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Posts with tag BarackObama

Six other politicians who have had their ways paved by TV actors

Hey, you want to get together tomorrow afternoon and pose dramatically?Dennis Haysbert recently claimed that his role as President Palmer on 24 may have helped pave the way for a viable African American presidential candidate. He went on to claim that his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the movie Goodbye Bafana ended apartheid and that his role as Jonas Blane in The Unit cured polio. Haysbert was then wrestled to the ground by his handlers and is now "recuperating" at the Clay Aiken Home for Delusional Celebrities.

My first thought upon hearing this news was that Dennis Haysbert is obviously insane. Since I've been criticized in this space for not having an open mind about insane things, I decided to take Mr. Haysbert at his word. I then went even further and went to work putting together a list of other politicians who exist mainly due to the hard work done for them by TV actors. After researching Wikipedia for almost a full fifteen minutes, this is the list I've managed to put together...

Continue reading Six other politicians who have had their ways paved by TV actors

Dennis Haysbert says he paved the way for Obama

Dennis HaysbertWould America be ready for an African-American president, which is now a 50-50 proposition with Senator Barack Obama the presumptive Democratic candidate, if actor Dennis Haysbert hadn't done it first on 24?

A lot of people have wondered if Haysbert's brave, commanding President David Palmer influenced the way people are thinking about Obama. Dennis Haysbert has now weighed in, and he believes that his role on 24 made a difference.

"My portrayal of David Palmer may have helped open the eyes of the American people," he told the AP.

"I mean the American people across the board - from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base - to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first," he goes on to say.

Continue reading Dennis Haysbert says he paved the way for Obama

Michelle Obama will be a guest host on The View

Michelle ObamaAnother potential First Lady is set to join the ladies of the The View. Following Cindy McCain's April appearance, Michelle Obama will be a guest host on the show's June 18 episode. Obama was offered a guest appearance, but wanted to try her hand at hosting instead. This will be her first appearance on the talk show; Barack Obama has been a guest twice before.

As a guest host, Michelle Obama will help conduct interviews, participate in the show's "hot topics" segment, and chat about current events. She'll also be interrupted by her co-hosts on numerous occasions. The guest lineup for Obama's episode hasn't been set yet. Cindy McCain interviewed Craig Ferguson when she guest-hosted.

Continue reading Michelle Obama will be a guest host on The View

The Daily Show: June 3, 2008 - VIDEOS

Jon and DavidSpoiler alert: Barack Obama has scored the Democratic nomination. Of course, with The Daily Show taping around 6:00 in the evening, none of this was addressed in this night's episode. Just, you know, keep that in mind for maximum awkwardness while watching the proceedings.

"Anarchy Under The UK": After London's mayor banned alcohol, rowdy drunkards without cars took to the Tube and got wasted. Yeah, way to show the man that you guys are responsible enough to handle alcohol. Senior Mass Transit Analyst John Oliver drunkenly explained the beauty of subterranean drinking and then promptly urinated on the spot. Well done, good sir.

Continue reading The Daily Show: June 3, 2008 - VIDEOS

The Daily Show: April 21, 2008 - VIDEOS

Jon Stewart and Barack Obama"Blessed Week Ever: The Pope In America": The Pope wrapped up his visit to America with a few big final stops. First was Mass in New York's Yankee Stadium, where heathens came in droves to see the Pope in his new Yankees mitre. He also visited the Park East Synagogue to awkwardly stand next to the rabbi. Only on the Daily Show could someone do coverage of the Pope's visit and work in a "Spy vs Spy" joke.

Continue reading The Daily Show: April 21, 2008 - VIDEOS

Colbert, Clinton, Obama and Edwards take on Philadelphia - VIDEOS

Candidates
What in the hell happened last night on The Colbert Report? Or perhaps I'm really wondering why I attended Monday's taping of TCR in Philadelphia and not the final and certainly most epic one.

In true Colbert fashion, TCR ended its four-night run in the City of Brotherly Love with a big ol' Democratic bang. Thanks to Chris Matthews' big mouth, the nation expected Hillary Clinton's "surprise" appearance, but little did we know both Barack Obama and John Edwards would be appearing as well... On the same night! Despite the fact that this was all a blatantly desperate attempt to get a little Colbert Bump action (Edwards knows it's too late, right? I mean, what with him dropping out of the race and all), there really is no better way to seem hip to that all-important youth vote.

Gallery: Colbert, Clinton, Obama and Edwards

The Colbert Report 4/17The Colbert Report 4/17The Colbert Report 4/17The Colbert Report 4/17The Colbert Report 4/17

Continue reading Colbert, Clinton, Obama and Edwards take on Philadelphia - VIDEOS

Eli Stone: Patience

Eli Stone(S01E11) Wow! What an episode. Well, not the whole episode; the last two minutes. For the first time on Eli Stone, we got a glimpse of where the visions may be taking Eli. Also, if the vision of the future he had is on target, then the thing in his head, the aneurysm, is either not fatal as we've been told, or -- perhaps -- Eli will have the surgery and live many more years. At least until 2018. That's if we're to believe that the vision he had is the real future...

But first let's talk about the "Patience," this week's episode. I'm not really loving that title, but I guess it makes sense when you think about the totality of the show. Eli has one of his sensory hallucinations and finds himself in Times Square, New York City, in the middle of a huge rally. People are chanting a theme, "Live Brave," and there are signs and banners promoting the Live Brave movement. The man at the microphone is named David Mosely and he's being cheered.

Gallery: Eli Stone - Patience

Natasha HenstridgeEli StoneEli Stone actressVictor GarberVictor Garber and  Sam Jaeger

Continue reading Eli Stone: Patience

A new challenge for Obama fans

obama capitalFile this under the category of do-it-yourself politics. In this YouTube.com era, it was only a matter of time before it happened. MoveOn.org has joined forces with Oscar-winners Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Oliver Stone, multiple Grammy-winner John Legend and author Naomi Wolf to a TV ad contest for Barack Obama. The contest is called "Obama in 30 Seconds," in which Barack supporters are being asked -- challenged -- to come up with half-minute videos that focus on what it is about the Senator from Illinois that inspires them. The winning entry will be shown on national television.

Continue reading A new challenge for Obama fans

It's Hillary, Live from New York, on SNL

Hillary & AmyIt wasn't April 1st so it couldn't be April Fool's Day. It was March 1st. Still, there she was, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton saying those famous words, "Live from New York, It's Saturday Night Live."

In an unannounced and potentially savvy political move, Senator Hillary Clinton, appeared on the NBC late night comedy and showed that she can laugh at herself. This surprise appearance, coupled with her agreeing to be on Monday's Daily Show with Jon Stewart, can only help her in Tuesday's primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont. It's pretty much desperation time for the Clinton candidacy and if Hillary wants to make it to the Denver convention with a chance to beat Barack Obama, she must win Texas and Ohio -- the big states -- decisively.

Continue reading It's Hillary, Live from New York, on SNL

A Daily Show: January 28, 2008 - VIDEO

Jon Stewart and the cast of the Daily Show"Indecision 2008": The first news to note was Barack Obama's landslide victory in South Carolina. Of course, the win did not go unnoticed by the haters, specifically Bill Clinton. I was surprised that strange little pocket Clinton thing actually worked, too! Yay for successful gags. As for the Obama lovers, Ted Kennedy has publicly joined the fan club. I would like to direct Jon to check out this Clone High clip to improve his every-Kennedy accent.

In other news, Mitt Romney makes my brain hurt. Why? Well, many reasons, but most recently, he, umm--Okay, I'll leave you with: "Who let the dogs out?". Black potential voters. MLK Day. Don't believe me? Take a look.

Continue reading A Daily Show: January 28, 2008 - VIDEO

A Daily Show: January 16, 2008

Liberal Fascist"Indecision 2008:" Mitt Romney passed John McCain and Mike Huckabee for the win in Michigan, that one place that looks like a mitten. Also, "Mitt Romney" in German is "With Romney." Fun Fact courtesy of Mr. Stewart.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and not Dennis Kucinich sat around a table and had a fun discussion. Same hand-holding may have been involved. The media has also been having fun, throwing around the phrase "the gloves are off" in reference to Clinton and Obama's fight for the top. Also, here's some other super-fun news: Wow, race is still a relevant issue? People are spreading false rumors on the Internet? How strange.

Continue reading A Daily Show: January 16, 2008

The Daily Show: August 22, 2007

Barack Obama"Mess O' Potamia: Operation Macho Kick-Ass": Part three of Senior Baghdad Correspondent Rob Riggle's live-from-Iraq report! While I was lukewarm about the previous evening's report, I was really jazzed about tonight's. It was funny and soul-crushing at the same time. What a lovely combination!

"America To The Rescue": Israel is going to get a couple billions of dollars to fight their fight. "Ohh, billions of dollars, is there any dispute you can't settle?" This was pretty depressing, actually. Even the fun decade-appropriate graphics weren't enough to bring me back.

Continue reading The Daily Show: August 22, 2007

The Daily Show: August 2, 2007

Matt Damon"You Don't Know Dick": A very quick fun fact about Dick Cheney to help you decide what to get him for Christmas... He wants a silver deathbox. And I can't believe I'm half-defending Cheney, but, in all fairness, he didn't actually say, "Damn, I need one of those"... He said he thought it. That's a fairly significant difference.

"Indecision v. 2.008: Food Edition": Presidential candidates have been using teh interwebz to share their stories from the campaign trail. I'm not gonna lie, this segment made me really, really hungry. Although, that bit about John Edwards and his wife celebrating their 30th anniversary at a Wendy's left me more confused than peckish. Yeah, you're a normal all-American guy, Edwards, we get it. A normal all-American millionaire Senator guy.

Continue reading The Daily Show: August 2, 2007

24's DB Woodside calls Kiefer Sutherland 'intense'

Wayne Palmer on 24

DB Woodside, who plays President Wayne Palmer on 24, called the show's star Kiefer Sutherland "intense."

"Either you jump on the bus or the bus will roll over you," Woodside said of Sutherland in an interview with People Magazine, in its Feb. 26/dead tree edition. "I think it is very dangerous to be running around with his character."

Woodside also said he thinks comparisons between the fictional Wayne Palmer and the real-life presidential campaign of Illinois Senator Barack Obama are "unfair." Admitting that Wayne Palmer is untested and not very commanding, he told the magazine that Obama is just the opposite and is "the most exciting candidate to come on the scene in my lifetime."

Stewart and Colbert in Rolling Stone magazine

Stephen ColbertThe cover story for the latest issue of Rolling Stone magazine is all about America's favorite go-to fake newsmen, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. I don't think I've ever read an interview featuring the two of them together, so this was an interesting read. The magazine's official site has two new photos and an excerpt of the interview. My favorite bit is the part where the reporter asks Jon and Stephen whether or not they will miss the Bush administration's fodder for satire...

ROLLING STONE: But wouldn't, say, a President Obama be harder to make fun of than these guys?

STEWART: Are you kidding?
COLBERT and STEWART in unison: His dad was a goat-herder!

I normally don't buy magazines off the rack, but I'll definitely pick up this one... if only for the awesome cover photo. The issue will be out until November 12th.

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