MORE THAN A LITTLE SCARY

There's been a story making the rounds, on the internet and TV, about Donald Trump leaving a $10,000 tip at after a recent meal. The anecdote spread like wildfire, making it onto the home page, and broadcast for Fox News.

The only problem? As reported in today's Los Angeles Times, the story is a complete fake. The web site responsible for the fake story, when contacted, posed an interesting question: just how many other fake, or completely inaccurate stories make their way on to Fox's news page and broadcasts?

THAT'S SAYING A MOUTHFULL

Here's to the occasional bout of truth in advertising.

TLC WINTER PROGRAMMING: Hit & Miss

TLC (a.k.a. The Learning Channel), a cable network devoted to... uh, well... I'm not really sure what they're dedicated to, but they're dedicated to it - is launching a couple of new programs to fill the winter void. At the end of each calendar year, most major networks take a prolonged (4 to 6 weeks) break from original programming. And no, I don't count holiday specials as new, or original programming. TLC has decided on two different programs to fill this program gap.

The first, is a tired attempt at a tired format: the talk-show. Fashionably Late With Stacy London features What Not To Wear co-host, Stacy London - a barely tolerable presenter with a less-than original take on one of the deadliest genres. Yes, many people — from sports greats, to radio personalities — have taken on the talk show, only to find their careers in tatters. From Megan Mullaly (from Will & Grace), to Joan Rivers to Magic Johnson, the field of talk shows is strewn with bodies of talented, or at least notable, people. So what makes TLC think Stacy London, with her tired, "this is a party! does everybody need a cocktail?" intros can hold a show on her own? I guess you have to measure the success of the show in relative terms: TLC isn't the most-watched network on basic cable (that goes to USA), so if only a few thousand people turn in, I guess it could be considered a hit.

The other show seems like a breath of fresh air, delivered into two tired genres: reality TV and beauty pageants. Yes, Miss America: Reality Check, with host Michael Urie (one of the only watchable parts of Ugly Betty), TLC will guide us through the run-up to the Miss America Pageant (MAP). The MAP has a trouble past, having once been a major ratings getter, to ending up on the Country Music Channel. But TLC picked up this would-be cultural relic, and with a single move, thrusts it back into the forefront of cultural relevance... maybe. It remains to be seen if this move (and re-shape) will serve only to solidify MAP's cult following, or doom it into further obscurity. I'm hoping Urie, in his hosting duties, will manage to bring both levity and fabulous humor to the fold: something this tired ol' pageant desperately needs.

No need to guess which show I'll be watching, and which one I'll avoid like an STD.

WELL, AT LEAST SHE'S WORKING...

This photo (via Yahoo!) was snapped at a recent TV commercial shoot, starring Lindsay Lohan. She was also seen walking around with an Incredible Hulk, among others.

IF THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT TO WIN...

Much is being made - in the print and broadcast media - about Oprah's touring with Obama in recent political campaign stops. Obama enjoyed several bumps in the polls lately, and you can either credit them to his "message" getting through, the stumbling of the race leader or the addition of the world's most powerful, famous woman. (I personally don't understand the draw of Obama, and agree with Hillary's questioning: since when did running for president become qualification for being president?)

An upcoming campaign stop featuring Obama and Oprah had to be moved to a stadium, due to, "ticket demand," which has the pundits all clucking. But I wonder how much of the desire to attend the rally actually has to do with the candidate, and his "message". I mean sure, Oprah gets the butts in the seats, and at that point, they can hear the candidate's "message." But is that really how we want to select our next leader? Really?

In the wake of an unjust, illegal war, the trampling of our sacred legal doctrines (wire tapping, anyone) and the recent legal bungling of current president, do we really want to pick our next executive officer via daytime television? I for one, think the doctrine of equal time should apply in this case. If Oprah nets Obama 30 more hours of on-air coverage, then the other candidates should get similar, if not exactly the same amount of coverage.

Or we could just let the woman duped by James Frey tell us who to vote for.

Or not...

TIME FOR YOU TO GO

As much as the current campaigning bores me, I think the United States, no the world, is ready for Bush and company to move on. I can't even muster the energy required to vent my anger over his latest, obvious immoral, unethical and illegal behavior. Another game of, "what did he know, and when did he know it?" for the world to play. And it isn't even a matter of what side of the political idealogical spectrum you fall on - he's screwed up, again... and with world-wide, deadly and long-lasting implications, no less.

Or maybe I'm going about it the wrong way. Maybe I should be singing his praises, as the first mentally retarded person to be a world leader.

WHAT WAS ALL THAT ABOUT?

Like many fans of Sci-Fi Network's Battlestar Galactica, I was excited to see the, "special television event," last week. I'm a big fan of the show, and I don't care who knows it! Call me a geek, a nerd, a loser... whatever, I don't care - I'll stand by my show. (Stephen King listed it as one of his top 10 favorite shows, and it won a Peabody Award, so it can't be all that bad.)

But Battlestar Galactica: Razor turned out to be a colossal disappointment, from start to finish. I don't usually get suckered into believing the hype about anything, but given the ramp-up to this event, I was expecting... well, a little more.

For starters, I don't understand when the story took place - not because I'm dense, or don't understand the time line of events in this imaginary world. No, I was thrown by plot inconsistencies, redundancies and recycled ideas. The "new" elements thrown in - for whatever reason - raised more questions than they answered!

In some cases, the action only served to flush out and expand events from prior seasons. But most of the time, these "flashbacks" only served to complicate the plot, unnecessarily. There isn't much point in going back in time, and beefing up the back-story when the current story (at the end of two hours) doesn't evolve. At all.

I guess I'm just spoiled by shows like The West Wing. Nobody tells a story within a story, within a flashback like Aaron Sorkin and Tommy Schlamme. They knew how to frame a story arch, with opposing physical and emotional landscapes, so that you always knew where you were. But the trouble with Razor is, I just don't understand the point in making a special show like this. It didn't advance the plot in any significant way, and only served to frustrate me. I hope this isn't an indication of how the coming (final) season will unfold.

BAM! ... CANCELED!

According to The Los Angeles Times, The Food Network canceled Emeril's live show Emeril Live (what an original title, no?) after 10 years on the air. The network will continue to carry his prerecorded show, Essence of Emeril, but otherwise, it's curtains for his live act.

I was surprised - but happy - to hear of the demise of this boring food show. I've never cared much for Emeril: his style, presentation and overall approach fail to impress me. Give me Paula's Home Cooking any day... she has a real way about her; a warmth and charm making every meal, and every show, feel like it was made just for you. Granted, she goes a little heavy on the butter, and tends to cook foods I don't eat (ox tail, seafood specialty items), but I could watch her cook for hours.

Additionally, Emeril just doesn't seem that approachable, if you ask me. He mumbles, as he shuffles around the kitchen, and the, suddenly, yells, "BAM!" I would believe he was actually, "taking things up a notch," if his presentation wasn't so rough around the edges, so unimaginative. Even that alcoholic, anorexic, half-baked mess of a host, Sandra Lee (Semi-Homemade With Sandra Lee), seems more human than Emeril.

Don't get me wrong: I'm sure he's a nice guy, or whatever. I'm just happy to see a boring show getting the axe. But knowing my luck, they just fill that time slot with another episode of The Barefoot Contessa (Ina, you're no Sophia Loren), or worse... like that Alton Brown character. I swear, sometimes, he seems mildly retarded.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL

Check out JibJab.com to make your own movies!

MAYBE I WAS ON TO SOMETHING

It isn't a secret that I'm unhappy with Apple Computers at the moment... their recent decision to force all Tiger users to upgrade to Safari 3 was a poor business decision, and a PR stumble.

But, since I was forced, I decided to make the best of a bad situation. I went on the Apple's "support" pages, looking for help from other Mac users. While browsing the pages - and by, "browsing," I mean scouring them for 6 or 7 hours - I noticed that certain "users" were in every forum.

I also noticed that they started each posting in the same manner: "Howdy (user name), and welcome to the forums." They never had anything bad to say about Apple, or its products, and they spent a great deal of energy contradicting those who do. They would claim other people were, "the minority," or say that they weren't having the problems everyone else was.

I thought this last bit would marginalize the person with the problem, and rather dismissive of the postings... so, I "accused" a "user" of being an employee of Apple, Inc. And what do you know, that comment was "edited by (the) host."

So it's come to this? Apple is squashing all forms of dissent and disagreement via stealth activity and dictatorship? I've been a Mac user since the 80s (yes, really), and I never thought I would have anything bad to say about Apple, or its products... but, here we are.

HEY, MISTER DJ

One of my favorite music software companies, Native Instruments, launched a new product this week... BeatportSync, an MP3-based DJ mixing program. The program allows drag and drop, auto beat-match syncing and web-loading... bottom line? Now anyone can be a DJ. (That may or may not be a good thing.)

The best news about this product? Native instruments is offering it for free. For more information, click here.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW TO GET...

According to the New York Times (article here), the release of the original first two seasons of PBS's landmark series, Sesame Street on DVD is issued with a warning to parents - the show is not suitable for toddlers.

I had to read the headline a second time, out of disbelief. What? I thought. The show designed for preschool kids, the show I grew up on, not suitable for toddlers? Why the hell not?

The cynical New York paper listed many snarky reasons why the show might not fly with youth of today. New York and cynical are redundant, I realize but this article turned jaded sarcasm into a new art form... suggesting the new, squeaky clean world of "Prozac Elmo" was a different world from the original show.

But the article also (thankfully) interviewed producers from the show, who gave more reasonable (but not that reasonable) examples. In one scene, Cookie Monster smokes, the eats a pipe. The producers were afraid they were promoting smoking. A little paranoid, but not the kind of paranoia that leads to unreasonable artistic censorship.

And finally, we move into over-protective parent land: objections to Cookie Monster's cookie-only diet, Oscar the Grouch is too grouchy and the matter of Big Bird hallucinations. Yes, that's what I said: hallucinations. Prior to 1985, Big Bird was the only one on Sesame Street able to see Snuffalupagus, but that was later changed.

I admire the PBS producers attempt to protect children, but wonder if we've crossed into dangerous territory. The issues under debate here are questionable: there are far more important issues impacting our children today. But easy fights like this allow lazy parenting - the responsiblity transfers from parents to the media, yet the decline continues.

I haven't seen those old 1970s episodes since I was in diapers, so I can't really pass judgment. But I will say this strikes me as the first step down a slippery slope.

400th POST

Thanks to the small, handful of people faithfully reading my blog. Here's a little photo collage to celebrate post number 400!

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS

If you own an Apple computer, then you know how easy they make it to keep your security and software up to date. A simple one-click process allows you to assure you're using the most recent, safest software.

It isn't uncommon for Apple to release updates: security, iTunes, Quicktime and other Apple packets are available for download regularly. (Around the release of a new iPod, or the newer iPhones, new versions of iTunes are a weekly event.) So you think, as a life-long Apple customer, I wouldn't have any complaints.

But I do.

In the most recent update, which was labeled as an OS (operating system) update, there was a Trojan horse of sorts. Now, don't get me wrong... there wasn't a virus, but rather a software update (they call it an upgrade but we'll see about that). I call it a Trojan horse because it was buried in the OS download: you have to go to Apple's site, click on "downloads" and search for the exact download title - it shouldn't be this hard to find out what I'm downloading to my computer.

And without asking me if I wanted to migrate from Safari 2 to Version 3, they loaded the newer application for me. Now don't get me wrong... I like Safari. I wish more sites supported it, especially Blogger (bastards). But when Version 3 was released (as a Beta release), I researched the differences, and decided I didn't want to upgrade.

I'm guessing the Beta release of Safari 3 was a dud (based on media reaction, and other Mac users I know), so Apple hoisted - no make that, forced - the release on its faithful users. I'm sure I'll get used to the new bells and whistles at some point. I'm just dispointed with Apple - the Mac platform has always been about personal, unique expression; the computer for the people who don't want a beige box as their personal computer. And now, they're behaving like a big-box tech giant we know and hate (no names, Microsoft).

This definitely affects my willingness to upgrade to Leopard - I don't think I'll upgrade until I absolutely have to.

A SHOW TO DIE FOR

I recently viewed the first four episodes of Showtime's Dexter, the show about a serial killer working as a forensics specialist in Miami. At first glance, this might seem like another attempt to tap into the American fascination with crime-scene dramas... there are so many (and too few are done well).

But the truth about Dexter is far more complex than a simple synopsis paragraph on the Netflix envelope. While not as groundbreaking as HBO's OZ, or as critically acclaimed as The Sopranos (a show I don't really like, or get), Dexter manages to bring a fresh, entertaining take on the world of crime, human instinct and depravity. Brilliantly brought to life by Michael C. Hall (IMDB here), Dexter is a complex, and yet somehow, still sympathetic main character. Despite the obvious character flaws (he kidnaps and then butchers his victims), Dexter manages to be easy to root for.

Michael C. Hall deftly brings layers and dimensions to the character making the ups and downs of the grisly (and sometimes sweet) storyline all that more believable. The supporting cast is outstanding, although not creatively cast - the cast of Dexteri is essentially the cast of HBO's OZ, reassembled. Hall devours every emotional morsel the script and situation call for, and is a little too believable as the serial killer next door. (And he looks great, finally free of the button-down, repressed look he sported on Six Feet Under.) I believe it says something about Hall's abilities and prowess as an actor, seeing the daring, deep roles he tackles.

The show features a voice-over narrative, which I'm not a big fan of - but it isn't the kind that makes the show unwatchable, like many episodes of Sex & The City. The show skillfully goes behind the masks we all wear in our day to day lives, and beneath the cool, calm exteriors protecting us and offering us the appearance of civility. I also feel the need to applaud the tasteful manner in which the guts and gore appear in the show. In the world of movies like Hostel and the Saw franchise, it would be easy (an unimaginative) to simply present a feast of blood and destruction. Instead, Dexter delicately and tastefully frames the violence and gore in a realistic, but never dry manner.

PROJECT JACK

If you missed this week's premiere of Project Runway, Season Four... first of all, what's wrong with you? Secondly, you missed out on TV's newest, hottest hunk, Jack Mackenroth. This 38 year old New Yorker has the looks, the bod (did you see him in his undies? those abs?), the smile and most of all, the talent. You can watch his first Bravo interview video here. But a simple scan of the net turned up some pretty interesting factoids about this hot hunk...

*he's a competitive swimmer (in the gay games - he was reported to be a late bloomer, and late to athleticism)

*he's allergic to bananas, avocado and latex (although I've heard a number of gay men claim to be allergic to laytex)

*his sister say Jack used to steal her Barbie dolls when they were younger (no shocker in that confession)

*his MySpace profile lists supermodel Janice Dickinson as one of his role models... but he later claims he was only joking when he said that (the rest of the season will determine just how much of a joke that was)

*he loves 80s music and style (no big surprise here, considering his age)


I'm looking forward to the rest of the season... and not just on the off chance they'll show Jack in his chonnies again. I never thought there would be any part of Project Runway I like more than Tim Gunn, but then along cam Jack.

REALLY, PEOPLE MAGAZINE?

Were there no other men left on the planet? (Obviously not, as I'm able to write this.) What is wrong with you, people over at People Magazine? What kind of crack are you on? Matt Damon as the sexiest man alive?

What about Raoul Bova? I know he hasn't made a decent movie since Under The Tuscan Sun, but Matt Damon? I've heard, on E! and several other TV reports, that George Clooney and Brad Pitt were campaigning for Damon to win, since 2001 - this is beginning to feel like a joke, more than an actual honor, or exploration of sexy men.

I haven't seen the entire list, but I'm wondering if model Rusty Joiner, or rapper/MC Common made the cut... oh, just Google them, I don't have the patience to put up images of either of them... I'm too pissed off about skinny, semi-talented, plain as toast Matt Damon winning.

Really? No, really? Was that the best you could come up with? I know the list is supposed to feature a "regular guys" section, where readers nominate their neighbors, brothers, etc., but I think Damon belongs on a list of regular looking (as in average) guys, not on the cover.

This list drops only a few days after Maxim posted their list of the five least sexy women (topped by Sarah Jessica Parker), and I've decided, with Damon's ascent to the People throne, our country has officially lost its collective marbles.

WELL, WHY NOT?

I'm not sure which is funnier: the fact that this ad says, "protects your manhole," or the part about, "unwanted access."

DAISY SOUP?

I was very happy to see ABC decided to start posting new episodes of Pushing Daisies on its web site - especially since I mis-programmed the VCR last night.

But what brought an even bigger smile to my face was the appearance of episode guest star, and The Soup host Joel McHale. This episode, like many others, was sock-boffo, from start to finish, and if you've missed any previous episodes, all but one are available on ABC's web site.

TAKE THAT, AMERICAN EXPRESS!

I can't stand those stupid American Express commercials where celebs tell us how great it is being them, and how they use American Express. And the Beyonce version is no exception. Why would anyone pay to have a credit card that isn't accepted everywhere?

Visa, anyone? I'd use my MasterCard before signing up for an American Express card again. Have you seen their fun holiday sweepstakes game over at Priceless.com? Way better than Martin Scorsese, or the like, telling me how great AmEx is, when I know it blows chunks.

Which is why I laughed so hard when I saw this Soup parody/mash-up. It is more of a jab at Beyonce, but for me, any insult directed at American Express is worth it.