Saturday, December 01, 2007

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Goodnight


A Christmas Carol

When it comes to Christmas stories, there are none better than the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol (sorry Ralphie). Published 164 years ago this month, the book has inspired so many retellings, it would be impossible to count, from radio, theater, movies to television, strait forward versions to parodies, and even a couple musicals with everyone from Alastair Sim, George C. Scott and Bill Murray filling the shoes of Ebenezer Scrooge and of course there was Scrooge McDuck. Even Susan Lucci and Vanessa Williams have given female adaptations of the miser. And the remakes keep coming with Jim Carrey will lend his motion capture and voice to a Robert Zemeckis 3D animated version that will come to a theater near you at the end of 2009.

The story of course is a tale of how it is never late to turn your life around and that we are never truly lonely if we do so. And a quick look into his past, present and yet to come, Ebenezer realized himself that it was time to chance before he ended up like his former partner Jacob Marley. It is odd with all the different version of the story, not one Jacob Marley character has given the likeness of Rastafarian like Bob. Mmm, maybe I should write my own version. But anyways.

There have actually been so many retellings of the story that even Scooter McGavin himself has appeared in one. I played a young Ebenezer Scrooge in a classic version, with Victorian clothing and all, and got to make out with the token hot chick for a month or so while “rehearsing.” Nice work if you can get it. That along would get A Christmas Carol inducted to the Scooter Hall of Fame, but considering no mater who made it, or how they reinterpreted, virtually any version of the story is a good one.



Friday, November 30, 2007

25 Days of Christmas Schedule


A wise man once told me this is the most wonderful time of the year. It is so wonderful that even the really cheesy becomes thoroughly entertaining. Okay thanks to radio stations going all Christmas songs all the time since the crack of dawn on Thanksgiving it is sometime to get holidays overload before the first of December rolls around. For those that can’t enough Christmas I have a treat for you, the full programming guide of ABC Families 25 Days of Christmas. Don’t ask me why Harry Potter or The Incredibles are on the schedule. Well maybe I’m just assuming Potter isn’t festive because as a grown man I really know nothing about the franchise aside the gay dude.

Being the tenth annual 25 Days of Christmas, ABC Family is doing something extra special this year ABCFamily.com will host 25 days of sweepstakes giveaways presented by Dodge starting December 1. And since it is presented by Dodge, yep, there is a car give away, in fact four all-new Dodge Grand Caravans will be given away weekly as Grand Prizes while everyday one person will win a $200 Circuit City gift card. Also over at ABCFamily.com, Dodge is also sponsoring Santa’s Scrapbook, an online tool that helps users create online holiday scrapbooks that you can share with family and friends.

As for the schedule of 25 Days of Christmas below, all times are EST and in the PM unless otherwise noted. Also look out for my previews of the ABC Family orginal movies Holiday in Handcuffs and Snowglobe coming soon. Sorry for the all-caps, it was a cut and paste thing:




Saturday, December 1
(7:30 AM) CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY
(9:30 AM) SANTA WHO? – ABC Family Premiere
(11:30 AM) RICHIE RICH’S CHRISTMAS WISH
(1:30) JINGLE ALL THE WAY
(3:30) HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE
(7:00) HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS

Sunday, December 2
(8:00 AM) RICHIE RICH’S CHRISTMAS WISH
(10:00 AM) JINGLE ALL THE WAY
(2:00) HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
(6:00) HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
(9:00 HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

Monday, December 3
(7:00) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(8:00) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(9:00) RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER AND THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS

Tuesday, December 4
(7:00) SNOW (starring Tom Cavanagh and Ashley Williams)
(9:00) SANTA BABY (starring Jenny McCarthy)

Wednesday, December 5
(7:00) ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
(7:30) THE STORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS SNOW
(8:00) I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS
(10:00) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR

Thursday, December 6
(7:00) ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS (starring Kathy Ireland)
(9:00) TWICE UPON A CHRISTMAS (starring Kathy Ireland)

Friday, December 7
(7:00) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(8:00) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(10:30) THE POLAR EXPRESS

Saturday, December 8
(7:00 AM) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY
(9:00 AM) THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS
(10:00 AM) NESTOR, THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY
(10:30 AM) PINOCCHIO’S CHRISTMAS
(11:30 AM) JACK FROST
(12:30) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND
(1:00) TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
(1:30) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(2:30) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(3:30) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(4:30) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(7:00) THE SANTA CLAUSE 2 (starring Tim Allen and Juliet from Lost)
(9:00) THE POLAR EXPRESS

Sunday, December 9
(8:00 AM) PRANCER
(10:00 AM) SONS OF MISTLETOE
(12:00) SANTA JR.
(2:00) STEALING CHRISTMAS (starring Tony Danza and Lea Thomson)
(4:00) SNOW
(6:00) SANTA BABY
(8:00) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS (starring Melissa Joan Hart and Mario Lopez)
(10:00) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS

Monday, December 10
(7:00) MARY POPPINS

Tuesday, December 11
(7:00) JACK FROST
(8:00) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS
(10:00) THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF SANTA CLAUS

Wednesday, December 12
(7:00) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND
(7:30) NESTOR, THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY
(8:00) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(10:30) THE POLAR EXPRESS

Thursday, December 13
(7:00) THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY
(7:30) THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY BOOK II
(8:00) HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN

Friday, December 14
(7:00) THE CHRISTMAS LIST
(9:00) A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER
(7:00) THE CAT IN THE HAT
(7:30) DR. SEUSS ON THE LOOSE

Saturday, December 15
(8:00 AM) A MOM FOR CHRISTMAS
(10:00 AM) A CHRISTMAS ROMANCE (starring Olivia Newton John)
(12:00) CHRISTMAS CAPER
(2:00) CHASING CHRISTMAS
(4:00) CHRISTMAS IN BOSTON (starring Marla Sokoloff)
(6:00) HOLIDAY IN HANDCUFFS
(8:00) SNOWGLOBE (starring Christina Milian)
(10:00) SNOWGLOBE

Sunday, December 16
(7:00 AM) CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG
(10:00 AM) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY
(12:00) THE STORY OF THE FIRST CHRISTMAS SNOW
(12:30) NESTOR, THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY
(1:00) PINOCCHIO’S CHRISTMAS
(2:00) JACK FROST
(3:00) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND
(3:30) ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
(4:00) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(5:00) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(6:00) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(7:00) THE INCREDIBLES
(9:30) THE INCREDIBLES

Monday, December 17
(7:00) PINOCCHIO’S CHRISTMAS
(8:00) JINGLE ALL THE WAY
(10:00) JACK FROST

Tuesday, December 18
(7:00) RUDOLF’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(8:00) SNOWGLOBE
(10:00) ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
(10:30) NESTOR, THE LONG-EARED CHRISTMAS DONKEY

Wednesday, December 19
(7:00 AM) SANTA JR.
(9:00 AM) CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY
(7:00) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(8:00) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(9:00) RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER AND THE ISLAND OF MISFIT TOYS
(10:30) DR. SEUSS ON THE LOOSE

Thursday, December 20
(7:00 AM) PRANCER
(9:00 AM) SONS OF MISTLETOE
(7:00) CAT IN THE HAT
(7:30) THE LORAX
(8:00) HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (live action version)

Friday, December 21
(7:00 AM) A CHRISTMAS ROMANCE
(7:00) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(8:00) MARY POPPINS

Saturday, December 22
(7:00 AM) STEALING CHRISTMAS
(11:00 AM) A VERY BRADY CHRISTMAS
(1:00) SNOWGLOBE
(3:00) ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME
(5:00) MARY POPPINS
(8:00) THE INCREDIBLES

Sunday, December 23
(7:00 AM) ELOISE AT THE PLAZA
(9:00 AM) ELOISE AT CHRISTMASTIME
(11:00 AM) ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS
(1:00) TWICE UPON A CHRISTMAS
(3:00) SANTA WHO?
(5:00) I SAW MOMMY KISSING SANTA CLAUS
(7:00) HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

Monday, December 24
(11:00 AM) JACK FROST
(12:00) RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY
(2:00) FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND
(2:30) ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
(3:00) RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR
(4:00) THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS
(5:00) SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN
(6:00) THE POLAR EXPRESS
(8:30) THE POLAR EXPRESS

Tuesday, December 25
(7:00 AM) RICHIE RICH’S CHRISTMAS WISH
(12:00) A VERY BRADY CHRISTMAS
(2:00) SANTA BABY
(4:00) SNOW
(6:00) THE INCREDIBLES
(8:30) THE INCREDIBLES

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Jesus Was too Smart to Ever Run for Public Office


It really isn’t a shock when I say our political possess is broken. There are more Americans that are not registered to any party than those that are to the parties combined. Yet we let these nut jobs nominate candidates that are far left and far right to the majority of the country. In fact if you belong to either party you, my sir, are a moron. As soon as a party has you in their back pocket, they know that they no longer have to adhere to your concerns much like the blacks and religious zealots for the Democrats and Republicans respectively. (Full disclosure: I registered as a Republican as a bright eyed eighteen year old but am too lazy now to figure out how to unregister. And since in Ohio you can vote in any primary you like just by telling the polling people which one you want to vote in by telling them, it really doesn’t matter what you are registered as except whose propaganda you get sent to ad nausea in October each year.)

This can explain why more people don’t vote than do because who wants to elect the person that they think will screw up the country the least rather than picking the better candidate. The is further exasperated by letting two of the smallest state start the nomination process, especially when only ten percent of the already small population bother to trek in dead of winter to a polling station or caucus. This year is compounded this year with the media’s obsession with having a subway series even those both New Yorkers are unelectable.

With that said, last night’s Republican YouTube Debate was thoroughly enjoyable. Yeah Rudy Giuliani only bothered to laugh at his own video and wouldn’t shake anyone’s hand except when McCain reached over Thompson to do so; you can’t trust Mitt Romney because you can’t trust a man that uses that much hair gel; Fred Thompson showed why the writer’s strike needs to end; and McCain just had the demeanor that said, how can I possibly be losing to these morons.

And you knew the debate was going to great with the early gratuitous shot of Chuck Norris and Giuliani accusing Romney of employing illegal workers with Romney shooting back that Rudy was the best at hiring trustful employees (i.e. Bernie Kerrick). But the best moment was when they lead to commercial with the Thompson submitted video, only for Anderson Cooper to decide to not do so to ask Thompson, “What’s up with that?” I was though disappointed about the types of questions asked, nothing about education, the environment, or health care and way too much time spent on immigration, too many question directed solely at Giuliani and too many people asking for pledges for different stupid things.

If you missed the debate, you can watch all the questions over at the CNN/YouTube Republican Debate page but if you don’t have time to watch the two hour debate, here are the three questions I found most interesting:




Holy frack, a Republican actually talked about education and wasn’t even prompted to do so (unlike earlier when the goof ball Ron Paul suggested we get rid of the Department of Education). No one bothers to point out that much more Americans kill Americans each year than any terrorists. This question also is somewhat like the question I submitted (which I’ll get to later)




Here is where Mike Huckabee lost all the good will he built up with the Chuck Norris. Here he justifies the death penalty when the very next question he said he believed every word of the Bible. I know it has been a while since I’ve opened mine, but I’m pretty sure one of the more important lines in the Good Book is, “Thou shall not kill.” If I am mistaken there isn’t an asterisk to this passage that says it is okay to kill people who killed someone else. And there is another underlining problem with both parties. It makes no sense to me to be pro-life and pro-death penalty or pro-choice and anti-death penalty. You are either for killing people or you are not. I have much more respect for people that have the opposite view than I do than those that tow the party line of having it both ways.




I was completely shocked to know that there was an organization of gay Republicans. I have run into a couple of conservative gays in my life but I didn’t know there were so many of them that they were organized. And calling themselves Log Cabin Republicans is brilliant. I wonder if Dick Cheney’s daughter is a member. Also I wonder if Huckabee, who said he would accept anyone’s endorcement, would accept one from Osama bin Ladin. Granted, that isn’t going to happen because everyone know that bin Ladin obviously supports Hilary Clinton on the left and Rudy Giuliani on the right.


But as for a winner, John McCain was the clear winner. Even though he was in grumpy old man mode throughout the night, whenever he went toe to toe with the other candidate, he easily took the issue whether it was torture with Romney or Paul on the war. Also when everyone was asked what gun they owned, he had the best when he mentioned he knew how to use one when he was fighting for this country but no longer owns one. As a wise man once said, we don’t use guns; we prefer to beat you down like a man.” Mitt Romney on the other hand summed up his whole campaign when he begged Cooper to answer only to say that he had two guns in his house, but there were not his but his son’s. What a tool.

As for my question, here it is in written form. And for any candidate, Democrat or Republican, if you would like to answer it, my e-mail is on the side bar:

In 2001 Terrorist killed around 3000 Americans. That same year, Cancer killed over half a million Americans. Yet in next year’s budget there is $145 Billion going to the Global War on Terror but only $6 Million going to cancer research. Can anyone explain to me why we are spending a significantly less money on something that kills considerably more Americans? And if you were elected president, would you keep these trends on spending on the two?


You can watch random questions from both the Democrat and Republican Debates below:



Wednesday, November 28, 2007

I Want My Music Television vol. XII


There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I though I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form so here they are courtesy of YouTube. I advise you to watch them before you read my reviews if you don’t want me to spoil things. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available, if not the link goes to YouTube where you can watch the video in full screen). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


Say - John Mayer



For those that like free, I got a treat for you; currently you can download this video for free on iTunes. Click the title above to be taken there. On a side note, does anyone know if there is a way to convert video to MP3. I am under the assumption that the video is DRM’ed to the point that it makes it impossible, but I thought I’d ask. And unlike most soundtrack songs that are unlistenable, the new track from John Mayer has a great vibe to it in a John Hiatt kind of way. On the other hand, The Bucket List looks unwatchable. Plus it looks like they spoiled the whole movie anyway with the scene with Jack Nicholson speaking at Morgan Freeman’s funeral.


Follow the Lights - Ryan Adams and the Cardinals



Speaking of free videos for something unwatchable, you can also get this Ryan Adams video for October Road for free on iTunes. It is a crime against humanity that ABC would bring back this show and the equally unwatchable Notes from Underbelly but not Knights of Prosperity. Seriously, would it hurt the channel to bother putting on a show that guys would watch? Ever since it let go of Monday Night Football, the network has turned into the All Broads Channel. No seriously, look up and down the channel and tell me how many of its shows actually appeal to dudes.


Conquest - The White Stripes



You have to put this song and video in the it’s so bad its great category. I’m not sure what possessed The White Stripes to do a cover of a cheesy fifties song, but I am glad they did because it is frakking genius. Then throw in whatever drug induced stupor person that thought up having a flirting bull and you have one of the most enjoyable three minutes of the year.


Shawdowplay - The Killers



I am beginning to think that The Killers rarities disk may actually be better than Sam’s Town. The song is obviously their take on the Joy Division classic and the scenes from the video are from the upcoming band’s bioflick, Control.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

I Wanna Forget How Convention Fits


Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga - Spoon

One would assume that the name to the latest Spoon album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, was named after the sound the pretentious types sound like whenever Spoon releases a new album. Personally I tend not to fawn over bands that make synthesizer riffs that come suspiciously close to ripping of Bon Jovi’s Runaway (see: The Ghost of You Lingers).

Bon Jovi riffs aside; the rest of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is definitely more hit than miss. The sparse chords of the opener Don’t Make Me a Target will have you singing along after repeat plays no mater how many times Chuck uses the chorus ad nausea. And Don’t You Evah has one of the funkiest baselines since Crazy.

Then there is The Underdog which was the greatest pop song of the year that wasn’t technically popular. How the horn section of the song didn’t become the second most whistled melody of the year after Peter, John and Bjorn’s Young Folks is beyond me. I know I have caught myself whistling it to myself too many times over the last couple months. And the song works on so many levels, the line “you have no fear for the underdog that’s why you will not survive” could be about bullies to politicians who care more about corporations than their constituents.

The MVP of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is Britt Daniels, last seen serenading Veronica Mars with, well, Veronica, and his distinctive voice that sounds like his vocal chords had been rubbed down with sandpaper, but in a good way. With December approaching and the bombardment of Best of 2007 list getting ready to start, you may want to check out this albums so you see it near the top of everyone’s list and go, “Who?”

Song to Download - The Underdog

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga gets a Terror Alert Level: High [ORANGE] on Terror Alert Scale.



Monday, November 26, 2007

I Am, What the Kiddies Call Today, the Bomb-Diggity


Before I get all self-congratulatory I want to point out to all the television fans, or have ones on you Christmas list, be sure to check out the Amazon Deal of the Day widget on the sidebar as today you can get first ballot Scooter Hall of Fame inductee Buffy the Vampire Slayer for under $100. For those keeping track at home that is $13.57 per season or $.66 per episode. If only I didn’t have most of the seasons all ready. Of course if you look and Buffy isn’t there then the deal is over (which will be sometime midnight PST). But there will be a new deal from now until Christmas. Now onto the self-congratulations.

A couple weeks ago I received an e-mail with the subject, “Comment on Your Blog (want to include it in my book)”. I am a little hesitant whenever I get something like this because they usually are shams. But after a couple e-mails back and forth with the author Vicky Zhou this one looks to be on the up and up. In fact here is what Vicky has to say about the book in her own words.


Scooter McGavin's 9th Green to Be Included In Top 500 Blogs

Back in the day, if you didn't know HTML, or code, you couldn't publish content on the web. Well, nowadays with tools such as Wordpress, and services like Blogspot, and Xanga, anyone.. yes anyone can tell the whole world what is on their mind through blogging.

But, there really isn't a robust way to search for the best blogs on any specific topic. Sure, there's Technorati, but what else? Besides, much of the World Wide Web is full of splogs, spam, and made-for-adsense blogs. And how many times have you read the same exact post over and over in different blogs?

That is why a project, listing the top blogs by general categories would prove useful. The book, titled “The Top 500 Blogs” is being written by relationship expert Vicky Zhou. From topics ranging from dating to technology, lifestyle, sports, music, health and fashion, the books aims to be a comprehensive list of the top 500 blogs on the World Wide Web.

The Top 500 Blogs will be out in bookstores in Q4 of 2008. Scooter McGavin's 9th Green will be included in the category of “Personal Blogs”, so keep an eye out for that!


(Scooter’s note: Whenever I get more news about the book, I’ll pass it along here. And don’t worry; when I am famous and all I’ll still have time for the little people. Well, at least I’ll try to.)

Sunday, November 25, 2007

57 Channels and Only This Is On vol. IX


Quote of the Week: Death by scratch and sniff: what the hell happened to people shooting each other with guns? (Emerson, Pushing Daisies)

Song of the Week: Only Wanna Be with You - Hootie and the Blowfish (Journeyman)

Big News of the Week: No Seriously, Scooter McGavin Should Write This Crap: Please, if you will, hop into the Scooter McGavin Time Machine (patent pending) all the way back to November 18, 2007 where I wrote right here on the 9th Green talking about Chuck, and I quote (well technically copy and paste): “the preview hyped the biggest secret yet next week. Is there anyplace where I can buy Bryce Is Still Alive stock?” Maybe I should add Dap to my wishlist just in case anyone wanted to send me some. Unfortunately I couldn’t call Noah being brought to life with the use of Claire’s blood which I said after he got shot in the eye here because Heroes went ahead and pulled out that plot twist before the episode ended. Oh well.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:

How to pick up Yvonne Strahovski


Chuck: The show being completely predictable aside, I actually didn’t see Lou being part of a food smuggling ring, luckily that led to the great scene with Jayne poising as an FDA agent. Granted the best scene was the Indian dude hitting on the Token Hot Chick (see picture above). Unfortunately that was ruined by a heavy dose of Morgan this week. C’mon, if they can bring Bryce back to life, they can make it that Morgan and Harry Tang switch places and Tang is back at the Buy More and Morgan is in Hawaii. Check out the latest episodes over at NBC.com. You can also download Chuck on iTunes.


How I Met Your Mother: Watching this episode reminded me how much I missed The Big Bang Theory this week (are they out of episodes already?). They really should have left the Slap Back in season two. Check out the latest episodes over at Innertube. You can also download How I Met Your Mother on iTunes.


Heroes: Without the dude who can’t act around this week, Elle was much more tolerable this week. It should be interesting to see what she does with the information that Noah gave her this week about the Haitian erasing the bad memories of her childhood. Unfortunately dude that can’t act will be back next week with yet another tease that he might die with Hiro putting a sword to his neck in the preview. Please, please for the sake of decent acting, please have Hiro end him for once and for all. Check out the latest episode over at NBC.com.


Journeyman: I have been waiting for Dan to do something in the past that changes his future. Unfortunately they didn’t have the fortitude to change anything drastic, just a conversation that wasn’t had. Oh, and now child predator is now out for revenge on Dan. Hopefully they explain how dude found Dan because I don’t know how you find someone you’ve seen only three times. Maybe I missed something where Dan gave away too much this episode. Check out the latest episode over at NBC.com. You can also download Journeyman on iTunes.


Pushing Daisies: This was the first episode of the series where I actually guessed the culprit before the Scooby Gang pulled the mask off. Never trust a germaphobe, they always turn out to be the evil doing. But I’m not sure which of Emerson’s hobbies I like better, knitting or pop-up books maker. And it should be interesting to see how Pee-Wee will fit into all of this. Does he know that Chuck is dead or did he just steal her sweater because he is skeevy? Check out the latest episodes over at ABC.com.


Survivor: Stupid clip show. So the third time in as many week we get a tease that there will be something big after tribal council. I doubt whatever they do can possibly live up to the hype now. Check out the latest episode over at Innertube.

Survivor on iTunes



Next Week’s Pick: The CNN/YouTube Republican Debate, Wednesday 28 at 8:00 on CNN: The last YouTube debate featuring the Democrats, and only debate I have watched so far this political season, saw an snowman, a pair of hillbillies, and a clinically insane dude who called a gun his kid ask questions. After most of them ducked the originally scheduled event this summer, now all eight Republican candidates have signed up for this one. Will John McCain sing any Beach Boys tunes? Will Rudy Giuliani be able to use a sentence that doesn’t include just a noun, a verb, and 9/11? Will the Leave Britney Alone Dude ask Mitt Romney how he will protect Ms. Spears from illegal immigrants? Will Mike Huckabee bring Chuck Norris along? Will Hillary Clinton be able to answer a question that wasn’t planted? (Oh wait, I guess we won’t have to worry about that conundrum.) Will any of the candidates bother answering one of my questions (which I did today, which is the deadline)? Speaking of Huck and Chuck, below is the greatest political ad ever in the history of the world. Saturday Night Live hasn’t had a political sketch this funny in a decade (fun fact: Mike Huckabee's band Capitol Offense has opened for Willie Nelson).



In a programming note, the debate over laps Pushing Daises that will be airing at a special time, 9:00, this week, so make sure you set your VCR (or Tivo’s for you pretentious types).