R.I.P. Peter Graves

The actor Peter Graves died today. He was 83. He will be remembered as the  "the cool spymaster" Jim Phelps, leader of the Impossible Missions Force or IMF, of television's “Mission Impossible,” and as the dignified host of the “Biography” series." He appeared in hundreds of television shows. He died at his home from natural causes, a heart attack. (New York Times)

Born Peter Aurness, he lived from March 18, 1926 - March 14, 2010,  known professionally as Peter Graves. He was an American film and television actor.  He was the younger  brother of the actor James Aurness.  In addition to his work on "Biography" and "Mission Impossible," he is being remembered for his continuing roles in the network TV series "7th Heaven" and in the comedy spoof motion pictures, "Airplane!"  and "Airplane II: The Sequel".

When I think of Peter Graves, I think of Mission Impossible, the TV series, and I remember the "Mission Impossible," theme and the phrases, "Good morning , Mr Phelps  -- This tape will self-destruct in ..."   The memories won't self-destruct. These are memories I doubt if I shall ever be able to get out of my head.

R.I.P. Peter Graves

Female Gets Varsity Head Coaching Position

Calvin Coolidge Senior High School has selected Natalie Randolph as their next coach of their high school varsity football team.  Randolph teaches biology and environmental sciences at the school, and was chosen from about 15 candidates.  She most likely is the only female varsity football head coach in the country.

She told the Associated Press, "While I'm proud to be part of what this all means," Randolph said, "being female has nothing to do with it. I love football. I love football, I love teaching, I love these kids. My being female has nothing to do with my support and respect for my players on the field and in the classroom."

I've played football throughout middle school, high school, and college, and after looking at her resume, I'm not really shocked that she got the job.  She was a track and field star at the University of Virginia, played wide receiver for the D.C. Divas of the National Women's Football Association, and has been an assistant coach from 06'-08' at another high school.

For me, her gender, doesn't even have to be an issue, for her resume speaks for itself.  I admire and applaud their decision, and look forward to see how her year as head coach goes at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School.  I wish her the best.  Good luck.

Budget Cuts: Goodbye Schools

The Kansas City School Board, in a budget saving measure with pressure from the school's superintentent, voted to close 28 schools.  A last minute, ditch effort was made to save 12 of those 28 schools, but that measured failed, as well.  The slim margain, a 5 to 4 vote, also caused a lot of emotion.  Rightfully so as children were seen crying and parents were livid after hearing about the vote.

Chris Hernandez of KSHB NBC out of Kansas City, Missouri interviewed a woman who said, I have an 8-year-old and a 6-year-old that will be going to school with 12th graders- and I find that very inappropriate. I don't feel my children will be safe," said Deneicia Williams.


Again, I ask, where are our country's priorities?  It is beyond disheartening.  Why does it seem that education always must take the brunt of budget shortfall, resulting in school children taking the hit?  

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that may just sum it up, "It'll be a great day when the schools have all the money they need, and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber."  Well said. 

NFL Star and Actor, Merlin Olsen R.I.P.

Today, (3/11/10), we note the passing  of Merlin Olsen, (1940- 2010). His brother Orrin, announced Merlin Olsen's death to the press. In a statement,  he said that his brother had been treated for mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer, (The New York Times).   Merlin Olsen was 69. He was an outstanding  National Football League (NFL) player, one of the best  linemen who ever played the game. He  played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.  He was  a longtime pro football color commentator for NBC sports. He was also a popular TV actor. He was a featured player in the series “Little House on the Prairie," and the star of the series "Father Murphy." .

Merlin Olsen R.I.P.



 

Betty White To Host SNL May 8

This morning  WNBC News announced that the "Golden Girls"  star, the 88-year-old comedian, Betty White will host NBC's Saturday Night Live on May 8. -- So, it is official. And who said the suits at NBC were dumb? Lots of people. They gave Conan O'Brien the boot to the backside. Well -- in this case they did something very smart. They heard from a half million Betty White fans via Facebook and decided  that it would be a good idea to start the May sweeps off with Betty White hosting Saturday Night Live. Betty White will  be joined by several funny ladies from SNL past -- Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Molly Shannon, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer and Rachel Dratch. The show is being called a Mother's Day special.  Most of the SNL veteran ladies are mothers. Betty White isn't. But as SNL  executive producer Lorne Michaels told USA Today: "She's the mother of us all in comedy."   




 

Marion Jones: Second Act

Marion Jones is all set for a second act. She signed today with the Women’s National Basketball Association's,  (WNBA) team the Tulsa Shock to play basketball.  Marion Jones is  the former sprinter, who ten years ago, at the 2000 Games in Sydney,. won three Olympic track gold medals, and two other medals,  which  she had to returned  because of admitting  to using performance-enhancing drugs (steroids). Before the steroids, she was fast. Speed is an ability that will be needed on a basket ball court, where she will be challenged to run like mad, up and down the court.

Marion Jonesa is 34 years old,  born  October 12, 1975. She is 5-foot-10. She  attended the University of North Carolina on a basketball scholarship and helped lead UNC to the 1994 national championship. “I may not be your typical rookie in this league, but I’ll still bring that rookie energy,” Jones said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to competing against the best female athletes in the world.” (Bloomberg)

The Tulsa Shocks have high hopes that she will help their team on the court. She is a high profile player will bring extra media and fan attention to the WNBA.


 

Eric Massa: Gone Yet?

Former representative Eric Massa appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live", and on the right-wing Glenn Beck show, were  politically duds. Massa underwent a meltdown. He admitted that the reason why he gave up his seat in  Congress was his fault, and  that he may have engaged in some questionable tickling behavior with male staffers, and that he blames others for giving him a tough time, namely the White House chief of staff, but says he wasn't intimidated by anyone, because he is man enough to take care of himself. And he stuttered and he flustered.

The Big buzz from the Larry King Show was a tiny little wasp, when  Larry King asked  former Rep. Eric Massa if he was gay or not. Massa refused to answer the question. Some are saying he flipped out; others are saying that he came unglued.  Massa said, "Well, here's that answer, I'm not going to answer that. In -- in year 2010? Why don't you ask my wife, ask my friends, ask the 10,000 sailors I served with in the Navy. I'm not going to answer that. That's -- that is such...Well, but it's an insulting... Not me...It insults every gay American, because somewhere it... It somehow classifies people. Why would anybody even ask that question in this day and age?"  (Towleroad)

 

The Glenn Beck Show promised to feature a teller of falsehoods (a man who changed his story many times) comforted by the number one teller of falsehoods at Fox News, where one finds the motherload of all tellers of falsehoods, but when the falsehood teller wouldn't compound his falsehoods, the number one falsehood teller was forced to admit --  looking straight into the camera, he said, "America, I've got to shoot straight with you. I think I've wasted your time. I think this is the first time I have wasted an hour of your time, and I apologize for that."  (The Washington Post) Well, yesterday afternoon wasn't the first time the teller of falsehood wasted America's time.  Well, he is a teller of falsehoods.

Of course Mr. Massa has been wasting a lot of people's time too.


 

Justice for Letterman

The dude who tried to blackmail David Letterman was sentenced to six months in jail today. He was facing fifteen years, but he plead guilty for a lighter sentence. The dude, Robert Halderman, a disgraced CBS News producer, plead guilty to extortion,  to 2nd-degree grand larceny, and he offered an apology to his victim,  David Letterman.

 

Following Halderman's court appearance, David Letterman released a statement through his spokesman thanking the DA . “I would like to thank the district attorney of Manhattan, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., the former district attorney, Robert M. Morgenthau, the Special Prosecutions Bureau in the D.A.’s office, and the New York City Police Department. When they became involved with this case, I had complete faith that a just and appropriate result was inevitable. On behalf of my family, I am extremely grateful for their tireless efforts.” (New York Times)

Halderman attempted to extort two million dollars from David Letterman, threatening to reveal Letterman's  extramarital affairs..The fall-out from the blackmail case led to increased public attention for Letterman, and higher TV ratings for Letterman's show.

Link: The New York Times, (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/09/letterman-offers-a-comm...)

Massa: Trying To Make a Mess

The Washington departed Rep. Eric Massa is trying to make a mess. In explaining  his departure from the House, he at first claimed that it was for health reasons, then he hinted that he also left because of a conversation that he had with a male staffer was misunderstood, and  he said, "This ethics issue is my fault and mine alone. " (Daily News) Now he says that the Democratic leadership, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, whom he called the "son of the devil's spawn," forced him out, because he voted against the health care bill. Earlier, he said that he opposed the bill because it wasn't strong enough, wasn't progressive enough, because it didn't have the single payer provision. Now, he just plainly says he was muzzled and kicked out because of his "no" vote, like he was some conservative duck kicked out of the Democrats' choir for quaking a conservative tune. Mr. Massa makes no mention of the complaints made against him at the House Ethics. Committee, that he sexually harassed male members of his staff.

Yesterday, in an attempt to explain himself to a hometown audience, was when he changed his tune. His ninety minute rant on the local station WKPQ-FM in Hornell, New York,  is a revealing look into Mr. Massa's state of mind. In describing  Rahm Emanuel pursuit of him to get his vote, he told of an encounter that he had with Mr. Emanuel,   while he (Massa) was  soaping up in the House gym showers. “I am showering, naked as a jaybird, and here comes Rahm Emanuel, not even with a towel wrapped around his tush, poking his finger in my chest, yelling at me.” (The Daily Beast)

Anyway, the right-wing , Fox News, Glen  Beck , Rush Limbaugh are rushing to toot Mr. Massa's horn, and to turn him into a cause célèbre.  Beck has booked Massa  to appear for the full hour for on this afternoon's show, to blame his troubles on the Democrats, and old Rush Limbaugh has promised to make Massa's story a national obession. But Massa's may make a mess that may smack the right-wingers back in their mean, little smirking faces.

Sources:

The Daily Beast, (http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-03-08/democratic-tra...).

The Daily News, (http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/03/06/2010-03-06_upstate_dem_quits_...).

ABC News, (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/HealthCare/white-house-eric-massas-charges-rid...).

Betty White To Host SNL

A big win for us fans. The date and time has not been announced, but "Betty White fans, (our) prayers have been answered. The former Golden Girl will appear on Saturday Night Live in the near future, she confirmed to PEOPLE at Elton John's annual Oscars viewing party on Sunday night. " (People Style Watch)  Betty White will be making an appearance on Saturday Night Live as a host, later this season. Details about the upcoming show has not been released.

  

For weeks now, on Facebook, a half a million strong,  fans of the veteran “Golden Girls” star, the eighty eight years old, Betty White, have made the case to NBC for a guest appearance by her on  the Saturday Night Live show, and wisely, the suits at NBC have extended an invitation to one of the funniest ladies in show business.

News Source: People Style Watch (http://www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/package/article/0,,203...)

Pages