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This blog is the work of an educated civilian, not of an expert in the fields discussed.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

TV Stuff

And Also: While the NY Senate continues to look like a circus, some serious electoral business is going on in Iran. Limited discretion they might have, but this is more proof that Iran's complex public life warrants a lot more respect than some give. The new Pelham movie looks like an overdone re-tread, but this answers my old question of why the 6 train is going to South Ferry in the original.


She's bubbly and beaming, high-volume, with a flip of dark hair and a face like a lollipop. She irks as she endears, bemuses as she bewitches. She's a bundle of energetic contradictions, bursting here, retracting there. Her expressions blink and change like a neon sign. Her eyes are popping globes. And she just sold you a bunch of car insurance.

Count me a fan of the Progressive spokeswoman -- she is about as animated as that insurance gal. Also, didn't think "gay" when watching this ad. Live Nude Girls Unite! is on Free Speech TV. I liked it when it came out in the movies. Lots of haters of the characters having trouble in Army Wives over at IMDB, even of the daughter who lost her sister to murder.

Harsh! Even Keith O. thought David Letterman was too harsh when he had a top ten list that referenced Gov. Palin's slutty stewardess look, but jokes about Bristol and Eliot Spitzer and A-Rod didn't help. Letterman had one of his amusing extended talks at his desk over the matter. He made clear to the Palins that he was not talking about their younger daughter -- obviously, since reference to pregnancy concerned the person who was pregnant, and is now an adult.

Overall, Dave is too crude with his jokes at times (recall his "foreign cab drivers are smelly" jokes), but misconstruing what he said is not the way to fight them.* I also caught part of his recent interview with Julie Roberts on YouTube ... I am not always a big fan of hers, but she has had some great interviews. Clearly they hit it off, and it shows. Meanwhile, of what I saw of Stephen Colbert in Iraq, not some of his best material. His bit on Don't Ask, Don't Tell was notable for him doing it, but it wasn't really that good. Heart is in right place though.

With new shows coming up on cable and all, the usual summer lows are not quite as much in evidence these days.

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* Over at TPM, the general sentiment is that he crossed the line. But, I think this person has a point (see also later comment). Still, the "slut" and references to her daughter (any one) was ill advised at best. Dave -- as suggested -- did not really take the whole thing seriously ("hey, they are just jokes"), but maybe should have. Sarah Palin really does not need to look like a victim, does she? Or get any more exposure.

[Update: Keith did a segment on this tonight and reported that the Palins noted that only Willow was at the event referenced, so the joke might have confused things or something, but again, clearly Dave was not talking about her. Keith had a woman commentator on who underlined the older daughter -- with the backing of the mom -- has a very public abstinence campaign that, along with everything else, is open to some jokes. She is not simply some private person. Still, let's be honest, the apology -- with laughs from the audience -- was not exactly something the Palins was likely to be totally satisfied with.]