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Tuesday Night Open Thread

Tonight's DWTS is just another reminder this show is merely a popularity contest and has little to do with dancing ability. Nancy Grace, whose schmaltzy waltz last night got the second lowest scores of the night, is safe. David Arguette, whose feet didn't do any more dancing than Chaz Bono (who got the lowest score) is safe. Neither Nancy or David have the redeeming quality that Chaz Bono has -- a likeable TV presence and a buoyant personality. So I'm not criticizing voters for keeping Chaz. I'm glad about that. But to keep Nancy Grace or David Arquette or Rob Kardashian and send Kristin Cavalieri home? Or put Hope in the bottom two? Ridiculous.

Of course, Hope may not have really been in the bottom two. The announcer always reminds the audience that one of the final two couples might not have received the second lowest combined votes and judge scores. In other words, the safe couple in the final two is placed there because the producers think it will make the show more interesting. It's a total manipulation. [More...]

Unfortunately, there are no dancing stars on this season's show. Rikki Lake is propped up by Derek who could make a moose dance, Chynna Philips is plastic, Rob Kardashian is lead-footed, and Carson is a flashy and harmless cartoon character. The season will go to J.R. Martinez, the war hero. But at least he can dance, so as of now, that's the best possible outcome.

Update: Nancy Grace gave an interview after DWTS and said Amanda Knox being freed is a "miscarriage of justice" and that she "knows the facts."

"I think that people in general, including myself, want to believe good about other people and the population wants to believe that Amanda Knox is innocent," the 51-year-old legal commenter added. "They want to believe that and I don't blame them. I'd like to believe it too, I just happen to know the facts."

I feel sorry for her twins who will grow up with such a perverse mentality drummed into them. To me, she's far more "Mommie Dearest" than the mother of the century she thinks she is. The only good thing about her being on DWTS is there's fewer nights for her to pollute people's minds on her talk show.

This is an open thread, all topics, TV related or not, are welcome.

< Amanda Knox: Plane Lands in Seattle | From The "Presidential Speeches Don't Matter" File >
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  • Display: Sort:
    From New Yorker column, the Pope's tweets: (5.00 / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 04, 2011 at 10:48:18 PM EST
    "Nancy Grace" would be a good name for the first gay pope.  

    Not to pontificate (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by CoralGables on Tue Oct 04, 2011 at 11:40:59 PM EST
    but that ship has probably sailed....quietly of course.

    Parent
    Oh, we've had straight popes? (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by observed on Tue Oct 04, 2011 at 11:54:51 PM EST
    Lots of illegitimate children of Popes. (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 12:59:07 PM EST
    John Travolta has children, too... (none / 0) (#38)
    by observed on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 10:00:31 PM EST
    I seemed to have missed something! (none / 0) (#39)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:19:31 PM EST
    well, I won't pontificate anymore...and (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by observed on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:32:17 PM EST
    besides, I have more important things to tell you.
    I MAY post my first music review tomorrow (day after tomorrow for slowpokes in CA).
    One of the staff members invited me and another professor to a piano recital tonight.
    It will be at the titanium blue arts school, one of those super duper new structures, visible from my window as well.  The top of this one is an uneven, inverted conical bowl.

    Parent
    We only pontificate (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:41:14 PM EST
    on pontiffs here.

    Parent
    Is Carrie Fisher your source re Travolta? (none / 0) (#42)
    by oculus on Thu Oct 06, 2011 at 02:23:51 PM EST
    Hmm.. I'm looking for the Wednesday (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by observed on Tue Oct 04, 2011 at 11:14:15 PM EST
    morning open thread. I guess this will be a continuing issue.
    Day 2: I'm awake. I can't say much else positive about my condition. I hope I can stay here at work for the day, but that may be overly optimistic.

    What time/day is it (none / 0) (#5)
    by caseyOR on Tue Oct 04, 2011 at 11:19:29 PM EST
    in Astana?

    Parent
    10:18 am, Wednesday (none / 0) (#6)
    by observed on Tue Oct 04, 2011 at 11:22:04 PM EST
    Yesterday was quite nice, with a high around 70.
    This morning it was both chilly and windy, so I put on my parka when I went out.
    There is a chartered bus which takes us to work.
    I arrived here a little before 8.


    Parent
    Very quietly (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by CoralGables on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 12:54:42 AM EST
    by TL standards, right of center Earl Ray Tomblin(D) won the gubernatorial election tonight over far right of center Bill Maloney(R) to finish out the term of Joe Manchin in West Virginia.

    In a high priced affair that included all kinds of accusations and one actual filed charge of extortion, the Dems hold onto the seat in the special election that was necessary due to a ruling of the West Virginia Supreme Court, and will hold the seat until the next election in November 2012.

    Another innocent released yesterday (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 07:05:26 AM EST
    In court today, Harle told Morton that if it turns out -- as the evidence indicates now -- that Morton is innocent, then he apologizes. "You do have my sympathies," Harle said. "We don't have a perfect system of justice, but we do have the best system in the world."

    Innocence Project rescues another. After 25 years in prison, Michael Morton is released. I'd love to know what it is about our system that makes it the best in the world. Lawyers and jurors with attitudes like Nancy Grace are contrary to the idea that a "fair" trial is even possible. Maybe in theory it's the best, but in practice not so much.


    Elizabeth Warren (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by MO Blue on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 07:44:16 AM EST
    "The people on Wall Street broke this country, and they did it one lousy mortgage at a time. It happened more than three years ago, and there has been no real accountability, and there has been no real effort to fix it. That's why I want to run for the United States Senate," she said, according to the New York Times.
    ...
    "Forbes magazine named Scott Brown Wall Street's favorite senator. I was thinking, `That's probably not an award that I'm going to get,'" said Warren, according to the Boston Herald. link


    Love it (none / 0) (#15)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 08:38:34 AM EST
    Finally someone saying it, loud and clear.

    Parent
    For real this time... (5.00 / 4) (#13)
    by kdog on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 07:48:36 AM EST
    waiting on an off-peak train to head over to Zuccotti today, several labor unions joining the freedom campers for a march.

    I'll report back with some first hand observations on the glorious scene tonight after softball semis deciding Game 3. If I get locked up the fellas will kill me! :)

    Heading down to Occupy SF in an hour (none / 0) (#22)
    by Dadler on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:11:42 AM EST
    And remember...wait on that ball!

    Parent
    kdog: (from Word-a-day e-mail) (none / 0) (#31)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 01:01:10 PM EST
    "If they give you lined paper, write the other way." Juan Ramon Jimenez, poet, Nobel Prize in Literature (1881-1958)

    Parent
    JP Morgan Chase owns the police, it seems (5.00 / 3) (#19)
    by Dadler on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 10:21:04 AM EST
    And right there (none / 0) (#26)
    by sj on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:34:13 AM EST
    is the answer to the question of whether or not Wall Street is paying attention.  

    I love the reaction of some of the arrestees (is that a word) which was "the police are also part of the 99%".  Eventually the rank and file are going to figure that out as well.

    Parent

    "Stars?" (none / 0) (#2)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 04, 2011 at 11:13:33 PM EST
    Um, OK.

    Dancing with the (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by ruffian on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 10:13:05 AM EST
    People You Might Have Heard Of

    Parent
    Or Know Their Last Name... (none / 0) (#23)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:12:48 AM EST
    nancy Grace strikes me as a (none / 0) (#4)
    by caseyOR on Tue Oct 04, 2011 at 11:18:51 PM EST
    nitwit, as well as a bad dancer.

    While I was fixing dinner tonight Entertainment Tonight was on the TV. For who knows what reason the celebrity dancers were asked to give their opinions on Amanda Knox's overturned conviction. Mostly, people were just glad Amanda was home. Nancy Grace, OTOH, was kind of appalled at the decision by the Italian judges.

    Grace is convinced that Knox got away with murder. Grace's theory? Knox and her boyfriend were in the house, the boyfriend killed Meredith Kercher, and Knox urged him on.

    Oh, and Nancy hopes Knox takes advantage of this undeserved second chance.

    Why does this woman have a TV show?


    It's horrifying to realize (none / 0) (#9)
    by gyrfalcon on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 12:05:25 AM EST
    she has a large and slavishly adoring audience of mostly older women.  I apologize on behalf of sane older women everywhere.  These are people who, like Nancy Grace, mistake hatred for the accused or just the suspected for compassion and "standing up" for the victim.  It's perverse.

    Parent
    As a sane (none / 0) (#14)
    by Zorba on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 07:50:49 AM EST
    (at least I'd like to think so) older woman, I apologize, as well.  I never could stand Nancy DisGrace.

    Parent
    Gimme a Break... (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:55:31 AM EST
    We men got the market on tools, I would apologize every time one does something or says something really stupid, but there are only so many hours in a day.

    If only we had a single Nancy Grace...  Nope, one Glen Beck easily cancels her, then we got the rest of Fox news, probably half of the Senate, and even the White House.  Start adding it creepy dudes and serial killers and it's down right shameful to be a 40 year old white male.  That is if I am to judged based on gender, age, and race.

    If I were you, I would be proud to only be associated with one idiot.

    Parent

    LOL! (none / 0) (#28)
    by Zorba on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 12:25:11 PM EST
    Of course, if we're going to get into the political, and not just the law, bloviators in the media, we've got Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Laura Ingraham,  and the women on the Fox news shows, too.  Maybe it's just my own perception, but Coulter and Malkin seem easily as "out there" as Glenn Beck.  (And then there's Orly Taitz, although she's a dentist and not a full-time media figure.)  But, yes, I would agree that the men have the women beat in this realm.  So far.    ;-)

    Parent
    Has the President made a statement re (none / 0) (#29)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 12:54:00 PM EST
    Ms. Knox?  

    Parent
    Oh, jeez, oculus (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Zorba on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 04:09:30 PM EST
    You just made me spit out my Diet Coke!  Hahahaha!

    Parent
    Wouldn't you expect him to? Thinking U.S. (5.00 / 0) (#34)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 04:14:56 PM EST
    hikers released by Iran.

    Parent
    You know what? (none / 0) (#17)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 09:58:41 AM EST
    I honestly think her experience of having her fiancée murdered back in the 80's (I think) has colored her vision on every case. The person is ALWAYS guilty to her it seems.  

    Parent
    I've heard that before (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by sj on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:11:41 AM EST
    and it makes a certain kind of sense.  But I think it just pushed an already unbalanced personality over the edge.  She sees everyone as guilty and that goes beyond a selective viewpoint into a whole other pathology.

    Parent
    Nancy Grace is a Disgrace ! (none / 0) (#16)
    by samsguy18 on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 09:16:42 AM EST
    It's all about ratings....I find it all disgusting!

    It's worse than that (none / 0) (#24)
    by sj on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:18:47 AM EST
    While I have no doubt she (and her employers) loves her ratings, she's pretty much a true believer.

    Parent
    How much would a car that gets <20 mph cost (none / 0) (#20)
    by Jlvngstn on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:02:24 AM EST
    if there were no oil subsidies?  I would imagine the range rover's real cost would be 125k for example.  Why are we subsidizing big car owners purchases and fuel costs?

    It may not have been just Kristin that (none / 0) (#25)
    by sj on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 11:30:26 AM EST
    didn't acquire much of a fan base (although she really did come across as shallow).  Her pro is Mark Ballas.  While Derek "could make a moose dance" (I so agree) and always makes his partner look better than she is, Mark seems to think it's all about making himself look cool.

    I check out the DWTS TV Recaps on ew.com (what?  I can be shallow) and if the commenters there are a microcosm of the viewing public, contestants should dread getting Mark Ballas as their pro.

    This is the first season I've watched DWTS (none / 0) (#35)
    by shoephone on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 06:28:35 PM EST
    It's as if these "stars" were chosen for the show by being as awkward, uncoordinated, and unteachable as they could possibly be. And I'm actually appalled at how uniformly awful the choreography is. It's mostly posing rather than dancing. Sorry, but as someone who had to learn how to dance to get cast in a few musicals, it's just sad to see how amatateurish they ALL are. The pros create the choreography and Kristin what's-her-name's pro has done an even worse job than the others. (Yes, he does seem to be a shameless self-promoter.) But overall, watching this show is like watching local late-night cable of really bad pole dancing. Just with better costumes.

    Parent
    Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (none / 0) (#33)
    by oculus on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 04:13:33 PM EST
    orders briefing, videoconferencing argument, and stay re Judge Burns order sending Loughner back to mental hospital for more treatment to attempt to make him competent to stand trial:  LAT

    R.I.P. Steve Jobs (none / 0) (#36)
    by nycstray on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 06:43:48 PM EST
    local news is reporting he passed on today :(

    Oh no. (none / 0) (#37)
    by shoephone on Wed Oct 05, 2011 at 06:46:36 PM EST