Radio On The TV: Week Of December 21, 2009

Rage Against The Machine are sitting atop the UK pop charts.

The Los Angeles rap-rock leftists have never been known for the pop chart prowess, but they are the unlikely talk of the U.K. after scoring a grassroots-fueled Christmas Number 1.

For those unfamiliar, the 'Christmas Number 1" in the U.K. is a big deal, an event that has become a part of the British holiday landscape. The quest for the Christmas Number 1 is a key element of the movie Love, Actually. Put simply, anyone in Britain that turns on a TV or a computer or picks up a newspaper during the month of December knows who's in the race for the top of the chart.

For the past few years, the winning song has come from the stable of Simon Cowell and his X-Factor program, the hugely successful UK show that is rumored to be coming to the US, possibly as a replacement for the still-successful American Idol. And even going back to before the influence of The X-Factor, the Christmas Number 1 has generally been by a pop sensation (say, the Spice Girls) or a novelty 'artist' (UK children's show character Mr. Blobby).

This year, though, the industry machine was taken down angrily by a grassroots campaign backing Rage Against The Machine. Here's what happened:

• Joe McElderry wins the British singing competition The X Factor.

• British couple Jon and Tracy Morter decide to begin a campaign to drive Rage Against The Machine's "Killing In The Name Of" to the Christmas Number 1.

• Thanks to a Facebook page, public disgust with The X Factor's three year hold on the Christmas Number 1, and digital downloads, which of course meant that the Rage tune was available for purchase to anyone with access to the Internet, the Morters, and everyone who bought "Killing In The Name Of," succeeded.

It's a beautiful holiday story. And don't worry, Joe McElderry isn't taking it personally. In fact, the 18-year-old will likely top the charts next week. AND Simon Cowell even phoned the Morters to congratulate them on a successful campaign. AND Rage are donating all proceeds from the holiday sales to homeless charity Shelter. So everybody wins.

And next year? We may see a similar campaign. Such a campaign might, in fact, become an annual tradition. Which in turn might return the charts, a relic of music past that has lost much of its luster, to its former glory, worthy of public attention and capable of generating excitement.

Here's the Number 1 song in the U.K. this Christmas:

This Week's Listings

Does anything say Christmas more than Adam Lambert? He'll be on Leno tonight and will presumably stick some eyeliner in Jay's stocking. Other boldface names tonight include Strokes temporarily-gone-solo frontman Julian Casablancas on Fallon and Silversun Pickups on Conan.

Later in the week, Darlene Love makes her annual trip to Letterman to perform "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," Harry Connick Jr visits Craig Ferguson to presumably play something festive, and, most importantly, Michael McDonald is scheduled to bring the smooth to Fallon Tuesday. Expect some awesome mellow Xmas-ness.

The Jay Leno Show [sched]

Monday: Adam Lambert

Wednesday: Dan Finnerty and the Dan Band

The Tonight Show [sched]

Monday: Silversun Pickups

Tuesday: Kid Cudi

Late Show With David Letterman [sched]

Tuesday: Colbie Caillat

Wednesday: Darlene Love

Friday: Kris Allen (R)

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon [sched]

Monday: Julian Casablancas

Tuesday: Michael McDonald

Friday: Snoop Dogg (R)

Jimmy Kimmel Live [sched]

Monday: Leona Lewis (R)

Tuesday: Weezer (R)

Wednesday: Passion Pit (R)

Thursday: Wolfmother (R)

Friday: Band Of Skulls (R)

Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson [sched]

Tuesday: Harry Connick, Jr

Last Call With Carson Daly [sched]

Monday: Brett Dennen (R)

Tuesday: Mike Posner (R)

Friday: Doves (R)

Lopez Tonight [sched]

Monday: Amerie (R)

Tuesday: Slash (R)

Saturday Night Live [sched]

Saturday: Taylor Swift (R)

Spectacle: Elvis Costello With... [sched]

Wednesday: Levon Helm, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, Allen Toussaint

Last week, Elvis Costello continued to show just how amazing a music-centric talk show could be when he welcomed the criminally under-known Ron Sexsmith, who led a version of Elvis' "Everyday I Write The Book," Neko Case, who performed Harry Nilsson's "Don't Forget Me," and Sheryl Crow, who did her own megahit "If It Makes You Happy."