What Your Favorite Christmas Special Says About You

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Not unlike the alignment of the stars on the day you were born and where you went to kindergarten, your favorite Christmas cartoon special can say a lot about you. Santa or Grinch, Cindy Lou Who or Lucy--who you like defines your personality in some ways. Forget about Carl Jung and his personality test. What you'll learn from us is far more valuable. Happy holidays!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Frosty the Snowman (1969)

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (1970)

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Shrek the Halls (2007)

Famous Celebrities December Birthdays

Find out which stars and other notables were born in the month of December.

Woody Allen
December 1

His career in film production began in the 1960s with a movie about a playboy and a psychoanalyst, and he’s working on a new film that stars Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. He’s also an accomplished musician.

Britney Spears
December 2

She burst onto the scene in the late ‘90s as a tempestuous teen with a hit single. With which pop singer did she have a romance?

Ozzy Osbourne
December 3

The “The Grandfather of Heavy Metal” gave fans and others an inside look at his personal life when he starred in a reality show about his family life.

Tyra Banks
December 4

She was the first African-American woman to be featured on the cover of this sports magazine’s swimsuit edition. She rose to fame as a model for this lingerie brand, hosted a popular talk show and helmed a model reality show.

Little Richard
December 5

This rock pioneer first achieved success with a boogie woogie hit that climbed to the top of the Billboard charts in 1955. In 1986 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

John Singleton Mosby
December 6

A confederate commander, he was known by this nickname for his ability to elude Union soldiers. In 1863, he reportedly captured a Union general by giving him a rousing slap. His capture of Union soldiers and disruption of supply lines are thought to have staved off a Union victory for a year.

Larry Bird
December 7

This Hall of Fame basketball player first gained national attention when in 1979 he led this school to the NCAA title game against this school, which featured this legendary player. The rivalry between these two stars continued into the NBA.


Kim Basinger
December 8

A model turned actress, she starred in several blockbuster hits in the 1980s, including a movie franchise based on a suave action hero in 1983 and the first full-length film about a comic book superhero in 1989. In 1997, she won an Academy Award for her work in this drama.


Redd Foxx
December 9

This comedian is best known for his starring role in a 1970s sitcom. Though he died in 1991, he inspired many comedians including this actor, whose stage name is a tribute. When Foxx died, he reportedly was in debt to the IRS. How much did he owe?

Emily Dickinson
December 10

Although she’s now recognized as a major American poet, only a handful of her poems were published while she lived. She is referred to as the belle of this Massachusetts town.


John Kerry
December 11

The U.S. senator from this state is also a decorated veteran. He ran for a high office in 2004, but he lost to the incumbent. His wife is known for her former marriage and for being heir to his family’s fortune.


Frank Sinatra
December 12

This iconic singer and actor is known by this nickname – and this one, among others. He won an Academy Award for his role in this 1953 film and was a megastar in the music industry during the 1940s and 1950s, appealing to bobby-soxers.


Taylor Swift
December 13

At 21, she’s established herself as a leading musician, and it’s been only four years since the release of her first single. Her first album went multiplatinum. Her second album earned her six Grammys, including Album of the Year, and her third sold more than a million copies in its first week.


Nostradamus
December 14

The French physician and seer who turns 507 years old on this day is credited by some with predicting many major world events in his book, released in 1555. He reportedly used this art to make his predictions, many of which are still subject to hot debate today.


Don Johnson
December 15

He seemingly defined “cool” in the 1980s as the star of a hot cop series . He starred in another cop drama in the 1990s and he also performed music his first single, in 1986, ended up being his most successful.


William “Refrigerator” Perry
December 16

He played 10 seasons in the NFL, most with this franchise, winning a Super Bowl in 1986. He was a fan favorite and earned his nickname because of his size. Perry capitalized on his fame in a tasty fashion in 2006.

Manny Pacquiao
December 17

This decorated boxer is considered by many to be, pound-for-pound, the best in the sport right now. Pacquiao is also a politician in his homeland, having been elected in 2008.

Christina Aguilera
December 18

A one-time Mouseketeer, she found fame as a singer with this single, released in 1999. In 2010, this men’s magazine ranked her No. 18 on this list. What does she say about her split from her husband?

Alyssa Milano
December 19

As a child, Milano starred on a sitcom as the daughter of this star. In the 1990s, she starred in this television drama, and she spent eight years as one of the main characters on a charming series.

JoJo
December 20

This young pop star was first discovered on this television talent show. At 13, she released her first album, which went gold. Her third studio album is expected to be released in 2011


Joe Paterno
December 21

The legendary coach of this university recently secured this milestone. Known by this nickname, he has won two national titles and is one of three active coaches to receive this honor.


Diane Sawyer
December 22

A former beauty queen from Kentucky, she is one of the most prominent figures in television journalism, having hosted news shows for this network. Sawyer worked in the administration of this embattled former president.


Corey Haim
December 23

The former child star, who died in March, battled drug and alcohol addiction for much of his life. In the 1980s, he starred in this teen horror film next to another Corey. They would go on to star in more movies together; they later reunited in a reality show.

Ricky Martin
December 24

This Latin pop star gained international fame with a 1999 hit. He first gained recognition as a member of this Puerto-Rican boy band from the 1970s and 80s. Recently, Martin told the world this personal news on “Oprah.”

Rickey Henderson
December 25

Though he was born on a day where giving emphasized, this Hall of Fame baseball player became known for stealing. Henderson won World Series titles with both the Oakland Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1990 he won this award.

Ozzie Smith
December 26

Known by this nickname, he was one of the greatest to play his position in baseball. His career started in San Diego, but he helped the Cardinals win the 1982 World Series. His game-winning home run in 1985 prompted this famous call. Smith was also known for this stunt.

Marlene Dietrich
December 27

This sultry film star from the early 20th century became well-known for her role as this character in this major German film. Her ability to continually re-invent herself allowed her to have a long career  lasting decades.


John Legend
December 28

This Neo-Soul/R & B artist worked as a management consultant before he was discovered by this up-and-coming producer, who introduced him to an up-and-coming rapper. He sang hooks on several of the rapper’s songs from his debut album before releasing his own in 2004.


Ted Danson
December 29

He achieved fame as an actor for his role in this sitcom about a Boston pub. He followed that sitcom up with a leading role in another. He also had a recurring role in this wry HBO comedy.

LeBron James
December 30

This international star recently stirred up a controversy when he made this decision. In just his third NBA season, he led the Cleveland Cavaliers far into the playoffs. Before he was drafted, he signed a lucrative contract with this shoe company.

Anthony Hopkins
December 31

This Welsh actor is well-known for his portrayal of this psychotic cannibal. The irony of that role is found in Hopkins’ personal diet. Hopkins has had a storied career, being nominated for Oscars in three other films.

Meet the Youngest Top 10 Album Artist

 Jackie Evancho, a 10-year old vocal prodigy who was the runner-up in September on America's Got Talent, enters The Billboard 200 at #2 with O Holy Night. Evancho is the youngest artist ever to land a top 10 album. Michael Jackson was 11 in 1970 when the Jackson 5 landed their first top 10 album
. Zac Hanson was 11 in 1997 when Hanson first scored. Stevie Wonder, LeAnn Rimes and Miley Cyrus were each 13 when they first reached the top 10 (counting Hannah Montana for Cyrus).
Evancho is a "classical crossover" artist in the style of Charlotte Church and Hayley Westenra, who were 13 and 17, respectively, when they first cracked The Billboard 200.

 O Holy Night is a four-song EP which consists of two Christmas standards ("O Holy Night" and "Silent Night") and two classical crossover pieces. Evancho sang one of those pieces, "Pie Jesu," on both America's Got Talent and Oprah. The singer, who lives with her family near Pittsburgh, has also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Today Show and The View. (When I was 10, I had a paper route.)
Evancho first charted last summer with an (aptly-titled) album, Prelude To A Dream, which debuted and peaked at #121. The independently-released, digital-only album was thereafter pulled from the market on the theory that it didn't reflect the singer's current sound. Evancho's new release is on Columbia Records.

 (Amazingly, Evancho isn't the only 10-year old who is making noise on this week's charts. Willow, the daughter of Will Smith and Jada Pickett Smith, is riding high with her hit "Whip My Hair," which reached #11 on the Hot 100 a few weeks ago. Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Fallon (as Neil Young) sang a deadpan parody of the song last week on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.)

O Holy Night debuts just behind Susan Boyle's The Gift, which holds at #1 for the second week. This marks the first time that holiday collections have held down the top two spots on The Billboard 200 since December 1957, when Bing Crosby's Merry Christmas and Elvis Presley's Elvis' Christmas Album were #1 and #2.

 Boyle was the runner-up in 2009 on Britain's Got Talent, so both of this week's top two albums are by artists who rose to fame on reality TV shows. Simon Cowell is credited with discovering both artists.

 But the best news for Rihanna is on the Hot 100. "Only Girl (In The World)" will rise to #1 when that chart is officially released tomorrow. "Only Girl" is Rihanna's fourth #1 hit on the Hot 100 so far this year, following "Rude Boy," Eminem's "Love The Way You Lie" (on which Rihanna is featured) and "What's My Name?" (featuring Drake), which hit the top spot just two weeks ago. Rihanna is the first artist to amass four #1 hits in a calendar year since Usher scored in 2004.

 Only Girl (In The World)" hit #1 in the U.K. last week. It's Rihanna's third song to reach #1 in both the U.S. and the U.K., following "Umbrella" (featuring Jay-Z) and "Take A Bow." Among female artists, only Madonna has had more transatlantic #1 hits (five). Whitney Houston is tied with Rihanna with three.

 Two songs from Glee are listed in the top 10 on Hot Digital Songs for the first time in the show's history. Gwyneth Paltrow's cover of Cee Lo Green's "Forget You" debuts at #1, based on sales of 192K copies. The cast's medley of Gene Kelly's 1952 classic "Singin' In The Rain" and Rihanna/Jay-Z's 2007 smash "Umbrella" debuts at #7, based on sales of 140K copies. This is Glee's first "mash-up" to make the top 10.

 The new album includes such holiday perennials as the Carpenters' "Merry Christmas Darling," Wham!'s "Last Christmas" and Jerry Herman's "We Need A Little Christmas" from Mame.

 Eminem's Recovery this week becomes the first album to sell 3 million copies in 2010. This is the earliest in the year that an album has topped 3 million in year-to-date sales since 2006, when the first High School Musical album hit that plateau in the week ending Sept. 3. Josh Groban's Noel was the only album to top the 3 million mark in 2007. It reached that plateau in the week ending Dec. 23. In 2008, no album reached 3 million. Taylor Swift's Fearless was the first to top the 3 million mark in 2009. It rang the bell in the week ending Dec. 27. This is a little bit of good news for the beleaguered music industry.
Here's the top 10 on Hot Digital Songs. The Glee version of "Forget You" debuts at #1 (192K). Cee Lo Green's original version of "F*** You (Forget You)" vaults from #12 to #2 (191K). Ke$ha's "We R Who We R" dips from #2 to #3 (189K). Katy Perry's "Firework" holds at #4 (175K). P!nk's "Raise Your Glass" holds at #5 (171K). Rihanna featuring Drake's "What's My Name?" holds at #6 (147K). The Glee version of "Singin' In The Rain"/"Umbrella" debuts at #7 (140K). The Black Eyed Peas' "The Time (Dirty Bit)" drops from #3 to #8 (140K). Rihanna's "Only Girl (In The World)" dips from #8 to #9 (131K). Far*East Movement featuring Cataracs & Dev's "Like A G6" drops from #7 to #10 (130K).

 Three of the acts that debut in the top 10 on this week's Billboard 200 have reason to be both pleased and a little concerned. Kid Rock, who debuts at #5, opened at #1 with his last album. Rascal Flatts, which debuts at #6, bowed at #1 with its last four studio albums. Keith Urban, who debuts at #7, started in the top three with his last three studio albums. These lower debuts are largely a function of the logjam in the top 10. With so many superstars releasing albums at the same time, some acts are bound to lose ground in the chart wars.

 Shameless Plug: The Beatles were late to the digital "Revolution," but they're "Here, There and Everywhere" on the digital charts in the week after they finally allowed their music to be sold digitally. Forty seven Beatles songs enter the Hot Digital Songs chart this week, while 17 of the group's albums enter the Top Digital Albums chart. I have all the details in a Chart Watch Extra.
Here's the low-down on this week's top 10 albums.

 1. Susan Boyle, The Gift, 335,000. The album holds at #1 for the second week. It's the first #1 album to post a sales increase in its second week atop the chart since Michael Buble's Crazy Love in October 2009.

 2. Jackie Evancho, O Holy Night, 239,000. This new entry is the first top 10 album for the 10-year old singer. It's also #2 on this week's Christmas Albums chart.

 3. Rihanna, Loud, 207,000. This new entry is Rihanna's fifth studio album in a row to make the top 10; her fourth in a row to make the top five. Five songs from the album are listed in the top 10 on Hot Digital Songs, topped by "What's Your Name?" (featuring Drake), which holds at #6.

 4. Josh Groban, Illuminations, 191,000. This new entry is Groban's sixth top 10 album. Groban's last album, Noel, debuted at #10 in 2007. His last non-holiday studio album, Awake, debuted at #2 in 2006.

 5. Kid Rock, Born Free, 189,000. This new entry is Kid's sixth top 10 album. That's his entire output since his 1999 breakthrough except for a 2006 live album

 6. Rascal Flatts, Nothing Like This, 165,000. This new entry is the country trio's seventh straight top 10 album. It's the band's sixth #1 album on the country chart. "Why Wait" drops from #114 to #177 on Hot Digital Songs.

 7. Keith Urban, Get Closer, 162,000. This new entry is Urban's fourth top 10 album. "Put You In A Song" drops from #95 to #107 on Hot Digital Songs.

 8. Various Artists, Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album, 161,000. This new entry is the seventh Glee album or EP to crack the top 10. It's also the week's top soundtrack. Two songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs. "O Holy Night" debuts at #116. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" bows at #179.

 9. Taylor Swift, Speak Now, 146,000. The former #1 album drops from #2 to #9 in its fourth week. Two songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs. "Mine" drops from #42 to #56. "Back To December" drops from #51 to #74.

 10. Nelly, 5.0, 63,000. This new entry is the rapper's sixth top 10 album. Two songs from the album are listed on Hot Digital Songs. "Just A Dream" drops from #9 to #11. "Liv Tonight" (featuring Keri Hilson) debuts at #46.

 A Day To Remember's What Separates Me From You opens at #11. This is the metal band's first top 20 album...P!nk's Greatest Hits...So Far!! bows at #14.  This is P!nk's fifth album to crack the top 20, though it failed to follow the other four into the top 10. Greatest hits albums simply don't mean what they used to.

 Bruce Springsteen's The Promise bows at #16. The Promise: The Darkness On The Edge Of Town Story debuts at #27. The former album includes 21 previously-unreleased songs that were recorded during the sessions that produced Springsteen's 1978 album Darkness At The Edge Of Town. The latter album is a three-CD, three-DVD box set. (If the sales for the two albums had been combined, Springsteen would have debuted at #10 this week, which would have upped his total of top 10 albums to 17.) Darkness, which reached #5 in July 1978, was Springsteen's follow-up to his 1975 breakthrough album Born To Run. (That album also inspired a successful archival project, Born To Run: 30th Anniversary Edition, which hit #18 in November 2005.)

 Lee DeWyze's Live It Up bows at #19. This is the lowest entry for an album by an American Idol winner. Last year, Kris Allen became the first Idol winner to fall short of the top 10 with his debut. (Kris Allen opened and peaked at #11.)  While DeWyze and Allen haven't set off the sparks of such Idol superstars as Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, these diminished chart numbers are largely a reflection of the series being past its peak. It's still a hit show, but it's not the force it was. If Clarkson and Underwood had won the competition in the last two years, instead of in Seasons 1 and 4, would they have been able to overcome this Idol fatigue and still chart powerfully? Discuss amongst yourselves.

 Take That's Progress enters the U.K. chart at #1. The album sold nearly 520,000 copies during the week, according to the Official Charts Company. That's the biggest one-week sales tally in the U.K. since Oasis' Be Here Now, which sold 663,000 in its first week in August 1997. Progress is Take That's sixth #1 album in the U.K.

 Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Part One was #1 at the box-office over the weekend. All seven movies in the series have opened at #1. The score by Alexandre Desplat enters The Billboard 200 at #74. It's the week's highest-charting soundtrack to a theatrically-released film. All seven Potter soundtracks have made the top half of The Billboard 200. This is the first Potter movie that Desplat has scored. John Williams did the honors on the first three. Patrick Doyle scored the fourth. Nicholas Hooper handled the last two.

 Coming Attractions: Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday are expected to enter The Billboard 200 in the top two slots next week. Also due: My Chemical Romance's Danger Days The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys, Ne-Yo's Libra Scale, Ke$ha's Cannibal, Lloyd Banks' H.F.M. 2 (Hunger For More 2), the Burlesque soundtrack, Jay-Z's The Hits Collection-Volume One, Alan Jackson's 34 Number One Hits and Nine Inch Nails' Pretty Hate Machine: 2010 Remastered.

Be Thankful: What's the best Thanksgiving song of all time? The list would certainly include William DeVaughn's 1974 hit "Be Thankful For What You Got." The Rolling Stones also expressed the day's sentiments perfectly in their 1969 classic "You Can't Always Get What You Want" (the next line: "But if you try sometimes you just might find/You get what you need)." I also like Andrew Gold's 1978 hit "Thank You For Being A Friend," which gained immortality when it was used as the theme song for The Golden Girls. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.