And we're back...

It has been a LONG holiday season and with limited time the blog has suffered. Coming soon...

The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons

Revolutionary Road

Milk

24

Lost

Reality TV - part 2

The Inauguration

Memo to the ABC (by way of the Walt Disney Company)

Have you guys learned NOTHING from Jeffery Katzenberg's departure from the animation division of Disney all those years ago? This week ABC once again took its most interesting and original shows and sent them into oblivian. The most recent casualities making the trip to the broadcast TV graveyard - Eli Stone, Dirty Sexy Money and Pushing Daisies.

I have written my opinions on the former two and my particular fondness for Eli Stone. While not a fan of Daisies, I did appreciate it's high concept and execution. All debuted in the torpedoed season of the writer's strike and all had strong enough content to warrant a pass for the season when up against creatively anorexic likes of Private Practice and Wife Swap (both of which remain on and without reason). I wish this was an anomoly, but for ABC it is not. ABC has a torrid history of yanking shows or exiling them to die in rotating timeslots. If they are not a hit out of the gate (think Desperate Housewives) there is no hope for a stay of execution. ABC simply retreats to far less quality entertainment. In the dying format that is broadcast television, you'd think there would be the luxury of patience in seeking out good shows and nuturing them. Lets think, that seemed to work as a formula for Cheers, Seinfeld, Law and Order and Hill Street Blues, but I digress. Figuring out how to use other mediums like the internet to enhance interest seems a logical start. It's worked for LOST. But in a season that has produced no hits from the freshman class and with a derth of any kind of consistent scripted television ABC choses to hatchet shows that deserved better and attempt to mine fields where they had previous success. Just what I need three nights filled with Wife Swap and The Bachelor.

So gone are these three wonderfully flawed but intriguing shows. The only solace is that they stand in good company with the likes of Sports Night, The Nine, Eyes, Cupid and many others I won't go on to list. I have said it before on this blog and I say it again. The likes of Brandon Tartikoff are missed more and more with each passing day as broadcast television writes itself into the oblivian it has sent many of its best shows.

Twilight and 24

The above would describe the most anticipate film and TV moments of the fall season. I am giddy for the latter and blissfully limited in my knowledge of the former. Having neices who read (and a sister too apparently). I know all about the Twilight series and it teen-phenom following. If I go to my resident critic neice, 13 year old Cailyn, skepticism is the word of the day. She is convinced they are going to screw it up. I am going to challenge her to write me a review. So we shall see.

For me, the review to wait for is on my main man Jack Bauer and the prequel movie of 24. This for me is the pinnacle of the fall season. I have fewer and fewer appointment TV moments these days and at it's worst 24 has remained among them. For a show whose intriguing concept delivered on its promise I for one after a full year without it am once again looking forward to my clicking digital clock returning to my TV screen.

Twilight - in theaters today
24 - Sunday night on Fox.

Something for everyone to enjoy!

The Wonderful World of Disney

I make no qualms about it, I love Disney animation. I remember vividly seeing Sleeping Beauty at the Patchogue Movie Theater as a kid and taking Shanna (the little girl I babysat) to see the new wave of animated features that began with The Little Mermaid and the sense of wonder that Beauty and the Beast revealed and the joy of watching them all again through the eyes of my nieces and nephews and now my own child.

Yes Disney is an empire. Yes the cross over product and domination of the under 8 crowd can be annoying. But all my memories of Disney revolve around friendship and moments I am fond of. Two weeks ago they re-released Sleeping Beauty on DVD, my enduring favorite in the princess canon. The animation is dated in many ways, but the great evil of Maleficent and the charm of Prince Phillip endure - as does the rival of the pink and blue fairies. I watched my daughter marvel in the silly fairies and yell at the TV "bad witch, you are not being nice!" Then last night we sat down and watched the newly released Tinkerbell. For the first time, I sat and watched a movie new with my child. There was a beautiful peace in the moment as she crawled into my lap and tucked into my arm as the big castle came on the screen to indicate there was movie about to begin. We both sat engrossed, by the vibrant colors, the sweetness of the story (a pre-quel about how Peter Pan's Tinkerbell got her start in the world). Delightful is a word that often feels patronizing these days, but in its purest form I think best describes this film. A story of self discovery and loving who you are for what you are and the accomplishments that come out of your individual talents. Like cotton candy the movie washes over smoothly and sweetly but not as though you had any substance once it ends. That's OK though, it's a fantasy about the life of the fairy.

Moments in Time

I spent the better portion of this year glued to election coverage. Primaries, debates, conventions - Oh MY! I devoured it all with great concern of where my country was headed, but truth be told because it was a compelling drama. Over the course of the last 10 months we have watched the David vs. Goliath primary season of Obama defeating the Clinton machine, seen the resurrection of John McCain and the third act plot twist of Sarah Palin. That's without mentioning all the red herrings like Rev. Wright, Pastor Hagee, Troopergate and yes, even "Joe the Plumber" - An aside, knowing what we do about him, can we cease from calling him that and more accurately call him "Joe from Ohio"?

All the while I watched many late nights, MSNBC, Morning Joe, CNN (and that damn 'best political team on Television), AC360, Today, GMA and yes O'Reilly and Hannity as well. I mourned the loss of the lion of politics in my mind, Tim Russert and revelled in anything and everything Peggy Noonan had to say, even when I disagreed with it.

Then last night it happened - no recount necessary, no Supreme Court intervention, no disappointing finish of a candidate that I was less than thrilled with by the end of the race. No, last night the country seemed to simply right itself and for that BOTH John McCain and Barack Obama should be applauded and respected.

I sighed in relief when Pennsylvania went blue.
I cheered in great anticipation as Ohio went blue.
I was jubilant and proud as in tandem the news reported Virginia turning blue and the West Coast polls closing to bring home the victory of our President-elect.

In that moment I cried, I cried for the joy of watching the resounding choice we made as a country, for the vindication of Joe Biden's service to country and for the return of the John McCain I have always admired and whose eloquence in losing far surpassed any of his actions when seeking to win.

In the closing weeks of this campaign we watched Obama's leadership in his handling of the economic crisis, but for me, more importantly we watched his humanity - in stepping off the trail to see the grandmother who raised him to see the possibility of the dream he was chasing but would not live to see realized. His priority of family ensuring the tradition of taking his young daughters trick-o-treating remained in tact.

We celebrate the history, we celebrate the significance of the time, but what I find so overwhelmingly joyful in this moment is that we celebrate the best in who we are as country - rewarding the person who worked hard, stayed true to himself and never lost sight of what made him the person he is as he reached for the dream of what could be.

My daughter blew out her third birthday candle yesterday, what a day all around.

Yes We Did!

The Images We Give Our Girls

My View

I admit it, I watch "The View". I watched back when that idiot Debbie Matenopolous revived the argument for "dumb blonds" being more than a throw away term. I watched back when Star Jones was fat. I watched and adored Meredith Viera. I watched Lisa Ling bring intelligence and congeniality to the 'youth voice' and I took my mom to see the show live when Barbara Walters was there. I departed The View when Meredith did and stayed away more often then not as Star 'lost weight' and became Bridezilla. I was gone the full year Rosie was there. But in a casting move that quickly brought me back to the couch, I have rarely missed an episode with the landing of Whoopi Goldberg. Yes, Elizabeth annoys the crap out of me, yes Joy can be nuts in her liberalism, and yes Sherri is the equivalent of the 'dumb blond' at the table now, but Whoopi brings a thoughtfulness to the conversation that while opinionated is reasoned and willing to look at the other point of view. She allows for Elizabeth to meander to her point of view but is quick to call out the disparity. True, my view is often similar to that of Whoopi's, but what can I say, I have been a fan since the day Fontaine sauntered across a Broadway stage. In this election debate season when all sorts of conversations are going on, I find this group of individuals have provided entertainment and their points of view in a forum that I have enjoyed.

So YEAH, I admit it -- I enjoy The View.

In Eli Stone, I Trust

Here is a show that didn't know what it was going to be when it grew up. It came out of the gate in the year of a writer's strike and varying television fits and starts. Always appealing was the cast led by the great Victor Garber and Jonny Lee Miller even as it walked the fine line between being a hybrid of Ali McBeal, Highway to Heaven and Touched By an Angel. Last week, Eli Stone began the season six months from where it left off. For those of you who missed the opening season of this little gem in the rough here is a quick synopsis. Eli Stone is a cut throat attorney who shortly after the death of his father begins experience visions - mostly set to George Michael songs. He begins to listen to the visions as premonitions and along the way discovers he has an aneurysm that he believes is what is prompting the visions, as opposed to a divine intervention that would make him a prophet. It sounds heavier than it actually was and while at times convoluted the show was often quite funny, charming and poignant. The season ended with Eli making the decision to have his aneurysm removed and having a chance at the life he had before the visions. He decided it was a burden he did not want and wasn't certain he believed in the divinity of what had happened.

Now here we are surgery successful and Eli attempting to have his license reinstated to practice law. He has been vision-less since his surgery and the season premiere shows us that his free will has altered the fate of those he loves. The clip above provides insight to the decision Eli and the show have made with regards to what his journey is going to be. The stage for the reluctant prophet has been set. Watch the clip because it will give you some insight to just how good Miller is as Eli Stone as well as the great cameo and writing provided to Sigourney Weaver.

Faith is not a necessary leaning to enjoy this show. It speaks to a bigger reality, how our choices, sacrifices and love drive us as people to influence those we surround. Eli Stone has the potential to be that show, I hope for my Tuesday night viewing, it like so many before it is not ahead of it's time.

Spend an hour with Eli Stone and don't be quick to judge the musical visions. And if you chose to tune in this week -- forgive the appearance of Katie Holmes, while not a choice I'd prefer, she and the shows creator got their start together on Dawson's Creek and you can't blame him yet for the stunt casting.

It's just an escape...

TV need not elevate me to a higher sense of purpose, but I minimally need to be entertained. It is why I continue to give shows like Private Practice a chance. Here is a group of actors that embody the parts being worth more than the whole. If for no other reason, I would like to have good things to say about Private Practice because Tim Daly deserves a great show that succeeds. After the witty "Eyes" and poignant "The Nine" Daly has earned a hit. Sadly this isn't it. He isn't the only one suffering in the inadequacy that is this show. Audra McDonald, Taye Diggs, Kate Walsh and Amy Brenneman lead a cast of wonderful actors who are attempting to navigate sluggish plot lines and erratic character development. It's a lethal combination when looking for an escape of entertainment.

Another guy who deserves a hit from ABC - Peter Krause, whose brilliant turn in Sports Night still makes me laugh at just the idea of some of the content. A show ahead of its time for certain. Yet after a successful run on "Six Feet Under" Krause has returned to ABC in Dirty Sexy Money a show that has quite decided what it wants to be when it grows up. Here's another interesting cast that is part mystery, part nighttime soap. It dances, not always successfully, between the two and that push/pull can easily distract from the core of the show. I think it is at its best when it doesn't take itself too seriously. The mystery works because it allows for twists and turns in the plot that are made plausible by the elite wealth of the characters. I will use this comparison from the 80s. What made nighttime soap Knots Landing beloved was that it had an emotional core established in its main characters regardless of the chaos of the plot surrounding them. Dynasty on the other hand was simply absurd. It was flash and glitz and cotton candy. The silliness of the plot devices simply came to be expected. I suspect Dirty Sexy Money is trying to land with the former rather than the latter. As of today, they haven't been successful.

Having said that, Peter Krause and Blair Underwood are always worth an hour of my time. I have no shame in my love of the eye candy.

TV vs. My iPod

It's a tough score card to compare. Last night I sat down to watch a commercial free Amazing Race (because it was DVRed) and I realized that I still had all of Wednesday's line up of shows to get through, not to mention the Sunday news shows. In a beautiful busy weekend spent outside, I realized I spent Friday night fiddling with my iPod settings and an entirely new library of music that needed to be vetted and divided into playlists. The only comparison I can make to what this process felt like is when I was in Junior High and my summer job was to convert the school libraries over to the Dewey Decimal system. Laugh if you must, but for a 13 year old kid it was a great summer job! The tedious nature of getting my music organized sucked away half my weekend 'free time' after my daughter was asleep. It meant I didn't write in my journal about a week of interesting stories and milestones for my daughter. It meant I didn't finish a blanket project for a friends baby, it meant I didn't make a dent in the laundry that is piling up and it certainly meant I didn't get around to watching Wednesday nights TV season premiere lineup. It's hilarious to me the vortex that technology can sometimes suck us into when we least expect it. I like to think I walk the walk of technology being around to make my life simpler but every now and then I get caught in the trappings -- which is a long way of saying, I will be watching and posting tonight on last week's TV. Besides, this blog is more art than science.

ABC usher's in it's Sunday line up

Yes I realize it is Wednesday, but life often gets the better of me and Paul Newman died this weekend, I needed a moment for perspective. So the scripted season is officially up and running and Sunday brought about a return of an old favorite for me and the chance for two shows that I am once again on the fence about -- ABC has a theme going in this.

First, The Amazing Race kicked off. Seriously, even if you don't watch reality TV as a regular course of your television repertoire, you should spend a couple of hours with The Amazing Race. It's travelogue on crack. Think the HGTV meets the Food Challenge with better scenery. What is not to like about a dozen couples (be it friends, couples, siblings or parents and children) racing around the world in the biggest 'treasure hunt' of a lifetime. The show spans all continents and tracks over 30,000 miles in the course of a month. You get to see world famous destinations along with remote locales you'd never consider, let alone heard of all the while getting a cliff notes glimpse into cultures. From a contestant point of view, it brings out the best and worst in people for sure, but for those who take it for what it is - an experience of a lifetime the voyeuristic at home can just simply enjoy the ride.

In addition to the above, my lone appointment TV at the moment ABC ushered in the season premieres of Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters. The former has had a bumpy road since it's breakout initial season, mainly because it has underestimated the power of the friendships they established among the women at the core of the show and focused on the antics and mystery components to varying degrees of disastrous failure. Last season, didn't quite bring Desperate Housewives back to full season one form, but with storylines surrounding Felicity Huffman's character's cancer and the poignant episodes that were built leading into and out of a tornado disaster Desperate did get some of its groove back, enough to create an inspired final five minutes of the season cliffhanger that had fast forwarded all of Wisteria Lane five years juxtaposing the characters into spaces where we often wouldn't imagine they'd land. This season picked up where that final five minutes left off, partially living in real time and partially filling in the back story of the last five years - including Bree losing custody of her grandson who she was raising as her own son, Gabriela having given birth to two daughters and embracing her inner sloth, Lynette cancer free and trouble filled with wild children becoming deviant teens and Susan, have yet again separated from Mike over yet another conflict. Susan is the greatest loss on Housewives, what started as a quirky insecure funny character has become a ball of twitches and irrational behavior (think Monica on Friends after about 5 seasons). That said, the episode failed to go beyond establishing this season. I will likely keep an eye on it, much like Grey's Anatomy, but my love of Felicity Hoffman may not be enough to keep this on the DVR list. P.S. - Edie's new husband (WHO is my LA LA LA from Boomtown)- here's my prediction, he's after either Susan or Mike for the woman and child who died in the accident they were in during the flashback.

Now, Brothers and Sisters has left me troubled. I love the actors on the show, really, there isn't a bad one in the bunch. The writing and plot lines are killing this show. For me B&S has always been a bumpy ride, it came out the gate rocky and then settled into a nice rhythm and last season again went off the ranch. The season ending discovery that Rebecca was not the long lost sister and Star Wars moment of "There is another" brother - mystery Ryan is recycling at its worst. It's a turn off for a multitude of reasons and at the top of the list is, that it takes these characters on a journey we have already seen them make! Save for a delicious scene between Patricia Wetig and Sally Field where Field reveals to Wetig she wasn't the only lover of patriarch William the opener did little but chip away at the credibility and moreover, the likability of these family members, the most disturbing of which is that of oldest sister Sarah played with voracious depth by Rachel Griffiths. Shame on the writers, your actors deserve better. I will miss these actors, but I am pretty much done with this one.

This really says it all...

Paul Newman - A man in a class all his own.

I dare you to find one person who likes movies that doesn't like Paul Newman. Adoration may range from 'can do no wrong' fandom to mere respect for a given role. The fact is he was the embodiment of why we have sayings like "He was a man's man". There was so much to like about Newman, he was a great actor, an amazing philanthropist, a devoted family man, he scoffed at Hollywood and the many trappings contained there, he drank beer and smoked and never apologized for either. He lived a life, from all observations of fierce determination, which is to say he appeared to live his life unapologetically and for that he has my ultimate respect. It among so many things is a reason to mark his passing.

My first Paul Newman film would surprise few, The Verdict was about an attorney and a thriller. All things I was feverishly interested in as a teenager. I was an instant fan and went on to watch easily 2/3 of his work on film. Everyone knows the big ones - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Towering Inferno, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, The Sting and later on, Absence of Malice, Color of Money. While these films and so many more defined his career, Paul Newman's body of work proves how skilled he was as an actor. My vote, if you want to look at terrific work by Newman, check out one of the following, lesser known films:

The Young Philadelphians - This is a film that is a little Peyton Place meets rags to riches story. It's an interesting small town drama that has a marvelously quiet performance from Newman.

A New Kind of Love - yes it's cotton candy, and yes Rock Hudson owned this genre, but the sheer idea that Newman and Woodward did this picture makes it worth the 2 hours, both are gleefully fun, especially when you put it next to the likes of HUD

Paris Blues - Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, need I say more?

From the Terrace - This is one of those films that you don't expect, Joanne Woodward completely against type, Newman in my opinion in a tour de force carrying the film. It is a movie about social climbing, love and hate.

Others worth mentioning - for older Newman, revisit Nobody's Fool, it is one of his best performances in my opinion. Message in a Bottle is a wonderful cameo/supporting role in an average movie. For great trivia, you can rent Our Town as a double feature - the earlier version which co-stars Frank Sinatra and Eva Marie Saint and the 2003 staged version he directed and co-stared in. Of course a movie list from me would not be complete without Slapshot, because it is gritty, filthy and about hockey what could be bad about that!

Rest in Peace Paul Newman, while Connecticut is a little duller today, we are grateful for the time you have shared with us on screen and for the thousands of children who were touched by your kindness.

Must See TV -- Does it exist anymore?

Last Sunday I was well intentioned. I was going to watch the Emmys and report back on my thoughts - The fact that it has taken me 5 days to sit down and write is a testament to the following sentence. The 2008 Emmys was not only time wasted, but brain cells lost. With that, onto the new season. For this casual viewer the bulk of my Must See TV won't arrive until January, so I am only mildly interested on what debuted this week.

Disclaimer - I don't watch House and/or Ugly Betty. I love and adore Hugh Laurie and America Ferrera, but neither show has ever landed in my bandwidth. I especially know of great love of House and I will inevitably discover it on DVD one of these days. I suspect friendships depend on it.

It was a week of debuts for all things reality -- America's Next Top Model, The Biggest Loser, Survivor have all made their fall debuts. I don't watch the latter so my only statement is - Why on earth would you want to watch people eat bugs in HiDef?

ANTM and I suspect the Biggest Loser (which is on tape) are both suffering from the same problem - predictability. It is a staid format that leaves little intrigue. For me it is why most shows like these leave little drama and interest beyond their first couple of seasons (think The Apprentice). However, the biggest insanity of the week was provided by the show made just for my mom, Dancing with the Stars -- 3 nights??? We need 3 nights of BAD dancing? All three sit lined up on my DVR and I can't quite get my arms around watching Cloris Leachman ballroom dance. Overkill is always my problem. Make us miss you and revel in your return. Three back to back nights of DWTS simply reminds me of how bad the 'b' list celebrities are and how much I miss the talents of So You Think You Can Dance! For my money, I will be awaiting the arrival of the top of the class this Sunday - The Amazing Race.

Oh and for those who think it is a dying art, I did watch one scripted show this week (Mad Men didn't have an original episode because of the Emmys). My love of some of the actors has made me return to Grey's Anatomy, against my better judgement. Here was a melodrama that in my opinion balanced the best parts of Chicago Hope and ER in their heyday. Last season was about as bad as show could get - worst than Desperate Housewives second season, worst than the West Wing post Aaron Sorkin and worst than when the Cosby kids had grown up and Raven Simone was brought in for cute factor and yes, worst than when Moonlighting lost its way post Cybil Shepard pregnancy. It lost everything that made it great, sharp writing with wit and emotion, interesting story lines and strong characters with frailty. Last year's season closer went a long way in atleast earning a three episode peek to see if Grey's can get its groove back. After last night's opener, I remain skeptical. It was neither sensational, nor compelling. While it was nice to see Sandra Oh's character recover. It maligned an interesting character in Nurse Rose. Best to call this one a draw. In a week cluttered in reality TV, a draw will bring me back next week.

A Day We All Remember

Every decade seems to produce a moment that everyone can recall where they were when the world changed in a significant way for them. Pearl Harbor, JFK's assassination, landing on the moon. There are moments that universally bring us together, particularly as a nation. Yesterday reminded me of a day like that. It is a day that many will be commemorating throughout this week. For me, that Tuesday morning was typical. I was running out of the house late for work and worried about making my N/R to the 6 subway connection. Yes, at 8:30am on Sept. 11, 2001 missing the 6 train was my greatest worry in the world. As many know it was a bright, crisp sunny morning. The temperature was in the low 80s. The kind of day that makes you mad you have to go to work. Mornings like that sometimes still cause me to think about September 11th and I have rarely spoken or written about that day. Even now, seven years later it is still surreal.

I was running late for work and looked up at Times Square to check the time on my way to the subway, only to see a big black cloud of smoke emerging from the one of the Twin Towers. I went home certain it was a deliberate act and afraid we were under attack. As I called my office, I watched the second plane hit the second tower. My greatest fears confirmed. The rest of that day and the following weeks unfolded for me like for so many people. I stood on 9th Avenue and watched as the towers collapsed amid screams of those around me. I frantically called friends and family who I knew could be downtown or to tell them I was OK. I remember scavenging for food for the handful of friends who were holding up in my small studio apartment because they could not get home across the river to New Jersey. I remember talking to my young niece and nephew 3000 miles away and explaining that I wasn't in the towers that fell down and I was going to be safe. I remember not being able to open my window for over a week because of the smell, even though I lived in midtown. I remember the ghost town that Times Square looked like when not a living soul could be seen on the streets. I remember finally feeling safe when they said all air traffic was grounded or diverted out of our air space (the unsung heroes of that day - our country's air traffic controllers). I remember the first time seeing downtown Manhattan without the twin towers being a part of the landscape. I was on a train home to Long Island for my cousin's wedding just four days after the attacks, everyone on the train was silent whether in shock, fear or sadness I will never know. For me, it was a little bit of all three.

Now, most of what I remember is how people came together in a city that is always tagged as heartless. How people simply wanted to help in any way possible and those who didn't know how to help simply lined the West Side Highway with signs and flags and merely cheered on the shifts of firemen, rescue workers and police officers who came in and out of the disaster area. I also remember many of us in the neighborhoods bringing food and condolences to what was left of our ravaged firehouses - for me the Broadway fireman who lost 2/3 of their men. The fear and the particulars are distant now, 7 years later but for me it is those bright sunny brisk moments that give me pause. It's something about the complete juxtaposition of the weather and how what ensued that day were so out of sync. While I no longer live in New York, I will always be a New Yorker. I have rarely been prouder to be a part of a community than I was in the weeks that followed. I was blessed and lost no one close to me although I did know people who died. I decided to write about that day because that feeling of coming together is one I think we as a country long for now. We need more than ever to come together as a people with common pride. I think it is why I am so engaged in this election process and so adamant in my hope that people vote. You see, while I have my opinions and preferences, I just think it is so important that we as a whole get informed and participate. At the end of the day Republican, Democrat, Independent - we are Americans and it is our country to guide through the representatives we chose. If we don't participate we disservice only ourselves. I hope to make November 4, 2008 a day I remember, to sit along side Sept 11th as a day that brought out the best in our humanity and the passion we have as a people.

Getting To Know You...

Getting to know all about you...

So the infomercials are over and let the games begin. The RNC and DNC have trouted out all their key people to spend two weeks telling us absolutely nothing and I watched it like it was crack. Granted the RNC had divided attention because of a great Williams sister match at the US Open, but overall it was great political theater - Will the Clinton's behave? Will Bill be sincere? Can the DNC unify? Who will McCain pick? McCain picked who? Her daughter is what? Will Bush speak? There's a hurricane set to hit New Orleans again? Wow Palin brought down the house how can McCain compete? -- all of this fodder leaves us in one place, what happens next. I am thrilled and encouraged by the millions who have tuned into the conventions and sincerely hope that it is only momentum to the debates and record turn out in Novemeber. I have had much to say about Palin in the last 48 hours but will refrain from it here. Suffice it to say, she gave a terrific speech, whose content I question.

Missing the Boat

Are we watching the final dirt being thrown onto Network news as we know it? Much was said over the weekend over the fact that all three broadcast networks were only bringing us one hour of prime time coverage of the conventions over the next two weeks. An odd decision given the fact that we are at the tail end of summer and the new seasons are weeks away from starting, so it is not as though they were positioning quality programming over the conventions. It's a choice I don't get, but that isn't my beef here today.

Last night I realized that network news has thrown in the towel to it's cable counterparts in earnest. I don't care if you are Republican, Democrat or Independent the fact of the matter is the Kennedy family is a part of our country's political fabric and Ted Kennedy's diagnosis of a brain tumor earlier this year made his appearance at last night's convention newsworthy. It made it worth 'breaking into regular schedule programming' which none of the networks did. Now, not to be morbid, but there is a better than average chance that this moment may have been Kennedy's last at a convention and after 48 years in Congress, he deserved the respect of the networks to recognize the moment in American political history. They missed, and they missed badly. Pundits will talk at nausea over the next two weeks about what each convention's 'infomercial' did or didn't do. Perhaps a critical eye and a couple of those breaths should be put towards how we are feeding the country information. Not all of America gets there news from cable and certainly there is an entire generation that will not be watching CNN.com 'stream' the speeches.

So to CBS, ABC, FOX and NBC, you missed the boat on this one. At a point in time when you should be asserting your relevance and understanding around historic moments in the broader scheme of news you chose to ride the bench, what a loss for those who were watching repeats of Two and a Half Men, Samantha Who, Prison Break or America's Toughest Jobs over on NBC respectively last night.

The Real Deal - Stephanie Tubbs Jones

I am not from Cleveland. Before February of this year I didn't know anything about Stephanie Tubbs Jones and her zany decorative glasses. Among the many things I learned during this historic primary season was this...

If all of America believed in our political process and voraciously got behind a candidate like she supported and advocated on behalf of Hillary Clinton, what an amazing country we would be. I highly doubt if we as a country had her enthusiasm for our country's laws and governance Congress would have the low approval rating it has and would have likely passed a spending bill over the last year.

Stephanie Tubbs Jones died today, suddenly and without warning. A piece of the core that burns the fire of this political process has been snuffed. That saddens me greatly as we are on the verge of the VP picks and conventions. I often thought over the primary process, if I saw the woman she supported Hillary would be unstoppable. What I failed to realize at the time was that the person who was unstoppable and larger than life was Stephanie Tubbs Jones. A woman who embodied the love of her life and country she was a rare beacon of purity defining what loyalty should look like in its best sense.

I write about her today because I am saddened by her passing. I write about her today because without TV and that 24 hour news cycle I often rail against I would not have known who she was in our political landscape and in the voices of our politics. I am forever grateful and may we do her proud this November.

Battle of the Network Stars

If you were born after 1980 and haven't spent quality time watching TV Land this next post will make absolutely no sense. For those of us who were a part of the Pepperdine phenomena I ask you what ever happened to the glory that was Battle of the Network Stars. The Olympics and my never ending sense of nostalgia made me wonder about this today. I vividly remember every August when it would come on ABC, with Howard Cosell providing commentary and high levels of un-PC rhetoric about the women participating. Think of it, actors from all your favorite shows competing in various athletic competitions that mirror (and yes I use that term lightly) Olympic sport. Seriously though, for us Gen-Xers, the anticipation of the obstacle course or who would anchor the tug-o-war at the end was must see TV. My brother, sister and I would pop the Jiffy Pop and pick a network to route for and off we went to the basement for an evening of psuedosport. It was a ritual no different than watching the Wizard of Oz annually or Charlie Brown's Christmas special.

In this age of cynicism, reality TV and cable shows the networks are struggling to merely hold on, let alone bask in nostalgia. But for a moment in the bright light that is Michael Phelps Olympic record I remember a time when shows were on long enough to become attached to the actors who played the characters we loved. A time when a show like Battle of the Network Stars would draw families in around a television, not mocking as it did when they briefly tried to revive the concept. Oh well, there's always the Amazing Race.