This is pure spite by the network for his win in November. It is also both deeply unfair and unprovoked.

I say this was not resignation it was assisted suicide; enabled by a spineless and ungrateful assemblage of unimaginative, infertile drones eager to please and placate their new owners.

Comcast got clearance to absorb the network on Thursday and in 24-hours one of its most popular hosts is no more.

Coincidence? You be the  judge.

This is a breaking story and details will undoubtedly emerge as the hours progress. I’ll update tomorrow when more becomes known. Meantime, let’s hear your views…

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Keith Olbermann exits MSNBC…or was he pushed?

Born in New York on March 25, 1925 the now 85-year old film buff has been a fixture of the ‘Today’ cast since 1970, and he announced his departure with typical brevity;

“It’s enough already!” THR quotes him as saying.

Starting as an occasional guest Gene became a regular part of ‘Today’ in 1973, and also found time to write for publications like ‘Ladies’ Home Journal,’ ‘Cosmo,’ ‘TV Guide,’ ‘Seventeen’ and the New York Times. He even delivered daily essays on life for NBC radio while doing all this – and wrote several books.

Tomorrow willl be Gene’s last appearance [barring re-runs] and the Today crew will mark his departure with a retrospective of his forty years in the job, including film reviews, celebrity interviews and his endless collection of puns.

But they might skip his ‘Brokeback Mountain’ review. When the movie opened in 2006 Gene tore it to shreds and called Jake Gyllenhaal’s character “a sexual predator.” saying he trapped Heath Ledger’s character into ‘sexual  trysts.’

The people at GLAAD had a fit. Then Gene wrote a letter explaining his views, the GLAAD folk relented and now everyone’s friendly. But for a while it got pretty dark.

But despite leaving ‘Today,’ Gene’s not retiring. His rep has made it clear the mustached movie maven would now ‘pursue other activities’ including publishing, radio work and commercials.

And you can be sure Matt and the rest of the NBC team will tell us all about it…

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Today Show’s film critic, Gene Shalit declares fade-out

“Ladies and Gentlemen,” Vince tells a crowded conference room in the trailer for the Ron Howard-helmed comedy, “Electric cars…are gay.”

Once the trailer appeared, forums lit up with heated debate. Several celebs then almost fell over each other to get to the cameras and express their utter shock and disgust – about a scene most of them had clearly not even watched.

The problem with all this ‘outrage’ is perception. Vince completes his statement by saying “Not ‘homosexual’ gay, but ‘My parents are chaperoning the dance’ gay.”

But the whole line doesn’t get you in front of the cameras.

So the D-list celebs who are so eagerly getting their undies in a knot over this are either too clinically stupid to absorb a whole sentence, or grabbing any chance to get on TV, or they’re being paid to look this upset.

Now relishing their role as the innocent victim, Universal them claimed they held previews and saw no problems at all;

“We showed the trailer to groups like GLAAD and some gay execs and staff at Universal, and no one was offended,” a Universal insider told Deadline. “Everyone had a positive response.”

But that claim’s hit a snag – GLAAD have flatly denied they saw nothing wrong;

“GLAAD called on Universal to remove the scene where ‘gay’ was used from the trailer,” the group’s president, Jarrett Barrios says in a statement. “The use of the word is unnecessary and does nothing more than send a message of intolerance to viewers.“

With the trailer now drawing the kind of widespread attention Universal clearly planned it to cause, the studio has announced that an ‘updated’ trailer – which they just happened to have ready – will be released later today.

“The trailer for The Dilemma was not intended to cause anyone discomfort,” says their statement. “In light of growing claims the introduction is insensitive, it is being replaced. A full trailer will post online later today.”

What we have here is either a case of bad judgment by chair-bound executives with no clue of reality, or a cynical ploy to create fake controversy, and thus increase the box office profits for a film those execs already know is a turkey.

Which is your choice?…

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Universal insults gays and viewers with ‘Dilemma’ hype

[The Limey] – The history of music has been blessed with many whose vocal dexterity could hold an audience spellbound, and thanks to America’s Got Talent a new name can be added to that lustrous list – Jackie Evancho.

For Tuesday’s show all the contestants had to submit their auditions by You Tube. One such video came from ten-year old Jackie – and she has the potential to redefine song.

Born in Pittsburgh, PA, the tiny starlet appeared on stage with her long blond hair accenting a dress which gave no clue of the wonders within. The orchestra then formed the opening bars of “O mio babbino caro,” a dramatic aria from Puccini’s 1918 opera ‘Gianni Schicchi.’

And from her small frame came a quite magical sound.

Blending the upper-register trills of the divine Lesley Garrett with the velvet-smooth mid-range that has made Kiri Te Kanawa the rightful focus of worship, Jackie gave a performance of such melodic perfection it left the audience in raptures and the judges all stunned.

“All we wanted was to find that one moment; that one gem,” gushed Howie Mandel. “And you know what? This is the moment; You’re the star.”

Piers Morgan was also left fumbling for words;

“That is one of the most extraordinary performances I’ve ever seen,” he beamed at the dimple-cheeked prima donna.

And Sharon seemed equally floored, “I can’t believe that voice came out of your tiny body,” she said, clearly moved.

The audition ended with Jackie in tears and the audience in full-throated wonder. Watch the video and see how you feel…

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Jackie Evancho wows on America’s Got Talent

Now we can suppose NBC will spend the next six months telling us how smart, funny and bitingly relevant the show still is – which is a lie – and how those who don’t watch it clearly need help. But let’s get one thing clear up-front:

If an 88-year old can give teen-focused SNL its best ratings in two years, that only proves what a tired, humorless, self-absorbed corpse the show has become.

For me, it’s a fail. I’m just glad this incessant and patronizing NBC-driven PR stunt is over.

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Betty White doubles SNL ratings, both new viewers amused

When the now 39-year old actor first appeared on the screen in 1998 as Will’s constantly unemployed neighbor, Jack McFarland, speculation soon grew that no straight guy could play ‘gay’ so well. But Sean was then in public denial.

“When you see me play Jack, I want you to believe that’s a gay character. And when I play a straight character, I want you to believe that, too,” he explained to the press when the show ended its eight-year, 16-Emmy winning run in 2006.

But now, faced with an imminent Broadway debut opposite the sparkling Kristin Chenoweth in ‘Promises, Promises’ a 1968-vintage musical based on the Jack Lemmon film, ‘The Apartment’ Sean has finally decided he’s a gay Emmy winner, and proud of these facts.

“I feel I’ve contributed monumentally to the success of the gay movement in America, and if anyone wants to argue that, I’m open to it,” he rashly declares.

But Sean also tells Qweerty the years of suspicion and whispers really hurt;

“Why would you go down that path with somebody who’s done so much for the gay community?” he asks. “That’s the thing about celebrity – It sets you up to fail because the expectation is so high. What more do you want me to do? Stand on a float? Then what? It’s never enough!”

For me, all that’s really required is to drop the pretense and admit who you are. Especially when you then plan to claim ‘monumental’ contributions to the struggle endured by those you coldly denied as your peers for more than a decade.

This entire admission is entirely self-serving and too long overdue. I remain unimpressed…

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Will and Grace co-star, Sean Hayes drops the last veil

Since he began tweeting on February 24 the 46-year old host has garnered 555,441 followers – and counting. But he’s followed no-one – Until now.

“I’ve decided to follow someone at random,” he tweeted yesterday. ”She likes peanut butter and gummy dinosaurs. Sarah Killen, your life is about to change,” read Conan’s newest tweet – only his tenth in two weeks.

And he was right – In 24-hours the formerly anonymous Michigan resident saw her account‘s followers rise from 3 to 11,730 – all due to Conan.

But unlike most of the celebrities Coco could have followed, were he that dumb, Sarah is using the overnight fame to help other people – She’s planning to walk 60-miles in 3-days to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and asked her new fans to donate to the cause.

And true to the spirit of Conan’s disciples, they did – RBR says she’s raised over $1,200 in one day.

Herself a long-time fan of Coco, Sarah’s also planning a wedding in September, and would love her feathery friend to drop by;

“We were only going to invite, like, twenty people. So if he came it could be as big as he wanted,” she told MTV. “He could bring anyone he wanted. He could have more people there than I do.”

She was also asked by the scribes if she thought Coco should start a new show?

“He definitely needs to. Definitely.” she enthused. “He has no idea what he did for me. Just the one day, this is the most awesome day ever!”

Now that’s a charming story, don’t you think? Whatever your views on Conan’s exit from NBC, the man has real class. Most people would have given withering interviews to anyone who would listen [and pay,] bemoaning their treatment, threatening lawsuits and demanding redress.

But not Coco – He picks a random tweeter and changes her life, and she in turn is using that fame to benefit others. And that’s a rare and very welcome event.

As for Conan’s own future path, Ticketmaster’s computers are now buckling under the influx of orders for his newly-announced live show in Phoenix on April 30th, with a nationwide tour after that. So the man is by no means out of the game.

And if he could choose a few more people like Sarah, the result could truly show NBC for the clueless, brainless, ratings-bound droids all his fans now know they are…

Photo by Orky

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Conan O’Brien picks a feathery friend on Twitter

The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, says that story’s hokum and no deal has been reached.

So, who to believe?

The whole tiresome spat began over ratings, but if NBC could put something even remotely this interesting on their airwaves more often the two hosts would not have bad ratings in the first place!

What I want to know is, the way this fiasco is leading it looks like Leno gets his old job back, and Conan quits his – Yet the meddlesome mouth-breathers who caused the whole mess all get to keep theirs.

…What’s wrong with this picture?

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Jay Leno regains Tonight Show…or does he?

Having been up-rooted from the Tonight Show in May – which he had made one of NBC’s few successes - reports are now floating the 59-year old host will be given a break from his primetime show during the Winter Olympics, then resurface in March – back at his old show.

“Jay Leno is one of the most compelling entertainers in the world today,” said NBC in a statement. “His show has performed exactly as we anticipated. It has, however, presented issues for our affiliates. Both Jay and the show are committed to working with them to improve the performance.”

The desk-bound intellectual midgets who uprooted Jay for no explicable reason other than a childish desire to break all their toys are now said to have met with both Jay and Conan O’Brien to discuss undoing their blunder, and while denying any firm decision has been made they did not refute TMZ’s reports that a change is in play.

Other than to cover their own asses and thus save their own jobs, the main motive for this overdue reboot is clearly the only other fact NBC ever cares about – The ratings are bad; Conan has been losing 2-million viewers a night to David Letterman, and to the NBC suits that’s a major red flag – Numbers like that might get them fired…at last.

Conversely, when Jay had the desk, Dave’s show was never more than a dot in the mirrors.

Assuming TMZ is correct [which has been known,] this means Jay will disappear in three weeks, be gone for a month, then return to a set from which he dominated the ratings for seventeen years. And the profit-driven pin-heads who caused this debacle will present their desperate reversal as creative success.

…Then they’ll go right back to wondering why no-one will watch…

[by: The Loquacious Limey.]

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Jay Leno returns to Tonight Show?

This potential downside of this deal is not far short of a nightmare – The people so underfunded with brains they moved Jay Leno from his throne on the Tonight Show to a deathwatch in prime-time have sold out to the people whose boss gave his girlfriend, Chelsea Handler a job, then expected the nation to call her a ‘star.’

The deal, which will see Comcast pay $6.5-billion in cash and $7.25-billion in assets and debt values NBC at about $30 billion. The implications, however, value its dwindling audience and their remaining intelligence at a far lower rate.

In return for saving NBC’s over-staffed rear from inevitable Chapter 11, Comcast will get a 51% stake in NBC’s cable streams – USA, Bravo, SyFy, CNBC, Telemundo and MSNBC.

NBC itself, and even Universal Studios are regarded as ‘only a small portion’ of the network’s gross value, so says their release.

Jeff Zucker, the current head of NBC-Universal will remain as chief executive, but would be answerable to Comcast’s Chief Operating Officer, Stephen Burke. And Mr. Zucker, the chief architect of NBC’s deliberate down-market slide and the hemorrhaging ratings his choices then caused, calls the decision “the start of a new era” for NBC.

Presumably one in which they don’t make shows that would insult a plank and attract audiences that could get lost in a phone booth?

But it could have been worse – Comcast tried to inhale the Walt Disney Company in 2004, but thankfully failed. And the word is that even Rupert Murdoch had considered a bid.

Can you imagine?? NBC’s whole stable of channels corrupted to be as ultra-right wing and malfeasant as Fox?

NBC once held a proud place in this nation’s fabric, but its recent self-inflicted malaise has since faded that luster. Comcast’s new broom could be just what it needs, but as long as Jeff Zucker and the over-paid suits who both caused and presided over its recent illness are allowed to remain, the wounds will not heal – and nor will the ratings.

NBC’s sale may be over, but its illness lives on. It might not be fatal, but let’s watch and see…

Post by: The Limey. Photo by BoucherMedia

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

NBC’s Comcast deal could still spell the end

Born James Bateman, on September 21, 1935 in Germantown, Pennsylvnia, Henry took his stage name from the Norwegian poet, Henrik Ibsen, because, as he once explained to a fan, “if you say his name with a Southern accent it sounds like Henry Gibson”

Like most of those born to act, Henry was a child prodigy, first taking the stage at the age of just six. As his career progressed, his natural talent soon got him noticed and he landed a small part in Paramount’s 1963 classic, ‘The Nutty Professor’ with the great Jerry Lewis.

Three years later fame truly arrived – Henry was cast as a rather hip poet in  NBC’s ground-breaking sketch show, “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In.” Each week he’d appear all alone, holding a book and a flower, and recite short, satirical poems – which he also wrote – that often had strongly political themes.

In 1975, Henry debuted the role that secured both his fame, and his first ‘Golden Globe’ nomination; He played the insincere country singer, Haven Hamilton, in Robert Altman’s music-themed movie, ‘Nashville.’

Five years later, the 5’3” acting maven gained a far wider, almost cult-inspired audience when he appeared as an unbalanced Nazi chasing two soul-singing deadbeats across the US, in the John Landis’-helmed classic ‘The Blues Brothers.’ If you’ve not yet seen it, you must!

Henry’s most recent appearance was as ‘Judge Clark Brown’ in over a dozen episodes of ABC’s ‘Boston Legal,’ plus an extended spell as the voice of Bob Jenkins in Mike Judge’s ‘King of the Hill.’

Throughout a varied career, covering more than 40 years and 130 separate appearances on both TV and in movies, Henry was supported by the love of his life, Lois Geiger, who herself died of cancer in 2007. They had three sons, Jon, Charles and James, who are all now successful in the field of production, so Henry’s passion and legacy are sure to live on.

A memorial service is pending. Donations can be made in his name to the Screen Actors Guild Foundation, and to ‘Friends of the Malibu Public Library.’

Partial Source: LA Times

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Henry Gibson succumbs to Cancer at 73

When NBC debuted the show in September ’98 the public reaction was so universally bad, it was canceled after only one season. But like all monsters, it came back to life and did ten more years in worldwide syndication, airing in a record 148 separate countries.

This time the plot is quite new.

Paramount paid seven-figures [!?!] for the rights in 2005 and wanted a serious remake. But all that is gone. Their new plan was to hire 33-year old writer / director Jeremy Garelick [who has never seen the show] to redo the script, direct the movie and make Baywatch his own. “It felt like the template to do a movie similar to ‘Stripes’ and ‘Police Academy,’ the comedies I loved growing up,” Garelick told the Variety bods

The result is a script in which two unlikely lifeguards try to fit in among the lightly-tanned torsos on an as-yet unchosen California beach. The suits at Paramount loved the new plan – and now Baywatch as slapstick is in pre-production.

To give you a clue how bad this thing was, the original series, best known for the debut of Pamela Anderson, whose impossible figure had women worldwide scouring liporexall reviews, holds an unenviable record as the longest-running show in US-network history to never win a single Emmy.

None of the show’s cast will star in the movie, but David Hasselhoff and Pamela may make cameo nods.

Text © 2009, The Loquacious Limey
All rights reserved.

Pamela Anderson may return in Baywatch redux