Merry Potato

From Baghdad to the Beltway, the bombs are silent. Senators, with a trial on their minds, are headed home to sagely ignore their constituents. Bill Clinton is busy chaining himself to the Lincoln bedpost so they'll never get him out, and Hillary's busy wrapping up a big hunk of coal for hubby. The rest of us can now return to our regularly scheduled programming: the same Christmas movies we saw last year.

It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Of course. And who hasn't imagined how this year would have turned out if Ken Starr had never been born? Trivia tip: The names of the cab driver and the cop are Ernie and Bert. Jim Henson was a fan.

Babes in Toyland (1934). Speaking of great comedic duos, Laurel and Hardy wade into the land of Little Bo Peep and save a young damsel from a lecherous old man. Too late, fellas. But the bogeymen are genuinely scary.

And once again, CP is pushing his pet alt-favorite: 29th Street (1991). Christmas in Queens, the first New York Lottery, and some genuinely touching father-son stuff from Anthony LaPaglia and Danny Aiello make this a holiday heart-warmer for anyone who's just a little bored by the reruns. Give it a try. Call your dad. And whatever you rent, rewind. Everyone else will be watching the same movies as you, all over again. Happy Holidays.