Surfin' the Net - Baseball Player Glasses
Rating - 2 stars
www.joesportsfan.com
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Rating - 2 stars
www.joesportsfan.com
Denver Broncos player David Kircus recently took an extreme measure to keep his job. He's facing second degree assault charges after a punch he threw landed some guy in the hospital with multiple facial fractures.
First off . . some punch!
Kircus claims he acted in self defense, and the Broncos made him an offer: take a lie detector test. Fail it, you're cut. Pass it, you keep your job regardless of the charges. Kircus passed.
This got me thinking. What if some of my past employers gave me a chance to clear my name of suspected wrongdoings? And not even for transgressions OUTSIDE of work.
"Pat, did you shake 4 bags of Cheetos from the vending machine?"
"No."
"Did you call our AM show and make up events for the 'Community Calendar' segment"?
"No."
"Did you tell the intern he had to go out and shovel snow off the satellite dishes?"
"No."
"Did you type 'Pat is a sexy man' in your co-anchor's script without her knowing?
"No."
"Did you prank call our Master Control Operator and ask him on a date, prompting him to call the police."
"No, and I'm not glad I blocked Caller ID before doing it."
I know what you're thinking:
Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time!
My career may have turned out differently had that black cloud not been following me. Kircus is a lucky guy. He had the opportunity to prove his accusers wrong. I'm still known as the guy who sent 27 lucky viewers to "Brats for Breakfast."
So last week, a bunch of folks came in dressed like characters from STAR WARS to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original film.
Paul took a picture with the group.
As you can see, for someone who may be the only person in the free world never to have seen STAR WARS, he looked eerily at home among these kindred spirits
I wouldn't be surprised if we seem him at the next "Death Star Destruction Renactment" convention.
This picture is courtesy of my 4 and 1/2 year old daughter.
Yes, the little brat got a hold of the digital camera and decided to capture what is a frequent occurrence in the Warner home.....parents so tired after work that they fall asleep on the kid and she's left to fend for herself.
I guess she'd had enough and started to collect her evidence to make a case against us one day.
Well, when I was printing off some pictures I discovered this one and actually had to laugh.
My husband, Wallace, and I were worn out this day.
I'm sure he's going to kill me for posting this picture, but it's kind of funny!
Please, don't call DCFS on us.
We really are good parents.
I swear.
Just a little tired sometimes.
Val
In celebrity relationships, 5 years together is like the Golden Anniversary. But instead of sitting back in a rocker on the porch, reminiscing about your chance meeting at an ice cream social 50 years ago, you're at a patio table at The Ivy, trying to piece together the night you met at that hot club down on Sunset, which used to be a different hot club when you met there.
This is why it's so sad to hear that Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias have broken up.
Thankfully, we have enduring images of their romance to sustain us- photos which became a staple of Us Weekly.
Them making out and groping each on the beach.
On a park bench.
On a boat.
At a Lakers game.
On a bathroom sink.
They stopped just short of wearing vials of each other's blood around their necks. This was one passionate couple. But some people hate it when couples display affection for each other like that. I use a different, yet equally strong word for it.
IMPRESSIVE!
Most people are happy if they can find someone whose presence they can stand for 5 years, let alone someone they can't keep their hands off of! Usually 5 years into a relationship, the only significance the word "Nooner" takes on is lunch!
So I mourn the end of Enrique-Kova. These two sex-crazed kids showed us that it's OK to swallow a loved one's head in public, without regard for how it might make others feel, or how our parents will think they failed in raising us.
Rating - 3 stars
www.egreetings.com
High-profile marriages are a tricky arrangement. Inevitably, one of the spouses will become more famous than the other, and the less famous one might eventually be known simply for being married to the more famous one.
Racecar driver Dario Franchitti is in one such marriage. Even sports fans know him as "the guy who's married to Ashley Judd" (not necessarily a bad thing to be known for). And that's because we who cover sports don't let you forget about it. I'll tell you why that is.
Because most of us are men!
You've obviously seen a baseball game on TV before? The fans they show throughout the course of the game, what do most of them look like?
This is what happens when camera guys are given a 20x zoom lens and asked to find "interesting shots" during breaks. Now depending on the city, finding an attractive woman can take a lot of time and effort. But throw one in there and announce it to the crew, including where she's sitting?!?!
It's like throwing a bloody bucket of chum in a shark tank.
Well, not like THAT of course! He and I are doing this Bally's Fitness Challenge and, even though we're on the same team, there's a little bit of competition here. He keeps prancing around bragging about his "six-pack-abs" which I actually haven't seen and until I do, I don't believe it. Sometimes our workouts overlap and we wind up doing crunches together. I saw him checking me out (don't deny it Pat!) and I know he wants to win this thing. So the other morning I walked into the sports office and opened up my blazer to show off my shrinking figure. "Ha!" I said to him and walked away. He got the message though. Don't mess with me unless you're willing to go the distance!
Then today I'm wearing a black blouse, black short(er) skirt, and red high heel shoes. He told me I wasn't dressed appropriately for work. He's just jealous! But while we're on the subject of clothes.... I haven't worn this skirt in ages. It is short, mid-thigh, and I haven't felt like my legs have looked good enough to wear it. They're far from perfect but they look better than they have in a long time. So why not show them off right? In a blog last week I wrote that Kay, my trainer, wanted me to try on a pair of pants that I couldn't get into two weeks ago. Well, they fit!!!!! I am amazed that I have lost close to ten pounds in two weeks. Kay at Bally's is truly incredible at training and nutrition. I know I scrunch my nose at her or roll my eyes when she says "One more time." But I am so grateful to have had this opportunity! Ten to twelve more pounds to go.
Pat Tomasulo eat your heart out!
Marcella
The WGN Morning staff is laughing at page 7 of the Sun-Times, a huge add featuring our former lovers Randy Salerno and Roseanne Tellez. The ad reports "ratings up 67%*."
Note the asterisk. They're up in the 25-54 demo compared to a year ago.
It sounds impressive, until you put it in context.
They went up from a 0.2 to a 0.4 at 5am. I know you have no perspective on rating numbers but a "zero" is about as bad as it looks. When you are starting with a 0.2, you could put my divorced parents on the set reading news, and hope to get a 0.4.
Randy and Roseanne are not to blame. Not only are they are beautiful and talented, but they are dear friends and we care a great deal about both of them. Part of the problem is that you cannot just turn the Titanic like Steve McQueen spinning a Mustang during a chase scene.
Now that the May ratings book is over, let me show you the charts and graphs to give you the full perspective. Newspapers are fond of reporting the overall viewership, but well-manicured TV executives care about the advertising demos, and in those two demo categories WGN is #1 from 5am to 9am.
Here is part of the breakdown:
6AM ADULTS 25-54
WGN 2.1
WLS 2.0
MAQ 1.5
FOX 1.5
6AM OVERALL VIEWERSHIP FROM A YEAR AGO
WGN +51%
WLS -5%
MAQ -22%
FOX -31%
7-9AM ADULT DEMOS 25-54
WGN 1.8
WLS 1.5
MAQ 1.3
FOX 1.1
7-9AM OVERALL VIEWERSHIP FROM A YEAR AGO
WGN +27%
WLS -18%
MAQ +1%
FOX -13%
Furthermore, WLS was down 58% at 5am. So we call all this an ol' fashion (butt) kickin'.
I don't suspect WGN will buy an ad, give us a cake, or throw us a ticker-tape parade...but I am considering an inter-office memo.
Don't get me wrong---I don't blame Channel 2 General Manager Joe Ahern for blowing it our or proportion. You have to act like winners, even when you are losing, and I respect his competitiveness. But I just wanted to place this blog as an asterisk on the Channel 2 ad's asterisk to give loyal morning show viewers a better understanding of the competitive morning show race.
So we have won the May book and we are quite happy---at least for six more days, until the June ratings book begins and we'll go back to worrying about slipping back to being a comfortable #2 to the highly paid staff at Channel 7.
These days it is not unusual to see a tornado through your windshield, or a dinosaur in your rear view mirror. On the big screen, we hardly give it a second thought---we have become so immune to computer generated graphics in our movies. But in 1977, when rebel lasers first blew up Imperial Fighters and lit the darkness of space with explosions, the spectacle stunned children and adults alike. As a death star was destroyed, a Jedi culture was born.
Today marks the 30th anniversary of Star Wars, which means many of those young “American-Jedi” are in the late 30’s and 40’s. Cris Macht of Gilberts Illinois debuts his documentary on Star Wars fans, titled: The Force Among Us. The DVD is available starting today at www.theforceamongus.com.
In it, he introduces several fans, including:
*For a Jedi couple, family planning means deciding whether "little Luke" will watch the three prequels before the original three films.
*Another man said he was able to fulfill his childhood dream when he joined an organization where everyone dresses as Darth Vader’s stormtroopers.
*A woman thinks about making the revealing chain-link Princess Leia slave costume to wear for her husband on their anniversary.
“It’d be hard to hide making it for him. It might backfire—he might want me to wear it all the time.”
But while the fans like the ones previously mentioned are included, Macht's goal was to break the stereotypes of the geeky and anti-social Star Wars fans, who often show up to premiers dressed as Darth Vader or Yoda.
The film is intensely personal to Macht. His dad passed away in 1982, and at age 7, Cris was the head of the household, which included his younger brother and sister. He says he had to grow up fast, and he felt like he missed much of his childhood. Then, he rediscovered Star Wars and started watching it differently.
“I wanted to go back to a better time—to childhood. [Star Wars] was like a time machine. I started watching the movie deeper,” Macht said.
He particularly identified with the storyline about Luke, and trying to know his father.
“These films can be used as a tool to get through the hard times that life throws you,” Macht said. “They show you that there is a new hope for tomorrow.”
One parent in the documentary explains how Star Wars films and action figures finally got his autistic son to “come out of his shell.” Finally, father and son had something fun they could do together.
John Tenuto, Professor of Sociology of the College of Lake County, conducted a study on Star Wars stereotypes and is featured in the film. He says part of the popularity, is the timing.
“They came out after Vietnam and Watergate, when there was a lot of confusion about heroes. The first three were basic: good was good; bad was bad. People needed that,” Tenuto said. “The newer films speak to that issue but it’s more complex. The evil guy is ‘understandably’ evil.
Tenuto says like any art, it fulfills a need. One fan in the documentary said the Star Wars storyline fulfilled a need for ethical guidance.
“I grew up in a rough family situation. Star Wars gave me values as a kid that I didn’t get from my parents. I learned about good and evil from Star Wars.”
“Star Wars is safer. In a diverse society, how do you speak to a Catholic and a Protestant?” Tenuto said. “Science Fiction is better at talking about social issues and current events because the audience has so much baggage. [In science fiction] it’s in a place far away. There’s this fairy tale element.”
News clips of popcorn-eating Yodas are always good for a laugh, but The Force Among Us shows there’s more to these fans underneath the rubber mask.
Rating - 4 stars
www.theforceamongus.com
I'm not one for picking fights, but if I was, I certainly would not pick one with a professional hockey player, especially during an actual game, WHILE he was already in the penalty box. Of course, a layer of plexiglass has made a Chuck Liddell out of many a man. Here's a look at one such man from Manchester, New Hampshire. Notice the striking resemblance to Turtle from "Entourage."
Oakland Raiders fans are often portrayed as vulgar, leather-clad, spike-wearing, beer-swilling, Harley-riding deviants. And it turns out . . .
They're worse.
But the Raiders themselves perpetuate this image. Team owner Al Davis has long been known for seeking out the nastiest, dirtiest, most suspect characters in the NFL, and adding them to his collection of misfits. Jack Tatum. Lyle Alzado. Bill Romanowski. Randy Moss.
But here's the story of one member of Raider nation whom Al Davis learned about much too late.
Despite Michael Vick's recent bad press, it seems that a comment he made to an Atlanta TV station earlier this week is true.
"Everywhere I go, all around the world, people still support Mike Vick! Regardless of what I go through, people are still gonna love me!"
Vick is obviously talking about the young oprhans in Sudan, and the refugees in Lebanon who have his posters all over their walls.
But there's a young girl closer to the ATL with a soft spot in her heart for Mr. Mexico, as well.
http://www.myspace.com/pattomasulo
Rating - **
www.turtilla.com
I'm hungry.
Marcella
Hello,
Last night Skilling debuted the new Weather Bug Network here at WGN.
Everyone I run into who asks about it says..."What is it? What's the big deal?"
Well here is the big deal:
The WGN WeatherBug Network has access to 150+ local weather tracking stations in the Chicagoland area, part of a national network of 8,000 tracking stations.
With this network, we'll be able to provide you with real-time weather data on-air and online 24/7.
Now to the average schlumpot it might sound like it's no big deal...
But to Skilling...the guy is bouncing off the ceilings here telling me and anyone else who will listen that he can tell you the temperature right now anywhere from Ponka Lonka, Idaho to Aroma Park, Illinois.
Gosh that guy is fun.
Anyway, I am using it in the mornings now and hopefully it will be of benefit to you.
The data is pretty cool and useful.
Take a few minutes and poke around at it.
It's pretty exciting.
Please keep your clothes on.
Konrad
In case you haven't read or heard, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is being investigated for possible involvement in a dog fighting ring at a property he owned. There is a mountain of evidence, but Vick says he had no idea what was happening there because he didn't live at the house- a relative did.
Exactly! It's just like in high school, when your buddy left a half-empty bottle of Jack in your car, and the Vice Principal found it and suspended you! Except . . . this wasn't a car, this was a sprawling Virginia estate. And 60 dogs, a pit ring, treadmills and kennels don't exactly roll under the passenger seat.
Perhaps we should have expected as much from the man who calls himself "Ron Mexico"- the details of why, I won't get into. Just google "Michael Vick" and "herpes," and it will become sickeningly/hilariously clear. Trust me.
But now, another NFL player is not only coming out in support of Vick, but of dog fighting. Redskins running back Clinton Portis knows it's a felony, but in his words, "it can't be that bad of a crime."
Okay, so I’ve been told I’m obese. And I don’t think it’s just a ploy to get my butt in gear. My BMI, or body fat, is high, higher than it’s ever been. So what does a Type A personality like myself do about this? She tries to fix it! With the help of Kay at the Webster Bally’s, I’ve lost at least 5 pounds already. I say “at least” because I haven’t weighed myself since Friday when one week of the diet and exercise had been completed. But I’m already getting compliments from people. “Your face looks thinner.” A slight tan helps. “What have you done with your hair?” Not much actually. “Your pants are getting bigger.” Actually they are and I point it out to anyone who asks how my challenge is going. Kay wants me to try on a pair of pants on Friday, the two week mark, that I haven’t been able to wear since last summer. Yikes! I try to work out at least four times a week and at least three of them with Kay, baring any breaking news in Plainfield. Some weeks are better than others. The first week I got to Bally’s only once. Last week I made it three times.
I’m including the diet I’m on in this blog. When I first saw it I thought Kay was on something! You actually want me to survive on a 7 almond snack? Maybe the times I ate about three handfuls wasn’t such a good idea, but only 7? I have done it though. I count them out in the morning and put them in a baggie. It’s rough this diet and exercise thing but when you’re “obese” like I am, you gotta do something!
14 – Day Meal Plan
1. Breakfast – Protein shake
2. MidMorning Snack - ** to keep your metabolism up, you must fuel your body every three hours. Have a snack that’s very high in protein to hold you over longer.. 3 ounces of canned tuna (in water), or small serving of low-fat egg salad.
3. Lunch – Eat your largest meal here. Lean source of protein (6 ounces of chicken breast or fish) with half a plate of your favorite vegetables… steamed broccoli or spinach or kale! Try to stay away from carrots or corn, they have a very high carb content.
4. Mid-Afernoon Snack – Seven raw almonds or 3 ounces of roasted chicken on its own.
5. Dinner – Protein shake. Finish up your day with protein gives your body the amino acids it needs for your muscles to repair themselves. Also, it avoids your body from having to work to digest food while you sleep which will ensure better quality rest and you’ll wake up hungry and well rested!!
Things you will avoid the next two weeks.
1. Alcohol
2. Bread
3. Starchy Carbs (carrots, potatoes, rice, pasta and corn)
4. Dairy (contains lots of lactose which is sugar and leads to bloating)
5. Sweets (no fruit juice, diet or regular soda, no honey or molasses and obviously candy or refined sugar),
6. Fruit and Most Fats – take a 500mg Fish Oil tablet or 1tsp of flaxseed oil in your protein shake.
Marcella
Rating - 3 stars
www.spinner.com
Viewer Sandi Dermody requested this recipe:
Ingredients:
2 8 ounce packages cream cheese
8 slices white bread
1 dozen large eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 cup syrup
Directions:
Tear bread into pieces. Put in a 9 x 13 pan. Cube cream cheese, put on bread. Mix eggs, milk and syrup. Pour over cheese and bread. Refrigerate overnight. Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.
Shrek The Third Review
1.4 billion dollars in its two previous outings can’t be all wrong. Shrek One and Shrek Two were great.; inventive, fresh and funny…but it's been 6 years since the first film and all good green things have to, if not end, certainly, slow down.
Don’t get me wrong. Shrek The Third is not a bad movie. It's just seeing an old friend who was once gorgeous, whose now, a little grey, a little heavier and a little slower. Not bad…. just showing signs of age.
In the new installment, Shrek's got a lot on his green mind. He and Fiona are about to become new parents. Fiona’s father is about to expire and Shrek is in line to take over the kingdom of Far, Far Away but he doesn't want any part of it so he seeks out another descendent.
Shrek, Donkey and Puss and Boots set out to find a young cousin, voiced by Justin Timberlake. While they're gone, a takeover attempt by Prince Charming and every fairy tale comic book bad guy is attempted. That’s where the evil starts and that’s where nothing very clever really kicks in.
There’s opportunity after opportunity for Shrek's signature edgy humor only the edge has gone dull. Not awful…just not as sharp as we've gotten used to.
Is it still worth seeing? Yes!
Will you be blown away like you have in the past? No.
It’s still beautiful animation, the voice provided by Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Anotnio Banderas and the gang are all fine and great for kids but the multi-levels of genius writing is one dimensional this time.
The old ogre is getting tired. A Dean’s List C.
An update on May viewership is in.
In the two main demographics, more people watch WGN Morning News 6-9am than any other station.
Let's look at one of those demos.
18-49 year olds:
We had 29% more viewers than channel 7 at 6am.
We had 125% more viewers than WMAQ and FOX.
(Channel 2 is way way far behind)
From 7-9am:
We had 33% more viewers than Good Morning America and The Today Show.
We had 78% more viewers than Fox.
Thank you for watching!
DAYCARE HIDES KIDS IN CLOSETWBIR in Tennessee reports that three crying infants were found in a utility closet next to a water heater and electrical box. It happened during a suprise inspection by the state.
The Department of Human Services reported that there was "an immediate threat to the health, safety and welfare of the children."
www.wbir.com
RIGHTS FOR SHORT AND FAT PEOPLE
Lawmakers in Massachusetts are considering complaints from people that they are being discriminated against, based on their height and weight. Massachusetts could be just the second state to bar discrimination based on height or weight.
DEEP SEA TREASURE
Deep-sea explorers said Friday they have mined what could be the richest shipwreck treasure in history, bringing home 17 tons of colonial-era silver and gold coins from an undisclosed site in the Atlantic Ocean. Estimated value: $500 million.
Court records indicate the coins might come from a 400-year-old ship found off England.
Citing security concerns, the company declined to release any details about the ship or the wreck site Friday.
Unless you've been to one, you really can't describe a WORLD STAGE event. Every concertgoer anticipates those rare moments when a guest star "drops in" and provides a chance to see and hear artists play together who might not normally share the stage at the same time. Imagine a whole concert like that…
Well, this morning, singer/songwriter Jim Peterik (IDES OF MARCH, SURVIVOR) and singer/songwriter Kelly Keagy (NIGHT RANGER) gave our viewers a taste of that…with the equally talented assistance of Mike Aquino ( on mandolin) and singer Lisa McClowry.
Here they are after the show giving us a special web exclusive performance off of Kelly Keagy's new solo album called "I'm Alive." It drops, as the kids say, on August 17th. This song called "A Life Worth Remembering" was written by Kelly and Jim Peterik. For more information on both of these great artists and about Jim Peterik's World Stage 2007, go to www.jimpeterik.com or www.myspace.com/kellykeagy
-- Jeff Hoover, producer
Rating - 2 stars
www.petpalio.com
Looking at this photo it would be easy to think that this was just another comedy bit acted out by our behind-the-scenes folks that grabbed some costumes out of the old Bozo closet. Nope. Actually that might have been better than these clowns that call themselves "Happenin' Harry and the Haptones."
If you saw them, I think you'll agree on this. They weren't Happenin.' But, they were hairy.
These tattoo-ed, body pierced, tartar-toothed pirates are a part of an oddball cast of rockers from bands such as Guns N' Roses, Train, Brides of Destruction, Speedbuggy and several other groups that you've never heard of before. Well, they had me at Guns N' Roses. Unfortunately, Dizzy didn't show up. He was "not feeling well and needed his sleep." OK. Well, at least we had Charlie from Train. He's the one in the red T-shirt. According to some of the ladies around here, he is the hunky one. I would say he was the least likely to vomit this morning.
I'm sorry if I sound a little feisty, but when an "all-star band" shows up half in the bag and blows a great opportunity to perform on Chicago's #1 morning news show, it gets to me.
I mean, I turn away so many incredibly talented local bands on a daily basis because we try hard to deliver the big name music acts.
(Don't get me wrong, I'll welcome a midget Kiss tribute band; a gay heavy metal band; and a slobbering 2 yr-old drummer any old day of the week.)
Speaking of talented local bands, I guess I should come clean and tell you the real reason that Happenin' Harry got on our show in the first place.
You see, one of our premiere audio technicians, Lothar, is in a local band called Sacred Dawn. They will be opening for them Thursday night at Leo's Bar & Grill in Romeoville. For more information about Lothar (and to see if that is his real name at least), go to www.sacreddawn.com
For more information on Happenin' Harry and the Haptones, you are on your own. Sorry.
-Jeff Hoover, Morning Show Producer
Here are this week's new DVD releases. I just watched Season 5 of Scrubs that'll be coming out in a couple of weeks. It made my plane ride back from Los Angeles (xcomeplte with a 3 hour weather delay) a lot more bearable.
Arthur and the Invisibles
The Fountain
Pan's Labyrinth
Seraphim Falls
Stomp the Yard
Coach: Season 2
Wings: Season 4
Frasier: season 9
Home Improvement: Season 6
Martin: Season 2
The Rockford Files: Season 4
M*A*S*H: Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen
ER: Season 7
Tom & Jerry: Volume 2
When I used to work a normal shift, I'd often come home and lament that I was tired. And I truly was. But since beginning this shift nearly two years ago, I have come to know a level of tiredness that's borderline narcoleptic. I can truly fall asleep at just about anytime, in any place. It doesn't take long. Usually after a day's work, if I commit to a nap, I'm out in no more than 8 minutes . .. TOPS. And through all of my napping experiences, I like to think I've become a bit of an expert on the subject. I've learned that there are various types of naps- some good, some bad.
The Couch Nap
This nap is appropriately named for where it takes place. Now, I will not reference any future naps as "Bed Naps" because it's a given that sleep usually occurs on a bed. There's nothing special about sleeping on a bed. But when you sleep on a couch, there's a reason for it- you're not willing to fully commit. When I take a Couch Nap, it's usually because I have limited time. So I go commando- no blankets, no comforters, no quilts. It's just me and a throw pillow. But there's a caveat here. If the nap turns into a Drooler (see below), it will ruin one side of the pillow- they don't dry clean well. You may want to keep an old bed pillow nearby.
The Drooler
This term applies to ANY nap from which you awake in a pool of your own saliva. These are the greatest naps in the world- usually short in duration but very, very intense. I discovered their value during my studies as an undergraduate. It seemed every time I'd sit down to study a textbook, I'd be overcome by fatigue. So I'd rest my head on the book, and usually 10 - 15 minutes later, I'd wake up to find 8 - 10 pages of the book bound together by drool. Remnants might have also be found on my sleeve, and a permanent reminder of the nap could be always be found in the form of a crunchy spot in the textbook, usually an inch and a half in diameter, often with a ridged surface. To this day, I can't take a Drooler without memories of Biochem rushing back.
The Mini-Coma
This is a condensed version of the often debilitating Coma Nap (explained in detail later). This is when you plan ahead for a nap- duration, setting, wake-up measures- only to launch countermeasures mid-nap (shutting off the alarm). These types of naps end up lasting anywhere from 90 - 120 minutes, and can be difficult to recover from, because you weren't mentally prepared for a long slumber (for more on the psychological effects napping has, see Dr. Iris Shatzenberger's "The Nap Flap: Everything you need to know about naps you DIDN'T learn in kindergarten).
The Coma Nap
Coma Naps are the most damaging for me during the winter months. That's when I go down for a nap during daylight, and wake up in the darkness of night (approximately 4 - 5 hours later). My first reaction after a Coma Nap is: "Oh s**t, I overslept for work!" I usually say that really loud, and once I even picked up the phone and dialed the station to let them know I was running late. Naturally, the morning sports producer was at home eating dinner with his wife and son, so when I called the office (at 4:15 PM) asking for him, you can imagine the bewilderment of the person on the other end.
"Hey John, what are you doing there? Is Nick around? I need to talk to him!"
"No." (John is a man of few words)
"He's not there either! Is he coming in? Are you producing?!?!
"No." (again, he's very succinct).
"Wait, what time is it . . . . . ? " (John let me figure it out on my own)
I've never been in a real coma, but I have to imagine waking up from one of these naps is pretty similar. For one, it takes a little while to regain all of your motor skills. Imagine a baby taking its first steps- now tack 175 pounds onto that frame. Also, when you wake up from one of these naps, you don't know your own name, let alone anyone else's. It's important, if you ever encounter someone emerging from a Coma Nap, to keep a cool head and just let them re-acclimate themselves.
The Public Nap
These naps are rarely (if ever) planned. They most commonly occur in subway cars, doctor's office waiting rooms, bus stops and barbershop chairs (the most dangerous setting). The Public Nap can occasionally be beneficial, but it's often misleading. The quick spike in energy is often short-lived, and the hangover is lethal. Plus, there's the embarassment of lying unconscious in a public setting, head, arms and legs appearing as if they're independent of the body.
The Airport Nap
(see Public Nap, except it's in an airport)
The Perfect Nap
Like a no-hitter, a hole-in-one, an undefeated season, or a 300 game, a Perfect Nap is what every pro hopes to achieve. And like the aforementioned milestones, they are often very rare, and you can't set out to accomplish one- it just needs to happen naturally. These naps are no longer than 50 minutes, and are marked by a rapid descent into sleep, followed by a first-alarm response. Right up, a splash of water to the face, a swig of mouthwash, and it's out the door. I happen to be the Nolan Ryan of Perfect Naps (7 so far in my career).
It was a great week for us, in terms of guests. Unlike the B-level celebrities
like Kim Fields who don't want to talk about the role that made them famous (Tootie from Facts of Life,) Eddie Money was an old-school pro Thursday. He did not insist on singing his 60's remake songs for the main segments. He was gracious enough to sing his big hits from the 70's, Baby Hold On and Two Tickets to Paradise. Not only did he sing two full segments, but he also played along in our little game show.
Today, Jane Seymour gave me a shoulder rub.
It is the unpredictability that keeps people coming back to the ol' Number 9. I mean, how many interviews on osteoperosis can you watch on The Today Show? How awkward is the phony banter on Good Morning America? The networks have become unwatchable.
This is all a way for me to back into our steady increase in viewership.
We thank you for watching. We continue to beat the Today Show and have now overtaken Good Morning America in the demographics. Fox and CBS are so far behind I cannot see them in the rear view mirror.
Just as an example... In women 25-54, we are up 107% at 6am, compared to last May.
From 6-9am, our rating is triple that of Fox.
Thanks again.
Our message of the day, comes from Chicago native Mr. T who said in a music video we played today: TREAT YOUR MOTHER RIGHT!
Happy Mother's Day
Larry Potash
In case you missed, Dean's mom, Paul's mom and my mom competed in a game show Monday called "Know Your Famous TV Mothers."
Some complained it was too difficult.
Decide for yourself and play along.
OKAY...So you've waited to the last minute to get your Mother's Day gift.
And, you're clueless as to what to buy!
Well, on the morning show, I went over a bunch of options.
But, here's somethings I saved, JUST FOR MY BLOG.
You may have seen the story out today about a 48 year old Connnecticut man who died in a parking lot while trying to win a dance off competition.
He had a few beers in him and the opposing dancer had just done a flip that wowed the crowd.
He felt like he could reach back and answer the flip with one of his own.
Off came the shirt and crowd was roaring for him to give it a shot.
He did.
Except that he landed face first into the ground, had a heart attack and died.
Wierd and tragic all in one.
It is for this reason alone, that I am now considering giving up my days of shirtless dancing.
I am 42 years old.
I have a wife and two children...and I think this might have to end.
As some of you know, Larry and I (and sometimes Dean Richards) have big dance off competitions up at Larry's house on the North Shore.
We have done it for about 4 years now.
Every Friday night we get a box of wine and "rock the world" in his driveway.
Well, now that Larry is 40...we are thinking of quitting.
Larry's wife Lisa has been trying to get us to stop for a long time because she says we play the music too loud and it's embarrassing.
We both think she is jealous because she is not as good as us and won't even come out to watch anymore.
Anyway, we are beginning to rethink it...maybe call it quits when we hit 45 or 47.
Just thought I would share.
Konrad
The lineup for the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival has been announced. This is the great series that they do at Butler Field in Grant park (100 South Lake shore Drive) Tuesday nights during the summer. It's free. If you want more info, call the city's Department of Special Events at 312-744-3315.
Jul. 17: 8:56 p.m. "Young Frankenstein" (1974)
Jul. 24: 8:50 p.m. "Double Indemnity" (1944)
Jul. 31: 8:42 p.m. "Written on the Wind" (1956)
Aug. 7: 8:34 p.m. "The Awful Truth" (1937)
Aug. 14: 8:24 p.m. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)
Aug. 21: 8:13 p.m. "Sweet Smell of Success" (1957)
Aug. 28: 8:01 p.m. "The Sound of Music" (1965)
Rating - 3 stars
www.biosub.com.au
"Music and Lyrics"
Hugh Grant is a washed up 80's pop star who is told to write a new song for a current chart-topping teeny-bopper. He recruits his very talented plant lady, played by Drew Barrymoore, to help him with the words, and love ensues.
"Because I Said So"
Diane Keaton is a mother of three women who tries to prevent her youngest, played by Mandy Moore, from making the same mistakes with men that she did. The CW's Lauren Graham co-stars.
"The Painted Veil"
Naomi Watts and Edward Norton were Oscar nominated for their portrayals of an English couple who cope with love and betrayal while stationed in the center of the cholera epidemic in 1920's China. Watts' real life love, Liev Schreiber, plays the man she falls in love with while overseas.
"Cagney and Lacey"
And, new in television, it's season one of the woman cop duo team who are as different as night and day, but make a good match when fighting the New York City streets. Sharon Gless and Tyne Daly star.
"Catch and Release"
"Deliver us from Evil"
"Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus"
"The 4400:Season 3"
"Everbody Loves Raymond: Season 8"
"McLeod's Daughters: Season 2"
"Things to Do"
"That 70's Show: Season 6"
"The Walton's: Season 5"
"Big: Extended Edition"
"That Thing You Do!: Director's Cut"
"The Murder of Fred Hampton"
"The Best of Barbara Mandrell & The Mandrell Sisters"
"To Catch a Thief: Collector's Edition"
"The Hee Haw Collection"
"Celebration of Gospel: Taking You Higher"
"American Revolution 2"
"Comedy of Power"
Rating - 3 stars
unevoix.vox.com
I forgot to log my entry yesterday.
My day to blog around here is Monday.
I'm losing my mind.
Anyway, according to the Chase calendar it is "Rational Day of Thought".
All the anchors got a chance to reflect on a thought today during the voicemail segment.
Here's what I was thinking.... could anyone tell how bloated I am today and how I needed to let one go?!?!?!
Funny but true.
That happens sometimes.
Come on, you know what I mean :-)
That's my reflection today from someone who's not holding anything in!
Rating - 3 stars
http://www.Tartybikes.co.uk
Wrigley Field is vaunted because of its timeless charm, its intimate nature, its resistance to commercial change. So it's interesting to see ads for Under Armour gracing the ivy-coated outfield walls. Somehow, I can't imagine Tinker, Evers and Chance turning 2 while wearing long-sleeve "grippy shirts" to stay warm.
But hey, at least they're not serving fish tacos at Wrigley.
This is what baseball has become in the 21st Century. Bat Day, sundaes in miniature helmets and doubleheaders have been replaced by I-pod Holder Day, gelatto and "business getaway" start times. The Yankees are even tearing down Yankee Stadium to build an exact replica, except with extra luxury suites. Really, how much extra revenue is needed by a team that RUNS ITS OWN TELEVISION STATION!?!
Compared to the rampant commercialism throughout the rest of baseball, I suppose a couple of tasteful signs in the outfield aren't so bad. At least Wrigley is keeping its name. I don't think I could bring myself to attend a game at "Vienna Beef Park."
"Hey fellas, what time should we meet for the game?"
"Let's meet at THE BEEF at 7:00!"
Plus, years ago ballparks were covered in ads. Think of this as a resurgence- the ballparks just took the '70's and '80's off. Product endorsements are woven into every thread of baseball. I assume you've listened to a radio broadcast in your life?
"I'll tell you, Bill, this team is really scoring a lot of runs."
"Yes they are, Jim, and if YOU'VE got the runs, be sure to try the new Pepto Bismol 12-hour relief chewtabs. Plop, plop, fizz, fizz, try the new 12-hour relief chewtabs . . and discover what a relief it really is!"
But Chicagoans treasure Wrigley Field more than fans in any other Major League city, so I understand there could be some debate as to whether or not these Under Armour ads are a good thing. That's why I set out to understand both sides of this argument, just a bit more clearly.
This week I turned 40. You get lots of questions like “How does it feel?” And the more disturbing, “Are you okay?”
The answer is, “I feel fine.”
But those are not the right questions. The questions are: Is this what I thought it would be? And “What do I do now?”
In 1977, when I was in third grade, we had to write essays about what it would be like in 1999. I wrote about flying cars, and about my career playing in the NBA; I’m not sure which fantasy was more unrealistic.
It seemed so far away---another world. I remember doing the calculation of how old I’d be in 1999----32. It wasn’t even clear what that number meant, when even your 24 year old teacher seems old.
I remember watching Carl Yastremski on TV---the all-star veteran of the Boston Red Sox. You could tell he was the old man among boys in the dugout. When he stood at the plate, he bent his front knee and leaned over, like he had a bad back and was about to fall over. Wow is this guy an old-timer! He was 38.
Little did I know how enjoyable it would be to turn 40. In our teens, we are obsessed with wearing the right jeans, and what everyone is saying about us. In our 20’s, we are enjoying the singles scene. After ten years of failed romance, we enter our 30’s, hopefully trying to figure out what we have been doing wrong all this time, to finally set a course for success in business and personal life.
“At twenty years of age, the will reigns. At thirty, the wit. At forty, I was sure of myself,” said Benjamin Franklin, who did not begin his electrical experiments until he was 40.
So there is still much to do. Plenty of time to start a golfball washing business, invent a glow-in-the-dark egg-beater, visit Luxemborg, write a book (or for some, read a book) or maybe even mentor someone who has lost their way.
For anyone about 40 and above, hopefully we feel like it’s a turning point---that we understand what is important. Hopefully, we have outgrown the narcissism and materialism of youth. We can end all those toxic acquaintances and stop networking with people who take more and give less. By now, we should learn to develop a sense of self-sacrifice in our relationships, and teach that wisdom to our children from the beginning, and grow old with friends you can rely on.
I have had the same group of friends since about first grade. We recently went on a guys trip---something you take for granted when you’re 22, but not today. We collectively have 14 children. A 40th birthday getaway isn’t about how many shots you knock down, or how many foosball games you win….it’s about being with people who remember what you cried about when you were 6, and that girl who dumped you when you were 16. Around these people, there is no show to perform, or image to maintain---refreshing change from the insecurities of youth.
Red carpets may seem fun and glamours but they're really about the worst thing that any entertainment person has to endure; crowded, noisy, screaming to get someone to stop and talk when all they want to do is get away from the press. Still, it beats "actual" work for a living, so I guess I'm not complaining (too much.)
The latest was kind of exciting since I was going to be talking to Oprah Winfrey for the first time at the Chicago premiere of "The Color Purple" outside the Cadillac Palace Theater. You can see the full interviews with everyone here.
Maggie and Mayor Daley strolled by to talk about how great a production like this is for the city of Chicago. The Mayor joked about using the lessons of overcoming adversity in the play in dealing with the press.
Roger Ebert and his amazing wife, Chazz, made their 2nd public appearance since Roger's health problems. Roger was flashing his signature thumbs up and even broke into a bit of a dance when I kidded with him about being Mr. Around Town lately. He looks fantastic...as does Chazz.
R. Kelly told us that he's seen "The Color Purple" in New York seven times and wanted to see it here. Someone needs to tell "R" to lose the neon yellow wad of gum before he starts a round of interviews.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson was there and spoke about how the play is a celebration of what's right. I was amazed at his ability to show up precisily when Oprah did, almost as if he had matieralized out of thin air, and then shadowed Oprah on the red carpet when the cameras were catching their "money shots." In the raw interviews that you can see here, it's interesting wathcing him in the background.
Oprah's people were very warm and welcoming as was the "Big O."
SPIDERMAN 3
"Spiderman 3" opened in midnight showings this week. How does it stack up against the first two films? How does hold up on it's own?
My Dean’s List review is a disappointing one. Mostly, because of the many plot lines. Maybe, too many for it's own good.
All’s well in New York City and “Spidey” is enjoying life as a hero, but still an uber-dork in his secret identity. How long has he lived in the Big Apple and he's still an innocent lamb?
3 villains show up, all about the same time. The Goblin, James Franco, is avenging his father's death. The Sandman, Thomas Hayden Church, can turn him in grains of sand, reconfiguring himself into a bank robbing, hulk-like creature. And then, there’s The Venom, Topher Grace, who’s mad at Peter for taking his job.
About the same time, a meteor of black goop that amplifies aggression hits the earth and attaches onto our hero, turning him into a "not-so" friendly neighborhood anything. The attempt was dark, evil and menacing...three things that Tobey McGuire doesn't play very well.
There are some scenes that are laughable when Tobey tries to go tough.
"Spiderman 3” does offer up some high power action sequences...but nothing better than what you've seen before, and at times, so cartoon-ish that it takes you out of the story.
And every movie needs a love story, but the sappy dialogue between Peter and MJ make you root for a breakup. I never thought there was much chemistry between these two to begin with.
They've been dating longer than Barney Fife and Thelma Lou now; the aw-shucks thing is very old. It doesn't matter, really. Kirsten dunst's main job here is screaming, damsel in distress style,
"Spiderman 3" is the weakest of the trilogy...a classic example of "too much story" diluting the overall effort. Some effects and battles kind of cool; but the many story lines, just like the characters, never get a chance to fully develop.
It’s worth a look.... maybe even at an Imax theater for the popcorn movie fun...but the sound you hear are the wheels coming off of this franchise.
A Dean's List "C"
LUCKY YOU
Even more disappointing is Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore and Robert Duvall’s, "Lucky You." Even though Barrymore is in it, it’s "not" a romantic comedy; in fact, it's a fairly serious, though pointless, look into the world of high stakes poker and what motivates the winners and losers.
A Dean's List "D."
Rating - 3 stars
http://www.movietone.com
Rating - 4 stars
www.rockwoodcomic.com
If you missed it this morning (at let me say I'm not sure how, since we mentioned it about five times an hour) it was all Larry, all the time, as we celebrated his 40th birthday.
And here's something that I love. Legendary anchorman Bill Kurtis stopped by to pass on good wishes to the birthday boy.
COME ON!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?????
That man is the best. A news legend, land baron, investigative reporter, production company owner, beef businessman, and overall very busy guy who always takes the time for schmoes like us. Or excuse me - schmoes like Larry.
Happy birthday, big guy!
ps.....looks like Val is REALLY likin' Mr. Kurtis!!!
This morning on the show in my entertainment report, I featured a company that will take the face of whoever's picture you send them and insert it into a 22 minute Spiderman cartoon.
For $39.95 ($37.95 if you upload your picture to them instead of sending it), kideo.com will insert the face on the picture into the animation in every place where Spiderman's face is seen.
Here's the a montage of the sample that we showed this morning, featuring me, your Friendly Neighborhood Entertainment Critic.
Enjoy,
Dean
Rating - no stars
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