Issue #86
Disinfotainment Today
By Michael Dare
'Best of TBH Politoons'
Thanks, again, Tim!
Reader Review
Cold Mountain
Well, folks, saw the movie about the book I read years ago, and after a long wait and much wondering how such a book would be translated to film, I find myself quite satisfied.
Just as an appetizer for discussion, if you wish, after seeing this movie, my reaction was this movie was more than a love story, it was an anti-war movie. War is not glamorized here. The scenes of the Siege of Petersburg, VA, were horrific. Perhaps battlefields are the true Hells on Earth, a pit devoid of mercy or pity. The aftermath -- hundreds of bodies stacked like cord wood, the sound of the flies filling the air, the heat, the stench, you have to wonder why anyone would send his son to battle. Yet, we do.
I read a review by someone calling himself "YodaCracker" in the Independent Movie Data Base (IMDB.com) about this movie, and he ranted that "...there must've been a 100 anti-war comments throughout the movie, and I'm sure the hidden message of the movie wasn't anti Civil War but anti Iraq war. Why not just say you hate America in this movie?..."
I have to laugh. The book was written way before this war we're in now. It's amazing how a freeper can crawl into this area and condemn such a movie....they must be rather nervous about their warlike intentions. Such an ignorant remark should be exposed to the light, like bugs under an upturned rock. How hating war equates to hating America is beyond my comprehension.
This movie is not about what the North did to the South, but what the South did to the South. And that sin continues to haunt us. I say that in regard to the Home Guard depicted in "Cold Mountain". The Home Guard were corrupt beyond any possible redemption; they were really busy killing "deserters" or whoever got in their way, and generally terrorizing the folks down on the farms. Hmmm, Home Guard, Homeland Security. The irony wasn't lost on me.
Another scene that stood out for me was the hospital. Again, a snapshot of Hell. The doctor, as he winded his way through the maze of cots and maimed soldiers, muttered something about the "sacrifice of a leg so the rich man can keep his slaves." When I heard that, I thought to myself, "the sacrifice of a leg so the rich can continue to drive their SUVs."
Now that I think about it, I'd say "Cold Mountain" is not merely an anti-war movie, but a damn good one at that!
One can only hope that this film is shown at the White House in the coming weeks and is UNDERSTOOD.
-- Gang of One, January 5, 2004
Thanks, Gang!
from Mark
Another Bumpersticker
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Sunny & windy.
Tonight, Tuesday, CBS opens the night with a FRESH 'Navy NCIS', followed by a FRESH 'The Guardian', then
a FRESH 'Judging Amy'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Dave are Jennifer Connelly, Christopher Paolini, and Howie Day.
Scheduled on a FRESH Craiggers are Michael Imperioli and Dom Irrera.
NBC begins the night with a FRESH 'Tracy Morgan', followed by a FRESH 'Whoopi', then a FRESH
'Frasier', followed by a FRESH 'Happy Family', then a FRESH 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' (starts 1 minute before the top of the hour).
On a RERUN Jay (from 12/1/03), are Tom Cruise, Keisha Castle-Hughes, and Tori Amos.
On a RERUN Conan (from 10/7/03), are Kevin Bacon, Viveca A. Fox, and the Del McCoury Band.
On a RERUN Carson Daly (from 12/11/03), are Adam Goldberg, Ali Landry, and Dannii Minogue.
ABC starts the night with a FRESH '8 Simple Rules', followed by a FRESH 'I'm With Her', then a FRESH
'Jim', followed by a FRESH 'Less Than Perfect', then a FRESH 'Line Of Fire'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jimmy Kimmel is this week's guest co-host Dane Cook.
The WB offers a RERUN 'Gilmore Girls', followed by a RERUN 'One Tree Hill'.
Faux has a RERUN 'That 70s Show', followed by a RERUN 'Simpsons', then a
FRESH '24' (Day 3: 9pm - 10m).
UPN has a RERUN 'One On One', followed by a RERUN 'All Of Us', then a RERUN 'Rock Me Baby', followed by a
RERUN 'Girlfriends'.
A&E has 'American Justice', 'Biography' (Martha Stewart), 'Martha Stewart: Ruin', and 'Cold Case Files'.
AMC offers the movie 'Conquest Of Planet Of The Apes', followed by the movie 'The Terminator', then the movie 'The Terminator', again.
BBC -
[6pm] 'BBC World News';
[6:30pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Morris;
[7pm] 'House Invaders' - Woodthorpe;
[7:30pm] 'Changing Rooms' - West Hampstead;
[8pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Episode 1;
[9pm] 'Ground Force America' - Washington D.C.;
[10pm] 'Ground Force' - Stamford;
[10:30pm] 'Ground Force' - Garforth;
[11pm] 'Cash in the Attic' - Episode 1;
[12am] 'Ground Force America' - Washington D.C.;
[1am] 'Ground Force' - Stamford;
[1:30am] 'Ground Force' - Garforth;
[2am] 'Cash in the Attic' - Episode 1;
[3am] 'Ground Force America' - Washington D.C.;
[4am] 'Ground Force' - Stamford;
[4:30am] 'Ground Force' - Garforth;
[5am] 'Cash in the Attic' - Episode 1; and
[6am] 'BBC World News'. (ALL TIMES EST)
Bravo has the movie 'The Terminator', followed by a RERUN 'Celebrity Poker', then a FRESH
'Celebrity Poker' (Game 5), followed by 'Queer Eye'.
Comedy Central has 'MAD TV', 'Crank Yankers', 'Insomniac', 'South Park', 'Crank Yankers', and another 'Crank Yankers'.
Scheduled on a FRESH Jon Stewart is Tom Brokaw.
History has 'Modern Marvels', 'Deep Sea Detectives', 'Tactical To Practical', and more 'Modern Marvels'.
MTV has the 14th season Premiere of 'Real World'.
SciFi has the movie 'Sometimes They Come Back...Again', followed by 'Storm Of The Century' (part 1 of 3).
TCM celebrates Loretta Young (today would have been her
90th birthday) all day, and features my 2 favorite films about TV at night.
[6am] 'Taxi!' (1932);
[7:15am] 'Employees' Entrance' (1933);
[8:30am] 'She Had To Say Yes' (1933);
[9:45am] 'Midnight Mary' (1933);
[11am] 'The Unguarded Hour' (1936);
[12:30pm] 'Cause For Alarm!' (1951);
[2pm] 'Key To The City' (1950);
[4pm] 'The Bishop's Wife' (1947);
[6pm] 'The Farmer's Daughter' (1947);
[8pm] 'A Face In The Crowd' (1957);
[10:15pm] 'Meet John Doe' (1941);
[12:30am] 'The Front Page' (1931);
[2:15am] 'Network' (1976);
[4:15am] 'Bombshell' (1933). (ALL TIMES EST)
Internationally well-known movie director John Woo of Hong Kong has his handprints cast at a Hong Kong hotel Monday, Jan. 5, 2004 for a planned Hong Kong's Avenue of the Stars that is expected to be opened later this year. The avenue is modeled after Hollywood's Walk of Fame.
Photo by Lo Sai Hung
The Information One-Stop
Moose & Squirrel
Shot in Robbery Attempt
Ray Davies
Singer-songwriter Ray Davies of the celebrated British rock band the Kinks was shot in the leg while chasing thieves who snatched a purse from a woman he was with, police said Monday. He was not seriously injured.
Police said Davies, 59, and the woman were walking near the edge of the French Quarter when the shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Davies was treated and released at a hospital, said Capt. Marlon Defillo, a police spokesman.
Last week, Davies received royal honors in London. Along with singer-guitarist Eric Clapton, he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire at a ceremony on New Year's Eve.
Ray Davies
A Russian Theatre of Fire performer jumps during a Christmas show in Hermitage Garden in central Moscow, January 5, 2004. Russians are preparing for the Orthodox Christmas celebration on January 7.
Photo by Viktor Korotayev
Sets Another Broadway Record
'The Producers'
With Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick back in the show, "The Producers" grossed a record $1,600,243 for eight performances last week, spokesman John Barlow said Monday.
Barlow said the figure was boosted by premium $480 orchestra tickets and a special $600 ticket price for New Year's Eve.
Lane and Broderick, who are reportedly earning $100,000 a week, returned to the musical Dec. 30. They will remain in the show through April 4. The musical is almost sold out through their engagement.
'The Producers'
Cameo on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld will do a "pop-in" on his old friend, Larry David, this season on "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
He said the comedian, with whom he created "Seinfeld," showed up on the set during an episode set in Manhattan and makes a brief cameo, but wouldn't elaborate.
The fourth season of the HBO comedy, which began Sunday night, stars David as himself: a cranky comedy writer. He figured he'd do 10 episodes a year, compared to the 23 required for a network series, and that production would take eight months at the most.
Jerry Seinfeld
www.hbo.com/larrydavid
UPDATED FOR 2004!
In The Kitchen With BartCop & Friends
DGA To Honor
Mike Nichols
The Directors Guild of America announced it will bestow its highest honor on Mike Nichols next month.
Nichols, whose work has included an array of social satires, will be presented the guild's Lifetime Achievement Award at the 56th annual DGA Awards on February 7.
The award is not presented annually, and only 30 directors have been so honored in guild history.
Mike Nichols
BASE (Buildings, Antennas, Spans and Earth) jumpers parachute from Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers, in Kuala Lumpur January 5, 2004. Jumpers from Asia, Europe and the United States jumped off the Twin Tower's 73rd floor and did a freefall for four to five seconds before opening their single parachute and landing on a targeted 25-foot radius.
Photo by Zainal Abd Halim
Group Breaks Up
B2K
Platinum-selling R&B quartet B2K has split up, their manager said Monday.
The teen heartthrobs gained instant success and legions of screaming fans when they made their debut in 2002. Their hits include "Bump, Bump, Bump" and "Uh Huh," and they will make their movie debut in "You Got Served," set for release on Jan. 30.
According to the statement, disagreements among the group members — Omarion (Omari Grandberry), Lil Fizz (Dreux Frederic), J-Boog (Jarrell Houston) and Raz B (De'mario Thornton) - fueled the breakup of B2K, meaning Boys of the Millennium.
B2K
Formerly 'The Vidiot'
Planned for Key West
Pirate Museum
Former Philadelphia 76ers president Pat Croce plans to open a pirate museum in this island city, once a base for seafaring outlaws.
Croce, known for his daredevil personality, bought a building in Key West's downtown for $3 million last week. He hopes to open Pirate Soul in the fall.
He said the museum will feature items from his pirate collection, including a treasure chest from Capt. Thomas Tew and the last journal from Capt. William Kidd, a 17th century pirate who was executed for his crimes. Croce also wants to borrow or lease other items.
Pirate Museum
An actor hanging from a balloon flies over central Madrid during the traditional Epiphany parade January 5, 2004. Traditionally, children in Spain receive their Christmas presents on the morning of January 6, delivered by the 'Three Wise Men.'
Photo by Andrea Comas
Fox TV Chairman Stepping Down
Sandy Grushow
Fox Television Entertainment Group chairman Sandy Grushow, whose responsibilities included the ratings-challenged Fox broadcast channel, has resigned.
Grushow is leaving to form his own production company based at 20th Century Fox, called Phase Two, effective immediately, it was announced Monday.
"This was a very complicated decision for me to make," Grushow said in a statement. He concluded it was better to exercise a production option in his contract rather than sign another executive agreement, he said.
Grushow's contract was to expire this summer. A successor was not expected to be named immediately.
Sandy Grushow
Fall from Sky
'Fireballs'
Hundreds of witnesses reported seeing fireballs cross the skies of northern Spain Sunday in what authorities said may have been a disintegrating meteorite, Spanish radio said.
The bright flashes were spotted at around 6:00 p.m. (1700 GMT) in a swathe across the northern half of Spain, from the eastern city of Valencia to the northwestern pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela.
Jose Angel Docobo, director of the University of Santiago's observatory, said the phenomenon could have been caused by a rock orbiting the sun which had collided with the earth.
'Fireballs'
In Memory
Brian Gibson
Brian Gibson, English-born director of acclaimed films including "The Josephine Baker Story" and "What's Love Got To Do with It?" about the life of singer Tina Turner, has died at age 59, his representatives said Monday.
Gibson, who had been suffering from Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, died on Jan. 4 in London, according to the Artists Independent Network.
A graduate of Cambridge University, he started directing scientific documentaries for the British Broadcasting Corp. in the 1960s and went on to direct some of the corporation's most praised films.
Gibson's first feature film was "Breaking Glass," a raw portrait of a punk rock singer, which brought him to Hollywood's notice.
He made a number of films in Hollywood, including many for HBO.
They included "The Juror" (1996), starring Demi Moore and Alec Baldwin, and "What's Love Got to Do with It?" (1993), which won Academy Award nominations for its stars Laurence Fishbourne and Angela Bassett.
"The Josephine Baker Story," produced in 1991, garnered the best director Emmy as well as a Golden Globe for actor Lou Gosset.
Other pieces for HBO included "Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story" (1989), about the famous Nazi hunter, that was nominated for several Golden Globe and Emmy awards; and the miniseries "Drug Wars: The Camarena Story," about the life and death of U.S. drug agent Enrique Camarena.
In the late 1990s, he directed a number of small budget independent films, including "Still Crazy in London," a parody of aging rockers that starred Bill Nighy and the comedian Billy Connolly and won several Golden Globe nominations.
He is survived by his wife Paula Guarderas Gibson, two daughters and his mother Victoria and sister June. The funeral was planned in London next week, and memorial services later in London and Los Angeles.
Brian Gibson
Taiwan miniature artist Chen Frong-shean displays one of his latest creations - bamboo chopsticks featuring a pair of monkeys - in Taipei January 5, 2004. The Chinese Year of the Monkey will be ushered in on January 22.
Photo by Simon Kwong
'The Osbournes'
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