A Little of the Old In and Out



(image via something called "planetkilmer")

In: Val Kilmer, Freakshow. Our favorite "intense" (read: creepy) actor, Val Kilmer, is an afficionado of ecdysiasts. According to the 3AM Girls:

"The eccentric Batman Forever star was gagging to get his groove on at Stringfellows lap-dancing joint last week.

"So the 45-year-old told his assistant at the Playhouse Theatre in London's West End - where he's starring in The Postman Always Rings Twice - to order him a car.

"But when he got bored of waiting for his ride, Val strolled out to the street and hitched a lift.
Our source says: 'It was totally bizarre. He approached a complete stranger who had parked his car outside the theatre for a quick cigarette.

"'He said to him: 'I'm Val Kilmer - can you take me to Stringfellows?' And the bloke obliged! Val jumped in and headed off.' Back at the theatre it was mayhem as the ordered car arrived and then waited more than an hour for his famous fare."

And, to top it all off, the strip club owner who talks to the press about his clients. Nice:

" ... Club owner Peter Stringellow tells us Val's a regular visitor when he's in the capital - though the actor prefers to keep a low profile.

"Peter told 3am: 'He's been in before but we never know until after he's gone because he's always wearing disguises.

"'Last time he had a beard on.'"

(image via meekermuseum)

Out: The Governator. Wait. What's this? Arnold Schwarzenegger went to college? And graduated? WTF? Oh, okay, it says here: "Santa Monica College." Hm. That's -- what? -- like, the 13th grade? Don't you get lunch breaks and report cards and stuff? Something tells me that SMC is not offering a Classics major. Just a guess. According to the AP (link via Drudgie Poo):

"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's return to his alma mater turned into an exercise in perseverance when virtually his every word was accompanied by catcalls, howls and piercing whistles from the crowd.

"Schwarzenegger's face appeared to redden during his 15-minute commencement address Tuesday to 600 graduates at Santa Monica College, but he ignored the shouting as he recalled his days as a student and, later, his work as a bodybuilder and actor.

"'Always go all out and overcome your fears,' he told the graduates. 'Work, work, work. Study, study, study.'"

"Inside the stadium, the drone from hundreds of rowdy protesters threatened to drown out the governor's voice at times. Many in the crowd erupted in boos when a police officer pulled down a banner criticizing the estimated $45 million cost of the Nov. 8 special election that Schwarzenegger proposed Monday."



(image via LVRH.com)

In: A Western Primary. Although this sounds thoroughly dodgy, it comes as no surprise that a Western Democrat Governor who lusts oh-so-mightily after the Oval Office might use his influence as Chair of the Democratic Governor's Association to push for what is being called a "Western Primary." That's hardball. According to TheHill:

"New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is pushing to increase the weight of Western states with fast-growing Hispanic populations in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, which would give him a major advantage over other candidates vying to be the alternative to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) three years from now.

"As chairman of the Democratic Governors' Association, Richardson is well-positioned to advocate for a recalibration of the primary calendar that would favor Western states.

"Richardson is expected to run strongly there because he hails from the West and because of his Hispanic heritage and fluent Spanish.Like his potential rivals for the nomination, such as Sens. Clinton, John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.), Richardson says he has not made a decision about running."

Coughcough -- Bullshit -- coughcough. Something in the throat ...

"He says his focus right now is running for reelection in 2006.But like other Democrats considered top-tier contenders for the White House, Richardson is clearly getting ready to run. He visited New Hampshire for two days last week ..."

"... Richardson has a strong ally on the Democrats Presidential Nomination and Scheduling Commission, Michael Stratton, who has announced a campaign to create an early eight-state Western primary in 2008 that would include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Several of those have burgeoning Hispanic populations."



(image via esemag)

Out: Kyoto, Part Dieux. Robert Novak, who has a lousy temperament but is an excellent insider journo, paints us a convincing picture of the confluence of events that may catapultlt "The Bingaman Climate Change Amendment" into legislation. As Tony Blair applies "the touch" to the President, hoping to reverse Our Fearless Leader on the Kyoto Accords (Not going to happen, not ever; Kyoto emissions targets hamper corporate donor maneuverings and lead to job cuts in coal producing swing states like West Virginia), the Senate may feel obliged to offer a consolation prize, namely: a climate change amendment. So much the better, says The Corsair; politics is the art of the possible, not fthe anciful. And, besides, let local municipalities and grassroots efforts are gaining influence. Novak writes:

"While Blair mobilizes pressure on Bush at Gleaneagles, efforts will be made the next two weeks in the Senate to amend the energy bill to force reduced emissions. The global warming bill of Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman, estimated by the energy industry to cost more than 600,000 jobs and ruin U.S. coal production, was easily defeated in 2003. However, thanks to possible defections by several Republican senators, a mandatory climate change amendment by Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman might pass.

"Bush is surrounded by hostile friends. Old bull Republican Sen. Pete Domenici, manager of the energy bill, may support the Bingaman amendment. Within Bush's own administration, the departed mole Rick Piltz has many allies. And in the lakes and glens of Scotland, he will find dear friend Tony Blair winning points with the Labor left and his fellow Europeans."

It looks like another job for The Band of Brothers.



(image via medicine-in-motion)

In: Thursday. The Corsair has always wondered in his media junkie why so many good shows are on on goddamn Thursday. Thank the digital gods for TiVo, we always say. But still, WTF? In today's salmon colored weekly, an interesting discussion as to why Thursday nights are "Must See TV":

"The Huxtable living room is no more. No one sits down to a single-channel night anymore, and network executives have all but given up trying to win the big prize: every demographic, every time slot, every moment of Thursday night. Come September, the major and minor networks alike will be doing their utmost to get a part any part of the Thursday audience.

"And to get any part of the Thursday ad dollars. Networks earn up to 40 percent of their weekly ad revenue on Thursdays, as movie studios and retailers try to stake their claims on viewersweekend plans.

"'Thursday is an iconic night of the week,' said Michael Jackson, the chairman of Universal Television Group. 'Psychologically, it's very important for the networks. It's a night when people are feeling tired from their week and want to kind of relax into their favorite television shows, just ahead of the weekend.'"

Oh, so that's what that's all about.