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CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS - COLUMBUS SHORT FINALLY GETS THE GIFT HE NEVER GOT AS A KID

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It took years for Columbus Short to get the gift he never got from his parents as a child. Short says he used to ask for a remote-controlled plane every year. He told his parents over and over that's all he wanted. Short says he got everything else but that. He says he "still holds this against" them. It wasn't until last year that his girlfriend surprised him with shiny new remote controlled plane.

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<<CUT …019 (12/25/09)>> 00:13 "it was hilarious"

Columbus Short

Columbus Short says a present his parents never gave him as a kid was finally under his tree as an adult.

CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS - ROGER BART'S BAD MEMORIES

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Roger Bart's parents sound like the worst gift-givers ever and he's never gotten over it to this day. Bart says it was as if they were shopping for "an Ethiopian child in a neighboring town." For instance, he says one year they got him "a can of WD-40, an Ace comb and a stuffed animal that you would receive if you ordered a Whopper with cheese, fries and a Coke." And don't get him started on the stocking stuffers. Because of this, Bart finds Christmas to be "depressing." He's making sure he won't make the same mistakes with his daughters.

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<<CUT …032 (12/25/09)>> 00:11 "the neighboring town"

Roger Bart

Roger Bart says his parents were the worst gift-givers ever.

<<CUT …033 (12/25/09)>> 00:14 "and a Coke"

Roger Bart

Roger Bart says his parents insensitive gift-giving ruined Christmas for him.

CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS - SARAH FERGUSON'S LONELY HOLIDAY

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Asked how she celebrates Christmas, and Sarah Ferguson replies simply, "There is no Christmas." Ferguson's two daughters visit their grandmother, the Queen, each year. Ferguson does not. She says that makes it "a terribly sad time." Ferguson says both her parents are dead and her sister lives in Australia, which just reminds her that she's one of "the many lonely people in the world."

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<<CUT …029 (12/25/09)>> 00:14 "in the world"

Sarah Ferguson

Sarah Ferguson says Christmas is a sad time for her because her daughters leave her to visit the queen.

CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS - SARAH FERGUSON'S PILE OF CARDS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- No matter what presents were under the tree when she was growing up, Sarah Ferguson always knew she'd have piles of cards to open. Ferguson's father would send his kids cards from animals, inanimate objects, anything he could think of. She says she'd open cards "signed" by "the dogs and the pheasants and the birds and the cows in the field." She says it was his way of making sure she felt popular.

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<<CUT …023 (12/25/09)>> 00:12 "you're very popular"

Sarah Ferguson

Sarah Ferguson says her father made sure they had plenty of cards on Christmas by sending them from animals, inanimate objects, and other things.

CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS - A VAMPIRE'S EGG NOG

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Everyone has their own Christmas traditions. Even vampires. Edi Gathegi (EH'-dee guh-THEH'-gee) of the "Twilight" movies was asked what a vampire does on Christmas. He says he "drinks blood, not egg nog."

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<<CUT …024 (12/25/09)>> 00:04 "blood, not eggnog"

Edi Gathegi (EH'-dee guh-THEH'-gee)

Edi Gathegi of the "Twilight" movies was asked what a vampire Christmas is like.

CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS - RAIN GETS KIMCHI, NOT TURKEY

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The star of "Ninja Assassin" says a Korean Christmas is pretty much the same as an American Christmas. Rain says he gets a big tree just like Americans do. But Christmas dinner isn't the same. Instead of turkey, Rain says he eats a dish made out of the spicy cabbage dish kimchi.

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<<CUT …026 (12/25/09)>> 00:14 "have kimchi todeh"

Rain

Rain was asked what Christmas is like in Korea.

CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS - GERARD BUTLER APPRECIATED WHAT HE GOT

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Even though his family didn't have a lot of money, Gerard Butler says "it was almost impossible" to contain his excitement on Christmas morning when he was a kid. He was raised by a single mom who did everything she could to make it a happy holiday. Butler says whatever he got was always "so much appreciated."

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<<CUT …021 (12/25/09)>> 00:10 "so much appreciated"

Gerard Butler

Gerard Butler says Christmas was a magical time for him as a kid even though his family didn't have a lot of money.

CELEBRITY CHRISTMAS - FREDDIE HIGHMORE GETS THE GIFT OF DRIVING

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Freddie Highmore's best Christmas present was the gift of driving. Highmore got driving lessons from his parents last year. He now has his license.

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<<CUT …020 (12/25/09)>> 00:09 "so that's good"

Freddie Highmore

Freddie Highmore says the best Christmas present he got helped him get his driver's license.

CHRISTMAS DAY "DIRTY DANCING" MARATHON

NEW YORK (AP) -- If you're a "Dirty Dancing" fan you might want to slip away from the relatives for a bit today and watch Patrick Swayze teach Jennifer Grey some moves. Don't worry about what time to tune in. The TV Guide Network is airing Dirty Dancing over and over from noon to midnight. Twelve hours straight of "Dirty Dancing."

by Michael Weinfeld