'Colbert Christmas' Stranger Than Truthiness

The big difference between Stephen Colbert and Bill O'Reilly: Colbert is only pretending to be a pompous windbag.

That character works on Comedy Central's "Colbert Report," which does a good job of mocking professional political pundits.

But Colbert is a little out of his element in "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!" debuting at 10 p.m. Sunday on Comedy Central.

It's a letdown, especially coming off the 2008 presidential election, which provided rich material for the swaggering patriotic self-important character that Colbert has so brilliantly developed for his late-night show.

Intended to mock schmaltzy holiday specials, "A Colbert Christmas" finds our favorite faux pundit dressed in sweaters and fuzzy boots and stuck in a mountain cabin.

Celebrity guests drop by to sing original (and not all that funny) songs.

"Daily Show" star Jon Stewart makes a pitch for Hanukkah with a tune, but Colbert rejects him: "I'll keep Jesus, you keep your potato pancakes," he says with tongue in cheek.

Super patriotic country singer Toby Keith gets Colbert's support in the war against those who say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." His song, "Have I Got a Present for You," calls for extreme violence against those who want separation of church and state.

Willie Nelson shows up as tiny stoned fourth wise man in a nativity scene. He comes to life to sing "Little Dealer Boy." John Legend and Elvis Costello perform, too.

Lacking political punch, "Colbert Christmas" comes off as more weird than funny. But that may be enough for Colbert fans.

POT BOILER: Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine is coming back to the Food Network with new episodes of "Dinner: Impossible" beginning in March, a year after he was dropped by the network after admitting that he embellished his resume.

The muscular former cook in the Royal Navy fibbed about his education, his credentials and his connections to British royalty and the White House. But his fans still want to see him whip up gourmet meals on the spot, say Food Network officials, who have accepted his public apology. In 2007, Irvine made a big splash in St. Petersburg with plans to open two swanky restaurants. But that never happened.

HOLIDAY VIEWING: The onslaught of holiday programming has begun and in Sunday's Tribune we'll have a round-up. It's a select list because every Christmas movie, series or animated special ever made is still in circulation.

Tonight, for example, the 2004 comedy "Christmas with the Kranks" is on at 9 p.m. on FX. The 1994 Tim Allen comedy "The Santa Clause" is on at 9 on the Disney Channel. And ABC Family has holiday films every night through Christmas Day.

Also tonight at 9, Larry the Cable Guy (who got his start on a Tampa radio station) comes to CMT with a 90-minute special designed to be a throwback to the old-school holiday variety show. Would that be "Hee Haw"?

Rosie O'Donnell is doing the same thing on NBC next week on "Rosie Live," but I don't think they will duplicate any material.

"Larry the Cable Guy's Star-Studded Christmas Extravaganza" features guest stars Toby Keith, Terry Bradshaw, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Lewis Black and Blake Shelton.

TUNE IN TONIGHT

"Love Actually," 8 p.m., Bravo

This charming 2003 British comedy follows various couples falling in and out of love during Christmas. It stars Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson, Rowan Atkinson and Keira Knightly.