Okay. My first comment: kill the stylists. I liked these kids better when they were just themselves. But tonight, a bunch of L.A. stylists put them in clothes and hairstyles which made many of them simply ridiculous. I think the NC kids suffered worse — Kellie Pickler especially. Now on to the talent portion. The first hour and a half … Read More
Growing Up Bin Laden
Bin Laden’s niece is getting set to star in her own reality series. No, I’m not kidding: Osama bin Laden’s niece, an aspiring singer who posed for a sexy photo shoot in a men’s magazine last year, has signed up for a reality television show about her life and her as yet unfulfilled "quest for stardom." Wafah Dufour Bin Ladin, … Read More
Our Long National Nightmare Is Over
A judge orders that Michael Jackson’s Neverland close its gates for non-payment of wages to workers.
Idol Update
This last week’s round was important, because the 12 remaining finalists get to do the tour when the show is over. The American Idol voters were half-stupid. They did the right thing by voting off Kinnik Sky and Will "Bobby Brady" Makar. But they failed to vote off Kevin "Chicken Little" Covais and Melissa McGhee, the latter being the bigger … Read More
Garfield Doesn’t Speak
This blogger discovered that if you remove the thought bubbles from above Garfield’s head, Jon becomes a lonely, semi-deranged man who talks to cats. In other words, the comic strip becomes bleak, existential, and twice as funny. More examples.
Brief Oscar Thoughts
(1) I realize I’m no producer/director, but it seems to me that if you want a show to end on time, you don’t fill it up with pointless montages. There should only be TWO montages: (1) the recently-dead actors montage; and (2) the Honorary Oscar award winner montage (2) I found the musical underscoring of the acceptance speeches to be … Read More
2006 Oscar Picks
[NOTE: This post will stay "promoted" at the top for a few days. Scroll down for other posts. And check out (if it’s working) the Brokeback Mountain/Lost mashup movie trailer in the right column, which will also remain for a few days] These are my Oscar picks. The nominee in red is who I think will win. The underlined nominees … Read More
Hairspray: The Movie
Hairspray – the film cast: John Travolta and Queen Latifah have been confirmed to star in the big-screen version of Hairspray to be directed by Adam Shankman (Bringing Down the House). Travolta will play the role made famous by Divine as Edna Turnblad. Latifah will play Motormouth Mabel. A current nationwide search is on for the lead role of Tracy … Read More
A La Carte Cable
Many social conservatives are pushing the idea of pay-per-channel cable services. In other words, instead of getting Time-Warner’s Basic Subscription Package, which includes a bunch of channels you will never ever watch, you just pick the channels you want and pay for them individually. Conservatives are behind per-channel cable because it means that your dear precious family won’t be exposed … Read More
Idol Update
Well, the guys’ turn was tonight. As a whole, they are generally stronger than the woman, and I will be surprised if the ultimate winner this year is one of the gals. That said, most of the guys were also a disappointment. It’s pretty easy to separate the wheat from the chaff. First of all, can we just close up … Read More
Idol Update
I had to mostly agree with the judges on the ten remaining women. A lot of bad song choices, and some lackluster performances overall. Lisa Tucker and Paris Bennett had a slightly off-week, but they still are my favorites. I (like everyone else) was charmed by North Carolina’s Kellie Pickler — pictured right — who, in retrospect, I sold short … Read More
Dumb Lawsuit Of The Week
Nine female fans of American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken are suing Aiken’s record company. The cause of action? They were supposedly duped by the record company’s advertising and promotions into thinking that Clay was straight, when he is in reality, well, not . . . apparently. The angry ladies go on to state, "This is tantamount to a manufacturer concealing … Read More
70’s TV Icons Whose Name Begins With “D” Still Dying
First Don Knotts, then Darren McGavin, now Dennis Weaver. Word has it that Donny Most, Danny Bonaduce, and Dick Clark are rewriting their wills.
Idol Update
Well, I have to say that I agree with America. They booted four Idol contestants that really were not very good. Bobby Bennett, while a pleasant fellow, really was out of his league. And I have a confession — I like Barry Manilow and "Copacabana". But Bennett really made it painful. The saddest departure of the four (for me) was … Read More
For Sudoku Fans
Puzzlemaster Will Shortz gives an interview explaining the lure of Sudoku. What makes it so addictive?It’s the appeal of the empty squares to be filled in, which is a quality it shares with crosswords, and it has very simple rules. You can learn it in 10 seconds, and yet the logic needed to solve Sudoku is challenging. It’s a perfect … Read More