Of course, Comedy Central’s Rally to Restore Sanity had plenty of comedy. That’s the cable channel’s stock-in-trade. But it offered something more, something that’s been missing from all the political posturing, bullying and noise. It offered an image of thousands coming together around a call for civility and reasonable debate. At the end of three hours of music and arch political humor...

Mark that date in your iPhone calendar, people. Yes, right now! On October 30, 2010 an event of biblical proportions will…change… history! (No, not that Event, that’s on NBC.) I’m talking about an event that’s bigger than Lincoln, yes; bigger than Jefferson, yes; even bigger than Washington, himself! Throughout history, America has witnessed many great Americans coming together in solidarity to support American virtues,...

All lies and jests, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. – Paul Simon, “The Boxer”       When it comes to the political talking heads crowding the media platform, who, if any, do we trust the most and the least? Are the facts important or is it all just entertainment? These are a few of the...

“Okay, America, are you ready for the results?” (Audience cheers.) Host: “The votes have been tallied and we are about to reveal the winner, but first… the top three finalists for… (Music builds)… America’s Next BUFFOON! “Okay, let’s get to it. “Finalist number one: Once a battle-ax wielding action star, now Bad A#$ extraordinaire. Give it up for Mel ‘uses-cell-phone-as-lethal-weapon’ Gibson.” (Audience roars.)...

Is there a national championship collegiate athletic program anywhere in the country that can truthfully say all of its recruiting was done entirely within the official guidelines? That’s how Roger Ebert began his review of the 1994 Nick Nolte film Blue Chips. It’s a question that inhabits practically every frame of the film; a film that, sadly, bears too much resemblance...

Of course the biggest aspect to the whole BP crisis circles back to our dependence – not just on foreign oil – but oil… period. It’s the Jabba the Hut the media, in all their special reports on BP, doesn’t talk about. Anyone remember the oil crisis in the 70s?  Of course not.  That was 40 years ago. What began as anger from all...

HBO and Comedy Central are missing a Golden Opportunity. Rather than pair boxing champ Floyd Mayweather against… whoever’s left, they should match political, social satirist Jon Stewart against social, political satirist-commentator Bill Maher. Billed as The Grumble in the Jungle (hey, it’s marketing), it just might score major pay-per-view dollars. Let’s look at the stats – Maher ranks 38th on Comedy Central’s list...

There’s a signature moment in the 1976 film Network in which a drunk and dispirited Howard Beale who – after losing his news anchor job – abandons his script, looks straight into the camera and, in an astounding bit of prescience, begins his sermon from the mount. “I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. …It’s like...

Tuesday night I was transported back to the 60s via the concert, RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles.  It was a spectacular hard day’s night! In addition to the live music performed with look-a-likes and sound-incredibly-alikes, the stage work included multiple images from the decade – Ed Sullivan, shampoo commercials, car commercials, even the Flintstones… smoking Winston cigarettes! In the magical...

She’s smart, sassy, and now she’s sanctified.  Who am I talking about? Why, it’s Episcopal Priest Barbie! That’s right, fun and flirty Barbie trades her hip Malibu pad for mission furniture better suited to her life’s latest mission: the rector at St. Barbara’s by-the-sea in… Malibu. No matter the liturgical season, this pretty, peppy pastor is ready to go anywhere. From her exquisitely...