Would that have been WPIX channel 11? Because that was the first place I saw it. Even as a kid I thought that was a bit ridiculous…
God bless you, Fox News! 
My parents put on Yule Log when we go over there to open presents on Christmas Day. I guess to them it adds atmosphere since they don’t have a real or even fake fireplace. I don’t mind, because as someone else put, there are classy, nice Christmas Carols playing in the background that aren’t sung by Christina Aguilera or R. Kelly.
A couple years ago VH1 would run something on Christmas morning that was bizarre but just as entrancing as Yule Log. It was a room full of tiny puppies, lots of ripped up wrapping paper, and dog toys. For hours you could watch adorable pups going nuts with the paper, toys, and each other. And that was it! No commentary, no host, no other footage. Just puppies in a room. Brilliant.