geek’s computer super-fast, which will make them super happy. Unlike the hard drive that came with your geek’s computer, a solid-state drive has no moving parts, making it quieter, cooler, and more durable.

Available at Crucial.com for $799

Drobo

Drobo is a hard-drive system that backs up data on computers. This is great for storing media files and protecting digital photos. If the computer crashes, the files are safe. Just know this thing has won a ton of awards and accolades from very techie people. Options start at $399.

Available at the online Drobo Store.

Anything from Bose

From noise-canceling headphones to earbuds to the SoundDock portable digital music system, you can’t go wrong giving a Bose gift to a geek. Bose offers amazing sound quality, the perfect way for geeks to listen to music or podcasts while they’re working or hobbying.

Available from major retailers such as Target and Amazon – as well as Bose’s online store. Products begin at $99.

Apple TV

This little box will allow your geek to purchase movies and TV shows without all the clutter of DVD cases sitting around. Plus, the Apple TV streams podcasts, can connect with iTunes and play music easily through your home entertainment system. It can be controlled with the free Remote App on the iPhone or iPod Touch, as well.

Available at the Apple Store for $229.

Media Players

These are similar to the Apple TV, but without the iTunes. Many of them are much more affordable, with some starting at $99. Basically, these media players will play the video, audio, etc. from your computer on your television and through your home entertainment audio system.

Available at electronics retailers.

Blu-ray Player

If you’re geek doesn’t make a whole lotta dough, s/he may have been putting off buying a Blu-ray player until the prices dropped. Now, you can find them for as low as $128 for a Magnovox at Walmart and $119 for a JVC (factory refurbished) at Best Buy. If you’re willing to brave the crowds the day after Christmas, Walmart is dropping the price on that Magnavox to $78.

Available at any place or site that sells electronics.

e-Reader

e-Readers are devices specifically designed to read books electronically. The screen is specially designed to reduce glare, which makes reading electronic books far more delightful than reading them on most laptops or mobile phones. However, you need to be diligent if you want to buy this for your geek. It’s up in the air whether two of the most anticipated e-Readers, Barnes and Noble’s new Nook and Sony’s New Daily Edition Reader, will be available in time. If they are, you’ll need to act quick when they do become available since there’s so much interest in the devices. If your geek prefers a Kindle or one of the existing Sony device, you’ll have some more leeway, as they’re available right now.

Gift Cards

Get your geek a gift card s/he can actually use on Christmas day. For example, an Amazon.com gift card can be used anytime. Your geek can be downloading mp3s, movies, e-books and using them on Christmas day. You can even buy an electronic gift card, which arrives in their email. If you can’t arrange for which day the e-card is sent, simply buy it on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. iTunes gift cards are another great idea – just be sure your geek uses an Apple product such as an iPhone or iPod.

Available at online retailers.

Wacom Bamboo Pen and Touch Fun Small Tablet

This tablet allows both finger and pen gestures and can act as a touchpad for both desktops and laptops. It’s great for writing by hand or creating art in a digital manner. But it can be used to navigate, browse, scroll, and zoom. Be sure to ge the Pen and Touch Tablet. Wacom sells pen-only tablets, but they’re not as versatile.

Available at Amazon, Best Buy, and the Wacom eStore for $99 (pssst. at the time of this post, Amazon was having a sale on this item).

Callpod Chargepod

Chances are your geek has a bunch of gadgets, and those gadgets need charging. Make it easier to refuel those batteries with the Chargepod. Your geek can charge his/her digital camera, mobile phone, and personal gaming devices all at the same time.

Available from Amazon for $99.95 (on sale at the time of this post for just $29.95)

Sodastream Jet Starter Kit

Geeks live on caffeine. They code with one hand and hold a caffeinated beverage in the other. Let them hack their own soda concoctions with this nifty soda making gadget.

Available from Amazon for $99.95 (on sale at the time of this post for just $79).

Handstands Original Sticky Pad

The Sticky Pad is designed to prevent devices from slipping. It’s great in the car or on the desk at work. Just place your mobile phone or mp3 player on it and it stays. No glue or anything permanent.

Available at Amazon.com for $8.99.

USB Keyboard Vacuum

This is a handy way to keep a computer keyboard clean. It’s amazing how easily they pick up food crumbs, dust, hair, etc. This little handy device is powered by the computer’s USB port and helps maintain one of your geek’s most prized possessions.

Available at The Container Store for $4.99.

Mountain Dew Fridge Pack

Frugal geeks understand that their loved ones have a hard time at Christmas. They drool over high-priced televisions and gadgets that just aren’t practical without saving up for months at a time or maxing out the credit card. Thankfully, most geeks are low-maintenance realists. They do know how to enjoy the simple things in life. Stock up on their favorite caffeinated beverage and it at least saves them a trip to the grocery store for a week (ok, a couple of days).

Available at convenience stores, Walmart, Target, and grocery stores for about 5 bucks.

Bacon Salt

For some reason, geeks love Bacon. So let them shake a little bacon on everything they like to eat with this Bacon Salt.

Available from ThinkGeek.com for $4.99.

Update to 2009 Christmas Music List

admin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:44:54 +0000

I’ve updated the list of new Christmas albums for 2009. It now features 48 albums instead of 41. Additionally, there are links to albums available on iTunes, for easy access so you can sample and purchase tunes.