C-SPAN Health Care Reform - would you watch?

While not exactly being entertaining television, C-SPAN is a network all the same. So I thought to include this, but you can respond at the more politically oriented VASS if you prefer.

The questions at hand are transparency, health care, and the word of the President. All of these are issues that cause the politically tunnel-visioned to fume. But the issues still remain.

President Obama campaigned on a pledge to pass Health Care Reform, and to do so while the public was watching on C-SPAN. Now, there is a final Bill being worked on and Bill Lamb, CEO of C-SPAN, has requested to place the entire debate on the final Bill live on television.

"C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb wrote [in part], ``Now that the process moves to the critical stage of reconciliation between the chambers, we respectfully request that you allow the public full access, through television, to legislation that will affect the lives of every single American."

The response from the White House has been



I don't feel that was an answer. In fact I beleive that at 1:00 - 1:12 on the video the reporter was threatened.

So the questions come down to these 2 things:

Has the Obama Administration lived up to it's promise of transparency?

If C-SPAN was allowed to provide live coverage (assuming Nancy pelosi and Harry Reid took the Bill from closed door meetings) would you watch it?

BET wrongly accussed of creating gangs in Monroe

There is no end to the things that I don't like about Black Entertainment Television. The music videos, the quality of most of the films shown on the cable network, the lack of news, the ghettofication (yes I just made that word up) of entertainment. The list goes on and on.

But there are some things that I'm not sure you can blame on BET. Just because Viacom is commoditizing Black culture does not mean that every wrong in the Black community is tied to them. That's something that needs to be proven because just making the statement is like throwing around the word racist (which is a popular thing to do these days).

The Monroe Free Press really needs to think about this. Today they published an article that blames BET for the increase in violence and gangs in their area. The article is More Shootouts as teens fight for "Respect" and Headlines. Obviously this article delves into the question of what is motivating teens to join gangs and kill each other.

It's not stated who wrote the piece, but I think they were seriously reaching when they decided to pick on BET. In fact I bet they were just looking to get more coverage, which they did succeed in doing.

The article states immediately

"They are young and out of control, but the arrests keep coming as neighborhood gangs bent on being famous like BET’s American Gangster, fight each other for what one has called “My Respect.”

“American Gangster” is a weekly television program on Black Entertainment Television which profiles gangs in the black community since the 1950’s with photos and storylines that lift the criminals to legendary status."

Now I have no argument that shows like American Gangster and Gangland glorify the criminal and mindless activities the dregs of society have chosen. I agree that such programs are counter-productive in a society that thinks everyone should have a Jackass or American Idol moment. The various Youtube videos of various people breaking the law (like giving babies drugs, or setting up fights to be taped) shows how stupid some can be, and how desperate some are for attention they don't deserve.

But to directly state that the gangs in Monroe are growing simply because of the actions of just this one show on BET is anything but a given. Which is proven by the fact that the article goes on to stop mentioning BET while discussing the problem with teen gang shootings. There is no proof that the BET show encouraged the gangs. There is nothing that connects the recent shootings in Monroe, or the gang growth, to BET.

Problems cannot be fixed by just scapegoating an individual or institution. The very argument that modern television and aspects of the internet promote the worst behavior in teens and some adults is weakened by such a baseless claim. Not once was there even so much as a quote by an accused shooter or gang member about BET. There wasn't even a made up stat or poll or reasonable connection.

Do I think the programming on BET is worthwhile, positive, or beneficial to the Black Community? No. I've stated that many times. I think that Sumner Redstone and the execs at Viacom are too busy cashing in on the commoditization of Black culture to care what they put on or what potential effect it may have. Until all of their kids act out and reference BET, or the other equally horrid programming featuring African Americans on other Viacom channels, they won't even notice.

Still my opinion, and my direct references to shows on BET and their link to stereotypes and negative connotations of African Americans, are not the same as trying to vaguely connect BET to crimes being actively committed. A publication that purports itself as a member of the press needs to have higher standards. Being a publication catering to African Americans does not mean standards are removed or lowered.

Can BET be improved? Only in as much as I am sure the sun will rise tomorrow. But is BET contributing to the rise in gang violence in Monroe? There is no way to be sure, especially considering the "reporting" by the Monroe Free Press. And the readers of Monroe, and the internet, deserve better. Even BET for all its faults deserves better than that.

Is Jon Gosselin's reputation worth $5 million - or 5 cents

Sometimes you hear of the things that celebrities do and you wonder what the hell they were thinking. Jon Gosselin has made me wonder that often over the past few months.

But the thing that got me laughing, was when I saw that he was countersuing TLC Network. This is part of the tit-for-tat that has been going on since the split between Kate Gosselin and Jon became public knowledge. A month ago Jon was sued by TLC for breach of contract. The cited that he has appeared on various programs and has been paid for his appearances, which he was clearly not allowed to do because of his contract.

Jon has now decided that the best thing to do is to sue TLC for $5 million. His reason is that TLC has prevented him from being able to work because thay have ruined his good name and reputation. Yeah, that is the funny part.

I find it hard to believe, and impossible to prove, that TLC was responsible for the bad name Jon Gosselin has. He was the one that left his 8 children and wife. He is the one that took $180,000 from a bank account potentially leaving his children without a means of support. He is the one that has stated publicly that he wants to get away from his kids. And various news and tabloid programs have covered all of this and more. Including Jon prancing around on television with a girlfriend - something I'm sure was a real fun situation to be explained to his children.

When a supposed man abandons his kids, as Jon has done, that smudges his image and reputation. Even in a society that is filled with celebrities acting badly, this stands out. Add to that the fact that 8 children are involved and we get an exponetial result. Plus it might just be possible that there are executives in Hollywood with some semblance of morales, enough that they done want to be associated with a low-life that Jon Gosselin appears more and more to be.

TLC didn't make Jon Gosselin look bad. TLC didn't parade Jon and various women infront of paparazzi. TLC didn't make Jon abandon his kids.

Jon Gosselin does not deserve $5 million. In fact I don't think he deserves $5. If he can get a job as a dishwasher I'd be happy, except that he should pay to help support his 8 children. Because regardless of his problems with their mother, the kids don't deserve the treatment he is giving them. Because a real man takes care of his own, always.

I hope that someone has kept a record of all the money Jon has made so far, off of this public divorce. I hope that someone ensures that a good portion of that money is set aside for his kids. It doesn't make up for the embarassment and life-long trouble that this has created for them, but it at least will help ensure they won't be impoverished as they grow and the eventual attention of the media turns to some other sordid and troubled celebrity.

I hope the judge that deals with this countersuit laughs in Gosselin's face and slaps him down good for such an outrage to common sense. But that's me. Is anyone will (or able) to defend Jon Gosselin?

Jon Gosselin - looking worse every day

A while back, before news first broke of Jon Gosselin and Kate Gosselin divorcing, I took a position that the media was being unfair to the couple. I defended his ability to go out with friends to have a drink. To have time to just be around friends and have a little time off from the 8 children that required 98% of his time everyday. At that time it looked like the media was just dad-bashing.

Since that time Jon Gosselin has done just about everything he can to make me feel bad about the position I took. He has flaunted the broken marriage, separated himself from his kids, and allowed the media into a divorce that is anything but friendly. He has become more of a louse than anything else.

I still believe that the media intrusion into the life of the family did not help anyone in the Gosselin family. Maybe they would have stayed together without the cameras, maybe not. But there is no question that the added stress of public life did not help the situation.

That said, this is even worse for the kids than I imagined. Not only are their parents divorcing badly, essentially before millions and directly in front of those they live around, but they will have the added issues that any child goes through when parents divorce. Plus there is the fact that neither parent seems to be a shining beacon of decorum..

Perhaps the thing that upset me most is the fact that Jon Gosselin took $180,000 from the joint account he had with Kate. I doubt if that was every penny in the account, at least I would hope not as the needs of 8 children require ample funds available. Such an act irritates me, and I have to comment on it though I prefer to leave the private issues of celebrities alone.

It is a sad statement of our society when a man can remove the security blanket of his family solely to cause pain and anger to his wife. Especially when the media is there to watch it all happen. It's a negative message at every level. Young men are being taught that fame and money are far more important than marriage and family responsibilities.

I like to think that Jon Gosselin is above that. But that is not what is being reported. And the media is all over both of the Gosselin's enough that even if there is a media bias against all fathers, his actions still stand as problematic.

Even his recent cease-and-desist letter to the TLC network about filming his children takes on a disingenuous tone. It seems more akin to a punishment for Kate Gosselin than to protect his kids. The money and fame was fine while he was there, but suddenly when he is not it is too much. That may not be the way it is, but it does look that way.

Ultimately I feel bad for the children. If there were no other reason for the parents to be quiet publicly, to appear amenable, it would be for the sake of the kids. Because while the tabloids are laying the groundwork for a lifetime of painful memories for the children, none of them will be around for any positive effect on those kids. Once all this is over, the tabloids will walk away, and wait for the poison they have injected to these kids lives to surface so they can cash in again.

Jon Gosselin is not helping this. Kate Gosselin has issues as well, not least of which is continuing with the show (to be called Kate plus 8). But as a man, I look at Jon and know that men are supposed to behave better - even in a bad situation. He has made the worst of the media hype believable and fair.

I said this before, there is no upside from all of this. The media and the Gosselin's combined are in the wrong. I just hope they all can shut up publicly and do what is best for the kids. Because when its all said and done, they are really the only ones that matter at all.

Catching up with Burn Notice

So with the holiday on my heels I took the time to catch up with my favorite spy without a job. Yes, Michael Westen of Burn Notice has been quite busy. And the 3rd season of the show has not let me down.

When last we saw Michael, his sort of girlfriend Fiona, and boozy buddy Sam the group that put out the burn notice that created the problems for Michael had just decided to give him a taste of what freedom is like. Following the adage of be careful what you ask for, the show is shoveling the repercussions down Michael’s throat. So far, not one has been good.

The reason is that with his unwanted employers gone, and no other Government Agency willing to go near Westen, all protection he had is gone. That means the police suddenly have links to our trio, and so does every Government with a chip on their shoulder for something Westen did to them in the past.

So far, as of the 4th episode, Sam has been audited. Fiona has had her background checked, as have Nate (Michael’s brother) and likely his mom. Michael himself though is really getting it thick. He has been betrayed by a former friend with an inferiority complex, weathered the return of Brennan, and hounded by police officer Paxson at every turn.

I really like the Paxson character. She is a no bull hard-line detective that goes after her suspects like a pitbull. You might even think she could like Michael, if she wasn’t so possessed with busting him for anything. Of course trying to get her fired, and succeeding in costing the job of her partner, in one episode didn’t help smooth things between the 2.

Probably the best episode so far was the one with Brennan. His return was exactly what you might expect. Pissed off for being double crossed last season, wanting to exact revenge and get paid doing it. His weapon of choice? Do what I say or brother Nate dies, painfully.

The episode shows off Westen’s skills and the speed of his mind versus a character virtually as smart and definitely more ruthless. The fact that Michael is smart enough to pull in the help of Sam, Fiona, and recurring character Barry really makes the difference. Though I found his major bluff at the end of the show to be particularly brilliant. It plays off of his obvious compassion for children, a fact it seems that even the bad guys have noticed.

I hand it to the writers for doing their jobs well. Having reached the peak of the initial quest in the show last season there were big questions to what might happen next. Could the show continue and be interesting? What would be the new motivation? Would any of it make sense?

As of the 4th episode all the questions have been answered with a positive. Perhaps the only issue I have with the show so far is that Officer Paxson has been mostly taken out of the picture. She added a complexity that was fun to watch, especially as she timed her entrances to be of the most distraction and hindrance to the crew at work. Though she may play a part in future episodes.

But the new questions facing the trio are interesting, if not as volatile as in the first 2 seasons. Fiona wants Michael to stay in Florida and have their relationship grow. Michael wants to get back to the life he had before, while protecting his family from the huge list of people that really would rather he was dead and grieving their loss. Sam though seems content to have a friend around, especially if he can buy a round or 5 from time to time.

Ultimately though the fact that a spy can’t just stop and not have a major organization behind them will catch up with Westen. His prospective employers from season 1 and 2 have not given up on keeping Westen in their fold. They are simply biding their time to re-enter his life when he is at his lowest and most needy point. And you can see it coming.

It seems highly likely that Brennan will be back yet again, and may be the final key to forcing Michael to submit to Management’s offer.

If the writing keeps the current pace and quality, I expect that the show will have 1 or 2 more seasons before the running plot just gets either too absurd, or repetitive. So if you haven’t had the time to watch the current season, I’d recommend looking out for the repeats. And if you can make the time, catch the first runs as they hit each week.

Guy's Choice Awards on Spike TV

I was watching the Guy’s Choice Awards on Spike TV on Sunday, when they had a presenter come on the show that just caught me off guard. It wasn’t the ladies, nor Mel Gibson on a horse. It wasn’t even watching Bruno take a vicious verbal jab at Jamie Foxx.

What threw me was the 13 year old boy. He was young to be at such an event. An event where sexual inferences were rampant. Where crude jokes, sometimes horribly in bad taste were in abundance.

Then I listened to the prepared speech he read off. In essence it covered nothing but boobs. Yes, just a conversation about breasts. In a crude and non-boyish manner. It was obvious that grown men thought it would be funny for this young boy to ramble on about the virtues of a woman’s breasts. And for a bonus, sure to drive home the laughs, they had him cursing every 4th word or so.

I for one saw no humor in this. I took no pleasure from the conversation, nor the vulgarity, that this child was spewing. And from the background silence, I believe the audience didn’t appreciate it either. In fact, not once while he was speaking did the camera pan to an audience member so much as chuckling. Likely because the room was aghast.

But I can’t blame Spike TV too much. They paid for this performance. They had a complete program that they knew would often test the boundaries of good taste. There was no question in their mind that they would fail the litmus test of decency at parts. Which this portion did with alarming assurance.

Still I have no belief that a television executive cares or can notice a boundary. Their only concern is drawing viewers, and thus gathering advertisement income. Controversy works just as well as quality programming; and in an industry searching for the lowest common denominator quality costs too much.

But what about the parents of this child (whose name escapes me)? Who in their right mind would allow such a young child to go on national television and parade with such vulgar words, matched only by the curses sprinkled generously around. It was a disgrace to watch.

I wonder who knew that this was going to happen. Considering how renown Gibson is about religion and his kids, I hope he did not. As I mentioned before the audience seemed to have no clue beforehand. So it may be just the writer’s and the executives.

Well I say to both of them, standards may have dropped over the years and the liberal sensibilities may reign in politics but I for one do not abide such an insult. There is no humor in disgracing a child. There is no joy in the display they presented.

And if they do it again, I will never watch their programs again. What about you?

Octomom plus 6

You know, I am really scared by the thought of Nadya Suleman (octomom) being in a television show. It seems to be the very definition of how unlike reality these “reality” programs can get.

Suleman is an attention whore. Which says nothing of the probabale damage she will bring to her children. If no damage has already been done, which is highly unlikely. The woman appears to be incapable of taking care of her children as is – and that’s just thinking of the 6 she already has.

But what is worse is the thought that untold thousands if not millions will be watching this woman self-destruct. Not that any television producer would ever step in for the sake of the kids. They will never get in the way of ratings just because decency obligates them to ensure the kids get the help they need. Jon & Kate Plus 8 has proven that in droves. Which matches the number of sadist people in the nation willing to watch the meltdown from the comfort of their couch.

Now I know I called the recent viewers of Jon & Kate Plus 8 sadists. Some will think this unfair and an overstatement. But it really isn’t. By definition a sadist enjoys inflicting pain on others. And by watching this family being assaulted by the tabloids, as well as having to deal with the stress that a 24/7 television crew looking over their shoulders brings. None of which can be argued as a benefit to the kids.

Thus in watching the show it prolongs the suffering, intensifies the paparazzi feeding frenzy, and justifies the tabloid actions. The Gosselin’s would never be plastered all over the national media were it not for viewers, and media looking to make a cheap buck. So think of how Suleman and her kid’s will be pimped, since they already are tabloid fodder.

I am no fan of “reality” programs. They are the scum at the bottom of the barrel that television creativity comes from. There is no benefit, no content, and nothing worth remembering. If grown adults want to make complete fools of themselves I have no objection. But we are not talking about adults, we are talking about an apparently emotionally impared mother, and 14 children. 8 of which are highly likely to have extreme medical and emotional problems.

Will that be the big ratings drive? Watching a mother who can barely control herself losing her mind on an infant that cannot do anything but be the product of bad medical procedures? Are we so morally corrupt as to think that this could ever be anything more than a depraved abuse of the children?

Personally, I plan on boycotting any advertiser that would ever consider supporting this program. There is no way of justifying this child abuse, least of all because someone hopes to make a buck out of this. Advertisers are as much of a pimp as the producers in this regard, and the prostitutes in this case are babies and children. I bet their mothers will be proud.

Ron White makes a move with Comedy Central

Good news for fans of comedian Ron White. For some time now White has been the least seen member of the Blue Collar Comedy troup. Which is a shame as the man is just funny.



It’s simple observational average joe funny. Unlike Larry the Cable Guy it does remain above elementary school intelligence, but White’s style is a far cry from say Dennis Miller or even the lightning pace of Dennis Leary. Though you can’t be surprised from a man who has a nickname of Tater Salad.

And in following his comedic style, with a uncharacteristic flurry of extra work, White will be launching a new comedy show on Comedy Central. A half-hour a week will be dedicated to The Ron White Show.

The exact nature of the show is still unknown. It will focus on stories about the American heartland. How that will happen is what boggles my mind. But I would expect that this will succeed, as have his specials.

So be prepared, the Tater Salad movie just might be down the road.

List of 25 thoughts on 2008 in review

In a year where the general mantra was change, 2008 lived up to the hype. Yes it's time to look back at the year and reflect on what surprised us, amazed us, disappointed, and angered. Here are some of the best and worst that I have noted about the year.

1. Senator Obama wins the Presidency - After facing rampant rumors and internet smear emails about his race, religion and plans for the nation, not to mention direct insults and racial attacks from the campaign of his now proposed Secretary of State, Senator Obama defied all the pundits and pollsters. With almost 10% of the nation admitting they would never vote for a Presidential candidate that was not White, and a mere 40 years after the Civil Rights Movement, Senator Obama broke through one of the highest and hardest glass ceilings in the nation. Many never expected to see the day a Black man became President. Nothing else could take first place in this year.

2. Amy Winehouse - She is still alive. I am incredibly amazed. She has been in more rehab and hospitals than Britney Spears, and that says a lot this year. I am sure there were odds in Vegas running almost 50/50 on her dying this year. It is merely the miracle of the human body in youth that seems to keep her going, not that she isn't pushing the limits.

3. The mortgage crisis - It started the year depressing the financial industry, raising up gold and commodities, and took out Bear Stearns. This of course gave us the quick action of Treasury Secretary Paulson, Barney Frank, and Fed chairman Bernanke. Thus it got much worse. As oil peaked at $160/barrel, gold topped $1100, mortgage foreclosures hit all-time highs, and home prices dropped across the nation the overseers just mentioned promised more action and the security of our institutions. Then Freddie Mac and Fannie Mac failed on cue. And as the scramble to fix the fix became more important it became an election issue. But not before we were told the sky was about to fall; it didn't but the stock market did. This then became...

4. The credit crisis - Money for everyone got scarce. New home purchases bogged down as banks said no to even highly qualified borrowers. Big businesses couldn't get loans, including Mc Donald's. The stock market continued down in a crash not seen in 2 generations. Banks failed at an unprecedented rate, brokerages became banks to get in on a bailout that HAD to happen. And the Government scooped up positions in private business, for our good, as they poured a trillion dollars into the economy. Which still has not stopped the overall downturn in the economy.

5. Heath Ledger, Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes, Buddy Dial, Jerry Groom, Janet Kagan, John Bliss, Julian Rathbone, Mike Smith, William F. Buckley, Jr., David Edwards, Buddy Miles, Genoa Keawe, Larry Norman, Richard Baer, Eagle Day, Dennis Letts, Stephen Marlowe, Steve Whitaker, Ben Chapman, Robin Moore, Bobby Lee Trammell, Jim Jones, Benigno G. Tabora, Jerry Karl, Bobby Lord, Johnny Weaver, Thurlow Cooper, Perry Lopez, Lionel Mark Smith, Roger Voisin, John Brunious, Preston Hanson, Freddie Bell, Steve Gerber, Roy Scheider, Robert DoQui, John Alvin, John Grimsley, Schoolboy Cleve, Kenny Konz, Winston Walls, Ken Hunt, Christopher Allport, Lance Clemons, Suzanne Pleshette, Bobby Fischer, Ernie Holmes, Allan Melvin, Brad Renfro, Johnny Grant, Brandi Borr, O.G. Style, Sean Levert, Heath Benedict, Chalmers Alford, Richard Widmark, Al Hofmann, Wayne Davis, G. David Low, Martin Fierro, Rafael Tufiño, Chuck Day, Gary Gygax, Ivan Caesar, Will Robinson, Paul Davis, Al Wilson, Orish Grinstead, VL Mike, John Marzano, Danny Federici, Sean Costello, Stanley Kamel, James Barrier, Gib Shanley, Charlton Heston, Ray Poole, Harvey Korman, Sydney Pollack, Tom McHale, Mitch Mullany, Camu Tao, Dick Martin, Michelle Meldrum, Zelma Henderson, Lloyd Moore, John Phillip Law, Heather Stohler, Dick Sutcliffe, Curtis Whitley, Eddy Arnold, Mildred Loving, Jim Hager, Don S. Davis, Dave Carpenter, Charles Dryden, John Furlong, George Carlin, Scott Kalitta, Mel Agee, Johnathan Goddard, Stan Winston, Mitch Frerotte, Jim McKay, Robert J. Anderson, Bo Diddley, Mel Ferrer, Luther Davis, Bruce Adler, Michael J. Daly, Joe Beck, Estelle Getty, Anastasia Blue, Paul Sorensen, Sherman Maxwell, Luke Kruytbosch, Bobby Murcer, Terrence Kiel, Larry Harmon, Phil Hill, Ed Vega, Kevin Duckworth, Steve Foley, Frank Cornish, Jeff MacKay, Jerry Finn, Julius Carry, LeRoi Moore, Pervis Jackson, Jack Kamen, Gary Mooney, Fujio Akatsuka, Paul Newman, Nappy Brown, Norman Whitfield, Joan Winston, Joey Giardello, Bill Meléndez, John Ripley, Estelle Reiner, Merl Saunders, Richard Blackwell, Dave McKenna, Chris Mims, Kevin Foster, Gidget Gein, DeWayne McKinney, Johnny "J", Robert Arthur, Doris Dungey, Derek Scott, MC Breed, Abraham Woods, Michael Crichton, Chris Thurston, Nathaniel Mayer, Tiffany Sloan, Shakir Stewart, Paul Benedict, Donna Stewart-Hardaway, Steve Bradley, Jimmy Anderson.

All passed away in 2008. Only Heath Ledger has been spoken about in any lasting and referential way.

6. The Shield ended is run on cable television. And so has The Riches in a move of network television cowardice (in my opinion). Leaving a serious void of realistic and/or quality programming.

7. American Idol continues to be on television. Creating a lasting void in the minds of viewers.

8. Top movies of the year starts with Batman: The Dark Knight. Which proves that hype and bad writing can make money. This is followed by Iron Man (a massively better movie), Indiana Jones 4, Hancock, Wall-E, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar 2, Horton Hears a Who, Sex in the City, and Quantum of Solace.

Considering the top 10 grossing films, you would think the nation loves kid films that are animated or movies based on long-running comic book characters. The exception being sluts and a guy with an accent and lots of violence. And you would be right.

9. The continuous flood of television shows that were successful (and better) on the BBC, that have now been Americanized and appear on U.S. channels (notably NBC). Generally these converted shows fail within a few episodes.

10. The massive blogosphere controversy over Ben Stiller's film Tropic Thunder failed to ignite onto the streets when the film came out in theaters. This is likely due to the failure of the film as anything watchable. But the controversy continues to this day.

11. The massive number of films that are 'revisioned' copies of comic books, television shows, and books astounds the mind. 70 % of the top 10 movies are either a sequel, comic book conversion, television show and/or a combination of these. The sheer number of copies for the entire year is to high to count, especially if you add in video game conversions to the mix. Witting in Hollywood seems to be completely dead.

12. The absolute joy of the media and many White Americans at the thought, and then celebration of the OJ Simpson Las Vegas trial and conviction. Never mind the dubious nature of how the crime was setup, nor the quirky way the trial went. It could only be justice if OJ went to jail for a long time, which was a given the day he was arrested. Not to mention the guy where justice just evaporated and the media just passed it over.

13. The unmitigated bias and propaganda of the news media in promoting President-elect Obama throughout the election cycle. Never before has the media so blatantly given up its obligation to provide the truth without bias to the public. It wasn't yellow journalism, but it wasn't beneficial either.

14. The amazement of how the media continues to depict video games as inciting violence in children, while playing down events like the collapse of a boy because his father could not bother to check in on him for 20 hours. It's not the games any more than it's music or movies or cartoons. It's the lack of parents doing their jobs.

15. The belief of some that racism has ended because President-elect Obama won. This flies in the face of police actions this year, stereotypes in the media, events in the nation, and long-held views that were reflected in polls. Or did we forget Lindsey Lohan already (which is understandable).

16. Guns n' Roses Chinese Democracy finally made it out to fans. Considering it took well over a decade to get done you might have expected it to be a masterpiece - it isn't. Still it did get it's share of media attention mostly due to Dr. Pepper.

17. Hanoi Jane Fonda announced she is again trying to forget what she did in the past.

18. Even amid all the economic chaos many continued to make charitable donations. Some from the most unexpected sources. And sometimes the media just wants to throw garbage at such actions. Still giving is a great thing and especially in these difficult times.

19. Internet scams continue to be on the internet, and many are gaining steam. From fake IRS stimulus checks to going after the grandparents little is left to chance. Considering the information on the net you would expect these frauds to fail completely. Yet they are still out their. And more than a few are snake oil salesmen that do to well with incredible claims that only harm those they claim to help.

20. We all continue to remember Sept 11, 2001. And I hope we never forget or diminish what happened that day. Or how we came together as a nation in the weeks afterward.

21. The Olympics were a time of great unity in the world. And at the same time some nation chose this moment to show how backwards they can still be in the 21st century.

22. And the media continued to seek out ways to portray African Americans as poorly as possible. While at the same time ignoring the obvious racially motivated actions of institutions against Blacks.

23. Several black celebrities were able to get some extra media this year though. Some were for accidents that occurred (and the media sought to mine controversy out of tragedy). Some were for their rising stars as they continued to gain acclaim they deserved. And a few were just selling out just a bit more before their media inspired hype ends.

24. We had a moment where the Government almost did something important. But instead settled for something notable and that went unreported. Because how important could an apology for slavery really be? Besides important enough that no one wanted their names on it, yea or nea.

25. There were many cotroversies throughout the year. Some for silly items and some were quite serious.

26. And along the way some learned a few new things about this nation that they never knew before.

These are just some of the things in the year that I noticed. I am sure I missed a few things, or had an interpertation some disagreed with. There were events I didn't mention, or didn't convey in this list. And I really haven't mentioned one thing that I find personally quite important.

One of the most important things in 2008 was the continued and growing attention you my visitors have provided to my blogs and sites. Without the attention and input from all your voices in over 125 nations each month, I would be working in vain. And for that I want to thank you.

I continue my promise to let you know my thoughts on issues and events that I believe are important, and sometimes just silly, that catch my eye. I will work hard to respond to each comment and email that comes from you. I will endeavour to provide the quality of writing and attention to detail you have come to expect.

2008 has been a good year for the growth of my blogs and sites, but I realize that it only happens because of you.

So I end this review of 2008 with this thought. No matter the economic environment, the events of the day, we all can achieve success if we work hard and maintain a high level of quality. You have proven that for me, and if I can do it I am sure you my readers can do even more.

Leverage on BBC, I mean TNT network

Another new program on TNT tonight was the new series Leverage. The show is a drama action mix. And it is essentially a copy of a British program that covers exactly the same ground.

Yes, Hollywood writers have proven themselves to be consistent and clueless yet again. The concept of originality has gone out the window. Because the name of the program this American version copies is called Hustle.

Yes it is almost exactly the same. Conmen (and women) with various specialities work together to take on bad people with lots of money and minor morality. Take out the accents, change the locations, replace a man with a woman, and make the leader an ex-lawman with a heart of gold and a need for a rush and you have Leverage.

That all said about the lack of originality, the question is if this copy is like Life On Mars and The Office, or like Coupling. And in each of these I mean the American remake of the BBC hit television series. Well from the first episode we get the answer of The Office.

Timothy Hutton is interesting as the cop gone bad for a good reason. Revenge for his son that died because of insurance company greed. This character is pivotal in not making this a 'crime is good' show. And he is believable as the guy in charge and trying to manage the greatest good.

And a tip of the hat to 2 key members of the cast.

Gina Bellman plays Sophie. Bellman is know best to most US and UK viewers for her work in the hit series Coupling (British version). Her work in Leverage is not too far from her role as Jane. She is a grifter that uses her sex appeal to make the con work. Obviously producers realized they should give some kind of attention to the fact they were ripping of BBC yet again, and she adds a nice flair to the program.

Christian Kane is back on American series work. Fans of the show Angel will remember him as the ambitious evil lawyer (is there another kind) Lindsey McDonald. Since the end of Angel he hasn't been seen much, but he fills in the morally ambigous nature that Leverage needs. And he does tend to fit the muscle man role well too.

Beyond that the cast is mostly unnotable. In fact It is highly likely that this series will fail after a season or 2. The problem I see is 3-fold, and not the fault of the actors.

The first problem will be the writers. Hollywood these days is uninspired and lazy. As such it is highly likely that scripts from Hustle will be reworked for American audiences. And as consistent with such copies, the translation rarely works.

The second issue is that since there are 2 women and 3 men there must be a love interest in the show. Already we have seen in the premiere that Timothy Hutton and Gina Bellman have a dubious past. That will likely need to be expanded on, and old-flames will rekindle. To the detriment of the show. Any other pairing will also likely detract from the ongoing theme of the series (expect that other paring to be the other female and Kane).

The last problem will very likely be cost of locations. Since this is an American show that targets rich and greedy Americans they will have to travel to spots known for the rich and greedy. That means shooting in L.A., New York, Miami, Las Vegas and a few other mmajor cities (D.C. is sure to be on the list). That means big money. And unless the show is a blowout hit, which I think unlikely, they can't afford that.

So many of the locations will be highly generalized. And that will detract from the appeal of the show. Not that the cast, and in this case the writers, can do anything about that. You just can't write away glitz that is expected to be seen.

I hope the series does develop into something good. I like most of the cast, and the original show was quite good. I just fear the ability of Hollywood writers today. We shall see if Tuesdays regular timeslot episode will match up to the high bar that Sunday's premiere created.

The Librarian: Quest for the Judas Chalice

So tonight was the 3rd installment of the Librarian series on TNT Network. The series stars Noah Wyle as the titular character, essentially the foremost uber-nerd. His character is the vessel of facts both obscure and pertinant as documented throughout written history. And he is our vehicle to plumb the truth of many of the legends we have all heard of, to some degree.

The start of the program takes us through a very specific path through the prior 2 features. It focuses mainly on the first adventure, and the assistant to the Librarian Nicole. I found that interesting to note since the female lead in the 2nd feature was about as emaciated as fish after a cat has gotten thru with it. Seriously, all I could think about when that actress was on the screen was how anorexia is so pervasive and acceptable in Hollywood.

But focusing on this new story we find that our near hapless hero is stressed out. He can't keep a single girlfriend for more than 6 months, and its driving him mad. Or at least highly unfulfilled. And so he needs to take a vacation.

This program being what it is, the mystical and legendary take a strong role in what we learn of. Thus it is a vision of a woman calling for our hero that determines where he will vacation. And many is the guy (or woman) that wishes the person of their dreams would lead them on a vacation.

This then takes our adventure to New Orleans. The plot from this point takes it's cues from various Anne Rice and other similar pop culture on vampires.

The real question is if this entire television movie is worth the time to see it. And the answer is both yes and no. The majority of the program is enjoyable enough. Wyle is a good actor and his portrayal is humorous and likeable. At this point in the series though his character is both terribly naive and more than a bit gullible. You have to wonder, and as Bob Newhart's character notes, does he realize where he is work?

The location shots are nice. The plot is thin if not constantly in motion so as to hide the plot holes as much as possible. And the acting of all the other characters is par in general. Were this a movie in a theater it just wouldn't do, but for the small screen it's better than most offerings.

But the main problem the series has had is the casting of the female leads and love interest. For me I have to wonder why they have run from the attractive, interesting, and feminine Nicole character to generally women that look like they are suffering from starvation. Even the vampiress is woefully in need of a cheeseburger. For a woman that was born some 400 years ago, a time when only the poorest of peasant women were so thin, you wonder why a vampire would pick her as a victim.

Of course the series further developed the storyline of the purpose of the Librarian, the battle of good and evil it represents, and the boss of the librarian. This means that barring all the actresses in Hollywood going to a McDonald's and eating a burger - and thus being incapable of performing - there will be a 4th telemovie.

Perhaps in this next movie we will finally see the uber-geek get and keep a girl. Perhaps the Librarian will finally come to full terms with his job and the oddities that exist in the world. I mean he does practice swordsmanship with a floating self-aware Excaliber.

In all, I found Quest for the Judas Chalice to be a fair program. It was not on par with the first and marginally better than the second. IF the series further devolves it won't make it past a 4th. Which would be a shame as it has the potential to be a quasi-mystical geek version of James Bond. But if you see it on TNT and there isn't a copy of one of the Jason Bourne movies, or Die Hard, or so on take a look.

And The Shield ends

Tonight was the end of The Shield. There are a lot of things that can be said about the episode, far too many, but it’s too soon to say many of them I think. It would be unfair to comment as I think those that missed the episode will be looking forward to Tivo or a rerun that is sure to happen this weekend.

What I will say is the ending is unlike what you might expect, and far more conclusive than say the end of the Sopranos.

Beyond that I want to reflect on the series in general. It has been a tour de force in drama and an example of what can be done on cable television. It has expanded the formerly rote cop drama into something far more powerful and watchable. And that has to do with the reality the program brought to us.

For once we got a cop show that had a precinct that reflected the neighborhood in which it was situated. Unlike even Law & Order, which is diverse, but isolated as well with its focus on a handful of stars. Because this show had several major characters that were of color, police officers and not just primarily the criminals, and at levels of authority.

Perhaps for the first time, if ever on television, we were introduced to police officers that were White and corrupt. We saw a side of the police force that was real, if only a small portion in the real world. And I would bet that there are some in the nation that never bothered to watch the show just because they could not believe in a dishonest police, especially when they are White.

But honestly it wasn’t the race of any person on the show that mattered. It’s important because before this program there was the constant quota system of Hollywood, 1 person of color – normally a secondary character – and 1 woman. But after this show started there seemed to be a plethora of shows on cable that recognized that the world is populated by more than an overabundance of White men. So that is one thing that kept me coming back.

And the show hit on issues that no one touched before in a meaningful way. A gay Black cop, an Hispanic cop that has ambitions for political gain, a Black woman detective seeking the recognition of her years of work, a female cop that wanted to be taken seriously just for her abilities. And that was just in the first season. And only scratching the complexities of the characters at that.

That’s why we all tuned in week after week. Because the raw and honest interaction made sense. There was no quick answers, no ultimate resolutions at the end of a weekly hour-long episode. There were no absolute lines of right and wrong. And only in a place so real could a guy like Mackey thrive.

Well maybe not thrive. Because he is never off his guard. Never safe and happy. Never without a need to look over his back, or to make sure that he has everyone fearing for their private secrets he might expose. And all of that ate away at the man who had the plan.

Vic Mackey is real. He exists in police departments across the nation. And he is a hero, at times. Mostly because it serves his need. Mostly because it give him the freedom to move in the shadows and cracks that always exist in a job that deals with the worst of any society.

I liked this show because it was never safe. Cops got killed. People were betrayed. Tragedies happened at horrible times. And Near perfect plans blew up in people’s faces. It was more of a reality program than American Idol or Survivor, or any of those silly shows ever could be in their best moments.

Am I sad to see the program end? Yes. Do I think Vic Mackey needs to be in jail? It depends on the day and what he has just done. Because he is as much a cure as a poison to the community. Though his need to survive his own machinations makes him ever so much more lethal.

I will miss the honesty, and complexity of this program. I will miss seeing Michael Chiklis weave his emotions and intensity. I will miss the gray that seems to fail to be reflected in all the shows about the legal system supposedly based in reality. But if you missed the season end of the show I suggest you get a copy. Because it’s worth every minute. And the ending is just what I would expect, though I never expected it beforehand.

50 cent sell a new opiate to the masses

So Curtis Jackson will be getting a television show on MTV. Viacom must be drooling. The executives there must salivate inbetween laughter at the thought that a ex-convict, crack drug dealer, making them money legally. It’s such a dumb idea that it probably will work.

50 cent, will have a program on MTV where people will compete in a business oriented reality program. Now my initial thoughts are these



Expanding on that thought I wonder what the competitions on this program will be. Who can take the biggest drag on a crack pipe? Who can stand longer after being shot? Who can run from the police on foot the fastest?

Perhaps I’m being too harsh. This high school dropout might actually be smarter than the things he has done in the past. He might have taken time in prison to educate himself. But I doubt it.

I obviously have a problem with unrepentant drug dealers that are glorified and promoted by corporations that wish to profit off of the worst aspects of the Black community. I dislike the fact that this sell-out will get pennies on the dollar to showcase a program where other people (inevitably mostly Black I assume) will run around looking foolish to make even fewer pennies on the dollar – if they win – all for the amusement and benefit of Sumner Redstone, Viacom, and such.

Think about it. In the 1970’s it became impossible for these people to make money degrading Blacks publicly. In the 1990’s they saw and developed the ability to continue to disenfranchise and minimize Blacks via a medium that was already there, rap. They created and promoted gangsta rap, using the worst representation of the Black community – drug dealers. In effect they now have Black minstrels that go out and say words (especially the n-word) that they can’t say for fear of lawsuits, and rap in money while watching music videos that allow them to envision their greatest fetishes.

Am I against 50 cent having a show on MTV, BET, or any cable or television channel? Unless it’s a program where he is promoting people getting cleans and sober, or having drug dealers apologize for the death and pain they create, no I don’t. Because anything else is the blatant attempt to profit off of his infamy and usability.

In 5 years Curtis Jackson will likely be a fleeting thought. He will likely be relegated to some top 40 playlist when radio stations revisit the past hits. He’ll pop up on a VH1 remembering the 2000 program. But likely that will be it. Because he is not memorable. He is not unique. He is barely capable of being called an artist. And with his loss of fame will go his money, I’m sure.

But until his 15 minutes are up, after he has been milked for every dime he can squeeze out of young White teens in the suburbs and the Black community, he will be dropped as fast as every other rapper you can’t name from the past decade that was once the top.

If you see this program on MTV - 50 Cent: The Money and the Power – know that you are filling the coffers of men that collect money for the buffoonery of 50 cent. If you watch this know that you are spitting on the graves of crackheads that died so that Curtis Jackson could wear the latest trend in clothing at one point in his life. Because every dollar and dime that goes to anything with 50 cent is another dagger in the backs of people Curtis Jackson poisoned and never looked back on.

But if you disagree, if you have a reason I (or anyone) should see this show, please let me know. I’d love to hear that argument.

The Riches - gone but not forgotten

Sometimes you watch television because you need background noise. In fact I think most of the programs on television these days are design just to provide that, unless you know of a deep social commentary being provided by American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. But occasionally there is the rare standout. A program that entertains and stimulates you mind in some manner.

FX Network has gone a long way to provide some of that standout television fare. They have strived to create original programming that is realistic, and intelligent, and above all else watchable. The Shield is one of their most noteworthy original programs, but they also have Dennis Leary’s Rescue Me and the short run Thief to their claim. And they had The Riches. Notice I said had.

In a move that boggles the mind and seems like a bit of a flim-flam FX has decided to cancel The Riches. And I just don’t get it. The program was unique, well acted, and well written. There are only a handful of television shows across all 500 channels that you can say the same things for. I have to imagine that some of the uber-brilliant minds for the SciFi channel recently jumped ship to FX.

Now FX Network has said the ratings were poor. Which might be true. Except when you think of reality. Back in the 1970’s a hit show like Happy Days or M.A.S.H. easily could gather 20 or 30% or more of the national television viewers. Of course there were only 3 television stations providing shows then (yes in the world before cable there were just 3 national channels). Up until the 1980 when FOX created it’s upstart channel it was a 3 way race.

But once FOX became number 4, and then cable networks decided to grab a slice of the pie, everything changed. A hit program went from dominating the nation, to just being lucky to have double digit viewers. The combination of viewers watching Seinfeld and Friends (on a good night) might just match those that watched the Brady Bunch (on average during it’s original run).

Suffice to say that ratings are not what they used to be. And FX is good, but it’s hardly the only or main go to channel in a sea of channels competing for a sliver of attention. So the fact that The Riches did not hit the bleachers in 2 years means nothing to me. Most programs these days don’t gather a following until year 3 or so. Look at Cheers, or Farscape, or House or anything that has become a hit since 1995.

I think FX has made a horrible mistake. Minnie Driver has been solid and believable in her role as Dahlia, the mother of the show. Eddie Izzard has made a remarkable standout performance. His work in standup, and bit roles in movies like Ocean’s 12 and 13, gave no hint that he was capable of the performance he has made as the father, Wayne. I would put their performances against every other program on television today, and guarantee it will catch eyeballs and isn’t that what the networks really care about?

The Riches did not fail, I think the FX Network executives have. And if FX replaces this program with some sappy sitcom, or ill-conceived remake, or a poorly written lawyer drama I’ll be pissed. If they touch on any kind of ‘reality’ television programming I’ll never watch the station again. FX Network has set the bar high for themselves, and if they can’t match the caliber The Riches, Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard hit they just shot themselves in the foot. Because bait-and-switch doesn’t work in television programming.

Eureka! murders main character and love is in the air

Well when Eureka! says they will be removing a main character of the show they really don’t lie.

Long-time readers know that I am a major sci-fi fan. That does not normally translate into any desire to watch the D-grade revisioned 1950’s monster movies (or 1970’s natural disaster, or recent and far infereior remakes of current scifi flop movies) that populate the Sci-Fi channel; when it’s not pushing non-science fiction programs like wrestling or Scare Tactics. My dislike of the channel reached a peak after they abruptly ended the Farscape series, and lied to the public about the whole thing. No I still haven’t forgotten what they did.

But 3 seasons ago I gave the channel a chance with a new show called Eureka! I’ve written a bit about it, and I recommend the show. It’s humorous, not to techy, nor geeky – those those elements play into the program strongly.

Now in the beginning of season 2 they really too fans on a loop. In an almost J.R. Ewing-esque episode we got to see a future Eureka that had life going almost idealicly for most of the main characters. In fact Sheriff Carter and Dr. Blake expecting a child, Henry doing well with his love interest Kim, Zoey graduating valedictorian, Deputy Lupo romantically involved with Matt Frewer’s scientist of nature character (I can’t recall his name), and Dr. Blake’s son cured of his connection with the Entity and his autism.

By the end of that episode all the characters were reverted to a much different world, where almost all of those eventualities were impossible, and only Henry was left with a memory of it. Thus the drama of the 2nd season.

But one major loophole was the fact that the relationship between Dr. Blake and Sherrif Carter was never resolved. Tonight they started that resolution.

**spoilers will result if you read further**

Not only did this episode take care of the impending marriage of Dr. Stark it opened the door for Carter. It introduced another new character to the series, ‘Stretch’ the sister of Carter. And it deepened the mystery of what the new overseer, whatever the her name is (I’ll call her the shark til I remember).

Done in a style reminiscent of Groundhog Day, Carter is reliving the same 10 hours of Dr. Blake and Stark's wedding day. Except he remembers each loop, and as the days advance he is injured by the restart. And he has to go through the anguish of watching Dr. Blake marry Stark several times. Each time the day restarts right after Henry mentions that ‘love is eternal, and if anyone has an objection speak now or forever hold your tongue' while looking over at Carter.

It’s pretty funny watching Carter trying to convince everyone that time is looping, and knowing their reactions before they even speak at points. The best part is when he decides to give Dr. Blake a kiss to see if that would fix things (on the basis of his sister’s suggestion). It didn’t, but it did provide a nice insight to the fact she has been conflicted about the marriage for several episodes and has deep feelings for Carter.

The source of this is a guy in GD running his own experiment with light and time. Again. But in trying to fix the problem takes 2 lives. The time management scientist and Stark.

Stark, convinced in a different loop by Carter singing a memorized scientific theorem, is working on a fix before the next restart as it would result in the death of everyone. At the critical moment, an automatated piece breaks down requiring a person to set of the device to fix the timeline. Sheriff Carter volunteers, but has insufficient knowledge to run the device. Fargo, who had been working with Stark and was the only other person aware of the full ramifications, volunteered. Stark compliments him for his self-less guesture and then takes the critical role.

Just before the device gets triggered he asks Carter, by first name which he has never called him, to take care of Allison (Dr. Blake) for him because she will need it. Obviously he knows that fixed or not he won’t be around to brag, get married, or anything.

And when he does fade away in a mass of photons and gas he has the usual smarmy look on his face that is his penchant.

Carter then proceeds to the wedding grounds (for the 4th or 5th time) and this time the loop has been closed. He walks up to Allison and as she realizes the seriousness of the situation lays down crying, with him beside her.

Most series would only permanently kill off a character if there was some kind of major issue on the set or a pay conflict. Neither were rumored that I am aware of. So this may not be as permanent a death as it seems. Eureka is the home of the most brilliant minds after all, and several people have been brought back from apparent death before.

What might be most interesting is if the relationship between Carter and Dr. Blake grows as it had in the alternate future, and then Stark reappears to drive Carter nuts. That would be just like Stark too.

Overall it was a good, touching and at a couple of points funny episode. The series has matured well, and other than the inclusion of Zane (the new love interest of Deputy Lupo I don’t like) all the characters work well together.

But I wonder what the device is in the field, giving off all the odd radiation, in the shape of an O.G.R.E. (if you are familiar with Steve Jackson Games G.E.V. you will be familiar with that) and was responsible for an explosion like a nuclear bomb? My guess is that it is an O.G.R.E. – mach 1 – and the shark is trying to dig it up to try to use it’s circuitry for a business advantage. To bad it still is functional and has it’s own mind on what it wants to do.

Just my guess.

Speaking of prostitution...

While the focus of New York, and perhaps the nation, is turned towards former-Governor Eliot Spitzer there is some other news on a famous (or infamous) john. Lesser know for his strong political views, Danny Bonaduce, had some news of his own today.

Now there is no question that Bonaduce is less than perfect. In fact he is a prime example of how child stars can go very wrong in their lives. A fact that he has always been one of the first to admit. But in recent years he has made strong efforts to improve his life, getting clean and sober, and avoiding the pitfalls his fame allowed him to fall into often.

But while scandal is no stranger to Bonaduce, his most recent claim to fame is not really his fault in my opinion. You may not recall the event I’m speaking of, since it occurred on the ‘reality’ cable television network. So for those of you unfamiliar here is the video.



Because of this event, Bonaduce is currently being sued. Now I don’t think there is a case here. The guy at the mike called a somewhat inebriated (apparently) Danny Bonaduce over as he was going to leave, jumped on him, and started to gyrate on him. Were I in the same situation I’d have done the same thing.

No malice was intended, no plan that I could see. The outcome could not be predicted. And the guy started the problem by legally assaulting Bonaduce. Why is there a lawsuit? Why is Superior Court Judge Michael C. Solner even bothering with this?

Unlike some politicians, Danny Bonaduce has never denied the ill-formed ideas he has had. He has suffered the consequences of these actions, personally and professionally. He is without question an example of what not to do in Hollywood.

But if there is a choice between Bonaduce and Eliot Spitzer for who deserves to be punished by law, I think there should be no question. Yet there is a good chance that Spitzer may walk away from this current scandal and crimes without serious penalty. Or so the pundits are stating the rumors have said.

Sometimes things just don’t make sense to me.

Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman to return to cable television - 2.20.2008.1

Ok, time to re-focus. As is obvious I have been spending a huge amount of time on the Presidential election of late. From my I Love America That’s Why I Vote! campaign to the multiple posts on all the candidates and vote results [all found at VASS] I have expressed by belief that this election will critically impact all Americans. To that end I am promoting voter registration, and following everything about the candidates.

But, I have not forgotten the core purpose of this blog. So let me get back to those basics.

The first thing I want to touch on is Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman. He is getting back on cable television. Roughly 4 months after his tirade of the N-word and his, in my opinion, pathetic ‘save my job’ apology he will be going back to work.

The A&E cable network has stated

"Since the premise of "Dog The Bounty Hunter" is about second chances - we have decided to give him one."

That’s a load of crap. Lest I misunderstand the program, which I admit to having never seen more than 30 seconds of, it is the reality-styled coverage of a bounty hunter capturing fugitives from the law and forcing them to face the legal system. There is no second chance but forced responsibility. A responsibility that I feel ‘Dog’ Chapman has sought to avoid. And A&E is going to reward that evasion.

When the story first broke I stated

“The mindset that allows the use of the N-word and other disparaging terms against people of color is the issue. It’s that mindset that is angering. He isn’t upset with the words he uses, he is angry if others find out he uses these words. He knows he’s wrong, and doesn’t care.

That is racist. To cowardly use terms to disparage and degrade people, but not be willing to let anyone of the race in question to hear it is racist. Add to this that in the presence of his minister of 7 years, who is Black, he would not use this term but has no problem saying other curses in front of him adds to his deception. He is more than just racist; he is the hidden racist that acts in secret, in a way similar to the KKK.”

Obviously I did not accept the apology made to gain public sympathy. I did not accept his faulty reasoning. I did not excuse his actions. I still don’t to this day.

But I also stated that he should not lose his job. My reason for this has nothing to do with Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman and everything to do with the First Amendment and the fact that it was a private conversation that was made public without his knowledge. It is those factors alone that prevent me from decrying the actions of A&E.

But that does not mean I will support his return.

I hope this program fails miserably. In fact I would suggest that if you did watch this program you discontinue to do so. A message needs to be made, and diminutive ratings would be a nice step in that direction.

I will say it again, I think Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman is a racist. He is the sort of racist of the worst type. One that would smile in the face of an African American – like his preacher of 7 years – and them stab them in the back when no one is looking (and Mexicans and women as well). He is a cowardly racist that deserves no sympathy for his actions.

Let him go back to work. He was duped into being recorded without knowledge. That is a low blow. But his own admissions on national television (speaking with Hannity of the Fox News program Hannity & Colmes) were that this word and other defamitory demeaning comments were used by his cast and co-workers regularly. Thus the failure of his program would be apt justice.

The N-word is not a common plesantry. It’s not a term that is positive for any group of people to use. It promotes the perception that far to many in America are ready to support, that African Americans are lazy, ignorant, repugnant less than human creatures. That is the impression that the N-word has meant for centuries, and it has not changed as ‘Dog’ Chapan so clearly proved.

A&E is counting on the fact that Americans, of all colors, have short memeories. ‘Dog’ Chapman is counting on the same thing. This blog, and I, do not forget easily the use of a word that is meant to equate my family, friends and myself as less than feces.

So the question is do you?

Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA Part 3 - 8.13.2007.4

Submitted from Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA Part 2...

I want to mention something for Mr. Williams, it’s an old saying. A mind that must use a vulgarity to express something where words are common and available is a small mind. Words are merely the vocalization of thought, and those small words reflect a small closed mind.

I would also like to remind Mr. Williams something else. Being a bit older than I think he is I actually remember what rap music was when it first started, when it first got placed on albums (vinyl not a CD or cassette tape), and when MTV created the concept of a music video. I can say based on growing up and watching the phases rap music has gone through, that Mr. Williams seems to have no idea what rap music intended or was capable of.

If you want to know what rap music was about, listen to Grand Master Flash and the Furious 5. If you want to know what rap music is capable of being, listen to Public Enemy or KRS-One. To say that the mindless, money-grubbing, record company driven, commoditized, lateral sales targeted, repetitive, lyrical vomit that is gansta rap (originally a mere sub-genre of rap pre-1992) today is all that rap can attain is both narrow-minded and insulting.

But staying focused on my original point, this Public Service Announcement that Black Entertainment Television has on its cable network airwaves sickens me.

Now I know some may read this and say, ‘well you just don’t get it. You aren’t Black enough. You are too busy trying to be White.’

Time to wake up and stop hiding from the truth. I was born in the Bronx with a tan that never fades, summer or winter, in the sun or not. My color of skin is dark enough to have gotten me lynched in the 1600’s, the 1800’s, and in 1965. I have been called N-word too many times to count, and as recently as 2 weeks ago. That wasn’t the rose colored glasses view of a salutation some hope it is, but meant as the word is defined.

I’m Black enough to have been denied jobs, and have women held their purses tight in an elevator. I’m Black enough to have police draw guns on me for a simple traffic stop. I’m Black enough to watch some people smirk and deny that I own a business, just because they don’t.

If the fact that I earned my education instead of buying the latest overpriced sneaker offends, be offended. If the fact that I have never been to jail and prefer to wear suits as opposed to platinum teeth intimidates weaker minds, be intimidated. If I use a vocabulary that doesn’t include words found on a rap album, don’t feel bad because they are the same words that the executives that own the record company you are funding use everyday.

So perhaps someone who has been around long enough to know what things were like before the internet, and gangsta rap, can be Black. And that same person can see when a television network is using the people it claims to serve. It’s not a unique vision. But as long as some cow-tow and praise actions that degrade the people it supposedly represents, things won’t get better.

Here is perhaps the most obvious point on how “classic” or “ironically positive” this PSA may be. Every other network, especially the national broadcast television networks, will not play this PSA. Viacom, which owns BET, won’t play this PSA on any of its other channels. This isn’t quiet because it won’t be played; it isn’t being played because of the embarrassment and insult it is.

If that isn’t an example of exploitation and insult, I can’t wait to hear what is.

This is what I think; I want to hear what you think.

Discussing the Spike TV show Kill Point - 7.29.2007.1

I’m not sure how many people were able to see the new cable television show on Spike TV. I like the programs that Spike has made so far, they have good plots, quality production and a diversity that most any other show on television today seems to ignore. Actually the same can be said of FX as well. But this new show really caught my attention.

The show is called The Kill Point. A drama with a lot of tension. Essentially we get to see both sides of a hostage situation. One point of view is held by Mr. John Leguizamo, leader of the would-be bank robbers and hostage takers. The key negotiator for the police is Mr. Donnie Wahlberg. Much of the tension is the manner in which both of these men are making plans to outwit the other and confront each other. Luckily for the hostages, neither man wants harm them. Yet they are the currency that both are using to get the goals before them.

In the introduction to the program things happen quickly. The bank robbery that starts everything is near perfect in execution. Were it not for the efforts of a zealous FBI agent, there would be no story. But her interruption as the robbers leave the bank quickly brings about a gun battle the equal to that of many war movies or scenes from Baghdad. With little delay we find that the robbers include a medic, are accustomed to working scenarios on the fly, and are determined.

We meet our police officers shortly afterwards and the game of chess begins. The robbers need to keep hostages, especially a computer savvy boy and a daughter of a wealthy businessman, while devising a unique plan that will allow them to escape. The police are battling poor decisions from higher ups, little information and the preservation of as many lives as possible.

In between we get to have a bit of current day politics thrown in. You cannot miss the point, and in one scene it thrown down our throats. Of course this is done by Mr. Wolf to gain sympathy from the public, and not an altruistic end. Not that if he were to have that portion of his demands met, along with freedom for him and his men, he wouldn’t be happy.

While this is not a unique storyline, there are elements that separate this program from the others. The would-be bank robbers are all Marines, from the same unit that saw serious fighting in Iraq. Most have seen multiple tours. All are completely loyal to Mr. Wolf, the man responsible for saving their lives, scarred from multiple battles and dishonorably discharged for not taking his men into a battle that would have killed them all. The men are all played as efficient, capable soldiers, who are morally against hurting the hostages, or the police. Yet each has sworn to die rather than go to jail.

For the police we have a lead negotiator that is obsessed with proper grammar in speech and writing. The man is sharp and his obsession (which borders on OCD) plays well for a job title where the nuances of language are critical. It also adds a nice counter point to the tension while not breaking from the storyline.

There are a few wildcards in the program as well. Several members that were in Iraq as well are banding together to help out their besieged comrades. This is something neither the police nor the trapped robbers are aware of. The introduction of the FBI, and politics in the form of the Mayor’s office are other flags in the wind. Not to mention a possible deal with the business tycoon.

As I mentioned earlier, the show is diversified. Unlike the usual solitary non-white character found in broadcast programming, this show has a wide range of ethnicities. It reflects the variations in the military and our cities. It’s a nice touch and adds to the realism of the program. From the hostages, to the police, to the bank robbers there is a mix that makes sense and goes beyond the typical Latino gangmember, poor Black drug addict, and other such demeaning stereotypes.

The acting is better than average and I think this is one of Mr. Leguizamo’s better performances. I feel he has been underrated for some time. Perhaps this show will be the thing he needs to get the upper tier of opportunities. Equally on point is Mr. Wahlberg.

I’m not sure how many episodes there will be, I can’t see this going on to a second season due to the nature of the premise. Given that, I suggest watching this and taking it all in while you can. Good intelligent and entertaining television is hard to find these days.