Is McAuliffe Behind The Rovak Column?
We wondered in the quiet of our soul about the exquisite weirdness of our favorite Dickensian villain (The three-piece suits, the sour looks, the fidelity to a capital gains tax-cut...), Robert Novak, having the inside scoop in either the Steven Spielberg camp or the Friends-of-Bill camp. Zero fucking percentage, right? Turns out it may just be Terry McAuliffe, Name Dropper, Clinton Moneyman par excellence. Slate's Hollywood insider Kim Masters takes it on:
"As usual, there's some heavy jousting among Democratic hopefuls for bragging rights and access to Hollywood dough. The fact that the powerful triumvirate of Steven Spielberg, David Geffen, and Jeffrey Katzenberg are hosting an upcoming fund-raiser for Barack Obama has generated a ton of ink for the candidate. Much of it was in the vein of, 'Is Hollywood turning its liberal back on Hillary?'
"It was and is well-known in Hollywood that while Geffen and Katzenberg have committed to Obama, Spielberg has not yet promised himself to anyone. It was and is also well-known that Spielberg will host a fund-raiser for Hillary Clinton this spring, in addition to the Obama event this month.
So, it seemed odd to read in a Robert Novak column over the weekend that Spielberg, 'previously listed as a probable supporter' of Obama, would now host a Clinton fund-raiser. This was presented as news, though Novak didn't make it clear who had 'listed' Spielberg as an Obama supporter. Without quite saying so, Novak conveyed the idea that now only Geffen and Katzenberg are hosting the Obama fund-raiser, and that Bill Clinton had prevailed upon Spielberg to back away from Obama and toward Hillary.
"The Novak column is too silly to merit discussion—except, perhaps, about how it illuminates the real state of affairs in deep-pocketed Hollywood.
"If Spielberg had abandoned the upcoming Obama event, that would be news. But he hasn't. Many expect him to commit to Hillary in the future. But one veteran Hollywood Democratic operative said skeptically, 'There is no one on earth that would know that from Steven who would talk to Bob Novak.'
"The suspicion among some in the Obama faction is that this story came from the Clinton camp, eager to put a stop to the 'Hillary Hemorrhages Hollywood Support' stories. In a recent visit to town, Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe conveyed the notion that folks should pick sides now. Most aren't. In fact, McAuliffe's admonishment prompted Norman Lear, who, like many, is contributing to multiple candidates, to ask a Los Angeles Times reporter, 'What's Hillary going to do? Jail me?'"
Of course not, pudding. Even hacks like Richard Mellon Scaife and Christopher Ruddy have abandoned their Kafkesque narrative of a sinister, "Clintonian Amerika."
More from Kim Masters of Slate.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Tonight's The Night: Obama Goes to Hollywood
(image via ap.org)
Wasshington, it was said -- so aptly by Phil Gramm -- is "Hollywood for ugly people (Who among us is more repulsive than former Senator Phil Gramm?)." And then there was Barack Obama, "Sweet Chocolate," throwing all those trite equations into chaos. Tonight is THE night; Obama raises money in LalaLand. Steven Spielberg, "Big Pappa," although he will attend the event, is, as our favorite Dickensian villain Robert Novak reminds us (And we'd love to know who-the-fuck-in-Hollywood-or-the-Friends-of-Bill tipped a right winger like Novack off), non-committed (But leaning heavily towards "Camp Hillary"). But tonight is all about Obama. From the Gray Lady:
" Tom Hanks has bought a $2,300 ticket. So have Jennifer Aniston, Eddie Murphy and Denzel Washington. The studio bosses from Universal, Paramount, Disney and 20th Century Fox have all sent checks or faxed their credit card numbers, too.
"Given the A-list stars, movie and music moguls, and top Hollywood dealmakers who have sent their R.S.V.P.’s, one would think the man of honor at Tuesday night’s benefit at the Beverly Hilton would be getting a lifetime achievement award. But the toast of the evening is Barack Obama, the 45-year-old first-term Democratic senator from Illinois, in his first foray to Los Angeles as a declared presidential candidate.
"It is hard to say whether the unusual heat behind the evening owes more to interest in Mr. Obama or to the three men who spearheaded the fund-raiser: the DreamWorks co-founders David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg.
"The haul is expected to be at least $1 million, making it the first major event here of the presidential campaign. (Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York, will get a chance to flex her own Hollywood fund-raising muscles on March 24 at the estate of Ronald Burkle, the supermarket tycoon.) Originally set for a restaurant with room for 400 people, the Obama event was moved over the weekend to a hotel ballroom with a capacity of 600, and payments were still filtering in by fax."
The full story here.
(image via ap.org)
Wasshington, it was said -- so aptly by Phil Gramm -- is "Hollywood for ugly people (Who among us is more repulsive than former Senator Phil Gramm?)." And then there was Barack Obama, "Sweet Chocolate," throwing all those trite equations into chaos. Tonight is THE night; Obama raises money in LalaLand. Steven Spielberg, "Big Pappa," although he will attend the event, is, as our favorite Dickensian villain Robert Novak reminds us (And we'd love to know who-the-fuck-in-Hollywood-or-the-Friends-of-Bill tipped a right winger like Novack off), non-committed (But leaning heavily towards "Camp Hillary"). But tonight is all about Obama. From the Gray Lady:
" Tom Hanks has bought a $2,300 ticket. So have Jennifer Aniston, Eddie Murphy and Denzel Washington. The studio bosses from Universal, Paramount, Disney and 20th Century Fox have all sent checks or faxed their credit card numbers, too.
"Given the A-list stars, movie and music moguls, and top Hollywood dealmakers who have sent their R.S.V.P.’s, one would think the man of honor at Tuesday night’s benefit at the Beverly Hilton would be getting a lifetime achievement award. But the toast of the evening is Barack Obama, the 45-year-old first-term Democratic senator from Illinois, in his first foray to Los Angeles as a declared presidential candidate.
"It is hard to say whether the unusual heat behind the evening owes more to interest in Mr. Obama or to the three men who spearheaded the fund-raiser: the DreamWorks co-founders David Geffen, Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg.
"The haul is expected to be at least $1 million, making it the first major event here of the presidential campaign. (Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York, will get a chance to flex her own Hollywood fund-raising muscles on March 24 at the estate of Ronald Burkle, the supermarket tycoon.) Originally set for a restaurant with room for 400 people, the Obama event was moved over the weekend to a hotel ballroom with a capacity of 600, and payments were still filtering in by fax."
The full story here.
Tyra Banks To Create a Fake Talk Show. Yeah. What Else is New?
(image via grizzmornings)
When we heard that Tyra Banks -- she who wants us to believe that she has a mortal fear of docile dolphins -- was creating a "fake" talk show, our immediate reaction was: It took you long enough. Every day is a fake Tyra Banks talk show times a million as she takes her low rent Ricky Lake demographic ("Go Ricki!") and methodically positions herself with icy precision as the heir to The Oprah (All knees must bend at ther mention of The Oprah). When, pray tell, is Tyra Banks not fake? Breaseteses notwithstanding. But then we read Paidcontent, and realized that this new show thingie is not "fake," per se, but "Virtual Reality." Ho ho; our bad.
From Paidcontent:
"Supermodel/talk show host Tyra Banks is recreating an online version of her afternoon gabfest as a 'virtual studio' within Music Lounge, a 3-D virtual world operated by San Francisco online community developer Doppelganger. Banks fans can hang out online and chat using digital replicas of themselves, or avatars. She’s already made one visit, hosting an invite-only, virtual post-Grammy party on Feb. 12."
How positively Meta. An already fake Tyra Banks creates -- if it is even possible -- a simulacrum of Herself (The Corsair oscillates wildly). We are now officially suffering from cognitive vertigo at the House of Mirrors that is the disgusting voodoo of Postmodernism.
(image via grizzmornings)
When we heard that Tyra Banks -- she who wants us to believe that she has a mortal fear of docile dolphins -- was creating a "fake" talk show, our immediate reaction was: It took you long enough. Every day is a fake Tyra Banks talk show times a million as she takes her low rent Ricky Lake demographic ("Go Ricki!") and methodically positions herself with icy precision as the heir to The Oprah (All knees must bend at ther mention of The Oprah). When, pray tell, is Tyra Banks not fake? Breaseteses notwithstanding. But then we read Paidcontent, and realized that this new show thingie is not "fake," per se, but "Virtual Reality." Ho ho; our bad.
From Paidcontent:
"Supermodel/talk show host Tyra Banks is recreating an online version of her afternoon gabfest as a 'virtual studio' within Music Lounge, a 3-D virtual world operated by San Francisco online community developer Doppelganger. Banks fans can hang out online and chat using digital replicas of themselves, or avatars. She’s already made one visit, hosting an invite-only, virtual post-Grammy party on Feb. 12."
How positively Meta. An already fake Tyra Banks creates -- if it is even possible -- a simulacrum of Herself (The Corsair oscillates wildly). We are now officially suffering from cognitive vertigo at the House of Mirrors that is the disgusting voodoo of Postmodernism.
Did Anderson Cooper Snub Michael Musto?
A bust of Apollo, standing in for Anderson Cooper. (image via shoppay)
This one is for Sherlynn, my dear, who likes it when we roll heavy on the Anderson Cooper posts. Our Musto, friend of this Blog, has some enemies all up in that Anderson Cooper 360. Despicable! No one messes with Our Musto! From the Village Voice's La Dolce Musto column:
"Moving on to the museum of whoring, last week's column was about the disgraceful lying practices of TV producers as they book and cancel talking-head talent at whim. Well, I've got a fetid new example. ANDERSON COOPER's show recently booked me for a pre-taped interview about various public figures who've done rehab. I was delighted that Cooper had apparently gotten over my multiple suggestions that he's a fan of Judy Garland. But I guess not. When I got home to meet up with the car to the CNN studio, there was a message saying to forget it—they weren't going to do the segment after all. Funny, when I channel-surfed onto the show the next night, they did do the segment! A lying TV producer? For straightforward Anderson Cooper? Shocking!"
Oh no he didn't; Oh yes-he-did (you Musto read More Musto)
A bust of Apollo, standing in for Anderson Cooper. (image via shoppay)
This one is for Sherlynn, my dear, who likes it when we roll heavy on the Anderson Cooper posts. Our Musto, friend of this Blog, has some enemies all up in that Anderson Cooper 360. Despicable! No one messes with Our Musto! From the Village Voice's La Dolce Musto column:
"Moving on to the museum of whoring, last week's column was about the disgraceful lying practices of TV producers as they book and cancel talking-head talent at whim. Well, I've got a fetid new example. ANDERSON COOPER's show recently booked me for a pre-taped interview about various public figures who've done rehab. I was delighted that Cooper had apparently gotten over my multiple suggestions that he's a fan of Judy Garland. But I guess not. When I got home to meet up with the car to the CNN studio, there was a message saying to forget it—they weren't going to do the segment after all. Funny, when I channel-surfed onto the show the next night, they did do the segment! A lying TV producer? For straightforward Anderson Cooper? Shocking!"
Oh no he didn't; Oh yes-he-did (you Musto read More Musto)
Geek Love: Robert Shaye, Peter Jackson and the Sword of Gandalf
(image via yahoo)
There is no love sweeter than Geek Love. That bond forged in the fires of waiting a week to be the first in line to see the Star Wars prequels; that comraderie steeled over describing, in excruciating detail to ones amigos, what one would "do" to the fictional Star Trek character, Seven of Nine. Ah, fair, sweet, geek love, in full flower, blooming.
But even geek love, like all the perishable things of this baleful plane, dissipates, corrupts (The Corsair pops a bottle of 2002 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château La Nerthe). Come again, sweet, geek love.
Robert K. Shaye, the founder of New Line Cinema, lost his "partner in geek," geek-chic director Peter Jackson, over profits from the LOTR Trilogy. In the interim, Shaye suffered an infection and fell into a coma (Or, as it is known in the Shaye Geek Lore, "The Sleep of Ages ...") Happily, Shaye has recovered, and is focused on the bottom line at the eccentric little strudio that could, New Line. From the Old Gray Lady:
"He emerged from the coma and after two months in the hospital, he was permitted to go home to his Manhattan residence. Even then he took many months to recover, unable initially to walk for more than two or three minutes at a time, and slowly taking up work again.
"But Mr. Shaye says he thinks more clearly now than he did before his illness. 'It’s difficult to explain, but I have a clarity of thought and, I believe, of reason, which was one of the gifts' of his illness, he said. And, he added, 'I certainly appreciate the normal functioning of life a lot more.'
"One thing that has not been blunted by illness is Mr. Shaye’s temper, which flared last year when he was asked about a lawsuit filed by Mr. Jackson over profits from 'The Lord of the Rings.'
"Mr. Shaye, criticizing what he called Mr. Jackson’s 'arrogance' and calling the director 'myopic,' told Sci-Fi Wire: 'I don’t care about Peter Jackson anymore.' He added, 'He wants to have another $100 million or $50 million, whatever he’s suing us for. He doesn’t want to sit down and talk about it. He thinks that we owe him something after we’ve paid him over a quarter of a billion dollars.'
"Asked about the remarks last week, Mr. Shaye said that he made the statement 'in a moment of emotion' but did not regret it. 'I regret losing a friend,' he said, as he showed a visitor a Gandalf sword that Mr. Jackson had sent him as a gift, before the lawsuit."
After all the geek love is gone, the artifact of friendship -- (Holds solemnly skyward) O! Precious Sword of Gandalf! --once held in common, presently left in cruel neglect. (Cue: Medieval lute playing a Dowland air) Verily, verily, The Corsair shall weep. For geek friendship lost ...
(image via yahoo)
There is no love sweeter than Geek Love. That bond forged in the fires of waiting a week to be the first in line to see the Star Wars prequels; that comraderie steeled over describing, in excruciating detail to ones amigos, what one would "do" to the fictional Star Trek character, Seven of Nine. Ah, fair, sweet, geek love, in full flower, blooming.
But even geek love, like all the perishable things of this baleful plane, dissipates, corrupts (The Corsair pops a bottle of 2002 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Château La Nerthe). Come again, sweet, geek love.
Robert K. Shaye, the founder of New Line Cinema, lost his "partner in geek," geek-chic director Peter Jackson, over profits from the LOTR Trilogy. In the interim, Shaye suffered an infection and fell into a coma (Or, as it is known in the Shaye Geek Lore, "The Sleep of Ages ...") Happily, Shaye has recovered, and is focused on the bottom line at the eccentric little strudio that could, New Line. From the Old Gray Lady:
"He emerged from the coma and after two months in the hospital, he was permitted to go home to his Manhattan residence. Even then he took many months to recover, unable initially to walk for more than two or three minutes at a time, and slowly taking up work again.
"But Mr. Shaye says he thinks more clearly now than he did before his illness. 'It’s difficult to explain, but I have a clarity of thought and, I believe, of reason, which was one of the gifts' of his illness, he said. And, he added, 'I certainly appreciate the normal functioning of life a lot more.'
"One thing that has not been blunted by illness is Mr. Shaye’s temper, which flared last year when he was asked about a lawsuit filed by Mr. Jackson over profits from 'The Lord of the Rings.'
"Mr. Shaye, criticizing what he called Mr. Jackson’s 'arrogance' and calling the director 'myopic,' told Sci-Fi Wire: 'I don’t care about Peter Jackson anymore.' He added, 'He wants to have another $100 million or $50 million, whatever he’s suing us for. He doesn’t want to sit down and talk about it. He thinks that we owe him something after we’ve paid him over a quarter of a billion dollars.'
"Asked about the remarks last week, Mr. Shaye said that he made the statement 'in a moment of emotion' but did not regret it. 'I regret losing a friend,' he said, as he showed a visitor a Gandalf sword that Mr. Jackson had sent him as a gift, before the lawsuit."
After all the geek love is gone, the artifact of friendship -- (Holds solemnly skyward) O! Precious Sword of Gandalf! --once held in common, presently left in cruel neglect. (Cue: Medieval lute playing a Dowland air) Verily, verily, The Corsair shall weep. For geek friendship lost ...
Has Paris Hilton Finally Jumped the Shark?
Whoopsie! (image via chadmuska.org)
Quite frankly if Paris Hilton were to actually Jump a Shark (Averted Gaze), we wouldn't want to witness those procedings. We're pretty sure she wouldn't be wearing panties -- and then there's the whole Valtrex thing that (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). Elijah Blue Allman was wise to wash his "wenis" off with Tilex post-coitus with Racist Hilton.
Have you noticed the absence of Paris Hilton on the cultural landscape? Me neither. Last we heard the viennese, in their ancient cultural wisdom, buffetedher skank ass with hot cigarette butts. Fitting. Our cultural obsession, ladies and gentlemen, is almost over. We may have to collectively take penecillin for a few weeks just to be sure, but the prognosis looks good.
Paris may have jumped the shark, or, at any rate, jumped into a Fellini movie (One of the few bad ones). From those intrepid Page Sixxies:
"HOLLYWOOD A-listers shunned celebutard Paris Hilton's 26th birthday in Las Vegas in favor of hanging out in New York for Untitled Entertainment founder Jason Weinberg's 40th birthday at Midtown hot spot The Grand on Friday night. The power player toasted his big day with close friends Clive Davis, Kanye West, Marissa Tomei, Amy Sacco and Naomi Watts. Weinberg even had his 'Happy Birthday' sung to him by Blondie legend Debbie Harry. Meanwhile, Hilton held her party at Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Vegas, but the bash turned out to be more of a bust. 'There were no names there except for [sister] Nicky Hilton and Nicole Richie,' said our source. But even without many boldfaces, things at the after-party at the Penthouse Suite got a little odd. After downing TY KU liquor and bottles of Dom Perignon, guests reported seeing Hilton play with a monkey while a band of midgets led a pack of goats around the room.'"
Paris and her monkey. Like we said: A bad Fellini movie.
Whoopsie! (image via chadmuska.org)
Quite frankly if Paris Hilton were to actually Jump a Shark (Averted Gaze), we wouldn't want to witness those procedings. We're pretty sure she wouldn't be wearing panties -- and then there's the whole Valtrex thing that (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). Elijah Blue Allman was wise to wash his "wenis" off with Tilex post-coitus with Racist Hilton.
Have you noticed the absence of Paris Hilton on the cultural landscape? Me neither. Last we heard the viennese, in their ancient cultural wisdom, buffetedher skank ass with hot cigarette butts. Fitting. Our cultural obsession, ladies and gentlemen, is almost over. We may have to collectively take penecillin for a few weeks just to be sure, but the prognosis looks good.
Paris may have jumped the shark, or, at any rate, jumped into a Fellini movie (One of the few bad ones). From those intrepid Page Sixxies:
"HOLLYWOOD A-listers shunned celebutard Paris Hilton's 26th birthday in Las Vegas in favor of hanging out in New York for Untitled Entertainment founder Jason Weinberg's 40th birthday at Midtown hot spot The Grand on Friday night. The power player toasted his big day with close friends Clive Davis, Kanye West, Marissa Tomei, Amy Sacco and Naomi Watts. Weinberg even had his 'Happy Birthday' sung to him by Blondie legend Debbie Harry. Meanwhile, Hilton held her party at Body English at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Vegas, but the bash turned out to be more of a bust. 'There were no names there except for [sister] Nicky Hilton and Nicole Richie,' said our source. But even without many boldfaces, things at the after-party at the Penthouse Suite got a little odd. After downing TY KU liquor and bottles of Dom Perignon, guests reported seeing Hilton play with a monkey while a band of midgets led a pack of goats around the room.'"
Paris and her monkey. Like we said: A bad Fellini movie.
American Idol: "The Ultimate Schoolyard Bully (CBS)," "Death Star (NBC)"
(image via capefeare)
Is "American Idol" the "Ultimate Schoolyard Bully"? Is Idol the "Death Star"? That's what its network rivals believe. Timesman Bill Carter, author of the excellent but unheralded "Desperate Networks," comes back strong, after his rather punchy rival Rebecca Dana over at the salmon-colored weekly hinted -- incorrectly -- that Jimmy Kimmel may be on his way out (Broadcasting and Cable -- link via tvnewser -- reports that ABC is thisclose to signing a multiyear contract to keep Kimmel on). From the Gray Lady:
"Listening to the Fox network’s competitors describe what “American Idol” has done to the television landscape is not unlike listening to a group of quavering readers offer a synopsis of a Stephen King novel:
"Once a year an unrelenting monster invades a town, and all the townspeople, cowed by years of being crushed under its massive claws, have to pay it fealty or run off and hide until it goes back into a six-month hibernation.
"Kelly Kahl, the chief scheduler for CBS, summed up the “Idol” factor this way: 'This is a big monolith sitting out there. It’s the ultimate schoolyard bully.'
"If any of Fox’s rivals had hopes that this year might signal some hint that the monster — NBC favors the term Death Star — would finally betray some sign of weakness, those hopes were dispelled in just a week."
And, Wikipedia tells us, "The Death Star was the Galactic Empire's ultimate weapon ... mobile battle stations that mounted a directed superlaser weapon capable of completely destroying a planet with a single shot." Or, in other words, Rupert Murdoch's baby.
Later in the article, "Jeff Zucker, the new chief executive of NBC Universal, said, 'I think Idol is the most impactful show in the history of television.'"
The full story (NYTimes)
(image via capefeare)
Is "American Idol" the "Ultimate Schoolyard Bully"? Is Idol the "Death Star"? That's what its network rivals believe. Timesman Bill Carter, author of the excellent but unheralded "Desperate Networks," comes back strong, after his rather punchy rival Rebecca Dana over at the salmon-colored weekly hinted -- incorrectly -- that Jimmy Kimmel may be on his way out (Broadcasting and Cable -- link via tvnewser -- reports that ABC is thisclose to signing a multiyear contract to keep Kimmel on). From the Gray Lady:
"Listening to the Fox network’s competitors describe what “American Idol” has done to the television landscape is not unlike listening to a group of quavering readers offer a synopsis of a Stephen King novel:
"Once a year an unrelenting monster invades a town, and all the townspeople, cowed by years of being crushed under its massive claws, have to pay it fealty or run off and hide until it goes back into a six-month hibernation.
"Kelly Kahl, the chief scheduler for CBS, summed up the “Idol” factor this way: 'This is a big monolith sitting out there. It’s the ultimate schoolyard bully.'
"If any of Fox’s rivals had hopes that this year might signal some hint that the monster — NBC favors the term Death Star — would finally betray some sign of weakness, those hopes were dispelled in just a week."
And, Wikipedia tells us, "The Death Star was the Galactic Empire's ultimate weapon ... mobile battle stations that mounted a directed superlaser weapon capable of completely destroying a planet with a single shot." Or, in other words, Rupert Murdoch's baby.
Later in the article, "Jeff Zucker, the new chief executive of NBC Universal, said, 'I think Idol is the most impactful show in the history of television.'"
The full story (NYTimes)
Will Joost become the YouTube Killer?
Several weeks after Viacom demanded that YouTube remove over 100,000 videos from their site after talks of content sharing broke down, the old Media powerhouse signed on with newbie TV online company Joost. What is "Joost"? From Endgadget:
"Chances are that anyone remotely in the loop these days would be familiar with 'Kazaa' and 'Skype,' but only time will tell if folks warm up to "Joost." The duo who founded one of the most popular P2P networks as well as a mainstay in every VoIP conversation are finally naming (and launching) its video distribution service, aiming to 'cheaply and efficiently distribute high-quality video over the internet' via the same P2P technology that has treated them so well thus far."
As Vince Veneziani writes, "Joost users will be able to enjoy programming from networks like MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon." From David Kaplan of the indispensible Paidcontent:
"Viacom and online TV provider Joost have done a broad distribution deal, all of which should put more pressure on YouTube to work out its disagreements with content owners, the WSJ reported.
"The content portion of the deal involves licensing hundreds of hours of programming from Viacom TV properties, as well as movies made by the company’s Paramount studios. Viacom will contribute both current and archival programming to the venture, including programs such as Real World, Laguna Beach, Beavis & Butthead and Flavor of Love.
"The deal is said to be similar to what Viacom reportedly offered YouTube before the talks broke down two weeks ago. At that point, Viacom ordered YouTube’s parent Google to remove 100,000 clips belonging to the entertainment company.
"A major factor in Viacom’s decision to sign with Joost, which launched in mid-January, was Joost ‘s promise that it would protect Viacom’s copyrights. The same issue was considered a main stumbling block in the company’s talks with Google.
The full article here (Paidcontent)
Several weeks after Viacom demanded that YouTube remove over 100,000 videos from their site after talks of content sharing broke down, the old Media powerhouse signed on with newbie TV online company Joost. What is "Joost"? From Endgadget:
"Chances are that anyone remotely in the loop these days would be familiar with 'Kazaa' and 'Skype,' but only time will tell if folks warm up to "Joost." The duo who founded one of the most popular P2P networks as well as a mainstay in every VoIP conversation are finally naming (and launching) its video distribution service, aiming to 'cheaply and efficiently distribute high-quality video over the internet' via the same P2P technology that has treated them so well thus far."
As Vince Veneziani writes, "Joost users will be able to enjoy programming from networks like MTV, Comedy Central, and Nickelodeon." From David Kaplan of the indispensible Paidcontent:
"Viacom and online TV provider Joost have done a broad distribution deal, all of which should put more pressure on YouTube to work out its disagreements with content owners, the WSJ reported.
"The content portion of the deal involves licensing hundreds of hours of programming from Viacom TV properties, as well as movies made by the company’s Paramount studios. Viacom will contribute both current and archival programming to the venture, including programs such as Real World, Laguna Beach, Beavis & Butthead and Flavor of Love.
"The deal is said to be similar to what Viacom reportedly offered YouTube before the talks broke down two weeks ago. At that point, Viacom ordered YouTube’s parent Google to remove 100,000 clips belonging to the entertainment company.
"A major factor in Viacom’s decision to sign with Joost, which launched in mid-January, was Joost ‘s promise that it would protect Viacom’s copyrights. The same issue was considered a main stumbling block in the company’s talks with Google.
The full article here (Paidcontent)
Monday, February 19, 2007
Djimon Hounsou: For Shame
(image via nndb)
Looks like Cameron Diaz found her entrance into the center stage of the Academy Awards, by being on the arm of a heavyweight nominee. Imagine the calculation involved in weaving such an elaborate spiderweb. From those intrepid page Sixxies:
"FORGET Kelly Slater - Cameron Diaz has her eye on 'Blood Diamond' Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou. They showed up at Hyde in L.A. Thursday night and, according to X17online.com, were 'all over each other . . . They arrived around 1:30 a.m. and stayed for about an hour. They cozied up to each other at a table and left together in Cameron's black Prius. While Cameron was all smiles when they left, Djimon kept his head down, partially hiding his face under his cap.'"
Nine Inch Breadstick-sized "wenis" notwithstanding, "Beefcheeks" Kelly Slater wasn't Oscarworthy (And Djimon is a far more manly name). Oh dear sweet jesus no. Cameron Diaz eats innocence for lunch! look at those dead, violent reptile eyes! Djimon: They'll lay siege to your Noble and Melancholy African soul. We won't even entertain the possibility that Cameron is doing this for proximity to Leo. We simply will not ...
(image via nndb)
Looks like Cameron Diaz found her entrance into the center stage of the Academy Awards, by being on the arm of a heavyweight nominee. Imagine the calculation involved in weaving such an elaborate spiderweb. From those intrepid page Sixxies:
"FORGET Kelly Slater - Cameron Diaz has her eye on 'Blood Diamond' Oscar-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou. They showed up at Hyde in L.A. Thursday night and, according to X17online.com, were 'all over each other . . . They arrived around 1:30 a.m. and stayed for about an hour. They cozied up to each other at a table and left together in Cameron's black Prius. While Cameron was all smiles when they left, Djimon kept his head down, partially hiding his face under his cap.'"
Nine Inch Breadstick-sized "wenis" notwithstanding, "Beefcheeks" Kelly Slater wasn't Oscarworthy (And Djimon is a far more manly name). Oh dear sweet jesus no. Cameron Diaz eats innocence for lunch! look at those dead, violent reptile eyes! Djimon: They'll lay siege to your Noble and Melancholy African soul. We won't even entertain the possibility that Cameron is doing this for proximity to Leo. We simply will not ...
Is Murtha "in Command"?
The United States House of Representatives is at an historical crossroads. Does twice Purple hearted Congressman John Murtha have the votes to attach benchmarks to the President's war funding? Even Senate Republican Chuck Hagel, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has said he would be open to such a resolution. That might go a ways to explain why the normally staid Britt Hume went ballistic on this week's "Fox News Sunday," making personal attacks against John Murtha's sanity. According to our favorite Dickensian villain, Robert Novak:
"After 16 undistinguished terms in Congress, Rep. John P. Murtha at long last felt his moment had arrived. He could not keep quiet the secret Democratic strategy that he had forged for the promised "second step" against President Bush's Iraq policy (after the "first step" nonbinding resolution of disapproval). In an interview Thursday with the anti-war Web site MoveCongress.org, he revealed plans to put conditions on funding of U.S. troops. His message: I am running this show.
Indeed, he is. Murtha and his ally, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were humiliated Nov. 16 when the Democratic Caucus overwhelmingly voted against Murtha as majority leader. Three months later, Murtha has shaped party policy that would cripple Bush's troop surge by placing conditions on funding. That represents the most daring congressional attempt to micromanage armed hostilities in nearly two centuries, since the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War challenged Abraham Lincoln.
"Murtha's plan did not surprise Republicans. They were poised to contend that his proposed amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill would effectively cut off funding for the war, confronting moderate Democrats elected after promising voters to support troops. But the Senate rule requiring 60 votes to end debate, which prevented final passage of the nonbinding resolution rejecting the troop surge, would not affect Murtha's plan because appropriations have to be passed and cannot be filibustered. Thus, unless there is an unexpected retreat of Democrats, Murtha will be driving U.S. policy."
To put it all into perspective, from USNewsandWorldReport:
"With the House having offered what U.S. News and World Report called a 'resounding vote of no confidence' on President Bush's new Iraq strategy this weekend, and the Senate failing to muster the support to do the same, Senate Democrats are now 'suggesting they will seek to limit a 2002 measure authorizing President Bush's use of force,' USA Today reports. Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin said yesterday Democrats 'will probably seek to capitalize on wavering Republicans to limit the 'wide-open authorization' Congress gave Bush' four years ago. The Financial Times says Levin said changes 'would redefine the role of the US military in Iraq from a 'combat mission to a support mission.'"
"However, Levin noted, that doesn't mean cutting off funding for US troops. On Fox News Sunday, he said, 'I don't think there's support to cut off funds. I think that sends the wrong message to our troops.' That statement, which appears to echo GOP criticisms of House Democratic plans, could signal a budding divide between Senate and House Democrats. In the House, Rep. Jack Murtha 'wants strings on that money to make it harder for the President to maintain troop levels," NBC Nightly News said, even though 'those restrictions would face strong opposition in the Senate and a certain presidential veto.' On CNN's Late Edition, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, 'Murtha is onto something, where they're going next. ... Where they're going is to try to cut off funds for the troops. It's very dangerous turf for them.'"
The United States House of Representatives is at an historical crossroads. Does twice Purple hearted Congressman John Murtha have the votes to attach benchmarks to the President's war funding? Even Senate Republican Chuck Hagel, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has said he would be open to such a resolution. That might go a ways to explain why the normally staid Britt Hume went ballistic on this week's "Fox News Sunday," making personal attacks against John Murtha's sanity. According to our favorite Dickensian villain, Robert Novak:
"After 16 undistinguished terms in Congress, Rep. John P. Murtha at long last felt his moment had arrived. He could not keep quiet the secret Democratic strategy that he had forged for the promised "second step" against President Bush's Iraq policy (after the "first step" nonbinding resolution of disapproval). In an interview Thursday with the anti-war Web site MoveCongress.org, he revealed plans to put conditions on funding of U.S. troops. His message: I am running this show.
Indeed, he is. Murtha and his ally, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were humiliated Nov. 16 when the Democratic Caucus overwhelmingly voted against Murtha as majority leader. Three months later, Murtha has shaped party policy that would cripple Bush's troop surge by placing conditions on funding. That represents the most daring congressional attempt to micromanage armed hostilities in nearly two centuries, since the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War challenged Abraham Lincoln.
"Murtha's plan did not surprise Republicans. They were poised to contend that his proposed amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill would effectively cut off funding for the war, confronting moderate Democrats elected after promising voters to support troops. But the Senate rule requiring 60 votes to end debate, which prevented final passage of the nonbinding resolution rejecting the troop surge, would not affect Murtha's plan because appropriations have to be passed and cannot be filibustered. Thus, unless there is an unexpected retreat of Democrats, Murtha will be driving U.S. policy."
To put it all into perspective, from USNewsandWorldReport:
"With the House having offered what U.S. News and World Report called a 'resounding vote of no confidence' on President Bush's new Iraq strategy this weekend, and the Senate failing to muster the support to do the same, Senate Democrats are now 'suggesting they will seek to limit a 2002 measure authorizing President Bush's use of force,' USA Today reports. Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin said yesterday Democrats 'will probably seek to capitalize on wavering Republicans to limit the 'wide-open authorization' Congress gave Bush' four years ago. The Financial Times says Levin said changes 'would redefine the role of the US military in Iraq from a 'combat mission to a support mission.'"
"However, Levin noted, that doesn't mean cutting off funding for US troops. On Fox News Sunday, he said, 'I don't think there's support to cut off funds. I think that sends the wrong message to our troops.' That statement, which appears to echo GOP criticisms of House Democratic plans, could signal a budding divide between Senate and House Democrats. In the House, Rep. Jack Murtha 'wants strings on that money to make it harder for the President to maintain troop levels," NBC Nightly News said, even though 'those restrictions would face strong opposition in the Senate and a certain presidential veto.' On CNN's Late Edition, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, 'Murtha is onto something, where they're going next. ... Where they're going is to try to cut off funds for the troops. It's very dangerous turf for them.'"
2008 Presidential Hopeful Chris Dodd Lays an Egg!
The floundering Presidential campaign of weak-chinned Senator Chris "He Aint Going Anywhere, Folks" Dodd (Exaggerated cough suggested feigned detachment) stumbled into fourth place in a poll issued on his prospects in his own state. According to politico:
"A new poll released Monday shows Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., as 'a distant fourth' in a Democratic primary match-up in his home state.
"The Quinnipiac University poll shows Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., leading Democrats with 33 percent. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is in second with 21 percent, leaving Dodd with 8 percent, trailing former Vice President Al Gore who came in third with 9 percent."
The real embarrasing thing is, of course, Al Gore has made no overtures towards running. In essence, Dodd is being beaten in a hypothetical presidential campaign in his own state (a state his dad also represented) by a man who, as of now, has no intention of running.
The United States Senate is known as "Salle d"Attante," or, The Waiting Room, because all 100 members of that august legislative body consider themselves as possible Presidents (For further reference, see the present field of Senators-in-the-Running). But, seriously: Desist, Senator Dodd ... desist!
The floundering Presidential campaign of weak-chinned Senator Chris "He Aint Going Anywhere, Folks" Dodd (Exaggerated cough suggested feigned detachment) stumbled into fourth place in a poll issued on his prospects in his own state. According to politico:
"A new poll released Monday shows Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., as 'a distant fourth' in a Democratic primary match-up in his home state.
"The Quinnipiac University poll shows Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., leading Democrats with 33 percent. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is in second with 21 percent, leaving Dodd with 8 percent, trailing former Vice President Al Gore who came in third with 9 percent."
The real embarrasing thing is, of course, Al Gore has made no overtures towards running. In essence, Dodd is being beaten in a hypothetical presidential campaign in his own state (a state his dad also represented) by a man who, as of now, has no intention of running.
The United States Senate is known as "Salle d"Attante," or, The Waiting Room, because all 100 members of that august legislative body consider themselves as possible Presidents (For further reference, see the present field of Senators-in-the-Running). But, seriously: Desist, Senator Dodd ... desist!
XM and Sirius Radio To Merge!
It is OFFICIAL! XM and Sirius are merging on an equal stock split and, as of 3:30 pm on Monday, Sirius shares are up 2.78 percent, and XM is up 7.7 percent! Is Mel Karmazin laughin all the way to the bank? Mel Karmazin looks not unlike an empurpled Burgundian King this afternoon after the XM-Sirius merger. Karmazin took a big risk in hiring Howard Stern for the money that it took to lure him away from his cozy perch atop of CBS' terrestrial radio empire (Reportedly: $500 million over 5 years).
Then again, XM has been plagued by some bad press -- like the rats-in-the-studio story, which made it all the way to the august Page Six. Sirius, however, has been treated well by the media of late, as Howard Stern --Did he know something we didn't? -- announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Beth Ostrosky.
According to Orbitcast:
"XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: XMSR) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement, under which the companies will be combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger of equals with a combined enterprise value of approximately $13 billion, which includes net debt of approximately $1.6 billion.
"Under the terms of the agreement, XM shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 4.6 shares of SIRIUS common stock for each share of XM they own. XM and SIRIUS shareholders will each own approximately 50 percent of the combined company.
"Mel Karmazin, currently Chief Executive Officer of SIRIUS, will become Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and Gary Parsons, currently Chairman of XM, will become Chairman of the combined company. The new company's board of directors will consist of 12 directors, including Messrs. Karmazin and Parsons, four independent members designated by each company, as well as one representative from each of General Motors and American Honda. Hugh Panero, the Chief Executive Officer of XM, will continue in his current role until the anticipated close of the merger."
What does that mean to both The Howard Stern Show and The Opie and Anthony Show -- arch-nemeses -- who will be, ostensibly, working ad majorum glorium the ...same company? And what of anti-trust issues (Quite frankly, we -- as opposed to the "Nanny State Regulators," namely FCC Chairman Kevin Martin -- don't see this as an antitrust issue (neither do the analysts by the way), as an XM-Sirius merger would be competing against HD radio and terrestrial radio. Curious and curiouser ... Whatever the case, share prices are on the rise on all the speculation. According to paidcontent.org:
"So says NYP, citing sources: 'The two sides were locked in negotiations over the weekend trying to hammer out a final agreement with an eye toward going public with the merger today in Washington, D.C.,' the story says.
"The transaction is expected to be structured as a merger of equals, but given Sirius‘ higher enterprise value, shareholders in the Mel Karmazin-led firm will likely come away with a larger percentage of a combined company, it says."
An interesting response from the Orbital comments, "... none of this would've been necessary if Panero and Parsons had stepped up and hired Stern to begin with. We'd be talking about XM buying up bankrupt Sirius' assets today...
"I am officially amused...."
Does this mean commercials?
More (NYPOST)
It is OFFICIAL! XM and Sirius are merging on an equal stock split and, as of 3:30 pm on Monday, Sirius shares are up 2.78 percent, and XM is up 7.7 percent! Is Mel Karmazin laughin all the way to the bank? Mel Karmazin looks not unlike an empurpled Burgundian King this afternoon after the XM-Sirius merger. Karmazin took a big risk in hiring Howard Stern for the money that it took to lure him away from his cozy perch atop of CBS' terrestrial radio empire (Reportedly: $500 million over 5 years).
Then again, XM has been plagued by some bad press -- like the rats-in-the-studio story, which made it all the way to the august Page Six. Sirius, however, has been treated well by the media of late, as Howard Stern --Did he know something we didn't? -- announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Beth Ostrosky.
According to Orbitcast:
"XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: XMSR) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement, under which the companies will be combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger of equals with a combined enterprise value of approximately $13 billion, which includes net debt of approximately $1.6 billion.
"Under the terms of the agreement, XM shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 4.6 shares of SIRIUS common stock for each share of XM they own. XM and SIRIUS shareholders will each own approximately 50 percent of the combined company.
"Mel Karmazin, currently Chief Executive Officer of SIRIUS, will become Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and Gary Parsons, currently Chairman of XM, will become Chairman of the combined company. The new company's board of directors will consist of 12 directors, including Messrs. Karmazin and Parsons, four independent members designated by each company, as well as one representative from each of General Motors and American Honda. Hugh Panero, the Chief Executive Officer of XM, will continue in his current role until the anticipated close of the merger."
What does that mean to both The Howard Stern Show and The Opie and Anthony Show -- arch-nemeses -- who will be, ostensibly, working ad majorum glorium the ...same company? And what of anti-trust issues (Quite frankly, we -- as opposed to the "Nanny State Regulators," namely FCC Chairman Kevin Martin -- don't see this as an antitrust issue (neither do the analysts by the way), as an XM-Sirius merger would be competing against HD radio and terrestrial radio. Curious and curiouser ... Whatever the case, share prices are on the rise on all the speculation. According to paidcontent.org:
"So says NYP, citing sources: 'The two sides were locked in negotiations over the weekend trying to hammer out a final agreement with an eye toward going public with the merger today in Washington, D.C.,' the story says.
"The transaction is expected to be structured as a merger of equals, but given Sirius‘ higher enterprise value, shareholders in the Mel Karmazin-led firm will likely come away with a larger percentage of a combined company, it says."
An interesting response from the Orbital comments, "... none of this would've been necessary if Panero and Parsons had stepped up and hired Stern to begin with. We'd be talking about XM buying up bankrupt Sirius' assets today...
"I am officially amused...."
Does this mean commercials?
More (NYPOST)
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Dear Governor Mike Rounds: Appoint Tom Daschle To The Senate
We live in a democratic-republic, not an aristocracy. That having been said, how absurd is it that Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota, who suffered arteriovenous malformation and is recovering from brain surgery, is still in the Senate. After several mon ths he is still in the hospital and has only begun to read clippings from the newspapers, if even that is true. The man had brain surgury. Shouldn't his number one priority be rehabilitation? And, conversely, Shouldn't the number one priority of North Dakotans be a Senator ready, willing and able to execute the business of their state in the United States Senate?
So why doesn't he just step aside and recover in private? Well, three words: Governor Mike Rounds. Rounds is a Republican who, via the 17th Amendment of the Constitution, can -- and no doubt will -- appoint a Republican replacement, therby shifting the b alance of Power in the Senate into the hands of ... the Republican Party. Amazing, no?
But the voters of South Dakota elected a Democrat! A Democrat! And former Senator Tom Daschle, a Democrat and former Senate Minority leader who was already elected statewide and is probably the most qualified man in the country for the job -- has volunteered his name to finish out his friends job. Let's hope Mike Rounds has an active conscience and an innate sense of decency and does what is right and, above all, Just, for his State and Our Country. Appoint Tom Daschle, Mister Governor! From our favorite Dickensian columnist, Robert Novak:
"Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota was the stand-in Wednesday at a Washington fund-raising luncheon for the hospitalized Sen. Tim Johnson, who is up for re-election in South Dakota next year.
"The $1,000-a-plate luncheon was held at 101 Constitution Ave., a private office building at the foot of Capitol Hill, to contribute to 'Tim Johnson for South Dakota.' Democratic fund-raiser Haroon Khan told this column he plans 13 similar fund-raisers for the absent Johnson between now and March. The senator will not attend any of these events.
"Johnson has not left the George Washington University Hospital in Washington since suffering a brain hemorrhage Dec. 13. No target date has been announced for his return to the Senate, and no indication has been given of whether he will run for a third Senate term in 2008."
Absurd! Send an email to Governor Mike Rounds here and let him know that the best alternative is appointing Tom Daschle.
We live in a democratic-republic, not an aristocracy. That having been said, how absurd is it that Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota, who suffered arteriovenous malformation and is recovering from brain surgery, is still in the Senate. After several mon ths he is still in the hospital and has only begun to read clippings from the newspapers, if even that is true. The man had brain surgury. Shouldn't his number one priority be rehabilitation? And, conversely, Shouldn't the number one priority of North Dakotans be a Senator ready, willing and able to execute the business of their state in the United States Senate?
So why doesn't he just step aside and recover in private? Well, three words: Governor Mike Rounds. Rounds is a Republican who, via the 17th Amendment of the Constitution, can -- and no doubt will -- appoint a Republican replacement, therby shifting the b alance of Power in the Senate into the hands of ... the Republican Party. Amazing, no?
But the voters of South Dakota elected a Democrat! A Democrat! And former Senator Tom Daschle, a Democrat and former Senate Minority leader who was already elected statewide and is probably the most qualified man in the country for the job -- has volunteered his name to finish out his friends job. Let's hope Mike Rounds has an active conscience and an innate sense of decency and does what is right and, above all, Just, for his State and Our Country. Appoint Tom Daschle, Mister Governor! From our favorite Dickensian columnist, Robert Novak:
"Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota was the stand-in Wednesday at a Washington fund-raising luncheon for the hospitalized Sen. Tim Johnson, who is up for re-election in South Dakota next year.
"The $1,000-a-plate luncheon was held at 101 Constitution Ave., a private office building at the foot of Capitol Hill, to contribute to 'Tim Johnson for South Dakota.' Democratic fund-raiser Haroon Khan told this column he plans 13 similar fund-raisers for the absent Johnson between now and March. The senator will not attend any of these events.
"Johnson has not left the George Washington University Hospital in Washington since suffering a brain hemorrhage Dec. 13. No target date has been announced for his return to the Senate, and no indication has been given of whether he will run for a third Senate term in 2008."
Absurd! Send an email to Governor Mike Rounds here and let him know that the best alternative is appointing Tom Daschle.
The Hugh Grant Jinx Strikes!
(image via thatsweird.net)
Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley, the most poisonous Ango-imports since Madonna's fake British accent (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment), strike again, with their jinxes. This item features Hugh Grant (He likes his hookers like he likes his coffee), who, to our knowledge, has only been bad luck to the pictures he is in. Only Jay Leno has ever gotten traction from a Hugh Grant appearance, and that was to uncharacteristically for a brown-noser like Jay, really tear him another ass. From those intrepid Page Sixxies:
"Apparently it wasn't love, actually. Brit actor Hugh Grant is parting ways with his girlfriend Jemima Khan, ending a three-year relationship with the mother of two, his publicist said yesterday. 'Hugh and Jemima have decided to split amicably,' Grant rep Robert Garlock told People magazine, without elaborating on why the notes had turned sour for the star of 'Music and Lyrics' and Khan, the daughter of billionaire businessman Sir James Goldsmith."
Ladies: Hold on to your purses! This man is a world class golddigger. Danger! He will probably strike among the European jet-set as his star has fallen here. Beware to all the ladies with millions within shouting distance of this blog! Hugh Grant is on the prowl; Hugh Grant is on the hoof!
(image via thatsweird.net)
Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley, the most poisonous Ango-imports since Madonna's fake British accent (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment), strike again, with their jinxes. This item features Hugh Grant (He likes his hookers like he likes his coffee), who, to our knowledge, has only been bad luck to the pictures he is in. Only Jay Leno has ever gotten traction from a Hugh Grant appearance, and that was to uncharacteristically for a brown-noser like Jay, really tear him another ass. From those intrepid Page Sixxies:
"Apparently it wasn't love, actually. Brit actor Hugh Grant is parting ways with his girlfriend Jemima Khan, ending a three-year relationship with the mother of two, his publicist said yesterday. 'Hugh and Jemima have decided to split amicably,' Grant rep Robert Garlock told People magazine, without elaborating on why the notes had turned sour for the star of 'Music and Lyrics' and Khan, the daughter of billionaire businessman Sir James Goldsmith."
Ladies: Hold on to your purses! This man is a world class golddigger. Danger! He will probably strike among the European jet-set as his star has fallen here. Beware to all the ladies with millions within shouting distance of this blog! Hugh Grant is on the prowl; Hugh Grant is on the hoof!
Has Britney Hit Rock Bottom Yet?
Must Britney Spears hit rock bottom before someone intervenes and gets her the help she so clearly needs? And is this mythical precinct "rock bottom" a sordid little Ana Nicole Smith scenario? Leaving Britney to discover her own bottom before intervention is sheer Trailer Trash logic. And perhaps therin lies the problem: Britney's life has been Governed by not Providence but Trailer Trash Logic.
This whole debacle presently unfolding reminds us of how much we generally detest the concept of child stars, whether it be Dana Plato, Danny Bonaduce or -- last but not least -- Dakota Fanning. It almost never ends up well. You know the drill. There is almost always a tragedy, a courthouse or descent into porn involved. The wonderful Ron Howard appears to be the spectacular exception to this terrible American narrative. How does one tell someone that they are washed up at 18? How does one tell them that the chauffered life of their childhood are behind them and now they have to work a 9-to-5? Gary Coleman seems to be handling it well, no?
The idea of a child out-earning a parent is simply wrong. This undermines parental authority. The lack of parental authority is the chief characteristic of the underdeveloped child celebrity perona. And child stars frequently are Mommy (and Daddy's) Little Meal Ticket, which is fucked up to begin with. We won't even entertain the idea that the child celebrity is, in some dark way, a vehicle for the parents own frustrated showbiz ambitions. We simply will not go there.
At some point the child, if he or she achieves a measure of show business success, will rebel. Sooner rather than later. Then what authority does the parent have over that child? Little. Especially if the child rebels in Hollywood, that Dark City which feeds off youthful flesh and has need for naught else. These cautionary tales are the very substance of E! True Hollywood Stories.
Britney Spears', granted, is now an adult --!-- mother of two. But her parents ought to have interevened when she had that quickie marriage (also known as "those 55 hours of love.". And, certainly the family ought to have put a goddam stop to her Frederline nups (following the very un-adult "dance offs" against her romantic rivals), which was a simply ridiculous event festooned with trailer trash. As the always smarmy Teddy Casablancas noted, oilily, of the Fixins at the Nups, "... chicken fingers and ribs at the wedding, and they went clubbing afterwards."
Charmed, I'm sure.
And as Britney's psyche slowly and very publicly disintegrates -- hair first -- from "Ah just want to have fun" rah-rah girl into some sort of severe depressive episode, we ask: Where are her family, her friends, and all those former members of her Entourage that have made so much money leeching off of her like the remora that they are?
I'm just saying ...
Must Britney Spears hit rock bottom before someone intervenes and gets her the help she so clearly needs? And is this mythical precinct "rock bottom" a sordid little Ana Nicole Smith scenario? Leaving Britney to discover her own bottom before intervention is sheer Trailer Trash logic. And perhaps therin lies the problem: Britney's life has been Governed by not Providence but Trailer Trash Logic.
This whole debacle presently unfolding reminds us of how much we generally detest the concept of child stars, whether it be Dana Plato, Danny Bonaduce or -- last but not least -- Dakota Fanning. It almost never ends up well. You know the drill. There is almost always a tragedy, a courthouse or descent into porn involved. The wonderful Ron Howard appears to be the spectacular exception to this terrible American narrative. How does one tell someone that they are washed up at 18? How does one tell them that the chauffered life of their childhood are behind them and now they have to work a 9-to-5? Gary Coleman seems to be handling it well, no?
The idea of a child out-earning a parent is simply wrong. This undermines parental authority. The lack of parental authority is the chief characteristic of the underdeveloped child celebrity perona. And child stars frequently are Mommy (and Daddy's) Little Meal Ticket, which is fucked up to begin with. We won't even entertain the idea that the child celebrity is, in some dark way, a vehicle for the parents own frustrated showbiz ambitions. We simply will not go there.
At some point the child, if he or she achieves a measure of show business success, will rebel. Sooner rather than later. Then what authority does the parent have over that child? Little. Especially if the child rebels in Hollywood, that Dark City which feeds off youthful flesh and has need for naught else. These cautionary tales are the very substance of E! True Hollywood Stories.
Britney Spears', granted, is now an adult --!-- mother of two. But her parents ought to have interevened when she had that quickie marriage (also known as "those 55 hours of love.". And, certainly the family ought to have put a goddam stop to her Frederline nups (following the very un-adult "dance offs" against her romantic rivals), which was a simply ridiculous event festooned with trailer trash. As the always smarmy Teddy Casablancas noted, oilily, of the Fixins at the Nups, "... chicken fingers and ribs at the wedding, and they went clubbing afterwards."
Charmed, I'm sure.
And as Britney's psyche slowly and very publicly disintegrates -- hair first -- from "Ah just want to have fun" rah-rah girl into some sort of severe depressive episode, we ask: Where are her family, her friends, and all those former members of her Entourage that have made so much money leeching off of her like the remora that they are?
I'm just saying ...
Last King of Scotland Screened in Uganda
Again, if you are a member of the Academy and read this blog, The Corsair asks you to consider Who was a better actor this year than Forest Whitaker? His portrayal of Idi Amin, the brutal Ugandan dictator who killed members of my family was astonishing. From the NYPost:
"Forest Whitaker said Saturday that his portrayal of Idi Amin in the award-winning movie 'The Last King of Scotland' was made stronger by filming in Uganda, where more than 500,000 people disappeared during the brutal dictator's rule.
"Whitaker, who has been nominated for an Academy Award, returned to the country for the East Africa premiere of the film at a Kampala cineplex on Saturday night. The cast and crew were welcomed by traditional drummers wearing black and white monkey-skin headdresses and members of the country's elite, many dressed in tartan.
"... President Yoweri Museveni attended the premiere Saturday night, along with director Kevin Macdonald and James McCoy, who played the Scottish doctor.
"They walked down a red carpet into a cineplex on the top floor of a shopping mall - a humble opening by Hollywood standards. Bemused shoppers watched the revelry from afar, not certain what was happening because the event was not widely publicized.
"Macdonald told reporters earlier that he originally intended to make the film in South Africa, but changed his mind after visiting Uganda to research the film.
"'We all fell in love with this place and we realized the film would be so much richer if it was made here,' he said."
Again, if you are a member of the Academy and read this blog, The Corsair asks you to consider Who was a better actor this year than Forest Whitaker? His portrayal of Idi Amin, the brutal Ugandan dictator who killed members of my family was astonishing. From the NYPost:
"Forest Whitaker said Saturday that his portrayal of Idi Amin in the award-winning movie 'The Last King of Scotland' was made stronger by filming in Uganda, where more than 500,000 people disappeared during the brutal dictator's rule.
"Whitaker, who has been nominated for an Academy Award, returned to the country for the East Africa premiere of the film at a Kampala cineplex on Saturday night. The cast and crew were welcomed by traditional drummers wearing black and white monkey-skin headdresses and members of the country's elite, many dressed in tartan.
"... President Yoweri Museveni attended the premiere Saturday night, along with director Kevin Macdonald and James McCoy, who played the Scottish doctor.
"They walked down a red carpet into a cineplex on the top floor of a shopping mall - a humble opening by Hollywood standards. Bemused shoppers watched the revelry from afar, not certain what was happening because the event was not widely publicized.
"Macdonald told reporters earlier that he originally intended to make the film in South Africa, but changed his mind after visiting Uganda to research the film.
"'We all fell in love with this place and we realized the film would be so much richer if it was made here,' he said."
Friday, February 16, 2007
Be a Corsair Spyrate!
(image via cindyvallar)
Hello! Uncle Corsair Wants You ... to be a Corsair "Spyrate" (A "Pirate, " "Spy" combo). As you can see, this blog has started to post much more daily than we have been for the past year or so. In addition to more posts, this blog also accepts tips (media, politics, digital business, hollywood), celebrity sightings, media forecasts -- what have you. As you are a diverse group of readers geographically as well as vocationally, feel free to send me anything interesting and we'' have a look-see. The email is, as always, papermag@yahoo.com.
(image via cindyvallar)
Hello! Uncle Corsair Wants You ... to be a Corsair "Spyrate" (A "Pirate, " "Spy" combo). As you can see, this blog has started to post much more daily than we have been for the past year or so. In addition to more posts, this blog also accepts tips (media, politics, digital business, hollywood), celebrity sightings, media forecasts -- what have you. As you are a diverse group of readers geographically as well as vocationally, feel free to send me anything interesting and we'' have a look-see. The email is, as always, papermag@yahoo.com.
Kanye West Shows Up at The Venice Ball in a Mexican Wrestler's Mask
You will kindly remove your mask. Now... ...get undressed. (image via fashionweekdaily)
If you are Kanye West you are in a bind. You are an urban icon, but you get an invite to The Young Friends of Save Venice’s Red & White Masked Ball. How to attend -- you really can't say no to something like that -- and still maintain some street cred. Well, if you're Kanye West you ... put on a Mexican luchadore mask ... W-to-theT-to-the-F?! Says Fashionweekdaily:
“'I left Venice in the care of good hands, don’t you think?' surveyed Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos as she arrived at the Young Friends of Save Venice’s Red & White Masked Ball. As a former co-chair of the much-anticipated annual fête, she relished the results of the hard work of chairperson Adelina Wong Ettelson, who, together with honorary benefit chairman Sarah Siegel-Magness (who sponsored the night along with Related and Prada) and a contingent of lovely co-chairs and vice-chairs—including Olivia Chantecaille, Susan Shin, Alex Lind Rose, Annelise Peterson, and Eva Lorenzotti—helped make Thursday night’s festivities at the Metropolitan Club a smashing success. 'We’ve already raised enough money to restore Doge’s Private Chapel in Venice,' Wong Ettelson proudly announced during dinner, before raffling off a bevy of prizes including a Verdura cuff and a Prada handbag.
"Earlier in the evening, as a parade of red gowns and jeweled masks made its way up the marble steps, a photo frenzy ensued as Kanye West—much to the surprise of most—arrived arm-in-arm with both Siegel-Magness and his fiancée, Alexis Pfeiffer. Turns out the entire troupe had just flown in from Las Vegas, following West’s concert. 'This is a Mexican wrestling mask,' he proudly described of his headpiece. 'I wanted something that just popped.'"
In Carny wrestling slang, "pop" means, "a sudden crowd reaction." Our sudden reaction was, of course, an exaggerated cough followed by feigned detachment.
You will kindly remove your mask. Now... ...get undressed. (image via fashionweekdaily)
If you are Kanye West you are in a bind. You are an urban icon, but you get an invite to The Young Friends of Save Venice’s Red & White Masked Ball. How to attend -- you really can't say no to something like that -- and still maintain some street cred. Well, if you're Kanye West you ... put on a Mexican luchadore mask ... W-to-theT-to-the-F?! Says Fashionweekdaily:
“'I left Venice in the care of good hands, don’t you think?' surveyed Dayssi Olarte de Kanavos as she arrived at the Young Friends of Save Venice’s Red & White Masked Ball. As a former co-chair of the much-anticipated annual fête, she relished the results of the hard work of chairperson Adelina Wong Ettelson, who, together with honorary benefit chairman Sarah Siegel-Magness (who sponsored the night along with Related and Prada) and a contingent of lovely co-chairs and vice-chairs—including Olivia Chantecaille, Susan Shin, Alex Lind Rose, Annelise Peterson, and Eva Lorenzotti—helped make Thursday night’s festivities at the Metropolitan Club a smashing success. 'We’ve already raised enough money to restore Doge’s Private Chapel in Venice,' Wong Ettelson proudly announced during dinner, before raffling off a bevy of prizes including a Verdura cuff and a Prada handbag.
"Earlier in the evening, as a parade of red gowns and jeweled masks made its way up the marble steps, a photo frenzy ensued as Kanye West—much to the surprise of most—arrived arm-in-arm with both Siegel-Magness and his fiancée, Alexis Pfeiffer. Turns out the entire troupe had just flown in from Las Vegas, following West’s concert. 'This is a Mexican wrestling mask,' he proudly described of his headpiece. 'I wanted something that just popped.'"
In Carny wrestling slang, "pop" means, "a sudden crowd reaction." Our sudden reaction was, of course, an exaggerated cough followed by feigned detachment.
How Did Al Gore Get To Be So Cool?
(image via bodogbeat)
How cool is former Vice President and alleged inventor of the internet, Al Gore? Bloomberg notes that he is set to educate about the Planetary Emergency that is Global Warming by holding a concert with, among others, Snoop Dogg and Fall Out Boy, among others (Watch for the clusterfuck of A-List acts soon to follow). Do you remember when Al Gore was referred to, acidly, among The Chattering Classes as "Al Snore" (And did you observe on 60 Minutes Nora Jones disintegrate as Katie Couric meanly asked her about being called "Snora Jones? I'm just saying ..). Gore's comic writers used to struggle to wring out timely references to "Dutch Elm Disease (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned deatchment)." From Bloomberg:
"The group headed by former Vice President Al Gore is planning a single day of concerts on seven continents featuring more than 100 performers, including Bon Jovi, Snoop Dogg and Fall Out Boy, to promote awareness of global warming.
"The 'Live Earth'' shows will take place July 7 in London, Shanghai, Sydney, Johannesburg and locations to be determined in the U.S., Brazil and Japan, Gore and music producer Kevin Wall said today in Los Angeles. Details of a show in Antarctica will be announced next month, Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said.
"The concerts are part of 'Save Our Selves,' a new campaign founded by Wall, the producer behind the 2005 Live 8 concerts that raised money for Africa. General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal Inc. television and movie unit will televise the shows in the U.S. Gore and Wall said they expect 'Live Earth' to be the most viewed event ever, reaching more than 2 billion people through television, radio, the Internet and film.
"... Proceeds from the concerts will go to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a group Gore heads that includes Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Managing Director Theodore Roosevelt IV and Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser to President George H.W. Bush. Tickets will go on sale next month."
Now, Al Gore is a man of Honor, Respect, defended by idealistic Canadian youth, and on the verge of Oscars and -- dare we even think it? -- a Nobel Prize. He cavorts with prestige-factor Republican statesmen like Brent Scowcroft. Whereas Gore was once an Ozymandian stiffie, ambling after the task he was borne to carry out: in the White House for The Gores of Tennessee.
The turning point was, of course, last year's Sundance -- the last cool Sundance before Sundance jumped the Shark -- where his documentary "An inconvenient Truth" was unveiled to the hipsters and the glitterati with tremendous fanfare. From the salmon-colored weekly:
"It’s too much to say that Al Gore has decided to run for President in 2008.
"But it does seem that he wants to preserve the option.
"Certainly, the recent buzz about a possible Gore campaign in 2008 doesn’t seem to be spontaneously generated. According to one influential Democratic insider, close associates of the former Vice President have communicated to him and other prominent fund-raisers who are uncommitted to the other ’08 candidates that Mr. Gore will consider entering the race—if an opening presents itself—in September."
We wrote, roughly one year ago:
"After six years in the political wilderness surviving on a diet of locusts and honey former Vice President Al Gore is, curiously, metamorphosing into the Progressive-visionary alternative to those prevaricating 2008 Centrist candidates (Allen, Richardson, Bayh, Vilsac, Clinton, et al.). We add "curiously" because, well, no one ever mistook the maddeningly cautious Al Gore as anything remotely approaching a visionary; at least not in his previous incarnation as Congressman, then Senator and, ultimately, the Vice President of the United States. After conceding the Presidency in 2000, and refusing to run in 2004 (opting, instead, to appear on SNL -- averted gaze), Gore returned to private life, teaching at Columbia Journalism School and then at Fisk in his native Tennessee; he started Current TV; he gained weight. That was supposed to be the end of the public Al Gore, at least until his epitaph.
"The pendulum swings. Something happened on the way to political obscurity. It smacks of Nixon in '68. Nixon, who had left politics to become a lawyer in Los Angeles made -- unpredictably -- the greatest political comeback in American history, winning the Republican nomination and, ultimately, the Presidency. This, after his infamous, citric 'They wouldn't have Nixon to kick around anymore.' (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment)
"... Gore's then-quixotic backing of Howard Dean in 2004 now seems, in retrospect, an astonishingly bold political maneuver with no negatives. At the time, remember, there was a great questioning as to how he could betray Joe Lieberman like that; now, 4 years later, Lieberman is all but a Republican."
Al Gore, 2008?
(image via bodogbeat)
How cool is former Vice President and alleged inventor of the internet, Al Gore? Bloomberg notes that he is set to educate about the Planetary Emergency that is Global Warming by holding a concert with, among others, Snoop Dogg and Fall Out Boy, among others (Watch for the clusterfuck of A-List acts soon to follow). Do you remember when Al Gore was referred to, acidly, among The Chattering Classes as "Al Snore" (And did you observe on 60 Minutes Nora Jones disintegrate as Katie Couric meanly asked her about being called "Snora Jones? I'm just saying ..). Gore's comic writers used to struggle to wring out timely references to "Dutch Elm Disease (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned deatchment)." From Bloomberg:
"The group headed by former Vice President Al Gore is planning a single day of concerts on seven continents featuring more than 100 performers, including Bon Jovi, Snoop Dogg and Fall Out Boy, to promote awareness of global warming.
"The 'Live Earth'' shows will take place July 7 in London, Shanghai, Sydney, Johannesburg and locations to be determined in the U.S., Brazil and Japan, Gore and music producer Kevin Wall said today in Los Angeles. Details of a show in Antarctica will be announced next month, Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider said.
"The concerts are part of 'Save Our Selves,' a new campaign founded by Wall, the producer behind the 2005 Live 8 concerts that raised money for Africa. General Electric Co.'s NBC Universal Inc. television and movie unit will televise the shows in the U.S. Gore and Wall said they expect 'Live Earth' to be the most viewed event ever, reaching more than 2 billion people through television, radio, the Internet and film.
"... Proceeds from the concerts will go to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a group Gore heads that includes Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. Managing Director Theodore Roosevelt IV and Brent Scowcroft, national security adviser to President George H.W. Bush. Tickets will go on sale next month."
Now, Al Gore is a man of Honor, Respect, defended by idealistic Canadian youth, and on the verge of Oscars and -- dare we even think it? -- a Nobel Prize. He cavorts with prestige-factor Republican statesmen like Brent Scowcroft. Whereas Gore was once an Ozymandian stiffie, ambling after the task he was borne to carry out: in the White House for The Gores of Tennessee.
The turning point was, of course, last year's Sundance -- the last cool Sundance before Sundance jumped the Shark -- where his documentary "An inconvenient Truth" was unveiled to the hipsters and the glitterati with tremendous fanfare. From the salmon-colored weekly:
"It’s too much to say that Al Gore has decided to run for President in 2008.
"But it does seem that he wants to preserve the option.
"Certainly, the recent buzz about a possible Gore campaign in 2008 doesn’t seem to be spontaneously generated. According to one influential Democratic insider, close associates of the former Vice President have communicated to him and other prominent fund-raisers who are uncommitted to the other ’08 candidates that Mr. Gore will consider entering the race—if an opening presents itself—in September."
We wrote, roughly one year ago:
"After six years in the political wilderness surviving on a diet of locusts and honey former Vice President Al Gore is, curiously, metamorphosing into the Progressive-visionary alternative to those prevaricating 2008 Centrist candidates (Allen, Richardson, Bayh, Vilsac, Clinton, et al.). We add "curiously" because, well, no one ever mistook the maddeningly cautious Al Gore as anything remotely approaching a visionary; at least not in his previous incarnation as Congressman, then Senator and, ultimately, the Vice President of the United States. After conceding the Presidency in 2000, and refusing to run in 2004 (opting, instead, to appear on SNL -- averted gaze), Gore returned to private life, teaching at Columbia Journalism School and then at Fisk in his native Tennessee; he started Current TV; he gained weight. That was supposed to be the end of the public Al Gore, at least until his epitaph.
"The pendulum swings. Something happened on the way to political obscurity. It smacks of Nixon in '68. Nixon, who had left politics to become a lawyer in Los Angeles made -- unpredictably -- the greatest political comeback in American history, winning the Republican nomination and, ultimately, the Presidency. This, after his infamous, citric 'They wouldn't have Nixon to kick around anymore.' (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment)
"... Gore's then-quixotic backing of Howard Dean in 2004 now seems, in retrospect, an astonishingly bold political maneuver with no negatives. At the time, remember, there was a great questioning as to how he could betray Joe Lieberman like that; now, 4 years later, Lieberman is all but a Republican."
Al Gore, 2008?
Note to Larry King: Shut The Fuck Up
(image via nndb)
As an African-American The Corsair is acutely aware of the fact that, ehr, some people like to, uh, "conversate (festina lente)," in the theater, as the movie is going on. Unless one is sitiuated at the Magic Johnson Theater on 125th Street or a similar venue, where everybody is on the same page, talking while watching is generally frowned upon behavior. Generally. But not if you are Larry King, the Teflon Don. As if it isn't bad enough that we have to endure King's endless conversational softballs (Think about what his trophy wife has to do with those King-ly "softballs;" Eew), the wheezy laugh, the Pumpkin head, the smarmy history of cons, and, finally, the dark knowledge that King *allegedly* wears absorbent adult undergarments, now this. From Popwatch:
"Universal Pictures held a critics' screening of the new Ryan Phillippe-Chris Cooper FBI-espionage thriller Breach last Friday morning, and I attended. I sat right there in the front row of the tiny private screening room, and old Lar happened to be perched in the row behind me. Shortly after the movie started, however, Lar started getting calls on his cell phone. Polite guy that he is, he had the thing set on vibrate. Less-than-polite guy that he is, he kept getting in and out of his seat to take the calls. (Gotta love how you could see his perfectly-coiffed profile move along the screen in silhouette each time he went back and forth.) Even-lesser-than-polite guy that he is, he gave up on exiting the auditorium after a while and just had his conversations while sitting in his seat. Right there. While the big Hollywood film was playing and others were trying to watch."
What we want to know is how someone who is such a Movie Quote Whore could spend so much time on the phone during a film? Is King just ... phoning it in?
(image via nndb)
As an African-American The Corsair is acutely aware of the fact that, ehr, some people like to, uh, "conversate (festina lente)," in the theater, as the movie is going on. Unless one is sitiuated at the Magic Johnson Theater on 125th Street or a similar venue, where everybody is on the same page, talking while watching is generally frowned upon behavior. Generally. But not if you are Larry King, the Teflon Don. As if it isn't bad enough that we have to endure King's endless conversational softballs (Think about what his trophy wife has to do with those King-ly "softballs;" Eew), the wheezy laugh, the Pumpkin head, the smarmy history of cons, and, finally, the dark knowledge that King *allegedly* wears absorbent adult undergarments, now this. From Popwatch:
"Universal Pictures held a critics' screening of the new Ryan Phillippe-Chris Cooper FBI-espionage thriller Breach last Friday morning, and I attended. I sat right there in the front row of the tiny private screening room, and old Lar happened to be perched in the row behind me. Shortly after the movie started, however, Lar started getting calls on his cell phone. Polite guy that he is, he had the thing set on vibrate. Less-than-polite guy that he is, he kept getting in and out of his seat to take the calls. (Gotta love how you could see his perfectly-coiffed profile move along the screen in silhouette each time he went back and forth.) Even-lesser-than-polite guy that he is, he gave up on exiting the auditorium after a while and just had his conversations while sitting in his seat. Right there. While the big Hollywood film was playing and others were trying to watch."
What we want to know is how someone who is such a Movie Quote Whore could spend so much time on the phone during a film? Is King just ... phoning it in?
The Decline of The West
(image via wikimedia)
Oswald Spengler's deeply melancholy tome Decline of the West was largely correct and chock full of compound German words that describe societal disintegration. So prescient, he; so pessimistic, us. The evidences of Spenglerian decline are everywhere. Do you think George Kennan fought the Cold War armed with New England gumption and steel in his sphincter so that people could gorge themselves on haggis? Do you think such decadence is a symptom of the progress of Imperial Decline (Averted Gaze; Dismissive wave)? We're thinking of Rome, the Empire (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment), not the oh-so-saucy HBO series. Whatever the case, we are one short step away -- as a people -- from televised gladiatorial deathmatches (Oh yeah, that's already on Spike TV; our bad). From those intrepid Page Sixxies:
"SPIKE TV is the new home of competitive eating. The male-targeted cable network, known for its Ultimate Fighting broadcasts, has inked a deal with Shea Baer Productions to air quarterly one-hour Major League Eating specials starting March 17. The barf-inducing spectacles of men and women stuffing various foods down their throats will be hosted by George and Richard Shea, the public relations brothers who turned the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest into an international phenomenon. The specials will feature Japan's Takeru Kobayashi and noted East Village gurgitators Crazy Legs Conti and Eater X."
Good to know that as people starve in Haiti, the poorest country on the continent, "Crazy Legs" Conti can stuff beyond his fill of Rocky Mountain Oysters down his gullet to the mindless cheers of The Bubbas (Averted Gaze).
(image via wikimedia)
Oswald Spengler's deeply melancholy tome Decline of the West was largely correct and chock full of compound German words that describe societal disintegration. So prescient, he; so pessimistic, us. The evidences of Spenglerian decline are everywhere. Do you think George Kennan fought the Cold War armed with New England gumption and steel in his sphincter so that people could gorge themselves on haggis? Do you think such decadence is a symptom of the progress of Imperial Decline (Averted Gaze; Dismissive wave)? We're thinking of Rome, the Empire (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment), not the oh-so-saucy HBO series. Whatever the case, we are one short step away -- as a people -- from televised gladiatorial deathmatches (Oh yeah, that's already on Spike TV; our bad). From those intrepid Page Sixxies:
"SPIKE TV is the new home of competitive eating. The male-targeted cable network, known for its Ultimate Fighting broadcasts, has inked a deal with Shea Baer Productions to air quarterly one-hour Major League Eating specials starting March 17. The barf-inducing spectacles of men and women stuffing various foods down their throats will be hosted by George and Richard Shea, the public relations brothers who turned the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest into an international phenomenon. The specials will feature Japan's Takeru Kobayashi and noted East Village gurgitators Crazy Legs Conti and Eater X."
Good to know that as people starve in Haiti, the poorest country on the continent, "Crazy Legs" Conti can stuff beyond his fill of Rocky Mountain Oysters down his gullet to the mindless cheers of The Bubbas (Averted Gaze).
Vincent Price's Final Resting Place: Next to Robin Quivers' Cat
"The foulest stench is in the air, the funk of 40000 years, and grizzly ghouls from every tomb, are closing in to seal your doom."
(image via vincent-price.com)
Legendary award-winning actor Vincent Price, who thrilled us in Thriller, fascinated us in The Fall of the House of Usher, has found his final resting place on the mantle next to Howard Stern Show co-host Robin Quivers' cat (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). It's just wrong, people. And we have Joan Rivers to thank for it. Who, in their right minds, would entrust their earthly remains to a vapid materialist like Rivers anyway? (Sotto voce) An accomplished Master of Horror, my friends; an accomplished Master of Horror. From Marksfriggin:
"After the break Howard had Joan Rivers come in. She's there to promote the red carpet coverage she'll be doing for the TV Guide Channel. Joan came in with some of Vincent Price's ashes for Robin. Robin had asked for them the last time she was on the show so Joan brought them in for her. Howard said that's really sick but then asked her for some of Anna Nicole Smith's if she gets a hold of those. Joan said that she has ashes of some friends and her dog too. She mentioned that the last time she was on the show when Robin asked for some of Vincent Price's.
"Howard said he got a lot of e-mail after Joan talked about the ashes the last time. She said she likes being able to look at her pets when she wants to. she keeps them all in a Louis Vatton bag in her closet. She said it's comforting to her and she knows it's stupid. She said it is good luck though. Robin said she's going to put her Vincent Price ashes near her cat's ashes in her house. Howard said he finds all of this very unsettling."
Or, to paraphrase Vincent, "Darkness falls across the land, The midnight hour is close at hand, Creatures crawl in search of blood, To terrorize y'owls neighborhood."
*The Corsair shudders*
"The foulest stench is in the air, the funk of 40000 years, and grizzly ghouls from every tomb, are closing in to seal your doom."
(image via vincent-price.com)
Legendary award-winning actor Vincent Price, who thrilled us in Thriller, fascinated us in The Fall of the House of Usher, has found his final resting place on the mantle next to Howard Stern Show co-host Robin Quivers' cat (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). It's just wrong, people. And we have Joan Rivers to thank for it. Who, in their right minds, would entrust their earthly remains to a vapid materialist like Rivers anyway? (Sotto voce) An accomplished Master of Horror, my friends; an accomplished Master of Horror. From Marksfriggin:
"After the break Howard had Joan Rivers come in. She's there to promote the red carpet coverage she'll be doing for the TV Guide Channel. Joan came in with some of Vincent Price's ashes for Robin. Robin had asked for them the last time she was on the show so Joan brought them in for her. Howard said that's really sick but then asked her for some of Anna Nicole Smith's if she gets a hold of those. Joan said that she has ashes of some friends and her dog too. She mentioned that the last time she was on the show when Robin asked for some of Vincent Price's.
"Howard said he got a lot of e-mail after Joan talked about the ashes the last time. She said she likes being able to look at her pets when she wants to. she keeps them all in a Louis Vatton bag in her closet. She said it's comforting to her and she knows it's stupid. She said it is good luck though. Robin said she's going to put her Vincent Price ashes near her cat's ashes in her house. Howard said he finds all of this very unsettling."
Or, to paraphrase Vincent, "Darkness falls across the land, The midnight hour is close at hand, Creatures crawl in search of blood, To terrorize y'owls neighborhood."
*The Corsair shudders*
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Glenda Bailey Lands Allegra Beck interview
Glenda Bailey, who is sort of the neglected red-headed stepchild among the more glam Fashion Editrixes, landed a coup: She landed the vaunted first American interview with Allegra Beck (Allegra: Call me?). Who knew Glenda had that kind of stroke? From Fashionweekdaily:
"With one highly praised collection after another, not to mention a recent Rodeo Drive Walk of Style award celebration that drew nearly every VIP in Los Angeles, Donatella Versace is certainly riding high in fashion circles as of late. But it was Glenda Bailey who got the scoop, landing Versace’s first one-on-one interview with her media-shy daughter, Allegra Beck, for the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar, on newsstands February 20. 'We’d never seen an interview with them together in America, and for Allegra to do an interview about her position in the company, about her mom, and for her mom to talk about their relationship, you really feel the rapport between them,' Bailey said from the front row at Donna Karan during New York’s Fashion Week.
"... The younger Versace, as reported, is spending a semester at UCLA, where she is studying acting, French, and art history. 'I’ve met Allegra a few times,' Bailey continued. “When Gianni [Versace] was alive he used to have these dinners in his apartment after the show and they were real family affairs.'
"But while the 20-year-old doesn’t divulge how she intends to run the fashion empire of which she now controls a majority share, she does offer a down-to-earth—and only in the Versace world—anecdote on her mother. 'I have to see movies first to scout them for her,' she says in the piece. “She hates to sit still for two hours without smoking.'"
Who is Allegra Beck? . From The Gray Lady way back in 2004:
"... on her 18th birthday, Allegra Beck will come into control of her 50 percent of the privately held Versace firm; her mother owns 20 percent and Santo, 30 percent. The family's holdings include the fashion business, which had sales last year of $486 million, as well as a villa on Lake Como and a town house in New York. The family has sold the Miami Beach house.
"Though her name is as prominent as a Hilton, Ms. Beck isn't a typical heiress. This is in part because of what she has endured and in part because her father, Paul Beck, and her mother, who are separated, have shielded her from the news media. She attends a private school in Milan and is often present at her mother's runway shows. But, while Ms. Beck will soon be free to exert control over one of the most famous labels in fashion, she plans to enroll this fall in an American university to study drama and business."
For more NEW posts on Allegra and more daily check here.
Glenda Bailey, who is sort of the neglected red-headed stepchild among the more glam Fashion Editrixes, landed a coup: She landed the vaunted first American interview with Allegra Beck (Allegra: Call me?). Who knew Glenda had that kind of stroke? From Fashionweekdaily:
"With one highly praised collection after another, not to mention a recent Rodeo Drive Walk of Style award celebration that drew nearly every VIP in Los Angeles, Donatella Versace is certainly riding high in fashion circles as of late. But it was Glenda Bailey who got the scoop, landing Versace’s first one-on-one interview with her media-shy daughter, Allegra Beck, for the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar, on newsstands February 20. 'We’d never seen an interview with them together in America, and for Allegra to do an interview about her position in the company, about her mom, and for her mom to talk about their relationship, you really feel the rapport between them,' Bailey said from the front row at Donna Karan during New York’s Fashion Week.
"... The younger Versace, as reported, is spending a semester at UCLA, where she is studying acting, French, and art history. 'I’ve met Allegra a few times,' Bailey continued. “When Gianni [Versace] was alive he used to have these dinners in his apartment after the show and they were real family affairs.'
"But while the 20-year-old doesn’t divulge how she intends to run the fashion empire of which she now controls a majority share, she does offer a down-to-earth—and only in the Versace world—anecdote on her mother. 'I have to see movies first to scout them for her,' she says in the piece. “She hates to sit still for two hours without smoking.'"
Who is Allegra Beck? . From The Gray Lady way back in 2004:
"... on her 18th birthday, Allegra Beck will come into control of her 50 percent of the privately held Versace firm; her mother owns 20 percent and Santo, 30 percent. The family's holdings include the fashion business, which had sales last year of $486 million, as well as a villa on Lake Como and a town house in New York. The family has sold the Miami Beach house.
"Though her name is as prominent as a Hilton, Ms. Beck isn't a typical heiress. This is in part because of what she has endured and in part because her father, Paul Beck, and her mother, who are separated, have shielded her from the news media. She attends a private school in Milan and is often present at her mother's runway shows. But, while Ms. Beck will soon be free to exert control over one of the most famous labels in fashion, she plans to enroll this fall in an American university to study drama and business."
For more NEW posts on Allegra and more daily check here.
Coming Soon: The Milli Vanilli Biopic
(image via destructoid)
(Don Lafontaine voice-over) In a world ... where "authenticity" two unnaturally pretty German-accented black men with nimble feet on the dance floor win a Grammy ... Then have it brutally revoked for lip synching ... but -- in this tale of Redemption -- they ultimately find their voice. " Hmm. Would that trailer hype get your ass in the seat at a movie theater? Remember, tickets are $11 now. From Michelle Kung of Popwatch:
"What have Jamie Foxx and Joaquin Phoenix wrought? Now that Hollywood sees music biopics as gateways to critical acclaim and Oscars, any singer is game — even ones that never really did their own singing. According to Variety, Universal Pictures is developing a biopic about Milli Vanilli, the vocal duo that infamously had to give up their 1990 Grammy for Best New Artist after it was discovered they lip-synched their way through catchy hits like 'Blame It On the Rain' and 'Girl You Know It's True.' And it definitely sounds like a wannabe prestige project: screenwriter Jeff Nathanson, who first explored the world of cons and chicanery in the Leo DiCaprio/Steven Spielberg vehicle Catch Me If You Can, is set to write, and has secured the help of alumnus Fabrice Morvan (partner Rob Pilatus OD'd in 1998)."
Okay, castwise The Corsair is thinking Pharrell Williams and Chamillionaire. (And, yeah: We just wanted to say "Chamillionair")
(image via destructoid)
(Don Lafontaine voice-over) In a world ... where "authenticity" two unnaturally pretty German-accented black men with nimble feet on the dance floor win a Grammy ... Then have it brutally revoked for lip synching ... but -- in this tale of Redemption -- they ultimately find their voice. " Hmm. Would that trailer hype get your ass in the seat at a movie theater? Remember, tickets are $11 now. From Michelle Kung of Popwatch:
"What have Jamie Foxx and Joaquin Phoenix wrought? Now that Hollywood sees music biopics as gateways to critical acclaim and Oscars, any singer is game — even ones that never really did their own singing. According to Variety, Universal Pictures is developing a biopic about Milli Vanilli, the vocal duo that infamously had to give up their 1990 Grammy for Best New Artist after it was discovered they lip-synched their way through catchy hits like 'Blame It On the Rain' and 'Girl You Know It's True.' And it definitely sounds like a wannabe prestige project: screenwriter Jeff Nathanson, who first explored the world of cons and chicanery in the Leo DiCaprio/Steven Spielberg vehicle Catch Me If You Can, is set to write, and has secured the help of alumnus Fabrice Morvan (partner Rob Pilatus OD'd in 1998)."
Okay, castwise The Corsair is thinking Pharrell Williams and Chamillionaire. (And, yeah: We just wanted to say "Chamillionair")
MTV Cuts MTV World Slate (What About Vanessa Minnillo?)
(image via brandnoise)
Page Six reports that Vanessa Minnillo is "ankling." And MTV World's slate of channbels for Asian-American teens isn't doing so hot either. From Multichannel (link via Paidcontent):
"MTV Networks’ week of job cuts continued Wednesday and included the imminent shutdown of the MTV World three-channel digital suite.
"People at the Viacom-owned programming stable said the cuts -- of an estimated 250 jobs all told -- and the nature of their being staggered over several days has made it challenging to get work done at the company’s Times Square headquarters. But announcements of some hires and promotions are expected to come later, softening the blow a bit.
"... Several high-titled executives saw their departures reported on Jossip, including executive VP of programming Paul DeBenedittis and senior VP of production Salli Frattini. Kathy Flynn, the senior VP who handled event productions, was also let go, Jossip reported and people close to the process confirmed.
"The fate of MTV2 general manager David Cohn remained unclear -- people at the company said he was considering the offer of another position -- but staff cuts were deep at MTV2 and at VH1 Classic, whose general manager, Eric Sherman, was caught up in the cuts.
"Those channels and mtvU, the nascent college-campus programming service, are said to be safe.
"Not so MTV World, which has three channels (MTV Desi, MTV Chi and MTV K) targeted toward young Asian Americans and carried on DirecTV."
(image via brandnoise)
Page Six reports that Vanessa Minnillo is "ankling." And MTV World's slate of channbels for Asian-American teens isn't doing so hot either. From Multichannel (link via Paidcontent):
"MTV Networks’ week of job cuts continued Wednesday and included the imminent shutdown of the MTV World three-channel digital suite.
"People at the Viacom-owned programming stable said the cuts -- of an estimated 250 jobs all told -- and the nature of their being staggered over several days has made it challenging to get work done at the company’s Times Square headquarters. But announcements of some hires and promotions are expected to come later, softening the blow a bit.
"... Several high-titled executives saw their departures reported on Jossip, including executive VP of programming Paul DeBenedittis and senior VP of production Salli Frattini. Kathy Flynn, the senior VP who handled event productions, was also let go, Jossip reported and people close to the process confirmed.
"The fate of MTV2 general manager David Cohn remained unclear -- people at the company said he was considering the offer of another position -- but staff cuts were deep at MTV2 and at VH1 Classic, whose general manager, Eric Sherman, was caught up in the cuts.
"Those channels and mtvU, the nascent college-campus programming service, are said to be safe.
"Not so MTV World, which has three channels (MTV Desi, MTV Chi and MTV K) targeted toward young Asian Americans and carried on DirecTV."
When Maria Bartiromo Ran Wit De 7th Avenue Boyz
(image via do-not-sleep)
Hey! Yo! Maria Bartiromo, she's a classy chick, Fuggedabouddit ( She don' take no guff. The Corsair dunks a biscotti in cappuccino)! Hey! Yo! According to those intrepid Page Sixxies:
"YEARS before she transformed herself into CNBC's 'Money Honey' and got caught up in the recent Citigroup jet-travel mess, Maria Bartiromo was a big-haired, boy-teasing, high-school honey who cheated on her squeeze and nearly caused a Brooklyn gang rumble.
"'Maria and I grew up in Dyker Heights. She was the girlfriend of Joey Maria, who ran with the 13th Avenue Boys, a group of toughs that hung on the corner of 13th and 78th,' a longtime Page Six source said.
"'Joey was a handsome, wiry thing, a very cool kid. Maria [a student at the Catholic all-girl Fontbonne Hall Academy on Shore Road] was a gorgeous thingy whose eyes melted all the guys' hearts.'
"Our source, a member of the rival '7th Avenue Boys,' said: 'Maria was always there on Joey's arm, all Jordache'd up in heels. She had a great bum, too, but even though she dressed like a hot chick . . . inside she was a real down-to-earth, intelligent sweetheart.'"
We'd seriosuly like to finish the story, we really would, but all of a sudden we are filled such the aching urge to sport a gelled-out ponytail, and to purchase beaucoup religious medals to go with our acid washed jeans and our souped up Camaro Iroc Z (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). So, Wanna go to Webster Hall this weekend, honey?
The full story here.
(image via do-not-sleep)
Hey! Yo! Maria Bartiromo, she's a classy chick, Fuggedabouddit ( She don' take no guff. The Corsair dunks a biscotti in cappuccino)! Hey! Yo! According to those intrepid Page Sixxies:
"YEARS before she transformed herself into CNBC's 'Money Honey' and got caught up in the recent Citigroup jet-travel mess, Maria Bartiromo was a big-haired, boy-teasing, high-school honey who cheated on her squeeze and nearly caused a Brooklyn gang rumble.
"'Maria and I grew up in Dyker Heights. She was the girlfriend of Joey Maria, who ran with the 13th Avenue Boys, a group of toughs that hung on the corner of 13th and 78th,' a longtime Page Six source said.
"'Joey was a handsome, wiry thing, a very cool kid. Maria [a student at the Catholic all-girl Fontbonne Hall Academy on Shore Road] was a gorgeous thingy whose eyes melted all the guys' hearts.'
"Our source, a member of the rival '7th Avenue Boys,' said: 'Maria was always there on Joey's arm, all Jordache'd up in heels. She had a great bum, too, but even though she dressed like a hot chick . . . inside she was a real down-to-earth, intelligent sweetheart.'"
We'd seriosuly like to finish the story, we really would, but all of a sudden we are filled such the aching urge to sport a gelled-out ponytail, and to purchase beaucoup religious medals to go with our acid washed jeans and our souped up Camaro Iroc Z (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment). So, Wanna go to Webster Hall this weekend, honey?
The full story here.
Lunch at Michael's
Fellow Michaelologist and, in his downtime, our favorite social chronicler David Patrick Columbia writes in NYSocialDiary:
"It was Wednesday at Michael’s, the day that seems to attract a larger number of doers and shakers in the corporate media world. Special Guests at the corner table in a party of six or eight hosted by Sherrie Westin were the Mayor and his constant companion Diana Taylor. They were celebrating birthdays (both are born under the sign of Aquarius). Today’s party evidently was a surprise for one or both.
"Also on the drumroll: Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Editor of the Financial Times, what I would call the 'distinguished' and excellent FT. Other tables: Gerry Byrne, Marilyn Cohen of JP Morgan, Vartan Gregorian with Charlie Rose; music impresario Charles Koppelman; Jared Kushner the new owner of the newly designed (now a tabloid) New York Observer with his editor Peter Kaplan."
Sure, Kaplan's no Deniro, But have you seen Deniro's latest performances? Shtinky! Phew! More DPC:
"If you’re already an Observer reader you’ll probably like the new format: easier to hold and read and move through. Like an uptown, hipper Village Voice (Michael Musto notwithstanding, of course). Mr. Kushner is much talked about because of this enterprise. He is 25 and spent several million of his 'own money' for the paper. Watching is what they’re doing. New York is the sort of place where surprises, one way or the other are always available.
"Also at table: ... David Hirshey, Eric Konigsberg of the New York Times; Terry Allen Kramer who was supposed to have lunch with Beth Ostrosky but all that changed when Beth got engaged today to Howard Stern. And more: Esther Newberg the ICM literary agent ... George Rush and Joanna Malloy, Marc Victor of the Today Show, Jonathan Tisch, .... and a cast of thousands."
For a fuller accounting of the talent in the room, see NYSocialDiary.
Fellow Michaelologist and, in his downtime, our favorite social chronicler David Patrick Columbia writes in NYSocialDiary:
"It was Wednesday at Michael’s, the day that seems to attract a larger number of doers and shakers in the corporate media world. Special Guests at the corner table in a party of six or eight hosted by Sherrie Westin were the Mayor and his constant companion Diana Taylor. They were celebrating birthdays (both are born under the sign of Aquarius). Today’s party evidently was a surprise for one or both.
"Also on the drumroll: Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Editor of the Financial Times, what I would call the 'distinguished' and excellent FT. Other tables: Gerry Byrne, Marilyn Cohen of JP Morgan, Vartan Gregorian with Charlie Rose; music impresario Charles Koppelman; Jared Kushner the new owner of the newly designed (now a tabloid) New York Observer with his editor Peter Kaplan."
Sure, Kaplan's no Deniro, But have you seen Deniro's latest performances? Shtinky! Phew! More DPC:
"If you’re already an Observer reader you’ll probably like the new format: easier to hold and read and move through. Like an uptown, hipper Village Voice (Michael Musto notwithstanding, of course). Mr. Kushner is much talked about because of this enterprise. He is 25 and spent several million of his 'own money' for the paper. Watching is what they’re doing. New York is the sort of place where surprises, one way or the other are always available.
"Also at table: ... David Hirshey, Eric Konigsberg of the New York Times; Terry Allen Kramer who was supposed to have lunch with Beth Ostrosky but all that changed when Beth got engaged today to Howard Stern. And more: Esther Newberg the ICM literary agent ... George Rush and Joanna Malloy, Marc Victor of the Today Show, Jonathan Tisch, .... and a cast of thousands."
For a fuller accounting of the talent in the room, see NYSocialDiary.
The Corsair Interview: "Monk" Executive Producer Tom Scharpling
(image via usanetwork)
One of the five best shows on television is USA Television's "Monk." It is not an easy show to define if you are one of the uninitiated. "Monk" is, by turns, a laugh out loud funny comedy, and, oftentimes in the very same episode a heartbreaking drama about a former police detective trying to get over the loss of his wife. The Corsair emailed "Monk" Executive Producer Tom Scharpling, who also hosts "The Best Show," with some questions:
"The Corsair: How sick are you of the 'So ... What does a Co-Executive Producer do?' Question?
"Tom Scharpling: I'm actually Executive Producer this year! What does that mean? Not a whole lot, other than I guess I can boss people around? I'll have to try that out. The real answer is that a writer who sticks around becomes a producer. Although I do handle a fair amount of nuts and bolts non-writing responsibilities on Monk. I would prefer some sort of writer-based title, like Super Writer or something like that.
"The Corsair: Did Conan's team actually beat the Monk team, or is that an Urban legend?
"Tom Scharpling: They did beat us, but we had the worst first inning of any team ever in any baseball game ever. We settled down from that point and the game was semi-competitive. True fact: the Monk softball team was at the field waiting to play The Daily Show, but those stiffs never showed up. Thankfully the Conan peoples were at the field looking to practice. They saw us and put together a team. One thing I will say is that the Monk squad was comprised of people from the writing office, while the Conan team had guys who lug cables and hook up lighting rigs. That said, both myself and Dan Dratch delivered mightily, and we will be a force in the upcoming year - if any show dares to play us! PS - if Dateline NBC steps up to the challenge, I would prefer that they not field rapists and child molesters."
The next question needs some preambling. During the summer, on Tom's WFMU radio show he spent several minutes on-air trying to get a PC Richards representative to play their theme song on the phones. It is a jazzy little number that expands on the tv theme in innovative musical ways. As Tom was being shuttered through the corporate process one operator actually said something alonmg the lines of "Is this Tom Scharpling from WFMU?" I guess you had to be there. it was pretty funny that this vast corporate enterprise would be listening to Tom's subversive show. And so, The Corsair asked:
"The Corsair: Is the PC Richards song on the radio the best song ever? And, How cool was it that the lady recognized you?
"Tom Scharpling: That was wild. I still can't figure out how she knew it was me calling. Who tipped her off?
"The Corsair: Any especially strange moments that have come from the radio show?
"Tom Scharpling: Yes. I'm generally scared for my life at some point during the show, and I'm not talking about the funny business that me and Jon Wurster do. I am not kidding when I say I will die by the hand of a listener.
"The Corsair: How important to Monk's success do you think it was that most of the writers had never done tv before?
"Tom Scharpling: I think it's a big part of the success. We've all seen enough TV to know how what we wanted in a series but weren't all burnt out after a career of barfing out mystery comedy shows. When the show started out, it was me and Monk creator Andy Breckman in a 10 x 10 rental office, asking ourselves 'how many acts are in an hour-long show anyway?' We've made moves and choices that other mystery shows wouldn't, kinda just because we have been doing what makes us laugh. Woe is the show that hires me after Monk ends - they will be getting one very hacky burnt out writer with moves can be pre-figured by a nine year-old."
Monk can be seen on USA Television Friday nights at 9pm/8c
Tom Scharpling's "Best of Tom" Show can be heard on 91.1 WFMU on Tuesdays 8-11pm (Archives here)
(image via usanetwork)
One of the five best shows on television is USA Television's "Monk." It is not an easy show to define if you are one of the uninitiated. "Monk" is, by turns, a laugh out loud funny comedy, and, oftentimes in the very same episode a heartbreaking drama about a former police detective trying to get over the loss of his wife. The Corsair emailed "Monk" Executive Producer Tom Scharpling, who also hosts "The Best Show," with some questions:
"The Corsair: How sick are you of the 'So ... What does a Co-Executive Producer do?' Question?
"Tom Scharpling: I'm actually Executive Producer this year! What does that mean? Not a whole lot, other than I guess I can boss people around? I'll have to try that out. The real answer is that a writer who sticks around becomes a producer. Although I do handle a fair amount of nuts and bolts non-writing responsibilities on Monk. I would prefer some sort of writer-based title, like Super Writer or something like that.
"The Corsair: Did Conan's team actually beat the Monk team, or is that an Urban legend?
"Tom Scharpling: They did beat us, but we had the worst first inning of any team ever in any baseball game ever. We settled down from that point and the game was semi-competitive. True fact: the Monk softball team was at the field waiting to play The Daily Show, but those stiffs never showed up. Thankfully the Conan peoples were at the field looking to practice. They saw us and put together a team. One thing I will say is that the Monk squad was comprised of people from the writing office, while the Conan team had guys who lug cables and hook up lighting rigs. That said, both myself and Dan Dratch delivered mightily, and we will be a force in the upcoming year - if any show dares to play us! PS - if Dateline NBC steps up to the challenge, I would prefer that they not field rapists and child molesters."
The next question needs some preambling. During the summer, on Tom's WFMU radio show he spent several minutes on-air trying to get a PC Richards representative to play their theme song on the phones. It is a jazzy little number that expands on the tv theme in innovative musical ways. As Tom was being shuttered through the corporate process one operator actually said something alonmg the lines of "Is this Tom Scharpling from WFMU?" I guess you had to be there. it was pretty funny that this vast corporate enterprise would be listening to Tom's subversive show. And so, The Corsair asked:
"The Corsair: Is the PC Richards song on the radio the best song ever? And, How cool was it that the lady recognized you?
"Tom Scharpling: That was wild. I still can't figure out how she knew it was me calling. Who tipped her off?
"The Corsair: Any especially strange moments that have come from the radio show?
"Tom Scharpling: Yes. I'm generally scared for my life at some point during the show, and I'm not talking about the funny business that me and Jon Wurster do. I am not kidding when I say I will die by the hand of a listener.
"The Corsair: How important to Monk's success do you think it was that most of the writers had never done tv before?
"Tom Scharpling: I think it's a big part of the success. We've all seen enough TV to know how what we wanted in a series but weren't all burnt out after a career of barfing out mystery comedy shows. When the show started out, it was me and Monk creator Andy Breckman in a 10 x 10 rental office, asking ourselves 'how many acts are in an hour-long show anyway?' We've made moves and choices that other mystery shows wouldn't, kinda just because we have been doing what makes us laugh. Woe is the show that hires me after Monk ends - they will be getting one very hacky burnt out writer with moves can be pre-figured by a nine year-old."
Monk can be seen on USA Television Friday nights at 9pm/8c
Tom Scharpling's "Best of Tom" Show can be heard on 91.1 WFMU on Tuesdays 8-11pm (Archives here)
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Howard Stern Gets Engaged to Beth Ostrosky!
(image via thebosh)
Who would have thought that in the end 53-year old Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed "King of all Media," was, in essence, a monogamist with a soft, romantic streak? Howard Stern spent almost as much time railing against marriage as Bill Maher (And we cannot wait to see what Maher says about it when his show's next season starts on Friday) Howard waited for Valentine's Day to reveal his new staus with longtime girlfriend Beth Ostrosky (Who is, we cannot fail to note 19-years his junior). From Marksfriggin:
"Howard said that their life is great together and he wasn't looking for a change but there are some people who treat her like she's his 'floozy' or something like that. He said he kind of sees what goes on with certain people so this might help.
"Dominic Barbara called in and said that he wishes him luck. Howard thought he was laughing at him because that's what it said on the computer screen. Dominic congratulated him on the engagement. Howard said that he's thinking of taking on Beth's last name because of the confusion with Howard K. Stern's name. Artie said that some people will get the story wrong and say that Howard K. Stern just got engaged.
"Howard took a call from a guy who did laugh at Howard for getting engaged. He goofed on Howard about the whole thing. Howard went on to say that the whole thing was very romantic but Beth didn't break into tears or anything. That kind of thing has been over for years.
"Howard took another call from Wolfie who said that he remembers back to 1999 when he said he would never get married again. He said it didn't take him long to change. Howard said it's been 8 years so it's been quite a while. Robin said that this has been going on for a couple of years now, it's not like it just happened.
"Artie asked if he had a pre-nup in the works yet. Howard said they haven't gotten that far, but he will have one. Ronnie came in and offered to do the bachelor party for him. Howard said Ross already asked him when that's going to happen. He's still in shock over the whole thing"
Will this affect the raunch-factor Sirius listeners have come to love? More:
"Robin pointed out that Howard didn't feel up that chick who was in the studio yesterday. Howard said it would have been a bad idea to do that on the same day he was asking Beth to marry him. The guys were also talking about Beth getting pregnant and having a baby. Howard said that's just not going to happen but the guys said they can picture him walking the baby down the street in a stroller. Howard said that stuff looks like complete torture to him and he can't imagine going through that. He said he's happy for his friends who have kids but he can't go through that again.
"Howard said he called Beth's parents last night to let them know what was going on. He joked that he told High Pitch Eric too. Gary said that Beth told him at one point that she was going to be ''Mrs. Stern.' Robin couldn't believe that she missed the call about this yesterday. Howard said he tried calling her twice yesterday and he never got through."
The Corsair, of course, congratulates Howard and wishes him a happy and healthy marriage. This might explain why Howard has hinted that after his 5 years are up he may not renew, and just retire. It all becomes clearer now that that retirement will not be alone.
(image via thebosh)
Who would have thought that in the end 53-year old Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed "King of all Media," was, in essence, a monogamist with a soft, romantic streak? Howard Stern spent almost as much time railing against marriage as Bill Maher (And we cannot wait to see what Maher says about it when his show's next season starts on Friday) Howard waited for Valentine's Day to reveal his new staus with longtime girlfriend Beth Ostrosky (Who is, we cannot fail to note 19-years his junior). From Marksfriggin:
"Howard said that their life is great together and he wasn't looking for a change but there are some people who treat her like she's his 'floozy' or something like that. He said he kind of sees what goes on with certain people so this might help.
"Dominic Barbara called in and said that he wishes him luck. Howard thought he was laughing at him because that's what it said on the computer screen. Dominic congratulated him on the engagement. Howard said that he's thinking of taking on Beth's last name because of the confusion with Howard K. Stern's name. Artie said that some people will get the story wrong and say that Howard K. Stern just got engaged.
"Howard took a call from a guy who did laugh at Howard for getting engaged. He goofed on Howard about the whole thing. Howard went on to say that the whole thing was very romantic but Beth didn't break into tears or anything. That kind of thing has been over for years.
"Howard took another call from Wolfie who said that he remembers back to 1999 when he said he would never get married again. He said it didn't take him long to change. Howard said it's been 8 years so it's been quite a while. Robin said that this has been going on for a couple of years now, it's not like it just happened.
"Artie asked if he had a pre-nup in the works yet. Howard said they haven't gotten that far, but he will have one. Ronnie came in and offered to do the bachelor party for him. Howard said Ross already asked him when that's going to happen. He's still in shock over the whole thing"
Will this affect the raunch-factor Sirius listeners have come to love? More:
"Robin pointed out that Howard didn't feel up that chick who was in the studio yesterday. Howard said it would have been a bad idea to do that on the same day he was asking Beth to marry him. The guys were also talking about Beth getting pregnant and having a baby. Howard said that's just not going to happen but the guys said they can picture him walking the baby down the street in a stroller. Howard said that stuff looks like complete torture to him and he can't imagine going through that. He said he's happy for his friends who have kids but he can't go through that again.
"Howard said he called Beth's parents last night to let them know what was going on. He joked that he told High Pitch Eric too. Gary said that Beth told him at one point that she was going to be ''Mrs. Stern.' Robin couldn't believe that she missed the call about this yesterday. Howard said he tried calling her twice yesterday and he never got through."
The Corsair, of course, congratulates Howard and wishes him a happy and healthy marriage. This might explain why Howard has hinted that after his 5 years are up he may not renew, and just retire. It all becomes clearer now that that retirement will not be alone.
The Rise (And Rise) of ABC
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(image via oldradio)
By any standards of accounting this was a banner week for ABC Television. As Jacques Steinberg writes in the Gray Lady, "For the first time since the network newscasts led by Brian Williams, Charles Gibson and Katie Couric began competing in September, 'World News' with Mr. Gibson on ABC was the most watched of the three, according to ratings estimates for last week released yesterday by Nielsen Media Research." Especially on the all-important Must-See-Thursday night (Where the studios traditionally blitz dollars to advertise their weekend openers). From MedialifeMagazine:
"It took CBS three and a half years from the time it started programming aggressively on Thursdays to finally overtake longtime No. 1 NBC among adults 18-49 on TV’s most lucrative night.
"It took ABC only one week, the first week of this season, to take it away, and in recent weeks that lead has been growing. The only real question now is how much the network can continue to build its average on the night.
"Last Thursday, on Feb. 8, ABC finished 16 percent ahead of No. 2 CBS with a 6.5 rating, 25 percent above its season-to-date average on the night, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Fox. It was the network’s second-best Thursday this season, behind only its premiere night, and it was up 48 percent over the equivalent night last year.
"There are several reasons ABC has become so successful so fast, and one certainly is that CBS has also taken a 25 percent tumble on Thursday. Ratings for 'Survivor' and 'CSI' are down from last year, in part due to the increased competition from ABC, and new 10 p.m. show 'Shark,' while strong with total viewers, is not with 18-49s.
"Another reason is that ABC is especially strong with 18-34s, where CBS lags. 'Ugly Betty' and 'Grey’s Anatomy,' which air at 8 and 9 p.m., had season highs in that demographic last week."
This newfound momentum may be what is feuling The Chattering Class talk that Jimmy Kimmel may be on the way to the exit (see below). There is also the matter of ABC's "Primetime" ratings, according to Medialife:
"Viewers showed some big love to ABC’s 'Primetime: The Outsiders' last night as the show focused on the outlawed but still practiced custom of polygamy.
"That resulted in a big bump over the previous week’s installment, despite strong competition from Fox’s 'House.'
“'Primetime' averaged a 3.4 adults 18-49 rating in the 9 p.m. timeslot, according to Nielsen overnights, up 31 percent over the previous week’s 2.6 average.
"The long-running newsmagazine, which has acted as a utility fill-in for ABC for years, finished third in its timeslot behind Fox’s 'House,' which matched a series high, and CBS’s 'The Unit.' It also drew ABC’s best rating in the timeslot in three months."
And best of all for ABC, Diane Sawyer, despite getting hammered in cyberspace, delivered big ratings on her Middle Eastern trip. Even Alessandra Stanley, who has written acidly of Sawyer's "poised, creamy insincerity (Exaggerated c ough suggesting feigned detachment)," went in for the congratulatory, "Diane Sawyer, a host of ABC’s 'Good Morning America,' looked an awful lot like a globe-trotting, war-seasoned evening news anchor as she donned a head scarf to confront the president of Iran on Monday’s evening news."
This is definitely ABC's week.
(image via oldradio)
By any standards of accounting this was a banner week for ABC Television. As Jacques Steinberg writes in the Gray Lady, "For the first time since the network newscasts led by Brian Williams, Charles Gibson and Katie Couric began competing in September, 'World News' with Mr. Gibson on ABC was the most watched of the three, according to ratings estimates for last week released yesterday by Nielsen Media Research." Especially on the all-important Must-See-Thursday night (Where the studios traditionally blitz dollars to advertise their weekend openers). From MedialifeMagazine:
"It took CBS three and a half years from the time it started programming aggressively on Thursdays to finally overtake longtime No. 1 NBC among adults 18-49 on TV’s most lucrative night.
"It took ABC only one week, the first week of this season, to take it away, and in recent weeks that lead has been growing. The only real question now is how much the network can continue to build its average on the night.
"Last Thursday, on Feb. 8, ABC finished 16 percent ahead of No. 2 CBS with a 6.5 rating, 25 percent above its season-to-date average on the night, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Fox. It was the network’s second-best Thursday this season, behind only its premiere night, and it was up 48 percent over the equivalent night last year.
"There are several reasons ABC has become so successful so fast, and one certainly is that CBS has also taken a 25 percent tumble on Thursday. Ratings for 'Survivor' and 'CSI' are down from last year, in part due to the increased competition from ABC, and new 10 p.m. show 'Shark,' while strong with total viewers, is not with 18-49s.
"Another reason is that ABC is especially strong with 18-34s, where CBS lags. 'Ugly Betty' and 'Grey’s Anatomy,' which air at 8 and 9 p.m., had season highs in that demographic last week."
This newfound momentum may be what is feuling The Chattering Class talk that Jimmy Kimmel may be on the way to the exit (see below). There is also the matter of ABC's "Primetime" ratings, according to Medialife:
"Viewers showed some big love to ABC’s 'Primetime: The Outsiders' last night as the show focused on the outlawed but still practiced custom of polygamy.
"That resulted in a big bump over the previous week’s installment, despite strong competition from Fox’s 'House.'
“'Primetime' averaged a 3.4 adults 18-49 rating in the 9 p.m. timeslot, according to Nielsen overnights, up 31 percent over the previous week’s 2.6 average.
"The long-running newsmagazine, which has acted as a utility fill-in for ABC for years, finished third in its timeslot behind Fox’s 'House,' which matched a series high, and CBS’s 'The Unit.' It also drew ABC’s best rating in the timeslot in three months."
And best of all for ABC, Diane Sawyer, despite getting hammered in cyberspace, delivered big ratings on her Middle Eastern trip. Even Alessandra Stanley, who has written acidly of Sawyer's "poised, creamy insincerity (Exaggerated c ough suggesting feigned detachment)," went in for the congratulatory, "Diane Sawyer, a host of ABC’s 'Good Morning America,' looked an awful lot like a globe-trotting, war-seasoned evening news anchor as she donned a head scarf to confront the president of Iran on Monday’s evening news."
This is definitely ABC's week.
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