Rick

It used to be "It's A Wonderful Life," but our new Christmas tradition is watching the new annual Dr. Who Christmas Special. They're always so amazing.

Congratulations to all, Susan. He is so adorable!!!!!!

So sorry, everyone, for your recent losses. The husband of one of my wife's childhood friends died Tuesday night of cancer. We'll be at the funeral tomorrow.

What is your very favorite Christmas movie/cartoon/special that you look forward to seeing every year?

delicious

delicious

Very sad. RIP, Ravi.

No Cheap Trick??? Awwwwww........ But very happy for Heart. And pre-Disney Randy Newman.

tangerine

When The Whip Comes Down - The Rolling Stones

Tell Me - The Rolling Stones

You're A Better Man Than I - The Yardbirds

Friday On My Mind - The Easybeats

1. Have you ever been skiing? Nope. Too late now! 2. How about ice skating? Love it!!! Been doing it all my life. 3. Ever build a snowman? Yes, but it's been years. 4. Make a snow angel? Yep. 5. Ever gone sledding? Yes. 6. Do you get snow where you live? Lots and lots and lots.

A very Happy Hanukkah to our Jewish Farmers!!

The musical guests on "Conan" next week look great: Monday, December 10: Jack White Tuesday, December 11: Graham Parker & The Rumour Thursday, December 13: Ryan Adams

My Love - Paul McCartney & Wings

It's also on lots of other channels, according the official site (http://www.121212concert.org/watch#section-3). It's also on loads of international channels and the web. Here are the US channels: AMC AXS TV BIO Bloomberg CBS Cooking Channel Destination America Discovery Fit & Health ENCORE EPIX FX Movie Channel FEARnet Fuse G4 Hallmark Movie Channel HBO HBO Latino IFC ION Television Lifetime Real Women Live Well Network Military History MSG MSG Plus MUNDOFOX NJTV Palladia PlumTV SHOWTIME 2 Smithsonian Channel Sundance Channel THIRTEEN VH1 Classic WEtv WLIW WLNY WPSG/The CW Philly Wealth TV

Not at all.

^I think the talking hot dog snitched on you!!!

Thanks for the beautiful tribute, Nurk.

You can add the Rolling Stones to the list of first-class rockers who are lending a hand in support of victims of Hurricane Sandy. The Stones join an already impressive list of rockers performing at the 12.12.12 Benefit concert being held at Madison Square Garden on Wed. Dec. 12. The announcement regarding the Stones was made this morning at a press conference at the Garden. According to the New York Times, concert producers John Sykes of Clear Channel Media and movie mogul Harvey Weinstein visited the Stones in Brooklyn, where the rock legends are rehearsing for their concert tomorrow (Dec. 8), and made an appeal. As Weinstein put it, ‘The Rolling Stones pop group is in.’” As of today, the official benefit’s website lists the complete lineup as being comprised of the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Billy Joel, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, the Who, Bon Jovi, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Dave Grohl, Chris Martin of Coldplay and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. In addition to tomorrow night’s show in Brooklyn, the Stones’ will perform in Newark, N.J. on Dec. 13 and 15.

Bonus Disc: Eric Burdon & The Greenhornes (EP)

Today's Disc: Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever

Ed Cassidy, the drummer for the classic rock band Spirit, died in San Jose, Calif. on Thursday (Dec. 6) of undisclosed causes. Notable for his shaved head (which inspired the nickname “Mr. Skin”), head-to-toe black wardrobe and massive drum kit, Cassidy was considered very influential on other drummers of the ’60s rock era. He was 89 years old at the time of his death. Born on May 4, 1923 in a rural town outside of Chicago, Cassidy began his career at an early age in 1937, after his family moved to Bakersfield, Calif. He served in the Navy during World War II and thereafter held a series of jobs before returning to music full-time in the ’40s, working steadily in a succession of show bands, country and western acts, and big bands. He also worked on film soundtracks and played briefly with the San Francisco Opera. Cassidy spent the ’50s working primarily in jazz in California, playing with such historically important performers as Art Pepper, Roland Kirk and Gerry Mulligan. He played with Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder briefly in a band called Rising Sons before forming a new group, the Red Roosters, in 1965. That group comprised Cassidy, his stepson Randy California on guitar, Mark Andes on bass, and singer Jay Ferguson. Changing their name to Spirit with the addition of keyboardist John Locke, that ensemble created a sound that was an amalgam of jazz, hard rock, and psychedelic influences. Signed by ’60s L.A. music impresario Lou Adler, the group released their self-titled debut album in 1968. They followed it up with ‘The Family That Plays Together’ later that year, which featured their highest-charting single, 'I Got a Line on You.' In 1969 they toured successfully with a then-little-known band called Led Zeppelin as their opening act, and their impact on the new group was substantial; Cassidy often performed his live drum solo with his bare hands, which reportedly influenced John Bonham’s performance on ‘Moby Dick,’ while Jimmy Page reportedly began using a theramin to alter the tone of his guitar after seeing Randy California doing it on stage. Many fans and critics have noted the similarities between Spirit’s song 'Taurus' and the intro to Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ which appeared several years after. After the release of their landmark fourth album, 1970′s ‘Twelve Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus,’ the original lineup of Spirit fell apart. Cassidy would continue with the group through various lineups over the course of decades until Randy California’s untimely drowning death in Hawaii in 1997. After that he continued to play with surf musician Merrell Fankhauser until he retired from performing. In later years he was also involved in acting, appearing in ’2010′ and ‘The Escape Artist’ on the big screen, and twice in minor roles on the television soap opera ‘General Hospital.’ Spirit bassist Mark Andes paid tribute to Cassidy in a Facebook post Thursday, writing, “RIP Ed Cassidy, one the worlds greatest drummers…loved you cass…” and posting a picture of the pair together. Bob Irwin produced a series of Spirit re-masters, starting at Sony in the ’80s and eventually carrying over into vinyl re-issues on his own label, Sundazed Records. He recalls his friend and colleague fondly. “What can I say, other than Ed was a friend, a consummate professional and mighty-ass drummer. He was close – and stayed close – to his entire body of work, and certainly took great pride in the band’s recordings and accomplishments.”