Dancing Cat, Flatulent Squirrel Highlight Best Commercials

Those who have suffered through the lengthy commercial breaks on TBS can appreciate the irony in the network's annual showing of "Funniest Commercials of the Year" at 10 tonight.

TBS and sister network TNT have so many commercials that sometimes during a break I forget what program I was watching.

I wouldn't mind the interruptions if the commercials were as funny as the ones featured in this special (more than 50 knee-slappers).

But most of the funniest commercials come from other countries.

There is one great commercial from the United States, a fire-spewing little pooch in advertisements for Web Vet, an online service that answers pet-related questions.

But most of the best come from France, Norway, Japan, Thailand, Australia, South Africa and Great Britain.

Why? It is because people in these cultures have keener senses of humor?

Is it because they are not as uptight about sex and body functions? (The flatulent dog from Thailand is a riot.) Is it because those who advertise on television underestimate American audiences?

McDonald's has a funny "I'm Lovin' It" commercial about a prison inmate's hamburger fantasy that was made for German audiences. And Coca-Cola has a hilarious sexy commercial for Coke Zero that aired in Denmark. Why not here?

Hosted by Kevin Nealon and Fred Willard, "Funniest Commercials" features a top 10 list that was picked by voters on www.veryfunnyads.com (check them out for a laugh).

I like the dancing cat (for a mail service) and the flatulent squirrel (for a breath mint), both from the United Kingdom, and the chocolate lover's copy machine mishap (for a sweet snack) from France.

KITCHEN HEAT: It's not exactly a holiday special, but the "Gordon Ramsay Cookalong Live" at 9 tonight on Fox is something different.

The blustery Ramsay probably will use colorful language as he whips up a three-course dinner live. If you want to join in this effort, the shopping list is at www.fox.com.

Celebrities drop by to help, including comic Cedric the Entertainer, actress Alyson Hannigan and singer LeAnn Rimes.

The New York Post scouted out the ingredients and estimated that it will set you back about $100 to serve Ramsay's meal to four adults. It's angel hair pasta with shrimp, chili and tomatoes; steak Diane with sautéed potatoes and peas; and tiramisu for dessert.

It will be 10 p.m. when the meal is ready, which is a bit late for some of us to be dining on a weeknight.

CHARLIE AGAIN: If you missed it last week, here is another chance to see "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (8 tonight on ABC). The hour will include the digitally remastered 1965 special, as well as a series of animated stories titled "Charlie Brown Christmas Tales."

OBAMA CHRISTMAS: Coming up at 8 p.m. Sunday is the 10th annual "White House Christmas" on HGTV. The show takes viewers inside the White House to see how the first family has decorated for the holidays.

The Obamas' theme is "Reflect, Rejoice, Renew," which utilizes natural elements such as pine cones, dried flowers, pepper berries, painted magnolia leaves and cranberries. Every year, the White House is decorated by volunteers who put up miles of garland, hundreds of wreaths and two dozen trees (one is made of recycled cardboard this year).

TUNE IN TONIGHT: "NCIS," 8 p.m., CBS

When the enlisted son of a retired colonel-turned-preacher is found dead, the team believes he may be the victim of a hate crime. Meanwhile, Gibbs' father (Ralph Waite, "The Waltons") comes for a holiday visit.