Archive for the ‘entertainment’ tag

The power of Bon Jovi compels you

Miley Cyrus is more powerful than Barack Obama (D-Nazareth), if Forbes magazine is to be believed. 

Last week, Forbes released its annual “Celebrity 100,” which ranks “The World’s Most Powerful Celebrities.”  On this year’s list, Angelia Jolie has dethroned Oprah Winfrey as the most powerful celebrity on the planet.

I find such ranking to be utterly preposterous.  Are we to believe that the teen idol is more influential than the leader of the free world?  After all, Obama has access to the Big Red Button which could annihilate humanity in a massive nuclear explosion.  He has the bully pulpit of the presidency at his disposal and was reportedly born in a manger.  Cyrus, on the other hand, is a pop star with a show on the Disney Channel and a creepy relationship with her Achy Breaky father.

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Is 24 sexist?

I am a big fan of Fox’s sublime action drama series, “24.”  The show maintains high ratings in its seventh season and, if the message boards on the Interwebs are to be believed, fans are still riveted by the exploits of protagonist Jack Bauer as he races to save the world from yet another terrorist threat.

Season seven has been a reboot of sorts for “24.”  For the first time, the setting is not Los Angeles; this season takes place in Washington DC with a revamped cast.  Jack’s former employer, the Counter Terrorist Unit, has been shut down, and the FBI has taken the lead in stopping the latest terror plot.  The Commander-in-Chief always plays a big role in the show’s storylines, and this season, a new President now occupies the Oval Office.

President Allison Taylor is played by Tony-winning actress Cherry Jones.  Taylor is the first female President in “24’s” progressive universe; since the show began in 2001, two black men have already served as the leader of the free world.

Jones’ portrayal of President Taylor has been the catalyst of much debate among fans of the show.  If message boards and activity on Twitter are any indicator, many find her acting to be absolutely terrible.

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Bashing M*A*S*H

On April 2, NBC’s long-running medical drama “ER” came to a close.  The ratings for the finale were somewhat disappointing; nearly 16.4 million Americans tuned in, a far cry from the ratings for the finales for other hit NBC shows, such as “Seinfield” and “Friends.” 

A historic analysis of these numbers can be difficult. Factors such as the growth of satellite and cable television and the Interwebs have given consumers a wider range of entertainment options. Population growth renders raw viewership numbers an ineffective means of comparison.

However, a single television episode stands alone atop the list of most-watch television events: the series finale of “M*A*S*H.”

I find this fact to be quite depressing, much like the show. It is an indictment of our collective tastes in art.

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Please stop making “Bush is stupid” jokes

Open Letter to All Late Night Talk Show Hosts

To all late night talk show hosts,

I would like to propose an immediate, permanent moratorium on jokes that refer to former President George W. Bush (R-Big Oil) as an idiot.  While I realize that this type of joke has been the bread and butter of your respective comedy routines for the better part of the last decade, these jokes have become trite and uninspired for several reasons.

The Bush administration was a nightmare for all Americans, one which we hope to soon forget.  References to Bush – and his intelligence – pour salt on the collective national wounds that we hope soon heal.

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