Happens every year, but I'll say it once more: Christmas... already?

Now that two reality competition shows have finished their seasons (The Amazing Race and Survivor... wow, I'm a dork) and Heroes closed up another chapter (hmm... that's how it ended?), I've finally started to realize that it's the holiday season. It always surprises me each year and then it's always too late for me to get into "the spirit." O how I long for the days when I actually cared about decorations and carol singing and gift wrapping. Not that I still don't do all three of those things, but I guess now that I'm getting older I see a new perspective about the holiday season. Not a bad one, just a more careful and reflective one. And realistic... living in this world is expensive and pockets are empty.

I'm not trying to sound cynical or anything. I love this time of year. It's arguably my favorite time of year. Many more people at least try to be jollier at this time. Sure, there's a slight edge to people because they're still trying to purchase everything on their checklists, but the good intentions are usually there if you catch them while they're not shopping. I also love that I get to see family and other dearly loved ones. There's nothing like a warm embrace and a smile to get your spirits up, and there's plenty to go around at this time of year. That smile or embrace could be more of a "We did it! We got through the year!" smile or embrace, but either way it's about the celebration of being together. And then there's the music, one of my favorite things about the season. I do believe that certain Christmas standards are some of the best songs ever written. The melodies are beautiful, the lyrics are hopeful... Okay, some songs are overplayed, but it's the one time of year you can listen to them and not appear foolish. Just listen; it is positively heartwarming and cheerful.

No matter your religion or personality type, I wish you all the best at this time of year. Don't be afraid to open up your heart.

I will leave you with some favorite Christmas albums of mine for those who are still looking for the perfect holiday soundtrack:

Jewel - Joy: A Holiday Collection
A great and surprisingly traditional take on Christmas. Jewel shows she can be pretty versatile.

Jim Brickman - Peace
This Christmas album from my favorite new age pianist was Grammy nominated (how often do you see that happen?)! It's a perfect blend of instrumental and vocal tracks of holiday standards both old and new. This is definitely one to put on while you sit by the fireside or if you want to create that feeling in your hearthless apartment.

Broadway Cares - Home for the Holidays
This is a holiday CD featuring theatre personalities. Proceeds for the disc go to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. You know you've always wanted to hear Liza Minnelli and Alan Cumming's rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and Daphne Rubin-Vega's "Feliz Navidad."

The Carpenters - Christmas Portrait
An oldie but a goodie. Karen Carpenter's voice has never sounded better or richer. Every track is a classic.

~Steven

Milk does a body good...

I was lucky enough to watch Gus Van Sant's Milk last night. This biopic chronicles the rise in political power of Harvey Milk, the first openly homosexual to be elected to public office, and his tragic assassination. But the movie is never about the tragedy or the hardship, athough this story is full of both. It focuses on the hope of a people and the acceptance of a [still] misunderstood community.

Sean Penn plays the title character with great heart. It is hard not to fall in love with him, which is probably true of his real life counterpart as well. It's a valiant performance by Mr. Penn, which I'm sure will translate to an Oscar nomination soon enough.

With actors such as Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco, Alison Pill, Victor Garber, Denis O'Hare, Joseph Cross, Stephen Spinella, and even High School Musical alum Lucas Grabeel, there is not one weak link in this ensemble cast. Everyone gives a passionate performance, all working towards the same goal of creating a beautiful film.

The events in the movie are frighteningly relevant. The cruel treatment of the gay community is alive and well to this day. The attempt to legally make homosexuals second-class citizens especially rings true. Harvey Milk famously battled the Briggs Initiative, aka Proposition 6. This proposition would put into motion the firing of gay teachers as well as pro-gay teachers. Prop 6 was ultimately defeated, but it is impossible for today's audiences not to ponder what happened recently in California with the passing of Proposition 8. If this movie had been released before polls opened this year, would the outcome have been any different?

So much hope beams through this movie, and that's what makes Milk so beautiful. This hope is not just for the gay community but for the entire nation. There is hope that one day we can all accept each other's differences and embrace them. Harvey Milk taught us that it just takes one step at a time. Milk is not a tragedy; it's an inspiration.

Please, do yourselves a favor and go see Milk. It is certainly one of the year's best. And if you care to, Netflix the Oscar-winning documentary, The Times of Harvey Milk. It's yet another wonderful, honest film that is worth seeing.

I will leave you with Prop 8 - The Musical. If you haven't seen it yet, you're welcome.

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

~Steven