Tom Angleberger

The New River Valley-based reporter answers your questions Mondays in his column, What's on Your Mind?

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Every year during the holidays, I ask readers to tell me about their favorite Christmas things.

We've already done movies and music, so this year we turn to Christmas commercials. And, folks, if you say you don't have a favorite Christmas commercial I'm going to have to call you a Scrooge.

But even Scrooges are welcome in this survey, because I also want to know your vote for the worst, most annoying, obnoxious, overplayed Christmas commercial.

I queried friends and searched the Internet to come up with a list of nominees, but as always you're welcome to vote for write-in candidates.

The front-runner in this contest may well be "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke." It was already a beautiful commercial with a beautiful sentiment. Then they made a Christmas version with the multiethnic singers holding candles and forming a giant Christmas tree.

Another Coke commercial makes the list, too. This one spread a message of love and togetherness without using any words at all, just cuddly animated polar bears. Could the cute factor put this one over the top?

Another wordless wonder used real animals -- the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales. Tromping through the snow, these beautiful horses pulled their wagon into quaint, yet beer-loving, villages and ... into our hearts.

But if the Clydesdales are old-school, then the Aflac duck is clearly representing the new school with his commercial featuring Santa stuck in a chimney. Some find it funny, but will it wear thin by Christmas?

Santa ads are plentiful. Some try for Christmas magic -- children leaving out cornflakes for Santa, for instance. Others are silly, like when Santa used a DustBuster or went sledding on a Norelco electric shaver.

But let's not overlook the Campbell's Soup-eating snowman who melts to reveal a cute kid whose been out playing in the snow too long. This one may have started life as a joke, but it has just the right amount of sweetness to make it something more than just a sight gag.

And there's something charming about those Hershey's Kisses that ring like a bell choir. But can faceless candy compete with those omnipresent animated M&Ms?

The best I've seen this year is the Cingular commercial based on the movie "A Christmas Story," which cleverly replaces the movie's catchphrase "You'll shoot your eye out" with "You'll run the bill up."

Another great update was done by eBay recently, when they turbocharged an Andy Williams-style Christmas production number.

Celebrities can make commercials memorable, too. A few years back, Stevie Wonder and India.Arie made Christmas magic with a duet for Target. But perhaps you prefer Britney Spears' Pepsi Blue commercial or Martina McBride's Wal-Mart ad?

But how can you top Old Navy? To sell a fleecy jacket or some such winter-wear, they featured TV's "The Jeffersons" on a ski trip.

Perhaps the most memorable Christmas commercials are the ones that dispense with the celebrities and the gags and strike at the deeper meanings of the holidays.

Normally, I can't stand Ronald McDonald, but at this time of year, when he and that little girl build snow friends together, you might find me getting a little choked up.

And then there's Peter. Are you one of those people who cry when Peter comes home? Don't be embarrassed!

This Folger's commercial reminds us that Christmas doesn't need to be about giving or receiving, but simply being together. (And drinking coffee, of course.)

So, you see, there's lots to choose from -- bears or horses, Britney or Weezie, sweet or extra-sweet, world peace or beer.

To count your vote, I'll need you to give me your name, hometown, phone number and your picks for the best and worst holiday commercials. And, as usual, I'll give a prize to the person who gives the best reason for their votes. Just tell me why one of these commercials boosts your Christmas spirit -- or drives you up the chimney.

E-mail tomangleberger@yahoo.com, call 777-6476 or mail your vote to What's On Your Mind, Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke VA 24010-2491.

Be sure to include your:

n name;

n hometown;

n phone number or e-mail address;

n favorite Christmas ad;

n least favorite ad;

n comments.

Look for Tom Angleberger's column on Fridays.