Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Gift-giving, etc:

According to the American Express Spending & Saving Tracker, 22% of consumers say they will whittle down the number of people on their holiday gift list. In general, if consumers have to make a choice to cut someone from their list in order to stay within their budget:
   --Coworkers are the first to go (17%)
   --Followed by service providers such as postal carriers, hair and nail stylists (14%)
   --Then extended family and friends (13%)  
   --Members of the immediate family, pets and close friends are the safest:
   --Only two% would eliminate teachers from the gift list
   --Less than 1% would eliminate mom, dad or the kids (Kaye)

How to drop a man a hint about gifts:

"Subtlety is lost on a man," says W-BRUCE CAMERON, author of "How to Remodel a Man." His tips to Woman's Day magazine include:
   --Being direct. When you show him something and say you love it, it won't register. Instead, circle what you like in catalogs.
   --Get him in the mood. Most men don't think about gifts until crunch time. So have a more general discussion early, or hit the stores together and consider a gift you can share, such as a stereo.
   --Be honest. Ask him what he's thinking about getting you, so you have a chance to kill really bad ideas.

Holiday Survey Sez:

Respondents to a Woman's Day /AOL online survey were asked, "Who's the hardest person to buy a holiday gift for?"
   --Husband/boyfriend: 32%
   --Other: 20%
   --Mom: 15%
   --Mother-in-law: 14%
   --Teenage relative: 14%
   --Best friend: 5% (Kaye)

Looking for the gift for the person who has everything? How about a new mug? In Touch Weekly reports GEORGE CLOONEY, COLDPLAY, HEIDI KLUM, PENELOPE CRUZ and NICOLE KIDMAN all pitched in to design a cup for a Christmas collection and 20% of the profits go to their favorite charities. Grab yours for just $19.99 at Bloomingdales. (Lee)

London tabloids:

There's more rumors swirling that GWYNETH PALTROW and CHRIS MARTIN's marriage may be on the rocks. The U-K's Daily Mail reports the mom of two has big plans for 2010, and lots of work commitments that will keep her out of town a lot! Her rep shot back to GossipCop.com that despite doing promotion for "Iron Man 2" and making "The Danish Girl," all of her events happen over the course of five months so she'll still have lots of time with the fam. (Lee)

On, Off and way-off Broadway:

KELSEY GRAMMER, whose latest TV series tubed this season, has decided to segue over to Broadway. He'll be starring in a revival of the 1983 hit, "La Cage aux Folles" next April at the Longacre Theatre. Kelsey will play the club owner in the show, while DOUGLAS HODGE, who currently stars in the show on London's West End, will play the club's drag star.

CHRISTOPHER WALKEN is coming back to Broadway. Playbill magazine reports Walken, who got his start as a song-and-dance man, will join SAM ROCKWELL in the cast of MARTIN McDONAGH's new dark comedy, "A Behanding in Spokane," at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in spring 2010.
   Walken will play a man searching for his missing hand in the play [No, I'm not making this up]. The play will only run on Broadway for a limited, 16-week run. Tickets go on sale Dec 14.

Concert Info:

Churchill Downs, where they hold the Kentucky Derby cannot live by horse racing alone. Track officials announced yesterday a three-day music festival this summer at the 147-acre Louisville landmark that will feature more than 65 acts. HullabaLOU will be held July 23rd through the 25th. So far, BON JOVI and KENNY CHESNEY are scheduled to appear with more artists to be named in the coming weeks. (Marino)