It won't be Christmas without Jay, but at least Darlene will be there

For the first time in 14 years, Jay Thomas will not -- I repeat, will not -- visit "The Late Show With David Letterman" to tell his story of driving the Lone Ranger and try to knock the meatball off the Late Show Christmas tree with a football.

According to an article in the Chicago Sun-Times, Thomas said: "I'm recovering from some minor surgery to take care of an old football neck injury."

For this one-time devoted Letterman fan who rarely watches these days but makes a point of tuning in for the annual Christmas show, the holiday's going to be just a little bit more blue this year. There are so few moments on TV that seem to exhibit a genuine Christmas spirit that it's a disappointment to see one -- even one as gloriously goofy as this one -- skip a year. Hopefully Jay will be mended and all set to tell that story and toss that football for Christmas 2014.

And thankfully, Dave will keep at least one Christmas tradition going this year. On tomorrow's show (that's Friday, Dec. 20), music legend Darlene Love will stop by and blow the roof off with her annual rendition of "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home).") I was just listening to "A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector," the classic 1963 album that first featured that single during my drive home tonight, and I can't wait to hear Ms. Love sing it on the Late Show. Here's her rendition from last year's show...



And hell, as long as we're at it, here's Jay Thomas' appearance from that same show. Watch it and start counting down the days to Christmas 2014.