Celebrity News:

The holidays are meant to be spent with the people you love -- the real ones, of course, and the imaginary ones you let into your heart.

What would the season be without Charlie Brown and his scraggly tree? Or Ralphie Parker and his Red Ryder BB gun? Pop culture has a way of grabbing your emotions and holding on tight. So do gifts that connect you to a favorite television show, performer, childhood toy or cultural icon. What's more, these items usually don't cost that much, especially not considering the hours of joy they bring
Below are some ideas for the connoisseurs of mass entertainment on your list.

1.CAMELOT CAPTURED: Photos of John and Jackie Kennedy have become as familiar as our own family snapshots. But "The Kennedys: Portrait of a Family" (Collins Design, $29.95) still has the power to captivate. It's a rare glimpse into a session by photographer Richard Avedon on the eve of JFK's inaugural. The images have an intimacy that reveals more than just beauty and privilege. And they evoke a time when America felt young.

2. CHARLES IN CHARGE: Christmas and Charlie Brown go together like comic strip genius and Charles Schulz. To fully appreciate the artistry and complexity of the man who ruled the funny pages, check out "Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography" (Harper, $34.95), an engrossing new book by David Michaelis that deftly explains how sadness, insecurity and competitiveness were among his strengths, at least when it came to inspiring his masterpiece.

3. AS WORN ON TV: Buying a designer outfit can put a hit on your budget, but not if you select a "Project Runway" creation. The winning outfit from last month's Sarah Jessica Parker challenge is for sale at various Steve and Barry's stores in the metro Detroit area.

You can get both the shrunken vest ($14.98) and trapeze dress with matching neck sash ($19.98) from Parker's Bitten line for under 40 bucks. That's what Tim Gunn would call making it work.

4. KNIT ONE, CHER TWO: Our celebrity-obsessed culture has finally led to something wonderful -- "Knit Icons" (Quirk Books, $15.95), a magical little book with instructions on how to make 25 super-cool celebrity dolls.

Even if you're not a craft whiz, you'll be enchanted by the pictures of the yarn-and-felt Madonna, Bruce Lee, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, Mr. T and more. New goal for 2008: Learn how to make the tiny red felt zippered jacket for James Dean.

5. JUST SCHRUTE ME: For anyone who knows the quiet desperation of the cubicle, the Dwight Schrute Bobblehead from NBC's "The Office" is a must-have. It's proof a man isn't defined as a paper pusher alone. He also can be a beet farmer, a bed-and-breakfast owner, a practitioner of cat euthanasia, a survivalist and a Dunder Mifflin salesman extraordinaire. Unlike the Dwight on the sitcom, this one will nod in agreement whenever you concoct an excuse for leaving work.

6. MAGNETIC ATTRACTION: Finally, an explanation for why so many guys are into shaving their heads and growing creative goatees. They were inspired by Wooly Willy, the classic magnetic drawing toy that dates back to 1955.

In the years before Wii, putting giant sideburns and moustaches on this Kojak of kid's toys made for a pretty fun afternoon. It still does, which is why Restoration Hardware, at Troy's Somerset Collection, is offering a Wooly Willy and Hair-Do Harriet combo for $7 as one of its stocking stuffers.

7. GIRL, UNINTERRUPTED: Like "Catcher In the Rye," the new DVD set "My So-Called Life -- The Complete Series" (Shout! Factory, $69.99) appeals to those who've survived the thousand cuts of angst, embarrassment and acute self-awareness more commonly known as adolescence. You can relate, too? This extra-packed edition includes all the episodes of the short-lived ABC drama and a deluxe book. It allows for a complete wallow in the torments of Angela Chase (the exquisite Claire Danes) as she yearns for happiness, aka Jordan Catalano.

8. WILD AND CRAZY AUTOBIOGRAPHY: Back when comedians were treated like kings, Steve Martin was the ultimate ruler of them all. He filled arenas with routines that included happy feet, an arrow-through-the-head prop and a "Well, excuuuuuse me!" catchphrase. In "Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life" (Scribner, $25), the movie actor and acclaimed author describes how his passion for magic and comedy evolved into the groundbreaking stand-up style that turned stupid into smart.