Third Time The Charm?
Emmy Awards, (Con't)
The third time will be the charm for this year's Emmy Awards ceremony, or the twice
rescheduled show won't happen at all, producers said Tuesday
The show is now scheduled to air Sunday night on CBS.
``There will be no more moving of the dates,'' said Bryce Zabel, chairman of the Academy
of Television Arts & Sciences. ``If there is (world) news to be heard, we will deal with
it by simply going forward.''
He said the event has changed dramatically each time it has been rescheduled.
Workers have hurried to rebuild sets to fit the Shubert Theatre, which seats only 1,800
people - compared to the 6,000-plus available at the original Shrine Auditorium venue.
Gary Smith, was brought in as executive producer to replace Don Mischer, who left to
begin work on the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
The dress code has shifted from black-tie to business attire, host Ellen Degeneres has
rewritten or dropped countless jokes, and moments planned to honor victims, heroes and
survivors of the attacks have been restructured as news develops.
A segment featuring ``NYPD Blue'' star Dennis Franz introducing clips of firefighters
and police officers rescuing people on Sept. 11 has been replaced.
``It has nothing to do with anyone's feeling that it's not without merit,'' Smith
said. ``When something becomes overexposed it has less impact.''
He said the show will still honor emergency workers but declined to discuss details,
saying he wanted to keep it a surprise.
A new piece of the show will document Hollywood's involvement in times of war, with
CNN talk-show host Larry King introducing clips of celebrities entertaining troops
form World War II through the Persian Gulf conflict and today, Smith said.
Ellen & The Emmy Awards, Again
Entertainment News
Alex's Entertainment Report
Alex
Hollywood star Cybill Shepherd dated Elvis Presley in her youth - but she always knew their relationship was doomed. The King romanced the blonde actress in the '70s, when he was 42 and she was 27. And although Cybil bedded the legend she knew they wouldn't last as a couple. She says, "The fact is, Elvis got hooked on speed in the army. It was issued to soldiers on night maneuvers, but it also helped him keep his weight down. Then it got out of control. Did I want to be with someone who would have dragged me down? The only way to have stayed with Elvis was by doing drugs. Elvis died in his early 40s, which seems more and more shocking to me now."
`````
John Travolta has upped security in his home and on his private plane following the terrorist attacks on America. He insists he owes it to his family to protect them. Travolta says, "I have a dog inspect my plane before I get on and a security guard takes me on and off. It's necessary. If I owned an airline I'd do the same. As for my mail, that's redirected now - it's done with gloves and special plastic things. By the time it gets to me I know it's safe."
`````
TV babe Sarah Michelle Gellar hates being called sexy. The blonde Buffy The Vampire Slayer star is well-known for being one of Hollywood's sexiest actresses, but she'd much rather be famous for being clever. The 24-year-old says, "Being sexy is being confident. It's important to know you don't have silicone breasts falling out and a thigh-high skirt. Sometimes you meet people and they think, 'Another cute little blonde actress'. That's not who I am."
`````
My reviews:
I was thrilled to see "Boston Public" again on Monday. If you've never seen that show, give it a try once. I've
been hooked on it since the first episode. This year they added 2 new teachers, player by Jeri Ryan and Michael
Rapaport, both doing a good job on the first show. The show deals with a wide range of problems. Problems of
high school kids, of teachers, of parents. It has a good dose of humor, and some really great characters.
"Frasier" Halloween episode was rather lame, so I kept my TV mostly on the game (Go Yankees!!!). A new episode
of "Scrubs" was good, I recommend that show to everyone. It's a different style of comedy than most sitcoms. Next Tuesday
The Simpsons will finally return with their new Halloween special, and I can't wait.
~~ Alex
Alex's Site
In The Chaos Household
Last Night's TV
Started out with the 'World Series'.
I never bet, but Michelle in Gilbert, AZ is so convinced her Diamondbacks will win that I'm in
the peculiar position of sitting on a 'sure' thing. Looks like I'm gonna end up with a snake's head
in a jar...LOL.
I rather liked seeing Henry Winkler guest on Drew Carey. Henry was one of the smart
ones, who didn't succumb to MacLean Stevenson/Shelley Long-itis....He stayed the course, and
was gracious about 'fame'. (And, I have a kid who loves 'So Weird'.)
Here, in the Wrigley District of Long Beach, CA, we have never (11 years) had less than
200 'trick-or-treaters' - but tonight, we had under 30!
I'm old enough to buy candy that doesn't suck--but, Koresh!, I now have over 200 candy bars I
wasn't anticipating....I'm bummed.
Tonight, Game 5 of what is passing as the 'World Series'.
ABC is airing a 2 hour version of the Michael Jackson - "United We Stand/What More
Can I Give" Concert, hosted by John Stamos.
Sean Penn goes slumming & appears on 'Friends' as Phoebe's twin sister, Ursula's
fiance (both tonight & next Thursday, to maximize the effort).
Anyone have any opinions?
Or reviews?
(See below for addresses)
Testifying On Postal Service Security
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
On Capitol Hill, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, left, D-N.Y. testifies at a Senate Governmental
Affairs Committee hearing, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001, on postal service security, in Washington.
At right is Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., who also testified.
Photo by Kenneth Lambert
Senators Clinton & Wellstone
As Promised
Bonus Page Link
Here are some MP3 files from BC
Fun Link
Kick Osama
http://www.kickosama.com/
New!
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
To check out 'Train Station Chicken', and more (like 'Cranberry Autumn Tea'),
In The Kitchen With BartCop
Bonus Cartoon
From Alex
Prequel For 'The Exorcist'
Liam Neeson
He outwitted the Nazis in ''Schindler's List.'' Now actor Liam Neeson will confront the
devil in an upcoming ``prequel'' to the 1973 horror classic ``The Exorcist,'' set for
filming next year, producers said Tuesday.
The 49-year-old Oscar-nominated actor has been cast to star as the young Father Merrin, the
character Max von Sydow played in the original ``Exorcist,'' according to a statement from
Morgan Creek Productions.
The untitled fourth installment of the franchise traces the story of the priest back to his
first encounter with the devil in post-World War Two Africa. A first draft of the prequel's
screenplay was written by William Wisher (''Terminator 2''), then was reworked by
best-selling novelist Caleb Carr.
The film, to be directed by John Frankenheimer (''The Manchurian Candidate'' ``The Island of
Dr. Moreau''), will go into production in the spring of 2002, Morgan Creek said.
It will be distributed in the United States by Warner Bros., a unit of AOL Time Warner Inc..
Warner's re-release of the original ``Exorcist'' with extra footage last year grossed more
than $100 million worldwide.
Neeson, a native of Northern Ireland, has appeared in more than 40 feature films, earning an
Oscar nomination for his role as a war profiteer who saves a group of Jewish workers and their
families in the 1993 Holocaust drama ``Schindler's List.'' More recently, he played a Jedi knight
in the blockbuster ``Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace.''
The 1973 ``Exorcist,'' starring then-unknown child actress Linda Blair as the head-spinning,
projectile-vomiting girl possessed by the devil, was directed by William Friedkin. The
original film was based on a novel and screenplay by William Peter Blatty. The first two
sequels, ``Exorcist II: The Heretic,'' and ``The Exorcist III,'' were released in 1977 and
1990, respectively, the latter directed by Blatty.
A spokesman for Morgan Creek said it is unknown whether Blatty will lend his endorsement to
the latest film in the series.
'The Exocist' Prequel With Liam Neeson
An interesting book to look for in 2nd hand shops is James Bacon's "Hollywood Is A 4-Letter Town".
This informative book tells the tales of Milton Berle and Forrest Tucker that have oft been
recounted. Why would I mention that here?
New Comedy DVD On Sex
Heidi Fleiss
Here are some sex tips from an expert: Men with sexual hang-ups should seek hookers, women
wanting to expand their bedroom repertoire should knock back tequila and teenagers lusting
after teachers should hold those thoughts until they graduate.
So says former ``Hollywood Madam'' Heidi Fleiss, who has turned her back on a career employing
prostitutes after a highly publicized trial and three-year jail term -- to forge a new path in ``comedy.''
To that end, Fleiss, 35, has teamed up with her longtime friend Victoria Sellers, the daughter of
the late comic actor Peter Sellers and actress Britt Ekland, in offering irreverent sexual advice
on the Web site (http://www.laugh.com), which also features sketches by the likes of television
greats Jerry Seinfeld and Milton Berle.
This week, Fleiss and Sellers, who is also 35, released a new ``comedy'' DVD in time for the
holidays, offering creative answers to the myriad sexual questions Fleiss says people have been asking her.
``It's a great Christmas gift,'' Fleiss told Reuters in a telephone interview. ``I could have
done a porn video but I didn't. This is comedy. Some comedy is X-rated (but) throughout history
comedy has been X-rated. If you're going to go puritanical it doesn't go over well.''
Besides, she added, ``People need something to help them relieve the stress'' of the Sept. 11
hijacked jet attacks on the United States. ``It's a good time for sexual and emotional healing.''
``Sex Tips with Heidi Fleiss and Victoria Sellers,'' available as of Wednesday wherever videos
and DVDs are sold, features Fleiss and Sellers tooling around Hollywood in a limo, alternately
gossiping about the tragically hip and doling out outrageous sexual tips.
Among the topics they tackle are how to turn a woman on (try $5,000, Fleiss says); ``how
to deal with premature ejaculation (go in the bathroom and read Hustler before approaching
your wife); how a couple of 90-year-olds can spice up their sex life (buy some sex toys);
and how to deal with a schoolgirl crush on a teacher (Don't do it. Get a career first, Fleiss advises).
``Victoria and I had a blast making this DVD ... and getting into as much trouble as the
law would allow,'' Fleiss said. ''Hey, I've already been to prison and I don't intend on
making a return engagement.''
The DVD also includes a bonus 15-minute interview with Fleiss billed as ``straight talk
with Heidi'' on ``How to Be a First Class Madam.''
``I think the candid interview on my life and hooker business catches people's attention,''
Fleiss said. Laugh.com President and video producer Bob Kohn said more editions are already
planned. He said daily sex tips from Fleiss with titles like ``Bone a Friend'' and ``Teeny
Weeny Peenie'' will also soon be made available for download to palm pilots and cellular
telephones. Neither Fleiss nor Kohn were willing to discuss terms of Fleiss's contract.
Fleiss was released from federal prison in 1998 after serving 21 months for money laundering
and tax evasion convictions connected to her infamous call-girl ring, which catered to the rich and famous.
She was arrested after an undercover sting operation in 1993 proved that she employed
prostitutes that flew across the country for clients and charged them thousands of
dollars. Her so-called ``black book'' of clients was never made public.
She became interested in her new venture shortly after being released from prison, she said.
``I was thinking of going into business on the Internet. ``My attorney said, 'You ought to
attend this conference if you're going to be involved in the Internet -- even though they're
a bunch of nerds and geeks.' I was anxious to go because it sounded like they were all billionaires.''
From there, Fleiss and Sellers, who have been buddies since both were 16, hooked up with
Laugh.com president Kohn and began their ``sex tips'' column on his Web site. ``She's a
wild girl,'' Fleiss said of Sellers. ``She carries the whole thing. She's so funny I don't
even like to eat food when she's around because I might choke.''
Heidi & Victoria
Not Quite 'Invincible'
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson, the self-proclaimed ``King of Pop,'' may top sales charts this week if
estimates for ``Invincible,'' his first album of original music in six years, are right,
but all the King's horses won't restore him to his 1980s heyday.
``I think it's going to be my next number one album and it will start somewhere north
of (sales of) 300,000 units,'' said Geoff Mayfield, director of charts for music industry
trade publication Billboard Magazine.
He said his estimate is ``darn respectable,'' although it pales against other recent No. 1
debuts. The current chart-topping album by rapper DMX sold 440,000 units in its first week.
Jackson's kid sister, Janet, shifted 605,000 copies of her latest album last April. The
record for first week sales is 2.4 million units, achieved by boy-band 'N Sync last year.
Jackson's last album, ``HIStory,'' a double CD with hits and new songs, opened with 391,000
units in 1995 and ended up selling a meager 2.1 million copies.
Sony Corp's Epic Records label, which released ``Invincible'' across the United States on
Tuesday after spending a reported $30 million to make it, had no immediate comment.
Retailers throughout the country said they were experiencing a pretty strong start for
``Invincible,'' despite lukewarm reviews and years of accumulated bad publicity surrounding the singer.
In the past few months, Jackson has reappeared on the publicity radar screens, promoting the
album with several high-profile concerts, appearances and television specials.
But his eroding popularity, combined with the music market's general malaise, makes it hard
to imagine he will even approach the heights of his 1982 opus ``Thriller,'' the biggest selling
album in history with sales of more than 40 million units worldwide.
Scandals also made the 43-year-old eccentric star a popular tabloid subject since the 1990s.
Critics have been unenthusiastic. Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times wrote, ''The music
itself is anything but invincible.''
He added: ``There are some inspired moments in the 77-minute collection, but there are also
stretches that are sappy, derivative and labored. The excesses show what happens when you
have an unlimited budget, no time constraints and an uncertain vision.''
Michael Jackson & 'Invincible'
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!
Another Bonus Cartoon
From Alex
At The World Series
Jack
Jack Nicholson isn't afraid to leave his Mulholland Drive estate and fly to New
York - especially on a private plane.
Nicholson, a big Yankees fan who'll be at all the World Series games at the Stadium,
arrived here late Monday and raced to Da Silvano with his pal Johnny Calvani, the
garmento behind the J. Lo by Jennifer Lopez fashion line. After saying hello to
Calvin Klein and Vogue's Candy Pratts Price and finishing dinner, the Joker, who
seems to have split again with lissome Lara Flynn Boyle, opted against
nightclubbing and went straight to his hotel.
Jack Nicholson at The World Series
Two Old Pals
Uri Geller & Michael Jackson
Psychic spoon-bender Uri Geller says record company Sony Music removed religious
words and symbols from a picture he drew for Michael Jackson's new album.
Geller, a former Israeli paratrooper famous for using mysterious mental powers to
bend spoons, told Reuters that Sony Music had taken out the words ``God,'' ``Jerusalem,''
``USA'' and ''Angel 2000'' and had replaced a Star of David with a pentagram.
Jackson's long-awaited album, ``Invincible,'' was released by Sony Monday and is his
first album containing all-new material since ``Dangerous'' in 1991.
``The sensitivity of not wanting any religious symbols in my drawing I found quite
extraordinary because God is universal,'' said Geller.
``I went along with it because I understood that one of the removed items is a very Jewish
symbol and Michael is an international pop star.''
``But I never did understand why the creator's name was eliminated.
Sony Music could not be immediately reached for comment.
Geller drew the detailed black-and-white illustration on a napkin in Jackson's New
York hotel room last year.
The two are close friends and Jackson was best man at Geller's wedding near London in
March -- although he arrived two hours late.
The picture, the only illustration other than Jackson's picture in the booklet accompanying
the CD, remains packed with imagery.
It features the heads of a man and woman, the pyramids, a UFO and other symbols representing
love, peace, and hope.
Geller said Sony technicians in Los Angeles had spent two days using a computer to scan
the picture for hidden words in case he had written anything obscene.
However, the Hebrew letter Shin, used to symbolize God, was left in the picture. ``They
didn't know what that was,'' he said.
Michael & Uri vs. Sony
And, A Little Background
Uri Geller
Geller vs. Randi Court of Appeals Decision
and
http://www.randi.org/
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 awesome array of tv programs check out
BC TV!
Watch Out, Here Comes Madison Avenue
It's Called Advertising
The war on terrorism is going Madison Avenue - with TV and radio ads designed to help
sell Operation Enduring Freedom to a suddenly shaky public.
The Coalition Against Terrorism (CAT) was announced yesterday as the official name of
a campaign announced earlier this month by The Advertising Council.
Under the plan, ad agencies will produce spots for American TV emphasizing that the
war against Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, and other terrorists around the world,
might take longer than originally anticipated.
"It's just beginning to dawn on us that this might be a longer [war] campaign than
originally thought," says Michael Sennott, the veteran advertising executive (now
with The Partnership) heading up the CAT.
"We think this is going to be a sustained and long campaign - therefore, the response
of CAT is to design ads to that effect."
An Ad Council spokeswoman says it's too early to put a dollar amount on the campaign,
since "there's no way of knowing" how long the war will last and how many ads will be produced.
She said the Ad Council has sent a letter to the White House explaining the CAT campaign,
but has not yet received an official response.
They have already been airing, featuring people like Sen. John McCain, pop star Mandy
Moore and actors Kevin Bacon and John Turturro.
Actress Mary Louise Parker shot another PSA about a week ago.
"We don't have any other [celebrities] planned as of now, but we're taking some
of the campaigns we have developed and adapting them to the terrorism effort -
such as a mentoring program that talks to kids more directly," Sennott says.
"We will also have a spot featuring Tommy LaSorda that will air soon."
The advertising plan was formulated soon after the Sept. 11 attacks - but has been
stepped up as polls indicate a growing uneasiness among Americans about progress being made in the war.
Meanwhile, network news chiefs are pressuring Pentagon officials for more access to the
war front in Afghanistan - rather than having to rely on footage from the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera network.
"The Pentagon considers we've entered a new phase in the war; we think we need to enter
a new phase in terms of coverage," CBS News VP and Washington bureau chief Janet Leissner told Variety.
Sad News
Gil Scott-Heron
Gil Scott-Heron is going to do hard time. Cops picked up the poet-musician at his
144th Street apartment Monday morning. The crack-addicted creator of "The Revolution
Will Not Be Televised" and "Whitey's on the Moon" failed to show up at Manhattan Criminal
Court to begin mandatory rehab stemming from an earlier plea bargain on drug charges.
He was slapped with 1-to-3 years in state prison by a very disappointed judge who told
him, "You've had all these opportunities to help yourself and you just don't seem to
care." Scott-Heron is in the Tombs awaiting transfer upstate.
Gil Scott-Heron
Old 3-D Photo Technology
Fresh For Today
America's military is turning to advanced hardware and software that generates virtual
environments of war zones such as Afghanistan.
The Pentagon is already using applications such as Anteon's Topscene system to compile
aerial imaging, geologic, and terrain information and assemble the chunks of data into
a 3-D scene that lets military planners and pilots preview missions before they take place.
Photo #1
Photo #2
3-D Technology In Use Today
I love 3-D! While trying to afford an old Stereo Realist, I came across
Nimslo being sold at Sears....yes, it was the 80's...
The Nimslo has 4 lens, and uses 2 frames of 35mm film (with each lens using 'half' a frame
of film). When developed properly, and with a lenticular surface applied - magic, and 3-D!
Still have the Nimslo, but does anyone know where to get the film developed these days?
In Memory
Bill Charuchas
Bill Charuchas, one of the hawkers at the Billy Goat Tavern who belted out "cheezborger,
cheezborger" with the owner for nearly four decades, has died. He was 75.
Charuchas spent 37 years at the Michigan Avenue icon, flipping burgers, flirting with
women and shouting, "Try the double cheese! It's the best!" He died Oct. 23 of a gall
bladder infection in his former hometown in Greece, tavern owner Sam Sianis said.
Charuchas and late owner William "Billy Goat" Sianis, Sam Sianis' uncle, amused lunchtime
crowds that often included movie stars and politicians, former President George Bush
among them. They belted out, "Cheezborger, cheezborger! No fries, cheeps!"
That line was popularized in the 1970s by a skit on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." The
skit starred onetime Chicagoan John Belushi, who was familiar with the tavern. The
Billy Goat, which is a short walk from the Tribune and Sun-Times buildings, was also
immortalized by mentions in the columns of the late Mike Royko, a regular there.
Charuchas emigrated from Greece in 1954 and worked 10 years at a hamburger stand across
the street from the Billy Goat. He moved to the tavern in 1964.
Sam Sianis estimated Charuchas served more than 3 million customers at the Billy Goat,
often working six or seven days a week.
He doled out free bags of potato chips to children, danced with customers in line and
opened thousands of conversations with, "Where from?"
"He enjoyed being here all those hours - not only because he was a good worker, but
because he liked the people," Sianis said. "He had a lot of fun."
Bill 'Cheezborger, Cheezborger' Charuchas
Still Really Like This One....
"Boondocks" (9 Oct 01)
Gonna let it ride for awhile.
Still MISSING
Marc Chagall's "Study for 'Over Vitebsk'"
