'Best of TBH Politoons'
A Review
'Creature Comforts'
hey, marty....I just caught "creature comforts" on cbs and I loved it. It's a clay-mation thing, well done. There is another episode next monday, not sure of the time. It's very amusing, very droll and requires the viewer to pay attention to get a lot of the jokes. I loved the bit about "what is art?"
It cracked me up. I hope people watch it so they won't cancel it. It's too good to be canceled.
ducks
Thanks, ducks!
'Creature Comforts' is the first show on CBS' newest Monday night schedule. They moved 'How I Met Your Mother' later to make room for it.
CBS dumped the scheduled 'King Of Queens' repeats to air these reruns (they also aired on Monday).
Regardless, it beats the crap out of yet another 'reality' show.
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Barbara Ehrenreich: The Rich Are Making the Poor Poorer (The Nation; Posted on alternet.org)
A bloated overclass can drag down a society as surely as a swelling underclass. A great deal of the wealth at the top is built on the low-wage labor of the poor.
Jim Hightower: FILTHY FOOD IMPORTS (jimhightower.com)
Food fifth is back with a vengeance: scallops and sardines coated with putrefying bacteria; prunes with chemical dyes not fit for human consumption; frozen shrimp preserved with a cancer-causing agent. These stomach-turning (and deadly) foodstuffs are not products from American processing factories - but from China.
Lisa Kaiser: "It's the Most Liberating Thing": Six Milwaukeeans tell their coming-out stories (shepherd-express.com)
Bill Serpe, 62: When I was 19 I realized that I was gay. But I didn't come out publicly until I was 24, in 1969. Until then, I had been living a double life. By day I would talk about my dates with women, but at night I would go out to the bars with a man. I came out at work. I was a shoe salesman. I lived in Racine. My boss asked me what I did the night before, and I said that I went out on a date. He asked me what her name was. I said, "His name was John." I said, "I'm sorry, I just can't do this anymore." And that's when I knew that I couldn't keep lying about my life.
Richie Whitt: Cheaters Never Win? (dallasobserver.com)
Don't whisper a word to the children, but hell yeah, of course they do.
Mark Morford: You Are So F--ing Obscene (sfgate.com)
The president says it, you say it, your kids say it all the time. So what's the f--ing problem?
He's head over heels (and toes) (entertainment.timesonline.co.uk)
Tap dancing isn't all top hats and tails, Savion Glover tells Debra Craine. It's music played by the feet.
Let's hear it for heroic failure (entertainment.timesonline.co.uk)
As a rare Orson Welles musical fiasco is revived, Brian Logan explores the curious cult of theatrical flops.
Jody Rosen: Everything You Know About Sgt. Pepper's Is Wrong
Revisionist Beatles history.
NATALIE NICHOLS: The Secret of Nancy Drew (lacitybeat.com)
The tagline for Warner Brothers' forthcoming Nancy Drew is "Get a clue." Well, I needed one: Until recently, I had no inkling the girl detective, whose adventures I devoured as a bookish grade-schooler, was marketable enough to warrant a hip teen-flick incarnation by Emma Roberts (Julia's niece).
LUKE Y. THOMPSON: Summer Cinema: A Vaguely Helpful Guide (ocweekly.com)
First, a warning: This isn't going to be your typical rant about how summer movies suck, and only stupid people go to see sequels, and what can the grown-ups go to, et cetera. Frankly, if you've beaten your inner child so far into submission that you can't understand why people like cartoons, explosions, or gratuitous bikini action, you might be better off visiting the opera house than the multiplex. But it might be nice to try to discern which of the digitally enhanced entertainment heading your way offers the most bang for the buck.
David Bruce: Wise Up! Fathers (athensnews.com)
Pete Postlethwaite played an important role in the movie "In the Name of the Father," which was about the relationship between a father and a son. His appearance in the movie kept him from being mugged in New York one night when he was walking alone. The would-be mugger recognized him and said, "Weren't you in 'In the Name of the Father'? I hadn't spoken to my dad for 30 years--after I saw that film, I got straight on the phone."
Reader Comment
Harriet Miers
Harriet Miers Before 6 Beers After 6 Beers
Harriet Miers looks just like the "Before 6 Beers After 6 Beers" Upside Down Faces Cartoon Drawing
You Know, This One
(Harriet is the Before 6 Beers One)
KevKev in Arizona
Thanks, KevKev
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Not a lot of marine layer, summer is settling in.
'Dream for Darfur'
Mia Farrow
Actress Mia Farrow unveiled plans Wednesday for an Olympic-style torch relay beginning this summer as part of a campaign aimed at shaming China into cutting support for Sudan over its role in the Darfur conflict.
Farrow, a U.N. goodwill ambassador, and a new activist group called Dream for Darfur are hoping to use the spotlight of the 2008 Beijing Olympics to draw attention to China's economic and diplomatic support for Sudan. China buys two-thirds of Sudan's oil and has close commercial ties with Khartoum.
The torch relay will begin Aug. 8 in Chad near the Sudan border and make its way through countries associated with genocide: Rwanda, Armenia, Bosnia, Germany and Cambodia, before ending up in December in Hong Kong. Farrow will attend the launch in Chad and will travel to Rwanda.
Mia Farrow
Prince of Asturias Award
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan was awarded Spain's Prince of Asturias arts award, one of the country's most prestigious honors, Wednesday.
"He's considered one of the most important figures of song, a form in which he combines, in a majestic way, the beauty of his poetry and ethical commitment," said the prize foundation in a statement.
Dylan, born Robert Zimmerman in Duluth, Minn., was ranked No. 2 in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004, second to the Beatles.
Bob Dylan
Endorses Hillary
Steven Spielberg
Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg, a prominent figure in Hollywood's liberal establishment, on Wednesday endorsed U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president in 2008.
The move reflects Clinton's growing support among show business heavyweights following a period in which many donors had given money to several candidates, including Clinton of New York, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
Hollywood's fascination with newcomer Obama has added tension to the race in a town with long and deep ties with Hillary and her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Steven Spielberg
Plays For British Vets
White Stripes
The White Stripes won some new fans during an intimate and unusual gig at a home for elderly British military veterans.
The Detroit duo, dressed in their customary red and white, played for some 20 scarlet-clad Chelsea Pensioners on Tuesday. The retired servicemen, residents of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, wore red tunics and black tricorn hats modeled on the uniforms of 17th-century soldiers.
Jack and Meg White played an acoustic set in the hospital's oak-paneled state apartments, where Mozart once performed.
The hospital, founded in 1692, houses elderly veterans on army pensions and those who have been wounded in battle. It is being redeveloped as it prepares to admit women for the first time.
White Stripes
New Winery
Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd is throwing his star power behind an $11 million winery that aims to boost the Niagara wine region's international profile.
The Dan Aykroyd Winery, which will showcase souvenirs from the actor's career, will be located near the town of Lincoln, Ontario, in the heart of the province's vineyards.
Construction begins this fall and should be completed in time for the 2008 growing season.
The project is a venture by Toronto-based Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Murray Marshall said he hopes the winery will draw at least 44,000 visitors a year.
Dan Aykroyd
Postpones Broadway Opening
`Xanadu'
The opening of "Xanadu," the new Broadway musical based on the cult Olivia Newton-John roller-disco movie, has been postponed after one of its stars, James Carpinello, injured his foot during a rehearsal Tuesday.
The new opening date and when Carpinello can return to the production have not been determined, Pete Sanders, a spokesman for the show, said Wednesday. Meanwhile, Carpinello's understudy, Andre Ward, has taken over the role of Sonny during preview performances.
Kerry Butler also stars in the musical, which was to have opened June 26 at the Helen Hayes Theatre. She portrays Kira, a Greek muse who attracts a painter dissatisfied with his career, the role played by Carpinello.
`Xanadu'
Made Bail
Sean Stewart
Veteran singer Rod Stewart's 26-year-old son was free on 60,000 dollars bail Wednesday after being arrested on assault charges, Los Angeles police said.
Sean 'Sons Of Hollywood' Stewart was detained on Tuesday after being hit with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon relating to an altercation outside a home in the Hollywood Hills in April.
Stewart, one of two children from his father's first marriage to Alana Hamilton, is accused of hurling a brick at a couple as they sat in their car after he and friends had been denied access to a party, reports said.
Sean Stewart
Another Day, Another Lawsuit
Joe Francis
Two Florida women have sued "Girls Gone Wild" creator Joe Francis and his film company, alleging a sexually explicit video was released without their consent.
In the federal lawsuit filed Monday in Panama City, Brooke Pastolic and Christina Brose said they were enticed to board a "Girls Gone Wild" tour bus with the promise of free clothing. Once onboard, they allegedly were given alcoholic drinks even though both were younger than 21.
According to the lawsuit, the cameramen then coerced the women into exposing themselves and engaging in sexual activities, but repeatedly stated they would not use footage in a video. However, the footage appeared on two separate "Girls Gone Wild" DVDs.
Francis, 34, remains in a Nevada jail on federal tax evasion charges. He was granted bail after pleading not guilty in that case, but stayed in jail to avoid the possibility of being sent to Florida to be arrested on charges of possessing contraband and drugs while in the Bay County Jail in May.
Joe Francis
Rejects Plea Deal
The Game
West Coast rapper The Game, who was arrested on charges of impersonating a police officer last year, rejected a Manhattan prosecutor's offer Wednesday of a guilty plea for a sentence of time already served.
A guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge in exchange for the time he spent waiting to go to court after he was arrested would have ended the case against The Game, whose real name is Jayceon Taylor, his lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman said.
The rapper, who refused to speak about the case, was arrested in November 2006 after he told a cab driver that he was an undercover police officer and persuaded him to run a series of red lights, police said after his arrest.
Taylor, 27, of Glendale, Calif., allegedly picked up a livery cab the night of Nov. 16, 2006, shortly after he appeared on "Late Show with David Letterman." The cabbie drove about 13 blocks before he was pulled over, police said at the time.
The Game
Renter Wants Gig - IOKIYAR
La Lt Governor
Sammy Kershaw announced Wednesday that he's running for lieutenant governor as a Republican, challenging incumbent Democrat Mitch Landrieu.
The 49-year-old country singer lives part-time in Nashville, Tenn., but has rented a home in Duson, near Lafayette, since 2005. Before that, he had a home in Kaplan, said campaign spokeswoman Amy Jones.
Kershaw, a native of Vermilion Parish, has been a registered voter in Louisiana since 1999, Jones said.
In a statement, Kershaw said he's running for lieutenant governor because he wants to expand the entertainment industry in Louisiana and create new education programs to support the industry.
La Lt Governor
Settles Universal Lawsuit
Frank Davis
A black assistant director fired from the set of the Universal Pictures film "2 Fast 2 Furious" has settled his racial discrimination suit with the studio for an unspecified sum.
The court was notified of the settlement on behalf of Frank Davis Wednesday morning, just before director John Singleton was set to take the stand for a second day of testimony.
Despite the settlement, the trial continued because the lawsuit's main plaintiff, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, decided to pursue the case.
The director had said in a prior deposition that he thought race may have played a role in Davis' dismissal.
Frank Davis
Chinese Find Shipwreck
Ming Porcelain
Chinese archaeologists have found an ancient sunken ship in the South China Sea laden with Ming Dynasty porcelain, the Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday.
"A preliminary study of the sunken ship shows it may have sunk 400 years ago after striking a reef," archaeologist Dr Wei Jun was quoted as saying.
The sunken ship was found just a few days after China began salvage operations at another wreck site dating back to the days of the Song emperors, who ruled between AD 960 and 1279.
Ming Porcelain
Pepsi Ice Cucumber
Japan
Japanese are staying cool as a cucumber this summer with "Pepsi Ice Cucumber" - a new soda based on the crisp green gourd.
The soft drink, which hit stores here on Tuesday, doesn't actually have any cucumber in it - but has been artificially flavored to resemble "the refreshing taste of a fresh cucumber," said Aya Takemoto, spokeswoman of Japan's Pepsi distributor, Suntory Ltd.
The mint-colored soda is on sale just for the summer and only in Japan, Takemoto said. She said initial sales were brisk, and Suntory aims to sell 200,000 cases over the next three months.
Japan
New Edition Of Complete Works
Johann Sebastian Bach
German researchers have completed the final volume of a new collection of the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach, crowning a 55-year effort, the head of Leipzig's Bach Archive said Wednesday.
The Neue Bach-Ausgabe, or New Bach Edition, was compiled by the Bach Archive and the Johann Sebastian Bach Institute in Goettingen, Germany.
It consists of more than 100 volumes, with the composer's cantatas alone filling 41 of them, said Christoph Wolff, director of the Bach Archive. The first volume was presented in 1953.
Musicians and musicologists generally consider the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis, or BWV, by Wolfgang Schmieder as the standard catalogue of the composer's works. Wolff said the new collection contains 47 recently discovered pieces not contained in the BWV.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Free L.A. Show
White Stripes
Tower Records may be dead, but its flagship outlet in Los Angeles still has some relevance to the music industry.
Rock duo the White Stripes will perform a free show for about 200 fans next Wednesday at an "Icky Thump Records" store specially built on the landmark Sunset Strip site, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
The ersatz store takes its name from the band's new album, "Icky Thump," which goes on sale in the United States next Tuesday.
Tickets for the 7 p.m. PDT show will be made available to the first 200 people who buy the album at the store after midnight on Monday. A handful of tickets will also be given away this weekend through a radio station.
White Stripes
| CURRENT MOON lunar phases |
