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SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY ARCHIVE [RETURN TO commentopia HOME PAGE]
DECEMBER 7, 2009 - DECEMBER 27, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT GOLDEN GLOBES TAKE FLIGHT WITH "UP IN THE AIR"
There’s a lot of truth to the fact that Hollywood often makes crappy movies and cries victory and pats themselves on the back. But the idea that family movies are dead is a bit silly, as there’s a well liked Disney movie Frog Princess in the theaters right now, not to mention that the movie Up was fantastic, not to mention things like Beverly Hills Chihuahua or Blind Side or The Proposal or any number of pretty safe and sweet movies. Complaining about the moral decay of Hollywood is as old as Hollywood itself. And it’s uninformed, as most movies are apolitical, and most movies are considerably less violent than the offerings of the 70s and 80s. There are some left leaning movies out there, (Rendition? Who knows, Hollywood really does avoid politics). They aren’t the box office bonanzas that define the Hollywood system. As for the award season, Up in The Air is the current frontrunner. It’s about the importance of family and grounding yourself in true relationships. The movie is good, not great, but it’s not really reflective of anything you’re complaining about. But you just want to echo the same tired complaint, even if it doesn’t reflect reality. Faux populism, stop doing it please. thanks. Read the article DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD/The Oscar badmouthing has begun <> I think the basic problem with American--and Canadian--films these days is not the acting, but the screenwriting. It seems no decent scripts get accepted by agents and fall into the hands of directors and producers anymore. There's no real imagination or challenge to be found in the scripts of today. It's useless to have your George Clooneys and Meryl Streeps if you don't have anything worthy for them to work with. Look at Jodie Foster in recent years: Thanks to lousy, boring scripts, the woman's career has been on a downward spiral for some time now--and she's one of the U.S.'s greatest living actresses. Read the article CBC NEWS/Up in the Air leads Golden Globe nominations GOOD MORNING GEORGE! -- A NEW DAY DAWNS AT ABC
I think most of the comments here are off-base. George is replacing Diane, not Chris. Diane was more straight-laced and hard-hitting (but warm and soft, etc.) Anyway, they need someone with more experience to replace Diane and George has that in spades. Give the guy a chance too. Of course he is straight-laced on Sunday morning; consider the venue. But now, we'll see the lighter-side of George and he will broaden his range to fit the GMA-style. As for Chris, he's been great, but clearly the guy wants to do more serious reporting and get more "big stories" under his own belt. Plus, ABC clearly must think having 3 guys and Robin on the show isn't the best chemistry. I think the two male, two female cast is the best choice. Chris has got "anchor" written all over him so it wouldn't surprise me if, in the future, you see Chris return as GMA's anchor when Diane retires and George takes her place at World News in about 3-5 years. Read the article ABC NEWS/George Stephanopolous named Good Morning America anchor
I have watched ABC news my whole life and could have told you the pairing after Peter Jennings died would not work. The natural anchor was, of course, Charlie Gibson. I'm so sad that he is leaving. Why? But to take George off the serious news beat is, in my opinion, a blow to ABC news' credibility with viewers. Everyone knows George is a strident liberal, but because of that, he tries very hard to be a balanced --and brilliant-- analyst. As a conservative, I appreciate that. What a waste of his talents to switch him to GMA so he can fill the cute guy quota. His personality is Washington, not fluffy NY. He's my news guy, not my recipe guy. I'll just beg George not to quit the Sunday morning show or my lifetime ABC viewing habits may have to go elsewhere. It's almost too much losing George S. and Charlie Gibson at the same time. Read the article ABC NEWS/George Stephanopolous named Good Morning America anchor <> Anyone that says they are moving to the Today Show, without giving this a chance...are idiots! Two people decided to make changes, for the quality of life it would afford them. I think ABC made good choices and will still watch GMA before I just say I am done. Give me a break. People make choices and employers need to make decisions. Do you really think...ABC said, let's see who people won't want to watch? Read the article ABC NEWS/George Stephanopolous named Good Morning America anchor
SEPTEMBER 2010: THE END OF THE "WORLD," AS CBS KNEW IT
I work in the NYC Theatre Community and have always been grateful to soaps for allowing struggling actors to earn a steady paycheck. It also provides these actors with exposure to a wider audience, many of whom follow their favs to the stage for a chance to see them in a new light. I can’t tell you how rewarding it is, for everyone, when a fan waits outside the stage door and tells that actor “I love you on [insert soap here] and I’ve never really been into theatre but I came to see the show because of you, and now I love it.” Or something of the like. There is a strangely symbiotic relationship between these two industries. I fear a mass exodus to L.A. in search of a paycheck. Personally speaking, I love soaps and I hate to imagine the TV landscape without them. Read the article ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY/CBS cancels As The World Turns <> It's about time this finally ended. There was a time when the day-time soap was fun to watch and perhaps even somewhat buyable in their story-lines. I for one used to enjoy All My Children, as well as The Young and The Restless (or as I now refer to it The Young and the Useless)...but they have certainly run their course. Now you have characters on these shows who have slept with and/or been married to...every available cast member there is. The stories are old, re-treaded for new characters, and so often just so "out there" that the viewer is left thinking "what the he!!?" As far as I'm concerned.. there's not one soap on air during the day at this point that shouldn't be cancelled. Read the article CBS NEWS/As The World Turns to End 54-Year-Run <> Before I was old enough for school, my mother prepared lunch so that it would be ready just at 12:30PM, as the opening credits rolled for ATWT. My great-aunt used to write us long letters, one paragraph being about family events, the next one worrying about Bob and Lisa or one of the Stewart clan. Since the advent of videotape, I have ritually recorded each day’s visit to Oakdale, and will truly, truly miss this chronicle of families that were quite better than ours in material wealth, but vastly inferior in terms of morals and common sense. After living “just outside Oakdale” for some 55 years, I am profoundly saddened by this turn of events. Read the article ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY/CBS cancels As The World Turns TIGER WOODS IN THE ROUGH -- THE NOISE FROM THE GALLERY
This is getting out of hand. What's he going to do- hide forever? You're a golfer Tiger. Play golf. If you think there's a bit too much schadenfreude at your troubles, think about how 99% of your fans don't get to take an indefinite leave from their job when they have problems. Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Woods says he''ll take "indefinite break' from golf <> I think that the lesson PR professionals should learn from Tiger Wood's situation is that it isn't possible to portray people or organizations as being perfect anymore. Allowing public figures to mask their imperfections gives a false impression that we normal people just love to see crack and fall apart, as it always will sooner or later. Sure, it's great for the media outlets' bottom lines, but it's hard for the celebrity's media career to survive this kind of fall. In Tiger's case, it may be impossible. Read the article DAILY BEAST/Shattering the Tiger Dream <> No matter who was involved or what colors they are, genders, etc., there will always be groups of people who think A, B, or C ... give the "people are not consistent" a rest. The public is fickle and thinks the have some ownership of celebrities. People are, essentially, stupid. Tiger does not owe any of us any explanation. Tiger uses his image like many other people use their image in their business. Hooters waitresses certainly use their image to sell their product ... do we expect a full media press conference if they get in a rap? No. Tiger is an athlete and nothing more. He pitches for companies because (stupid) people will base their purchase decisions on who is in the commercial. Is a Buick better because Tiger is in the commercial? No. For all the talk about the squeaky clean image ... I remember so many articles concerning his temper and foul language on the golf course. I've watched him throw many clubs, tantrums, and bleeped out words during rounds. Santa Claus is not real, there is no Tooth Fairy, and Tiger is not perfect. Sorry if anyone actually believed that. He was in a car accident, maybe a fight with his wife, who knows, and who cares. It is their business. Wake me up at tee time ... Read the article THE ROOT/Why Tiger Woods' family drama is our business. <> Pull up some of the comments concerning the Chris Brown/Rihanna situation and see if people are consistent. I think Tiger owes people something just like Chris Brown did. These folks are public figures who profit off their image, and more to the point, they profit off a squeaky clean, 'family' image, especially Tiger. Tiger chooses to live a very public lifestyle and uses his image to encourage people to buy Buicks and golf clubs, etc. He uses his image to sell products and his sport, so yes, he does bare responsibility. The way he's handling it so far is only making it worse. Just like Mark Sanford, the longer you try to keep quiet on a fishy sounding situation, the worse it will be in the end when it finally comes out. And trust, this will eventually come out. The cops already suspect something happened. So they're going to pursue it. Just like if this was a woman that showed up with a busted lip. Plus, regardless of what people saying in this blog and elsewhere, his public image is being chipped away at. And instead of gettting out ahead of the issue, he's allowed the media to shape the story. Take it from someone like David Letterman. He got out in front of his affairs, confessed, took the heat for a week, and now nobody remembers. Tiger should follow suit. Read the article THE ROOT/Why Tiger Woods' family drama is our business. <> The reason people feel the need to know more about what happened that fateful night is because we should know more. We never asked to be involved in Tiger’s private life, only his public one. Which is what his sponsors want as well. If Tiger wants to be so private why doesn’t he golf at private golf clubs and bet along with his cronies for less bucks. The reason he is worth so much $$$ is because of the viewing public. Nike is not interested in just a great golfer. They want an athlete people are hungry to watch. We need to know more because we are part of the big picture. Was his wife driving that night and did he bust the window in? Could that be why he had lacerations? I’m an average size woman & I know I couldn’t smash a SUV window in with a golf club. Why doesn’t he just tell the truth. We all lose our temper and do things we regret but he’s the one in front of the camera swinging the club. Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/The Tiger Woods Crash --Why people even care NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - DECEMBER 6, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT DONNY OSMOND DANCES TO THE STARS!
Mya was good overall but Donny improved every week and his dancing got better. What is wrong with being 51 years old and doing well. Everyone talks about racism and sexism what about age(ism). How wonderful to be as fit and healthy at that age and can outdo most people in their 20-30's who are boring and don't do anything other than sit on the couch! You go Donny but congratulations to Mya and Kelly too for all your hard work, we should all be happy that for once TV are highlighting a program where people are exercising and promoting hard work and a wonderful work ethic to everyone and our children rather than all the quick fix crap we are fed! Well done the Osmond family for another show of what hard work does, it didn't come easily in the early years to you all and you deserve all the kudos you now are getting for that! Read the article ABC NEWS/And the "Dancing" winner is....Donny Osmond <> Dancing isn't just about skill; it's also about connecting with the audience and that Donny excelled in. Mya clearly was the top choice for pure skill but I think she was a little arrogant as well. She just didn't have the same level of connection with the audience and maybe was too focused purely on the skill. Kelly won for effort and passion. I think it was fair to give Donny the overall championship. His last dance was beautiful even though there was a comment he did little of the dancing. I think he showed grace and confidence. Bravo!!! Read the article N.Y. DAILY NEWS/Donny Osmond wins season nine of ABC's Dancing with the Stars NOVEMBER 23, 2009 - NOVEMBER 29, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT OPRAH WINFREY HOPES TO CHANNEL MILLIONS OF VIEWERS TO "OWN" SHOW
Oprah is the richest woman on television. She could make enough just from her franchised shows like Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz that she could live off that alone, let alone what she has earned on her own in her talk show business. Oprah has been generous with those less fortunate and she has not let her fame go to her head. Whatever she does in life will probably be a success because she put her heart into it. That said, I don't normally watch her show because I don't care for the talk format and all the yapping that goes on. But sometimes she does have ground breaking interviews and she does get to the bottom of things for people who are in some kind of public controversy. Since I am a liberal, I even like her politics because she supports progressive causes and isn't just a money monger. She is very intelligent and a pioneer for African Americans in television. I'm sure she has her faults. Every human being does. But she's earned the standing she has. More power to people like her, who try to make a difference. Read the article ABC NEWS/Oprah Winfrey to leave talk show in 2011 <> Oprah made her career and fortune by manipulating sad and gullible people who were her guests, studio audience and viewers. She's an icon, she made a fortune and more power to her on that. But let's not kid ourselves that she didn't make a major contribution to the demise of popular culture and the skid towards lower intelligence, medical quackery and the useless emotional quick-fixes she pushed on her shows. And my god, she gave us Dr. Phil. Isn't that more than any one country should have to endure? Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Winfrey bets on her future with cable <> I love how the people who don't care about Oprah actually took the time to read the article and then leave a bitter comment. Ahhh how humans are walking contradictions. Oprah earned her money and how she chose/chooses to spend it is her own choice. I guess starting up a school in South Africa or getting this nation to pick up a book when we're too busy with television, video games, and randomness, is just not good enough. You say it was just a talk show; well think of all the other talk shows that have failed over the years. The hosts didn't really connect with viewers, but Oprah has definitely had lasting power...almost 25 years. I'm not the biggest Oprah fan; I think too many people take her word as truth instead of doing a little research and having a mind of their own about a topic. But I definitely won't fault the woman for building an empire...it is capitalism, people. Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Winfrey bets on her future with cable
LOU DOBBS WEIGHS ANCHOR AT CNN
I had a feeling this might be coming. While I realize this is completely out of character for a "liberal" and "closet Democrat" as I'm often described, I actually used to like Lou Dobbs and the show. Read the article DAILY BEAST/Lou Dobbs to leave CNN
NOVEMBER 16, 2009 - NOVEMBER 22, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT THE GOOD SOLDIER -- THE COURAGE TO TELL IT THE WAY IT WAS
Tough stuff to watch. Unsanitized. Un-computer-simulated. All too real. I can't say it enough, there is indeed a special place in heaven for documentary film makers. Thanks to PBS and the Journal for bringing this film to us. My ex-husband served in Viet Nam. He, like many other vets, really didn’t talk too much about what went on there. He saw combat. He laughed about the drugs. He managed to duck most conversation about it. I do know that several years after we divorced, he became very active in helping Viet Vets. He still connects them with support groups and the government help that so many of them need. The men profiled in the film are remarkable, though I'm sure they would modestly argue otherwise. I think these indeed are the “big” men in our American society. These men, thank God, lived to tell the story not only of war but also of themselves in war. I applaud and thank them for baring their emotions and for showing us that it’s not a movie. It’s not a TV show or video game. Regardless of one’s role, either citizen or soldier, war is a horrid life altering experience that fundamentally changes who a human is. It is an experience from which one never really “recovers” at all. Read the article PBS/Bill Moyers Journal/War and Its aftermath - The Good Soldier <> What differentiates American soldiers from the enemy is our compassion and empathy. We do not intentionally target non-combatants. We feel horribly bad when the "innocent" are killed. It is a job that must be done, and collateral damage will occur, but not with malice aforethought. God bless our sympathy and compassion. Let us celebrate our difference from those "others" who behead and terrorize the innocent. Read the article PBS/Bill Moyers Journal/War and Its aftermath - The Good Soldier
NOVEMBER 9, 2009 - NOVEMBER 15, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT HARD LESSONS FOR "THE PUNISHER"
I think it takes incredible courage to confront the most shameful thing one has ever done and use it as a public gift and a warning to others. It takes no courage at all to keep our pain and mistakes a secret. But for someone of Agassi's stature and fame to tell that kind of truth takes a generosity of spirit that most people will never experience. It's not surprising that he ended up doing drugs to kill the pain; what's surprising and amazing is that he grabbed back a hold of himself and now dedicates his life to make other children's life richer and happier and full of hope. I bow to this brave man and thank him for modeling that people can make big mistakes and clean them up and still create good and generous lives. Wallowing in guilt and self hatred would have been selfish...But he's forgiven himself in order to be a positive force in the world and that takes guts and a whole lot of love. Read the article CBS 60 MINUTES/Andre Agassi's Extraordinary Journey <> I always find it interesting that the comments to stories are often more vulgar than the story itself. Anonymity seems to give certain individuals false courage. They often say things on boards that they would lack the courage to say to someone's face. But enough about that..... Martina Navatralova seemed especially harsh in her comments. She has a right to her opinion. She has a right to criticize. She also has a right to be compassionate which she decided not to do. My question to her would be: When your time comes, when you have to face your demons, wouldn't you rather have people show a measure of compassion? Andre has a life outside of tennis. He is a humanitarian. What have you done, Martina? You seem to be the chief critic of the tennis community. Without tennis, what would you be? My scorecard reads Andre 1 Martina 0. I ride with Agassi! Read the article CBS 60 MINUTES/Andre Agassi's Extraordinary Journey FOR NICHOLAS CAGE, A TREASURE FOUND AND LOST
While Cage was living life LARGE, so were most of us, at whatever level we 'thought' we could afford to---that's why it feels so good to trash someone like Cage now. Hindsight is not 20/20 vision; it's just a new perspective. When we view something through its lens it's still distorted, just skewed differently. I suspect what now seems profligate, then appeared only eccentric. Like many of us, he just thought there'd always be more to spend. Read the article DAILY BEAST/Nicholas Cage, Compulsive Spender <> Worse than losing his home(s), he had to sell his Lamborghinis -- he had what might have been the best Lambo collection in the world. Heart-wrenching. Really. Read the article THE MOTLEY FOOL/Poor Nicholas Cage, literally
NOVEMBER 2, 2009 - NOVEMBER 8, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT
THIS IS IT -- THE LAST THRILLER FROM MICHAEL JACKSON
To those arguing about whether it's a documentary or a concert film, I'm reminded of Saturday Night Live, It's a floorcleaner! No, it's a delicious topping! (or whatever). Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/This Is It becomes the world's highest grossing concert film in history <> When my son (28) told me that he didn't realize I was such a big Michael Jackson fan, I had too confess to him that I was, even though I may have played much more Miles and Basia and Roy Hargrove and Simply Red and Santana. I, too, took Michael for granted, and I played his music like all the rest of the soundtrack of my life - when I thought about a special moment and a certain time, and I think I regret that because I meant no disrespect. Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/This Is It becomes the world's highest grossing concert film in history <> For me it was also the "small moments" that captivated my attention.
Read the article LOS ANGELES TIMES/Michael Jackson in IMAX: It's a Thriller BILL COSBY'S HUMOR TAKES MARK TWAIN PRIZE
In 1971, I was med-evaced to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. One evening, several days after one of my surgeries, they wheeled a bunch of us to the Soldiers Center there in the hospital. Bill Cosby and some of the Washington Redskins were there. They spent hours talking and joking with a bunch of wounded G.I.’s. I laughed so hard I thought I would tear my stitches. Dr. Cosby made sure that he talked to each one of us, as did the football players; they seemed very much at ease with this motley group of amputees, burn victims and trauma patients. While I always enjoyed ‘Cos’ before that time, I have been a great fan of him (and the Redskins) since then. God Bless him. Read the article WASHINGTON POST/Profile of Bill Cosby, who will receive the Mark Twain award <> You can attack him all you want for not saying what you wanted to hear, but he was bold enough to tell some truths that needed to be told, pleasant to hear or not. Read the article WASHINGTON POST/Profile of Bill Cosby, who will receive the Mark Twain award OCTOBER 19, 2009 - NOVEMBER 1, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT ARTIST SHEPARD FAIREY'S MISTAKEN HOPE
"While some are pointing out that this is the sort of thing that happens when copyright laws always seem to stack the deck against fair use, that's still no excuse for lying and trying to destroy evidence. Yes, the system sucks, but doing something like this only harms an otherwise strong case." Read the article TECH DIRT/Shepard Fairey destroys evidence, goodwill, harms his case for no good reason <> Can I add some pertinent info that's missing in these discussions. In commercial art, the way it works is you call, say AP, and tell them the proposed usage of the work. The usage would include the geographical location (N. America, Europe, etc.) and the number of copies. You let them know if it's for editorial or commercial (ad, poster, etc.) use. They quote you a fee and you pay it. If the work proves more popular than you supposed, you simply call them up and negotiate a new fee. They have fee schedules for everything. It's not like they make up the fee and/or refuse to license. They're in the license business. From experience, I would wonder if the original fee would be beyond $1,000 to $1,500 as originally described. Not sure. That's exactly the manner in which an experienced graphic artist would proceed. All this talk about greedy AP is way out of line. If you quote a non-profit, editorial project the fee would be very reasonable. If the project gets big and strays into commercial territory, then the fee upped to be commensurate to a commercial project, however the fee is per a fee schedule. They don't make up terms and fees on the fly. The terms editorial and commercial are specific and well known to both buyers and sellers alike. Boingboing's use of the photos accompanying this article are editorial use. Photos used in the accompanying ads on the page are commercial. Read the article BOING-BOING/More bad news for Shepard Fairey: AP amends countersuit, claims purposefully deceitful
OCTOBER 12, 2009 - OCTOBER 18, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENTirey
Meghan is a saucy young American woman with her own mind and other great attributes. If you all are in such a twitter over this innocent photo then you must be one of those folks sitting around waiting for the rapture. Personally I think Meghan's playfulness has supplied plenty of rapture for today. You go girl. Read the article CNN POLITICAL TICKER/Meghan McCain runs into backlash over photograph <> Even though Ms. McCain and I have many differences politically, I really have to say that this is ridiculous! On the one hand, the tv airwaves are filled with commercials for erectile disjunction & scantily clad bodies selling everything under the sun, but just let one of our political "darlings" (and I mean that with no disrespect to Ms. McCain) be seen the way real women dress when they are kicking back at home and people feel like they can treat that person like she should have a red letter "A" emblazoned on her chest! Just one of the many, many issues Americans have with the "four letter word" . . . sex! Read the article CNN POLITICAL TICKER/Meghan McCain runs into backlash over photograph <> Funny she should be reading about Andy Warhol. Her 15 minutes of fame expired about 2 years ago. And this is newsworthy, how? Why? I just returned from Budapest and most Hungarians laugh at us for our attention to this drivel. That CNN attends to it as well should make us all very worried. Read the article CNN POLITICAL TICKER/Meghan McCain runs into backlash over photograph OCTOBER 5, 2009 - OCTOBER 11, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT "D'OH!" -- MARGE SIMPSON POSES FOR PLAYBOY
Out of character for Marge? Please. One thing that's pretty consistent about Marge Simpson is she's easily coerced by a smooth talker. If she were real, I have no problems believing that Hef could talk her out of her clothes for the camera. Plus she could probably use the money to pay for the damages from Homer's latest wacky stunt. Read the article E! ONLINE/Ay Caramba! Marge Simpson gets nude for Playboy. <> I haven't purchased a Playboy since 1972. For Marge though? I'll hit the news stands once more. I wonder if the cover price has gone up any? Read the article USA TODAY/Marge Simpson will bare it all for Playboy <> Homer is gonna have some trouble with the guys @ Moe's. Apu will be selling out of issues & Bart will have serious confliction. Read the article N.Y.DAILY NEWS/Marge Simpson 'poses' nude for Playboy's November issue to celebrate 20 years of The Simpsons. LEVI JOHNSTON BUFFS UP FOR PLAYGIRL
So what? The kid has a kid to support. We all love to see beautiful or famous people naked. We are a nation of voyeurs. Our advertising is filled with naked or nearly naked women draped over new cars, using cell phones, eating burgers, and advertising cool looking shoes. Our TV news twinkies and weather babes are selected – in part – for their trim figures, their willingness to wear incredibly short skirts on camera, and to twist themselves into bizarre postures so we can't look up those short skirts. But, all of you tongue-cluckers out there will inevitably express your puritan outrage and moral indignation. There is no emotion more satisfying to the human being than moral indignation. If anybody wants to pay me fifty bucks they can see me with no clothes on – and that price is negotiable depending on my credit card balances. Out of respect for truth in advertising, I took a look in the mirror this morning and your fifty bucks would be better spent on a couple of good books. Read the article CNN POLITICAL TICKER/Levi getting to pose nude for Playgirl <> As long as Palin does not pose naked for Playboy I am content. Read the article U.K. DAILY MAIL/Fresh embarrassment for Sarah Palin as Levi Johnston reveals he is to pose naked. DON IMUS ON THE TRAIL OF THE FOX
Imus on a "business news" program? Huh? What are his credentials? Unless he going to pontificate on the buying and selling of cowboy hats, something he's had much experience with over the years, I question his expertise. Read the article DAILY BEAST/ Don Imus' second act <> To those who make fun of him, there are some good qualities. Behind that rough exterior, he has a good heart. I saw him interviewed once and they talked about the ranch he and his wife run for kids with cancer. I was shocked to see him all choked up when he was talking about the ones who eventually die that they had worked with. At least he is doing something worthwhile, no matter whether you agree with him politically or not. I used to not like him because of his wise cracks, etc., until I saw the other side of him. Before criticizing him, why don't you donate something to his ranch. Read the article TV GUIDE/Imus debuts on Fox Business Network <> Look, I'm a very conservative gay guy and a proud Republican, but I reserve the right (as you should) to disagree with other conservatives, gays and Republicans. My problem with this guy is that I can never understand him enough to know whether I agree or disagree with any of his positions. He makes both liberals and conservatives look bad. Moreover, he's just too darn self-centered and arrogant to win my attention for long. It has made him money, but there are other things of value in this world. Read the article DAILY FINANCE/Don Imus: Why he's an improbably good fit for fox Business. BANNED IN VENEZUELA -- "FAMILY GUY" STOKES THE IRE OF PRESIDENT HUGO
"The Venezuelan government highlighted the clip as an example of how the U.S. government promotes pot smoking and the legalization of drugs." The fallacy of his argument shows how much Chavez understands the American policies. The US Government doesn't promote drug, they condemn it; it is the writers who oppose this ban and using their freedom of speech (and expression) to revolt against the US Government's ideology. <> I love Family Guy and am a licensed, certified provider of mental health and substance abuse services. The way that "weed" is portrayed on Family Guy is laughable and no-one in their right mind would take it seriously. Having seen every FG episode and owning the entire DVD collection, I can say that they take a SATIRICAL point of view. C'mon, we have a baby and a dog promoting pot. There is an episode where Peter and Lois get stoned and make fools out of themselves at a talent show. Its a cartoon, not a reality show or a documentary. I personally find pot heads annoying and don't want cannabis legalized because pro-cannabis people are narcissistic and they never shut up. Let them pay high prices and worry about getting arrested. It keeps them off the streets. Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/Venezuela bans "Family Guy" but "Baywatch" is OK.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 - OCTOBER 4, 2009 SPORTS/ENTERTAINMENT
I am glad that Lorne Michaels didn't terminate Jenny Slate after an accidental mishap where almost every 4th word was either "friggin" or "freakin". A slip-up was bound to happen. Look back at the winery sketch with Janet Jackson, Horatio Sanz and Jimmy Fallon taking about "soaking" their "corks". It was a tongue twister with dire results. Lorne Michaels needs to fire the writing staff or at least have more dress rehearsals to run the skits past live audiences just to measure the humor response. The opening with Fred as the Libyan leader was the high point of the show, unfortunately we still had 1 hour and 26 minutes left to watch. If a member of the writing staff thinks that a sketch might suck, then more than likely it will. It seemed like half of Hollywood died this past summer but there was not a single reference to that in the show. The only other thing that was good was Kristin and Megan as the Flight attendants, although it ran long. I have actually seen jokes develop faster and better on Craig'sList jokes forum. I expected better material from the digital shorts, I guess because I have grown accustomed to better material. Read the article TV GUIDE/SNL's Jenny Slate will not be fired after F-Bomb <> It's really too bad that this country infantilizes adults by making such a big deal about a word. Everyone can grow up - democracy still exists and the moral fabric has not been ripped asunder. It's not a big deal, let it go. Read the article WASHINGTON POST/Say what?! Unintended improv on SNL <> I vote we all start using the word “frack” (as in Battlestar Galactica-speak); it will soon replace the Anglo-Saxonism, and the bluenoses will really lose their minds. We can tell them it’s an imaginary word from the mind of a scriptwriter, and they can’t really be offended by it. As Carlin said, there are no bad words, only bad intentions. If we use a fake word (to express real feelings of anger) no one can really claim that we are using one of the seven words….problem solved! Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Language of Saturday Night Live cast members isn't ready for prime time.
MEMO TO BBC BOSSES: "HIRE MORE OLDER WOMEN PRESENTERS."
This is purely the BBC belatedly recognising the aging demographic that we are currently going through. It has taken a long time for them to realise they are ignoring the greater part of the viewing public. Worse still the removal of older women from the screens is an insult. Over the next ten years the majority of viewers will not only be over 50 they will also be female, so don't bother with the token oldie we may be aged but we are not stupid. I tolerated Strictly despite Bruce Forsyth but on priniciple I will no longer watch. BBC if you are not interested in me I am not interested in you. Read the article U.K. GUARDIAN/Director general tells BBC bosses to put more older women on screen <> You know, it makes me so weary when I hear people saying 'no need for feminism' or 'feminism is dead' when the evidence to the contrary is out there, right in our faces.
Read the article U.K. GUARDIAN/Director general tells BBC bosses to put more older women on screen
SWISS MISS AT MET -- A CHORUS OF BOOS!
Booing is an ages old tradition in opera.The most ardent booing comes from the "heavens" or the cheap seats at the top of the opera houses, or from claques in the standing room section. These people -- the "hoi polloi" for lack of a better phrase, are the most ardent opera goers and opera lovers, not the penguin-suited fat cats in the grand tier circle. I remember seeing an ardently sung "Tosca" at the Met with the Zefferelli set that was just retired; Monserrat Caballe (who never would be characterized as "svelte") sang Tosca and at the end, instead of throwing herself off the parapet, simply walked offstage.....to a chorus of laughs and catcalls. But she knowingly took that risk and was still lustily applauded at her curtain call for her phenomenal voice. And then there's the famous story of another famously hefty-sized Tosca, who did do the leap and landed on inflatable mattresses backstage......and bounced right back up into full view of the audience. What really should be discussed here is not booing, but this insane addiction to standing ovations for even the most mindless dreck, from crap Broadway shows (the recent revival of "Company" comes immediately to mind), to operas held hostage by self-indulgent set designers and directors, to daytime talk show hosts, to audiences at Comedy Central shows, to.......well, list your favorite. Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/ Met opera BOOED; Richard Peducci's "Tosca" outrages crowd. <> Minimalist sets are one thing. But let's put that aside for the moment as I think there was also another more elemental reason for the booing. And THAT, I believe, is what people were booing about, even more than the sets. They were robbed of this emotional experience by an incompetent director who truly did not understand what makes opera opera, and what makes Tosca Tosca, and why people were there in the first place. If you're going to mess with the emotional throughline you'd better substitute an equally valid one in its place. Apparently, this director did not. Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/ Met opera BOOED; Richard Peducci's "Tosca" outrages crowd.
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ARCHIVES -- JULY, 2009 — SEPTEMBER, 2009