TVSquad

Just when it seemed the wrath of the TV celebrity grim reaper finally decided to take his coffee break, the break room runs out of coffee.

Actor and comedian Les Lye passed away on Tuesday from unidentified causes. He was 84.

Of course, here in the States, we know Les as that old guy who played all of the adults on You Can't Do That On Television on Nickelodeon. That was just the tip of the poutine for TV's Ross Ewich.

Where would we be without the hallowed television Christmas special? We would be engaged in enthralling conversations with relatives who like to give the backstory about the gall bladder operation pictures they still carry in their wallet. We would be playing defense against every breakable item in the house while the neighbor's kids get enough sugar in their systems to power the Space Shuttle. We would not only have to muster the courage to taste Grandma's homemade rum and Kahula fruitcake, but also to pretend that we like it without our stomach turning inside out, crawling up our esophagus and out of our mouth.

Even if those scenarios will be true for you on Dec. 25, I offer you my pity as my Christmas gift. Plus, you still would rather spend it listening to ol' Uncle Hernia Scar than watching one of these holiday hams.

Well, it's no surprise that Stephen Colbert wasn't invited back to speak at the White House Correspondents Association dinner, after last year's event (plus the fact I don't think they invite the same speakers back year after year), but I wasn't prepared for the choice they've come up with to speak at this year's dinner.

Impersonator Rich Little.

I agree with Editor & Publisher that this choice seems a little...safe? I mean, getting someone who was last popular in the early 80s to speak at the annual dinner seems a little odd. I mean, he'll probably do an impersonation of President Bush, but I can't see it going beyond light satire (if there's any satire at all). Nothing against Little. He's a talented guy of course. But it's almost as if they said, "last year we had a big banana split, with hot fudge and sprinkles and whipped cream. This year we're just going with a small dish of vanilla, please."

David Letterman has been talking a lot lately about doing an "Impressionist Week" on the show. Some viewers thought it was just one of his jokes, but he already did a "Ventriloquist Week" a few weeks ago, and he's going through with the plan. The shows start this Monday. Here's the lineup:

• Monday: Rich Little
• Tuesday: Fred Travalena
• Wednesday: Gordie Brown
• Thursday: Frank Caliendo
• Friday: Kevin Pollak