TVSquad

American Idol's choice of Ellen DeGeneres as a judge replacement threw everyone for a loop, even schlubs like me who don't watch the show.

It's not that she's not talented, successful or funny. It's just an odd choice, putting a comedian on the show that takes its goal of crushing losers' dreams on live television so seriously. It would evoke the same reaction from me if they picked Andrew "Dice" Clay as the new judge, if the Diceman was talented, successful or funny.

And besides, why do they need humor and comedy on such an otherwise serious show? There are lots of humorless, vapid and downright boring shows that are crying out for comedic interjection.

If you haven't seen our game before, we give you a picture from a recent episode of a TV series and you provide the caption! Last week's winner is ac with this caption:

"Now I remember why I never watched C-SPAN."

This week's photo is from this week's Hell's Kitchen, the end-of-the-second-episode confrontation between Chef Ramsay and contestant Joseph:

If you're one of the few remaining dissenters who doesn't think Sonia Sotormayor is qualified to serve on the nation's highest ranking court, don't blame President Obama. Don't blame any of her law professors or mentors. Don't even blame the left wing media.

Blame Perry Mason.

The Supreme Court nominee said before the Senate and the Judiciary Committee that the old Perry Mason show inspired her to seek a life in upholding the law.

Well, it's no surprise that Stephen Colbert wasn't invited back to speak at the White House Correspondents Association dinner, after last year's event (plus the fact I don't think they invite the same speakers back year after year), but I wasn't prepared for the choice they've come up with to speak at this year's dinner.

Impersonator Rich Little.

I agree with Editor & Publisher that this choice seems a little...safe? I mean, getting someone who was last popular in the early 80s to speak at the annual dinner seems a little odd. I mean, he'll probably do an impersonation of President Bush, but I can't see it going beyond light satire (if there's any satire at all). Nothing against Little. He's a talented guy of course. But it's almost as if they said, "last year we had a big banana split, with hot fudge and sprinkles and whipped cream. This year we're just going with a small dish of vanilla, please."

There's an episode from the fourth season of The West Wing where a temp work comes in to work in Josh's office, and she's wearing a Star Trek pin. Donna notices it and tells Josh, and Josh tells the worker that she can't wear it while she's working in the White House. The woman doesn't understand and gets upset. At the end of the episode, Josh explains to the woman that he's a Star Trek fan, too, and he'll even try to get a Star Trek holiday declared by the government. But while she's working there, she can't wear it, and the woman understands.

I thought of that while watching the video after the jump. It's from January 10, and shows Congressman David Wu (D-Oregon) talking about the war and how the people in the White House are Klingons, not logical Vulcans. But they're not like the "real" Klingons of Star Trek, because they've never fought a real battle.

As he warns: "Don't let faux Klingons send real Americans to war!" There's a bumper sticker waiting to be made