philly

Clooney to do Live Remake of 'Network'

Just read in the WaPo that George Clooney is going to do a live remake of Network, the 1976 classic. I first saw Network just before the election and I loved it. I can't believe I only saw that film so recently.

Clooney told the AP that when he screened the film for a group of "young people," none of them recognized that it was a dark satire:

"I couldn't understand it, [then] I realized that everything Chayefsky wrote about happened. . . . And so, suddenly, the idea that the anchor is more important than the news story, and that you'd be doing sort of reality-based shows, all happened," Clooney said in the interview.

Quite true. I saw it as a pretty scary film, seeing it for the first time in 2004 and knowing it was made in 1976. The news must have been pretty cool back then.

No word as to when this live event will air. When it does, it'll be on CBS.

Remember that live ER back in the day?

Oh The Daily Show

How I love thee. The bit on reporters and the hurricanes with Ed Helms starting off the report with a 'survivor' slung over his shoulders to the 'This Week in God' with Steven Colbert [it's French, bitch] in total hurricane mode. That bit was 'debatable' oh the hilarity. Pat Robertson has his own health drink. Good God.

And Mehlman wasn't on tonight. I don't know why. Was it because he chickened out? I dunno. Haven't read anything on it. He was replaced by Dr. Irwin Redlener Associate Dean, Mailman School of Public Health [Colulmbia University] and Director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness. He didn't brighten my day.

Ken Mehlman on The Daily Show

Tonight on The Daily Show is RNC Chair Ken Mehlman. Should be a good one.

NJ Gubernatorial Debate

Tonight will be the first debate between Senator John Corzine and Republican contender Doug Forrester. Matt from Corzine Connection points out some things to look out for during the debate.

The debate will be televised on NJN at 8p [I know I get that channel through Comcast here in Philly] and streamed online on NJN.net.

This brings to mind the set of debates Chuck Pennacchio suggested to fellow Democratic Senate candidate Bob Casey Jr.. Chuck's issues page. Bob's issues page. I haven't seen anything on Chuck's blog nor in the form of emails from either camp. I'd love to see a set of debates.

HW Bush in the Booth

Yuck, he managed to mention "A thousand points of light" during his five minutes in the booth with the commentators. Good grief. What catch phrase is Billy supposed to say during his five minutes? Does he get some face time too?

Giants v Saints

I wonder if W will make a point to stop by the Giants v. Saints game tonight to make a big 9/11 - Katrina relation.

I really hope he doesn't. He'd ruin everything.

It'll be the first time I see the GMen this season. Go Giants!

Snazzy Frontline

Frontline has a snazzy new website up. You can still watch all of their past programs. Now that's some fucking bandwidth.

Joe Hoeffel Exposure

Joe Hoeffel is gonna be all over the place very soon. He's started a campaign [his word] to increase the minimum wage in Pennsylvania piggybacking on Rep. Mark Cohen's HB 257. HB 257 states [from Joe's blog]:

This bill will raise our minimum wage to $6.15 per hour by January 1, 2006, in line with neighboring states, and further increase it to help bring low wage workers out of poverty with an increase to $7.15 per hour by January 1, 2007. Perhaps most importantly the bill will incorporate a cost of living increase to be enacted every January 1st after 2007 to ensure that the working poor can provide for their families in the future.

Joe will take the petition eSignatures to Harrisburg.

Joe will be on CN8's "It's Your Call" with Lynn Doyle speaking on the preparedness of the country in the event of another large natural disaster or act of terrorism. The show is on from 9pm - 10pm. Right during the first half of the Iggles season opener on Monday Night Football down in the ATL. I'll be flipping back and forth [what a geek] during the first half.

I think he's slowly building up steam and keeping his name out there, speaking out on some big issues floating around nationally and on the local state-level. Keeping his name out there for a not-too-far-off run for something. I'd like to see him do that. I'm saddened that he gave into the pressures of the DLC and backed Bob Casey Jr. so far off from the primary. Chuck Pennacchio is the one that deserved his support.

HBO: Rome

One thing I will be doing while Lady is at class and studying is watching the new HBO series Rome which I missed last night, but is already on On Demand. I'll be watching that right when I get home. Sweetness.

Savage on Real Time

Dan Savage said it very well on Real Time with Bill Maher after bringing up about Ann Coulter's comment on when she said that Timothy McVeigh would've done more for America if he had parked his truck under the NY Times building.

The left is snide and sarcastic. The right is dangerous and violent.
-Dan Savage 8.26.05 on Real Time

I couldn't agree more.

More recently, Coulter had this to say

COLMES:...And I want to ask you about something, Ann, that you wrote in your most recent column. You had a very funny line, actually, that it is hard to find a parking spot in New York City. There's no question about it. You've had a pretty good day if you can do that.
But then you said, "It's far preferable to fight them on the streets of Baghdad than in the streets of New York, where the residents would immediately surrender." Now, some New Yorkers...
HENICAN: Ooh...
COLMES: ... felt that you were calling them cowards by making that statement.
COULTER: No, I think I was calling them supporters of Cindy Sheehan.
COLMES: Is that what that is? You certainly don't feel that New Yorkers are cowards?
COULTER: I think they would immediately surrender.
COLMES: So you do?
COULTER: I don't -- I don't think -- I think I'd rather have them trying to invade Mississippi or Georgia, Alabama, you know, the states where I want Cindy Sheehan's bus tour to go.
Hannity and Colmes August 25, 2005