Christy!

ZED!!!

Damn! Hi, Christy!

I want to soak in luxury, too.

Don’t kill the massager.

Don’t take it too hard, Prof. I almost never even get here early, never mind a Zed.

You said:

I want to soak in luxury, too.

Don’t we all? I’m thinking that the writers would settle for some pennies on the show residuals, though. But I guess a seaweed wrap is more important.

Stewart & Colbert did right by the writers last night, given the circumstances…

Thank you for not posting a photo of Sumner Redstone on a massage table. *g*

It’s a wrap.

Indeed - they were both on their game and worth watching if other firepups missed both shows.

They seem to be doing their best.

Carefree is only barely a town, really.

I’m surprised Jane didn’t write this, Redd…! *g*

Reminds me of the “Madge, you’re soaking in it” commercial.

Good one!

So here’s a question… I would not cross a picket line. So, should I watch TDS and TCR or should I boycott the shows in support of the striking writers? Any opinions?

Hmmmm…nothing like bad Kharma..you know she’s a biatch.

Moral giant Sumner Redstone

Yesterday, the chairman of CBS’s parent company chose Hong Kong as a place to drop a little bomb. Sumner Redstone, who calls himself a “liberal Democrat,” said he’s supporting President Bush.

The chairman of the entertainment giant Viacom said the reason was simple: Republican values are what U.S. companies need. Speaking to some of America’s and Asia’s top executives gathered for Forbes magazine’s annual Global CEO Conference, Mr. Redstone declared: “I look at the election from what’s good for Viacom. I vote for what’s good for Viacom. I vote, today, Viacom.

“I don’t want to denigrate Kerry,” he went on, “but from a Viacom standpoint, the election of a Republican administration is a better deal. Because the Republican administration has stood for many things we believe in, deregulation and so on. The Democrats are not bad people. . . . But from a Viacom standpoint, we believe the election of a Republican administration is better for our company.

I have not turned on the Daily Show or Colbert yet.

At The Boulders, the writers could get a two bedroom villa there for their picketers for $999 a night. That’s the best available rate for next Sunday and Monday nights.

That’s not a typo. But it is apparently a very nice villa.

Based on last night, I’d watch because they are getting the writers’ message out…Colbert was hilarious on the teleprompter thing. oops, don’t want to spoil.

the studios are really taking a bath on this one…

a mud bath.

Jeez, that’s a awesome quote to wave around right now! Good job! Do it again!

So do you think they threatened to fire, harrass, eliminate, …Stewart, Colbert, Leno, Conan, etal., since they are non-union (non writers’ union), for breach of contract or something like that, to force them to “perform” without their writers?? I mean, I don’t really understand why they went back on, unless it was something like that. Maybe I’m just making a silly assumption.

They’re probably teed off at the writers.

Or at the writer’s expense, they’re teeing off.

One of those, anyway.

ok, good one punaise. no one liked my massager joke…(sticks bottom lip way out).

I rationized watching both Stewart & Colbert last night hoping they would both signal support of their writers. Happily they did - nonetheless this old Alinskyite clearly understood it was an uneasy decision to tune in last evening, if not hypocritical.

Oooo, there’s a shocker, a corporate CEO voting for his company’s best interest… Who’da thunk?

I think it would be nice if Stewart did a “field trip” or whatever the unscripted faux interview with someone outside the studio is called (which doesn’t violate the strike provisions), and went down to talk to the people at The Boulders. You know, just to give some fair treatment and publicity to the Studio Heads.

no one liked my massager joke…(sticks bottom lip way out).

not so: I thought your massage was teh medium.

Is it hypocritical to call your mother if you don’t like the phone company or the phone workers are on strike?

Is this a good analogy? I don’t know. Just trying to rationalize my own weakness maybe.

Over the shoulder Boulders scolders.

Stewart and Colbert have contracts which are currently in force, and they have production obligations as well. If they didn’t go back on, they could (a) be fired, (b) have their shows cancelled meaning everyone else would lose their jobs, (c) get sued, and (d) get blackballed by the studio system meaning they couldn’t get more jobs for others working for their shows in the future. The writers currently do not have active contracts — they expired, and the studios didn’t re-up with the writers under the terms proposed, which is why there is a strike.

Talent and writers are two separate categories in terms of contracts here. As are producers and directors.

The moguls have to put on their best facial.

*g*

Yeah, well, it’s a hell of a reason to vote for the Patriot party - because they may be bad for the country, but the balance sheet…

Thaats bad:):)

Ugh! Err and go braless.

They’ll never be able to mask their true intentions.

owwwwwwwwwwwww.

I want them to invite their own writers on as guests. But maybe the writers don’t think that’s a good idea…

Oh Oh the bottom is dropping out

actually, I was kind of expecting that. Letterman had writers from various shows do the Top Ten List on his first night back…

No no, I think a good case can be made either way, I’m just curious what others here think. On the one hand they have a very large megaphone to use Sumner Redstone’s network to promote the writers’ cause. On the other, watching the show will bring ad revenues back to the corporate coffers.

On top of that, I did catch the bit with John Oliver last night who was both striking and doing a report to prevent being deported, since work visas do not allow foreigners to strike. Now there’s a lovely little Catch-22, eh? Perhaps by going back on the air, Stewart was helping out some folks who could have gotten in trouble with INS.

It’s all a bit of a quandary…

adding insult to injury, axium international, the town’s largest payroll services company, declared bankruptcy yesterday. shut the doors with no notice, leaving productions with payroll they can’t meet, timecards locked behind closed doors, money frozen.

not a good way to start the year.

KO Obama and Hillary insome sort of a love triangle with Darth Vader!!

Wait til Lou Dobbs hears about that!

ok - Richardson is out again…

the guy would make a good politician - maybe an advisor to Willard…

Flip? Well, then -> flop. No problem.

Hah, Now, Richardson’s camp is saying that he’s dropping out… Dayam…!!!

Sorry, Julia, I utterly failed to convey the contempt in my voice that you would have heard had I spoken those words, rather than typed them. Curse, these pitiful fingers of mine ; )

the moguls are showing a lot of chut-spa

Aargh, now I owe you a coke… ;-)

The first night back was all about the strike and Jon did it very well. The guest was a labor relations law prof. from Cornell. Last night he had Bob Shrum. I think I need to strike until the WGA strike is over, much as I miss Jon. Had he kept focusing on the strike then it would be worth supporting him and the show. But Bob Shrum?????

Hoes spa?

So here’s a question… I would not cross a picket line. So, should I watch TDS and TCR or should I boycott the shows in support of the striking writers? Any opinions?

Last night I caught a few minutes of Jon Stewart. Turned the tv off when the “guest” — a right-wing writer — came on.

Question: are other book writers — like “liberal” ones — boycotting The Daily Show & Colbert?

I stayed in Carefree, Arizona for a while, in company with lots of coyotes, piglets, and rattlesnakes.

Aargh, now I owe you a coke… ;-)

I’ll just put it on the bill. *g*

Knock it off CTuttle, how many Twinkies do you think I can afford??? ; ) Ok, I’ll bring an extra pack for jayt, but that’s it!

I stayed in Carefree, Arizona for a while, in company with lots of coyotes, piglets, and rattlesnakes.

Republican convention?

Well, if not “boycotting”, perhaps just refusing to cross the picket line, which amounts to the same thing I suppose.

Heh, I’m stuck behind the eight-ball… ;-)

Hmmmm. I’m thinkin’ Freeway Blogger needs a little getaway weekend in the company of like minded Carefree types for a little stroll along the stretch o’road between the spa and the corporate jetport?

I wouldn’t know, I didn’t cross the picket line to watch them.

707!

Rachel should be coming up on KO shortly. WPITW: Guy from Fixed Noise gets the silver for not believing Begala when he said he wasn’t joining the campaign.

Laura Ingraham and Dick Morris get the gold.

Carefree, The last resort.

Would be nice to crash their party.

or trash it. take your pick.

Will Chris Mathews be there to fluff their, ummm, pillows?

At The Boulders, the writers could get a two bedroom villa there for their picketers for $999 $666 a night.

I have an idea for those network types.

They need some sort of programming that a) doesn’t require sophisticated scripts, b) isn’t as expensive as sports (plus most of the top sports are already on cable), c) doesn’t compete with the reality shows already on the air, and d) actually gets people to watch.

The only solution I can see is…

PORN!

All they have to do is bribe the FCC commissioners the same way they did to get the Market-Ownership restrictions voided. plus it’s an ideal time…people are desperate to watc something on TV rather than those stale old political campaigns and the “Anal-ysis” of Timmeee and Tweeety. So who’s gonna complain?

What with the studios having to fall back on reality shows, game shows, and special events, perhaps Stewart and Colbert could provide commentary for one of those rounds of “championship quality” golf.

(whispering)
Here’s the Big Mogul, looking out over the green . . . he’s lining up his putt . . . there it goes . . .

(shouting)
and it’s in!

(turning to the color commentator)
Bud, what did you think of that putt?

(color commentator)
It was a great save to preserve his quadruple bogey.

(lead commentator)
Absolutely. Now, on to hole number two. . .

Do I think the “upper ranks” generally vote GOP?

sorry, didn’t mean to be humorless, but I am a liberal, you know ;)

Thanks. That is what I thought, but I didn’t know the details. Oy vey. It is really a sticky situation to go back on and suck enough to need (help) your writers, but be good enough to keep your own jobs; especially since most of them were writers to the greats before they even got their own shows…It is so not fair.

HI Deb!
Do we know anyone near by?

Obama got screwed last night.

And so did Ron Paul.

George W. Bush is the most hateful anti-worker president I’ve had the disgusting experience to witness.

*swoon* Rachel…

add to that the color commentary of a seaweed wrap as it dries and contracts. A sure fire hit!

Too bad all of this is happening when everybody is between Iraq and a hardspot.

Hey RG.

Alas, no. I don’t travel in those kinds of circles. or squares, or whatever.

Oooo, there’s a shocker, a corporate CEO voting for his company’s best interest… Who’da thunk?

I don’t give a f**k who he votes for, but when he says he’s gonna “support” a candidate…because it’s best for Viacom…that implies that CBS is going to act in a political manner. After all, doesn’t it send the message to employees that supporting anyone but Bush was actually acting against the interest of the corporation. And that even acting in fairness with candidates was harmful.

So much for the primary duty of broadcast licensees to “act in the PUBLIC INTEREST”!

I figured — I’m also guessing you blog in your jammies and live in your Mom’s basement ; )

Well, I only watched the Support the Writers part…um, yeah. that’s it.

I hate it too, but I don’t want TDS and TCR to lose their mike. It is a dilemma.

I’ll listen to any and all positions either way. See Phred at 43.

“…it’s great when the system goes of the tracks!” Go, Girl…!

Can you just imagine what FDR would be saying and doing about the anti-labor Republican sentiment which is going on now? Whatever happened to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act?

Yes, they are really on the razor’s edge.

jammies?

Hardballs special edition to go live at 11 (EST). A great opportunity to turn off the teevee.

Never been to Carefree, AZ far as I know.

But I did stand on a corner in Winslow, AZ one time.

Not a damned thing happened.

but how many women did you have on your mind?

I understand that’s determinative.

Now now cinnamonape, you are forgetting that corporations are people, just ask the Supreme Court about their protected free speech rights and the 14th amendment and all that. See? Feel better now? The corporate interest is the public interest.

And after you eat this cookie, you’ll feel right as rain…

(Note, heavy heavy sarcasm in all of the above, with appropriate h/t to The Matrix writers : )

Now Abrams trying to cast himself as the sage who tried to dial down Obama on Mon. night.

The biggest problem with all of this—Abrams, Tweety et all is that THEY are not supposed to be the story. The story should be about what the candidates are doing and saying, not what the pundits have to say. SO tired of this.

Waiting for Rachel to sprint to the other studio then after her, it’s over.

or not ; ) me, I get chilly ; )

I dunno, seems to me he is takiing a constructive path here.

But I did stand on a corner in Winslow, AZ one time.

Not a damned thing happened.

No girl, my lord, in a flatbed ford, slowin’ down to take a look at …thee?

Abrams is going to have a firefighter that will blast Ghouliani’s choice of…er..lovenest...Command Center on 9/11….Heh, heh, heh.

I’m already gone.

I guess that’s the trouble. I was just looking for a girl in a flat bed Ford to slow down and take a look at me.

Abrams, is rocking, and, Rachel completed a mad dash between studios…!

I come from a solid blue collar union family background and a commensurate viewpoint. And I ain’t got no intentions of changin’.

Now Abrams trying to cast himself as the sage who tried to dial down Obama on Mon. night.

sickening monday a.m. quarterbacking for sure!

The biggest problem with all of this—Abrams, Tweety et all is that THEY are not supposed to be the story. The story should be about what the candidates are doing and saying, not what the pundits have to say. SO tired of this.

Yes, me too!!

Press criticizing the press like they are not the press. Feh.

If he had said, OK we all need to dial it down, then I agree. But he was shining his own star.

Hey…take it easy…

Pat Buchanan never sleeps…

we may lose we may win
but we will never be here again

crossing Winslow, Arizona, off my “bucket list”….

he’s a vampire.

Even Pat is joining the WTF bandwagon on NH’s results…

My SO is coaxing me into playing a board game up stairs. Workers unite.

lahoma and me.

I wonder what they are talking about on ESPN?

Rachel is one of the sanest voices in the wilderness. “you could explain the results using astrology if you want to.” ha ha!

Winslow is truly a god-forsaken place.

Off Topic…

But I wonder if anyone actually looked at some interesting stuff in those New Hampshire exit polls. [Sorry Perris ,not what you think, they actually do show Edwards did poll about 16-17%].

What interested me was that they actually asked the folks what their religious affiliation and attendance was. And what was a bit of surprise to me was that between 35-40% of those that voted in the Democratic Primary said that they a) didn’t attend church in the last year, and b) had no religious affiliation (the choices were Protestant, Catholic, Muslim or other, or none).

Now that’s really amazing! That means this big push to religiosity is actually likely to backfire for about 1/3rd of the electorate who may be atheist, agnostic, pantheist, or simply some other belief system like Wiccan. But it also means that Non-Believers are actually a Democratic bloc far larger than Jews, Moslems, Mormons, and most Protestant denominations. Turns out that none of the candidates particularly did better amongst these groups, however.

Notice how none of them are talking about the “Tweety Affect?”

We may lose, we may win, but we’ll never be here again… got a world of trouble on my mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd9WBhum_oc

Lawrence (Mormons are racist) O’Donnell is trying to convince us that Hillary is unlikable.

Abrams is trying to convince us how smart he is.

OK, I surrender.

Winslow is truly a god-forsaken place.

And THAT is my primary memory of the place. We were on the proverbial college road trip and stopped there and had dinner. Desolate is another good descriptor.

Notice how none of them are talking about the “Tweety Affect?”

is there any logical reason that man has a job?