(Comedy Central, 43 minutes)

www.comedycentral.com

I'm all for watching Elvis Costello dress up in funny costumes-Nutcracker, Jack in the Box-but even his brief appearances peppered throughout the Greatest Gift of All fail to make this DVD a classic on par with A Christmas Story or Christmas Vacation. Set in Stephen Colbert's mythical cabin where the Comedy Central host is trapped by killer bears, the satirical holiday special jams together a roughshod storyline just strong enough to support its bizarre cast-Feist, Willie Nelson, John Legend, Toby Keith, John Stewart and Costello-and musical montages, most of which fall short of memorable.

Nelson's wonder-weed hymn and Stewart's convincing Hanukkah argument stand out-in fact, Greatest Gift of All might have been pure gold, frankincense and myrrh with just Colbert and Stewart holding down the funny. For the most part, it feels like the guests are going through the motions. I know, I know-these are musicians, not actors, and this is all a big joke, but certain scenes resemble rehearsals for a painfully awkward middle-school play. And, while Keith is game enough to poke fun at himself with the uber-patriotic spoof "War on Christmas," that's something I never need to listen to again. Ever-it's more painful than knee-slapping. Maybe I just didn't smoke enough weed to laugh at his scenes. Speaking of which, the DVD's Book-Burning Video Yule Log alone is almost worth the price of purchase.

Ultimately, this would have made a fine 30-minute special. If you love Colbert and Christmas, Elvis Costello and bears, then maybe it will eventually find its way into your permanent collection. Me, I'll be watching Ralphie pray for a BB gun while Old Man Parker clings to his leg lamp.

Special Features: none. JAMIE GADETTE