While these catch-all “why we were away” segments are often lacking compared to the more fresh, nightly segments provided by The Daily Show, they are still wildly entertaining, if for only to see how the TDS writers and producers make hay out of the past week’s news.

In fairness, they didn’t go the Fox News blonde fembot route; women made the calendar based on ideology and accomplishments, though it’s unclear what Prejean has done aside from oppose gay marriage and get hit by a Perez Hilton witchhunt for it.

Here’s the roundup:

Pat Buchanan’s sister Bay Buchanan; Carrie Prejean; Clare Boothe Luce herself; Representative Michele Bachmann; Why You’re Wrong About the Right coauthor S.E. Cupp; CURE president Star Parker; Phyllis Schlafly; pollster Kellyanne Conway; Ann Coulter; Virginia pol Kate Obenshain; right-wing publisher Marji Ross; and Hot Air founder/political commentator Michelle Malkin.

Foxnews.com has a slideshow of the calendar here.

Here’s a “behind-the-scenes video of the 2010 calendar shoot:”