NPR's Cokie Roberts talks gender politics

Interesting interview with Cokie Roberts today on Tell Me More, an NPR program we don't air here in central Arkansas.

The topic: why so many male politicians keep getting caught up in sex scandals while so few women encounter the same fate. Roberts also discusses why female lawmakers can get along civilly when their male counterparts seem able only to shout insults across the aisle during contentious debate.

The program delved into some media analysis, with Cokie offering her reaction to a little locker-room humor engaged in by Don Imus and Fox News' Chris Wallace during a recent discussion of Sarah Palin:

It's appalling. It's just appalling.

Broyles' memory is selective on race issues

Today, I covered Frank Broyles speaking at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center about racial integration of Arkansas Razorback athletics. Here's my story, along with audio of the coach's complete remarks.

The event was organized by several of Broyles' former black players, but not everyone is on board in praising the long-time football coach and athletic director for his record on race relations. For one thing, Broyles comes off rather badly in a new book about Nolan Richardson. Not only was he documented using the "n" word on several occassions, but the facts of his work to add black players to his teams are somewhat different than what the 85-year-old coach told his Little Rock audience today.

The Arkansas Times blog has a rather spirited discussion going on this issue.

My take? I tend to think Broyles has a selective memory when it comes to these things.

He told the crowd it was the rules (or perhaps some unspoken rules) of the Southwest Conference that delayed his recruiting of black players. But that fails to explain why SMU had its first black varsity player in 1966 and Jon Richardson didn't play for Arkansas until 1970.

During the event, Broyles praised Nolan Richardson to high heaven, saying that his race played absolutely no part in the decision to hire him in 1985 as the first black head basketball coach at a major southern school (something for which Broyles should be recognized). As the coach spoke, I wanted to shout "Then why did you force Nolan out?" After the program, I asked Broyles that very question. He told me that it's hard to say, that both men got bad advice, and that while the two are not friends, Broyles now respects Richardson and hopes the feeling is mutual.

Then I asked coach why he refused to be interviewed for Rus Bradburd's new book about Nolan. Broyles either has a crummy secretary, a very poor memory or he outright lied in response. He told me first he didn't remember being asked for an interview, though Bradburd told me he had asked to speak with Broyles dozens of times over a period of months. Then, in the next breath, coach said he was unfamiliar with the author anyway. So, did he know nothing about any request for an interview, or was it that he was afraid of talking with anyone outside of the loyal, unquestioning Arkansas sports media.

I predict this AP story will be one of the few to even mention any of this, by bringing up the lingering bad taste over the Nolan firing and subsequent lawsuit. Let's see if TV or the Dem-Gaz make any mention of the negatives, or if they just go with a feel-good story about a celebration of 40-years of racial integration of Arkansas sports.

UPDATE: Here's KARK 4's story.

I can't find a KATV 7 story online, but here's KTHV 11's:

Keet campaign, can I take a message?

This blog entry by James Jefferson raises questions about just how serious a candidate Jim Keet actually is. Keet is a Republican running for governor this year.

Jefferson, the news editor for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau, says:

A month into his candidacy, Republican Jim Keet’s campaign is still taking calls at the GOP state headquarters.

The party’s main line is listed on Keet’s news release today...

A call to the number listed under campaign contact Katherine Vasilos’ name on the release was answered by the state Republican Party executive director himself, Chase Duggar.

Duggar says Keet’s campaign is working out of GOP headquarters “until he’s able to get his own office.”

Writer sorry for Scientology flick; Anderson works on Hubbard biopic

The poor guy who will forever be remembered as the screenwriter of the consensus worst movie of the decade, perhaps ever, is doing a mea culpa.

J.D. Shapiro, who showed up in-person recently to accept the Razzie award for his stinker, recounts the hilarious story of how he came to work for the Church of Scientology. After all, the movie Battlefield Earth is based on a sci-fi novel by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the celebrity-studded neo-religion.

In the New York Post, Shapiro tells the whole story in a column called "I penned the suckiest movie ever - sorry!"

And speaking of Scientology, have you heard that one of America's best young film directors is making a movie about Hubbard (rocking the neckerchief at left) and the founding of his religion? Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, There Will Be Blood) is hands down my favorite director these days. He has been working for some time on getting his Scientology film off the ground. Not surprisingly, he's had some trouble finding the money to make his movie in Hollywood, where the church has for years worked very hard to win converts. Besides Travolta, star of Battlefield Earth, the church also claims as members Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley and Jenna Elfman, as well as dozens of producers, directors and other behind-the-scenes entertainment types.

New York Magazine reports that Universal is passing on the project. Reports are that Hubbard's separated-at-birth twin Philip Seymour Hoffman will star, if and when Anderson gets the financial backing.

And for those who care, South Park did a devastating, truth-filled take on Scientology a couple of years ago.

New music video features nudity, history and confused tourists

Have you seen the new video by Erykah Badu for her song Window Seat? She gets nekkid right on the spot where JFK was shot to death.

Says here in the Dallas Morning News that Badu filmed the video guerrilla-style earlier this month.

The controversial video, shot in one long take, shows Badu walking through Dealy Plaza in Dallas slowly stripping off all of her clothes in front of bewildered tourists before the inevitable ending.

Here's the video itself. See what you think. Watch the vid, then read her interview in the Dallas paper. Did you understand what she was trying to say?

Roadkill resuscitation

I have been pretty drunk in my time, but I never tried to give mouth to mouth resuscitation to road kill, at least not that I recall.

I love this quote from the state trooper, who said the suspect

was "extremely intoxicated" and "did have his mouth in the area of the animal's mouth, I guess."

Oh, and it was in Punxsutawney, PA... but the critter was not a groundhog?

He's Brian Fellow!!!

Tracy Morgan of SNL fame plays Tracy Jordan on the amazing NBC sitcom 30 Rock (tonight at 8:30). He is in fact Tina Fey's secret weapon. His surreal take on life adds just the right touch of strange silliness to the award-winning show.

Here's a favorite sketch from Tracy's time on Saturday Night Live... If you aren't familiar with Brian Fellow's Safari Planet, you're in for a treat.

Cantor: Someone fired a shot at his campaign office

Here's Republican Congressman Eric Cantor talking about reports of violence aimed at some lawmakers in the wake of the weekend vote on health care reform.

He says it's not only Democrats who are facing acts of vandalism and threats of violence. And, Cantor says, Dems are using the threats for political gain.

Things are getting scary

Passions surrounding this weekend's House vote on the health care reform bill have apparently inspired some nuts to go too far. The AP reports:

The FBI is investigating threats against lawmakers stemming from intense opposition to the health care overhaul law.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says more than 10 Democratic lawmakers have reported incidents. Hoyer adds that the FBI and Capitol Police briefed Democrats on how to handle perceived security threats.

Politico reports that:

Hoyer is warning that some of his Democratic colleagues are being threatened with violence when they go back to their districts — and he wants Republicans to stand up and condemn the threats.

Sarah Palin posted the map above on the web page for her PAC. Note that Arkansas Democrat Vic Snyder warrants his own cross hairs.

On MSNBC this afternoon, anchor/host David Shuster, formerly of KATV-7 in Little Rock, offered a commentary on this whole affair, though it doesn't appear from this clip that it was clearly labeled as such.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Keet, Rove have trouble with epithet/epitaph confusion

Driving home yesterday afternoon, I tuned in a few minutes of the Dave Elswick show on KARN to see which Republican office seeker he had on as a guest. It was GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Keet, who said something that made me giggle.

Praising the Tea Party movement, Keet said they were mostly great Americans despite the few bad apples who sometimes shouted "epitaphs."

Harking back to the weekend protests by Tea Party members outside the U.S. Capitol, I conjured up a mental image of Congressman John Lewis facing shouts of "Rest in Peace!" and "Here Lies Fred Dorf: Loving Husband and Father!"

Keet was not alone in mixing up the two words. This blogger in Houston noted the confusion, writing that Karl Rove also tried to use the word "epithet" on ABC Sunday morning only to end up saying something that sounded more like "epitat" or maybe even "ipecac."

Here's the clip... you can hear the "epitat" remark at about 2:00 into this video.

MGMT album stream undercuts NPR release

The online release of MGMT's new album Congratulations at the band's website is a blow to NPR, which had made arrangements to begin streaming the record as part of it's First Listen program. The Wall Street Journal writes about the release, which comes in response to the leak of the album over the weekend on file sharing sites.

Billboard has a nice feature about the new music and just how weird it is compared with the band's first record.

New MGMT album is here

Their sophomore album Congratulations is not set for release until April 13, but the website for MGMT is now streaming the record online for free.

MGMT (say the letters, not management) is a two-person combo featuring Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden, who is a native of Memphis. The duo met and began their musical collaborations at Wesleyan University. Their first album, Oracular Spectacular, was released in 2007. The record was included on many critics' Best of 2007 lists, and was nominated for two Grammys, best pop performance by a duo or group, and best new artist.

The band's first live show of 2009 was in Little Rock in June of last year at The Village, the domed movie theater at Asher and University formerly known as the Cinema 150. I was there. The event was a mess... patrons with tickets were kept waiting outdoors until some two hours after the advertised start time, then thanks to a non-working AC, it was 100+ degrees inside. A cup of water cost $2. But the band was great.

MGMT is usually classified as a neo-psychedelia group, but the music is really all over the map. Check out the video samples below, then click over to the new record to hear more.

Here are VanWyngarden and Goldwasser at a college party circa 2003 performing a version of Talking Heads' Naive Melody:


Here's Time to Pretend, MGMT's breakthrough single from the first record:


And here's a second trippy video from Oracular Spectacular for the single Electric Feel:

You gotta know Jack, right?

I know this is only about fifteen years past its sell-by date, but I am often surprised by how many people respond with blank stares when I mention the classic computer game You Don't Know Jack.

Says here the first incarnation of this way cool trivia game was released in 1995. The general knowledge version was followed shortly by sports, movies and TV editions.

YDKJ was originally a CD-ROM game, but the makers put it online here a few years ago, and even produced new weekly episodes. The one below is from April 2007. The website also sells the original CD-ROM versions.

It's a game show with a wise-ass host and lots of attitude. The questions are written in a tricky way that takes a little getting used to, but if you are not familiar with the game give it a try. It's a lot of fun.

I love me some Justified on FX

If you missed the first episode Tuesday night, let me recommend you seek out a new series on the FX cable network (channel 59 on Comcast in Pulaski County).

The show is called Justified, and like other excellent FX series such as The Shield and The Riches, it's rated TV-MA, for mature audiences due to some fairly graphic violence and repeated use of the words shit and bullshit. So just know that going in... but what a program. The first hour really gets you hooked.

With LOST winding down, I had been looking for a new drama series to get into. This seems likely to be it.

The show stars Timothy Olyphant, who played the sheriff on HBO's Deadwood, as a deputy U.S. Marshall in Florida who shoots one too many suspects and is transferred from the sun and surf back to the hometown he thought he had escaped in the coal mining hills of Kentucky.

Olyphant plays Raylin Givens as the quiet type who shoots first and asks questions later. One review I read mentioned that Givens is the first TV cop to wear a Stetson hat since Dennis Weaver played McCloud from 1970-1977.

What makes the pilot episode seem like the opening chapter of a great novel is the supporting cast, most notably Walton Goggins (Shane Vendrell on The Shield) as Boyd Crowder, Raylin's best buddy growing up, but now a White Supremacist and local crime boss. That's him at left.

You have two more chances to catch the first episode of Justified before episode 2 premieres at 9:00 Tuesday night. You can watch the pilot on FX at 10:00 Friday night and at 10:30 Saturday night. Consult your guides to double-check me on those times.

Poking around on the website for the series I learn there is no streaming of the episode yet (perhaps to come in a few days after the repeat airings).

I also learn about a potentially exciting new project involving Goggins and his Little Rock producing partners Ray McKinnon and Lisa Blount. The three run the Little Rock-based Ginny Mule Pictures. McKinnon is the fine character actor who played the "bona-fide" suitor in O Brother, Where Art Though? Blount and I did a play together at Jacksonville High School circa 1975, then just a few years later she won accolades for her role in An Officer and A Gentleman. She and her husband McKinnon won Oscars for co-producing the 2001 short subject The Accountant.

Anyway, it says on the FX website that:

Goggins is in development at AMC on Rectify, an original series for which he will star and executive produce. The project is written by Ray McKinnon and exec produced by Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad).

Sounds very exciting. AMC is the home of Mad Men and Breaking Bad, two of the most acclaimed free cable dramas to come along in years. Elsewhere, I read that in the series Goggins will play a wrongfully convicted man who finally gets exonerated thanks to DNA evidence.

David Byrne concept album tackles the Imelda Marcos life story

Former Talking Head David Byrne (favorite lyric: "Animals think... They're pretty smart... Shit on the ground... See in the dark!") is releasing a new album called Here Lies Love.

The 2 CD release is a concept album Byrne worked on with techno/electronica whiz Norman Cook, AKA Fatboy Slim.

Rolling Stone's review describes the album this way:

Here David Byrne turns an unwieldy premise — a musical dramatization of former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos' early life — into dizzy fun by setting 22 songs to Fatboy Slim's lush and bustling dance beats.

The record, featuring guest vocalists like Cyndi Lauper, Steve Earle, Natalie Merchant of 10,000 Maniacs and Kate Pierson of the B52s, has been a five-year labor of love for Byrne. This lengthy review/feature delves into the long journey this music has taken to its planned CD release April 6th.

Here's a video for the first single Please Don't featuring Santigold:

And here is a widget that will let you listen to samples of all 22 songs:

Bill Hicks: Comic, philosopher, documentary subject

One of the movies premiering at SXSW the South by Southwest Festival in Austin, Texas this month is called American: The Bill Hicks Story. The documentary tells the story of Bill Hicks, a legendary comedian and social commentator who died of cancer in Little Rock in 1994 at the age of only 32. He is by far my favorite comedian of all time. Hicks is huge in Great Britain, but America has so far seemed less willing to embrace his difficult truths.

I've done a couple of stories about Bill for KUAR Radio, one here won an award for us while this story last year focused on a Letterman appearance by Hicks mother, who still lives in Little Rock and was on hand for the premiere of the film in Austin. Mary Hicks heard the first story on FM 89 and sent me a book of Bill's writings along with a gracious personal note.

Here's a clip from the documentary, which features a really cool new animation technique.


And here's a half-hour of Hicks' uncensored stand-up from 1990. Brilliant.

FOX News and the mainstream media

Sunday, The Washington Post published an interesting piece by former New York Times editor Howell Raines.

The column harshly attacks FOX News:

For the first time since the yellow journalism of a century ago, the United States has a major news organization devoted to the promotion of one political party. And let no one be misled by occasional spurts of criticism of the GOP on Fox. In a bygone era of fact-based commentary typified, left to right, by my late colleagues Scotty Reston and Bill Safire, these deceptions would have been given their proper label: disinformation.

And he has similar venom for those of us in the mainstream media who have mostly stood by while FOX owner Rupert Murdoch changed the rules of journalism:

Why has our profession, through its general silence -- or only spasmodic protest -- helped Fox legitimize a style of journalism that is dishonest in its intellectual process, untrustworthy in its conclusions and biased in its gestalt?...

Why can't American journalists steeped in the traditional values of their profession be loud and candid about the fact that Murdoch does not belong to our team? His importation of the loose rules of British tabloid journalism, including blatant political alliances, started our slide to quasi-news.

The column has inspired debate here, here and here.

I have often wondered about the appearance on FOX News Sunday of NPR's Juan Williams and Mara Liason. NPR's ombudsman has even tackled the issue. NPR's attitude is that it's okay as long as reporters obey the network's ethics guidelines. Ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin writes:

Nothing riles some public-radio listeners like NPR journalists appearing on FOX News television programs. Two prominent NPR correspondents, Mara Liasson and Juan Williams are regular panelists on FOX. What bothers those NPR listeners who complain to me is that the cable television network openly espouses conservative opinions as expressed by outspoken hosts. The FOX slogan, "fair and balanced" is deemed by many of the complainants as ironic, to say the least.

That's because NPR makes every effort to remain nonpartisan, and FOX, it appears, does not. Frustrated public-radio listeners tell me that the NPR presence only serves as cover for FOX's claim that it is "fair and balanced."

UAPB on ESPN Tuesday, Duke on deck

Here's an interview I did today with the Athletic Director for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (love that mascot logo above).

Skip Perkins was grinning from ear to ear (I could actually hear the grin through the phone lines) as he discussed his team's remarkable season.

They lost their first 11 straight games in a road trip the New York Times saw fit to write up in December. The team earned around $700K playing pre-season games against much stronger competitors across the country.

The Golden Lions didn't play their first home game until January, then went 14-4 in SWAC conference play, ending the season at 17-15. They earned a spot in the NCAA tournament by winning the SWAC post-season tournament Saturday.

The Lions face Winthrop in the tournament's "play-in" game tomorrow night. They'll be the only NCAA game on national TV (ESPN) Tuesday. The winner faces top-seed Duke in the tournament's first round Friday night in Jacksonville, Florida.

UAPB is the only Arkansas team in the tournament this year, and I could tell by talking with Perkins that the school, its alumni and the beleaguered city of Pine Bluff are really excited about the chance to represent our state on a national stage. Virtually every Arkansas round ball fan will be tuned in tomorrow night (I'll be watching around LOST) for this exciting game.

Go UAPB!!!

Would you pay to watch her eat?

Can this story be for real?

A website from Australia reports that a New Jersey woman who already weighs 600 pounds wants to get even fatter:

Donna Simpson, from New Jersey, weighs 273kg but told the Daily Mail newspaper she had her heart set on reaching her goal weight of 1000lb (450kg) in two years.

The 42-year-old already holds the title of the world's fattest mother after giving birth to her daughter in 2007 when she weighed 241kg.

"I'd love to be 1000lb ... it might be hard though, running after my daughter keeps my weight down," Ms Simpson told the Daily Mail.

The story also has this helpful explanation:

Her 49-year-old partner Philippe — who she met on a dating site for plus-size people — was encouraging her to reach her goal, she said.

"I think he'd like it if I was bigger ... he's a real belly man and completely supports me," she said.

To put on enough weight, Ms Simpson will need to eat 12,000 calories a day, which is six times the recommended daily intake for women.

In order to pay for the enormous amounts of food she is eating — her weekly grocery bill is $815 — Ms Simpson makes money by running a website where men pay to watch her consume fast food.

Alabaster Jones, stylin' at Oaklawn

At the track in Hot Springs yesterday there was a big crowd, and as always it was a great place for people watching.

So I'm walking through the main grandstand area on the bottom floor when I notice a particularly interesting looking fellow. As I follow him through the mass of semi-drunken people, I pull out my cell phone camera, feeling a little sheepish about trying to covertly snap a picture of this guy. But I go ahead and do so.

This guy is wearing a purple suit head-to-toe topped off by a floor-length white fur coat and that sweet skypiece. While I am snapping from the back, this other guy wearing jeans and a ball cap walks up and asks the mack daddy to pose with him for a souvenir snapshot. I swung around in front of them just as the man's wife showed them both the resulting cell phone photo.


I didn't speak with the Oaklawn Playa, but I was reminded of an incredible King of the Hill episode where Hank Hill, pretending to be a pimp, confronts a real Oklahoma City pimp named Alabaster Jones (played by Snoop Dogg), who wears a similar outfit. (Sorry for the poor quality of this YouTube clip.)

Oaklawn's "Race for the Ages" falls through

The Associated Press reports this afternoon that the big Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta show-down in Oaklawn's Apple Blossom Handicap next month has fallen through.

The development is not unexpected.

Both horses, among the best females ever, faced key prep races yesterday as they readied for the April 9th Oaklawn race. Zenyatta won her race at Santa Anita in California, but Rachel Alexandra was upset in her test at the New Orleans Fair Grounds.

This is a huge blow to Oaklawn, its owner Charles Cella (who on February 4th had offered a $5 million purse if both horses took part) and the city of Hot Springs.

They had set up a website to help arrange transportation and lodging for the expected hoard.

There were reports of people paying thousands to rent Hot Springs condos.

Racing fans from around the world were reportedly inquiring about whether the tiny Hot Springs Airport could handle their private jets.


These trading cards printed by the Hot Springs Visitors Bureau were selling for up to $50 on eBay.

I was at Oaklawn yesterday, where they had set up special souvenir stands selling framed photos and posters featuring the two horses.

The AP story above says:

"Naturally, we are disappointed that Rachel Alexandra will not be here for the Apple Blossom Invitational," the track said in a statement. "We wish her the best of luck on the rest of her 2010 racing campaign. We look forward to welcoming Zenyatta back to Arkansas as she attempts to equal Cigar and Citation's modern-day record of 16 consecutive unrestricted victories."

A gracious statement, but Oaklawn officials have to be devastated by the news.

On the other hand, everyone in the race business knows that thoroughbreds are fragile animals and nothing is certain.

I ask you: Did the track and the city perhaps get a little overconfident in promoting this potential "Race for the Ages" months in advance?

Jeff Bridges sings The Weary Kind

Oscar winner sings an Oscar winner.

Kind of makes you wish they hadn't abandoned the performances of best song nominees this year.

Corliss to coach UCA Bears; I'm reminded of a nude beauty queen (?!)

The big sports news today is that former Arkansas Razorback and NBA star Corliss Williamson is the new men's basketball coach at my alma mater UCA.

The fine Conway daily The Log Cabin Democrat reports that:

Williamson is leaving his job as coach at Arkansas Baptist, a junior college in Little Rock, to take over at Division I Central Arkansas, according to Charles Ripley, the athletic director at Arkansas Baptist.

Ripley says Arkansas Baptist is "excited" for Williamson and that he expects the former Arkansas Razorback to "do very well" at Central Arkansas.

Max Brantley over at the Arkansas Times Blog reports that Corliss has:

mentioned that Scotty Thurman may join him as an assistant.

This is all very interesting given that I had a brush with both men today.

I did this story about the city of Little Rock's effort to encourage participation in the census this year. The city had arranged this morning for Corliss, Scotty and Arkansas Baptist President Fitz Hill to show up at a TV studio and record PSAs (Public Service Announcements) targeting minority residents of the capitol city.

The shoot was to begin at 10:00, but when I arrived with other reporters and photographers we were informed that Williamson would not be able to make it after all. This was a bit annoying as he was the biggest name among those we were told were coming. Dr. Hill didn't show up until maybe 10:15, and he ended up doing a PSA with Sgt. Cassandra Davis of the LRPD. As I was leaving around 10:45, Thurman was just arriving.

So, as sometimes happens, you brush up against a story only realizing later what was actually going on.

An example from earlier in my news career: Vanessa Williams, now known as a soul singer and actress on Ugly Betty, was the first black Miss America, a big deal in July 1984. I was a young radio reporter in my first year at KARN, and was sent to cover a personal appearance by Miss Williams at a store (I want to say it was a Wal-Mart) on Geyer Springs Road. She was there promoting some beauty product, as I recall. Along with a gaggle of other reporters, I asked a couple of inane questions, we got our quotes/photos and headed back to our respective newsrooms.

An hour later, I hear a CBS radio newscast saying that Penthouse publisher Bob Gucione had bought nude photos of the lovely Vanessa and was planning to print them in the September '84 issue of his magazine. Knowing she was in town, the local press sprung into action, but Miss America was quickly and quietly whisked out of Little Rock, avoiding the press.

After several days of national controversy, Williams resigned under pressure from the Miss America organization. Her final pre-scandal appearance as Miss America was in southwest Little Rock.

So, there you have it... sometimes you miss a story by thaaaat much.

Hey, y'all, let's "go hot-tubbing!"

Have you seen this bizarro story out of Utah?

I've covered lots of Arkansas legislative sessions and watched a bunch of crazy parade by in my days as a reporter, but this story (in the Mormon Church-owned Deseret News), takes the crazy cake.

It seems Utah House Majority Leader Kevin Garn took the occasion of the closing of a session to announce to his colleagues and the world that he "went hot-tubbing"(?) with a nekked 15-year-old girl when he was a 28-year-old record company owner (riiigghhttt...)

Now the girl claims he lied about not having any contact with her in the hot tub, and the paper reports Garn may have broken election laws by not reporting $150,000 in hush money paid to the woman.

Delicious.

Here's video of Garn's strange, tearful confession and the surprising reaction of his colleagues (mostly long, lingering bear hugs with a few encouraging words whispered in Garn's ear).

Your colon: Tonight only on The Spirit of Arkansas

I see where CBS News' Harry Smith underwent a colonoscopy on live TV this morning. Thank goodness Katie Couric was there to supervise things. (By the way, would Uncle Walter Cronkite have ever gone along with such silliness?)



This reminds me of a bizarre promotion run by KATV channel 7 back in the late 1980s. I worked for about two years in the KATV newsroom running their A-Net radio network. It was fascinating to see TV news being done up-close while still remaining apart from the operation.

As part of the station's ongoing effort to prove it cares about you, the viewer, more than the other local stations, KATV spent several months working on the issue of colon cancer.

The station aired a series of stories about people who survived cancer because of early detection, and it aired public service announcements featuring then-hot-shot anchor Greg Hurst (at left) asking that people write in for a free colo-rectal cancer screening kit. Thousands of Arkansans wrote in for the kit, which consisted of a card on which you were to smear a "stool sample." You then folded the poop-covered biohazard into an envelope and mailed it back. A lab would screen each one for any evidence of blood in the stool.

As you can imagine, there were lots of filthy jokes about this whole program among us cynical newspeople. Like don't volunteer to help Greg answer his fan mail. Ha.

One post script: Though at the time we laughed at Hurst's willingness to go along with this sort of pseudo-journalistic activity, the pretty-boy anchor ended up at WABC in New York City from 1989 to 1997. He currently anchors for KHOU in Houston, Texas.

Stay classy, Houston.

Another reason to love HDTV, BluRay and Netflix

When I go to the movies, nothing bothers me more than to be taken out of the immersive, big-screen experience by the noisy behavior of other patrons. And no interruption is more annoying than to listen to someone answer a ringing cell phone with, "Yeah, I'm at the movie. Yes, we're watching Wolfman, but it's not very good right now... so did you and Jeremy decide where to go for dinner?..."

On more than one occasion I have asked somebody to take their conversation outside, but after this story out of the Los Angeles area I may think twice:

A man is recovering from being stabbed in the neck with a meat thermometer after asking a woman to silence her cell phone in a movie theater, a sheriff's department official said.

Just think, an angry Arkansas movie patron is likely to be armed with something decidely more deadly than a kitchen gadget.

Another film critic bites the dust

Says here that Variety, the venerable Bible of show business, is joining with print publications nationwide in laying off film critics.

The evisceration of Variety continues.

On Monday, the trade let go chief film critic Todd McCarthy and chief theater critic David Rooney. Longtime film critic Derek Elley also was cut, as was features editor/indie film reporter Sharon Swart, along with several copy and design desk employees.

In a memo to Variety staff, the trade's group editor, Tim Gray, said all three critics have been asked to work as freelancers for the moribund trade.

However, McCarthy told TheWrap he has made no such arrangement, at least not yet.

"It’s sad,” McCarthy said. “It’s the end of something. You can say it’s the end, or you can say it’s the end of the way it’s always been done.”

Reaction from the film community was characterized by shock and dismay, with Roger Ebert tweeting, "Variety fires Todd McCarthy and I cancel my subscription. He was my reason to read the paper. RIP, schmucks."

Still, in his memo, Gray insisted, "Today's changes won't be noticed by readers. Our goal is the same: To maintain, or improve, our quality coverage."

We are lucky to have Philip Martin and the Dem-Gaz Movie section each Friday, albeit thinner than it was a few years ago. Let's hope the paper doesn't see that as the next place that needs cutting.

The name wizard

This website features a cool toy that lets you type in your name or that of anyone else and see how popular that name was the year you were born and every year since.

It seems Ron (Ronald) was the 10th most popular boys name in the 1940s, the 15th most popular in the '50s (I was born in 1959), but was the 308th most popular in 2008.

My mom's name is Norma, a name that peaked at #28 in the 1930s. Her sisters Thelma, Doris and Sybil all had names that were popular when they were born, but sound rather old fashioned today.

Fascinating stuff.

Oscar outcome

I was 5 of 6 for the top awards at last night's Oscars. Sandra Bullock's shocking Best Actress win threw my predictions all out of whack. I also missed both screenplay picks, both documentaries, both short subjects, best foreign film, cinematography, sound editing and film editing. Ouch.

Otherwise, the night's big news was the groundbreaking win by Kathryn Bigelow for Best Picture and Best Director for the excellent but little-seen The Hurt Locker. Many people now know Bigelow as the first woman to win a directing Oscar and the ex-wife of James Cameron.

But you may not know that the 58-year-old Bigelow has a long list of credits prior to this year's award-winner.

Let's start with Near Dark, a 1987 roadhouse-meets-vampire film that has become a cult classic. Adrian Pasdar, Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton star.

Another Bigelow action film is Point Break, the 1991 feature starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze. Best known for some amazing surfing and sky-diving sequences, the movie also features one of the best hand-held, first-person chases I've ever seen.

A couple of Bigelow films I have yet to watch include Strange Days, a 1995 science fiction feature written by James Cameron and starring Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett. Roger Ebert gives the movie four stars, and I am now trying to find the time to watch my DVD from Netflix.

And K-19:The Widowmaker (2002) is Bigelow's latest feature before tackling The Hurt Locker. The submarine drama stars Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson and is next in my Netflix cue.

What's next for Bigelow? This story says she is to direct the pilot for a new HBO series billed as a light family drama. Then she returns to the grittier side of life with a feature about a lawless region in South America known as the Triple Frontier.

My Oscar picks

Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin will hopefully bring a little improvisatory comic energy to the Oscar telecast Sunday night. The show's producers are promising a hipper, faster-paced show this year. Among other things, this story says...

Ditching the five best song nominees was one of the first and most controversial moves the producers made. But, as Shankman sees it, stopping the telecast in its tracks to stage a song only because it is a nominee is neither "organic" nor "comfortable."

The Rock Candy Blog over at the Arkansas Times website is conducting a little Oscar prediction contest with some very real prizes: free tickets to the Rave theater on Col. Glenn Road. I could have used them this afternoon when I spent $10.75 to see Tim Burton's oddly-flat 3D version of Alice in Wonderland.

So, what the heck, I filled out an entry form and emailed it to the Times' Oscar Pool contest. My predictions are as random as anybody else's since nobody has seen the live-action, animated or documentary short subjects.

Here's my entry form (the numbers indicate points available in each category in the Arkansas Times contest):

Best Picture (5)
The Hurt Locker

Best Director (5)
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Best Actor (4)
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Best Actress (4)
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious

Best Supporting Actor (3)
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Best Supporting Actress (3)
Mo'Nique, Precious

Best Adapted Screenplay (3)
Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

Best Original Screenplay (3)
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Animated Film (3)
Up

Best Foreign Film (4)
The White Ribbon

Best Art Direction (3)
Avatar

Best Cinematography (3)
The Hurt Locker

Best Sound Mixing (2)
The Hurt Locker

Best Sound Editing (2)
Avatar

Best Original Score (2)
Up, Michael Giacchino

Best Original Song (2)
"The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)" from Crazy Heart, Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

Best Costume Design (2)
The Young Victoria

Best Documentary Feature (3)
Food, Inc.

Best Documentary Short (2)
China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province

Best Film Editing (2)
Avatar

Best Makeup (1)
Star Trek

Best Animated Short Film (1)
French Roast

Best Live-Action Short Film (1)
Instead of Abracadabra

Best Visual Effects (1)
Avatar

Sarah Palin and the laugh track

So when former GOPVP nominee Sarah P. was on the Tonight Show this week, Leno interviewed her, then she did a brief bit that was widely described as a stand-up comedy routine.

Check it out here, then read on...


Now, there are reports that the laughter to her really lame jokes was "sweetened." NBC denies any enhancement took place.

Watch and you be the judge.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Palin and posse went full Hollywood and loaded up on expensive goodies at an Oscar gift suite.

And, while I'm at it... Sarah's Adventures in La La Land also featured a visit with TV network execs to pitch a reality show about her wacky life in rugged Alaska.

Oscar madness

With the big awards show set for Sunday night, I guess I might as well chime in on the Oscars.

I wrote last month about The Blind Side, a Best Picture nominee I simply can't believe anyone would seriously consider Oscar-caliber material. But some are saying we might expect a surprise winner this year because of the new voting formula in the Best Picture category.

This WSJ article sums up my thoughts about the prospect of the new system of voting possibly resulting in an unthinkable Oscar upset:

Which wrist to slit first if "The Blind Side" wins?

Of the two favorites, Avatar and The Hurt Locker, I prefer the latter. But my favorite films of the year were quite different from the nominees. Oscar candidates that I did NOT include in my top 10 are Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, Precious and Up. Of those, the only one I might consider adding to my list is District 9, excellent on a second viewing on Blu-ray the other night.

As for Up, I agree with this critic that the best part of that animated feature is the amazing montage near the start of the movie. It makes you laugh, cry, breaks your heart... all in just over 4 minutes. Too bad the rest of the film is so pedestrian. Here is that brilliant, heartbreaking sequence. The score by Michael Giacchino should win him an Oscar Sunday night. I'll be watching.

Diane Rehm visits KUAR newsroom

Work was fun today.

NPR talk show host Diane Rehm (9-11am weekdays on FM 89 KUAR) spoke last night at a public radio fundraiser, then stopped by the stations this morning to visit with staff and take a look around.

She was more than gracious during her interactions with listeners last night and with us radio types today. An extremely smart, generous, thoughtful woman.

Here are some pics:

Diane with (from left) Michael Hibblen, William Wagner, Mary Waldo and Ben Fry.


Meeting Kelly MacNeil.


Nathan Vandiver chats with Diane.


Sharing a laugh with the FM 89 staff.






Diane shows off her Ferragamo boots.

Diane, finally!

Finally, after two earlier cancellations, Diane Rehm made it to Little Rock this evening for the KUAR/KLRE tower campaign fundraiser.

The popular host of NPR's daily talk show attended a champagne reception, then spoke to about 250 people at a dinner at the Embassy Suites hotel. She discussed the mishap (a broken pelvis) that forced cancellation of her appearance last fall, then the snow storm that forced postponement of a February appearance.

Public radio manager Ben Fry told the crowd that the stations need a total of $200K to move our antennaes to a taller tower on Shinall Mountain, of which about $80K has now been raised thanks to those at tonight's events and earlier gifts.

That means we still need a lot o' money to make the move, which should improve reception for both stations AND save us money on monthly power bills.

Thanks to all who came out tonight, and thanks to Diane for her help in our fundraising.

Blanche TV

Senator Blanche Lincoln is out with her first TV ad of the campaign season... she has raised $5-million, so she's got plenty of money to air this a lot.

Sounds like the "one tough lady" is trying to position herself as the outsider who fought for Arkansas and "against more money for Wall Street, against the auto company bailout, against the public option health care plan, and against the cap and trade bill."

Gorillaz Stylo video rocks

Brand new music video from Gorillaz... it's called Stylo from the new album Plastic Beach shipping next Tuesday, March 9th.

The song features Bobby Womack and Mos Def while the cool video features 3D versions of the cartoon Gorillaz band members (seen above), one of whom just happens to be named 2D, AND a cameo by Bruce "The Return of Bruno" Willis.



Watch the video in HD here.

Halter, Keet file

Bill Halter officially filed for U.S. Senate today. He'll challenge incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln from the left.

Also filing today was Jim Keet, the Republican who'll take on the insanely popular Gov. Mike Beebe. The Arkansas Times blog reports that Keet carried along a copy of Barack Obama's book The Audacity of Hope. Huh?

As for Halter, reporters had lots of questions for the Lt. Governor after he filled out his paperwork at the capitol. John Brummett writes extensively about the exchange on his blog, then concludes:

This is the most thoroughly nationalized race in Arkansas political history. This is a national war between the Democratic left and the Democratic center, and there is no other Senate Democratic centrist up for re-election this time for punishing by the left. Well, Arlen Specter, maybe. So Halter has been seduced into the race by out-of-state liberal groups wanting to punish Lincoln for opposing the public option, card check and cap and trade. So he is trying to intimate his support for those (except card check itself, which is off the table) without saying so outright for fear of galvanizing business and farm opposition in conservative Arkansas.

Meanwhile, Halter has released his first TV ad of the campaign. Is anyone else troubled by the prominent role NLR High School plays in the spot? One wonders how much money changed hands to make that happen.

Ebert on Oprah

Just watched Roger and Chaz Ebert on Oprah this afternoon. Nice profile of the film critic... The show gave a real taste of what everyday life is like for the ailing Ebert.

And Roger got to unveil his new computer voice based on his own now-lost voice... he used the new voice to list his Oscar predictions.

More reaction here to the Esquire profile of Ebert and all the hoopla since.

That's Roger on the right in the photo above of the Siskel and Ebert team on their long-running TV review series. Gene died from a brain tumor in February 1999.

These two guys didn't get along very well off air, but were smart enough to realize that the tension between them was a key element that made for good TV.

This compilation of outtakes is for adults only.