Aimee Mann never seemed like one of pop's 500 likeliest candidates to release a Christmas album, but last year’s One More Drifter in the Snow was a tasteful, minor-key treat, and her “1st Annual Christmas Show” at the Birchmere last December was one of the best concerts of 2006. As she promised she would at the end of last year’s freewheeling interfaith revue, she's hitched up the sleigh again this year for a monthlong yule-tour......

If you've been feeling that Winter is interminable, your work has become Groundhog Day, and an impulse rendezvous to St. Barts would be perfect right about now, then you may be suffering from March Malaise. And, let's face it. There are only so many times you can watch Will Ferrell's cowbell or Sony's bouncing ball video for a quick lift. True, March is a good month to seek endorphin highs by logging in some pavement......

What is it about the joke-tee that is so potentially alluring? Could it be the irresistible opportunity to shock and offend? Is it tied to the indie-culture affinity for semi-obscure references? The combination of the two? Is it the same hope for wit by association that drives people to quote Will Ferrell movies or put MR. PIBB + RED VINES = CRAZY DELICIOUS in their away messages (or on their t-shirts)? Whatever the case may......

Political satire takes center stage at 10 p.m. on NBC. "Saturday Night Live's Presidential Bash 2004: The Great Debates" will showcase some of the best political skits from the past 30 years. Highlights include the Bush (Will Ferrell) - Gore (Darrell Hammond) debate of 2000, the 1992 Clinton (Phil Hartman) - Bush (Dana Carvey) - Perot(Dana Carvey) debates and goes way back in time for the 1988 Bush (Dana Carvey again) - Dukakis (Jon Lovitz)......