Bring it on Santa Claus!

I grew up in a Reform Jewish (i.e. freewheeling) household in Miami, Florida for the first 18 years of my life and viewed Christmas as a sort of fantasy holiday the rest of the country was enjoying without me. I didn't see that white stuff called snow until I was 14, on a ski vacation in North Carolina. I remember as a child sitting in our sunny living room in shorts, a tank top and sandals, hoping the temperature would drop to a chilly 60 degrees and watching Christmas specials set in snowy, romantic climes with sleigh rides, snow covered trees and parka wearing couples dreamily skating hand- in-hand and wondering - what the hell is that like and how can I get some?!

I've lived in New York and Chicago, where my family originally hailed from, for the last two decades and let me tell you, I have tasted the fantasy that is Christmasukah and I love it more than ever. Yeah, it's way too commercialized, yes, shopping is a drag, as is digging your car out of three-foot snow drifts in a single-digit wind chill with 30 mile an hour gusts coming in off the lake – BUT, it all feels worth it when you see that first pure white snowfall before Christmas or experience the awe of walking the dog at night past glowing houses all covered in a rainbow of softly blinking lights to accompany the clear light of the distant stars only visible in the crisp cold air of winter.

Christmasukah also brings out the best and worst memories for every dysfunctional family (is there any other kind?), so I have learned to rely on my good friends for comic relief during the holidays to keep the good times feeling good. And with funny new friends like Scott Thompson and Taylor Negron to keeping me giggling, I know I will scrape the ice off my car with a smile on my face while humming "Here comes Santa Claus"

So brrring it, Santa baby! I'm ready to celebrate my Jewish brother Jesus' birthday and I won't need my credit cards to do it!

Carrot Top – Tops them All!

"You're sublime, You're turkey dinner,
You're the time, the time of a Derby winner
I'm a toy balloon that's fated soon to pop
But if, baby, I'm the bottom, you're the TOP!"...Cole Porter

From dark horse to front-runner, our cover boy, Scott Thompson, a.k.a. Carrot Top, burst into the Buzz comedy consciousness and wowed us all with his sweet demeanor and straight up, hardcore comedic abilities. I always say I won't judge a talent unless I've seen them live because there simply is no substitute for the experience of a performer's unique chemistry with the audience and with Carrot Top that rule holds doubly true. Talking with him in person, with his chiseled features, rock hard abs and shyly self-deprecating humor one gets the charming impression of a once geeky high school chum who has sexily grown into his looks - but doesn't realize it yet.

If you go to Las Vegas and want to spend at least two hours of your vacation doubled up with laughter you had better buy your tickets now for his mostly sold out show at the Luxor. If you are one of those lucky people to have seen him and want to see more of the private side of this versatile performer you must check out the audio clip of his fantastic phone interview and fun-tastic video interview including our arm wrestling match (next time we will lock legs and Indian wrestle each other) in our "Postcard from the Road" in this feature issue and at www.buzznews.net!

A Taylor Negron Thanksgiving! Simply D'Vine!

I got to have two Thanksgiving dinners this year, one with my lovely mother Joanne and her friends at The Kenwood Senior Community and one with star of stage and film, Taylor Negron, and gifted violinist Lili Hadyn at Penang, my favorite Malaysian restaurant in Chicago's Chinatown.

Over Thanksgiving weekend Taylor gave two performances of his brilliant current show "Satellites" (soon to be "Midnight with Taylor Negron") and gave me an absolutely fabulous, funny and in depth video interview and "Postcard from the Road" for a completely compelling 60 minutes! You must check it out this month on www.BuzzNews.net! If you'd like to see a video clip of my two Thanksgiving dinners and lots of other bits of my private Holiday fun be sure to keep checking my personal Youtube channel at www.youtube.com/KimKatzBuzzNews.

"We're off to meet the wizard!"

Wizzo the Wizard has a few new tricks up his sleeve.

If you grew up in Chicago you undoubtedly have memories of a certain wonderful wizard, magician Marshall Brodien on the Bozo Show as Wizzo the Wizard for over twenty-five years. When Marshall gave us the grand tour of his lovely home and magic museum, we discovered more than just magic, we got to have a peek at the history of all the great magicians of our time, and times gone by, and even got to hold one of Harry Houdini's own magic vanishing birdcages. Marshall is still pioneering new card tricks with his line of TV Magic Cards and has authored a very entertaining autobiography "The Magical Life of Marshall Brodien". Marshall is a delightful and intelligent man and we discussed everything from spiritualism to Criss Angel in our video "Postcard from the Road." If you'd like to see the wonderful interview he gave us and the tricks he used that elicited my magical screams of delight, check them out right now at www.Buzznews.net.

Funny Lady Kristin Schaal Takes Flight

If you love the new HBO comedy "Flight of the Conchords", it's a good bet you love Kristin Schaal who portrays the Conchords number one (and only) fan. This very funny lady performed to a sold out house at the Lakeshore Theater and proved she's got the stuff to headline her own show! Check out my full review of Kristin in this issue!

So have a Kooky Kwanzakahmas and don't bogart the eggnog!

Love you,

Kim Katz