Nice: Sally Draper (Mad Men)
She kept in touch with her old friends, instead of just writing them off, and that’s a kindness we don’t expect from most teenagers. She also provided a much-needed service by keeping her parents informed about all the doings in each other’s lives, and clearly, someone needs to do that job. And as an added plus, she didn’t murder Megan in her sleep, which was our initial prediction.
Star Trek Enterprise Light-Up Feeding System
For the baby geeks in your life (or at least the tiny offspring of the geeks in your life), there’s a Star Trek light-up bib and Enterprise shaped spoon that also flashes. Who knows, the distracting lights might even keep a child from spitting peas all over a Starfleet uniform.
Price: $19.99
Read more: Holiday Gift Guide 2012: TV Merchandise
A Rugrats Chanukah
Streaming on Netflix Instant
Even those that call themselves “holiday” specials tend to actually just be Christmas specials. So while there are no network airings of this classic Rugrats episode scheduled, it’s worth a watch for anyone who celebrates Chanukah and has a Netflix account. It cuts between the babies attempting to understand the holiday, courtesy of Grandpa Boris, and flashbacks to Tommy and Chuckie as “Maccababies” in Egypt. It’s adorable and there are some clever lines in there for any older fans to enjoy.
Holiday Cheer Level: Enough to fill an entire “synamobob.” Rugrats is still beloved for a reason, and the Chanukah special explains the history of the holiday to kids.
Read more: Holiday Guide 2012: December TV Preview
Frosty the Snowman
The Feel Good Message: A smiley snowman turns into a childhood best friend and warms the hearts of children with a cheery song.
The True Meaning: A wet pile of snow gets heaped up, a magical hat gets tossed on it and an imaginary friend is brought to life. That’s reason enough to be suspicious. He’s got a smoking addiction (corn cob pipes are not healthy), and he encourages young underage kids to get married through song. In the cartoon, he melts in a greenhouse in an attempt to escape from his creator. Total daddy issues. But he proves there are no brains in that waterlogged head, because he thinks that it is a good idea to hide in there so he can shed a few pounds. Not that it matters because all he needs is a cold breeze and his magic top hat to regenerate himself.
Read more: Holiday Guide: Most Disturbing Classics
Doctor Who: Salt and Pepper Shakers
A TARDIS for your salt, a Dalek for your pepper… and they’ll spice up the life of your favorite Doctor Who fan — if you can deal with them reenacting episodes during dinner.
Price: $17.98
Read more: Holiday Gift Guide 2012: TV Merchandise
