That's what she said.

Your daily dose of Memphis

2008-08-22T20:49:00.001-05:00

Kristin Weighs in on New Mondays

2008-08-22T20:46:00.002-05:00

Fall TV Preview: Monday Night's New Shows
Today 6:18 PM PDT by Kristin Dos Santos

Here's the funny thing about writing about Fall TV this year: There are still some new series that no one has seen, thanks to the lasting effects of the writers' strike.

Still, after interviewing the producers and actors, checking out the promos and previews and digging deep into what's going on behind the scenes (and doing a little soul-searching), I have a pretty good inkling as to which shows should be worth your time. (Especially the ones I've seen—some of which I loved and some of which made me break out in hives, ahem, Gary Unmarried.)

Also, just for fun this year, we reached out to a nationally syndicated Vegas oddsmaker—Benjamin Eckstein of America's Line—for his take on what will rock or flop.

And so, today, we are kicking off E! Online's night-by-night look at fall's new series with Monday's options—CBS' Worst Week, NBC's My Own Worst Enemy and TNT's Raising the Bar—and will tackle a new day each day this week.

Find out what's worth a look, and then weigh in with what you'll be watching...

WORST WEEK (CBS)
Premiere: Sept. 22, 9:30 p.m.
Time-Slot Competition: Heroes, Samantha Who?, Prison Break, One Tree Hill
Cast: Kyle Bornheimer, Erinn Hayes, Kurtwood Smith, Nancy Lenehan
Status: I've seen the first episode

If you've seen the giant billboards around town of a guy striking a pose in a diaper, you know what you're in for: The sexiest show of the season!

OK, so that's not true at all. But this does look to be the funniest new show (based on what I've seen so far), and Kyle Bornheimer, who plays leading man Sam Briggs, is undeniably likeable and just, well, awesome.

Worst Week is the story of Sam Briggs, a sweet schlub of a man who has wonderful intentions and terrible, terrible luck. His life is a veritable Rube Goldberg device of misunderstandings, mistakes and unfortunate decisions, where every catastrophe is the direct cause of a new, different and even more humiliating disaster. You will laugh your booty off at Sam's misfortune, and you should be sure to enjoy it, because Bornheimer is killing himself just to make you giggle. Kyle told me last week, "I was set on fire yesterday...sometimes I wonder, Am I part of some new reality show where they tell a guy that he's the star of a TV show and it's really just to put him through really torturous situations?" Torturous for Sam, maybe, but pretty uproarious for the rest of us.

Verdict: Definitely watch it

MY OWN WORST ENEMY (NBC)
Premiere: Oct. 13, 10 p.m.
Time-Slot Competition: Boston Legal, CSI: Miami, Raising the Bar
Cast: Christian Slater, Alfre Woodard, Mädchen Amick, Saffron Burrows
Status: No screeners available yet

Hey, look! It's Christian Slater, and he's on TV! That just might be enough to make some of you tune in, but FYI, the show's premise also sounds wickedly intriguing. Enemy is about a stay-at-home dad who lives a double life as an international superspy, but because of government meddling in his frontal lobe, he doesn't actually know what his spy side does at night.

As Slater puts it, "It's a Jekyll and Hyde story, with a little bit of James Bond thrown in. And yet it's very relatable—it's about the question, What do you do when you find out the person you can't trust is yourself?"

As for the real-life mystery, Enemy is one of the new NBC series that no one has seen yet. The all-star cast is a good sign, and I really like creator Jason Smilovic, but right now, there's just no telling if My Own Worst Enemy is worth our while.

Verdict: Wait and see, but looks promising

RAISING THE BAR (TNT)
Premiere: Sept. 1, 10 p.m.
Time-Slot Competition: Boston Legal, CSI: Miami, My Own Worst Enemy
Cast: Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben, Jane Kaczmarek, J. August Richards
Status: I've seen the first episode

Trade the scrubs for suits and Raising the Bar is essentially Grey's Anatomy in a courthouse: Gorgeous young professionals wrestle their personal demons, flirt with each other and conspire to get ahead, always working out at least a temporary solution to both problems by the end of act four.

Created by Steven Bochco, Raising centers around a group of law-school classmates who now face off as district attorneys and public defenders in the New York City courts. Respectable writing, decent production values, a sustainable procedural premise and a cast of TV favorites—Malcolm in the Middle's Jane Kaczmarek, ER's Gloria Reuben, Angel's J. August Richards and, of course, Zack Morris himself—add up to a pretty good time.

Verdict: DVR it for a rainy day

The new shows to check

2008-08-22T20:44:00.001-05:00

Monday, Sept. 1
Raising the Bar (TNT), 10 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 2
90210 (CW), 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 3
Sons of Anarchy (FX), 10 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 5
Samurai Girl (ABC Family), 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 7
True Blood (HBO), 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 9
Fringe (Fox), 8 p.m.
Privileged (CW), 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 10
Do Not Disturb (Fox), 9:30 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 22
Worst Week (CBS), 9:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 23
The Mentalist (CBS), 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 24
Knight Rider (NBC), 8 p.m.
Gary Unmarried (CBS), 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3
The Ex List (CBS), 9 p.m.
Sanctuary (Sci Fi), 9 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 9
Kath & Kim (NBC), 9:30 p.m.
Eleventh Hour (CBS), 10 p.m.
Life on Mars (ABC), 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 10
The Starter Wife (USA), 10 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 13
My Own Worst Enemy (NBC), 10 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 17
Crusoe (NBC), 8 p.m.
Crash (Starz), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 22
Stylista (CW), 9 p.m.

Welcome back, TV :)

2008-08-22T20:31:00.009-05:00

When do your favorite shows return? Check it....

Tuesday, Aug. 26
Greek (ABC Family), 9 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 1
Gossip Girl (CW), 8 p.m.
One Tree Hill (CW), 9 p.m.
Prison Break (Fox), 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 2
The Shield (FX), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 3
America's Next Top Model (CW), 8 p.m.
Bones (Fox), 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 7
Entourage (HBO), 10 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 8
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox), 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 10
'Til Death (Fox), 9 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 11
Kitchen Nightmares (Fox), 9 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 12
Don't Forget the Lyrics (Fox), 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 16
Biggest Loser: Families (NBC), 8 p.m.
House (Fox), 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 18
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX), 10 p.m.
Smallville (CW), 8 p.m.
Supernatural (CW), 9 p.m.
Survivor: Gabon (CBS), 8 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 22
The Big Bang Theory (CBS), 8 p.m.
Boston Legal (ABC), 10 p.m.
CSI: Miami (CBS), 10 p.m.
Dancing with the Stars (ABC), 9 p.m.
Dr. 90210 (E!), 10 p.m.
Heroes (NBC), 9 p.m.
How I Met Your Mother (CBS), 8:30 p.m.
Two and a Half Men (CBS), 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 23
Law & Order: SVU (NBC), 10 p.m.
NCIS (CBS), 8 p.m.
Without a Trace (CBS), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 24
Criminal Minds (CBS), 9 p.m.
CSI: NY (CBS), 10 p.m.
Lipstick Jungle (NBC), 10 p.m.
The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS), 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 25
ER (NBC), 10 p.m.
Grey's Anatomy (ABC), 9 p.m.
My Name is Earl (NBC), 8 p.m.
The Office (NBC), 9 p.m.
Ugly Betty (ABC), 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 28
Amazing Race (CBS), 8 p.m.
American Dad (Fox), 9:30 p.m.
Brothers & Sisters (ABC), 10 p.m.
Californication (Showtime), 10 p.m.
Cold Case (CBS), 9 p.m.
Desperate Housewives (ABC), 9 p.m.
Dexter (Showtime), 9 p.m.
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (ABC), 8 p.m.
Family Guy (Fox), 9 p.m.
King of the Hill (Fox), 8:30 p.m.
The Simpsons (Fox), 8 p.m.
The Unit (CBS), 10 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 29
Chuck (NBC), 8 p.m.
Life (NBC), 10 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 1
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC), 10 p.m.
Friday Night Lights (DirecTV 101), 9 p.m.
Pushing Daisies (ABC), 8 p.m.
Private Practice (ABC), 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 3
Everybody Hates Chris (CW), 8 p.m.
The Game (CW), 8:30 p.m.
Ghost Whisperer (CBS), 8 p.m.
Numb3rs (CBS), 10 p.m.
Supernanny (ABC), 9 p.m.
Wife Swap (ABC), 8 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 5
Girls Next Door (E!), 10 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 6
Samantha Who? (ABC), 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 9
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS), 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 14
Eli Stone (ABC), 10 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 30
30 Rock (NBC), 8:30 p.m.

Your Daily Dose of Memphis

2008-08-11T23:51:00.003-05:00

Your Olympic Hottie of the Day: August 11

2008-08-11T23:47:00.003-05:00

The fabulously wonderful 100M Backstroke Gold Medalist Aaron Piersol... it goes without saying.

Your Olympic Hottie of the Day: August 10

2008-08-10T23:04:00.000-05:00

While all are deserving (most of all Jason Lezak) after today's huge 4x 100 m freestyle relay win, today's honor goes to Cullen Jones (far left).

Your Daily Dose of Memphis

2008-08-10T21:45:00.001-05:00

RIP Bernie Mac.

2008-08-10T02:08:00.001-05:00

In the off-season... new TV obsessions

2008-08-10T02:04:00.002-05:00

You shouldn't miss out on...

Shear Genius
Arrested Development on DVD
Friday Night Lights (for the love of Matt Saracen, there is time to catch up before the season!)
Weeds season 3

supposedly Fringe is going to be pretty good, so I may have to check that out. I also think I want to catch up on what has happened on 24 since I gave up watching after season 3. I want to check out this prequel business for the premiere.

And lastly... because it's time for the Olympics again, that means I have reason to look up pictures of Aaron Piersol.... lots of pictures.

Quick reality tv predictions...

2008-08-10T02:01:00.003-05:00

Project Runway: winner will be Korto
ANTM: Tyra will get more obnoxious than we ever thought possible
Shear Genius: Charlie will win even though Paolo deserves it.
Big Brother 10: Renny and Memphis will be the final two... Renny will win

Friday Night Lights casting news

2008-08-10T01:47:00.001-05:00

My blog is back.... just in time for the Olympics and the new fall season. More to come shortly... but here is some quick FNL (the best show that no one is watching and everyone SHOULD be) casting news.

Janine Turner, D.W. Moffett team up with 'Friday Night Lights'
Aug 8, 2008, 07:21 PM by Dan Snierson
Categories: TV Biz
We don’t know where the Hatfields are, but the McCoys are coming to Dillon: Season 3 of Friday Night Lights (airing on DirecTV this fall and on NBC in early 2009) will feature a few new faces, including Janine Turner (Northern Exposure) and D.W. Moffett (Life Is Wild, Traffic). The two will appear throughout the season as a married couple — Joe and Katie McCoy — who move from Dallas with son J.D., a hotshot freshman quarterback, so that he can challenge Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) for the starting job on the Panthers.

FNL executive producer Jason Katims hints that Moffett's Joe "has a sort of Machiavellian charm. He is unapologetic about who he is, about how successful he is, and about saying what he wants." What he wants is some serious playing time for his son. "One of the stories I’ve always wanted to play," continues Katims, "is the parent wanting to have influence over how the coach coaches, and in this case, wanting his son to have a chance to play before Coach Taylor [Kyle Chandler] is ready to do it. Ultimately the story line gets more personal because it becomes not only about him trying to influence the coach, but about the pressure he’s putting on his kid, and Coach becoming aware of that and having to intervene."

Meanwhile, Mrs. Coach — Tami (Connie Britton) — will bond with Joe's wife, Katie, portrayed by Turner. "Katie is a fun, smart, sexy woman who swoops into town and charms Tami and they become friends," says Katims. "We’ve never really established somebody that Tami talks to other than Coach. She becomes a bit of an adviser to Tami as Tami becomes the principal [of Dillon High School] and takes on bigger things."

Your Olympic Hottie of the Day: August 9

2008-08-09T23:10:00.001-05:00

US 400 IM Bronze Medalist Ryan Lochte

Walking In Memphis

2008-08-09T01:53:00.000-05:00

Completely gratuitous post of the evening... I present to you Memphis from BB10. While I would have no problem with a win from Dan, Michelle, Ollie, or Renny... I just thought I'd give a little screencap rundown of what you're missing if you're not watching.

Your Olympic Hottie of the Day: August 8

2008-08-08T22:05:00.002-05:00

Canadian Flag Bearer: kayaker Adam Van Koeverden

When are our favorite shows coming back?

2008-03-17T21:48:00.002-05:00

Details below:

Monday, Mar. 17
The Bachelor (ABC)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
Two and a Half Men (CBS)

Tuesday, Mar. 18
Miss/Guided (ABC)
The Riches (FX)

Sunday, Mar. 23
The Game (CW)

Monday, Mar. 24
CSI: Miami (CBS)
Greek (ABC Family)

Tuesday, Mar. 25
‘Til Death (Fox)

Sunday, Mar. 30
Cold Case (CBS)

Tuesday, Apr. 1
Hell's Kitchen (Fox)

Wednesday, Apr. 2
Criminal Minds (CBS)
CSI: NY (CBS)

Thursday, Apr. 3
CSI (CBS)
My Name Is Earl (NBC)
Without a Trace (CBS)

Friday, Apr. 4
Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi)
Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
Numb3rs (CBS)

Monday, Apr. 7
Samantha Who? (ABC)

Tuesday, Apr. 8
Boston Legal (ABC)
NCIS (CBS)

Thursday, Apr. 10
30 Rock (NBC)
ER (NBC)
The Office (NBC)
Scrubs (NBC)

Sunday, Apr. 13
Desperate Housewives (ABC)

Monday, Apr. 14
Bones (Fox)
One Tree Hill (CW)
Rules of Engagement (CBS)

Tuesday, Apr. 15
Law and Order: SVU (NBC)

Thursday, Apr. 17
Smallville (CW)

Sunday, Apr. 20
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Monday, Apr. 21
Gossip Girl (CW)
House (Fox)

Tuesday, Apr. 22
Reaper (CW)

Wednesday, Apr. 23
Law and Order (NBC)

Thursday, Apr. 24
Grey's Anatomy (ABC)
Lost (ABC)
Supernatural (CW)
Ugly Betty (ABC)

Friday, Apr. 25
Moonlight (CBS)

Coachella lineup... how I wish I was going

2008-01-21T20:20:00.000-06:00

Raconteurs
The Verve
Jack Johnson
Kraftwerk
Portishead
Death Cab for Cutie
My Morning Jacket
Love and Rockets
Justice
M.I.A.
The Breeders
Rilo Kiley
Sasha & Digweed
Café Tacuba
Fatboy Slim
Spritualized
Tegan and Sara
Madness
The National
Animal Collective
Mum
Pendulum
Sharon Jones
Stars
Battles
Aesop Rock
Midnight Juggernauts
Does It Offend You, Yeah?
Spank Rock
Minus the Bear
Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip
Diplo
Adam Freeland
Santogold
Vampire Weekend
Dan Deacon
Hot Chip
Cold War Kids
Stephen Malkmus
Gogol Bordello
Chromeo
Metric
Danny Tenaglia
Booka Shade
Murs
Cool Kids
Sia
Les Savy Fav
Holy Fuck
Black Kids
Black Mountain
Man Man
I'm from Barcelona
Kid Sister
The Horrors
Austin TV
Shout Out Louds
Luckyiam
Autolux
Modeselektor
The Bees
Professor Murder
Cut Copy
Busy P
VHS or Beta

The song of the week...

2008-01-20T22:23:00.001-06:00

because I just heard it on an episode of One Tree Hill and remembered how much I love it.

When you came to me
With your bad dreams
And your fears
It was easy to see
That you'd been crying
Seems like everywhere you turn
Catastrophe, it reigns
But who really profits
From the dying?

I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever
I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you in my arms forever

When you kissed my lips
With my mouth so full of questions
It's my worried mind
That you quiet
Place your hands on my face
Close my eyes and say
Love is a poor man's fool
Don't prophesize

I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever
And I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever

So now we see how it is
This fist begets the spear
Weapons of war
Symptoms of madness
Don't let your eyes refuse to see
Don't let your ears refuse to hear
Or you ain't never going to shake
This sense of sadness

I could hold you in my arms
I could hold on forever
And I could hold you in my arms
I could hold on forever

And back from the depths of....

2008-01-18T07:34:00.000-06:00

Just kidding.

The 60 hr work weeks are less-than-conducive to blogging at the moment so I am here to leave the thoughts (and oh-so-correct they are) from Kristin at E Online about the craptastic elimination of the fabulous Kit. Sure, she may not have been the best in the challenge... but SERIOUSLY! GET RID OF RICKY ALREADY. This is what Kristin has to say:

Kit Pistol "Auf'd," and We're PO'd

"Nooo! Pick Rickyyy!"

This is what many of us Project Runway fans were screaming at the screen last night during the big elimination ceremony.

While most of us wanted Ricky, the sniveling, whiney nightmare of a sewer (not sure if that's the word for someone who sews, but it works for me) to get the high-heeled boot from Heidi Klum, it was our beloved Kit Pistol who took the fall.

A sampling of today's mailbag:

"So, Kit got kicked off Project Runway...what?! What about crybaby Ricky? I loved her, and the season won't be the same without her!"
—Celia in Nashville, Tennessee

"I was so crushed to see Kit sent home yesterday. I thought she would make it all the way. She was definitely robbed of the win during several of the challenges. Please tell her she rocks!"
—Emily in Fairfax, Virginia

As some of you know, we here at E! hold a special place in our hearts (and wardrobe closets) for Christina "Kit Pistol" Scarbo, as she is one of our wardrobe stylists (working primarily with Samantha Harris for E! News and Dancing with the Stars). She's just about the coolest girl you could ever meet, not to mention talented as all hell. So, I sat down with her this morning to have a good sobfest over her Runway loss and found out she's dealing with it much better than we are. Read on...

So, last night...
I got auf'd.

I couldn't bring myself to say it. How did you feel in that moment? Did you know you were going to be going?
Yeah. There’s the one moment in the work room where I kinda look up from my garment and look around, and I knew I was in trouble because I went such a completely different direction. Seeing that I was on a fashion show, I probably should’ve taken "conceptual artistic" to mean haute couture. You know, from my fabric selection to even the silhouette, I think everything should’ve gone more haute couture.

How did you feel about getting the boot? Are you happy you made it that far?
I definitely would not have gone on Project Runway if I hadn't thought I was going to make it to the top three. I think that’s why everyone goes on that show. So, I was disappointed I was going home. But since it’s challenge by challenge on the runway, I had a feeling, and I wasn’t shocked that day.

Who are you rooting for now?
I’m definitely rooting for Christian. I like that Project Runway is about fresh, innovative talent, and I think he’s a 21-year-old firecracker who is amazing. I’d love to see him win.

And you and Sweet P are still close friends, right?
Sweet P and I are the best of friends. We go on double dates with our boyfriends all the time; it's supercute. She’s amazing, and I’m so glad she just did a phenomenal job in the challenge last night after the hardships.

Yeah, Rami was kind of an ass. What's up with that?
I’m going to be diplomatic; everyone has their reactions to stress. Rami is an amazing person—when he gets stressed out, maybe not as amazing. But you know, you do what you can. You do what you can with four hours of sleep and string cheese.

Have you been recognized a lot?
[Laughs] Well, I can't go into fabric stores. There are a lot of fans downtown and in fabric stores. But it’s been great. It’s nice to have the support from all the fans and the encouragement to go on and to know there’s people watching for me when I do my collection in March. And lots of people to go to kitpistol.com.

How's your brand going?
I’m excited, because as a small designer, funding is crazy and tough. So, I launched an accessories line that I’m selling at Studio and Fred Segal and also online at shopkitpistol.com. And I’m using all the proceeds from those accessories to fund part of the collection I’m doing in March. So, I’m really trying to use Project Runway as the tool it’s meant to be—to, you know, make a real career out of it and not a celeb-reality career.

Would you ever do a reality show again?
I don’t think so. I like to be behind the camera better.

Just send Samantha out.
Yeah, "Samantha, you go be pretty and smart, and I’ll just stand here with a hanger."

Why not a song of the week?

2008-01-13T22:17:00.000-06:00

Pete Murray - So Beautiful

Found myself just the other day
In the backyard of a friends place,
Thinkin' about you,
Thinkin' of the crowd you're in,
What you up to where you been?
(Just thinkin')

And all the clothes that you wear,
And the colors in your hair
Shouldn't change you
Now you tell me why it's so
You bigger than mighty Joe,
(At lest you think so)

God my fingers burn,
Now when I think of touching your hair
You have changed so much that I don't know,
If I can call you and tell you I care
And I would love to bring you down,
Plant your feet back on the ground

Throw my smoke down on the ground,
Turn my head and I heard the sound,
(That reminded me)
Of the days so young and sweet
Always so much fun to meet
(At least I thought so)

Now you think your so damn fine

You can rule the world no not mine,
I don't think so

God my fingers burn,
Now when I think of touching your hair
You have changed so much that I don't know,
If I can call you and tell you I care

Now the scene that you're in,
And the people that you been with
Just get to me,
But you think I'm not as cool,
As you are so beautiful
Well who you fooling?

Well I'm here to tell you babe
The game your in is just a game
So damn pretentious

God my fingers burn,
Now when I think of touching your hair
You have changed so much that I don't know,
If I can call you and tell you I care
And I would love to bring you down,
Plant your feet back on the ground

You think you're so beautiful
(So beautiful)

Entertainment Weekly's Funniest TV Lines of 2007

2007-12-31T02:53:00.000-06:00

January

''Scientists say because of global warming they expect the world's oceans to rise four and a half feet. The scientists say this can mean only one thing — Gary Coleman is going to drown.''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''Britney Spears' manager is denying reports that Britney passed out on New Year's Eve and instead says she was exhausted and fell asleep after leading the New Year's Eve countdown. When asked why she was so tired, Britney said, 'Countin' is hard!'''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''Five of us transferred from Stamford. There's two of us left — me and Karen. It's like we're touring Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and dropping off one by one. Well, guess what? I'm not falling in a chocolate river.''
ANDY (ED HELMS), ON THE OFFICE

''During an interview with 60 Minutes on Sunday, President Bush defended the invasion of Iraq, saying, 'We liberated that country from a tyrant. I think the Iraqi people owe the American people a huge debt of gratitude.' Said the Iraqi people, 'We've been meaning to send a card, but our Hallmark store keeps blowing up.'''
AMY POEHLER, ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

''Things are heating up between John Mayer and Jessica Simpson, with Simpson accompanying Mayer for part of his tour in Florida. Mayer is working on a new song called 'Your Body Is a Wonderland, and Your Brain Is a Wind Tunnel.'''
JOEL McHALE, ON THE SOUP

February

''Former Clinton adviser Dick Morris said, 'Hillary Clinton will be the next president, but she'll be the worst president we've ever seen.' After hearing this, President Bush said, 'Wait a minute, I'm not finished yet.'''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''Senator Obama is not the first African American to run for president, but he's the first African American to have a prayer. Which is ironic, since two of the others were reverends.''
STEPHEN COLBERT, ON THE COLBERT REPORT

''I don't have a lot of experience with vampires, but I have hunted werewolves. I shot one once, but by the time I got to it, it had turned back into my neighbor's dog.''
DWIGHT (RAINN WILSON), WHO THINKS JIM (JOHN KRASINSKI) IS TURNING INTO A VAMPIRE, ON THE OFFICE

''Lemon, I would like to teach you something. I would like to be Michelle Pfeiffer to your angry black kid who learns that poetry is just another way to rap.''
JACK (ALEC BALDWIN), TO LIZ (TINA FEY), ON 30 ROCK

March

''She adopted her first child in Cambodia, her second in Ethiopia, gave birth to her third in Namibia, and now from Vietnam. She's working her way down the alphabet. Stay cool, Yemen, she's coming.''
JIMMY KIMMEL, DISCUSSING ANGELINA JOLIE, ON JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE

''A sport without black people ain't a sport. That's just a game!... That's like me saying, 'Ooh, I got the highest SAT score in the whole world, but no Asians took the test.' What kind of crap is that? 'I just won the marathon. No Kenyans could run, though!'''
CHRIS ROCK EXPRESSES SKEPTICISM ABOUT BABE RUTH'S ACHIEVEMENTS IN PRE-INTEGRATED BASEBALL, ON THE LATE SHOW

''The California legislature announced that they have moved their state's presidential primary from June to February. When asked why, a California lawmaker said, 'Because it's really fun to hear Governor Schwarzenegger try to say 'February.'''
CONAN O'BRIEN ON LATE NIGHT

''Some Republicans in Washington are looking for a replacement for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales but apparently they need to find an experienced legal mind that President Bush is comfortable with. As a result, the number one candidate is Judge Judy.''
CONAN O'BRIEN ON LATE NIGHT

April

''Disney's making a movie starring a black princess. And we only had to get through a Native American princess, an Arab princess, a Chinese princess, even a half-fish princess. Not to mention the countless cats, dogs, mice, elephants, talking cars, and whatever the hell Stitch was.''
'SENIOR BLACK CORRESPONDENT' LARRY WILMORE, ON THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART

''I don't think that this is totally just a woman's suit. At the very least, it's bisexual.''
MICHAEL (STEVE CARELL), AFTER BEING ACCUSED OF WEARING WOMEN'S CLOTHES TO WORK, ON THE OFFICE

''If someone gives you 10,000-to-one [odds] on anything, you take it. If John Mellencamp ever wins an Oscar, I am going to be a very rich dude.''
KEVIN (BRIAN BAUMGARTNER), ON THE OFFICE

''In an effort to protect the environment, Sheryl Crow has said a ban on using toilet paper should be introduced. In a related story, don't ever shake hands with Sheryl Crow.''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

May

''Sometimes the clothes at Gap Kids are just too flashy. So I'm forced to go to the American Girl store and order clothes for large colonial dolls.''
THE PETITE-SIZE ANGELA (ANGELA KINSEY), DISCUSSING HER SHOPPING HABITS, ON THE OFFICE

''One of the most popular gifts for high school graduates this year is a gift certificate for plastic surgery. Apparently, the gift certificate is a perfect way to tell a recent graduate that you can be anything you want to be but not with that giant honker.''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''Once I am officially regional manager, my first order of business will be to demote Jim Halpert. So I will need a new number two. My ideal choice? Jack Bauer. But he is unavailable. Fictional. And overqualified.''
DWIGHT (RAINN WILSON), ON THE OFFICE

''It's like Regis Philbin...sunny and 84.''
DAVID LETTERMAN, NOTING THE GOOD WEATHER IN NEW YORK, ON THE LATE SHOW

June

''They got the name 300 by measuring how gay it was on a scale from 1 to 10.''
HOST SARAH SILVERMAN, ON THE MTV MOVIE AWARDS

''Earlier tonight, after serving eight years in jail, assisted-suicide doctor Jack Kevorkian was on Larry King Live. When Kevorkian saw Larry King, he said, 'I swear, he was like that when I got here.'''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''Today the Olsen twins turned 21 years old, which means they're now old enough to drink. Still no word on when they'll be old enough to eat.''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''Sixty-eight percent of Republicans don't believe in evolution. On the other hand, only 5 percent of monkeys believe in Republicans.''
STEPHEN COLBERT, ON THE COLBERT REPORT

July

''I was busy shoveling coal into my styrofoam factory. Enjoying some roast penguin.''
CRAIG FERGUSON, EXPLAINING WHY HE DIDN'T WATCH THE LIVE EARTH CONCERTS, ON THE LATE LATE SHOW

''This week in Iran, Iranian designers held a fashion show using Iranian models. For the 5,000th year in a row, burkhas are in.''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''Here's exciting news for New York City: Pope Benedict will be visiting New York City in the spring.... And the good news is he's bringing his wife, Posh Benedict.''
DAVID LETTERMAN ON THE LATE SHOW

''Barry Bonds is only three home runs away from becoming the all-time home-run king, and when it happens, I just hope he doesn't get a big head.''
DAVID LETTERMAN, ON THE LATE SHOW

August

''But here are the terms of the divorce settlement: Britney gets the house, Kevin gets the cash, and the kids get the car.''
DAVID LETTERMAN ON THE LATE SHOW

''It pains me to say this, but a tip of the hat to The New York Times. This week, America's most venerated journal of treason reduced its paper size from 13 and a half inches to 12. I haven't seen that much liberal shrinkage since John Kerry went windsurfing.''
STEPHEN COLBERT, ON THE COLBERT REPORT

''Well, we did it, but if you want my professional opinion, that boy gayer than a handbag full of rainbows.''
U-TURN'S HO, AFTER FORCING SANJAY (MAULIK PANCHOLY), A GAY MAN, TO HAVE SEX, ON WEEDS

''Here's a fascinating story: there's a man in Australia and he spent the last 15 years of his life typing — typing — the numbers 'one' to 'one million.' Fifteen years of his life typing the numbers 'one,' starting out with 'o-n-e,' fifteen years, 'one' to 'one million' — and, guess what, girls? He's single.''
DAVID LETTERMAN, ON THE LATE SHOW

September

''My idea of getting lucky in the men's room is when the motion sensor works on the faucet.''
DAVID LETTERMAN, ON THE LATE SHOW

''You won't be single much longer.''
ELLEN DEGENERES TO GUEST DANIEL RADCLIFFE, AFTER HE DEMONSTRATED SOME TONGUE TRICKS, ON THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW

''Sometimes when we're rolling around in the jungle in the mud and we're hitting each other and stabbing each other and shooting each other and they're pouring on the blood and turning on the sprinklers, I wonder what it would be like to bake up a sheet of cookies on Wisteria Lane. And get one of their checks.''
LOST'S TERRY O'QUINN, DURING HIS ACCEPTANCE SPEECH FOR OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES AT THE EMMYS

''He taught me how to drive-by.''
NANCY (MARY-LOUISE PARKER), AT THE FUNERAL OF HER FORMER DRUG-DEALING PARTNER U-TURN, ON WEEDS

October

''It's been reported that Britney Spears recently asked a paparazzi photographer to go into a store and buy her a tampon. The photographer said it was a great opportunity to finally give something back to the vagina that's given so much.''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''O.J. Simpson is claiming that a Rolex watch he was ordered to turn over to authorities is a fake. However, O.J. did offer to search for the real Rolex.''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''They say you should never mix business with pleasure. Really? Well, then explain to me how a putt-putt golf company operates.''
ANDY (ED HELMS), ON THE OFFICE

''Former 'N Sync member Lance Bass says that before he announced that he was gay, he thought that Justin Timberlake and one of the other guys in 'N Sync were also gay. When asked why he thought that they were gay, Bass said, 'They were members of 'N Sync.'''
CONAN O'BRIEN, ON LATE NIGHT

''Dear Lord: Please give me the strength to be nice to somebody who I hate so much I wish you would strike her down with a lightning bolt and fry her into one of those little Mexican cinnamon sticks.''
JOY (JAIME PRESSLY), PRAYING TO BE KIND TO CATALINA (NADINE VELAZQUEZ), ON MY NAME IS EARL

November

''You can not take the hilarious black guy from the office. Stanley is part of what makes this branch so extraordinary — the bluesy wisdom, the sassy remarks, the crossword puzzles, the smile, those big watery red eyes. I don't know how George Bush did it when Colin Powell left.''
MICHAEL (STEVE CARELL), AFTER LEARNING THAT STANLEY (LESLIE DAVID BAKER) MIGHT BE CHANGING BRANCHES, ON THE OFFICE

''We are religious people, but we have no illusions that God cares whether or not we win The Amazing Race.''
KATE, ONE HALF OF THE LESBIAN MINISTER COUPLE, ON THE AMAZING RACE

''Be with me, C.C. We'll ignore our differences until the sex goes bad, and then we'll walk away bitter and angry.''
JACK (ALEC BALDWIN), TRYING TO WOO CELESTE (EDIE FALCO), ON 30 ROCK

''Someone will be here to save the master race soon enough.''
DR. BAILEY (CHANDRA WILSON), TO A NEO-NAZI PATIENT REQUESTING A NONBLACK DOCTOR, ON GREY'S ANATOMY

December

''Well, I adore 'em. Except for the few sickos who write lesbian fan fiction about me and Bea Arthur.''
BETTY WHITE, DISCUSSING HER LEGION OF DEDICATED FANS, ON UGLY BETTY

12.24-12.30 Obnoxitron of the Week

2007-12-31T00:32:00.000-06:00

Professional Butterfinger Troy Williamson.

12.24-12.30 Weekly Hotness

2007-12-31T00:31:00.001-06:00

TK and Rachel of the Amazing Race 12

The new obsession

2007-12-31T00:28:00.000-06:00

As I find myself gradually finishing season 1 of One Tree Hill... I feel ready to proclaim it as my current big obsession. If 30 Rock comes back with new episodes... it might be a toss up, but I do love the Brothers Scott.

BCS picks

2007-12-29T22:51:00.000-06:00

With the BCS football games only a few days away... time to make some picks.

Really, I couldn't possibly care less... but I just have to hope those dirty rotten Buckeyes don't win the NC.

Sugar Bowl - Hawaii over Georgia
Rose Bowl - Illinois over USC
Fiesta Bowl - Oklahoma over West Virginia
Orange Bowl - Kansas over Virginia Tech

National Championship - LSU over Ohio State

My current vacay project.

2007-12-29T22:43:00.000-06:00

I am spending the next (and last) few days of my "holiday break" from work attempting to do the impossible. Find the perfect man? Impossible, but not what I'm talking about... Make money grow on trees? See previous answer...

No, I am attempting to watch all four seasons of One Tree Hill in time for the fifth season premiere. Lofty goals, right? So far... I have finished the first 33:39 of season 1, episode one.

33:50... 33:51... 33:52.....

I'll keep you updated on my progress.

And PS, despite what most tweener girls may say... John Michael Montgomery (and/or Chad Michael Murphy) is really not that cute.

2008 is right around the corner...

2007-12-27T06:48:00.000-06:00

And that means new TV! Here is a list of all of the new (and old, I guess) shows premiering in '08.

Tuesday, Jan. 1: According to Jim, Biggest Loser: Couples
Wednesday, Jan. 2: Law & Order, Power of 10, Supernanny, Wife Swap
Thursday, Jan. 3: Celebrity Apprentice
Friday, Jan. 4: 1 vs. 100, Flash Gordon, How to Look Good Naked, Stargate: Atlantis
Sunday, Jan. 6: American Gladiators, Cashmere Mafia, The L Word, The Wire
Monday, Jan. 7: Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann, Medium
Tuesday, Jan. 8: Life of Ryan, One Tree Hill
Thursday, Jan. 10: Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Make Me a Supermodel
Friday, Jan. 11: Monk, Psych
Sunday, Jan. 13: Comanche Moon, Masterpiece Theatre, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Monday, Jan. 14: Kyle XY, Prison Break
Tuesday, Jan. 15: 10 Items or Less, American Idol
Wednesday, Jan. 16: Reno 911!
Sunday, Jan. 20: Breaking Bad
Monday, Jan. 21: Wildfire
Tuesday, Jan. 22: The Millionaire Matchmaker
Wednesday, Jan. 23: Moment of Truth
Saturday, Jan. 26: Torchwood
Monday, Jan. 28: In Treatment
Thursday, Jan. 31: Lost, Eli Stone
Monday, Feb. 4: The New Adventures of Old Christine, Paradise Hotel 2, Welcome to the Captain
Thursday, Feb. 7: Lipstick Jungle, Survivor
Tuesday, Feb. 12: Big Brother, Jericho
Monday, Feb. 18: The Baby Borrowers, Quarterlife
Friday, Feb. 22: New Amsterdam
Sunday, Mar. 2: Oprah's Big Give, Unhitched
Monday, Mar. 3: When Women Rule the World
Friday, Mar. 7: The Return of Jezebel James
Monday, Mar. 17: Dancing with the Stars 6
Tuesday, Apr. 1: Hell's Kitchen
Friday, Apr. 11: Canterbury's Law
No Premiere Date: Battlestar Galactica, Dirt, Farmer Wants a Wife, Greek, In Plain Sight, The I.T. Crowd, Miss/Guided, The Shield, Swingtown

The countdown continues...

2007-12-23T22:43:00.001-06:00

Be prepared for a daily update. We are looking at:

American Idol: 23 days!
Lost: 39 Days!

Team Anti-Goth

2007-12-23T22:40:00.000-06:00

While I may have missed this week's episode of the Amazing Race... I was really excited to find out that Kynt and Vyxsin were the final team to cross the finish line. The less exciting part? Finding out that this leg was a non-elimination week. One can only hope that they end up coming in fifth again next week... or that the proposed sabotage of the hippies (TK and Rachel) is unsuccessful... because if they're gone, that leaves three unlikeable teams (and Nick/Don) to battle it out for the prize.

TEAM HIPPIE!

12.17.07 - 12.23.07 Weekly Hotness

2007-12-23T22:35:00.001-06:00

Marian Gaborik

For his five goal night against the NY Rangers on December 20.

Catching up on movies, pre-award season.

2007-12-23T22:22:00.000-06:00

As awards season nears, I always find myself trying to stay caught up on the nominees so I can be legitimately angry/happy about those that win. With twelve movies up for Golden Globes, I am up to a grand total of three. Since I simply can't imagine anything in the musical/comedy category swaying me from my solid choice of Juno... I figured I'd starting working on the movies up for best drama.

Last week was Michael Clayton... which was quite good (good enough for George Clooney to potentially earn his second Oscar, but not--in my opinion--good enough to take the prize for the movie). Today I dragged my sisters to No Country for Old Men. While I was beyond mermerised by the film (as I am by everything the Coens have ever done), they weren't quite as appreciative. With one of them dubbing it the worst movie she'd ever seen and the other (the horror flick queen) dubbing it the scariest, I was on my own in my love of it. Javier Bardem was creepy to the extreme. He may even haunt me in my sleep for the next few nights...

MTV makes Wednesday a continuing guilty pleasure night

2007-12-23T09:14:00.000-06:00

Very little happened on the Real World this week. Ashli and Dunbar fought... a lot. She almost spilled the beans about the world's worst-kept sex secret. Divulging such information would have come as a huge shock to just about... no one.

As far as Newport Harbor, the drama never ceases. It has done a fantastic job of filling the shoes of the first two (highly entertaining) seasons of Laguna Beach, rather than going the way of the season-which-cannot-be-named. While everything continues to seem as fabricated as the wonderful drama on the Hills, that doesn't make it any less fun to watch. In order to catch Chrissy and figure out the real status of their relationship, Grant convinces Clay to make an impromptu trip to visit her at school. The problem? They don't bother to tell Chrissy that they are making the trip. So it comes as a *slight* shock to her when she looks up from her make-out session with this Billy character to see her supposed boyfriend watching.

From the way it appears, she will be regretting that decision in the weeks to come... but with the first half of Home for the Holidays already wrapped up, we may have to wait until the summer to find out what really comes of Orange County's new young adult "It" couple.

The Return of Oscar Vibenius

2007-12-23T09:08:00.000-06:00

The most original new show on television is, without a doubt, Pushing Daisies. That isn't eve up for debate. But they took it to a new level with the episode Corpsicle.

Something about killing people and putting them inside snowmen seems so harmless. For that reason, it wasn't strange to find out that the woman responsible was from the Wish-a-Wish foundation, the type that fulfills promises for terminally ill children. As Ned said, she literally killed them with kindness (in the form of a bat with the word engraved on it).

And aside from the corpsicle storyline, we also saw the return of Oscar Vibenius (which I think is possibly one of the greatest fairytale names of all time, even though he does sound like he would be the villain). Something is endearing to me about the man who says Chuck smells like honey and death... and no, it has nothing to do with Peewee Herman.

Liz Lemon, meet Leticia Gutierrez..... Arafat.

2007-12-23T08:43:00.000-06:00

Yet another television coupling has been revealed. Jack has introduced his girlfriend CC to his conservative friends, and as should be expected, the results were hilarious. NBC comedies have managed to do something that most TV shows only dream of (I am talking to you, Nip/Tuck, Grey's Anatomy, The OC)... they have gotten BETTER with time.

Case in point: "I spent two days filming that movie in my home and what did I get? A million dollars, a yellow Bentley, and NOTHING!"

What's your favorite pizza topping? Mine's plain, but I like others.

To finish off 2008, 30 Rock knocked it out of the park. With the Golden Globes and SAG Awards just around the corner (assuming they actually happen, due to the writers strike)... all I can do is hope that somehow there can be a tie with the Office... because otherwise... I'm torn.

Karen Darling, you're so sneaky!

2007-12-23T08:33:00.000-06:00

Well, the secret is out. Not only is Karen Darling seeing (or maybe we should say "seeing") Simon Alder, but one Nicholas George knows about it and he is JEALOUS. The confusion still lies in what the real reason is for Karen's tears after meeting Simon's ex-wife. Is she starting to fall for him... or has she now seen him as a real person--instead of a monster--and is she feeling guilty for messing with his life? I'm leaning towards some combination of the two.

Shocking moment #1 of the episode was certainly the revelation that Karen is in on the Simon hook-up with her father. But #2 has to go to the Jeremy/Lisa kiss. And yet, I have to say I do not HATE the Jeremy-Lisa coupling. I have to assume it's not going to go beyond what it already has... though it certainly would be interesting if Lisa was the one to hook up with a Darling after all of her suspicisions that something is going to happen between Nick and Karen.

Sadly, this is our last DSM episode due to the writers strike. Come on studios, suck it up and give the folks a little money so that I don't have to resort to rewatching all ten season sof 90210 in 2008.

Are you sure it's not Hysteria Lane?

2007-12-22T14:32:00.000-06:00

The final episode of 2007 on Wisteria Lane sent the residents into a tailspin and left the fate of a fan favorite unknown. According to Mary Alice, one of the women on Wisteria Lane has lost a husband and all of them have lost a friend. Whether you take this to mean the husband and friend are the same person (Tom Scavo) or two different people (Victor Lang and Mrs. McCluskey and/or Ida Greenberg), there will be some major changes on our favorite Illinois cul-de-sac.

Not that I would, in any way, wish death on Tom... but it certainly seems that the death of Victor Lang is the second major cop-out of this season by Mark Cherry and Co. First Edie miraculously survives her own hanging. Now there is the potential for Gaby and Carlos to escape all blame in their attempt on Victor's life, solidifying Fairview as a close contender with the ridiculousness of another Illinois television town (three hints: the Rise of the Phoenix, the Salem Stalker, and a fan favorite being held captive in a cage and brainwashed for months on end). As much as I miss the Kiriakis/Horton/DiMera/Brady Bunch, I hope that MC and his fellow writers tone it down a bit... otherwise I have a feeling we'll find out that Susan Mayer is actually pregnant with twins, one by Mike and the other by Orson.

Wild About Christmas!

2007-12-22T08:39:00.000-06:00

Wild About Children Raises $180,000

Minnesota Wild

Dec 21, 2007, 11:31 PM EST

On Monday, December 17, the Minnesota Wild hosted Wild About Children, presented by R.F. Moeller Jeweler, and raised $180,000 for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. The amount raised is the highest total in the four years the team has held this event and almost doubled last year’s record amount raised of $93,000.

The entire Wild roster waited on tables and mingled with the 200 guests in attendance at the sold-out event, which included a silent and live auction, and a Rolex giveaway valued at $5,000 courtesy of R.F. Moeller Jeweler. Wild About Children was held on Monday, Dec. 3 at Pazzaluna Urban Italian Restaurant in downtown St. Paul with proceeds benefiting Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

The Minnesota Sports & Entertainment (MSE) Community Giving Fund is a donor-advised fund of the Minnesota Community Foundation. We focus our support on children’s medical related causes, educational initiatives and the growth and development of youth athletic programs. Over the past seven years, MSE Community Giving has invested more than $2.8 million back into our community and has made significant donations to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. We have provided autographed and non-autographed merchandise for community fundraisers and benefits, made contributions to non-profit organizations, provided awareness and brand connectivity for smaller non-profit organizations and our players and staff have made countless appearances in the community. The Minnesota Wild remains committed to making a difference in the community, while being inspired by our passion for hockey and our compassion for those in need.

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota is the seventh-largest children’s health care organization in the U.S., with 326-staffed beds at its two hospital campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. An independent, not-for-profit health care system, Children’s of Minnesota provides care through over 13,000 inpatient visits and more than 200,000 emergency room and other outpatient visits each year.

2008 SAG Award Nominations

2007-12-20T13:07:00.000-06:00

14th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS®NOMINATIONS

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
GEORGE CLOONEY / Michael Clayton – “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS / Daniel Plainview – “There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage)
RYAN GOSLING / Lars Lindstrom – “Lars And The Real Girl” (Sidney Kimmel Entertainment)
EMILE HIRSCH / Christopher McCandless– “Into The Wild” (Paramount Vantage)
VIGGO MORTENSEN / Nikolai – “Eastern Promises” (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
CATE BLANCHETT / Queen Elizabeth I – “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (Universal Pictures)
JULIE CHRISTIE / Fiona – “Away From Her” (Lionsgate)
MARION COTILLARD / Edith Piaf – “La Vie En Rose” (Picturehouse)
ANGELINA JOLIE / Mariane Pearl – “A Mighty Heart” (Paramount Vantage)
ELLEN PAGE / Juno MacGuff – “Juno” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
CASEY AFFLECK / Robert Ford – “The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JAVIER BARDEM / Anton Chigurh – “No Country For Old Men” (Miramax Films)
HAL HOLBROOK / Ron Franz – “Into The Wild” (Paramount Vantage)
TOMMY LEE JONES / Ed Tom Bell – “No Country For Old Men” (Miramax Films)
TOM WILKINSON / Arthur Edens – “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
CATE BLANCHETT / Jude – “I’m Not There” (The Weinstein Company)
RUBY DEE / Mama Lucas – “American Gangster” (Universal Pictures)
CATHERINE KEENER / Jan Burres – “Into The Wild” (Paramount Vantage)
AMY RYAN / Helene McCready – “Gone Baby Gone” (Miramax Films)
TILDA SWINTON / Karen Crowder – “Michael Clayton” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
3:10 TO YUMA (Lionsgate)
AMERICAN GANGSTER (Universal Pictures)
HAIRSPRAY (New Line Cinema)
INTO THE WILD (Paramount Vantage)
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (Miramax Films)

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
MICHAEL KEATON / James Jesus Angleton – “The Company (TNT)
KEVIN KLINE / Jacques – “As You Like It” (HBO)
OLIVER PLATT / George Steinbrenner – “The Bronx is Burning” (ESPN)
SAM SHEPARD / Frank Whiteley – “Ruffian” (ABC)
JOHN TURTURRO / Billy Martin – “The Bronx is Burning” (ESPN)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
ELLEN BURSTYN / Posey Benetto – “Mitch Albom’s For One More Day” (ABC)
DEBRA MESSING / Molly Kagan – “The Starter Wife” (USA)
ANNA PAQUIN / Elaine Goodale – “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” (HBO)
QUEEN LATIFAH / Ana – “Life Support “ (HBO)
VANESSA REDGRAVE / Woman – “The Fever” (HBO)
GENA ROWLANDS / Melissa Eisenbloom – “What If God Were the Sun?” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
JAMES GANDOLFINI / Tony Soprano – “The Sopranos” (HBO)
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan – “Dexter” (Showtime)
JON HAMM / Don Draper – “Mad Men” (AMC)
HUGH LAURIE / Dr. Gregory House – “House” (FOX)
JAMES SPADER / Alan Shore – “Boston Legal” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
GLENN CLOSE / Patty Hewes – “Damages” (FX)
EDIE FALCO / Carmela Soprano – “The Sopranos” (HBO)
SALLY FIELD / Nora Walker – “Brothers & Sisters” (ABC)
HOLLY HUNTER / Grace Hanadarko – “Saving Grace” (TNT)
KYRA SEDGWICK / Deputy Police Chief Brenda Johnson – “The Closer” (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – “30 Rock” (NBC)
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott – “The Office” (NBC)
RICKY GERVAIS / Andy Millman – “Extras” (HBO)
JEREMY PIVEN / Ari Gold – “Entourage” (HBO)
TONY SHALHOUB / Adrian Monk – “Monk” (USA)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
CHRISTINA APPLEGATE / Samantha Newly – “Samantha Who?” (ABC)
AMERICA FERRERA / Betty Suarez – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon – “30 Rock” (NBC)
MARY-LOUISE PARKER / Nancy Botwin – “Weeds” (Showtime)
VANESSA WILLIAMS / Wilhelmina Slater – “Ugly Betty” (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
BOSTON LEGAL (ABC)
THE CLOSER (TNT)
GREY’S ANATOMY (ABC)
MAD MEN (AMC)
THE SOPRANOS (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
30 ROCK (NBC)
DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
ENTOURAGE (HBO)
THE OFFICE (NBC)
UGLY BETTY (ABC)

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
300 (Warner Bros.)
THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM (Universal)
I AM LEGEND (Warner Bros.)
THE KINGDOM (Universal)
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
24 (FOX)
HEROES (NBC)
LOST (ABC)
ROME (HBO)
THE UNIT (CBS)

Screen Actors Guild Awards 44th Annual Life Achievement Award
Charles Durning

My second favorite [fictional] Nick G. is back.

2007-12-18T23:05:00.000-06:00

I had to specify fictional as I do have a pretty rockin cool friend who is also a Nicky G.

But other than one Nick George JD, Nick Garrett and company have returned to Knights Ridge, Mass for yet another season of love trials and tribulations.

And while I am happy to see things going spectacularly well between Eddie and Janet (besides, you know, when she tried to buy him a WOLF for Christmas), I wish I could say the same of the wonderful Owen and his floozy wife Alison. For one, how can you not love a big guy by the name of Owen Rowan? That's a name that sounds like it could be directly out of Pushing Daisies.

After Ms. R. broke his poor heart through the revelation about the affair with Ikey, we have seen Owen put himself through hell and beyond to try to work past it. Most heartbreaking was certainly when he forced his friends to get ALL of the details for him and relay every one to him. Though that was followed closely by the utterly crestfallen look on his face as he arrived to the house (dressed as SANTA, no less!) on Christmas Eve only to see Al getting out of Ikey's truck.

Sure, it was purely innocent... but when you do what she did, you don't exactly deserve the benefit of the doubt.

With the Writers Strike intensely affecting the programming we will be seeing in the months to come, I have to at least revel in my excitement over the fact that the Knights Ridge crew started late and they still have new stories to bring us for a while now... at least that will hold me over until Lost.

This may spell the end of the Cibrian...

2007-12-18T22:58:00.000-06:00

Samantha Newly may have ruined it this time... and I am not going to be thrilled with her if that is the case. Because of her overzealousness in her new relationship... we may not be seeing Eddie Cibrian on the show in the future. As a female member of the world, I feel all of your pain.

So instead of delving into the zaniness of Sammy... I leave you with a Cibrian photo essay....

Meet Mrs. Kitty McAllister!

2007-12-18T22:56:00.000-06:00

Kevin and Kitty made it official!

But more importantly... Chevy Chase got himself in trouble with the Secret Service for smoking pot at the wedding. For whatever reason, that was the highlight of the show for me... it couldn't have been any funnier.

I continue to watch... and continue to shake my head.

2007-12-18T22:40:00.000-06:00

I do a lot of complaining about the current season of Nip/Tuck... and yet, I continue to watch. I always seem to think (while I'm watching) that it is getting better... but then when I attempt to recap the show, I can't help but realize it just doesn't have the spark it used to have.

While I like the shake up with Christian and Julia, it is something that I think should have happened at least a few seasons ago. Now it is a little too incestuous and predictable.

But at the same time, the Liz/Olivia/Julia/Sean/Christian/Eden sextangle (no pun intended) is a bit much to handle as well. Sean is supposed to be the sympathetic character in this whole scenario, at least in my eyes. So how exactly is he able to remain sympathetic when he dumps his (formerly overweight) girlfriend to sleep with an 18 year old whose mother is dating his ex-wife. You don't follow? Me neither.

The one saving grace for this season is the Matt/Kimber storyline. Though is it too much to ask that Matt wouldn't have actually survived the meth lab explosion? I wouldn't miss him.

And while we're on the topic of missing people... doesn't anyone find it strange that Sean and Julia have yet to mention their infant son? I'm not sure how much time is supposed to have passed since last season, but the kid can't be even two... so one wouldn't be rash to assume that he'd maybe have moved to LA with his parents when both of them relocated. After the amount of time devoted to his disability, it's a little tough to just write the kid off. And (as has been the case in previous years), Annie appears to have fallen off of the face of the planet as well...

My Golden Globe picks.

2007-12-16T22:44:00.000-06:00

FILM

Best Motion Picture—Drama

American Gangster
Atonement
Eastern Promises
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men <---- Winner
There Will Be Blood

Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama

George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy, Atonement <--- Winner
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Denzel Washington, American Gangster

Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Drama

Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away from Her
Jodie Foster, The Brave One
Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart <--- Winner
Keira Knightley, Atonement

Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy

Across the Universe
Charlie Wilson's War
Hairspray
Juno <--- Winner
Sweeney Todd

Best Actor—Musical or Comedy

Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl <--- Winner
Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson's War
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages
John C. Reilly, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Best Actress—Musical or Comedy

Amy Adams, Enchanted
Nikki Blonsky, Hairspray
Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Ellen Page, Juno <--- Winner

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture—Drama

Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There <--- Winner
Julia Roberts, Charlie Wilson's War
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama

Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men <--- Winner
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
John Travolta, Hairspray
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

Best Director

Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men <--- Winner
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Ridley Scott, American Gangster
Joe Wright, Atonement

Best Screenplay

Diablo Cody, Juno <--- Winner
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men
Christopher Hampton, Atonement
Ronald Harwood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Aaron Sorkin, Charlie Wilson's War

Best Original Score

Michael Brook, Kaki King, Eddie Vedder, Into the Wild <--- Winner
Clint Eastwood, Grace Is Gone
Alberto Iglesias, The Kite Runner
Dario Marianelli, Atonement
Howard Shore, Eastern Promises

TELEVISION

Best Series—Drama

Big Love
Damages
Grey's Anatomy
House
Mad Men <--- Winner
The Tudors

Best Actor—Drama Series

Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men <--- Winner
Hugh Laurie, House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors
Bill Paxton, Big Love

Best Actress—Drama Series

Patricia Arquette, Medium
Glenn Close, Damages
Minnie Driver, The Riches
Edie Falco, The Sopranos
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters <--- Winner
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Best Series—Comedy or Musical

30 Rock <--- Winner
Californication
Entourage
Extras
Pushing Daisies

Best Actress—Comedy or Musical Series

Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies <--- Winner
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Best Actor—Comedy or Musical Series

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock <--- Winner
Steve Carell, The Office
David Duchovny, Californication
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies

Best Supporting Actress—Series, Miniseries or TV Movie

Rose Byrne, Damages
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters <--- Winner
Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy
Samantha Morton, Longford
Anna Paquin, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Jaime Pressly, My Name Is Earl

Best Supporting Actor—Series, Miniseries or TV Movie

Ted Danson, Damages
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Andy Serkis, Longford
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Donald Sutherland, Dirty Sexy Money <--- Winner

The past few weeks in reality TV

2007-12-16T22:23:00.001-06:00

Well... I have been a big time slacker in the world of blogging lately.

Two weeks later... some big things have happened in reality TV that cannot go unmentioned.

A week after The Blondes used the U-Turn on the Amazing Race to screw over Lorena and Jason... karma came back and they were the next ones out. But more importantly, last week's episode saw the departure of creepy brother/sister duo Azaria and Hendekea. Sadly, we will no longer be subjected to their nearly incestuous closeness that involves him calling her babe and tackling her to the ground. TK and Rachel continue to be my favorite team, and more importantly, Nathan and Jennifer (primarily Jennifer) are making an uncontested run as the most hateable team in the race. It's as if we're seeing the return of Romber.

Over the past two weeks, Top Model has cut the field from four to three... and from three to one. So, I would like to take this time to congratulate Tyra Banks for sinking to a new low. When editing the show, perhaps you should've taken out that clip of your eventual "deserving" winner making fun of another contestant with a mild form of autism. Clearly your definition of a role model (please stop trying to pretend that you're producing idols, by the by) is a little different from mine. How else do you explain getting rid of the girl who had the best photographs and grew up supporting her family to eventually crowning the one who makes fun of a person with a disability. After making the declaration in the first week that this year's winner would be a role model (and therefore banning smoking)... you certainly took three giant steps backwards.

Project Runway followed one week of sadness (the dismissal of the ever-entertaining Chris March) with another (the withdrawal of HIV positive contestant Jack due to a staph infection) and a tiny dose of happiness (the return of Chris March!). Stephen maybe got the short end of the stick in this week's challenge when he was given the model who came in wearing a dress that looked like an oversized doily. But at the same time, he did make the poor woman look like an old-fashioned pilgrim (no, that is not redundant... she made pilgrims look hip and cool). My girl Kit is kind of fading into the background, which leads me to think she doesn't make it to the finals... though Christian and Victorya seem to be pretty good bets at this point... with Jillian and Kevin potentially sneaking in there too.

I haven't had much of anything to say about Real Housewives so far this season, but the introduction of new housewife Quinn has me a bit riled up. For one, what is the point of introducing a new housewife in the middle of a season? And secondly... I miss the days of Kimberly. It seems that Jeana (and maybe Tammy) are the only ladies this year who aren't COMPLETELY worthless... and Quinn definitely has very little to offer.

The Real World has been all sorts of entertaining for the last month. With the departure of Trisha, the show has become infinitely more enjoyable. And who doesn't love to see Isaac back in the house (if for no other reason than that his girlfriend Noirin seems WAY cooler than any of the female roommates). I remembered what we were missing with the I-man when he got into the fish tank... because I know for a fact that's the first thing I'd be doing. The last two weeks have also brought us the first two "real" hook-ups between the roommates. Not only does Dunbar put his relationship with his seemingly cool girlfriend in jeopardy... he does so by sleeping with a girl who seems to have nothing on her mind beyond breaking up said relationship. And the denials? Dunbar has spent what seems to be days denying the Ashli hookup... apparently he's forgotten that he is living in a fishbowl and his little indiscretion WILL be making it to air. Fast forward to this week's misguided hookup. Am I the only one completely disturbed by the thought of KellyAnne as a mother? Yeesh.

As far as Survivor... resident hottie Erik won't be the sole Survivor and won't be joining the hottie club of CBS-made millionaires with Mr. Ethan. And even MORE importantly, Peih Gee won't be the big winner and I won't have to listen to her attempt to whine her way into the final three. I have yet to watch the finale, but my money is on Todd narrowly edging out Amanda... not sure if we'll see Denise or Courtney advancing to the final three. That being said... Todd could just as easily get the boot and then look for Denise to win it all.

Season 3, part 1 of the Hills wrapped this week. Since the cast members are so closely followed through LA every night, none of the revelations were all that surprising. There had already been many reports of Lauren heading to Paris with Whitney... and it was shown in the previews. I have nothing to contribute as far as Spencer and Heidi go... but this quote from Entertainment Weekly sums it up perfectly:

And let it not be forgotten that She-Pratt had this amazing suggestion on hearing her brother's troubles: ''You've got to send her an e-mail or something.'' Um, really? Not that I'm against passive-aggressive e-mails saying what I'm basically too wimpy to say in person, but with the person that you're engaged to, you should have at least enough balls to confront or apologize to them in person. It's fun to imagine the kind of e-mail Spencer would write: ''Dearest Heidi, You are the love of my life. I spell-checked this e-mail twice, just in case the MTV producers might include it in a Best of The Hills edition. Is it easier to forgive me when you don't have to hear my creepy man-child singsong voice? Sweet dreams. I may or may not be here when you wake up. Yours, Furby.''

A quick note to say... we are under 2 months until the Big Brother premiere. February 12 is the big day!

And last of all in the reality wrap up... Newport Harbor has returned for a four episode run over the holidays. First let me say that the title is misleading. Clearly none of the scenes were actually filmed over the HOLIDAYS since three of the four episodes will have aired prior to Christmas day. Chrissy made the wise choice of moving on from attractive but personality-less Clay to some joker named Billy. We know very little about him but I have pre-judged him based on his name... sorry B-man.

Golden Globe noms are out.

2007-12-13T17:02:00.001-06:00

FILM

Best Motion Picture—Drama

American Gangster
Atonement
Eastern Promises
The Great Debaters
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama

George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
James McAvoy, Atonement
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises
Denzel Washington, American Gangster

Best Actress in a Motion Picture—Drama

Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away from Her
Jodie Foster, The Brave One
Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightley, Atonement

Best Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy

Across the Universe
Charlie Wilson's War
Hairspray
Juno
Sweeney Todd

Best Actor—Musical or Comedy

Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd
Ryan Gosling, Lars and the Real Girl
Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson's War
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Savages
John C. Reilly, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Best Actress—Musical or Comedy

Amy Adams, Enchanted
Nikki Blonsky, Hairspray
Helena Bonham Carter, Sweeney Todd
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Ellen Page, Juno

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture—Drama

Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Julia Roberts, Charlie Wilson's War
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture—Drama

Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
John Travolta, Hairspray
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

Best Director

Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Ridley Scott, American Gangster
Joe Wright, Atonement

Best Screenplay

Diablo Cody, Juno
Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, No Country for Old Men
Christopher Hampton, Atonement
Ronald Harwood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Aaron Sorkin, Charlie Wilson's War

Best Foreign Language Film

4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Romania)
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (France/U.S.)
The Kite Runner (U.S.)
Lust, Caution (Taiwan)
Perseopolis (France)

Best Animated Film

Bee Movie
Ratatouille
The Simpsons Movie

Best Original Score

Michael Brook, Kaki King, Eddie Vedder, Into the Wild
Clint Eastwood, Grace Is Gone
Alberto Iglesias, The Kite Runner
Dario Marianelli, Atonement
Howard Shore, Eastern Promises

Best Original Song

"Despedida," Love in the Time of Cholera
"Grace Is Gone," Grace Is Gone
"Guaranteed," Into the Wild
"That's How You Know," Enchanted
"Walk Hard," Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

TELEVISION

Best Series—Drama

Big Love
Damages
Grey's Anatomy
House
Mad Men
The Tudors

Best Actor—Drama Series

Michael C. Hall, Dexter
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Hugh Laurie, House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, The Tudors
Bill Paxton, Big Love

Best Actress—Drama Series

Patricia Arquette, Medium
Glenn Close, Damages
Minnie Driver, The Riches
Edie Falco, The Sopranos
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Holly Hunter, Saving Grace
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Best Series—Comedy or Musical

30 Rock
Californication
Entourage
Extras
Pushing Daisies

Best Actress—Comedy or Musical Series

Christina Applegate, Samantha Who?
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Anna Friel, Pushing Daisies
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds

Best Actor—Comedy or Musical Series

Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Steve Carell, The Office
David Duchovny, Californication
Ricky Gervais, Extras
Lee Pace, Pushing Daisies

Best Supporting Actress—Series, Miniseries or TV Movie

Rose Byrne, Damages
Rachel Griffiths, Brothers & Sisters
Katherine Heigl, Grey's Anatomy
Samantha Morton, Longford
Anna Paquin, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Jaime Pressly, My Name Is Earl

Best Supporting Actor—Series, Miniseries or TV Movie

Ted Danson, Damages
Kevin Dillon, Entourage
Jeremy Piven, Entourage
Andy Serkis, Longford
William Shatner, Boston Legal
Donald Sutherland, Dirty Sexy Money

Best Miniseries or TV Movie

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
The Company
Five Days
Longford
The State Within

Best Actress—Miniseries or TV Movie

Bryce Dallas Howard, As You Like It
Debra Messing, The Starter Wife
Queen Latifah, Life Support
Sissy Spacek, Pictures of Hollis Woods
Ruth Wilson, Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre)

Best Actor—Miniseries or TV Movie

Adam Beach, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Ernest Borgnine, A Grandpa for Christmas
Jim Broadbent, Longford
Jason Isaacs, The State Within
James Nesbitt, Jekyll

Big time snubs: Heroes, Lost, THE OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check back for my picks next week.

What I wouldn't give to have been at this show....

2007-12-11T13:41:00.000-06:00

Led Zeppelin review

Led Zeppelin Triumphs At London Reunion Show

Led Zeppelin
December 11, 2007, 12:00 AM ET

Last night (Dec. 10) in London, one of the greatest bands of all time was back in front of its adoring public, if only for two-plus hours. Led Zeppelin's 16-song set at London's O2 Arena came as part of a benefit for late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun, the group's first full show since drummer John Bonham's 1980 death.

Zeppelin stormed the stage just after 9 p.m. local time with "Good Times, Bad Times," from its 1969 debut album, and followed with "Ramble On," "Black Dog" and "In My Time of Dying."

"For Your Life," which the band never performed live in its heyday, was next, with "Trampled Underfoot," "Nobody's Fault But Mine," "No Quarter" and the epics "Since I've Been Lovin' You" and "Dazed and Confused" carrying into the show's second hour.

"It's peculiar to think of creating a dynamic evening and choosing songs from 10 albums, but there are certain songs that have to be here, and this is one of them," frontman Robert Plant said before the latter. And when Page broke out his trademark double-necked guitar for "Stairway to Heaven," thousands of lighters were held aloft.

As the show barreled towards its conclusion, Zeppelin unveiled "The Song Remains the Same," "Misty Mountain Hop" and "Kashmir." The encore featured the staples "Whole Lotta Love" and "Rock and Roll."

Surviving members Page, Plant and John Paul Jones had only played live together a handful of times since the death of Bonham, who was replaced last night by his son Jason.

Page's guitar was crisp and clear from the outset, but Plant's voice was blighted by feedback. By the second song, the microphone was functioning properly and Plant was growling and snapping just like he used to.

Page swung into "Black Dog," with Plant teasing the crowd while the guitarist chopped left and right with industrial power. Classic blues chords summoned a long and dynamic delivery of "In My Time of Dying," as the years truly began to melt away.

There is rampant speculation Zeppelin will play additional shows in the New Year, but so far, the principals are staying mum. "Let's just do the O2 and we'll see what happens from there," Page told Reuters in a recent interview. "I haven't got a crystal ball here and nor have you."

A host of top industry executives were present on Monday, including Warner Music Group's Lyor Cohen, AEG Live's Randy Phillips, Best Buy's Gary Arnold, Apple's Jeff Jones, Rhino's David Dorn and Control Room's Kevin Wall. Dave Grohl showed off his Zeppelin tattoo and proclaimed, "I'm so excited. One of the best nights of my life.

"Earlier in the evening, Foreigner performed its hit "I Want To Know What Love Is" with the St. Luke's Church of England choir from Portsmouth, saying, "If it wasn't for Ahmet, none of us would be here." Ex-Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman and his Rhythm Kings were on stage beforehand, with vocal assistance from Paul Rodgers and Paolo Nutini.

By mid-afternoon, the scene at the venue was frenzied, with a 500-strong line for merchandise and huge waits at the will call windows. At a soundcheck on Sunday, select lucky fans were allowed to watch Zeppelin trying out a number of the songs that wound up tonight's set list.

The event was a magnet for celebrities and rock stars, including Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, Kate Moss, members of Oasis and Genesis, Steve Winwood, Priscilla and Lisa Marie Presley and Marilyn Manson.

Net profits from the concert will go to the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, which provides scholarships for gifted children.

Food for thought when you vote in '08.

2007-12-08T22:57:00.001-06:00

Huckabee wanted to isolate AIDS patients

By ANDREW DeMILLO, Associated Press Writer Sat Dec 8, 5:13 PM ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Mike Huckabee once advocated isolating AIDS patients from the general public, opposed increased federal funding in the search for a cure and said homosexuality could "pose a dangerous public health risk."

As a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in 1992, Huckabee answered 229 questions submitted to him by The Associated Press. Besides a quarantine, Huckabee suggested that Hollywood celebrities fund AIDS research from their own pockets, rather than federal health agencies.

Huckabee said Saturday that his comments came at a time when the public was still learning about HIV and AIDS and promised to do "everything possible to transform the promise of a vaccine and a cure into reality."

In 1992, Huckabee wrote, "If the federal government is truly serious about doing something with the AIDS virus, we need to take steps that would isolate the carriers of this plague."

"It is difficult to understand the public policy towards AIDS. It is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population, and in which this deadly disease for which there is no cure is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents."

The AP submitted the questionnaire to both candidates in the 1992 senate race; only Huckabee responded. Incumbent Sen. Dale Bumpers won his fourth term; Huckabee was elected lieutenant governor the next year and became governor in 1996.

When asked about AIDS research in 1992, Huckabee complained that AIDS research received an unfair share of federal dollars when compared to cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

"In light of the extraordinary funds already being given for AIDS research, it does not seem that additional federal spending can be justified," Huckabee wrote. "An alternative would be to request that multimillionaire celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Madonna and others who are pushing for more AIDS funding be encouraged to give out of their own personal treasuries increased amounts for AIDS research."

Huckabee said in a prepared statement released by his campaign Saturday afternoon that he called for quarantine when there was a lot of confusion about how AIDS is spread. He said he wanted at the time to follow traditional medical practices used for dealing with tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.

"We now know that the virus that causes AIDS is spread differently, with a lower level of contact than with TB," Huckabee said. "But looking back almost 20 years, my concern was the uncertain risk to the general population — if we got it wrong, many people would die needlessly. My concern was safety first, political correctness last."

When Huckabee wrote his answers in 1992, it was common knowledge that AIDS could not be spread by casual contact. In late 1991, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there were 195,718 AIDS patients in the country and that 126,159 people had died from the syndrome.

The nation had an increased awareness of AIDS at the time because pro basketball star Magic Johnson had recently disclosed he carried the virus responsible for it. Johnson retired but returned to the NBA briefly during the 1995-96 season.

Since becoming a presidential candidate this year, Huckabee has supported increased federal funding for AIDS research through the National Institutes of Health.

"My administration will be the first to have an overarching strategy for dealing with HIV and AIDS here in the United States, with a partnership between the public and private sectors that will provide necessary financing and a realistic path toward our goals," Huckabee said in a statement posted on his campaign Web site last month.

Also in the wide-ranging AP questionnaire in 1992, Huckabee said, "I feel homosexuality is an aberrant, unnatural, and sinful lifestyle, and we now know it can pose a dangerous public health risk."

A Southern Baptist preacher, Huckabee has been a favorite among social conservatives for his vocal opposition to gay marriage. In 2003, Huckabee said that the U.S. Supreme Court was probably right to strike down anti-sodomy laws, but that states still should be able to restrict things such as gay marriage or domestic partner benefits.

"What people do in the privacy of their own lives as adults is their business," Huckabee said. "If they bring it into the public square and ask me as a taxpayer to support it or to endorse it, then it becomes a matter of public discussion and discourse."

Grammy Noms are out

2007-12-07T16:10:00.000-06:00

It's almost award season... one of my favorite times of the year. Here are the nominations for the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, set to air February 10, 2008.

Record Of The Year

Irreplaceable - Beyoncé
The Pretender - Foo Fighters
Umbrella - Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
What Goes Around…Comes Around - Justin Timberlake
Rehab - Amy Winehouse

Album Of The Year

Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters
These Days - Vince Gill
River: The Joni Letters - Herbie Hancock
Graduation - Kanye West
Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

Song Of The Year

Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
Like A Star - Corinne Bailey Rae
Rehab - Amy Winehouse
Umbrella - Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z

Best New Artist

Feist
Ledisi
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Amy Winehouse

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Candyman - Christina Aguilera
1234 - Feist
Big Girls Don't Cry - Fergie
Say It Right - Nelly Furtado
Rehab - Amy Winehouse

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

Everything - Michael Bublé
Belief - John Mayer
Dance Tonight - Paul McCartney
Amazing - Seal
What Goes Around...Comes Around - Justin Timberlake

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

(You Want To) Make A Memory - Bon Jovi
Home - Daughtry
Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's
Window In The Skies - U2

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Steppin' Out - Tony Bennett & Christina Aguilera
Beautiful Liar - Beyoncé & Shakira
Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On) - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani & Akon
Give It To Me - Timbaland Featuring Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

Best Pop Vocal Album

Lost Highway - Bon Jovi
The Reminder - Feist
It Won't Be Soon Before Long - Maroon 5
Memory Almost Full - Paul McCartney
Back To Black - Amy Winehouse

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

It's Not Over - Daughtry
Working Class Hero - Green Day
If Everyone Cared - Nickelback
Instant Karma - U2
Icky Thump - The White Stripes

Best Rock Song

Come On - Lucinda Williams
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
It's Not Over - Daughtry
The Pretender - Foo Fighters
Radio Nowhere - Bruce Springsteen

Best Rock Album

Daughtry - Daughtry
Revival - John Fogerty
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace - Foo Fighters
Magic - Bruce Springsteen
Sky Blue Sky - Wilco

Best Alternative Music Album

Alright, Still... - Lily Allen
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire
Volta - Bjork
Wincing The Night Away - The Shins
Icky Thump - The White Stripes

Best Rap Solo Performance

The People - Common
I Get Money - 50 Cent
Show Me What You Got - Jay-Z
Big Things Poppin' (Do It) - T.I.
Stronger - Kanye West

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

Southside - Common Featuring Kanye West
Make It Rain - Fat Joe Featuring Lil Wayne
Party Like A Rockstar - Shop Boyz
Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) - UGK Featuring OutKast
Better Than I've Ever Been - Kanye West, Nas & KRS-One

Best Rap Song

Ayo Technology - 50 Cent Featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland
Big Things Poppin' (Do It) - T.I.
Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West
Crank That (Soulja Boy) - Soulja Boy Tell'Em
Good Life - Kanye West Featuring T-Pain

Best Rap Album

Finding Forever - Common
Kingdom Come - Jay-Z
Hip Hop Is Dead - Nas
T.I. vs T.I.P. - T.I.
Graduation - Kanye West

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

Simple Love - Alison Krauss
Famous In A Small Town - Miranda Lambert
Nothin' Better To Do - LeAnn Rimes
Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love - Trisha Yearwood

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

Long Trip Alone - Dierks Bentley
A Woman's Love - Alan Jackson
If You're Reading This - Tim McGraw
Give It Away - George Strait
Stupid Boy - Keith Urban

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals

Proud Of The House We Built - Brooks & Dunn
How Long - Eagles
Moments - Emerson Drive
Lucky Man - Montgomery Gentry
Sweet Memories - The Time Jumpers

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

Days Aren't Long Enough - Steve Earle & Allison Moorer
Because Of You - Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson
I Need You - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Lost Highway - Willie Nelson & Ray Price
Oh Love - Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood

Best Country Song

Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Give It Away - George Strait
I Need You - Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
If You're Reading This - Tim McGraw
Long Trip Alone - Dierks Bentley

Best Country Album

Long Trip Alone - Dierks Bentley
These Days - Vince Gill
Let It Go - Tim McGraw
5th Gear - Brad Paisley
It Just Comes Natural - George Strait

Best Reggae Album

The Burning Spear Experience - Burning Spear
Mind Control - Stephen Marley
The End Of An American Dream - Lee "Scratch" Perry
Anniversary - Sly & Robbie And The Taxi Gang
Light Your Light - Toots & The Maytals

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

Across The Universe - Various Artists
Dreamgirls - Various Artists
Hairspray - Various Artists
Love - (The Beatles)
Once - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova

Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media

Falling Slowly (From Once) - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
Guaranteed (From Into The Wild) - Eddie Vedder
Love You I Do (From Dreamgirls) - Jennifer Hudson
The Song Of The Heart (From Happy Feet) - Prince
You Know My Name (From Casino Royale) - Chris Cornell

Best Short Form Music Video

God's Gonna Cut You Down - Johnny Cash
1234 - Feist
Gone Daddy Gone - Gnarls Barkley
D.A.N.C.E. - Justice
Typical - Mute Math

Forget Detroit. I am a resident of the NEW Hockeytown, USA.

2007-12-05T22:56:00.000-06:00

Courtesy of Michael Farber for Sports Illustrated.

In Search of... Hockeytown U.S.A.

With Detroit's claim to fame undermined by poor attendance at Red Wings games, SI set out to find the U.S. city that can rightfully call itself the capital of hockey in this country

While the Red Wings struggle to sell out, the Wild (above) is thriving thanks to grassroots hockey.

Darren Carroll/SI

The year was 1996. The "Got Milk?" campaign was at its zenith, and a fast-food Mexican chain was about to introduce a wisecracking Chihuahua w

ho would proclaim "Yo quiero Taco Bell." The advertising agency for the Detroit Red Wings, Bozell Worldwide, was also cooking up something that would capture the hockey zeitgeist as neatly as the Red Wings would the next two Stanley Cups.

"Hockeytown," which still graces the center-ice circle at Joe Louis Arena, remains a brilliant slogan, a motto so evocative that the Canadiens emulated it this season with "The city is hockey," evidence that Montreal has game if not syntax. Of course in Detroit in 2007 the Hockeytown moniker seems as appropriate as, well, dipping a beef taco in a glass of milk.

Detroit's Hockeytown crown has slipped. There were so many empty seats in The Joe during the playoffs last spring that you could have twirled an octopus in some rows of the upper deck and not slimed a soul. This year's home opener (against defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim) was almost 2,500 short of a sellout. The Wings still offer dazzling hockey, showcasing three of the NHL's best 20 players -- Norris Trophy defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and dynamic forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk -- but ennui now grips the denizens of the down-at-the-heels arena. Despite the team's Western Conference-leading 18-6-2 record through Sunday attendance has continued to dip. This isn't a return to the Dead Things Era, when Detroit went to the playoffs just twice from 1967 through '83, but the Wings are clearly at the yawn of a new era. They have sold just 14,500 season tickets for their 20,066-seat rink this season.

"Coming in from the airport there was a billboard advertising Red Wings tickets," St. Louis Blues goalie coach Rick Wamsley says. "I don't think I've ever seen that."

There are scads of reasons for Hockeytown turning tepid, most notably a state economy that has lost more than 300,000 jobs since 2001. (Curiously, the economy seems better a few blocks away at Comerica Park, where the Tigers drew more than three million fans for the first time in '07, and in the suburbs where the Pistons have played to 100% of capacity in their 22,076-seat arena so far this year.)

"There are lots of things at work," Detroit general manager Ken Holland says. "Steve Yzerman retired [in '06], and there were people who were Steve Yzerman fans first and Red Wings fans second. We had a work stoppage [the '04-05 lockout]. Maybe in Canada where hockey is part of the fabric you can pick right up where you left off, but here the bubble fans found other things to do. And we're fighting our own success. When we won the Cup in 2002, there were so many big names" -- Yzerman, Lidstrom, Brett Hull, Sergei Fedorov, Brendan Shanahan, Luc Robitaille, Igor Larionov -- "it's unlikely you'll ever see a team like that again in any [salary-capped] sport."

So while the Wings' Hockeytown tradition is running on fumes, you have to hit the road to find the new Hockeytown, starting with....

PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia Flyers enforcer Riley Cote and New York Rangers ruffian Colton Orr are throwing haymakers, a first-period fight so entrancing that the linesmen simply watch for 40 seconds as the sell-out crowd of 19,571 in the Wachovia Center on Nov. 15 roars its approbation. In Philadelphia this is mother's milk. The only thing better than hard-nosed hockey is broken-nosed hockey, the legacy of the Broad Street Bullies, who married skill with intimidation to win the Stanley Cup in 1974 and '75.

In modern NHL history, no Cups have ever Krazy-Glued a team to a town quite like those two. When then coach Fred Shero memorably said in the spring of 1974 that the Flyers would walk together forever if they won that first Cup, he neglected to mention that the city would be in lockstep with them. Although vitriol is supposedly the lifeblood of the Philadelphia sports fan, there is precious little directed at the Flyers, who have not won a Cup in 32 years and who last reached the final a decade ago. "Talk show hosts in this city criticize fans for not getting down on the Flyers the way they do on the Phillies, Eagles and Sixers," Flyers president Peter Luukko says. "I think that's because our fans feel they have ownership in the team."

Certainly they buy just as they buy-in. The Flyers are third in the league in attendance but claim to be first in what NHL people call "per caps" -- merchandise revenue divided by tickets sold. (When Philadelphia signed prized free agent center Daniel Brière, his number 48 jersey shot to the top of NHL merchandise sales in August.) The seats near the glass in Philly have always been crammed with fans in orange and now black jerseys, leaving the impression that opponents aren't playing against 20 Flyers but 200. Says goalie Martin Biron, traded from the Buffalo Sabres to Philadelphia last spring, "This always has been the most intimidating building in the league."

If the postlockout rule changes have eroded any of the sport's soul in a city that loves its hockey chaotic -- "The game's become so sanitized it's hard to get that primal scream for it anymore," says Al Morganti, who does a Flyers postgame show on TV -- raw numbers don't reflect it. During a seven-day period in mid-November the Flyers and their minor league affiliate, the Phantoms, who play across the parking lot in the Spectrum (and are sixth in AHL attendance despite the NHL team's presence), each had three home games. Combined attendance: 78,046. "People don't come here to see the Ducks because they won the Stanley Cup," Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren says. "They come because the Ducks are playing the Flyers. It's always been like that." Indeed. Despite missing the playoffs five straight seasons in the early 1990s, the feckless Flyers sold out 94 of 202 home games in that stretch. And although the Flyers were the worst team in the NHL last season, they still played to 98.7% of capacity at the Wachovia Center.

Bob Clarke, the Flyers' senior vice president, stands up for his team's honor now almost as aggressively as he did as the star of the Broad Street Bullies. "When Detroit was bad [in the 1980s], the Red Wings couldn't put 3,000 in their building and they were giving away cars," he says. "Buffalo had to file for bankruptcy. St. Paul looks like a huge success [now], but Minneapolis was awful when the North Stars were there. [Clarke was the North Stars G.M. when the team reached the Cup final in 1991.] This is pro Hockeytown."

Youth hockey on a downtown rink is as essential to St. Paul as the Wild and Gaborik (right).

Bruce Kluckhohn/Getty Images

So the gauntlet is thrown down, just like Cote's overhand left.

BUFFALO

Three doors lead into HSBC Arena, each topped with a frieze. The ones above the left and right doors depict goalies making sprawling glove saves; stampeding buffalo adorn the center. Almost all of the 18,690 people who will see the Sabres thump Montreal 4-1 on this night stream through those doors and mill about the lobby, creating a charged pregame atmosphere. In an era in which almost any game is available on TV or the Internet, the best reason to buy a ticket is the sense of community it offers, a chance to spend three hours with people who have shared values and shared expectations. With the teeming lobby, the Sabres offer a game and a hockey town-hall meeting.

"Last year some of our people thought we should call ourselves America's Team on Ice," says Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn two hours before the opening face-off against the Canadiens on Nov. 16. "I mean, if we're not Hockeytown, who is? But we said, let's win one or two Cups first before we start with that. I can't imagine throwing something on the ice to call attention to ourselves. It just doesn't seem like Buffalo. It seems more like Dallas."

Still, the Sabres indulged in some self-congratulation in October, when they publicized a Scarborough Research survey that said Buffalo had the NHL's most loyal fans: 28.9% of males and 21.6% of females responded that they were very or somewhat interested in the team. (In Philadelphia 12.7% of men and 7.5% of women fit that category.)

Four years after owner Tom Golisano rescued the Sabres from bankruptcy -- part of the fallout from the fraud conviction of former owner John Rigas, founder of Adelphia Communications -- the revival has been stunning. "I had friends with season tickets who couldn't give them away," says Brière, an ex-Sabre. But now, helped in part by a cut in prices, the season ticket base is at 14,800, up from 6,200 at its nadir. Even though fewer than 1,000 seats in HSBC Arena are purchased by corporations, Buffalo sold every available ticket last season and will likely do the same in 2007-08.

This is mom-and-pop hockey, supported by people who, in Quinn's estimation, spend more of their disposable income on hockey than fans in any other city. Says Sabres equipment manager Rip Simonick, who was with the team when it entered the league 37 years ago, "This is a small city, shrinking before our eyes" -- according to the 2006 census, there were about 180,000 more people in Buffalo in 1970 than today's 276,059 -- "but people here appreciate that hockey is a hard, physical game. You work for every dollar here. If you give an effort, the fans will always be there for you."

It is no accident that the NHL chose Buffalo to be the site of the league's first outdoor game in the U.S. The Sabres will host the Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium, 10 miles from downtown, on New Year's Day. The 41,000 tickets made available to the public sold out in a half hour.

"There's a trauma here, with so many people's kids having moved out of town," Quinn says. "Sports for a Buffalo person is an outlet to fight back against that trauma. It's almost like a cause. For a lot of people Sabres tickets are what they do instead of taking vacations. I ask people, 'How can you afford it?' They say, 'Well, we go to 40 games instead of going to Florida, and we don't take a summer vacation.' "

"In some ways," G.M. Darcy Regier says, "this is like small-town Canada."

Exactly. And Buffalo is a little too much small-town Canada to qualify as Hockeytown U.S.A. Only 8% of the Sabres' season-ticket base is Canadian, but on any given night a fifth of the Buffalo crowd has braved Peace Bridge customs' checks and come from eh-droppin' southern Ontario. Filling the building with imports is like setting a wind-aided world record.

ST. PAUL

In the pregame darkness of the sold-out arena, a child bathed in a spotlight's amber glow skates to center ice and plants a Minnesota Wild flag. This simple gesture guarantees the Wild a nightly goose-bump moment -- one that's a nod to the essence of hockey in the city that has become the game's epicenter. Unlike in, say, Philadelphia, hockey in St. Paul grows from the bottom up. When the child plants that Wild flag at the Xcel Energy Center, says Les Larson, director of development for college hockey's Hobey Baker Award, "it's about hockey moms driving to the rink, the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich a kid grabs before going to play, about the pickup games guys played. It strikes a chord."

The Wild has sold every ticket to every game since it entered the NHL as an expansion team in 2000, but it has never tried to bigfoot hockey in a city that was home to America's iconic coach, Herb Brooks; the No. 2 U.S.-born career NHL scorer, South St. Paul's Phil Housley; the only cartoonist to draw a Zamboni-driving bird, Charles Schulz; and the leading state high school tournament in the nation. This is the unwritten hockey schedule in the Twin Cities: boys' hockey Tuesday night, girls' hockey Thursday night, the University of Minnesota Friday and Saturday nights. Boys and girls also play on Saturday afternoon. It is no coincidence that the Wild often plays on Wednesday and Sunday. This is a franchise respectful of the game, aware of its niche and almost obsequious in its treatment of fans. Minnesota high school hockey jerseys ring the outer concourse of the arena. Pictures of season-ticket holders appear on game tickets. The Wild even employs a full-time hockey curator to protect and promote the state's hockey heritage.

"This reminds me of Calgary when I first went there," says G.M. Doug Risebrough, who played in the NHL for 13 years and was traded from Montreal to Calgary in 1982. "They'd just gotten the franchise [in '80], and there was the same sort of enthusiasm, a feeling of, let's grow up together."

The lingering question: How can any Hockeytown aspirant have lost an NHL team, as the Twin Cities, the 15th largest T.V. market in the U.S., did when owner Norm Green took the North Stars to Dallas in 1993? Those North Stars did, as Clarke suggested, have attendance problems -- but those were precipitated in large part by an ownership that alienated the fan base. The team played its games in Bloomington, and Green complained bitterly about not being able to play in downtown Minneapolis at the Target Center. Fans were also put off by a high profile sexual harassment suit that Green ended up settling out of court. Attendance shriveled to just 7,838 per game in 1990-91 and Green called it quits two seasons later, moving to the virgin territory of the southwest.

Now Minnesotans are buying what the Wild is selling. Season tickets are capped at 16,500; the waiting list is 7,500. There are 32 stations on the team's radio network, extending through the Dakotas, into Iowa and Wisconsin and even Thunder Bay, Ont. NHL hockey again appears entrenched, despite the many other options available.

"If you aren't happy with the pro team," says Wild assistant coach Mike Ramsey, who is from Minneapolis and played for the University of Minnesota, "you say, 'I'm going to a high school game. I'm going to see the [Minnesota] Gophers. I'm going to St. Cloud [State, a Division I program an hour from the Twin Cities].' "

What further sets a Buffalo-sized city apart from, say, Buffalo, is its growth potential. Mark Jorgensen, executive director of Minnesota Hockey, which oversees the game at the amateur level in the state, says girls' hockey, which accounted for 14.6% of youth players in 1998-99, is up to 21.5%.

"If you go to a rink now, there's a good chance there'll be girls on the ice," Risebrough says. "Years from now I think you'll find lots of mothers with their sons and daughters at our games because this is what they did."

Expect no less in St. Paul, America's new Hockeytown.

Finale Redux: the end of Heroes season 2.1

2007-12-04T16:02:00.000-06:00

Heroes Redux: Who's Dead and Who's Not, with Special Guests Adrian Pasdar and Leonard Roberts!

Now you've seen it. Now you know. (And you shouldn't read another word if you haven't seen last night's Heroes!)

Our beloved Adrian Pasdar (Nathan), Ali Larter (Niki) and David Anders (Adam) were all apparently killed off—shot, blown up and buried alive.

It reminds me of a little line I just heard: "You show me a hero, and I'll show you a dead man." And funny enough, that line was written by Mr. Adrian Pasdar himself, for his new play Atlanta, a Civil War-era musical playing at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

Adrian cowrote and directed Atlanta, and he cast his good friend and old Heroes buddy Leonard Roberts (D.L.) as one of the leading men. (Yes, D.L. sings! And he's good!) So, I hit the theater of the weekend to chat about the play and ask the money Q: Is Nathan gone for good?

See for yourself what Adrian says in the clip above! Then keep on reading for the scoop on who's really gone and who's coming back in the last Heroes ep we'll see for a while...

WHAT WE LEARNED

Three Heroes Have Fallen—Who Will Rise? We all know Claire's blood can save the world and pretty much everyone in it, so who'll get the hot cheerleader injection (wait, that sounded dirty) and come back to the show? Based on what I'm hearing from inside sources, here's where I'd put my money...

Ali Larter: According to Heroes insiders, Niki is not expected to return to the show. But her devilish alter ego, Jessica? Oh yeah, we'll see her as soon as the show comes back to the beloved airwaves—when the strike is through! At least, that's the plan according to sources who tell me producers had "done all they could do" with Niki. Micah is not gonna be happy. But at least he'll have Monica...

David Anders: I'd bet my beloved, signed Hiro poster that Hiro's sworn nemesis will return. (I've seen that '90s flick The Vanishing and know people can be dug up after being buried alive! Maybe we can even get Kiefer Sutherland to do the digging!) Sources tell me it's not set in stone, but the tentative plan is for Adam Monroe to be back to torment our favorite squinty teleporter—i.e., the "carp." Here's hoping he does.

Adrian Pasdar: I've heard the production and writing staff is somewhat split as to whether Nathan should return to the show. Allow me to be the first to say WTF? Heroes without the brothers would be like Prison Break or Brothers & Sisters without the brothers: a waste of time! Surely Claire's blood can save her own father, right?! Let's say a little prayer for the older Petrelli, shall we?

Also in this episode...

Peter's powers—picked a peck of pickled peppers? How great is Milo Ventimiglia mixing up electricity, radiation, telekinesis, teleportation and mind reading? If Volume III: Villains is about Peter vs. Sylar, then sign me up!

Did anyone else sense a little Elle-Mohinder chemistry? Matt, don't look now, but you might have some competition!

Instant postep spec on the Internet is that HRG shot Nathan, as his side of the deal with the Company to protect Claire.

What happens when Micah becomes a sad little kid with no parents and a lot of power?

From reader Gerald: "How did Claire's blood fix HRG's glasses? Is there a LensCrafters at Primatech?" Ha.

WHAT LIES AHEAD

Books? Knitting circles? Fierce Jenga competitions? Sock-drawer reorganization?

As you may have heard, this is the last Heroes we'll get until the bad thing (strike) ends, so we'll have to find some other way to bide our time!

Those of you who live in Los Angeles can always go and visit two possibly dead guys (nooo) over at Adrian and Leonard's new musical, Atlanta.

It's playing through Jan. 6, and I should tell you, it's good enough to make Adrian's toughest critic—his wife, Natalie Maines (pictured above with Adrian, Leonard and actress Amie Farrell)—tear it up on opening night. (And I hear she knows something about music.)

Something to be excited about on this cold Tuesday morning...

2007-12-04T07:55:00.000-06:00

CBS announced its schedule for new and returning primetime series in January and February:
Jan 2: Power of 10 at 8p
Jan 13, 15 and 16: Comanche Moon (miniseries Parts 1, 2 and 3) at 9p
Jan 28: The Captain at 830p and The New Adventures of Old Christine at 930p
Feb 7: Survivor 16 at 8p
Feb 12: Big Brother 9 at 9p and Jericho at 10p

Happy 26th, Brit Brit

2007-12-02T21:14:00.000-06:00

Happy 26th to the 14th Dumbest Person in Hollywood.

Hope 26 treats you better than 25, Brit Brit.

Uh oh... Gaby Gab's in trouble.

2007-12-02T01:08:00.000-06:00

I have to say, I saw it coming. The entire time I was watching Desperate Housewives, I felt like Victor would be alive and would make Gaby and Carlos pay for what they tried to do to him. I don't think his revenge is going to have anything to do with putting them behind bars. I think it certainy does have something to do with constant blackmail and forcing Gaby to remain in an unhappy marriage until she can find a way to connive her way out of it for good.

Most importantly to me about this episode was the reconciliation between Andrew and Bree at the end of the show. While the disclosure about Lynette's former stepfather was a prety big deal, I was so happy to see Andrew and Bree finally put everything behind them that we have seen them deal with since the show started a few years ago. I have to assume that he will move home eventually, maybe because Bree will convince him she needs him (because that apartment looked a bit on the sketchy side). But that was my bright light of the week... Andrew Van de Kamp is a big boy now, and I'm pretty proud of him... or at least as proud as you can be of a fictional character on a primetime soap.

Of all people.... Lyle Lovett?

2007-12-02T01:02:00.000-06:00

On Brothers & Sisters, things have been shaken up. Lena has moved from Tommy to Justin, due to the fact that Julia has returned and Tommy is attempting to salvage his marriage. Sarah has a man who seems to be a new love interest. Nora tracked down her former high school flame (via Google, of course) and invited him to Kitty's wedding. And then there's Kevin. After pining away, he finally received his long-awaited call from the completely adorable Jason. And yet, he kicked him to the curb in favor of the tumultuous relationship he hopes to once again enjoy with Scottie.

So on a more stable front, things are finally getting put into place for the big Walker-McAllister wedding. The biggest problems certainly seemed to be the lack of a song for a dance and the fact that Kitty felt forced into wearing a recycled dress. After a couple of altercations with the Senator, he went out of his way to surprise her at the Greek Theatre in LA with a song that he thought was fitting. A man with that many ties... a man who says EVERY romantic song makes him think of his fiancee... and who does he hunt down to serenade them? Why... none other than Lyle Lovett.

The sentiment behind it was nice and all... but something just seemed off about the choice.

And finally... I'm glad to see that they are building depth into Rebecca's character. For someone who somewhat caused the divorced of her long-lost sister, she certainly comes off as a sympathetic character and I, for one, was quite pleased to see her show her Walker-ness to her half sisters at the bridal salon. And yet, I still find myself hoping that she isn't ACTUALLY a Walker, as the chemistry with Justin is simply palpable. Emily Van Camp throws me off with all of this dating she does in real life with her TV brothers.

Ned spills a big secret.

2007-12-02T00:48:00.000-06:00

The last two weeks of Pushing Daisies, it has certainly seemed like something big was right around the corner. Things had jus been too lovely and happy (you know, aside from all of the death and murder...) for too long. Olive and Chuck are the best of pals? Chuck and Emerson are even getting along? Chuck's crazy aunts are getting ready for a return to being the Darling Mermaid Darlings?

Clearly... something had to happen to stir that up.

The first time, it was an attempt on Ned & Emerson's lives at the hands of Napoleon LeNez. The words "death by scratch-n-sniff" sound pretty ridiculous, that's easy for me to admit. And yet, it's one of those things that Pushing Daisies can get away with and it doesn't seem all that ridiculous at all. Another thing I noticed while watching last week's episode is the fact that all of the characters on the show have great storybook names. Napoleon LeNez and Oscar Vibenious? How about Billy and Tilly Balsam? They sound like they are straight out of a fairy tale... something that makes Pushing Daisies all the more endearing each week.

So in two weeks, we have seen death by scratch n sniff and death by saltwater taffy... two fantastic episodes from a show that is more originally brilliant every single week.

But the most important occurrence of all is obviously the fact that Ned ended the Bitter Sweets episode by telling Chuck his biggest secret... that he is responsible for the death of her father. And while he was completely innocent in the occurrence, I'm fairly certain Chuck will have a hard time understanding his silence... so here's to hoping tha they can work it out and give themselves a couple of great self-hugs.

Poor, poor B

2007-12-02T00:39:00.000-06:00

As usual, Gossip Girl doesn't disappoint.

And with the holidays kicking off, extra drama was almost certainly a guarantee. But who knew that the majority of said drama would be between the parents of Manhattan's elite and not their debutante teenage children. Between Alison-Rufus-Lily, Mr. & Mrs. Archibald, and Mr. & Mrs. Waldorf, it was the parents who were spinning out of control during Thanksgiving of 2007.

But unlike this Thanksgiving, it is clear that the bulk of Serena's problems were realized over Thanksgiving the year before. While no reason has yet been given for Serena's departure to boarding school, one could certainly assume that her excessive drinking and passing out at the Waldorf Thanksgiving celebration had something to do with it. And presumably, Thanksgiving of years past were much happier times for Blair Waldorf and Nate Archibald as well. The clearer signs of happiness were evident in 2006... unlike the more angst-ridden times of today.

As for the Van der Woodsen/Humphrey clan, the inevitable happened. Clearly the children were going to find out someday about Rufus and Lily's past, but I don't think the parents envisioned it happening at a joint Thanksgiving question. Perhaps I'm the only one, but I was almost hoping that Rufus was going to select Lily when he was given the ultimatum. Alison deserves very little from Rufus at this point. Clearly there is history that we're still not yet aware of due to the amount of hate that Alison spewed in Lily's direction, but I certainly think that running off and having an affair makes it pretty difficult for her to judge.

But can we get back to the Nate/Jenny storyline please? I liked where that was headed! And I have to say, the episode did seem to be lacking something with no Chuck Bass...

The 50 Dumbest People in Hollywood

2007-12-01T19:24:00.000-06:00

Courtesy of Entertainment Weekly:

1. Lindsay Lohan - poor movie choices ("I Know Who Killed Me"), delinquent behavior and bad taste in men.
2. Kim Kardashian - because it is sad when you leak your sex tape and nobody cares.
3. Spencer Pratt - who thinks his life on MTV's "The Hills" is reality - and believes we think so, too.
4. Jeff Kwatinetz - the man that gave the okay for Britney Spears' disastrous MTV Video Music Awards performance.
5. Shia LaBeouf - the 21 year-old "Transformers" star, for getting arrested while refusing to leave a Walgreens pharmacy.
The other "winners":
6. Heidi Montag, reality television star
7. Jessica Simpson, singer
8. Kiefer Sutherland, actor, recurring drunk driver
9. Tori Spelling, former teen actress/daughter of a media mogul
10. Rumer Willis, daughter of two famous people
11. Nick Hogan, son of pro wrestler
12. Courtney Love, aging rock chick, disaster
13. J.R. Rotem, music producer and possible Britney Spears baby daddy
14. Britney Spears, pop star, train wreck
15. Brad Garrett, comedian, paparazzi hater
16. Ken Paves, celebrity hairdresser, hanger-on
17. Jennifer Love Hewitt, actress
18. Brad Womack, indecisive Bachelor
19. Michael Jackson, former singer, mess
20. Cash Warren, celebrity boyfriend
21. Audrina Patridge, "The Hills" star, vapid conversationalist
22. Wilmer Valderamma, actor?
23. Vanessa Minnillo, former VJ, celebrity girlfriend
24. Mel Gibson, actor, drunk driver
25. Michael Richards, comedian, racist
26. Brandon Davis, party boy, racist
27. Isiah Washington, actor, homophobe
28. Charlie Sheen, actor
29. Denise Richards, actress
30. Alec Baldwin, actor, cell phone abuser
31. Chad Michael Murray, serial fiance
32. Steve-O, public nudist
33. Nicole Richie, directionally challenged driver
34. Janice Dickinson, big-mouthed former supermodel
35. Adrienne Curry, reality star and grammatically challenged blogger
36. Anne Heche, self-described crazy person
37. Bai Ling, fashion disaster, C-lister
38. Kevin Federline, serial sperminator
39. Shar Jackson, slept with Kevin Federline
40. Scott Baio, "Charles in Charge"
41. Dustin Diamond, washed-up teen actor and porn star
42. Tila Tequila, reality show bisexual
43. Russell Crowe, phone thrower
44. Kristin Cavallari, not even famous after "Laguna Beach"
45. Nick Carter, Backstreet Boy
46. Vanessa Hudgens, Disney star, nude picture poser
47. Michelle Rodriguez, public nuisance
48. David Hasselhoff, public disaster
49. Joe Francis, Girls Gone Wild creator, inmate
50. Tom Sizemore, probation violator

The geniuses at 30 Rock are at it again.

2007-12-01T00:17:00.001-06:00

It just keeps getting better.

If anyone ever complains to me about the state of television (particularly comedy) today, I will certainly point them in the direction of 30 Rock. After being shocked that the Office didn't win this year's Emmy for Best Comedy, I decided to check out 30 Rock to see what could have possibly beat it.

And now? I get it. It's one genius episode after another.

This episode was called Cougars and primarily revolved around Liz Lemon dating a younger guy (17 years younger and legally unable to drink, to be precise). While that was funny enough in its own right... the fact that Jenna had to--predictably--try to one up her made it even better. Then again... maybe that's not why she was "dating" a 12 year old... but I'm not betting on it. (Cue Liz: "where did you two meet, an Amber Alert?")

Even better was the fact that Jenna initially tried to hit on the 20 year old coffee boy only to get Liz's reaction of "give it up Jenna, you're talking to an ultrasound!" And yet, she still allowed herself to be talked into the date, and boy am I glad about that. Because had we not... we would never have heard Liz begging "I'm 37... please don't make me go to Brooklyn!" The awkwardness of the Lemon is one of the few things I need to get me through my Thursday night, and that comment alone made me want to hand them the 2008 Emmy as well.

And back in the land of Jack Donaghy, Kenneth the Page, and Tracy Jordan... the fact that the three of them attempted to coach an inner-city baseball team together is reason enough to watch the episode. Beyond the fact that the kids suggested their greatest role models to that point were R. Kelly and Michael Vick, they thought Jack Donaghy was a king... something I'm sure he'll not soon let us forget.

And most importantly, Tracy introduced the title to his upcoming book about the topic and it reminded me of possibly my favorite quote from the Office of all time... so I leave you with those.

Dwight Schrute: Right now the title of Michael's book is 'Something Weird is Going on... colon... What Did Jan Say?' The Michael Scott Story. By Michael Scott with Dwight Schrute.

Tracy Jordan: Betrayal... colon... what really happened with my baseball team... comma... disaster at Knuckle Beach... question mark

Not sure which I like better, but those are two books I'd certainly love to read.

Brian...... George?

2007-12-01T00:05:00.000-06:00

Well, the secret's out. In a not-so-huge surprise, it was revealed that Brian was the non-Darling darling. I was a little worried that the writers would have some sort of sick storyline and make Karen the half-sibling. If so, I may have had to tune out... between that and Rebustin on Brothers & Sisters, ABC needed to lay off the implied incest.

Seth Green.... your neck just blew up!

2007-11-30T23:56:00.000-06:00

Usually Grey's Anatomy delivers a pretty solid episode when it really counts. Such was the case with the Thanksgiving episode this year. After the cop out that was last year's ferry crash, I wasn't expecting much. I am finding that the less time spent on the George/Izzie relationship, the more likely I am to completely love the episode.

I knew Alex was bound to get caught. I certainly didn't think Lexie would find out about Eva by meeting her while viewing a surgery. Not smart, Karev... not smart at all.

Something about Meredith wasn't so easy to hate this episode either. Perhaps it was the fact that she seemed to actually have an emotional connection with someone (in this case, the paramedics). It's not something that happens too often, but perhaps it's an attempt to make her more endearing to the fans once again so that they have something to root for.

I don't know that I will ever spend any time or energy hoping for the perfect lovey dovey world of MerDer. I'm much more concerned with finding Dr. Torres a nice man who isn't a dirty philanderer like George or Sloane.

And was I the only one who found it strange that Lexie basically referred to Alex as her boyfriend? If there's one thing we all know about Karev, it's that the label "boyfriend" is one that will likely NEVER apply to him. But good try, hun.

Sean becomes Christian?

2007-11-30T23:55:00.000-06:00

I feel like a broken record.

Nip/Tuck is taking things too far... it's make it unenjoyable to watch and yadda yadda yadda. It's hard for me to find much else to say about this week's episode other than that I'm glad that the butt pirate wasn't there again.

They need to tone it down and focus on the family dynamic for a little while.

The best movie I've seen in a long time.

2007-11-30T23:51:00.000-06:00

I would like to interrupt my regularly scheduled TV ramblings to bring a movie recommendation to the masses (yes, all four of you).

When it comes out in your area.... run, don't walk, to see Juno. Beyond the fact that there is a completely hilarious Rainn Wilson cameo to start the show... you get to hear hilarious things such as those listed below:

Rollo: That ain't no etch-a-sketch. That's one doodle that can't be un-did, homeskillet.

Plus... you cannot even begin to believe how completely adorable Ellen Page is. The girl deserves an Oscar nomintation like it's nobody's business. I promise you that people will be talking about this movie... so see it and you will thank me.

Project Runway: the hardest task... ever?

2007-11-30T23:45:00.001-06:00

After a week of build up to see what Heidi Klum considered the most difficult assignment in Project Runway history, I was beyond let down. I expected a challenge where the clothing had to be made of metal or paper or (as my coworker predicted), woven on a loom.

But menswear? Is that really THAT hard?

Apparently it is, if anyone paid attention to this week's episode. Do women not wear suits and pants and dress shirts? Sure, the proportions are different, but it's not as if they are THAT different that it's an entirely different product.

Clearly, Carmen, Sweet P, and Ricky deserved to be in the bottom. After seeing the episode, I'm very agreeable with the fact that Carmen was the one to go but was disappointed as I had expected big things from her in the long run. As I have established with my coworkers, I am 100% a Kit fan. This is even more true after this week (which I thought she should have won over Jack). Count me in Victorya's camp as well... but Kit is my favorite.

And now I bring to my blog a new feature... the Obnoxitron of the Week.
This week's award goes to Christian Siriano of Project Runway. Seriously kid, get a haircut.

Ding dong, Trasha's gone.

2007-11-30T23:38:00.000-06:00

It finally happened.

The Real World fight I have been waiting for since the first time Trisha opened her mouth in Sydney finally happened.

I got a little nervous that Parisa was going to be persuaded by her roommates (three of whom we will get to in a minute). If I was in her shoes, I would absolutely want Trisha on the first plane back to the states. Aside from the fact that it is completey against the contract to be physically aggressive toward other cast members, Trisha should have been removed long before due to her emotional abuse.

I always find it interesting when people who are bigoted and mean hearted call themselves Christians. I may not spend much time in church these days, but I do recall things I learned growing up and I don't think Jesus' message was one of hatred and abuse. Trisha is disgusting.

But beyond the fact that Trisha disgusts me... Kelly Anne and Ashli deserve to be right up in that same category. Spitting on the window while she was on the phone? I just can't imagine defending someone who acted the way that Trisha did. If I lived in a house with those girls, I can certainly hope that I would have supported Parisa in this issue. Sometimes being a bystander makes you worse than the person responsible for the abuse. Sure, we dont' see everything, but you can't put the words into Trisha's mouth that she said. Luckily she left so she didn't leave impressions of the stereotypical ignorant American on anymore people. We don't need her as a representative for our country.

As for Dunbar... it made me happy to hear him tell Parisa he is glad she did what she needed to do for herself. The other three were simply worthless in the situation and who would've thought that Dunbar would be the voice of reason and sanity?

Alan Dale, don't quit your day job.

2007-11-30T23:28:00.000-06:00

First he died as Caleb Nichol on The OC. Now he has died similarly (yet another heart attack) as Bradford Meade on Ugly Betty, which has been the focus of the last two weeks on the show. It's as though the WGA is trying to tell Alan Dale something. Or perhaps he's just really good at playing wealthy men we love to hate who are stressing themselves into the grave.

Of course, as far as Ugly Betty goes, people don't generally disappear right away once they have died. As was the case with Santos, visions of Bradford continued... this time haunting Betty. Normally such a thing might seem to be a little much, but because of the purpose that the visions served in the show, I think they were extremely important. Of course I never believed that Betty would stay away from Mode for long, but I think the way in which they got her to go back was about as well handled as it could be in the Betty World.

What wasn't necessary? The attempted usage of a little person as comic relief. That is one of my serious pet peeves. While I realize there was a reconciliation at the end between Alexis and the little man whose name I never caught, it still seemed pretty unecessary to me.

I'm fairly excited to see what is going to happen with the creation of Slater. My prediction is that people are (clearly) going to go crawling back to Mode until it is just down to Mark and Wilhelmina. I can't foresee Wilhelmina going back to Mode under its current management, but I also wouldn't be surprised if she's able to "find" a loophole in Bradford's will that assures she keeps her job or something to that effect. I almost hope it's the case... because the best part of the show is the in-office interaction between Mark and Amanda (not to be confused with Henry's other girlfriend, "Lamanda") and I am not ready to sacrifice that.

And as always... Amanda has stolen the show. There's no doubt in my mind that she will someday work her way up the corporate ladder and out of the receptionist's desk... I just can't wait to see how she does it. If there is one undervalued member of that cast, it is the brilliant Becki Newton. The girl deserves props.

Oh Kelly, honey... your head must hurt often.

2007-11-30T18:16:00.000-06:00

The new single from Jack Johnson

2007-11-29T18:03:00.001-06:00

Check it out kiddie pies. Liking it more than anything I heard on In Between Dreams... good good good!

Jack Johnson’s new single “If I Had Eyes”

November 28, 2007

Listen to Jack Johnson’s new single “If I Had Eyes” Exclusively on Brushfire Records! Check out the “featured track” on the home page of BrushfireRecords.com.

The single will be available for purchase on Itunes starting December 11th. You will be able to buy the single, or preorder the new album, “Sleep Through The Static” and get the single delivered immediately as part of your album purchase.

Also, Jack’s Australia & New Zealand tour dates have been announced for 2008. Keep an eye out for more tour dates…

You can find the new song here!

Justin Bobby is on his way out...

2007-11-29T15:43:00.000-06:00

As much as I thought Justin Bobby got a bad rap on The Hills this season, he more than earned his fate as Audrina's ex-yet-again this week. Perhaps now he will meet someone who will be able to convince him to wash his gorgeous hair.

Even more nauseating than the J. Bobbers was the appearance of the She Pratt. Apparently the girl didn't know what she was in for since now her mugshot has been popping up all over the internet. But I agree with Lauren's sentiments. She Pratt is much scarier than Spencer a.k.a. Chompers because of the greater likelihood of a physical altercation. I wouldn't put anything past those Pratts... they seem to have evil simply lurking in their bones.

Courtesy of the fine folks who brought us Pearl the Landlord... here is a reenactment of a typical Audrina/Justin Bobby date now that the WGA is on strike. Watch and enjoy.

Samantha Newly, Resident Puck Bunny

2007-11-28T12:04:00.000-06:00

I knew I liked Sammy Who... but now I'm even more convinced. A hockey fan so hardcore that she would fake paralysis to get front row? I like it. And I can't blame her. She feels much the same about her Blackhawks as I do about my Wild. It's obsession at its strongest.

Also, important to note about this episode was the fact that Andrea was surprisingly refreshing after she was knocked down a peg by Mr. Private Jet to Rome. For whatever reason, I think she and Dina (who still annoys me to no end) make a good team... and I also think Sammy Who Who needs a couple of new friends as well... just to change things up again.

And lastly, but more important than anything... admire the beauty of the Cibrian.

The weekly Heroes redux from WWK at E! Online

2007-11-27T16:35:00.000-06:00

Heroes Redux: One to Go; Three to Die

"Two Heroes will fall. One villain will rise."

Trust me, that NBC promo dude ain't kiddin' in the Heroes teaser that aired tonight! And frankly, I'm a wee bit scared about the two impending deaths in next week's winter finale...which I have a little exclusive scoop on below.

But first, let's dig into what went down tonight!

WHAT WE LEARNED

Peter Petrelli Is a Selfish Little Prat: Sorry, Milo, me still love you long time, but that was some ridiculous motivation you kept expressing in tonight's episode! Let me get this straight: You went to the future. You saw that ninety-freaking-three percent of the entire world population had perished because of that pesky virus, but your primary concern is to save some Irish trollop you met in a bar a few weeks ago? Yes, Caitlin is perfectly lovely, but if The Bachelor has taught us nothing else this week, it's that you cannot develop strong feelings in that amount of time. How about a little concern for humanity at large?!...Ahem. Sorry. Had to vent.

Claire-Bear's Never Been Better: Okay, granted, I can't really follow her logic of how showing the world her ability will make her story about her father's death automatically true, but hot damn, Hayden P was certainly on top of her game tonight, giving the likes of Sally Field in Steel Magnolias a run for her money as far as believable and heart-tugging tears. (Okay, maybe that's a bit of a stretch, but still, I was moved!) (And psst...Worry not! Claire won't be crying much longer.)

Alejandro, We Hardly Knew Ye... But we knew ye a lot longer than we were supposed to! Don't forget what Shalim Ortiz told us when he stopped by the illustrious WWK studios (aka my office) to chat: He was only supposed to be in one or two episodes. So he was living on borrowed time and should move on to greener and fan-friendly pastures. RIP, Alejandro.

Adam Is 100 Percent Bad Boy (and Not in the Fun Sort of Gangsta Way): Lest it not be clear, Adam's sole intentions are to release strain number 138 of the virus on the population, in order to wipe the slate clean on humanity and enact his plan for world domination. Sorta makes Sylar look like a wounded putty-tat, does he not? (Not to mention David Anders' original evil mastermind on Alias, the delicious Mr. Sark.) This is some serious evil!

WHAT LIES AHEAD

In next week's winter finale, three Heroes will die.

We'll call the first death Final, the second death Uncertain and the third death Reversed (thanks to Claire's miracle juice—yay!). (And no, they don't go down in that order.)

Although you may be shocked by all of these deaths—because they are all series regulars and very pretty people!—you probably won't cry over Final or Reversed (that's just my hunch). But if Uncertain turns out to stick, well, let's just say the Heroes producers best be stocking up on some hazmat suits for the s--t storm that's about to erupt! The fans will not be happy.

(P.S.: In other winter-finale news, Mama Petrelli just might be the worst mother ever in the history of the planet, while Noah Bennet has my vote for Father of the Year, while Sylar is the Comeback Kid.)

Holy Sylar... I'm scared again!

2007-11-26T23:59:00.000-06:00

Heroes made me jump up and down, cover my mouth, and scream this week.

It was just one of those episodes where nothing incredibly phenomenal happened, but then the end threw in such a twist that I could hardly stand it.

This week it was the fact that Sylar showed up at Mohinder & Matt's apartment (and FYI, why did they trust a babysitter???) and called Mo-Mo while he sat next to a sleeping Molly. Nothing about the murder of Alejandro shocked me, I think we all saw that coming a mile away. But Molly? She may be completely annoying but she does seem to have an important power as far as the story goes, so I certainly hope she's not one of the three deaths next week.

After seeing the Elle/Claire faceoff, I am even MORE convinced of their sisterliness. There has to be some sort of shocking revelation coming as to those two... there just has to.

Just another day in the life of the Coultergeist.

2007-11-26T22:04:00.000-06:00

From The Smoking Gun:

Ann Coulter Addresses Space Invaders
Pundit secures less liberal disclosure of her Palm Beach location

NOVEMBER 27--It's not easy being Ann Coulter. In response to being hassled at her Florida home, the conservative author has successfully petitioned Palm Beach officials to remove her address from county property records. The 45-year-old Coulter's move was apparently spurred by several incidents, the most recent of which occurred earlier this year. As first reported by the Palm Beach Post, Coulter contacted police in March to report that a vulgar greeting card was left in her mailbox and, on another occasion, she heard someone screaming "Ann Coulter is a big a**hole" from a vacant lot near her house. The pink and white card, which had "Go f*** yourself" printed on its face, included several denigrating handwritten statements, including, "The only things left after a nuclear war are you and cockroaches," according to Palm Beach Police Department reports, copies of which you'll find below. No arrests have been made in connection with the Coulter incidents.

Important Bdays from around the state...

2007-11-23T23:15:00.000-06:00

Carmen Cali - 11/4 - 29 years old

Nick Punto - 11/8 - 30 years old

Stephane Veilleux - 11/16 - 26 years old

Joe Nathan - 11/22 - 33 years old

Kurtis Foster - 11/24 - 26 years old

Branko Radivojevic - 11/24 - 27 years old

Petteri Nummelin - 11/25 - 35 years old

Matt Garza - 11/26 - 24 years old

Pavol Demitra - 11/29 - 33 years old

Kristin's take on Bradley W.

2007-11-21T17:31:00.000-06:00

Bachelor Scandal: Why Did Brad Do It?

In case you missed the season finale or last night’s “After the Final Rose” special of The Bachelor (and let’s face it, most of you probably did), there’s something you should know: It was bonkers. Like, looney-tuney, screwy-Louie, someone-went-off-his-meds bonkers.

Not only did Bachelor Brad choose neither girl (ouch), he offered no real explanation last night for this colossal diss. And one look at my email in-box will show you that the Bachelor-viewing fan base is Up. In. Arms.

“Why, why, whyyyyyyy would he do this to Jenny and DeAnna?” begs reader Teresa K. in Indiana. “Is there no hope that a guy can actually willingly commit? Why would he walk away?”

I'll tell you why...

Brad Womack was paid off by the Writers Guild of America to kill reality TV.

Okay, so that’s not true.

Not even a little bit. But they should cut this guy a big, fat check anyway, because he has helped destroy what little faith the fans had left in this six-year-old reality-relationship staple—and with strike talks resuming Monday, it couldn’t have come at a better time!

More seriously, though, based on what I’ve heard about what went down behind the scenes, the problem with Brad is the same problem The Bachelor has had from the very beginning: The last thing these guys want to do is settle down after dating 25 girls all at once.

While the series does have two “success stories” (namely, Trista and Ryan and Byron and Mary, who were paraded last night as a reminder), the fact is that most ridiculously good-looking, thirtysomething single guys aren’t exactly freaking out trying to find someone to settle down and knock up.

And when you put a guy in a house with dozens of hot girls who are all clawing one another’s eyes out for the chance to jump in bed with him, suddenly “making a lifelong commitment” is right up there with “take advantage of that root canal/testical wax special” on a Bachelor’s to-do list.

Wanna know how noncommittal these guys can be? Well, let’s just say I’ve heard stories over the years about there being a little “friendly competition” to see which Bachelor could sleep with the most bachelorettes. I know...Ewww.

So, all that said, when the ring was bought and the father was flown in for the big season-finale proposal (by the way, how much do you think DeAnna’s dad wants to kick Brad’s ass?), and words like love and family and commitment were being tossed around, it seems only right that Brad would freak out, choke up and walk away.

If you ask me, it’s a miracle it has ever happened any other way.

Funniest. episode. ever.

2007-11-21T17:23:00.000-06:00

Liz Lemon: Didn’t you just get a haircut two days ago?
Jack Donaghy: I get my haircut every two days. After all, your hair is your head suit. I’m going to a party tonight honoring Robert Novak. It’s being thrown by John McCain and Jack Bauer.
Liz Lemon: Um, I don’t think he’s real.
Jack Donaghy: Oh, I assure you, Lemon, John McCain is very real. I have to look perfect. When it comes to hair, no one is more bitchy than conservative males. They can be brutal.
Liz Lemon: Well, have fun. Don’t get peer pressured into invading Iran!

Every episode of 30 Rock should have a guest star like Carmela Soprano.

Edie Falco as Jack Donaghy's newest love interest, CC, was pure genius. And her pure genius brings out the best in Jackie D. See below.

C.C.: I got all the way to Harlem when I heard Wagner coming from my phone.
Jack Donaghy: Harlem?
C.C.: I’m working out of the Clinton offices for a few weeks. I’m helping Hillary retool her universal health-care platform.
Jack Donaghy: God, I wanna kiss you on the mouth to stop you from saying such ridiculous things.

Also... way to go Liz Lemon. Way to not recognize that your neighbor is just training for the Amazing Race and instead report him to Homeland Security. Nice job! Fred Armisen was awesome on the show... lets hope the neighbs stick around for a while.

Shonda Rhimes LOVES triangles.

2007-11-21T17:17:00.000-06:00

Right there with Grey's Anatomy... Shonda has delved into the world of the love triangle on Private Practice. Along with Meredith-Derek-Addison, Derek-Addison-Mark, Izzie-George-Callie, Izzie-Alex-Olivia, Alex-Izzie-Denny, McSteamy-Meredith-McVet, Tucker-Ellis-Chief, and any other combination you can think of... we now have cute cop-Addison-Pete and Dell-Naomi-Sam.

I'm rooting for the cop. The inter-practice romance has been done and done and done by this gang... Addison especially.

Joel McHale... the polygamist.

2007-11-21T17:14:00.001-06:00

If you're not watching Pushing Daisies, allow me to tell you again: you are missing out.

Continually refreshing and new, this week's episode of Pushing Daisies was nothing short of brilliant. First of all, Joel McHale from The Soup was the second E! employee to make a cameo on the show. As a polygamist who was killed by one of his canine-obsessed wives, he joined Kristin Dos Santos in the E! personality turned dead person club.

I do hope that we see more of Simone/Emerson. That boy needs a little love in his life... he's got a major case of the crankies.

The Budgenator returns

2007-11-20T22:08:00.000-06:00

Dawn Budge is back and she has been violated?

Am I the only one who felt like the Butt Pirate (literally) story was a little out of place on Nip/Tuck? Maybe it's going to be this season's Carver, but who knows. In any way, it did feel like this season is taking a turn for season three and I love it! I just wish the creepy man's fetish wasn't so gross. I'd rather see someone cut up faces again, honestly.

No mention of Matt and Kimber this episode. Perhaps the creators have realized that no one could have the wool pulled over their eyes like Sean and Christian did last week.

The most heart-wrenching part of the episode was the Annie story. How anyone could convince an 11 year old (is that how old she is? that's how old she looks...) who weighs at most 70 lbs that she should be bulimic is disgusting. Eden might be right up there with the BP as this season's main antagonist and I really hope she gets what is coming to her.

Kristin's weekly Heroes Redux

2007-11-20T17:05:00.000-06:00

Heroes Redux: With Special Guest Masi Oka

Tim Kring, you smart cookie!

Last night's Heroes brought to us the biggest death so far of the series (don't worry, I won't reveal who until after the break), but thanks to a minor shifting of the producers' original plan (more on that below), there is no hair pulling, weeping or rioting in the streets this morning. Bless you, Mr. Kring. Bless you.

In the video clip above, you can see what Masi says about his status on the show and how he's so glad to be out of 17th-century Japan and back with his buddies in coming episodes. (Yattai indeed!) Personally, I'm hoping we get happy Hiro back soon, 'cause I'm missing the comedic relief. You? Feel free to comment away below, along with what you thought of this episode.

Now, let's discuss what happened last night and what happens next!

WHAT WE LEARNED

No Mo! Mo, we've been trying to ignore the Internettish name-calling (D'ohinder, Mohinduh, et al.), but then you went native and shot HRG. You're off the Christmas card list.

Wise Choices: Though I'm told it was not the original plan, whichever writer-producer of "Cautionary Tales" made the choice to include HRG's resurrection in this episode (versus the next one or the one after that) is a wise and thoughtful creature, because this-here morning after? Damn, that would have been an ugly scene. Thanks for saving us all the fuss (and the body armor)!

Nakamuras Rule: Kaito and Hiro Nakamura finally made peace with each other, just in time for...sniffle. Oh, Kaito, may you return in many flashbacks to come. Meanwhile, your son is going to be carrying on your high standard of awesome. Worry not. (He also does a dead-on impersonation of you, should the need arise.)

Oh, Bennet: Love that Bennet knows Elle's power exactly and is absolutely prepared to bend it back on her. "Did you pack Mr. Muggles' doggie bath yet?" You know, in the end, Mr. Muggles will surely turn out to be the boss of us all.

See You on the Other Side: Loved the little musical emphasis as Claire and Elle crossed paths in that parking lot. That moment won't be the last we see of those two going head-to-head. Also, poor Elle—all mind -wiped and screwy. She got a raw deal.

Daddy Issues: Elle's character gained a lot of depth in this episode, in part because we saw her life in light of the contrasting Claire-Noah and Elle-Bob daughter-father relationships. Noah and Bob are both flawed fathers, but Noah gives as a parent, while Bob primarily takes. Elle seems to be realizing the downside of this as a lifestyle choice. Claire and Noah save each other; will Elle and Bob destroy each other?

Mama Drama: Mrs. Petrelli has a secret, and there's some honor left in her, too. Interesting that it's the formerly mild-mannered Parkman who breaks her after all these years. He's become the Stinkerbell-Mindfreak combo he feared and loathed so fiercely early last season. (Also, just on the topic of semihonorable antiheroes, can Jack Coleman and Cristine Rose do some scenes together sometime? Pretty please? Those two reek of awesome.)

The Effects Imbalance: I know TV shows in general have a hard time living up to the effects standards set by those danged major motion pictures, but the weird thing with Heroes is how sometimes they get it right, and sometimes...not so much. The bullet impact into Noah, Noah's eye healing, Hiro's frozen-in-time identification of his father's killer and Elle's distance shot at Claire and West were all four outstanding. Any electricity effects on or around Elle's body were less than convincing, and the flying scenes are downright, well...goofy. (That scene with West "abducting" HRG had to be a career lowlight and awwwkward for poor Jack Coleman!) I know getting even one of these right is the work of many good minds, but perhaps a cutback in the number of effects per episode would help? Or simply more mindpowers like Niki's, Micah's, Matt's, the Haitian's and the mechanic's from last season?

West: So, maybe West is not a total stalker. But...I'm waiting for a notary to sign off on his good-guyness before certifying. I still feel like there's something a little fishy with him. Good guys just don't fly like that. Also, if he flies and Claire's daddy flies, and we've seen that superpowers are handed down through the generations, what are the chances she's kissing her cousin? I'm just sayin'!

WHAT LIES AHEAD

Two More Heroes Die! One may stick; one may not. You could cry...You probably won't.

Mohinder Gets a New Power! It comes in the form of a lovely little syringe, and it goes by the name of resurrection. Wonder if he'll set his sights on bringing back Stinkerbell or D.L.? Or hey, what about his Daddy, hmmm?

Sylar and Elle Square Off! See, there is a Santa Claus! Elle tries to do her dad proud by stepping in to save the day...at a most inopportune time for Mohinder and his newfound abilities.

Don't Blink! Maya and Sylar are on the lightning-fast road to an episode of Jerry Springer. They hook up, he does bad things, it's over before it even begins and we are going to have less of a chance of more Zachary Quinto shirtless. Hmph.

So, what did you all think of this episode? And who are you hoping will bite the dust next? Vote and comment below!

The shit hath hittith the fan......ith

2007-11-19T22:59:00.000-06:00

It finally happened.

This week's episode aired two nights early and the Trisha/Parisa fight finally happened.

I can't believe I'm going to say this... but I can actually see Trisha's point. Although the physical altercation was completely unnecessary, I can completely see why she was mad at Parisa, and I think in that way, Parisa was in the wrong.

That being said, Trisha should have NEVER done what she did. Whether Parisa was right or wrong in her phone monopolizing, it wasn't worth getting physical. I just hope that Parisa learns from this as much as Trisha does... because she has her own set of issues, clearly.

More than five seconds of Whitney??

2007-11-19T22:30:00.000-06:00

This week's episode of The Hills had more Whitney than any episode in the last four seasons.

Something I noticed, though? That Jarrett character had different length hair in every scene he shot. Something about the Hills is getting harder and harder to stomach because of the fakeness about it. Heidi and Spencer's fight seemed as fake as her ring (which, by the way, does not look even CLOSE to real... at least get a convincing knock off if you're going to fake an engagement!).

It appears that the Justin Bobby drama goes down next weekend. Even though the boy has pretty eyes, it's about time that Audrina puts him in his place.

WTF, Brad Womack???

2007-11-19T22:00:00.000-06:00

After the season with Jen Schefft as the Bachelorette, I said I was never going to watch the show again. Now the only way I'm watching it is if it's a former cast member brought back to be the decider. It took only five minutes for me to do a complete 180 on Bachelor Brad. All season long, I felt that he was one of the few bachelors to possibly be there to actually find a lifelong partner.

And now? I think he's a bit of a self-serving jerk who potentially never had any intention of meeting someone to have a relationship with after the show ended. I don't say that because I hate the fact that he didn't pick either girl. I say it because I am absolutely convinced that he knew from the hometown dates that he wasn't picking any of them, and yet he made numerous comments about seeing the girls as his wives, growing old with them, etc.

I have never thought it was logical to assume people could fall in love in six weeks. To me, that's impossible. The problem I have is the lying. Don't want to marry a girl and have children with her? That's FINE... but don't say that you want that.

I kept hoping that DeAnna would reach over and slap him. To me, what he did to her is worse than anything I've seen on the show. It's not like he just sent her home... that happens to someone every year. It's the fact that he said "I sent Jenni home..." leading her to believe he was choosing her. Sure, it amps up the drama for TV, but no one deserves to be treated like that.

Three MORE people are going to die???

2007-11-19T21:00:00.000-06:00

All of the spoilers for the final few episodes of Heroes unaffected by the strike have said that THREE people (main characters) are going to die. Since clearly HRG is NOT dead, I have to assume he isn't counted in the three. As much as I love Noah Bennett, I feel like this may have been a bit of a cop out by the creative forces behind Heroes. For a show that has been so desperately in need of a shake up this season, I think that would convince people that it is back.

That being said, I definitely WOULD have missed his character if they'd done away with him. Plus, this turn where he and West have been working together is one I wholeheartedly support.

And how heartbreaking was the scene between Hiro and Papa Nakamura? I was really hopeful that he'd be able to save him... but I feel like he's going to turn out to blame himself for his father's death because of his involvement with Takezo Kensei in the seventeenth century.

Also... as far as my prediction about Elle and Claire being sisters? I'm absolutely sticking by that one, especially after seeing the two walk past each other when they were released as hostages on the beach. Something about the knowing glance between the two men as they walked back to their respective fathers reinforced the idea to me.

If HRG's death doesn't count as one of the three... then my fingers are crossed that we still could see the end of Maya, Alejandro, and Niki/Jessica/Gina.

It finally happened!

2007-11-19T20:00:00.000-06:00

Chuck and Sarah kissed! Chuck and Sarah KISSED!!!!

While I'm pretty sad to see the Rachel Bilson guest spot apparently come to an end, I'm pretty excited about possibilities for Suck (get it? Sarah + Chuck?). That's catchier than Charah.

Though, a hitch appears to be getting thrown into the equation with the reemergence of Bryce Larkin next week. If Morgan, Ellie, and Captain Awesome see him with Chuck, how exactly does he plan to explain that? Aside from the fact that he's supposed to be Chuck's biggest nemesis.... he's also supposed to be.... dead.

You tell him, Mandy.

2007-11-18T19:13:00.000-06:00

I just love Miranda Bailey.

She knew that she didn't have the guts to stand up to her high school crush, so she engaged in a little activity known as projection (help me out Psych majors, is that what that was?). And while I wish she would've just put Wayne Palmer... I mean former HS crush in his place, I was glad to see the close moment between the doctors Bailey and Shepard. We don't see the soft side of Derek in regards to anyone but Meredith anymore.

Callie remains my favorite member of the cast, especially after the similarities she drew between her situation and that of the pom squad captain.

And lastly... didn't it make you a little bit happy to see Sloan put in his place by high school students? That's what he gets for attempting to hit on a 17 year old.

Bye bye Frosti :(

2007-11-18T19:10:00.000-06:00

While my favorite Survivor in China is James, I was certainly sad to see Frosti go. On the bright side, the episode ended with what looks to be a potential double elimination. If immunity is out the window, that means Peih Ghee will be gone, hopefully.

Which means James is guaranteed a spot in the final four, and hopefully can make his own way to the very end.

I feel a little bad for Michael Scott

2007-11-18T19:03:00.000-06:00

This week's episode of The Office had its hilarious moments along with its sad moments. Although Jan Levinson is always entertaining, part of me wished Michael would break up with her in the middle of his deposition in front of a bunch of the people from corporate. When the diary was brought out, I was a bit nervous for Michael. Apparently it was rightfully so.

That being said, when they read that Michael thinks Ryan is as hot as Jan, I was quite pleased that we got to see even more into the less-than-complex mind of the Regional Manager of Dunder-Mifflin, Scranton.

Back at DM, the Kelly and Pam rivalry made the show. I hope that it continues (sadly, after the strike ends... if that happens this year). As I understand it, we are out of episodes of the Office pre-strike and nothing TV-related could make me sadder right now.

Isaac Stout, you done lost your mind.

2007-11-18T18:58:00.000-06:00

This week's Real World was weird.

When I say weird, that probably doesn't sound all that surprising. It IS the Real World after all, right? This is the same show where an 80 pound NY girl hooked up with the guitarist from Big Head Todd in a hot tub. Yes, weird.

And yet, this was the weirdest episode probably ever. Maybe I'm not understanding something entirely because I don't generally surround myself with people who do acid. I suppose that could be the first obstacle towards my understanding of this Isaac fella.

But my thought is that if he used to have all of these visions while taking acid, shouldn't they stop now that he doesn't anymore? Or is this his way of saying he hasn't actually quit and we've all been fooled?

I was simply at a loss for what was going on as he described what his different bird visions mean.

I'm quite interested to see what will happen when he comes back. I don't even know the kid and I'm slightly worried about him... never mind the fact that all of this happened probably five months ago. Even so, there's something wrong aside from the death of his grandfather... at least to this non-drug user.

Christina Applegate... the hunter.

2007-11-18T18:48:00.000-06:00

While I wasn't entirely sold on Samantha Who? at first, it continues to get more endearing. It takes a special kind of something to make a restraining order and a hunting rifle funny. I'm not entirely crazy about Sam's childhood best friend (what's her name again?). I like the idea of the character but I don't like how annoying she is.

I usually find myself most amused by the scenes where they're having Sam do really normal things (and not crashing weddings she was disinvited to). So when she went to the ice cream parlor to take notes on which kinds she liked and which she didn't, that is what got me.

Make it work!

2007-11-18T18:43:00.000-06:00

Project Runway is back for season 4! At this point... I have no favorites, but I AM slowly developing least favorites (Dear Christian, please cut your hair).

I don't see a potential Santino, which saddens me.

But at the same time, I don't see a potential Angela either... which is fantastic.

Oh Karen, darling...

2007-11-18T18:27:00.000-06:00

While we all knew Karen and Freddy's glorious union wouldn't last long, but not even until the reception? I have to say I did not see that one coming. What else didn't I see coming? I didn't see the potential that Nick may actually return her previously-thought-to-be-unrequited feelings. If that happens, this will be the second time this TV season that a potential affair has made me furious (the first obviously being Tommy/Lena on Brothers and Sisters).

But poor Matt Durning. First Kelly Taylor breaks his heart and now Karen Darling.

I really wanted to believe that he wasn't going to turn into his father, but now I'm starting to get concerned.

Most importantly though... I am really sad to see Brian Jr. is on his way south. While he was a pretty cute little guy, my favorite parts of the show often revolved around the way that he interacted with Brian Sr. and Juliet.

I think it comes as no shock to anyone that Patrick was caught by his wife in regards to Carmelita. The way he's been the last few episodes, I was hoping she'd leave him to expose him to the world, but I suppose that's wishful thinking.

Blair Waldorf, the jig is up.

2007-11-18T18:21:00.000-06:00

Allow me to remind everyone that I DID predict a Jenny/Nate hook up a few weeks back, and it appears as though that is going to come to fruition.

As far as the rest of this episode goes... am I the only one who doesn't hate Chair? Or should we call them Bluck?

It's about time... Ambreal is a goner.

2007-11-18T18:14:00.000-06:00

After getting a two week reprieve, Ambreal took her leave on Top Model this week. While Bianca probably deserved to hit the road just as much, I have no problem with the judge's decision. The only thing I didn't care for was the tackiness with which they announced the trip to China. They told the girls right as they walked into elimination? Not classy or cool. But what could we possibly expect from Tyra Banks? She seems to take lack of class to a new level every single season, and this is no exception.

To the far east they go... and I predict this season's eliminations to go as follows:
Lisa
Bianca
Chantal
Saleisha
Heather
winner: Jenah

another sports rundown

2007-11-18T18:05:00.000-06:00

because it's pretty much all I've done this weekend.

Wild are on a two game losing streak... time to right the ship against the Avs (currently up 2-0 with 13:42 left in the 2nd)
Gopher FB didn't get as destroyed as expected. Dear Coach Brewster, please just ATTEMPT to play Amir Pinnix. He's your best scoring threat and don't take it out on him that, as a captain, he has told you what needs to be said about your lackluster coaching abilities and divisiveness in the locker room over said lack of skills.
Gopher hockey had a split against AA and major crumblage in the 3rd period last night.
I was on hand to see the AP-less Vikes beat Daunte. Sidney Rice is pretty damn sweet, lets just say that much.

And since it appears I may have to become a KU fan due to family and what not... they are on their way to #2 in the rankings... craaaaaziness.

Another pick up!

2007-11-17T10:53:00.000-06:00

courtesy of WatchWith Kristin:

Exclusive! Dirty Sexy Money Gets Full Season

Yippee! Despite the strike wreaking havoc on every show from Army Wives to Without a Trace, ABC is going ahead with an investment in Dirty Sexy Money! We're hearing the Alphabet net has ordered the back nine of DSM, giving the Darlings a full first season. Excellent news, and congrats to Berlanti and compan

Happy Birthday and RIP.

2007-11-17T09:50:00.000-06:00

Jeff Buckley would have been 31 today.

Grey's continues to rebound.

2007-11-14T18:09:00.001-06:00

After watching last week's episode of Grey's, I was once again pleasantly surprise. Maybe all it took was George describing his intimate encounter with Izzie as "horrible" to give me hope that the Gizzie storyline really may have run its course. And once Lexie (or Lex?? since when does Meredith call people by pet names other than McDreamy or McSteamy?) gets out of the way, Alex will be there to pick up the pieces. And as far as George goes... Callie will be there as his friend even though he in NO way deserves such a thing.

But just when Shonda relieves us of one pitiful coupling, she introduces another. The potential couple in question is Dr. Sloan and Dr. Hahn. If only she could make all couples on the show as entertaining as the Chief and Dr. Shepard, then perhaps I could stomach the never-ending cycle. As far as Dr. Sloane goes... he needs a little cross over action. I'm sure the practice in LA could use a plastic surgeon. They're already a pretty random mix of specialties, why not throw in another? Plus he's much more tolerable than those two cable plastic surgeons that relocated there.

This week's Heroes Redux courtesy of WWK

2007-11-13T22:21:00.000-06:00

Heroes Redux: "Four Months Ago," a Lot Went Down

If you ask me, last night's "Four Months Ago" is the best episode of Heroes since "Company Man." And that's sayin' something.

Kristen Bell kicked booty. Ditto for David Anders. And (spoiler alert) did you see that kiss? Yowza! Plus, most important, some big questions and plot points were finally paid off—including the insane reason Maya and Alejandro are on the lam.

Curious—was Lost boss Damon Lindelof right when he said it would only take one good episode to turn the Heroes haters around? Do tell me in the Comments section below, 'cause I'm dying to know. Are you skeptics back in? I sure hope so.

In the meantime, let's dissect what went down and what lies ahead...and get a special visit from my favorite assless-chaps-wearing Hero: Mr. Greg Grunberg!

TOP TEN THINGS WE LEARNED

Elle is a sociopath with a massive schoolgirl crush on Peter, and she has some seriously fabulous outfits. (Maybe she just needs to get out more?)
On that fateful (first-season finale) night, Peter said he was using "everything within [his] power not to explode" over the New York skyline. So, now we finally know why Nathan had to get all ballsy and fly away with him—Peter couldn't fly.
In present day, David Anders is so deliciously Sark-like, I half expect Dixon or Syd to round the corner and kick his ass in any given scene. Love It. Also, this 400-year-old dude has either a conscience or a plan. He kept up his side of the bargain with Peter and cured Nathan. Which reminds me...
Adam's healing powers work on other people. Just add blood. Ditto for Claire. Swear to G, I don't know, but they have to be related, right? Which also makes Adam and Peter genetically linked?
Step aside, Sally Field! Maya was the world's cutest novice nun. Also, she really doesn't like bridezillas. (Good thing she didn't know me back when.) Clearly, it's best to not mess with this girl. And yet, Sylar is sinking in his claws...
The Haitian hangs with Elle but doesn't follow her orders.
Micah is such a big fan of 9th Wonders! comics he asked for a 9th Wonders! birthday cake. Awww!
D.L., we hardly knew ye. Shot in the heart by a random thug, he'd just started to get his life (and his family's life) on track. No wonder Niki fell off the wagon. The system failed her.
Niki, Jessica and, now, Gina. You know, once you hit three personalities, all bets are off. I think we could get all the way to an even dozen before that woman's brain gets too full.
Peter Petrelli, as embodied by Milo Ventimiglia, is amazingly powerful, strong and hot. Always thought it was Nathan who was meant to be the show's alpha male, but lo and behold, the younger son emerges from behind his brother's shadow. Let it be said now that Milo V isn't ever going anywhere but his trailer and that set.

Things We Already Knew That Were Reemphasized in This Episode

Bob is eeevil. Even if he isn't evil in the devil-worshipping way, he's sort of evil in the corporate-Ryan way from The Office.
Monica is adorable.
Aunt Uhura is a silver fox.
Kristen Bell and David Anders can freakin' act.

TOP TEN THINGS THAT LIE AHEAD

Next week, HRG and West are going to buddy up. (I know. Kooky.)
Hiro sees his daddy again.
Matt Parker can do so much more than read people's minds! I'll tell you what else he can do, but first...stop what you are doing and give me a million dollars.
Suresh slips further down into the dark side. Boo...
Elle asks if Suresh's superpower is to be a punching bag. Ha!
Bob and Clairebear meet up. This is not good.
We find out who killed Kaito Nakamura. And yes, it's someone we know. And his motive is revenge.
Hiro is pissed.
You're gonna love it.
Next week, someone's going to die. And you are not going to like who is going to die. You're not gonna like it one bit. (And neither is Claire...Whoops. Did I say that out loud?) Anyway, yeah, get ready to freak.

LA: City of Clueless Plastic Surgeons?

2007-11-13T22:00:00.000-06:00

As Nip/Tuck continues to improve, the docs seem to get dumber and dumber.

First, can we talk about how unnecessary the diarrhea in the pool storyline was? It had little to do with what happened on the show today other than to continually reestablish what an asshole Christian Troy is. I think it may prove to be the straw that breaks the camel's back between Sean and Kate, because clearly that relationship isn't built to last. If there was any doubt that the sole purpose of Christian's life is to one-up Sean, he more than proved it with his little tryst with Julia. While she may have had alternate intentions in the scenario, she had Christian completely figured out. His love for Julia will never match his love for superiority over Sean.

Maybe Sean should introduce Christian to Eden. They seem like the perfect match... both acting out and in desperate need of attention from the opposite sex (or potentially the same sex for Christian since it appears that the attention he wants is primarily from Sean). I'll refrain from comment on Eden's highly unnecessary surgery, but after seeing the clips of next week's episode, it is clear that the girl has some major issues. She's season fives Ariel Alderman... or Ava Moore... or Adrian Moore... or maybe the newest Mrs. Grubman.

I think the reason this episode was so much better than the past two was the lack of TV show footage in it. Here's the thing. Dylan Walsh is a TV star but Sean McNamara would NEVER be a TV star. He lacks "it."

Christian continues on the pathetic roll he started in episode two with the Marilyn Monroes. This time, he took advantage of an older woman who solicited him for prostitution. I can only assume that such actions are going to come back to haunt him eventually as his behavior gets more and more risky. At this point, I hope Gina returns seeking custody of Wilbur. Christian has done nothing to prove himself worthy of child rearing.

And while we're on the topic of unfit parents (no, this is not a Brit Brit tangent), how much more obvious could Matt have made his drug problem? And further, how much more clueless could Sean and Christian possibly be? While I didn't entirely expect the Kimber twist at the end, the withdrawal symptoms during his visit to Sean could not have possibly been more evident. Especially given Kimber's past history with cocaine and Matt's general disposition to be a follower, I shake my head at the doctors. Haven't they seen Traffic?

Toddantha!

2007-11-13T21:53:00.000-06:00

That's what I am going to call Todd aka Barry Watson aka Matt Camden and Samantha Newly. Any fool can plainly see the two are eventually going to get back together... they're the new Ross & Rachel, the new Meredith and McDreamy, and the new Jim and Pam.

Just wait and see. Mark my words.

And since I don't have a whole lot to say about Samantha's quest to be redevirginized (sure... that's a word)... that's all I've got about last week's show. But I'm still one behind... hopefully checking that out later.