It's Not Gossip, It's Commentary
Chubby Checker called into Howard Stern today with a serious gripe about how radio stations no longer play ‘The Twist,’ which according to Checker is, “The biggest song on the planet.” Upon listening again, I was suddenly reminded about how good music used to be, and out of respect, appreciation, and nostalgia, I’m posting the video below. I’d encourage bloggers everywhere to do the same.
JOIN.THE.MOVEMENT.
There’s no doubt that if you want to find the best talent, you need only look to The Voice. There’s also no doubt that NBC is notoriously terrible at post-show promotion, which means that, unfortunately, every participant will fade into non-existence. Having said that, watch the video below of the incredibly talented Caroline Pennell, whose unique tone far exceeds her range. It’s too bad NBC knows nothing about fostering musical talent. Otherwise this girl would go very far.
I stopped watching Glee a few seasons back. That’s not because the show lost its quality, I just simply grew out of it. But when Ryan Murphy announced a tribute episode devoted to Cory Montieth’s passing, I had to tune in. Though I didn’t know him personally, I felt connected to his story. I watch the Glee pilot, and I remember following Montieth’s career as he went from anonymity to fame with his humility intact.
The task of addressing a character’s death when they have also passed-on in real life seemed insurmountable. How can you address real-life events without exploiting them? How can you pull at the heart-strings of the audience without seeming like a vulture who has capitalized on someone else’s tragedy? Somehow — Ryan Murphy found a way. The episode was beautiful. There was no talk of how Finn Hudson died, which was a smart move. This was meant to be a celebration of life, and a moment to grieve, not a discussion of death. And in a move I never thought possible, there were moments of humor sprinkled throughout. Every song was more moving than the next, but Lea Michele quite obviously moved me the most. She was heartbroken and beautiful, singing, ‘Make You Feel My Love.’ As for the critics who have complained that Murphy dodged the opportunity to address the perils of drug use, this wasn’t the time. There might be a time, but this wasn’t it. I want to remember Cory for how he lived, and the art he produced during his short time on earth. Not how he died. Watch Lea Michele’s performance below.
If your child was a drug addict, and his addiction-related crime forced his solitary confinement, you’d be screaming from the rooftops. You’d call in every favor, mention it on any news outlet that would have you, and pray. Such is the case for Michael Douglas, whose son Cameron is not allowed visitors after possessing drugs in prison, which also added 4.5 years to his term. There’s many unconfirmed stories about Michael Douglas’ dedication to his son, with some saying he traveled a far distance to see his son every chance he could, even while undergoing cancer treatment. Douglas has since argued that solitary confinement is an undesirable solution for non-violent offenders, who are more in need of treatment than punishment.
To be fair, Douglas is biased. His son violated drugs laws on multiple occasions, with his in-prison violation serving as the last straw in a string of offenses. In fact, Dr. Drew has often advocated calling the cops on one’s kids, emphasizing that the other choice is often death. Whether these tough prison tactics will scare Cameron Douglas straight remains to be seen. But don’t blame his father for using fame to draw attention to a debate that involves his kid. Any father would. Michael Douglas just has a light shining on him.
Here at The Dishmaster, I’ve done a lot of interviews with high-profile talent. Some of my subjects were better than others. But you’ll never know who, and each and every one of my interviews will either be written in a favorable light or it won’t be published. Why? Because I don’t invite people into my living room to shit on them. If you’re ship is sinking, I’ll help plug a hole in it, even if you’re the one who shot through the bottom. Britney Spears was not afforded that same courtesy in an interview with The Roula & Ryan Show in Houston. Her team restricted the questions, and apparently, Britney shut down during the interview when Ryan & Roula wanted to “change things up,” instead of “asking straight questions.” None too pleased with the result, the interview was pulled, and Ryan and Roula subsequently bad-mouthed the singer, taking zero responsibility for their part in it. They pointed out that she has “fifteen years in the business,” “is worth $100 million,” and should be able to handle herself.
I have some words of wisdom for Ryan & Roula, if they’re listening. First, if the interview went awry, you’re at fault. You have the responsibility to format your questions in a way that makes her comfortable, and if you can’t do that, you’re to blame. Britney Spears has notorious interview anxiety, and even though she’s a big star, she’s entitled to be uncomfortable with the press that goes along with her career. Media savvy and talent don’t always coincide. And lastly, call Howard Stern. Maybe he can give you advice about how to do your job properly.
Listen below for their heinous recap of their interview with Britney Spears.
“Speaker Boehner keeps on saying he doesn’t have the votes for it. And what I’ve said is, put it on the floor. See what happens. And at minimum, let every member of Congress be on record. Let them vote to keep the government open or not. They can determine where they stand and defend that vote to their constituencies. And let them vote on whether or not America should pay its bills or not. And if in fact some of these folks really believe that it’s not that big of a deal, they can vote no. And that’ll be useful information for voters to have. And if it fails, and we do end up defaulting, I think voters should know exactly who voted not to pay our bills, so that they can be responsible for the consequences that come with it.” President Obama’s challenge to John Boehner to prove he doesn’t have the votes to pass a “clean” continuing resolution through the House of Representatives to end the government shutdown.
There’s a fine line between trash-talking and being honest, and in an interview with The New York Post, Ellen Pompeo mastered that delicate dance. When asked about Katherine Heigl’s much-talked-about exit, Pompeo said, “When Katie left, it was tough. You could understand why she wanted to go — when you’re offered $12 million a movie and you’re only 26. But Katie’s problem is that she should not have renewed her contract. She re-upped, took a big raise and then tried to get off the show. And then her movie career did not take off.” Pompeo’s insight is especially unique, given that she’s never talked about the controversy. As for Heigl, she’s still a victim of the backlash associated with her much maligned motormouth.