Barbara Walters' annual list of the "most fascinating (?) people"
Barbara Walters -- just fresh off her trouncing of foe Rosie O'Donnell in last Wednesday's TV ratings -- gets the spotlight again this Thursday with her annual list of the folks who she thinks have intrigued us the most.
We already know six of the names: Miley Cyrus, Tom Cruise, Tina Fey, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Phelps and Will Smith.
Hmm. I hope the other four, which includes the No. 1 most fascinating person, amps up the list's wattage. OK, I can see picking Fey, Phelps and Cyrus. But Tom Cruise? Except for his cameo role in "Tropic Thunder," what has he done in 2008? I'm not sure about Smith, either. Did I miss something outstanding there?
I have to believe that Barack Obama is on Walters' list. Maybe the unknowns are real dazzlers.
I do know who I would put on my list ... Who would be on your's?
I know I'm a few days late on this but -- Wow! -- I'm enjoying YouTube's new, wider format. It's easier on my eyes, and, to me, the quality looks a bit better. But, not everyone is delighted. Some people think the quality isn't any better, and they don't like it when a smaller video has large black spaces to the left and right because it can't fit the space.
Whatever. It's an improvement. Instead of posting a video, I'm giving you this link for a cat on a Roomba to see for yourself (I can't do it justice in our format. You need to be on the Web site itself to appreciate the new look.)
Chilly weather usually drives people indoors and, that being the case, you might want to check out the different installations at the Fresno Art Museum.
I wrote about the latest shows in a story in today's Bee. But I thought I'd give you a visual sample of what's gracing the galleries these days. This oil painting is by Bruce McGaw, and it's called "Children on a Hill" (1995).
Here's what caught my eyes and ears this Thanksgiving week:
From the "Told Ya So" department -- Rosie O'Donnell's live TV variety show on Wednesday bombs big time. This review is just one of numerous scathing critiques.
Meanwhile, her old foe, Barbara Walters -- with her special on the Obamas -- the same night pulled in very respectable ratings, while Rosie's show tanked with viewers.
Playwright William Gibson, author of "The Miracle Worker" and other works, died this week.
And, finally, Jason Mesnick -- the decent single dad who was runner-up on "The Bachelorette" earlier this year -- will be "The Bachelor" (premiering Jan. 5) ... By now, he must know the track record for this show, right?
Now that the holiday season is underway, you might think about some (RED).
Even when times are tough, a lot of people still look for ways to give to others in need. Here's one idea. If you're a Starbucks fan, here's a pretty simple and fast way to help others this holiday season: The coffee company is donating a nickel, from participating stores, for every exclusive beverage it's crafted to help (RED), the
organization co-founded by Bono that raises money and awareness for AIDS programs in Africa.
The program will run through Jan. 2. The special beverages are Peppermint Mocha Twist, Gingersnap Latte and Espresso Truffle. Mmmmm. I'm not a coffee drinker, but those do sound yummy.
And, on Dec. 1 -- the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day -- Starbucks will broaden the 5-cent contribution to every hand-crafted beverage at participating stores.
I feel compelled to blog this only because I, like other folks, fell for this ploy ... but I don't feel as bad as the people at US Weekly, who allegedly paid for the "exclusive" on the nuptials of Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt.
Apparently, the marriage is an invention of their money-grubbing imagination. The union won't be recognized in the U.S. unless they actually get married here. How convenient.
Oh, and naturally a camera crew from MTV's "The Hills" just happened to be following the couple as this unfolded in Mexico. Man, Speidi sure knows how to make money in a slumping economy.
Heidi's poor family had no idea what was going on. But, if I were them, I'd be more mortified by the fact that the talentless Heidi continues to let freaky Spencer run her life ... I wonder how much money Speidi thinks it can make by having a Baby Speidi? 'Cause, for them, it seems to be all about the ka-ching.
There's a lot of scrambling going on -- among businesses and shoppers alike -- in getting ready for Black Friday. Stores are putting tons of sales out there in the hopes of salvaging reasonable holiday revenues from a slumping economy.
But this is the one ad that totally caught my eye.
Is Apple really having a sale? As this story on cnet says, the company's popular tech products are rarely discounted. And one analyst in this story thinks there could be discounts up to 15 percent.
I know I'm tempted to check this out. My nearly 3-year-old Nano and its lithium battery are starting to show their age ... I just wonder if there's any possibility that so many people overrrun the site on Friday that it crashes.
Rosie O'Donnell tries to resurrect variety TV format
Tonight, Rosie O'Donnell headlines a live variety show on NBC. I'm not sure why the network thinks this is a good idea. Rosie stopped being funny years ago. And how convenient that she chose this time to pick the carcass of her old feud with Barbara Walters from her days on "The View." It was an obvious ploy to pump up attention for this special ... And then she apologizes.
Yeah, Rosie's hilarious.
The show's scheduled guests include Liza Minnelli, Gloria Estefan, Alanis Morissette and Alec Baldwin. It's not a shabby guest list, but it also doesn't have anyone that makes me say, "Wow, I need to check this out!"
(By the way, Walters landed an interview with Barack and Michelle Obama that airs tonight on ABC at 10 p.m. Rosie's show is at 8 p.m. ... I wonder who will pull in the better ratings for a Thanksgiving Eve?)
Anyway, Rosie's show is called "Rosie Live." If you don't have something more interesting to do (like washing your laundry or watching the rain hit your windowpane), you could check it out. Otherwise, no viewers means the show will be re-named "Rosie Flatlined."
"DWTS:" Brooke is the favorite in tonight's finale but ...
UPDATE: OK, Brooke Burke and her partner, Derek Hough, won the title Tuesday. Warren Sapp and his partner came in second. It would have been more exciting if Warren had pulled this off. As it is, ho hum.
________________________________
The three judges on "Dancing with the Stars" made it clear last night they want Brooke Burke to win. She's the best technical dancer. But I'm favoring Lance Bass and his partner, Lacey. (I also really like Warren Sapp, but he's not good enough to finish first.) At least L & L exhibit real personality. And, come on, last night they did this hip-hop routine to "It's Tricky." Give 'em props for a fun change of pace on this "ballroom" show.
No more excuses not to exercise. I saw this on the "Today" show this morning. Scientists put shrimp on treadmills to assess their health in an ever-changing marine environment. YouTube users found the footage and have been gleefully setting it to music like "Chariots of Fire" and the theme from "Rocky."
But my fave is the one set to theme from "The Benny Hill Show" ... It beats being a shrimp on a barbie.
Heidi Montag now has confirmed to me that she is an empty, plastic nut job. US Weekly's cover story this week apparently will be all about how she and jerky, manipulative Spencer Pratt eloped to Mexico.
How to explain this?
A) No one else can freakin' stand being around them.
B) Spencer faked the whole ceremony, and Heidi doesn't know.
C) She's just an idiot.
D) She totally enjoys being a doormat. She totally likes lovin' someone whom everyone hates.
E) Spencer thinks Brangelina gets way too much attention just because they have all those kids.
E) Spencer has gotten Heidi in trouble with her bosses at SBE twice, and one incident ended up in her firing. But she got her job back, which means Spencer has to mess her up again. Marriage seemed the best way to go.
F) She's just an idiot.
You can't make this stuff up. A Fort Lupton municipal judge in Colorado has his own unique way of sentencing folks who violate noise ordinances: You have to listen to Barry Manilow for at least an hour.
And, apparently, it's working. The number of repeat offenders has dropped. Which makes sense to me. If I was forced to spend any time listening to "Mandy" or "I Write the Songs" or "This One's for You" ... gulp, I'm getting nauseous already. (Don't even get me started on his new CD, "The Greatest Songs of the Eighties." According to him, the "greatest" songs of that decade include "Islands in the Stream" and "Against All Odds." Oh, really?)
Of course, this judge makes violators listen to other non-Manilow songs they can't stand. But Manilow would be the worst for me.
Another bit from "SNL," just in time for Thanksgiving
Here's one more skit from "Saturday Night Live" this weekend. It's called "Turkey Day," right before a lot of us gorge on these birds this Thursday (no guilty feelings intended).
Great timing. I realize they've been without a contract since June 30. I know most members don't make the astronomical dollars of their superstar colleagues and that negotiations with studios and producers have gone nowhere on issues like Internet residuals.
But is this a good time to be pursuing this tactic as the nation's economy is tanking? Maybe a last-minute agreement still can be worked out. But if it isn't, we're in for "Season Two" of all this. Last November, the Writers Guild of America walked out for three months, and the fallout fatally damaged shows like "Pushing Daisies." And remember what a fiasco the Golden Globes were last year?
Who really wants to watch more cycles of "Big Brother" or any other reality show? But, wait! I've got the local newspaper to read as well as 10 books sitting on a table at home, Internet sites like hulu.com that I can sift through for clips and movies, and updates on all the latest developments about President-elect Obama ... This may not be so hard, after all.
"SNL" ... Obama is president, but the Clintons are back
Sure, "Saturday Night Live" isn't as funny as it was pre-election, especially with Tina Fey's flawless take on Sarah Palin. But you can always count on Darrell Hammond to do his spot-on impersonation of former President Bill Clinton. And now that Hillary Clinton is most certainly going to be named secretary of state -- and so many Clinton folks are being appointed into Barack Obama's administration -- the Clintons are back. You can count on more appearances on SNL.
Here's Bill Clinton's happy acceptance this Saturday to be officially named "Husband to the Secretary of State."
Last week, it was the Barack Obama coins. This week, it's all about the plates at this Web site. The narrator in the video actually says, "His confident smile and kind eyes are an inspiration to us all" and "Yes you can own a piece of history."
Speaking of Obama, a Web site that dishes Disney insider stuff says the Abraham Lincoln animatronic exhibit could be returning, with a touch of Obama.
OK, "Twilight" is getting a lot of attention. And it makes sense: The young girls who read Stephenie Meyer's book have been swooning for months in anticipation of the movie.
But now, I say, it's time to show some love to the dog -- "Bolt," the animated feature from Disney Studios is racking up some solid reviews and has a genuine star. No, not Bolt, who's voiced by John Travolta. It's the hamster named Rhino (voiced by Mark Walton). According to reviews I've seen, Rhino steals the show.
So you could wait in line with some screaming girls to see the story of Bella and Edward in "Twilight." Or you can go for the funny and see a story about a dog trying to get home.
That's right, Spam. I'm not talking about unwanted e-mail but that weird meat product that comes in a can. My mom used to feed it to my brother and I as kids. She fried it and would serve it whole in a sandwich, or cut it up and serve it with fried rice, or other variations that I've blocked out of my memory. When she wasn't looking, I'd try to dump it in the garbage can underneath the kitchen sink. (Sorry, Mom.)
But now, as the economy staggers and a dollar doesn't go as far as it used to, maybe I should take a second look at Spam. Who knew that Monty Python's Flying Circus' "Spam Song" would be so relevant now?
I don't cook, but I could force myself to do it. Anyone got any suggestions on how to make it more appetizing? Or should I just skip this idea?
McKey Sullivan has won Cycle 11 of "America's Next Top Model." The series finale was Wednesday, but there wasn't much suspense. It seemed apparent a few weeks ago that the 19-year-old boxing enthusiast was headed for glory after she produced this long-legged photo aboard a ship. All she had to do was keep it together and sail to the finish line.
I'd say her closest competition wasn't even in the Top 3 last night: Marjorie Conrad, she of the slouched back and broken doll poses, was ousted last week. She was an interesting figure but had way too many insecurity issues. Even when the judges gave her compliments, she looked like she was going to have a nervous breakdown.
So Sullivan takes the title. With legs that go on forever, she may have a real shot at being an employed model.
Dear Heather: So who needs a People magazine cover?
Dear Heather,
I know your fave Jon Hamm wasn't named "Sexiest Man Alive" by People, but I hope this helps make up for it.
Hamm is one of four men sharing the latest cover for GQ. He's earned "Men of the Year" honors with Barack Obama, Michael Phelps and Leonardi DiCaprio. I'd say Hamm's in pretty nifty company.
(Unfortunately, my hubby subscribes to Esquire, so I'll be Hamm-less at home.)
You're 80 years old today and don't look much different than when you were a skinny dude driving a steamboat. Sure, you've put on a little weight, but who hasn't? (Well, OK, not counting the usual Hollywood starlets). When it comes to your many looks, I am particularly fond of your appearance in "Fantasia," when you donned the sorcerer's robes and tall, pointy hat. Awesome.
At a time when the economy is slouching and other tough events are happening, people are looking for things that make them smile. So, on your birthday, I offer all props to you. You've always been an optimistic, happy fella. We need more of that these days.
"Who's the leader of the club/ That's made for you and me/
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E."
Heidi got her job back at SBE on Monday night's episode. At least partner Sam treated her like vapid vapor.
(Yes, this reality show is staged, so she was going to get her "job" back. But, still, if you're fired because you've messed up twice, got drunk on the job and sassed the boss, you should stay fired.)
At least Heidi, in a tiny step of of realization, finally told her controlling boyfriend Spencer: "Maybe you're the problem." It was almost as good as last week's episode in which SBE partner Brent Bolthouse told a then-fired Heidi: "Dude, you're boyfriend's a nightmare."
But, take heart video fans. MTV isn't broadcasting music videos on television anymore, but the network still has an outlet for them: mtvmusic.com.
It's kind of addictive and easy to use. You just type in the name of the artist, or the song. I spent part of Sunday night on the site finding a lot of oldies but goodies not to mention more recent stuff. It was fun, for instance, watching director Spike Jonze's "Weapon of Choice" (2001) for Fatboy Slim, with actor Christopher Walken dancing through a people-less LA hotel lobby.
The site's presentation is clean, though the viewing screen is small-sized. It's like watching YouTube, but the quality is better (depending on the condition of the video, of course). The site includes different features, such as artist bios.
Here are some other videos I looked up and enjoyed (again):
The Fresno Met is back: What are your impressions?
The Fresno Metropolitan Museum reopened Thursday evening in resplendent fashion. It's brighter, streamlined and definitely carries a contemporary vibe. But design details of the original 1922 building remain, especially in two exterior walls with their red-brick, Italian Renaissance styling.
If you've visited the revamped Met, what do you think of the new look?
The museum's 55-hours-straight, free admission celebration started at noon today. By the way, Donald Munro and I are going to drop in at some point between 2-3 a.m. Saturday morning. We're curious about what it's like to be in a museum in the middle of the night, and we'll be blogging about our experience Saturday.
I wrote a story about the reopening in today's Bee, but here are some other things that I saw and heard from Thursday's festivities:
The Culture Bucket: Obamamania, Prince Charles and more
Here's what caught my eyes and ears in recent days:
The economy may stink, but Barack Obama's presidential victory is stoking plenty of sales in Obama-related merchandise, including this inaugural dollar from obamacoins.tv.
Prince Charles turns 60 today. Has anyone waited longer for a job? Leave it to comedian Robin Williams to joke about the prince's king-in-waiting status to his face at a benefit. Williams sang this in a duet: "Your momma ain't goin' anywhere, she's gonna hang on to that crown."
My newest fave TV personality, Simon Baker of "The Mentalist," is starting to pick up more press coverage, like this article in USA Today.
And, finally, can you believe this? Wally Cleaver will soon have a sculpture on exhibit at the prestigious Louvre. OK, I have to be respectful here: Tony Dow, who played Wally, has the honor. It's way cool.
"Four Christmases" ... Does this look funny to you?
I'm waiting for a really fun and entertaining movie to show up this season. (Sorry, but "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" isn't what I had in mind.) I thought maybe the upcoming Reese Witherspoon/Vince Vaughn comedy, "Four Christmases," might fit the bill.
But I've seen the trailer several times, and it's not making me laugh. Not even a chuckle or a snicker. It looks like Vaughn is playing another version of his fast-talking, smart-alecky roles. Maybe I should take a hint from his last Christmas movie, 2007's "Fred Claus." Critics hated it.
Yeah! More free movies for those of us cruising the Internet
YouTube recently announced it has a deal to start showing full-length MGM movies and television shows. CNET News says we can thank Hulu for the development. That site, formed by NBC Universal and News Corp., already shows films and TV programs, and my husband has been singing Hulu's praises for many weeks.
Sure, I can still stick a DVD in my laptop, but I don't always want to rent a movie. So getting free access to some cool classics or more recent releases suits me just fine. (Though I do hope YouTube improves the visual quality of its site.) I also hope that when they say MGM, it means -- eventually -- I can pull up whenever I want films like "Singin' in the Rain" (I never get tired of that iconic rain sequence with the incomparable Gene Kelly) or "An American in Paris" (another Kelly classic).
And maybe more studios will follow suit, now that YouTube has repaired relations with those companies. Hooray for Hollywood!
The U.S. Secret Service has a tradition of giving code names to the President and his family members. I'm not sure why, since it's not kept a secret and the media has been reporting the names for the Barack Obamas: He's Renegade. Michelle is Renaissance. Daughter Malia is Radiance while daughter Sasha is Rosebud.
As you can see, the Secret Service likes to keep the first letter the same for each code name. (Hmm, I wonder if they even fleetingly thought of Rogue Runner.) You can read this Chicago Tribune story for a list of other code names in history. (I'm not sure why outgoing President Bush's name is Tumbler.)
But if these folks can have code names, why can't we all have code names? Mine would be Rickmanista. (That's after my fave actor Alan Rickman, of course, and it's not an original thought. But I'm taking it.)
Earlier this year, a woman sued Victoria's Secret because she said one of the company's thongs injured her.
Now, other women contend that some of the company's bras are causing rashes, hives and permanent scarring. One woman has already filed a lawsuit, but it could potentially morph into a class action lawsuit. VS officials acknowledge they've received complaints and are investigating: "Customer safety and satisfaction are always our primary concerns and we take seriously any issues our customers may have with our products."
I hope they get to the bottom of this (and, no, that wasn't meant to be any kind of weak pun). I don't know about other folks out there, but I don't like the idea that underwear can go rogue on people.
Brent Bolthouse, all props to you. Last week, you fired whiny Heidi Montag because she got intoxicated while working for you at an opening. And, of course, the manipulative and evil Spencer had a role in it, just like he did when he messed with your Las Vegas event by messing with Heidi's head. Why does he keep sabotaging her employment status?
(OK -- reality check here -- Heidi's job probably wasn't a real job, since she and Spencer Pratt make money off their appearances and other deals. But, still, the axing was a great scene. Very much appreciated.)
But then, on last night's show, Brent, you topped yourself. Spencer and Heidi spot you at another event. Spencer thinks he can fake looking earnest and talk you into giving Heidi her job back. You handled him like he was dirt under your shoes. He looked lost and useless. "You're bad news," you told him. Spencer was speechless. Bravo!
And then Heidi, looking even more pathetic than Spencer, tried to apologize and plea for another chance. It produced one of the best lines ever in "The Hills" history. You told Heidi: "Dude, your boyfriend's a nightmare."
We all agree. But Brent, coming from you, it was classic TV.
Bee reporter John Ellis writes in today's newspaper that City Hall officials and downtown leaders have been using their time and children's building blocks -- literally -- to construct a scale-model vision of a future downtown Fresno.
Leave it to Bee columnist Bill McEwen today to point out the obvious: that computer software these days can do a much better job in this area than "a cheesy toy representation."
Or, as they so often text in the Internet age these days: OMG.
But all this got me thinking. Why just stop at Legos, Tinkertoys and K'NEX blocks?
The onslaught of holiday shopping ads has started, despite the gloom of a crippled economy. That means we'll be deluged with all kinds of new stuff to entice us to spend, including this thing called The Snuggie.
It costs $19.95. The Snuggie (not to be confused with the Snuggle fabric softener) basically is a blanket with sleeves to keep you warm on chilly, winter days. I'm not a genius, but I find that a simple blanket or a cozy, thick sweater usually does the trick. The company's pitch is this: "Blankets are OK but they can slip and slide, plus your hands are trapped inside. The Snuggie keeps you totally warm and gives you the freedom to use your hands. Work the remote, use your laptop, or do some reading in total warmth and comfort."
I dunno. It reminds me of the outfit that Sir Alec Guinness wore as Obi-Wan Kenobi in "Star Wars." I guess Sir Alec could have ditched his plain brown wrapper for a more fashion chic choice in Snuggie burgundy, royal blue or sage green.... Hmm, I wonder if the Snuggie comes with a light saber.
Earlier this year, Black Eyed Peas' leader Will.i.am went viral with his "Yes We Can" video to support then-Presidential contender Barack Obama. Now that Obama's won, the rapper has released "It's a New Day."
The Culture Bucket: Bits & pieces this week from Election 2008
I'm having an election hangover. Here's just a few things, away from the major news, that caught my eyes and ears this week:
If you want to keep up with every move that President-elect Barack Obama makes, he's got a new Web site up and running: change.gov.
A lot of people wondered who Oprah Winfrey was leaning on at Obama's victory speech in Chicago's Grant Park. The mystery man's identity is now known ... 'cause Oprah had him on her show today. Is he the next Joe the Plumber?
Speaking of Joe -- and in case you wondered what he's doing now that the election is over -- he shared his plans this week with FoxNews.
A White House reporter has his own "Dog Bites Man" story, courtesy of President Bush's dog, Barney.
A new month means new art shows. Donald and Felicia set out Thursday evening to indulge in the latest exhibitions. If you saw something that stirred you that they didn't get to -- or you saw the same shows and want to comment -- please share it in The Hive. Donald writes:
Water is never perfectly still. Even when it's in a pond -- no wind, no current, no splash -- it's never static. Whether it's the shift of sunlight on a glassy surface, the descent of a leaf or the tiniest buzz of an aquatic insect, water has a motion all its own if you stare long enough at it.
That's what Juliana Harris did at a little, out-of-the-way pond in the Sierra foothills. Her new solo exhibit of oil paintings at Fig Tree Gallery, is inspired by the artist's repeated trips to a special place called "Lucy's Pond" on Finegold Creek, about a half hour's drive from Fresno. Her impressions of the water in different seasons, ranging from thundering white waterways to smooth, quiet pools, give the show a retrospective sweep -- it's like an ethnography of a place. Instead of putting these scenes in perspective, however -- instead of framing the water with earth and sky, say, to immediately signal our brains that this is a pond -- she chooses to simply show us the water itself. You get a sense of its layers: the shimmering surface and the murky depths below. It's like when you're staring at something incredibly intently, and you focus in on it so much that you lose all sense of its surroundings. Instead of just the recreation of water, what you get is the recreation of the feeling of that water, which is a much more transformative experience.
That's what TMZ.com is telling us. They posted this whacky pic today and said it was her.
It doesn't even look like her. She looks like Tron. Or like she's flashbacking to some of those awful 1980s fashions. Wait, it sort of reminds me of what Janet Jackson wore this year before her tour fell apart.
Tonight's episode is Brooke Smith's last on "Grey's Anatomy"
Cast members come and go on TV shows, but Brooke Smith's abrupt departure from "Grey's Anatomy" is raising a ruckus. She played Dr. Erica Hahn on the popular ABC show, and some people believe she's getting the boot because of her lesbian story line.
I stopped watching "Grey's" because it got too exasperating. All these self-involved beautiful (for the most part) doctors and friends flailing and emoting through outlandish plots (the mousy George is a babe magnet?) and over-the-top medical emergencies. When Denny died, my interest went with him.
Smith's ouster is indeed a weird one. It even caught Dr. McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey) by surprise. While some people believe Smith got the boot because she played a lesbian, I wonder if there's also another factor involved: The gifted but decidedly unglam-looking Smith ultimately didn't measure up to "Grey's" Hollywood beauty standards. Did looks trump talent? If she looked like Katharine Heigl or Ellen Pompeo, would she be out of a job?
It's time for Malia and Sasha Obama to pick their puppy
I'm sure Barack Obama's daughters are happy that their dad just landed the most awesome job on the planet, but I bet they're just as excited to finally get a family puppy.
The media, of course, is all over this angle, offering all kinds of advice and running down the history of dogs and other pets in the White House. (Did you know that Calvin Coolidge and his wife had raccoons?) Of course, if they asked me, I'd be talking up a kitten.
The best news is that the Obamas will be adopting their dog from a rescue agency. I'm sure Malia and Sasha know what they want but, just in case, what kind of dog do you think would be best for them?
If you watched CNN on Election night, you probably caught their new gee-whiz wonder: holograms! (Or, at least its version of holograms.)
I guess it's not enough just to give us results or have John King show us what's happening in each state with his Magic Map. Here's Anderson Cooper's interview with Black Eyed Peas leader Will.i.am in hologram. Tell me they didn't steal this from the original "Star Wars."
First, Apple Corp. announces The Beatles are jumping into video games. Now, Charles M. Schulz's family announces "Peanuts" will premiere in 20 3- to 4-minute video Webisodes. In both cases, the families say it's a way of ensuring these icons' legacies strengthen and endure.
Good grief!
Anyway, here's an excerpt from the first webisode. (Wouldn't you know that iTunes is the place to buy these things. Talk about world domination.) At least the sample fits our election day theme on The Hive today: Linus is running for class president.
ABC's "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" can now chalk up another failure: This season's "Bachelorette" DeAnna Pappas has split from snowboarder Jesse Csincsak. I applauded her choice at the time because he seemed like a fun, thoughtful guy ... but I also was skeptical that they would ever get married.
Heartbroken Jesse has posted a YouTube video to tell us she dumped him. It even includes that classic line: "I love you but I'm not in love with you." Ouch.
Barbara Walters' annual list of the "most fascinating (?) people"
