From Tara Bradbury of the St. John’s Telegram:

• Part 1: ‘22 Minutes’ in the life
  A frenzy of activity goes into every episode of CBC TV’s long-running show. The Telegram’s Tara Bradbury jumped into the whirlwind that makes up the cast’s upcoming hour-long Christmas special. Read more.
• Part 2: The ’22 Minutes’ of Christmas
  Nothing says Christmas like Mark Critch in a sequined blouse. Unless it’s Cathy Jones as a drunken, burping Queen Elizabeth, Gordon Pinsent as an emphysema-suffering “Bad Santa” type, shopping at Zellers, or Kevin O’Leary in the role he was born to play – Ebenezer Scrooge. Read more.

From a media release:

“22 Minutes” one-hour Holiday SPECIAL on Dec. 13 decks the halls with loads of special guests

From celebrity Santa letters from the likes of Peter Mansbridge and Survivorman’s Les Stroud, to name a few, to new spins on traditional Christmas stories – you may never look at Frosty the Snowman – or Kevin O’Leary – the same again – “22 Minutes” stuffs its one-hour holiday special full of politicians, celebrities, and musical acts all celebrating the season in their own jolly way. “22 Minutes” holiday special airs Tues., Dec, 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT (8:30 NT) on CBC Television (note the earlier start time).

Watch a clip featuring Bob Rae’s appearance from the “22 Minutes” holiday special here.

Highlights from the holiday episode include:*

• Celebrity letters to Santa from a host of Canadian notables including Peter Mansbridge, Jim Cuddy, Jian Ghomeshi, George Stroumboulopoulos, Survivorman’s Les Stroud and lots more!
• Kevin O’Leary (“Dragons’ Den”) in a role he was born to play – Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.
• Politicians including Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Liberal leader Bob “A Rae of Hope” who offers a new take on some traditional carols.
• Canadian icon Gordon Pinsent in a Miracle on 34th Street parody – “There’s never a miracle at Zellers.”
• Maritime musical favourites Great Big Sea helping “22 Minutes’” Shaun Majumder write a Christmas song.
• Republic of Doyle’s Allan Hawco doing a dramatic turn in a Tudors-esque parody, “The Claus’s.”
• There will also be appearances by former “22 Minutes” cast members Mary Walsh and Greg Thomey.

Find “22 Minutes” on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/22Minutes or follow the action on Twitter at http://twitter.com/22_minutes.

* Please note, due to the nature of the show, information is subject to change.