December 13, 2009

Otho Speaks

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December 3, 2009

Meredith Baxter, Welcome to the Family

We’re proud of you.

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September 16, 2009

Oh, No… Not Mary Travers

My heart is shattered.

Mary Travers - a member of the hugely popular 1960s US folk group Peter, Paul and Mary - has died aged 72. …

More: BBC.

My. Heart. Is. Shattered.

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September 14, 2009

R.I.P. Patrick Swayze (1952-2009)

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September 8, 2009

Soap Star Fired for Refusing to Perform Job, Plays Christian Martyr Card

Of course, to hear her tell it, she was fired for — gasp! — being a Christian. Oh, poor little persecuted martyr! Jesus, Mary, and Carrie Prejean, whatever shall we do???

Soap Star: “I Was Fired for Religious Beliefs”

One Life to Live actress Patricia Mauceri says she was axed from the soap earlier this year because her religious beliefs were at odds with a planned gay story line.

The actress tells Fox News it wasn’t the gay plotline she objected to, but rather her character’s handling of the issue. A devout Christian, Mauceri says she objected to the way the writers wanted her character — a deeply religious, Latina mother — to react to her son coming out of the closet.

Mauceri says it was those objections that got her fired — she says her character would not have been accepting. …

Mauceri says she is exploring her legal options.

Your “legal options”? You either do your job as you’re told, or you get sacked — or you quit. That’s the way it works in the real world, Missy.

More imagined persecution at the link.

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August 1, 2009

Larry Flynt: “Grow a Pair, Obama”

We may be totally grossed out to the max by Hustler magazine, but we’ve always loved Larry Flynt (in a purely platonic way), ever since… well, even before he made Jerry Falwell’s head explode:

In a Daily Beast exclusive, Larry Flynt, the notorious publisher of Hustler magazine, tells the president to toughen up, keep his campaign promises, and start whacking the Republicans.

Read the letter from Larry to Barry.

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July 28, 2009

William Shatner Does Sarah Palin

“Palin’s final speech was a thing of poetic beauty… And who does poetry better than Shatner?”

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July 21, 2009

Why Didn’t Stephen Baldwin Just Pray to Jesus for Money?

After all, this was the guy who said, “To me, God’s in control”:

Actor Stephen Baldwin files for bankruptcy in NY

Actor Stephen Baldwin, brother of Emmy winner and “30 Rock” star Alec Baldwin, filed for bankruptcy in New York on Tuesday, according to a court document that says he is millions in debt.

The 43-year-old actor filed for Chapter 11 protection claiming he owes more than $2.3 million and owns a New York property valued at only $1.1 million. His wife, Kennya Baldwin, also is named in the document. …

So, why do we care?

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July 19, 2009

Jantré Haskin, Where Are You?

I was raised on the good book Jesus, ’til I read between the lines…

OMFG, this woman is fantastic! (And stunningly beautiful, but that’s beside the point.)

Where is she? Why hasn’t she been signed? Anyone? Bueller?

Videos after the jump.

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July 17, 2009

R.I.P. Walter Cronkite (1916-2009)

Front page of the New York Times — no other info yet:

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R.I.P. Gordon Waller (1945-2009)

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July 7, 2009

Hey, Jacksons: Somebody Should Be Suing Peter King

So, the Alaskan Talibunny wants to sue Shannyn Moore for proffering speculation (which Moore has always presented as rumors, which Palin’s lawyer says Moore presented as fact), while nobody is suing Pete King (R-NY-3), who is claiming as fact that Michael Jackson molested children.

Never mind whether the King of Pop ever did or not; the fact is that he was never convicted of any such crime. (Actually, I’m beginning to believe the molestation accusations were simple extortion. Call me naive, but not until you’ve read this and this. There’s no denying the guy was a freak — but I’m not so sure anymore he was a pedophile, at least in the modern sense of the word.)

Simply put, you can’t run around claiming somebody’s a child molester, or a killer, or anything else without proof, no matter how much you believe it.

Why is this such a big deal to me? Because I’m extremely careful to fact-check, always, but particularly when I’m working on Conservative Babylon. Even if I know Mr. X did indeed rape 25 women, but was only convicted for 24, I cannot and will not say he raped 25. You just don’t do it. Unless you’re stupid or reckless.

Which brings us to Pete King’s rant, which he quickly turned from complaining about too much media coverage of Michael Jackson to a wholesale attack on Jackson himself. He began his rant on YouTube, and continued it in an interview with WCBS-TV:

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July 1, 2009

R.I.P. Mollie Sugden (1922-2009)

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June 30, 2009

Condemn Martina Navratilova’s Duplicitous Divorce — But Relish the Potential Benefit to the Rest of Us

Before we get to the issue at hand:

There is no question tennis legend Martina Navratilova, in the midst of yet another ugly and expensive divorce, is (ab)using the legality (never mind the “sanctity”) of her own marriage just to cover her assets (literally).

On the surface, that’s despicable. However, if she succeeds, the result promises to be a very good thing indeed for the rest of us, and for The Cause.

Allow me to explain — without for one second excusing, defending, or even doubting that Martina’s shameful actions are motivated solely by money.

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June 29, 2009

Los Angeles Dodgers Breeding Bigots? First Jeff Kent, Now James Loney?

I can’t nail down this Proposition H8 donor — but there’s only one James Loney I know of in Southern California who would have a very good reason indeed for trying to hide his H8 donation from the general public:

PROTECTMARRIAGE.COM (ANTI-GAY)
MR. JAMES LONEY
Occupation: “DECLINED”
Employer: “DECLINED”
TUSTIN CA 92780-6731
10/20/08 - $500.00 - 1396394-INC120373 - Filed: 01/30/09

Anyone know for sure if this is the James Loney? Anyone know for sure it isn’t?

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June 26, 2009

Gotta Love Those Family Values: Kate Gosselin “Christian” Book Still on Track

We still haven’t watched the damned show — but we are tickled by the blatant hypocrisy of it all:

Christian publisher still plans Kate Gosselin book

Should a Christian publisher still release a $30 book from one of the namesake stars of Jon & Kate Plus 8 promising “an inside look at one of America’s most close-knit families” after the couple has filed for divorce amid allegations of adultery and neglectful parenting?

Publishing giant Zondervan is still advertising Love is in the Mix: Making Meals into Memories, by Kate Gosselin, for release in November. …

Maybe they could just change the title, and everything would be OK. Any suggestions?

Related:

The “Traditional Values” of “Jon and Kate Plus 8″… Plus the Hypocrisy of Evangelical Fandom
June 1, 2009

Rah! Rah! Rah! for Traditional Values! Jon and Kate Divorce! But the Show Must Go On!
June 23, 2009

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June 25, 2009

Proof That Life is Unfair: Michael Jackson is Dead, and Perez Hilton Isn’t

Harsh headline? Well, it will be if Hilton suddenly drops dead in the very near future — which is highly unlikely, since only the good die young.

Against my better judgment, while Michael Jackson’s death was still unconfirmed, I hit Hilton’s blog, and found a photo of Jackson with Hilton’s typical scrawl: “Heart attack or cold feet?”

It gets worse.

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L.A. Times: Michael Jackson Dead

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Michael Jackson Hospitalized; Rumors of Death Fly

UPDATE: 2:37 pm PDT: “L.A. Times: Michael Jackson Dead”

TMZ has already reported that he’s dead, but we’re not buying into anything until we know for sure. Meanwhile, a considerably calmer New York Times reports:

An unconscious Michael Jackson was rushed to UCLA Medical Center on Thursday afternoon by paramedics who performed C.P.R., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Early reports indicated cardiac arrest, but a hospital spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. Mr. Jackson, 50, has been renting a mansion in the Bel Air neighborhood, a short distance from the hospital, and rehearsing for a series of 50 sold-out shows in London. …

The shows have been widely seen in the music industry as an important potential comeback for him, with the potential to earn him up to $50 million, according to some reports. But there has also been worry and speculation that Mr. Jackson, who is 50, was not physically ready for such an arduous run of concerts, and Mr. Jackson’s postponement of the first of those shows from July 8 to July 12 fueled new rounds of gossip about his health. …

A spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department told CNN said rescuers were called to Mr. Jackson’s home at 12:21 p.m. Pacific. “When paramedics went on the scene, they treated the patient, then they immediately transported the patient to UCLA,” the spokesman told CNN. Mr. Jackson’s home is located only a few minutes from the hospital center.

Damn. There’s one eff’d-up guy, but I can’t help feeling very sad at the possibility of his death. No one can argue he isn’t one of the most talented performers ever — and as for the alleged pedophilia (gotta say “alleged,” because he was never convicted of anything)… Well, you always hope that someone, especially with all the resources in the world at his disposal, might get the help he needs.

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R.I.P. Farrah Fawcett (1947-2009)

The 1970s pinup poster

Farrah Fawcett, sex symbol and actress, dies

Farrah Fawcett, the blonde-maned actress whose best-selling poster and “Charlie’s Angels” stardom made her one of the most famous faces in the world, died Thursday. She was 62. …

Fawcett, who checked into a hospital in early April, had been battling anal cancer on and off for three years. …

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The Good News: Chances Are You and I Will Both Outlive Andy Williams

He always bored the bloody hell out of me, anyway — especially when he had those obnoxious, toothy Osmonds on his show.

But now… now… Well, proof that wisdom does not come with age:

ANDY (”Moon River”) Williams kissing Ann Coulter on the cheek at Elaine’s and telling her, “I’m a big fan of yours. Most people think, because I was a great friend of Bobby Kenne dy’s, that I’m a Democrat, but I’m a Republican”

P.S. Andy: General consensus: Claudine was only into you after Spider’s death for the positive publicity in the Old-Lady Movie Magazines.)

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June 23, 2009

Rah! Rah! Rah! for Traditional Values! Jon and Kate Divorce! But the Show Must Go On!

And they say we’re this big threat to hetero marriage… Maybe if some people weren’t so obsessively compelled to pop out litters…

Jon & Kate: Divorce, Yes, But Show Goes On

Jon and Kate Gosselin’s marriage ended not with a bang, but with the estranged couple whimpering in front of the camera — separately, of course — about the inevitability of growing apart. …

“Inevitability of growing apart”? “Inevitability”? What “inevitability”? If some people were mature enough for marriage, maybe they wouldn’t factor in divorce as an inevitability.

Related:

The “Traditional Values” of “Jon and Kate Plus 8?… Plus the Hypocrisy of Evangelical Fandom, June 1, 2009

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June 19, 2009

Because It’s Always A Good Day to Remember Peggy Lee

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“Squeaky-Clean Mormon” American Idol Star David Archuleta’s Daddy Busted for Soliciting Hooker (And I’m Not Even Looking for Bad-Mormon Stories Today!)

Honest to goodness, these Bad Mormon stories just keep popping up on their own:

“American Idol” Alum David Archuleta’s Father Busted For Soliciting Prostitute

During a raid in mid-January on a massage parlor in Midvale, Utah, the father of last year’s American Idol runner-up, squeaky-clean Mormon David Archuleta, was arrested by police and charged with prostitute solicitation, a Class B misdemeanor.

According to Us Weekly, Jeff Archuleta, 41, who was the consummate stage dad during his son’s Idol run, has pleaded no contest to the charge, paying a $582 fine following his arrest at an establishment called the Queens of Reiki on January 14th. …

Jeff Archuleta figured prominently in last year’s Idol, with various media outlets reporting throughout the season that he was influencing his son’s song selections. One report claimed Jeff was seen yelling at David following a recording session. Others suggested Archuleta had his son add a lyric from the Sean Kingston song “Beautiful Girls” into a rendition of “Stand by Me,” which upped licensing costs for the show; the move led producers to ban Jeff from backstage rehearsals.

Well, it’s the show’s fault then — it was obviously the stress of being banned backstage that led to his back pain, which led him to seek “legitimate massage therapy” (as Daddy’s lawyer puts it). Yeah, yeah, that’s the ticket!

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June 18, 2009

Terrible, Terrible News: Walter Cronkite Reported Near Death

One of the finest Americans who ever lived — and, as far as I’m concerned, the man who really ended the Vietnam War:

CBS News Legend Cronkite
Reportedly Near Death

Walter Cronkite, 92, the CBS television journalist once known as “the most trusted man in America” was said to be gravely ill and near death Thursday, according a report on the blog site Media Bistro.

The online report cited sources inside CBS, but CBS News officials were not publicly commenting on Cronkite’s health. …

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