Kids’ shows and Christmas specials are easy (and, sometimes, gratifying) to parody because of their seeming sacrosanct nature — they’re supposed to be “good” for their audiences, allowing them to sidestep the usual criticism. So when someone does point out their idiocies, it can be almost cathartic.

On the other hand, it’s hard to resist the urge to go over the top in manhandling the genres.

In “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All,” Stephen Colbert knows exactly where to seek his laughs.

“The Colbert Report” host lampoons the lazy plotting, the demographically diverse but otherwise head-scratching cast of celebrity guests (remember Bea Arthur on the “Star Wars” Christmas special?), the faux jollity and the earnest musical numbers that inevitably populate the hoary genre to near-perfection. You just feel sorry for the writers, who obviously had to sit through a lot of bad holiday specials in order to nail them so astutely.

The conceit here is simple: Colbert’s in his remote cabin, unable to make it to the studio to tape his holiday special because a bear (his dreaded “Colbert Report” nemesis) lurks outside. That doesn’t prevent a goofy array of guests (Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson, John Legend, Feist, Toby Keith and Jon Stewart) from stopping by and performing a series of pretty hilarious songs (written by David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger, who collaborated on the Broadway musical adaptation of the John Waters film “Cry-Baby”).

Nelson’s song, naturally, has the “Little Dealer Boy” offering the child in the manger a gift he’s probably too young to appreciate.

Feist offers up a tune you’d no doubt encounter if you were to find yourself stranded in the phone-mail tree of a celestial prayer line.

Keith’s number puts the “war” in the war on Christmas. And Legend’s “Nutmeg” is the most hilariously naughty holiday ditty I’ve ever had the pleasure to hear.

Colbert’s reliably funny and, as he’s proven on his regular show, he’s a decent vocalist, as well. The DVD, out Tuesday, benefits the charity Feeding America and offers some bonus material (including a video Advent calendar) for his die-hard fans.

‘A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All’

What: The nation’s greatest patriot hosts a parody of lame, celebrity-laden holiday specials.

Where: Comedy Central

When: 10 p.m. Sunday