RISMEDIA, Dec. 4, 2007-There are more than 44,600 minutes in the month of December. That’s thousands of minutes for gift giving, caroling, eating, celebrating and now talking on your wireless phone.

EMBARQ conducted a survey to research what famous figures would be on the nation’s calling wish list if America’s little black book just happened to fall from the sky one December day.

The survey asked 1,000 Americans what well-known people they would like to dial up to share their holiday cheer with if they had unlimited wireless minutes this December. From politicians and public figures to TV characters and news anchors, Americans weighed in on who would be on their speed dial this December.

- When offered a direct line to a number of famous Americans, including the President of the United States, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and decorating professional Martha Stewart, it was reigning talk show queen Oprah Winfrey whose phone would be ringing off the hook with well wishes from fans for a happy New Year. Oprah received 15% of the vote. President George W. Bush followed in close second with 11%.

- Which presidential candidate did Americans hope would make a campaign stop at their holiday dinner? Hillary Rodham Clinton beat Barack Obama, Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain and John Edwards with a quarter (25%) of survey respondents saying they would like to call and invite the democrat to their holiday table.

- This holiday season Americans are eager to receive a gift of light-hearted humor. Just over one in 10 (11%) respondents said that for an overview of this year’s major news stories and a peak into 2008, they want Ellen DeGeneres at the other end of the phone. The funny lady got more votes than Katie Couric (8%), Anderson Cooper (7%) and the famous man in suspenders, Larry King (6%).

- While the classic holiday carol may call for 12 days, this season, the hottest number is 24. More than one in 10 (11%) respondents agreed that Jack Bauer of “24″ gets top billing for the TV character Americans would call to wish a happy holiday. Bauer beat Susan Mayer of “Desperate Housewives,” Larry David of “Curb your Enthusiasm,” Stewie Griffin of “Family Guy,” Claire Bennet of Heroes,” Michael Scott of “The Office,” and Nancy Botwin of “Weeds” for the top spot.

- Overall, America may care about 24 hours of action, but there are some more interested in bedside attraction. The ladies are ‘McDreaming’ of a certain Seattle Grace neurosurgeon this holiday season with almost 20% of female respondents saying they would call Dr. Derek Shepherd of “Grey’s Anatomy” to wish him a happy holiday over other TV character favorites.

- They may not be psychic mediums, but Americans do know which person from the past they would call if their wireless service extended to the deceased. While Elvis, Martin Luther King Jr. and Marilyn Monroe were among the favorites, it was Princess Diana who won 17% of the overall vote, but survey respondents aged 60 and over would rather be calling Camelot. A quarter (25%) of these Americans gave their vote to President John F. Kennedy.