Reader Review
Enterprise - Rabbit Test, Revisited
By way2muchsense
Quality rating: ** out of *****
Intelligence rating: 85 IQ points
Suitability rating: 13 years and up
Trip done went and got himself in trouble. He was on an alien ship caught hitchhiking in Enterprise's wake "fixing stuff" for a few days and got a little close to one of their females. The interesting part is, the males of that particular species are the ones who get pregnant, so that is what happened to Trip. Interesting, of course, unless you've already seen the "pregnant man" shtick done to death already. He starts growing nipples on his arms, acting irrational, and eating everything in sight. Dr. Phlox, pleasant to be around, but even more clueless than Neelix was at his worst, starts talking about Trip's impending maternal responsibilities. This is the new PG-13 version of Star Trek.
Sub-commander T'Pau is her usual surly, condescending self this time around, and she couldn't resist letting Trip have it in sickbay. "You were there for only three days," she said, barely able to maintain that famous Vulcan composure, "yet you just could not control yourself. All this time, I thought you were a gentleman." It didn't come across as something a Vulcan would say at all, but perhaps a character from Ally McBeal, or if you watch
EastEnders on BBC America, like Janine Butcher. This is only the third episode of Enterprise I have seen so far, but it is plainly clear that Jolene Blalock is the weakest link in the series. In my not-always-humble opinion, she is an even worse Vulcan than Kirstie Alley.
Eventually, they found the alien ship, broken again, but this time having made a much poorer choice of ships to latch onto - a Klingon battle cruiser. Surely it is not the case that no other aliens in Enterprise's range other than Vulcans know how dangerous it is to mess with the Klingons. I haven't seen any yet. It is truly amazing that for some strange reason, although the Klingons refuse to take Capt. Archer seriously, they do listen to the female Vulcan T'Pau, although you'd never know exactly why from watching the show. It just happens. There was one more comic moment when Trip had to admit to having been knocked up by the other aliens, which the Klingons thought was absolutely hilarious, but it couldn't save a particularly weak scene from itself. Trip looked appropriately embarrassed, in true Ensign Kim (Star Trek: Voyager) fashion, and the aliens were able to transfer the fetus to another host.
All in all, I would have to give this episode of Enterprise no more than two stars (out of five). The characters still lack anything approaching charm, presence, or "depth", qualities that it seems to take a Star Trek cast longer and longer to develop with each new series. This is Star Trek done by the numbers, without soul. If something doesn't happen quickly, this may be the series that brings down the whole Star Trek franchise. That would be too bad.
~~ David
Thanks, David. I still hate the theme song.
Reader 'Did You See This?'
''Family Guy''
I don't know if you happened to catch tonight's ''Family Guy'' (on Fox, no less), but there
was an incredible Bush slam in it.
Peter Griffin is coaching a paraplegic friend in a special games
competition, and in encouraging him to not quit, runs down the list:
"Did George Bush quit when he lost the popular vote? No. Did he quit
when he lost a bunch of money running his father's friend's oil company?
No..." I paraphrase, but the list also included his DUI and his
illegitimate child, among other things. I about fell off the chair in
greatly amused disbelief.
And to think. It ran on the Fox Whore Network, too. I wonder if ol'
Rupert popped an aneurysm when he heard it.
Jon Bastian
Thanks, Jon....Damn! Missed it. Will watch for the rerun.
With Grandparents Like This...
Jenna & Barbara
Jenna and Barbara Bush can't grow up fast enough.
At least, that's the opinion of their grandparents, George Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush.
In a taped chat with Diane Sawyer that aired on "Good Morning America" today, the elder Bushes
said they see the twins' 21st birthday as a kind of finish line for grandma and grandpa.
"Barbara's at Yale," said the ex-commander in chief, "doing well, 20 years old last week or two.
She and her twin, Jenna — free spirits, we call them, which they are. And on their 20th birthday,
[his wife] Barbara said, 'Can you believe one year from today they'll be 21?'"
"And we'll be free!" said the former First Lady, laughing.
Bush twins
Yeah, and by their daddy's standards they'll have 20 more years of 'youthful indiscretions'
ahead of them...
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Was wrapping stuff & missed 'Friends', as well as the above mentioned 'Family Guy'.
Did catch 'The Tick', and it made me laugh.
Dave is still on his Oprah kick...
Tonight, Friday, CBS has 'A Home For The Holidays With Mariah Carey', and then a fresh
'That's Life'. '48 Hours' follows.
NBC has 'Stars On Ice' which is not a program about coroners in LA. It's followed by 'Dateline',
and a rerun on 'Law & Order'.
The programming geniuses at ABC provide 2 hours of rerun blooper shows and an 'Erin Brockovich Special'...
Faux pulls a fast one and has fresh episodes of 'Family Guy', 'The Tick', and then the weekly repeat of
'24'.
On the WB is a rerun of 'Reba', followed by the too-special 'Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer', and then a
rerun of 'Raising Dad'.
Anyone have any opinions?
Or reviews?
(See below for addresses)
The Names Have Been Changed To Protect...The Guilty
''Black Hawk Down'' Under Fire
Ridley Scott's long-awaited war movie Black Hawk Down may claim to be a true story, but it's portrayal of
one American soldier is apparently far from exact.
In fact, one of the military heroes depicted in the film is now serving a 30-year sentence for raping and
molesting a young girl.
The war drama, about the U.S. military's botched raid in Somalia, stars Ewan McGregor as Ranger John Grimes,
one of 100 elite U.S. Army Rangers pinned down in Mogadishu under heavy fire from a Somali militia, after
two of their Black Hawk helicopters were shot down. The operation led to the deaths of 18 U.S. troops and
became the longest sustained ground action by American forces since the Vietnam War.
But in reality, McGregor's Grimes is based on real-life Army Ranger John "Stebby" Stebbins, who, aside from
being a hero in the Battle of Mogadishu, is now a convicted child molester.
The Army purportedly tried to hide that fact when Scott and company began shooting Black Hawk Down. Mark
Bowden, author of the original bestselling book and its screenplay, told the New York Post he was pressured
by Pentagon officials to change the name of Stebbins to Grimes to avoid the controversy.
Stebbins, now 36, tried three times to enlist in the military during the Persion Gulf War and was turned
away before finally being accepted into the Army's formidable Ranger unit.
Relegated to desk clerk duty and labeled "chief coffee maker" by his peers until called into action,
"Stebby" reportedly surprised his fellow soldiers with his bravery and was eventually awarded the Army's
distinguished Silver Star--one of the military's highest honors--for his heroism during the bloody battle.
While he proved to be a tough fighter during the botched operation, Stebbins eventually ran afoul of
the law. He was court-martialed on June 8, 2000, for sexually abusing a child under the age of 12
and sentenced to 30 years in Levenworth military prison in Kansas, where he now resides.
Despite the name change, Stebbins' conviction blanketed the movie in controversy. His ex-wife,
Nora Stebbins, wrote an email to the Post objecting to the movie making a hero out of a convicted sex offender.
"[Producers] are going to make millions off this film in which my ex-husband is portrayed as an
All-American hero, when the truth is he is not," she wrote.
For his part, Bowden acquiesced to the Army's wishes and used Stebbins' real name only in the
book, but not in the screenplay.
Meanwhile, Black Hawk is being heralded as one of this year's top awards contenders, but the film was
shot down by the Golden Globes Thursday, coming away with no nominations.
The $95 million war flick lands in theaters Christmas Day.
Merry Effing Christmas Movie
Updated!
BartCop TV!
Visit the site at BC TV
The 'Vidiot' never seems to rest - and doesn't let little things like laundry or
housekeeping get in the way!
Damn near every show on TV must is listed - days & days worth of great reading.
If you have any questions about nearly any tv program, check out
BC TV!
Further Departures From The Author's Plot
Peter Jackson
Defying the wrath of purists, Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has made changes to the
original scripts of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novels in the second and third movies of the popular trilogy.
Jackson is already under criticism from some Tolkien fans over liberties taken in the first
film, ``The Fellowship of the Ring,'' which opens this week in the United States.
He said Thursday that there would be further departures from the author's plot in the next two films.
Jackson said starting with the second picture, ``The Two Towers,'' moviegoers can expect to
see expanded roles for several characters.
In ``The Fellowship of the Ring,'' the biggest change was the invention of an enemy warrior called
Lurtz - but this had been known and anticipated for a long time.
More Changes In Parts 2 & 3
Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Golden Globe Awards
The Big List
Nominees for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Golden Globe Awards, to be presented Jan. 20:
MOTION PICTURES:
Picture, Drama: "A Beautiful Mind," "In the Bedroom," "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," "The Man Who Wasn't There," "Mulholland Drive."
Actress, Drama: Halle Berry, "Monster's Ball"; Judi Dench, "Iris"; Nicole Kidman, "The Others"; Sissy Spacek, "In the Bedroom"; Tilda Swinton, "The Deep End."
Actor, Drama: Russell Crowe, "A Beautiful Mind"; Will Smith, "Ali"; Kevin Spacey, "The Shipping News"; Billy Bob Thornton, "The Man Who Wasn't There"; Denzel Washington, "Training Day."
Picture, Musical or Comedy: "Bridget Jones's Diary," "Gosford Park," "Legally Blonde," "Moulin Rouge," "Shrek." Actress, Musical or Comedy: Thora Birch, "Ghost World"; Cate Blanchett, "Bandits"; Nicole Kidman, "Moulin Rouge"; Reese Witherspoon, "Legally Blonde"; Renee Zellweger, "Bridget Jones's Diary."
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Gene Hackman, "The Royal Tenenbaums"; Hugh Jackman, "Kate & Leopold"; Ewan McGregor, "Moulin Rouge"; John Cameron Mitchell, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"; Billy Bob Thornton, "Bandits."
Foreign Language: "Amelie," France; "Behind the Sun," Brazil; "Monsoon Wedding," India; "No Man's Land," Bosnia; "Y Tu Mama Tambien (And Your Mother Too)" Mexico;
Supporting Actress, Drama, Musical or Comedy: Jennifer Connelly, "A Beautiful Mind"; Cameron Diaz, "Vanilla Sky"; Helen Mirren, "Gosford Park"; Maggie Smith, "Gosford Park"; Marisa Tomei, "In the Bedroom"; "Kate Winslet,"Iris";
Supporting Actor, Drama, Musical or Comedy: Jim Broadbent, "Iris"; Steve Buscemi, "Ghost World"; Hayden Christensen, "Life as a House"; Ben Kingsley, "Sexy Beast"; Jude Law, "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"; Jon Voight, "Ali."
Director: Robert Altman, "Gosford Park," Ron Howard, "A Beautiful Mind": Peter Jackson, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"; Baz Luhrmann, "Moulin Rouge"; David Lynch, "Mulholland Drive"; Steven Spielberg, "A.I. Artificial Intelligence."
Screenplay: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "The Man Who Wasn't There"; Julian Fellowes, "Gosford Park"; Akiva Goldsman, "A Beautiful Mind"; David Lynch, "Mulholland Drive"; Christopher Nolan, "Memento."
Original Score: Craig Armstrong, "Moulin Rouge"; Angelo Badalamenti, "Mulholland Drive"; Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke, "Ali"; James Horner, "A Beautiful Mind"; Howard Shore, "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"; John Williams, "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"; Christopher Young, "The Shipping News"; Hans Zimmer, "Pearl Harbor."
Original Song: "Come What May" from "Moulin Rouge," by David Baerwald; "May It Be" from "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," by Enya; "There You'll Be" from "Pearl Harbor," by Diane Warren; "Until" from "Kate & Leopold," by Sting; "Vanilla Sky" from "Vanilla Sky," by Paul McCartney.
TELEVISION
Drama Series: "24," Fox; "Alias," ABC; "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS; "Six Feet Under," HBO; "The Sopranos," HBO; "The West Wing," NBC.
Actress, Drama: Lorraine Bracco, "The Sopranos"; Amy Brenneman, "Judging Amy"; Edie Falco, "The Sopranos"; Jennifer Garner, "Alias"; Lauren Graham, "Gilmore Girls"; Marg Helgenberger, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"; Sela Ward, "Once and Again."
Actor, Drama: Simon Baker, "The Guardian"; James Gandolfini, "The Sopranos"; Peter Krause, "Six Feet Under"; Martin Sheen, "The West Wing"; Kiefer Sutherland, "24."
Musical or Comedy Series: "Ally McBeal," Fox; "Frasier," NBC; "Friends," NBC; "Sex and the City," HBO; "Will & Grace," NBC.
Actress, Musical or Comedy Series: Calista Flockhart, "Ally McBeal"; Jane Kaczmarek, "Malcolm in the Middle"; Heather Locklear, "Spin City"; Debra Messing, "Will & Grace"; Sarah Jessica Parker, "Sex and the City."
Actor, Musical or Comedy Series: Tom Cavanagh, "Ed"; Kelsey Grammer, "Frasier"; Eric McCormack, "Will & Grace";
Frankie Muniz, "Malcolm in the Middle"; Charlie Sheen, "Spin City."
Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: "Anne Frank," ABC; "Band of Brothers," HBO; "Conspiracy," HBO; "Life
with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," ABC; "Wit," HBO.
Actress, Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: Judy Davis, "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows";
Bridget Fonda, "No Ordinary Baby"; Hannah Taylor Gordon, "Anne Frank"; Julianna Margulies, "The Mists of
Avalon"; Leelee Sobieski, "Uprising"; Emma Thompson, "Wit."
Actor, Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: Kenneth Branagh, "Conspiracy"; James Franco, "James Dean"; Ben
Kingsley, "Anne Frank"; Damian Lewis, "Band of Brothers"; Barry Pepper, "61."
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: Jennifer Aniston, "Friends"; Tammy Blanchard,
"Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows"; Rachel Griffiths, "Six Feet Under"; Allison Janney, "The West
Wing"; Megan Mullally, "Will & Grace."
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie Made for Television: John Corbett, "Sex and the City"; Sean
Hayes, "Will & Grace"; Ron Livingston, "Band of Brothers"; Stanley Tucci, "Conspiracy"; Bradley Whitford, "The West Wing."
Golden Globes, The Big List
The Breakdowns, By Networks
Golden Globes, Part 2
HBO dominated the Golden Globe television nominations Thursday with 19 honors, including best drama mentions
for ``The Sopranos'' and ``Six Feet Under.''
The much-honored gangster series ``The Sopranos'' also had dramatic actress nominations for Lorraine Bracco and
Edie Falco, and a dramatic actor listing for star James Gandolfini.
The funeral-home drama ``Six Feet Under'' had a dramatic actor nomination for star Peter Krause and another for
supporting actress Rachel Griffiths.
NBC was second with 15 nominations and ABC had 11.
Other competitors for best TV drama series were Fox's ``24,'' ABC's ``Alias,'' CBS' ``CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''
and NBC's ``The West Wing.''
Nominees for best TV musical or comedy series were Fox's ``Ally McBeal,'' NBC's ``Frasier,'' NBC's ``Friends,''
HBO's ``Sex and the City'' and NBC's ``Will & Grace.''
All four main cast members of ``Will & Grace'' received nominations, with comedic actor and actress recognition
going to Debra Messing and Eric McCormack and supporting comedic actor mentions for co-stars Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes.
``The West Wing'' had three other nominations, including dramatic actor for Martin Sheen, supporting dramatic
actress for Allison Janney and supporting dramatic actor for Bradley Whitford.
The HBO World War II drama ``Band of Brothers'' had three nominations, including best miniseries, miniseries
actor for Damian Lewis, and supporting actor for Ron Livingston. Livingston played real-life war hero Lewis
Nixon, who died from diabetes in 1995.
Golden Globes By Network
Golden Globe Nominee
Kiefer Sutherland - ''24''
Snarky Gossip
Britney About Mariah
Not all singing divas hate each other. Britney Spears, for example, doesn't hate Mariah Carey. She
pities her. "I feel really sorry for [Mariah], but I don't think it's what she does that has made her
feel unhappy," the belly-baring singer told Q Magazine. "I think sometimes it's something personal.
Maybe she takes herself too seriously. A lot of stars believe their own hype and actually think
they're some kind of goddess." . . . .
Snarky Gossip From Britney
New!
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
New Animal Rights Believer
Bob 'Kid Rock' Ritchie
Animal rights activists have gained a staunch new supporter in Kid Rock.
But the rocker, a k a Robert James Ritchie, isn't doing it for entirely humanitarian reasons, says a
source. "It's totally because of Pam Anderson," says a friend of the couple. "She's cool and distant
to him if he does anything that might be not animal friendly. The other day, someone offered to let
him try on a really cool men's fur coat, and Kid said no way. He said he couldn't have sex for a
week if he touches fur."
Bob Says 'No' To Fur
McCartney Spokesman Denies TV Report
UPN13 In LA
A spokesman for ex-Beatle Paul McCartney on Thursday strongly denied a local television report that said
Harrison, who died of cancer in Los Angeles on Nov. 29, passed away at a house owned by McCartney. He
also said McCartney did not even own a house in California.
The Los Angeles affiliate of the UPN network, UPN News 13, reported on Tuesday that Harrison died at a
secluded home in Beverly Hills that McCartney bought from rock star Courtney Love six months ago. The
station said that two weeks before Harrison's death, McCartney visited him and told him he could borrow
the secluded home, tucked away behind a gated driveway and located near the UCLA Medical Center where
Harrison received cancer treatments in his last weeks of life.
But McCartney spokesman Paul Freundlich told Reuters on Thursday that the report was ``complete and utter
fiction.'' He added, ``The fact is that Paul McCartney does not own a home in the state of California,
never mind Beverly Hills.''
Freundlich said McCartney had briefly rented a house in California several months ago while recording
his new album, ''Driving Rain,'' but that he had ``absolutely not'' offered any purchased or
rented home for Harrison's use in his last days.
UPN News 13 News Director Larry Peret declined immediate comment on Freundlich's remarks.
The official death certificate, however, listed an address which postal and other authorities have
since said does not appear to exist.
McCartney Spokesman Denies LA's UPN13 Report
More On The Recording Artists Coalition Concerts
26 February, In LA
Pop stars including Elton John, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow and the Eagles will perform a series of concerts
the night before the Grammys to raise money for a fledgling group of performers seeking better treatment
by major record labels, organizers said Wednesday.
At least five shows sponsored by the Recording Artists Coalition, a group spearheaded by Crow and Eagles
singer Don Henley, are planned at various Los Angeles-area venues for Feb. 26, the eve of the glittering
awards ceremony honoring the industry's best music and biggest stars, spokesmen said.
Among other artists committed to performing at the shows are country pop trio the Dixie Chicks, who are
embroiled in litigation with their record company, Sony Music Entertainment as well as former Fleetwood
Mac singer Stevie Nicks, hard rock veteran Ozzy Osbourne and the alternative rock bands Offspring, No Doubt
and Weezer, said Simon Renshaw, a coalition board member.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the artist coalition, which counts about 100 entertainers as members, has
already booked four venues for the benefits -- the Forum in suburban Inglewood, the Long Beach Arena, the Universal
Amphitheatre, and the Los Angeles Sports Arena -- and was seeking a fifth.
One of RAC's biggest causes is its effort to win repeal of a California state Labor Code amendment won
by the music industry in 1987 that keeps recording artists tied to personal contracts longer than talent
in other industries, like film and television.
Big Concert Night In LA - 26 Feb., 2002
A Simpler Christmas
Angelina & Billy Bob
Billy Bob Thornton says he and his wife, Angelina Jolie, are making Christmas gifts for one other this year.
``We decided to give each other one thing apiece. And that's something that we'll make,'' he told AP Radio.
``If you knew anything about how little we know how to make, it's pretty hilarious.
``She's ruined a few things trying to make me something already. Like she tried to knit a scarf and she
said it was a real disaster.''
``I think she'll like what I'm going to give her. I'm just making her a little thing. I mean it's very
simple what I'm making her. It's not weird or particularly interesting, but to her, it will be,'' he said.
Angelina & Billy Bob & Christmas Presents
Snarky Gossip
Madonna
Madonna and Guy Ritchie are celebrating their first anniversary Saturday at Sting and Trudie Styler's
Wilsford-cum-Lake mansion. The Ritchies will return to the 52-acre estate near Salisbury, England,
where they spent their honeymoon, to celebrate with friends Gwyneth Paltrow, Rupert Everett and Stella McCartney.
Madge also said she had no regrets about using profanity when she presented the Turner Prize for art
recently in London: "People expect it from me."
Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, for one, tells London's Daily Telegraph, "Madonna is the last person
who should be presenting the prize. Just because she owns a Picasso, it doesn't mean that she knows
anything about art. Madonna has invested in lots of pieces, because she's looking for some credibility as an artist."
Snarky Madonna Gossip
Just Lost My Appetite For Cottage Cheese
Russell Crowe
Female fans have been wondering for years why Russell Crowe, who made their hearts pound in "Gladiator," is
never shown nude. It isn't that Crowe hasn't gotten naked with co-stars in that movie, "Proof of Life," "The
Quick and the Dead" and "A Beautiful Mind" - but all the steamy scenes were left on the cutting room floor.
The London Sun reports the alleged reason - cellulite. Crowe's behind is said to have the consistency of cottage cheese.
A Cottage Cheese Arse?
Money To Be Made In Rerun$
Cla$$ic TV
Thanks to Carol Burnett, classic TV stars are hot commodities again.
When the ratings for Burnett's reunion special went through the roof last month - the one-hour CBS special
became TV's most watched program for that week snagging a whopping 30 million viewers and topping "ER,"
"Friends" and "Survivor" - network execs went into overdrive to find the next oldie that will strike ratings gold.
Among the classic shows that reportedly have a shot at making a one-time, modern-day encore are "Happy Days,"
"The Cosby Show," "M*A*S*H," "Three's Company," "The Waltons," "The Monkees" and "Batman."
But industry experts are cautioning that the networks need to be careful when the decide which "next old thing"
to bring back, since many classic shows like "Barney Miller" "Hogans Heroes" and "I Love Lucy" are already in
heavy rotation on cable channels like Nick at Night and its sister, TV Land.
Another twist, sure to rankle some network purists, is that the rights to many of the classics are owned by studios
tied to TV networks that didn't air the shows originally.
For example Viacom's Paramount TV controls the rights to "Happy Days," "Laverne and Shirley" and "Family
Ties," which NBC originally aired; and 20th Century Fox owns the rights to "M*A*S*H," which originally aired on CBS.
Money In Rerun$
I'd love to see a 'Dick Van Dyke' Reunion.
The 25th Anniversary Of ''Roots''
David Wolper
David Wolper is not finished showing America to the world via TV. The father of ``Roots'' says he's
contemplating a 14-hour miniseries about American history. The 25th anniversary of ``Roots'' will be
celebrated Jan. 18 on NBC, produced by Judith Leonard and hosted by LeVar Burton, who starred in ``Roots.''
It aired initially on ABC, which turned down this special.
``I couldn't believe it,'' Wolper says. ``Isn't there any pride in ownership?''
David Wolper & the 25th Anniversary Of ''Roots''
Producing Basketball Series For TNN
David Duchovny
David Duchovny, a basketball junkie, will make showbiz hay out of his obsession by producing ``Two on Two,''
a half-hour primetime reality series for cable's TNN.
The network has commissioned Duchovny's production company Toy Plane Industries to put the finishing touches
on the concept, whose premise is that two young men with basketball skills start in New York City and work
their way across the U.S. by elbowing their way into pickup basketball games.
The men would be encouraged to play hard because they'd earn their travel and living expenses by placing
bets on the games. Duchovny will serve as an executive producer.
The beauty of ``Two on Two'' for Robina is that the series will appeal to the young male viewership that
has transformed TNN in the last year from an older-skewing, predominantly rural network in primetime to
the youngest-skewing of all of the general-entertainment cable networks.
David Duchovny, Producer
New! Updated!
(10 Dec., 2001)
The official BartCop Astrologer, Geneva, has done good, again!
Currently, look at the charts of George Harrison.
Very interesting reading!
Her Mom Was Caught Unaware
More Drew & Tom
One person who was completely surprised by the news that Drew Barrymore and Tom Green were getting divorced was Drew's mother, Jaid.
Drew and her mother had long been estranged, but reconciled not long ago, and a friend of Drew's says it was
thanks to Drew's hubby, Tom. "Tom has a lovely, close-knit family and he insisted that Drew patch things up
with her mother," says the friend. "It was a dream come true for Jaid, who adored Tom and was terribly grateful
for helping her get back with her daughter. She saw them fairly recently, and they seemed totally in love.
She's in shock over this and would love to see them stay together, but isn't sure what to do because she doesn't
want to risk losing Drew again." The friend says that Jaid has received more than 400 calls from reporters, but
isn't answering any of them. "She doesn't want to make things worse," says the friend.
Meanwhile, other friends of the couple are so stunned by the news that they refuse to believe it. They maintain
that it was a hoax by prankster Green, even though the divorce petition has appeared online at TheSmokingGun.com.
"He was always saying that first they started the marriage rumors when that wasn't true and next they were going
to start divorce rumors," says one acquaintance.
More Drew & Tom
MTV Movie & Series
``Bomb-itty of Errors''
MTV will develop a movie, TV series and a made-for-TV picture based on the Off Broadway show ``Bomb-itty of Errors,''
a hip-hop version of Shakespeare's ``Comedy of Errors,''
The stage show featured four stars -- GQ, Jordan Allen-Dutton, Erik Weiner (aka 'Red Dragon'), and J.A.Q. -- portraying
more than 20 characters. It was born out of a school project at New York University's Experimental Theater Wing.
``A bunch of us saw 'Bomb-itty of Errors' I think 18 months or two years ago downtown, and we felt four white
guys rapping to Shakespeare was enough to call up our attention and our audience's attention,'' Van
Toffler, president of MTV and MTV2, told Daily Variety.
The feature likely will be an adaptation of the stage production. The TV series and the TV movie will in some
other ways incorporate the troupe's unique acting, writing and rapping styles.
``Bomb-itty of Errors''
Small Aircraft Ban Lifted
News Copters Fly Again
News helicopters and other small aircraft will be allowed to roam the skies again after federal officials
lifted a ban that restricted their movements for the past three months.
The Federal Aviation Administration initially grounded many small planes and helicopters in the days following
the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Aircraft have been allowed to fly recently but only in certain areas. The
decision by FAA officials Wednesday allows pilots who operate under visual flight rules to fly above the Los
Angeles basin but planes are still banned from hovering over sporting events or large gatherings.
No-fly zones remain in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C., where "there are ongoing security concerns," said
Jerry Snyder, a regional FAA spokesman. He declined to elaborate.
Media helicopters will return to their coverage of traffic accidents and police chases, said Jeff Wald, news
director at KTLA-TV Channel 5. "From a news standpoint, I am happy," Wald said. "We are where we were before Sept. 11."
FAA Finally Lifts Small Aircraft Ban
Jokes Guaranteed To Offend Just About Everybody
The Un-PC Ali
Parkinson's disease may have reduced his bellow to a whisper, but Muhammad Ali's mouth can still get him in trouble.
The 59-year-old former heavyweight champ stunned a gathering in Washington on Monday when he let loose
with jokes guaranteed to offend just about everybody.
''What's the difference between a Jew and a canoe?'' the boxer asked at the D.C. premiere of ''Ali.'' ''A canoe tips!''
The crowd, which included a number of Jewish people, including ''Ali'' actor Ron Silver, laughed nervously.
But Ali wasn't through.
''A black, a Puerto Rican and a Mexican are in a car,'' he went on. ''Who's driving?''
Punch line: ''The police!''
The Washington Post's Lloyd Grove, who was at the party, reports that Ali's fourth wife, Lonnie,
tried to head off his routine as he took the mike — pleading: "No, no, no, don't."
Ali's rep Sue Carls admitted his humor was ''politically incorrect,'' but argued: "These are not new
jokes. Muhammad tells them all the time, because he likes to make people laugh, and he shocks people
to make a point. He always manages to defuse any situation that seems overly reverential. Following
the film, everybody was paying tribute to him and he was in a good mood."
The Un-PC Ali
Wonder Whatever Happened To The 2nd Mrs. Sylvester Stallone?
Brigitte Nielsen
Die Schauspielerin Brigitte Nielsen präsentiert in Berlin bei einer Star Couture Show ein Kleid
des Modeschöpfers Harald Glööckler.
The 2nd Mrs. Sylvester Stallone
Muy Macho Moron
geraldo
Jealous rivals and media watchdogs like to heap scorn on Geraldo Rivera for his breathless reporting from
Afghanistan on the Fox News Channel. But the viewing public has a different opinion. "Every quarter-hour he's
on air, we get higher ratings," a Fox spokesman told us yesterday. Rivera has been trashed for saying he'd like
to personally kill Osama bin Laden and for "carrying" a gun (actually his three bodyguards have been toting the
machine guns). A Baltimore Sun columnist tried to make a stink when Geraldo, reporting from Tora Bora,
inadvertently implied he was on the "hallowed" spot in Kandahar where three G.I.'s were killed by friendly fire.
Others are critical of his style. In a photo in the Washington Post, Rivera was seen with a group of Northern
Alliance tribesmen wearing a cowboy hat. The Washington Times quotes his own cameraman as saying, "They don't
make a helmet big enough for his head." But the audience loves him.
geraldo, the muy macho
Jealous rivals and media watchdogs? Critical of his style? He outright lies, and is caught, but, it's just a 'style-thing'?
Even the Moonie-Times carries snide comments...Sure the audience loves him - and the check is in the mail, and it's
only a coldsore, and of course, I'll respect you in the morning....
MTV/CNN Broadcast Angers Muslims
Disrespectful?
Muslims are seething at CNN and MTV after the cable-TV giants teamed up to surprise sheltered
Afghan kids with sexy, skin-baring photos of Jennifer Lopez and get their reactions on camera.
In the segment aired on CNN last night, reporter Jason Bellini whipped out an American teen magazine
featuring J.Lo, showed it to traditionally dressed Afghan teens and asked: "What do you think?"
The jolted youngsters told Bellini that while J.Lo was "very beautiful," she would "never be allowed to
dress like that here because her outfit exposes her belly."
Disgusted Muslim leaders said the interviews, produced and edited by MTV and aired on CNN's "Newsnight
with Aaron Brown," were disrespectful.
A CNN spokeswoman said the newsman, formerly at MTV, had used the magazine with J.Lo's image as a prop to
quiz the kids about their knowledge of American pop stars.
MTV/CNN Broadcast Angers Muslims
BC Entertainment Favorite Link
Moose & Squirrel Information One-Stop
http://geocities.com/mooseandsquirrel1
What a great site! Information and reference materials of the first order!
Between 'Moose & Squirrel' and 'Google', who needs 'refdesk'!
Impending Nuptials
Joan Collins
Joan Collins, who has been through a marital spat or two, isn't quite ready yet to take the gloves off with
her latest groom-to-be, Percy Gibson, as they pose in a London limo yesterday. The 36-year-old theater-company
manager will be hubby No. 5 for the actress, who was 32 when he was born. "Percy is such a special human being,"
says the screen vixen of the man she'll wed in February. "I feel more myself with Percy Gibson than I ever have
with anyone." Collins met Peruvian-born Percy while touringthe United States last year in the play "Love Letters."
The romance is said to have blossomed while he helped her edit her latest novel, "Star Quality," and he popped
the question on her birthday, May 23. Collins has appeared in more than 80 films, but is best known as glamour-bitch
Alexis Carrington in the 1980s prime-time soap opera "Dynasty." In walking down the aisle with Collins, Gibson
will follow in the footsteps of Maxwell Reed, Anthony Newley, Ron Kass and Peter Holm.
Joan Collins
America's Favorite Movie Stars
The Harris Poll
The latest Harris Poll that tracks our nation's favorite movie stars as
determined by our nation's presumed moviegoers. According to the poll, out today, eight of our most popular
actors didn't have a single fresh release in theaters in 2001. One member of the top 10, in fact, is dead. Way dead.
Harris says its poll was conducted online between November 9-14, "among a nationwide cross section of 1,065
adults." Judging by the fact that seventysomething Sean Connery jumped five spots (from number 10 in 2000,
to number five in 2001) on the strength of, well, nothing, we're guessing that a lot of this "nationwide
cross section" hails from a Palm Beach, Florida, retirement villa.
But you can't argue this: John Wayne has been way dead since 1979. Hasn't made a movie since 1976. And, yet,
according to Harris voters, he's our sixth favorite movie star. (It's worth noting, however, that the Duke's
way-deadness may be catching up with him. Prior to this year, Wayne had never ranked lower than fourth, and
actually held the number one spot in 1995.)
Robin Williams' career, meanwhile, has been relatively dead since 1999 and the twin bombs that were Jakob the
Liar and Bicentennial Man. But has that hurt him in the eyes of the "nationwide cross section"? Hardly. Williams
is now our ninth favorite movie star, per the poll--the first time he's cracked the Top 10.
Lest you think Harris voters hate any kind of change, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert De Niro all
fell out of the Top 10 this year. Why? Well, Willis and De Niro committed no-nos: They made movies (Bandits
and The Score, respectively).
Here's the complete list of 2001's favorite movie stars, per the Harris Poll:
1. Julia Roberts
2. Tom Hanks
3. Harrison Ford
4. Mel Gibson
5. Sean Connery
6. John Wayne
7. Clint Eastwood
8. Denzel Washington
9. Robin Williams
10. Sandra Bullock
Harris Poll
''Spend Your Regard to Broadway''
But Nothing For Off-Broadway
While the Mayor's Office is in the process of buying $2.5 million in Broadway tickets, stage shows housed in
theaters with 499 seats or fewer can expect a lump of coal from the city -- if that.
``Off Broadway is getting bunkus,'' said producer Robyn Goodman. ``Nobody is doing anything comparable for Off
Broadway. Maybe I'll put on my one-woman show called 'Pass the Hat.'''
``I'm sympathetic to anyone who is losing money,'' Goodman said. ``But the downtown theaters are closest
to ground zero and they're suffering the most.''
The city recently bought 16,500 tickets, totaling about $240,000, for December performances of six box
office-challenged shows, including ``Beauty and the Beast,'' ``Contact,'' ``Hedda Gabler,'' ``Les Miserables,''
``The Music Man'' and ``The Phantom of the Opera.'' The bulk of the ticket-buying program will come later,
in January and February, when winter storms often decimate theatergoing.
Called Spend Your Regard to Broadway, the program also will offer two free Broadway tickets to anyone who can
show receipts of at least $500 (dated Jan. 1-16) from Gotham stores and restaurants.
Off-Broadway Getting The Short End Of The Stick
Copping A Plea
Scott Weiland
Stone Temple Pilots lead singer Scott Weiland pleaded guilty to domestic battery after fighting with his
wife at the Hard Rock hotel.
The 38-year-old entered a guilty plea Wednesday, but will have his case dismissed if he has no more problems
in the next six months and completes 26 counseling sessions.
Weiland was arrested Nov. 19 after fighting with his wife, Mary, in a hotel room. He posted $3,000 bail and was
released after a mandatory 12-hour stay at the Clark County jail.
The singer, who has a history of drug addiction, argued with his wife over a prescription he was going to have
filled. The couple's 18-month-old son was in the room at the time, according to police reports.
Copping A Plea
It's All The Fault Of Sheep
Cause Of Global Warming?
Scientists in New Zealand have concluded that the biggest cause of global warming is not the burning of coal or
oil, but the discharges of flatulent cows and sheep.
A research team fitted sheep with a device to measure the amount of methane released when they belched and broke
wind, as part of a project to reduce greenhouse gasses by 10 per cent.
The AgResearch scientists concluded that methane released by the country's 45 million sheep and eight million
cattle accounted for 44 per cent of domestically produced greenhouse gasses.
Methane is the largest contributor to New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions and the country has the world's
highest per capita methane production, amounting to six times the global average.
Sheep are the worst offender, emitting between nine and 35g each day. The company believes the large differences
between individual animals' digestive systems could potentially be exploited as an emissions mitigation strategy.
It's The Sheep's Fault!
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"Boondocks" (9 Oct 01)
Still MISSING
Marc Chagall's "Study for 'Over Vitebsk'"
