Cloris Leachman Is F'n Brilliant!

I don't watch Dancing With The Stars but I do like to see which "celebs" they can wrangle to participate. The list has improved each go round and this season's crop of stars includes some pretty notable names (Beijing Gold Medalist Misty May-Treanor and gastrosexual Rocco DiSpirito to name a few) but none of them are as legit famous/talented as Cloris Leachman.

She's an Oscar winner, and an Emmy winner a million times over. Plus she's tough as nails, even at 82-years-old. And did I mention she's flippin' hilarious!

Here's the video (Sorry it's not embedded. I'm working on it. ) of Leachman sticking it to Bob Saget and the rest of the panel at Saget's Comedy Central Roast. When I saw this on TV I went into one of those " I'm pretty sure I can't breathe yet I can't stop laughing" kind of moments. She may be worth watching Dancing for.


Want more? Here's Part 2.

Photo: Trivial Tribute

Things I Learned From Middle-Aged Funnymen

I love TV, but books aren't so bad on occasion. This is especially true when the books are written by TV people.

I went to see a great reading tonight. Ben Karlin, former Executive Producer of the Daily Show and The Colbert Report, teamed up with some of his good friends and fellow humorists to put together an anthology. Not just any anthology, a compendium of essays and funny business from 30-something guys on lessons they've learned from women who've dumped them.

The book, Things I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me, is already a bestseller and after listening to a few of the contributors, I know why.

Karlin tells his own story love lost during his college years. Dan Vebber, (a former writer for The Onion and currently a TV Writer) who told the cringe worthy story of the time he almost lost his virginity. Will Forte, Andy Richter, and Steven Colbert also took their turn at sharing their tragic but true trials with women. Plus there are several non-TV personalities as well to round things out.

This is one book I'm willing to tear myself away from the tube for, slap it on your to-do list if you can find the time.

Writers Strike: Weekly Update

I missed you guys on Monday. Not too much happening this week or last because of the holiday. Talks are stilled virtually stalled out. It's not looking good.

• Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart are returning to the air on January 7th, without writers.
  

• The WGA granted a waiver to the Spirit Awards. Awesome. Since the Oscars and Golden Globes will suck, hopefully people will watch the show honoring indie films and some up-and-comers will get the credit and audience they deserve.
  
• Tiffany Pollard (pictured), a.k.a. VH1's New York, got engaged to that dude that won I Love New York 2. Expect more ridiculous marriages based on shitty reality shows should the strike continue.
  

Finally, Truthiness In The Oval Office

Stephen Colbert announced his candidacy for president last night. It didn't exactly send shock waves throughout the media, but there were a few smiles reflected in iGoogle pages of 20-somethings everywhere.

I don't really catch The Colbert Report because I have difficult time watching him so accurately portray a jingoistic, pompous pundit. Regardless of my personal opinions, Colbert brings news and a smile to his throngs of viewers and fans. He must be doing something right.

As for right now, Colbert's only running in South Carolina, his own state. Will it shake things up? Probably not. Hopefully it will expose some of the ridiculousness that is the Presidential Election. Plus, it will make for great comedy and T-Shirts/Bumper stickers along the way.

But if this whole things turns in to Man of the Year ...I'm out.