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politics-related stories
What You Missed Last Night: CNN will have to leave it there
I've never noticed how often the hosts at CNN - almost all of them - say the phrase "we'll have to leave it there" when they run out of time when interviewing a guest. But The Daily Show noticed it, and last night they were all over CNN about it.
[Watch episodes and clips of The Daily Show and other shows at SlashControl.]
Betty Draper gets all political (for real)
In last Sunday's episode of Mad Men, Betty Draper tried to use the knowledge that someone in the Governor's office liked her to save a neighborhood park. I'm sure he wanted more than just that, but it hasn't gone any further (yet). The other day, January Jones (who plays Betty) went to Capitol Hill to get involved in politics for real, advocating for sharks.In this picture, Jones meets with Senator John McCain. In the caption to the pic, McCain says that he's a huge fan of Mad Men. I think that's one thing Democrats and Republicans can agree on. Someone in the comments says it's Grandpa Gene's ghost. Ha!
Shows You Should Be Watching: Red Eye
There used to be a lot of TV shows on overnight that were worth watching. I don't mean repeats of sitcoms or dramas that usually air earlier, but original programming geared towards the night owl. There aren't many shows like that anymore, but there's one on Fox News (yes, Fox News) at 3 AM and it's well worth catching (if you're worried about staying up that late, well, that's why God put DVRs on this Earth).
If I had to describe Red Eye it would be like this: it's a mix of Politically Incorrect and The McLaughlin Group, only for people who are up late at night drinking or eating too much junk food, with a host who comes at things from a conservative viewpoint but it's not really a political show. They go more for the jokes than they stress any ideology, and it's actually really funny. Like The Daily Show or The Colbert Report, it can't be easy to write a show that's on every single night, but host Greg Gutfeld pulls it off.
Continue reading Shows You Should Be Watching: Red Eye
What You Missed Last Night: Scoldplay
Are you sick of the whole Representative Joe Wilson controversy yet? Were you sick of it four or five days ago? Jon Stewart and The Daily Show are too, and last night they showed how the people asking for an apology from Wilson are being hypocritical, and how both sides do this all the time and then ask for an apology when the other side does it.
In other words, politics really suck.
In other words, politics really suck.
Rachel Maddow reveals a big secret
No, not that one. That's not a secret.
Maddow was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon the other night, talking about healthcare and cocktails and comic books and other things. At the start of the interview she also drops some news about why she was gone from MSNBC a couple of weeks ago that some might find surprising.
Maddow was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon the other night, talking about healthcare and cocktails and comic books and other things. At the start of the interview she also drops some news about why she was gone from MSNBC a couple of weeks ago that some might find surprising.
Continue reading Rachel Maddow reveals a big secret
Colbert gives a Tip of the Hat and a Wag of the Finger
The Colbert Report has a regular feature called A Tip of the Hat and A Wag of the Finger, where he praises one thing and goes after something else. Last night he talked about Missouri State Representative Cynthia Davis and her "hunger can be a positive motivator" stance, and then criticized FOX News for calling Governor Mark Sanford a Democrat, saying they also identified Hurricane Katrina as a Democrat. (Video also here.)
Didn't Jimmy Kimmel do a similar joke recently? Yes he did:
Continue reading Colbert gives a Tip of the Hat and a Wag of the Finger
It's Begala vs. McCain (Meghan) on Real Time with Bill Maher
One of my pet peeves is when someone says that they're too young to remember something that happened in history. As if they couldn't have read about it somewhere. I thought of that after seeing this clip from Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher. It's Democratic strategist Paul Begala making a joke about Meghan McCain's comment that she wasn't born when Reagan was president so she wouldn't know what he's talking about.
Now, I'm not a big fan of Begala, but he does have point (though he could have used a more accessible example than the French Revolution, it would have been more pointed). I can't decide if McCain was being serious or if she was making a joke about Begala's age or if it's part of the "dumb blonde" joke she makes later in the clip. You decide.
Now, I'm not a big fan of Begala, but he does have point (though he could have used a more accessible example than the French Revolution, it would have been more pointed). I can't decide if McCain was being serious or if she was making a joke about Begala's age or if it's part of the "dumb blonde" joke she makes later in the clip. You decide.
Alec Baldwin to quit 30 Rock in 2012
Actually, I've been thinking about this, and I wonder: is this really such big news? I mean, 2012 is a few years from now, and there's a good chance that 30 Rock will be over by then anyway. So Baldwin will probably be leaving the show when, well, everyone else is.Still, this interview with Playboy (highlights only - buy the mag for the whole thing) looks pretty interesting, with lots of quotes about his marriage, his contemplating suicide after leaving that phone message for his daughter, what he thinks of TMZ, Twitter, his possible political plans, and why he'll never go on Today again.
Ladies and gentlemen, the best of Shepard Smith
Shep Smith is one of my favorite people on television. He's always entertaining, informative, fair, and (yes) balanced! He's also a great source for those priceless "live news" moments that make for great video fodder. Here are a few of my favorites, including a new one where the F-bomb is launched (PopEater has even more Shep goodness).
Continue reading Ladies and gentlemen, the best of Shepard Smith
TV 101: Thirteen undeniable truths about TV
Some things you never wanted to know about me, but that I'm going to tell you anyway: I'm 32 years old, 6'3" tall, and I weigh 235 hairy, pasty pounds. I have a weak chin and very strong glasses. I'm not balding (yet!) but I've got a head reminiscent of The Leader from the Incredible Hulk comics. Seriously, in a pinch, Sully Sullenburger could land a jet on my forehead.Looking at myself in the mirror after a shower the other day, I came to some realizations. I'll probably never play in the NBA. It's doubtful that a woman will ever use me Brad-Pitt-in-Thelma-and-Louise style. Should my comedy career catch fire, it will be more Ray Romano than Dane Cook.
These are the facts and they are undisputed.
In the spirit of my heartbreaking realizations, I figured I'd list some of the sad (but undeniable) truths about television ...
Continue reading TV 101: Thirteen undeniable truths about TV
No more tan for you! Hear that, Rob Lowe?
Note to Rob Lowe: Stop looking so damn healthy. Signed: The powers that be at ABC.Seriously, Brothers & Sisters' star Rob Lowe has been ordered to stop tanning. Apparently, the actor just looks too good -- bronze and healthy and full of that Kennedy-style of vigor for the role he's playing. ABC brass, the president of the network no less, has told him to stay out of the sun. According to Lowe, he was warned that he is getting too dark and has to mend his ways now.
Continue reading No more tan for you! Hear that, Rob Lowe?
Here's a sneak peek at NBC's Kings - VIDEO
Can I be a little bit cynical here? I'm watching the preview of the new NBC drama Kings (after the jump), and I can already tell this is probably going to have a hard time making it. Looks like it has a great cast (including Ian McShane) and a plot you don't usually see on primetime television (a small town guy becomes a war hero and rises to power in a city with the help of people behind the scenes pulling the strings - based on the story of King David).But it also seems like a show that might be hard for viewers to grab hold of, especially in this day and age of networks wanting quick hits and large numbers of viewers. It seems rather complex and epic, and yet another show with a continuing storyline.
Oh, and it's on NBC, which means that they'll probably put it on Monday night at 10, and we know what happens to shows that debut there (NBC has not announced a premiere date for the show yet, only that it's sometime in 2009). NBC already failed with Four Kings; what makes them think they can succeed with one? Take a look at the video and let us know what you think.
Continue reading Here's a sneak peek at NBC's Kings - VIDEO
TV 101: How beer commercials got Barack Obama elected (OR: Presidential Drinkability) - VIDEOS
It's recently been explained to me that Barack Obama is an African American. As someone who was raised not to "see" color, it never registers to me if someone is black or white or Asian or Italian. One consequence of this heightened way of thinking is that I often don't know what kind of restaurant I'm in until literally the moment I'm served. Another consequence is that the historical significance of Obama's win didn't hit me until a few days ago.At first, I thought that America had finally embraced my colorless way of thinking and elected the best man for the job, regardless of race. Judging from the editorials I've been reading, however, this is not the case. Apparently, America was ready for a black president not because we've become enlightened, but because of 24, Tony Dungy, and soccer.
Analyzing Obama's win on those terms, it becomes easy to see why he won the election: beer commercials.
Hmmm ... will Ted Koppel take over Meet The Press?
When Tim Russert passed away earlier this year, the talk of course turned to the topic of who would take over for him on NBC's long-running Sunday news show Meet The Press. Tom Brokaw has been doing the show for several weeks now, but could former Nightline host Ted Koppel be the new guy in the interviewing chair?Koppel has announced that he and The Discovery Channel have parted ways. He still had six months left on his contract but decided to leave. This is all just speculation at this time, of course, but since he's leaving Discovery early and the end of the year is upon us, it's interesting timing.
Continue reading Hmmm ... will Ted Koppel take over Meet The Press?
Election Night: CBS (final thoughts)
So now the election is over and we have a new President-elect. Congrats to Barack Obama.We covered the coverage of the election last night on various stations, including ABC, CNN, FOX News, NBC, MSNBC, and Comedy Central. I covered CBS to see how Katie Couric did on her first night as election anchor. I'm a fan of Katie's, and for the most part I haven't agreed with the criticisms against her (beyond the growing pains she and the show had when she started), and I think she did a fine job.
So let's go over the good and the bad.
The TV Squad Podcast: The Prisoner, '80s TV, soap news and more
Let's talk about spoilers ...
The Prisoner -- An early look
