Holiday cards design from Aretha Franklin in 2008

I love Aretha Franklin. Do you know anyone who doesn’t?  She is probably best known for her hit song R-E-S-P-E-C-T, which happens to also be my favorite one as well. Speaking of respect, I have a lot of respect for the holiday cards she sent out this past year. It was a beautiful midnight blue card with a city scene with some pretty gold sparkle. It was one of the most tasteful Christmas cards I’ve seen over the holiday season. But it doesn’t surprise me a bit. This is simply just a reflection of the “Queen of Soul” herself.

A friend of mine claims that she too spied an Aretha holiday card hanging up at some office in NYC that was a beautiful white card with blue and silver foil snow flakes on it. I wasn’t so sure at first if she was telling me the truth or not because she couldn’t seem to remember where she saw it hanging but she said she it stood out against all of the other holiday cards that were hanging up. The idea that Aretha’s card would stand out from the pack does stand to reason so I will have to take her word on that.

I thought the Christmas card that I saw went perfectly with her recent holiday benefit concert for members of the military that she performed in New York City just this past December. She sang “New York, New York” and, of course, “Respect”.

Though Aretha is typically known to belt out the tunes she also can render a heartfelt Christmas tune when has the mind to. She was a natural to make Oprah’s playlist on her website. Among a few other favorites of mine was Aretha’s “Silent Night” from the album This Christmas.  No one does justice to the Christmas season the way Aretha can.

Last year, Paul Reubens, a.k.a. Pee-wee Herman, sent out Christmas cards starring…himself.  The Christmas card design featured a close up of the infamous comedic actor sporting the famous Pee-wee impish grin while throwing a snowball. The card, which is set against a bright blue sky and discreet winter scene, is missing only one thing…Pee-wee’s signature grey suit and red bow tie.

Christmas cards from Pee-wee Herman

Pee-wee Herman is a humorous and flamboyant fictional character developed and portrayed by Paul Reubens. His grey suit and red bow tie, along with his characteristic short black hair, pale skin and red-tinted lips made the character more famous than the actor.  Pee-wee’s feminine mannerisms and quirky expressions along with his portrayal as an impatient and fun loving kid, made him a favorite among children.  Pee-wee Herman is best known for his work in the 1980s with his film, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure. The film spun off into a children’s series, Pee-wee’s Playhouse, which ran for five years and earned 22 Emmy Awards.  The 1988 film, Big Top Pee-wee, was a sequel to the first film. The character of Pee-wee Herman was awarded to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1988.

Little has been seen or heard from Paul Reubens since the 1980s; however, a new Pee-wee Herman movie, Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Movie, is reportedly in production and slated for release in 2009. Paul Reubens is considering the development of an adult oriented movie about the Pee-wee Herman story but plans are currently on hold.  Perhaps Paul Reubens’ next Christmas cards will don the actor in typical Pee-wee Herman attire and be titled, “He’s back!”

It’s probably safe to say that former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick will not be sending Christmas cards out this year. Vick was a first round draft pick in 2001 and had a decorated career with the Falcons. In 2006, he was reportedly one of the most highly paid athletes in the United States and it appeared that Vick was on the fast track to the NFL Hall of Fame. In early 2007, though, Vick found himself in hot water and all of his aspirations and dreams for his future in NFL football came crashing down. He was investigated, charged and sentenced to prison on federal dog fighting charges, and this year, he will spend Christmas reading his Christmas cards in an orange jumpsuit behind bars.

PETA Christmas card featuring Michael Vick...in jail!

Outspoken animal rights group, PETA, released an online Christmas card last year satirizing Vick’s brush with the law. Vick is depicted inside a snow globe behind the walls of a highly guarded prison. He is clad in recognizable prison garb and has a ball and chain around his ankle. Visitors to the PETA site can shake up the snow globe and watch Vick tumble around inside of it. Ironically, two ferocious dogs lie on either side of him and show their sharp teeth whenever the globe is jostled. You can also watch as the former football star kicks a pigskin in the air, which inevitably falls back to earth to hit him on the head.

Vick is scheduled to be released from prison in November 2009. Although this is his last Christmas in jail, his friends and family shouldn’t expect to receive Christmas cards from him anytime in the near future. Because of his suspension from the NFL, extraordinary legal fees, and lost wages, Vick filed for bankruptcy. He has a lot of work to do to rebuild his reputation upon his release…maybe Christmas cards should be at the top of his list. He just better make sure that he doesn’t send one to PETA!

In typical Conan O’Brien fashion, the comedian and TV host’s Christmas cards from 2007 reflected his unique style of humor. Design features a caricature of “Coney” as an ornament hanging on a close-up of a Christmas tree. The comedian, known for poking fun of himself, captures this in his Christmas card emphasizing his comic hairstyle, high forehead and exaggerated chin.

Christmas card from Conan

A graduate of Harvard, highlights of Conan O’Brien’s career include staff writer for HBO’s “Not Necessarily the News,” writer and occasional extra for NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” and writer/producer of FOX’s “The Simpsons.”  In 1993, he became the host of NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” Off to a shaky start, the show received mixed reviews and was in danger of often being cancelled during the first three years of its inception. Soon thereafter, O’Brien’s active and spontaneous hosting style which – includes dramatic expressions and mannerisms, awkward pauses and movements, and characteristically making fun of himself – has led the show to its present day success.

Conan O’Brien, also nicknamed “The Cone Zone,” is currently enjoying the success of his late night show. He will be replacing Jay Leno as host of the “Tonight Show” in June of 2009. We look forward to Conan’s unique sense of humor and style to be continued on television as well as reflected in a new Christmas card for this year.