Taking The "Live" Part Very Seriously

Jimmy Kimmel is introducing live commercials to his program in late May.

The practice was very popular in the early years of television. Not only were shows produced live, but advertisers sponsored entire programs. The trend reversed after companies started dictating content or results of game shows (watch the movie Quiz Show for more).

While Kimmel will be the irst contemporary host to work the live spots in every night, Leno ran a live commercial for Garmin last year.

Please note that all of Kimmel's commercials will be for Ben Affleck-fucking related products and services.

Are We Just Bearing Witness To Miley Cyrus' Genius?

Miley Cyrus ate few ounces of ketchup on Leno last night. The video described it as chugging, but it's closer to a long squirt than the maple syrup shenanigans from Super Troopers.

I wonder how the PR Machine at Disney will spin this. Does this show that Miley is a daredevil...of the tame variety? Does it show she's just a kid who likes to have fun? Or maybe she just enjoys ketchup.

I don't know what you're up to Miley Cyrus, but you're a teen queen of the best kind. You sing to sold out crowds, you have your own television show, you present at The Oscars and you drink condiments on late night talk shows. How do you do it? How do you do it?

Writers Strike: Weekly Update

In Florida last week. Two signs the strike is working. Two signs it needs to end immediately.

• The Golden Globes are canceled. After NBC insisted they would go on without writers, nominees or presenters they finally heard themselves talk and canceled the telecast. Instead, the winners will be announced at a press conference that is not set to last more than an hour.
  

• Tom Cruise's company United Artists is the first large studio to sign an independent agreement with the WGA. This deal is the first thing he got right since Cocktail.
  

• Jimmy Kimmel and Jay Leno are having each other as guests on their respective shows on Thursday. The fire and brimstone are set for Friday after lunch.
  

• American Gladiators had the highest ratings for any new show on NBC this season. Again, the hellfires should roll in after lunch, around one, twoish tops.
  

Huck and Leno Are Probably Besties Now

Mike Huckabee is the projected Republican winner in the Iowa caucuses tonight. I would like to think his victory is due to Chuck Norris, his strapping Tudors-inspired haircut (above) and his appearance on Leno last night.

It was the first night back for late-night talk show hosts and while Letterman boasted funny man Robin Williams, Leno came out strong with Huckabee. According to the early ratings, Leno took the numbers last night.

So who helped who more? Did his appearance on Leno help Huck to the top or vice-versa?

And more importantly: I watched CNN's coverage of the caucuses tonight and more impressive than Wolf Blitzer's blinding metallic tie was Anderson Cooper's pie chart board. He held up what looked like a piece of cardboard and a hologram of a pie chart appeared on it. Then, instead of listening to the political commentators, all I could do was watch Anderson fiddle with the board, making the graph smaller and bigger. He was like a kid with a bubble wand. It was mesmerizing.

And kudos to Barack Obama for winning the caucus for the Dems. Way to Barack The Vote Iowa!