Happy Birthday, Senator Clinton
Reader Review
'The West Wing'
Mark Giselson
I'm glad to see that Sorkin is spinning a "different" impeachment story than
Clinton's tale. Art need not imitate life, and the more Sorkin establishes
that Bartlett is NOT Clinton, the better he will hold his audience.
The subplot with Josh's assistant Donna and the Republican staffer seemed to
foreshadow a major theme of "politics" dividing people who would otherwise
be good friends. This is a great strategy for showing how intolerant and
un-American the hard right is, and I suspect that's where Sorkin is going.
We won't be treated to a slice and dice number on Kenny Starr, but we will
get a strong dose of hard right hypocrisy and divisiveness. In his own way I
anticipate Sorkin will promote moderate ("reasonable") Republicans while
trashing the destructive agents of rightwing wealth and power.
Rewind and look at the dialogue between Donna and the Republican staffer:
they gave him some damn good lines. I also like the way Sorkin is using the
staff Republican to broaden the dialogue and to show that really intelligent
people believe a lot of different things. The guy may be a crackhead, but he
understands the importance of appealing to a larger audience than just
Bartcop liberals, and he deserves three cheers for promoting greater
tolerance of others who think differently than we do.
Even if it's on Jack Welch's network, this IS must see tv.
~~ Mark Gisleson
Thanks, Mark. You have a great way with words.
In The Chaos Household
Thursday Night's TV
Started out watching 'Friends ', stayed for 'Inside Schwartz', but ended up
mostly surfing & checking out a soap opera in Korean. 'Will & Grace' and 'Just Shoot
Me' were nicely lit, and the sets look lovely.
Caught the Carmen bin Laden interview with Diane Sawyer on 'Prime Time', and Drew
Barrymore, too.
Friday has the '2001 Radio Music Awards' on ABC; on CBS the
evening starts with a fresh 'Ellen', followed by a rerun of 'The King of Queens',
where according to my TV guide, "Doug needs to lose weight" - stating the obvious stretched to
22 minutes.
Now, if you have cable - AMC has a Frankenstein sandwich....The original
'Frankenstein' in between 2 separate airings of Mel Brook's 'Young Frankenstein'.
Peter Boyle (now Frank Romano, Ray's father on 'Everybody Loves Raymond'), Gene Hackman as the
'Blindman', Gene Wilder (Willie Wonka, himself), the always wonderful (late) Madeline Kahn,
the often under-utilized Teri Garr (do you remember her role in 'Star Trek'),
the generally under-appreciated Cloris Leachman ('Frau Blucher'), and the ever-entertaining
(late) Marty Feldman.
Yes, I'm an unabashed fan of most of Mel Brooks' work.....I'll really babble on when
'The Producer's' is shown...
Other films I'm prone to ramble on about are Stanley Kubrick's 'Dr. Strangelove' and
'Clockwork Orange'; 'The 5000 Fingers Of Dr. T'; 'Work Is A Four Letter Word'; 'Lord,
Love A Duck'; 'Morgan!'; 'The Bed-Sitting Room'; 'The Wizard Of Oz';
'Deliverance'; 'Death Wish'; most of the 'Godfather' series, 'A Face In The Crowd',
and most anything by The Marx Brothers.
Anyone have any opinions?
Or reviews?
(See below for addresses)
From Michael Dare
Message
Recent message from the Hopi Elders
You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore,
push off into the middle of the river,
keep our eyes open,
and our heads above the water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do,
our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over.
Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
The Elders
Oraibi, Arizona
Hopi Nation
Thanks, once again, to Michael Dare
TV News
'Smallville'
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a full-season order for ``Smallville!''
The WB has ordered an additional nine episodes of its teen Superman drama ``Smallville,''
ensuring the series will produce 22 episodes this season. The pickup comes a mere
week after ``Smallville'' debuted to the WB's best-ever premiere ratings. Over
two weeks, ``Smallville'' has averaged 7.8 million viewers.
The new take on the Superman legend features Tom Welling as the teen of steel.
Unlike previous incarnations, ``Smallville'' has what producers have called a ``no
tights/no flights'' rule, which means Welling will not be seen in the traditional
Superman costume and won't take to the skies.
'Smallville' Picked Up
News Reader Suspended
Carole Simpson
ABC News has suspended news correspondent Carole Simpson for two weeks with pay
after she spread false information about an anthrax investigation while speaking
at a luncheon.
Appearing before the International Women's Media Foundation in New York on Oct. 16,
Simpson said colleague Cokie Roberts had received a suspicious letter from Trenton,
N.J., USA Today reported Thursday.
Trenton is the suspected origin of suspicious letters sent to media organizations and
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. In fact, although ABC was investigating a suspicious
letter in its Washington bureau, it did not originate from Trenton. The letter proved
to be harmless.
ABC executives were also upset that Simpson, speaking before a roomful of reporters,
revealed details about the infant who contracted anthrax after a visit to ABC,
including that the baby's mother worked for her.
Simpson, in a statement issued Thursday, said she regretted the mistake.
"My goal as a journalist is to always try to get it right," she said. "When any
of us in this profession makes a mistake, it's important to say so."
An ABC News spokesman declined to comment, saying ABC doesn't discuss personnel issues.
Simpson is the anchor of "World News Tonight" on Sundays and files reports for various
ABC News broadcasts.
Carole Simpson Suspended
New! Updated!
BartCop Astrology
Check it out at BC Astrology.
This week, the official BartCop Astrologer has provided two charts.
One who's talent (and hearing, as well), is on loan from his god, and for contrast, an American visionary,
national treasure, and real-life role model, Helen Keller.
Very interesting reading!
Art News
'Hirschfeld's Hollywood'
Legendary caricaturist Al Hirschfeld, 98, stands between two of his movie posters
during an exhibition of his works at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Open to the public begining
Friday, "Hirschfeld's Hollywood" showcases nine decades of film art, covering the
transition from silent to sound, from black-and-white to color, from the studio
system to an industry of independents.
Photo by Kevork Djansezian
American Film Institute's 'Lifetime Achievement Award'
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks is joining such past Hollywood Everymen as James Stewart and Jack Lemmon as a
recipient of the American Film Institute's life achievement award.
Hanks will be honored with the 30th annual award in a tribute on June 12 at Hollywood's
Kodak Theatre, the new home of the Oscar ceremony. USA Network will air the tribute June 23.
Like Stewart and Lemmon, Hanks has played a string of lovable characters in such films
as ``Splash,'' ``Sleepless in Seattle,'' ``Big'' and ``You've Got Mail.'' A double Oscar
winner for ``Philadelphia'' and ``Forrest Gump,'' Hanks has been nominated three other
times, most recently for last year's ``Cast Away.''
Hanks also provided the voice of Sheriff Woody in the ``Toy Story'' movies, and his other
credits include ``Saving Private Ryan,'' ``Apollo 13'' and ``The Green Mile''
He wrote, directed and co-starred in ``That Thing You Do!'' Hanks and ``Saving Private
Ryan'' director Steven Spielberg are executive producers on the HBO miniseries ``Band of Brothers.''
Stewart received the AFI life achievement honor in 1980, and Lemmon was the recipient in 1988.
AFI's Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, Tom Hanks
In The Next Harry Potter Movie
Kenneth Branagh
Kenneth Branagh will swap Shakespeare for Harry Potter when he takes the role of
flamboyant witchcraft professor Gilderoy Lockhart in the next Potter film.
The 40-year-old actor-director, best known for bringing Shakespeare to new film audiences,
will play the publicity-hungry teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in
``Harry Potter And the Chamber Of Secrets,'' which is to begin filming in December,
spokeswoman Sara Keene said Thursday.
He will join the existing teaching staff, whose first adventures with their magical
students are depicted in ``Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,'' which opens in
the United States on Nov. 16.
Kenneth Branagh Joins Staff Of Hogwarts
BartCop TV!
Visit the site at BC TV
The 'Vidiot' never seems to rest!
Every show on TV must be listed--days worth of reading there.
For an amazing variety of information on an astounding array of tv programs check out
BC TV!
Showtime Mini-Series
'Feast Of All Saints'
Author Anne Rice, left, actor Ossie Davis, center, and actress Ruby Dee pose for
a photo Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001, at the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans at the world
premiere of Anne Rice's ''Feast of All Saints,'' a Showtime Networks Original Mini
Series scheduled to air on Nov. 11-12.
Photo by southernlights.com, Neil Alexander
Producing New Comedy Show For USA Network
Lorne Michaels
USA Network has linked up with ''Saturday Night Live'' creator Lorne Michaels to create
a half-hour latenight series modeled on Comedy Central's successful ``The Daily Show.''
``We're trying to create a position for USA in latenight by developing shows with a
point of view, that are comedic and irreverent in tone,'' said Doug Herzog,
president of USA Network.
The show is still untitled, with a single host to be announced. Herzog described it as
employing ``a game format, but tied to what's topical and what's going on in pop culture.''
There'll be contestants, and celebrity guests will show up.
USA is aiming to kick off the show in March 2002. It will run Monday through Thursday at
11:30 p.m., behind the game show ``Smush,'' which premieres in six weeks. ``Smush''
crunches words and names into weird combinations.
New Show For USA Network
Celebrity Gossip
Helena Bonham Carter & Tim Burton
Director Tim Burton has split with his long-time girlfriend in favor of his ``Planet of the Apes''
star Helena Bonham Carter, a spokeswoman for the English actress said on Thursday.
``It is a brand new relationship. Nobody knows where it's headed yet,'' Melody Korenbrot told Reuters.
She added the couple met in London and will celebrate their three-week anniversary next Monday.
Burton, 43, had previously enjoyed a lengthy relationship with Lisa Marie Smith, a model
he cast in four of his films, most recently this year's ``Planet of the Apes'' update.
The couple fell in love in the early 1990s after the dissolution of his marriage to
German painter Lena Gieseke.
In an interview with the August issue of Playboy magazine, Burton said Smith inspired him,
and ``keeps a certain heartbeat going in my life.'' A call to Burton's office was not returned.
Bonham Carter, 35, played a spunky simian in the ``Apes'' film. Her other credits include
``Fight Club'' and ``The Wings of the Dove.'' She dated British actor/director Kenneth Branagh
for several years in the late 1990s.
Helena & Tim
How Does He Do That?
David E. Kelley
David E. Kelley's name was on virtually every script last season for the three series he
produces, ``Ally McBeal,'' ``The Practice'' and ``Boston Public.''
Kelley had a hand in creating 64 out of 67 episodes. He received solo writing credit
for 39 of those episodes - a feat akin to writing more than a dozen feature movies,
watchable ones, in under a year.
So how does he do it? When the question is put to him in his Manhattan Beach studio
office, Kelley looks amused.
``I'll let you in on a dirty little secret,'' he said, his voice verging on a conspiratorial whisper.
A revelation! Is he channeling the spirit of prolific ``Twilight Zone'' writer
Rod Serling? Is he a workaholic who keeps life at bay? Is he - and this would fit into
an ``Ally McBeal'' fantasy - machine and not man?
With a smile, Kelley spilled the beans: ``I have a lot of really good help.''
For the rest of this long, but interesting interview, David L. Kelley
Finally
The Revised Latin Grammy Awards
The ill-starred Latin Grammy Awards, which were scuttled when the Sept. 11 attacks
occurred hours before the star-studded show was due to begin, will now take place
in the form of a modest news conference next week, organizers said Wednesday.
The winners will be announced Tuesday at the Conga Room, a popular nightclub near
Hollywood, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences said in a statement.
Details of celebrities who will attend the 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST event, will be
announced later, a spokeswoman said.
The academy has not determined if there will be acceptance speeches or a ceremony.
There will be no performances. Artists have not been notified if they are winners.
The Latin Grammys were originally set to take place in Miami, but were abruptly switched
to Los Angeles when the academy feared an outbreak of violence from thousands of Cuban
exiles annoyed by the presence of Cuban nominees.
Colombian rocker Juanes leads the Latin Grammy nominees with seven nods for his brand of
rock and Colombian vallenato. Spanish pop singer Alejandro Sanz has five nominations.
The Latin Grammy Awards
New!
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
To check out 'Train Station Chicken', and more (like 'Cranberry Autumn Tea'),
In The Kitchen With BartCop
Disney News
Family Channel Is Now 'ABC Family Channel'
The Walt Disney Co., as expected, on Wednesday completed its purchase of Fox Family
Worldwide Inc. and its Fox Family cable TV network, after trimming about $100 million
from the cash price.
The final price was $2.9 billion in cash, down from an original $3 billion, and $2.3
billion in debt assumption for a total $5.2 billion, Disney said in a statement.
The deal clears the way for Disney to rename Fox Family as the ABC Family channel
in the United States, where it reaches some 81 million homes, and reposition it with
programs from Disney's ABC broadcasting network like ``ABC Nightly News,'' TV magazine
show ``Nightline'' or various dramas or sitcoms.
Disney also plans to rebrand the Fox Kids TV channels in Europe and Latin America, which
combined reach some 34 million subscribers, with its own Disney content.
Family Channel Is Now ABC Family Channel
Sounds Like Something Out Of 'Network'
'Crossing Over...'
Producers of the television seance show ``Crossing Over with John Edward'' said Thursday
they have decided against airing footage of the host trying to contact people killed in
the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Edward, who claims the ability to communicate with the dead, recently taped some sessions -- he
calls them ``readings'' -- at the homes of viewers who asked him to contact loved ones killed
in the hijack attacks, said Jim Benson, a spokesman for producer Studios USA.
Producers ultimately decided the subject matter was too sensitive, he said.
``None of those episodes will be aired,'' he said. ``We had considered it, but it's
too good of a show to take a chance in offending any audience, and we decided against it.''
A statement from producers added that the syndicated show was ``inundated with calls
and pleas for readings from grieving families of the World Trade Center victims looking
for comfort and closure. Many of these reading have been done privately and will continue
to be done privately.''
The weekday show, in which Edward purports to convey messages from the world beyond
to bereaved family members, was launched in syndication this fall by Studios USA after
becoming a hit on its sister Sci-Fi cable channel. Studios USA also distributes
the ``Jerry Springer Show.''
A Bad Idea For Sweeps Scrubbed
Nicolas Cage's Next Film
'Constantine'
Nicolas Cage has committed to star in the title role of Warner Bros.' supernatural thriller
"Constantine," based on the DC-Vertigo comic book "Hellblazer," which Tarsem ("The Cell")
will direct for the Donners Co.
A March 1 start date is being planned, after which Tarsem will segue directly into
the indie feature "The Fall" for Absolute Entertainment.
Cage had been flirting with "Constantine" but also had been eyeing Dimension Films'
adaptation of the Marvel Comics franchise "Ghost Rider." But the actor will now star
in "Constantine."
"Constantine" will mark Cage's second attempt at playing a DC Comics superhero for
Warner Bros. after an aborted effort to collaborate with the studio and filmmaker
Tim Burton on "Superman" four years ago.
"Constantine" is described as "Dirty Harry" set in the occult world. It follows John
Constantine, a man who dabbles in the occult and teams with a female police officer
to fight evil forces.
Nicolas Cage In 'Constantine'
Latest Friar's Roast
Aaron Spelling
The Friars Club of California honored TV 90210,'' ``Charlie's Angels,'' ``Dynasty''
and ``Fantasy Island.''
Spelling received a lifetime achievement award on Wednesday for the thousands of hours
of television entertainment he has provided to audiences worldwide, and for his
philanthropic efforts in the community.
Spelling's wife, Candy, and children, Tori and Randy, attended the event. Tori Spelling
co-starred as Donna Martin on ``Beverly Hills, 90210'' throughout its 10-year run.
Talk show host Larry King served as master of ceremonies and comedians Don Rickles,
Norm Crosby and Red Buttons performed skits. Also attending were Sidney Poitier,
Milton Berle and Connie Stevens.
Proceeds from the event will go to the Friars Charitable Foundation, City of Hope National
Medical Center and the Sept. 11 Fund for victims of last month's terrorist attacks.
Aaron Spelling Friar's Roast
Concert Cancelled
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg's concert has been canceled after locals in Southaven, Miss, threatened
to boycott the center where it was to have occurred.
The show had been scheduled for Sunday at the DeSoto County Civic Center, but was
scrapped because of poor ticket sales, said Stuart Taylor, the civic center's general
manager. He declined to say how many tickets were sold.
After the concert was announced Oct. 6, about 350 residents signed a petition saying
they would boycott the center if the rapper performed there.
Ticketholders should return to the place where they bought their tickets for a refund, Taylor said.
Snoop Dogg
Guest Star On 'Emeril'
Burt Reynolds
``If Jimmy Stewart, who was a general, and the Duke were around today, what they'd say to
Osama bin Laden is what I want to say to him: 'In all sincerity, kiss my ass'!''
It was Burt Reynolds saying on camera as he guest-starred in the ``Emeril'' show which
will air Nov. 6. And yes, NBC has cleared Reynolds' remarks, which also included this
statement, ``I'm gonna fly to L.A., get a flag and drive around the city.''
Reynolds' stint on ``Emeril'' also rejoined him with Robert Urich, with whom he had
piloted CBS' ill-fated ``Late Boomers.''
Burt Reynolds on 'Emeril'
Cool, Free Exhibit In LA
Al Hirschfeld
Anne Bancroft, left, and her husband, Mel Brooks, center, share a laugh with caricaturist
Al Hirschfeld, 98, during an exhibition of Hirschfeld's works at the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2001, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Open to
the public begining Friday, "Hirschfeld's Hollywood" showcases nine decades of film art,
covering the transition from silent to sound, from black-and-white to color, from the
studio system to an industry of independents.
Photo by KevorkDjansezian
And, look for the "Nina" in most Hirschfeld renderings...
Sticking Up For 'The Little Guy'
George Clooney
George Clooney is sticking up for the little guy.
The former ER hunk is whipping up a perfect storm against the Screen Actors Guild
after the union dumped a trio of unknown actors for crossing the picket line during
last year's strike against advertisers.
The big reason for Clooney's bagging on SAG: He says the union has a double standard
when it comes to laying down the law.
He points out that SAG reserved its harshest penalty for the trio--Gerry Donato,
Mario Barbieri Cecchini and Robert Kalomeer--by expelling them for doing scab commercial
work. However, Clooney points out, the union meted out more lenient sentences to
big-time celebs such as Elizabeth Hurley, Tiger Woods and Shaquille O'Neal who also
failed to honor the walkout.
"All of these people used poor judgment," Clooney writes in a letter to the guild.
"Three of them needed the money more than the other three. As a union, you cannot enforce
laws based on celebrity, and the punishment must be uniform."
Hurley and Woods were slapped with $100,000 fines for filming spots during the strike
for Estée Lauder perfume and Buick, respectively, while O'Neal's case didn't even make
it before SAG's board, which only censured the NBA star after he apologized for doing
a Disneyland ad.
Donato, Cecchini and Kalomeer on the other hand were voted out of the union on October 14
by SAG's governing board. Technically, the expulsions do not prevent producers from
hiring the three thespians, but the guild strongly recommends producers don't.
For its part, SAG says it had no choice but to dump the three actors.
In the unlikely event SAG reconsiders its decision, Clooney has offered to pay
any fines for the actors so they could retain membership in the guild.
"Elizabeth, Tiger and Shaq have since apologized and paid fines, and their memberships
are not in danger," he writes. "Gerry Donato, Mario Barbieri Cecchini and Robert Kalomeer
also apologized for their infractions, and if they were fined and can't afford to pay the
fine, I'll pay it."
"I suggest in this time of healing that we accept all of the actors' apologies, attach
fines appropriately and fairly and let people go about the business of chasing their
dreams. This union was created not to protect the famous (they can take care of
themselves) but to protect the struggling actor, even if that means from themselves."
George Clooney
E-Mail Making The Rounds
Some Good Logic Here
Take all American women who are within five years of menopause - train for a few weeks, outfit with automatic weapons, grenades, gas masks, moisturizer with SPF15, Prozac, hormones, chocolate, and canned tuna - drop them (parachuted, preferably) across the landscape of Afghanistan, and let the girls do what comes naturally.
Think about it. The anger quotient alone, even when doing standard stuff
like grocery shopping and paying bills, is formidable enough to make even
armed men in turbans tremble.
We've had our children, we would gladly suffer or die to protect them and
their future. We'd like to get away from our husbands, if they haven't left
already. And for those of us who are single, the prospect of finding a good man with whom to share life is about as likely as being struck by lightning. There is nothing to lose.
We've survived the water diet, the protein diet, the carbohydrate diet, and the grapefruit diet in gyms and saunas across America and never lost a pound. We can easily survive months in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan with no food at all!
We've spent years tracking down our husbands or lovers in bars, hardware stores, or sporting events...finding bin Laden in some cave will be no problem.
Uniting all the warring tribes of Afghanistan in a new government?
Oh, please ... we've planned the seating arrangements for in-laws and
extended families at Thanksgiving dinners for years ... we understand tribal warfare.
Between us, we've divorced enough husbands to know every trick there is for how they hide, launder, or cover up bank accounts and money sources. We know how to find that money and we know how to seize it ... with or without the government's help!
Let us go and fight. The Taliban hates women. Imagine their terror as we
crawl like ants with hot-flashes over their godforsaken terrain.
I'm going to write my Congresswoman. You should, too
--Anonymous
Thanks, Elaine.
Ooooooh -- Really Like This One....
"Boondocks" (22 Oct 01)
Still Really Like This One....
"Boondocks" (9 Oct 01)
Gonna let it ride for awhile.
Still MISSING
Marc Chagall's "Study for 'Over Vitebsk'"
