Humorously recalling the days of Perry Como and Bing Crosby holiday specials, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All takes the cardigan-wearing, pipe-smoking, crooning-by-the-fire holiday musical genre to new heights. Airing this Sunday night (10 p.m. on Comedy Central), the story has Stephen Colbert traveling to a performance with Elvis Costello, and they get snowed in at his upstate New York cabin (hint: it's bear country).

Besides Costello, musical guests include Willie Nelson (singing "Little Dealer Boy") Feist, John Legend and Toby Keith, who declares a war on the war on Christmas with "Have I Got A Present For You." Jon Stewart even lends his pipes for a song about Hanukkah. (All songs are co-written by Fountain of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger.) And if it gets you in the spirit for holiday giving (or you just plain missed it) it's out on DVD two days later, with much of the proceeds going to Feeding America.

Meanwhile, I've got to confess one of my biggest guilty pleasures in life is tribute bands, which quite often can be better than the real thing. Letterman is sharing that love this week, declaring it Tribute Band Week, booking acts invoking the spirit of music icons. Monday features Purple Reign (Prince), Tuesday is Cold Hard Cash (Johnny Cash), Wednesday is Mr. Brownstone (Guns n' Roses), Thursday is Super Diamond (Neil Diamond), and Friday is The Allstarz (James Brown).

It's worth noting that Purple Reign's act is legendary in Vegas, and the Boston/New York hybrid Mr. Brownstone features members of Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah, Takka Takka, Boss Tweed and The Common End. You don't want to miss either of these (and if you can't make it, just have someone who looks and sounds like you tune in for you).

Playlist: Picks for the week
Monday, November 17
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Kanye West (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Purple Reign (Prince tribute band)
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Adele
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Blitzen Trapper
Tuesday, November 18
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Colbert Report: Paul Simon
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Cold Hard Cash (Johnny Cash tribute band)
IFC: The Henry Rollins Show: Shane MacGowan (REPEAT)
Wednesday, November 19
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Mr. Brownstone (Guns n' Roses tribute band)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Secret Machines
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Margot & the Nuclear So So's
Thursday, November 20
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Hives
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Super Diamond (Neil Diamond tribute band)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Friendly Fires
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Tenacious D
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Brian Wilson
Friday, November 21
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Allstarz (James Brown tribute band)
Saturday, November 22
BBCAMERICA: The Graham Norton Show: Estelle
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Ludacris, T-Pain
PBS: Austin City Limits: Gnarls Barkley, Thievery Corporation
Sunday, November 23
COMEDY CENTRAL: A Colbert Christmas: Feist, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, John Legend, Toby Keith

drake lelane
curator of the music/soundtrack blog thus spake drake

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