Kidding. Technically the only person that can cancel Christmas is Rupert Murdoch, but the media world can certainly cancel all of its holiday parties and thus far that's precisely what seems to be happening. Last week came word that Hearst had pulled the plug on its company-wide holiday party. Now, according to the NYO, ABC News has undertaken similar measures (and then some! No more magazine subscriptions!). Per the email the ABC head David Westin sent out to staff:

• We'll forego all holiday parties this year. This means that the company parties in LA, NY and DC are cancelled.

• All executives are asked to fly one grade below what they're entitled to. Some have contractual provisions on air travel, and the company is not breaching any contracts. But we are being asked to use our discretion on this.

• All executives are asked to stay in "B" level hotels. I'm told that Travel knows what this means.

• Starting immediately, the only business meals for which we will be reimbursed are those with third parties. Any meals (or drinks) with ABC or Disney employees will not be reimbursed.

The Observer has the full humbuggy memo here.