September 2009 Archives

Today's cuppa: office coffee, chased with decaf Irish breakfast tea come evening

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, ABC's business-reality series "Shark Tank" returns to the schedule on a new night (and at  a new time, 8 p.m. ET/PT), aiming to help more hopeful entrepreneurs get some investment capital and be able to chase their piece of the American dream.

Bright and early Monday morning, I got on the phone with three of the five "sharks" (the other two are Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary): real-estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, tech innovator Robert Herjavec and infomercial pioneer Kevin Harrington. Here's a chunk of our Q&A (Corcoran is BC; Herjavec is RH; Harrington is KH. I'm KO).

KO: Did the experience of doing the show turn out as you expected?

RH: It turned out a lot better. What we're seeing are investments that really have a potential to make a lot of money. We had one investment that we ended up selling within two weeks of it airing. We've had other ones that I think are going to go all the way, potentially.

KH: I had a company that went from $8,00 a month to $80,000 a month with the capital that I invested. So that's great for me to see, that kind of growth in a company in a very short period of time.

BC: The other thing that's been surprising for me is 'Shark Tank,' each week, it's been the first forum ever created where someone with a great idea, a dream that they kept in their cookie jar or something, could actually come into the tank, pitch their idea and get a bundle of cash. That's nothing short of an entrepreneurial miracle.

RH: It's the appeal for the great American Dream. That's what we're giving people an opportunity for.

KO: Interestingly, two of the sharks possibly funding that American Dream (Herjavec and O'Leary) began their journey to success in Canada. Despite that, if O'Leary thnks someone isn't trying hard enough, he's likely to say, "That's un-American." Ironic, no?

BC: Isn't that funny?  I never thought about it that way.

RH: I'm Canadian. In (the Canadian version of the show), he says, 'That's so un-Canadian."

BC: Obviously, he's got his lines down.

KO: How do your lawyers and accountants feel about you coming on TV and tossing wads of cash at companies you'd never heard of an hour before?

BC: They think we're smokin' dope, frankly, that we're on the air, judging a business in a half-hour, 45 minutes -- which winds up being only five minutes on air -- that we're putting our hard-earned money into somebody's pocket after 45 minutes of trying to size them up. They think we're total nutjobs.

RH: I've never had a business adviser tell me to do the show. They've always said, "That's such a bad idea,' but there's a reason people are professional business advisers, and then there's a reason why I have a few million dollars in the bank. It's because I take risks, and that's what this show is about.

KH: But I'm going to say, in my business, if I hit on a certain percentage of winners, then I can make my money overall. If one out of two investments work, if that one is a big one, that can be a big thing for me. So I look at the averages and the percentages when I invest.

KO: As I've learned from watching Discovery's "Pitchmen," infomercial producers listen to thousands of sometimes very strange pitches from eager inventors. Kevin, what's this like compared to your real life?

KH: Yeah, when I leave here today, I'll be taking pitches today, right off the air. So that's my business. For me, it's a great, natural thing to just turn the cameras on and do it for ABC network, because I do it every day.

B: And it's the real deal. He doesn't do anything differently on camera than he does off-camera, so you're watching real money, real entrepreneurs, real half-baked or well-baked ideas coming to fruition.

RH: But he does wear a suit and tie. I'm not sure he does that every day.

BC: He cleans up for the show, that's for sure.

KH: I shave, also.

KO: We've heard a lot in the news about greedy financiers coming under siege for throwing a wrench into the works of the banking business, and because of that, what a tough financial climate it has become for young companies to get started. How do you feel about that?

RH: There's two parts to what you said. Absolutely what we've learned is that the typical Wall Street, $20 million a year executive who has no skin in the game -- that is under siege, and it should be.

But the small business people that made this country so great are the ones we need to foster. We need to put our money into those people. That's the beauty of our show, that we're giving people the chance.

KH: The other thing is, a lot of really good, solid companies are having trouble getting financing. So if they end up on "Shark Tank," these are good, solid opportunities for us to invest in. The banks may not lend them the money for whatever reason, but now we have the opportunity to get involved with that good, solid company.

BC: A little detail that I never hear mentioned in the press -- and it's a shame because it puts a different spin on small businesses -- for every seven jobs created this week in America, one in seven are created by businesses that are less than 60 days old. So look at the power of "Shark Tank" -- the ability to create jobs for the guy next door, not just make these entrepreneurs' dreams come true, but create jobs.

Good businesses that grow need employees, and employees beget other employees. This has a more far-reaching effect. My gosh, we certainly need it right now.

KO: Barbara, what's it like to be sitting on the set between Herjavec and O'Leary?

RH: It's impossible. She keeps talking. I never get a word in edgewise. It's incredible (KO: BTW, all during this, Corcoran is alternately trying to speak and cracking up), how can a woman talk that much?

BC: I can hardly get a word in, and that's the truth. You know what it's like? It's like somebody sent these guys 50 gallons of testosterone and poured it all over their heads, and their muscles bulge out and they're screaming and yipping and yapping.

And I'm sitting there waiting for my turn. It's preposterous.

RH: Barbara, I'm so tired of your incessant whining.

BC: They're great guys off-camera; I just hate them on the set.

KO: What one piece of advice would you give to anybody coming into the tank?

KH: I would say, make sure you value your company the proper way. Don't ask for too much money.

BC: Show the passion in your belly. I fall for it every time.

RH: Three words: sales, sales, sales.

Here's my syndicated piece from this week about some great guys doing great work ...

There's a lot of talk these days about whether the NFL's Michael Vick - recently released from prison after serving time for running a dog-fighting ring, and now signed on with the Philadelphia Eagles - can ever redeem himself in the eyes of the pet-loving public.

If anyone knows a little about that, it's 6-foot-2-inch, 250-pound Joe Panz (left) of the animal-welfare group Rescue Ink, members of which are the stars of a new National Geographic Channel series called "Rescue Ink Unleashed," premiering Friday, Sept. 25.

His group includes guys who love tattoos and motorcycles, and more than a couple of them have also redeemed themselves from rough backgrounds and now work to rescue and rehabilitate abused animals.

"We believe in second chances," Panz says, "that's why we give the animals a second chance. However, it is a shame that somebody with the notoriety of that person, with all the kids that followed him, would choose to do something that he did.

"It's just very unfortunate, and it shows people that it doesn't mater how much money you have, if you do these types of things, you will be brought to justice, and you will be punished.

"So it is something that shows everybody that the society we live in today is not going to tolerate this anymore. And he is a person that couldn't get out of it, even though he tried as hard as he could, and he had to pay his penalty."

(Photo right: Rescue Ink member Batso and his dog, Inka)

Rescue Ink, based in the New York metropolitan area, came to national prominence after an August 2008 profile in The New York Times. Despite their sympathetic, compassionate interiors, these tough guys use their imposing exteriors to pry animals out of bad situations and convince the abusers to change their ways.

"The SPCA does what they do," Panz says, "and we do what we do. We don't leave a note on your door or give you a ticket. We stayed there until the situation was resolved. We have different tactics, let's put it that way."

Today's cuppa: cappuccino from the vending machine (yes, it's come to that)

Click here for my regular Thursday appearance on Shaun Daily's TV Talk show on blogtalkradio.com. I come in at a bit after the half-hour mark.

We talk about a whole bunch of things, including the shows listed above, and I even publish and revise a blog post during the very broadcast! I am Multitasker Woman.

Today's cuppa: office cafeteria coffee

I've been bombarding the good folks at eGuiders.com with video picks lately, several of which they made featured videos for the day. (Thanks Marc and Brian!)

For your viewing enjoyment, here they are (and again, can't be accused of being in an online-video rut):

"Hamster Time" -- Dancing hamsters. 'Nuff said.

"Broken Escalator" -- An abbreviated version of this is circulating, poking fun at a political party. Here's the complete, nonpartisan original.

"The King's Singers" -- Roll with some Bach.

"Is Social Media a Fad?" -- If you Twitter and Facebook this, it may cause an implosion.

"Cow Song" -- Yeah, cows. Heh heh heh.

"Broken Hill Comes Over Pitch Black During a Dust Storm" -- in Australia, for real, just a day or so ago.

"The Animals: House of the Rising Sun" -- vintage awesomeness.

"Twitteleh" -- Twitter with a Jewish twist.

"Life=Risk" -- Sometimes success is just one failure away.

Today's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Vanilla Nut

Today's cuppa: iced tea

This week, I did a syndicated piece on the new daytime series "The Dr. Oz Show" (check local listings for date and time in your area). Here's an expanded version for Cuppers...

 

Last Monday, Oprah Winfrey's favorite doctor, Mehmet Oz, began in daily syndication in "The Dr. Oz Show," aiming to bring his high-energy blend of medical and lifestyle advice, bold graphics and audience involvement to more TV viewers.

If current news reports are to be believed, the political debate over how to pay for health care in America should be back up to a fever pitch by fall.

But Dr. Oz - a cardiologist and cardiac surgeon - would like to ask a different question.

"I frankly don't care how you try to get around the health-care financing," he says. "If you don't fix the care-of-health issue, it's not going to make a difference.

"Whichever bill version gets finally cobbled together - I'm hoping it has portable care for all of us as a part of it - but no matter what, to make care affordable long-term for all of us, we're going to have to cost less.

"At the end of the day, you ask the health-care-policy question, the real answer is to make it easy to do the right thing. That's what we have to do in America."

One thing he'd like to see is a different approach to treating people with such chronic conditions as diabetes, cholesterol issues and heart disease.

"That bit of the population costs a lot," he says. "How do you get them help?"

Of course, it all begins with a diagnosis from a doctor, but Dr. Oz doesn't think it should end there but instead should move into a different treatment phase that involves nurses and other healthcare professionals.

"I didn't go to medical school to call you and remind you to walk," he says. "Nurses are good at that. It's a very smart move, and it works ... Once you have your diagnosis - unless it's a diagnosis that requires a lot of tinkering - we put you on a path, pay people to do that, a lot less than you pay them to treat complications, and let them manage it right.

"If we took care of diabetes, the athlerosclerotic complicating factors, just those two, you'd probably whack 15, 20 percent of the health-care budget, just for those two."

Dr. Oz would also like to introduce his TV audience to people who are doing the right thing.

"I really want to make the average American who does it right into a hero," he says. "We bring them on and celebrate what they've been able to accomplish. 'Tell me how you did it, so people can learn. Let's make you a hero. Let's make you a teacher.' "

 

A life of good health starts with the young:

"We've argued that taking care of your health will make you live longer or better, many years down the road. But it doesn't work, because we're all immortal at that age. What we need to talk about is living right now, which is the mantra of the show.

"Live right now is what we're focused on. You should be taking care of yourself, because you'll feel better today ... today."

Tomorrow night, Sunday, Sept. 20, CBS airs the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, with Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother") as host.

I haven't yet decided whether to watch "live," since I'm in Pacific time, and it will actually be at least partly over across town by the time it starts on TV here.

BTW, how stupid is that? The Oscars are live in L.A., but not the Emmys. Gotta hit up the boss for a Slingbox, I guess.

Anyway, as those who follow me on Twitter (@KateOH) know, I am the TV Czarina, and occasionally the TV Czarina makes pronouncements about the way it should be on TV.

With that in mind, here's my look at the Emmy nominations and my choices in some of the major categories -- and the TV Czarina declares that the lack of an Emmy nomination shall be no impediment to being named as a winner.

First of all, I must confess that I don't watch much in the way of sitcoms and therefore am eminently unqualified to comment on the comedy categories with any degree of expertise, except to say that Kristin Chenoweth should win Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy for "Pushing Daisies" for no other reason than that I've actually seen every episode of the show. Twice.

Moving on ...

Outstanding Host for Reality/Reality Competition Program -- nominees are Phil Keoghan ("The Amazing Race"), Ryan Seacrest ("American Idol"), Tom Bergeron ("Dancing With the Stars"), Heidi Klum ("Project Runway"), Jeff Probst ("Survivor") and Padma Laskshmi, Tom Colicchio ("Top Chef").

While I love Keoghan's sweaters as much as anyone, and Probst has two of the best dimples in primetime, I have to go with Bergeron just because he has to simultaneously referee among the squabbling judges and deal with sweaty, trembling celebrities. Try doing that and still being a mad snarkmeister.

Outstanding Reality Competition Program -- nominees are "The Amazing Race," "American Idol," "Dancing With the Stars," "Project Runway" and "Top Chef."

Now, I love me some "TAR," and it will probably win, but "DWtS" puts a tap in my toes, a smile on my face and song in my heart every week. Watch me use this logic next year to explain why "Glee" should win big.

(As a side note, my eightysomething Mom watched "Glee," and declared it "fresh, sweet and real." Take that, target demographic!)

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series -- nominees are "The Colbert Report," "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," "Late Show With David Letterman," "Real Time With Bill Maher" and "Saturday Night Live."

Yeah, if I watched any of these ... but I have seen many clips from "The Daily Show," and they seem pretty funny, I could go with that. But Colbert went to visit the troops, and since you know that Hot Cuppa TV -- and by extension, the TV Czarina -- is utterly in the bag for our armed forces, I'm going with Colbert.

Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series -- nominees are Christian Clemenson ('Boston Legal"), Michael Emerson ("Lost"), William Hurt ("Damages"), Aaron Paul ("Breaking Bad"), William Shatner ("Boston Legal") and John Slattery ("Mad Men").

Fine lads all, but I'm going with Walton Goggins of "The Shield," whose performance in the series finale alone is worth an Emmy.

Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series -- nominees are Rose Byrne ("Damages"), Hope Davis ("In Treatment"), Cherry Jones ("24"), Sandra Oh ("Grey's Anatomy"), Dianne Wiest ("In Treatment") and Chandra Wilson ("Grey's Anatomy").

Lovely ladies, and a lot to love here, but I'm going with CCH Pounder of "The Shield."

Outstanding Lead Actress, Drama Series -- nominees are Glenn Close ("Damages"), Sally Field ("Brothers & Sisters"), Mariska Hargitay ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"), Holly Hunter ("Saving Grace"), Elisabeth Moss ("Mad Men") and Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer").

Glenn Close, straight up. Dang, girl.

Outstanding Lead Actor, Drama Series -- nominees are Simon Baker ("The Mentalist"), Gabriel Byrne ("In Treatment"), Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad"), Michael C. Hall ("Dexter"), Jon Hamm ("Mad Men") and Hugh Laurie ("House").

Got no issue with these boys, but I'm tempted nevertheless to go with Michael Chiklis of "The Shield" -- though I get the sneaking suspicion that there's more to come from him as Det. Vic Mackey -- but, in the end, I'm throwing down for Mark Harmon of "NCIS." Leroy. Jethro. Gibbs.

Outstanding Drama Series -- nominees are "Big Love," "Breaking Bad," "Damages," "Dexter," "House," "Lost" and "Mad Men."

Some great ones here, and "Lost" in particular came roaring back with a kick-butt season, but, hello, "Battlestar Galactica" anyone? Really? Did you see those last few episodes, Emmy voters? Three of the nominees are on basic cable, so that can't be the problem; "Lost" is a genre show, so that can't be the problem.

So what's your problem? Ah, well, I guess we'll never know.

But, you might ask, which show do I think will win?

Don't quite know why, but I'm thinking "Damages."

Tonight's cuppa: Bewley's Gold tea.

Click here for my regular Thursday appearance on Shaun Daily's TV Talk show on blogtalkradio.com. I come in at a bit after the half-hour mark,

We talk about my night at the "America's Got Talent" finale -- click here for my interview with winner Kevin Skinner -- my ongoing love for "Supernatural" -- click here for my recent Q&A with star Misha Collins -- and what I think of Jay Leno's primetime show on NBC (just to relieve the suspense, I don't think it signals the end of quality television. "The Beautiful Life," maybe, but not Leno).

This afternoon's cuppa: more coffee

This morning, Zap2it posted my interview with "America's Got Talent" winner Kevin Skinner -- click here for that -- and in reading the comments, while there are plenty of folks who love Skinner and are thrilled that he won, there are also some who don't think his vocal chops were up to the winning standard.

Among Skinner's biggest supporters on the show is judge Piers Morgan, who criticized his technical ability but complimented his performance style. It's an issue that Morgan had dealt with before as a judge on the U.K.'s "Britain's Got Talent," when Susan Boyle gave a rousing audition but had shaky moments in her later performances.

Unlike Skinner (right), she finished as the runner-up -- as was amazingly talented opera singer Barbara Padilla (right) in this season of "America's Got Talent" -- but it was apparent while listening to Boyle sing the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" on last night's "AGT" finale show that she's now a far more polished, confident and assured vocalist than before.

Morgan -- who, as I said in the story, put a spotlight on Skinner back at the beginning of the season -- had something to say about that last night.

"(Kevin's) a special guy," said Morgan. "I've said this before, it's not because he's a great technical singer, but that's part of his charm. He's an unpolished gem. He's somebody, right now, that, with the right producer, right voice coach and all the rest of it, he could become a seriously successful country star.

"He's got the heart, and he has the evocative way of singing, which appeals to a wide audience."

As "AGT" judge Sharon Osbourne noted in one of her critiques of a Skinner performance, there are many top music stars who do not have technically great voices -- Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed.

"Willie Nelson," adds Morgan. "None of them are great singers, but it doesn't matter. It's about interpreting a song and making people come with you and believe in you as a performer. He's got it all."

On his way to the $1 million prize, Skinner chose two Garth Brooks songs, then did a left turn to Aerosmith's "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing."

Asked about that last night, Skinner said, "Well, that was a song that I felt comfortable singing. That song was one that, when me and my wife was dating, I'd sing to her. It had a little sentimental value."

Said Morgan, "I wouldn't have gone with the Aerosmith song in the finals, because even Steven Tyler struggled with it. I told him to stick to country music. He's a country star.

"I think (Garth Brooks') 'If Tomorrow Never Comes' was a magical moment for him, and that's the sort of thing that suits his voice better. But I admire him for trying. He tries.

"But, Kevin, you watch, in a year's time, he'll sing all that stuff."

As to what it was like to sit as a judge and watch both the Susan Boyle and Kevin Skinner phenomena in a six-month period, Morgan said, "Amazing, very emotional to watch them both. More Susan Boyle, someone I know very well and am fond of, to see her performing in the 'America's Got Talent' finale, very special to watch the American public go crazy for her and watch her sing that song so beautifully.

"What you're seeing with Susan is what you're going to see with Kevin. You're seeing an evolution of singing. Once professionals get a hold of them, they make them great.

"'If you've got the chops,' as David (Hasselhoff, his fellow "AGT" judge) says, you can be helped to become a great singer. I think Kevin will follow Susan."

A moment later, Skinner comes walking by on his way to an on-camera interview.

"Hey, Kevin," Morgan calls out, "can you lend me $20?"

Skinner grins broadly and pats his pocket, "Actually, I got that on me now."

A few weeks ago, I visited the sets of NBC's "Community," and here's the syndicated feature that resulted...

Today's cuppa: fast-food coffee (no fast food, just the coffee)

Tonight's cuppa: decaf Irish breakfast tea

Ever wondered why TV promos sometimes seem to be composed of repetitive, mediocre ideas? This video takes a humorous look at the often sad state of creativity in Hollywood.

Today's cuppa: Bewley's Gold tea

Click here for a Zap2it Q&A I did with contestant Kevin Skinner from this summer's edition of NBC's "America's Got Talent."

But, because you're here sharing a hot cuppa with me, here are a couple more excerpts from my interview with Skinner, which took place on the set for the show at CBS Television City -- where I plan to be Wednesday night, watching Susan Boyle perform on finale show! Word is that she'll be singing the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." Click here for a preview.

Q: Boyle had to wait until her late 40s to find success. You're 35. How do you feel about getting the attention now, instead of when you were younger?

A: "I'm a songwriter, and I write about experiences that have happened to me in my life. You have to live a while before you can do that. I was lucky enough to meet one of the biggest names in Nashville, and he signed my guitar. It was Merle Kilgore. I was younger when I met him. I was in my 20s. He said, 'Live a little while, then you'll have a whole lot more to write about.''

Q: What's been the reaction back home in Mayfield, Ken.?

A: "I can't go anywhere when I go home. People say, 'How do you handle that?' I say, 'Hey, everybody needs their quiet time, but you need to get out and let the fans know how you feel.' They did a couple conventions back home, with my permission. I said, 'On one condition, if you take the proceeds and hand them over to St. Jude's, give it to a good cause.'

"Actually that one did real well, and they're setting up another one. I said, 'I believe in helping people.' I'd like to prevail in my music and be in the position to help somebody else who needs a chance."

Here's one of my syndicated feature stories this week -- watch this space for some fun with NBC's "Community," launching Wednesday -- focusing on ABC Family's "Lincoln Heights," which stars two of the nicest folks you'll ever meet.

But don't take my word for it, read on ...

On June 21, Nicki Micheaux of ABC Family's family drama "Lincoln Heights" had a little family drama of her own, as she and her husband welcomed a son named Aiden. He joins a 4 1/2-year-old sister, Symone.

But back on a Saturday in May, as Micheaux (left) and "Lincoln" co-star Russell Hornsby (right) sit down for an interview, Micheaux is still very pregnant. She stands and leans over to stretch her back, causing concerned looks from those nearby.

"Just calm down," Micheaux says. "Everybody freaks out. Your muscles cramp up."

Micheaux's pregnancy is not part of the hourlong show's fourth season, which launches on Monday, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/PT

"No, there is no new addition," Micheaux says. "We're hiding the new addition. Thank God large handbags are in."

Micheaux plays nurse practitioner Jenn Sutton, who had to leave her privileged upbringing behind to move with her husband, police officer Eddie Sutton (Hornsby), back to the troubled Southern California neighborhood where he grew up, in hopes of making a difference.

The Suttons have two teenage daughters, Cassie and Lizzie (Erica Hubbard, Rhyon Nicole Brown), and a son, Tay (Mishon Ratliff). In the extended family are Eddie's alcoholic father, Spencer (Michael Warren), and Nate Ray Woods (Chadwick Boseman), Eddie's older son by an old flame.

This season, the family and the neighborhood look to rebuild after a devastating earthquake, and the Suttons cope with another kind of disruption when a large amount of money comes their way.

One thing's for sure: Eddie and Jenn will shepherd their family and their community through these difficulties together. A solid, functional marriage is a rare thing on television, and that comes home to Micheaux when she runs into fans on the street.

"They say, 'I wish I could grow up and be a wife like you,' " she says, "which is really amazing, and a little daunting, because young people are watching the show, and people who are going through their own marital problems. Marriage is really tough. This couple's been together for 19 years; I've been married for 10 years.

"I love portraying a married couple that communicates about the things that are bugging them and are allowing each other to grow and be different. This man is not afraid to be vulnerable in front of his wife. That's really difficult for men - it was difficult for my husband, at least.

"It's great to see it. Those are the things that help make a couple strong. It's daunting when someone comes up to you and says that you're the role model for them, or that the show is, but it's great."

Hornsby relates a similar experience, when a group of about 10 girls came up to him at a Hofstra women's basketball game and asked for autographs and pictures.

"There's a joy that these young kids are getting from, I believe, seeing this father on television," Hornsby says, "a solid citizen, a quote, unquote, man of the people, if you will, his commitment to his community.

"That warms my heart, to be honest with you."

Not only do Jenn and Eddie love each other, they also like to get a little physical. But Jenn's not eight months pregnant.

"Russell and I are big flirts, and that's fine," Micheaux says. "But now I'm pregnant. It's a little different, flirting with a pregnant girl. There are some physical barriers.

"So we had this intimate scene - I'm totally outing you right now, Russell - where we had to be romantic. Russell actually calls the writers in, 'We're not going to do it this way. It doesn't really need to be this sexy.'

"I was in total agreement, because I, too, feel really strange."

Hornsby recalls, "I said to the writers, 'Look, I think you're going to have to rewrite this scene.' Writers get temperamental. (The writer) said, 'Uh, why?' I said, 'I don't think either one of us are feeling very sexual right now.' "

"I have been telling them," Micheaux says, "I want Eddie and Jen to be more sexual, every year. But I'm eight months pregnant, and they're like, 'Here's your hot and heavy scene.' I'm like, 'Gee, thanks.' "

While the scene may have been toned down, Hornsby insists the relationship is not.

"Jenn is very much a woman," he says, "very much a mother and very much a contributor to society and to the community, but at the same time, she doesn't try to encroach or usurp her husband's duties. That's very important."

"It's great to see it on TV," Micheaux says. "It's hard to do it in real life. The characters are people we aspire to be. I don't know if it's even possible, because Jenn's an extraordinary woman. I think, in my life, how much would I sacrifice to make my neighborhood better?

"Those are real questions, and so they're inspiring people."

(Caption for the group shot: Mishon Ratliff as "Taylor 'Tay' Sutton," Nicki Micheaux as "Jen Sutton," Russell Hornsby as "Eddie Sutton," Rhyon Nicole Brown as "Lizzie Sutton," Erica Hubbard as "Cassie Sutton" and Robert Adamson as "Charles" star in "Lincoln Heights" airing on ABC Family).

Today's cuppa: Bewley's Gold tea

You can't accuse me of getting into an online-video rut. But if you do, I offer this pair of eGuiders.com picks in my defense:

First up, click here for a comedy vignette that explores the possibility that latenight TV host -- and as of tonight, primetime TV host, as his new NBC show premieres -- Jay Leno actually was cloned. And, can you spot the "Happy Days" star?

Then, click here for a video I posted in honor of my birthday -- which is tomorrow, BTW -- and in honor of me being three-quarters Irish (which I am every day). You won't have to actually give up yer aul sins in this one, but you will learn a little bit about a man widely reviled in the snake community.

Today's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Patriot Blend

Click here for my regular Thursday appearance on Shaun Daily's TV Talk show on blogtalkradio.com. I come in at a bit after the half-hour mark, and we talk about my future visits to "America's Got Talent," the "Supernatural" season premiere and the Black & Blue Boys and Girls on "Wipeout."

Also, click here for my latest eGuiders choice, a revival of an early-1990s anti-software-piracy campaign. Everything old is new again ...

BTW, I posted my Sept. 11 tribute late last night -- scroll down or click here for that -- but now that the day is upon us, I'd just like to extend my deepest sympathies to the friends, families and co-workers of all the innocent victims killed in the terrorist attacks, and my deepest respect and gratitude to the first responders, political leaders from local to national to international, and the extraordinary citizens from every walk of life who helped us survive that unspeakably terrible September morning and all the mornings that have come after it.

Tonight's cuppa sorrow...

You all know what Friday is. I plan to mark the occasion by heading to Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., to see the flags, one for each soul lost eight years ago. The pictures below are from the inaugural display last year -- big shout-out to Pepperdine grad and actor Ryan Sawtelle, who spearheaded efforts to make the tribute a reality during his last year at the school (and by the way, he sings, too) -- and the flags should be back up now.

If you're in the area, I hope you stop by. For everyone else, I suspect it looks a lot like this (click here for John Cale's lovely version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" for musical accompaniment -- recommend right-clicking and opening the link in a new window or tab) ...

Tonight, Thursday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, The CW's "Supernatural" returns for another season, as demon-hunting brothers Sam and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles) deal with the rising of Lucifer himself and an impending Apocalypse.

There to help out, more or less, is their trusty angelic sidekick Castiel, played by the lovely and talented Misha Collins, who was kind enough to pen some replies to a few questions about his character and the upcoming season.

I guess you could say he's winging it, but I shouldn't have, and I hope you don't. Here we go:

Q: The show put you through the emotional wringer last year, playing a beleaguered Angel of the Lord - and made you wear the same outfit in almost every episode. Can we expect more of the same this season?

A: Well, according to the story, the angels aren't supposed to feel emotions. But my angel did always seem somewhat beleaguered and certainly a bit bedraggled, which in good part was due to the outfit I wear. When I got the part of Castiel on "Supernatural," the character was supposed to last a couple of episodes, so when I went in for the fitting, I was pretty cavalier. I think I said, "Yeah, this'll work fine" to the first thing they had me try on. If I had any idea I'd be wearing that damn suit, I'd have put a lot more thought into it.

The pants have big pleats; the shirt is two sizes too big; and the whole thing makes me look like (Peter Falk in) "Columbo." But to answer your question, the outfit has not yet been burned, and Castiel is being put through the proverbial wringer now more than ever.

Q: What's been the reaction of fans when they see you in person?

A: Because the other actors on "Supernatural" are misfits of nature - they're giants - fans usually think that I'm short. I'm actually six feet tall, but when I'm being filmed next to Jared 

Padalecki (left), who's 6'6" or something, I look like a tiny wood-elf. People who've only seen me as the brooding, ethereal Castiel, are also usually surprised that in real life I have the capacity to smile and blink.

Q: What's the most fun of playing this part, and what's the most challenging?

A: There's a lot that's fun about playing this character: exploring what it means to be human, having the power to travel through time and teleport myself, and being able to magically mend my suit.

I think the biggest challenge - aside from not laughing during takes - is taking something seemingly so fanciful as an angel with super-powers dressed as Columbo and making something real and empathetic about him.

Q: Has playing this role caused you do any extra Biblical or mythological reading? If so, what?

A: Yes. I've read a good deal of the Bible in the past year. The Book of Revelation was quite a revelation. Angels in the Bible are not there to help little old ladies across the street. They are not cherubic, and they do not employ harps.

In the biblical Apocalypse of Revelation, little things happen like, "the four angels were released ... to kill one third of mankind." So my angel was informed by this. I think he's from the reluctant-smiter school of angels. Beyond that, I went to the bookstore and bought three popular books on angels, which were sucky and useless.

Q: Given your druthers, what would you like your next, probably non-angelic role to be?

A: Yes, well, if I could have a corner on the niche market of film and TV angels, I'd take it, but it's a small niche and I might need to broaden my horizons a bit. Before playing the angel on "Supernatural," I had had a string of assassin and serial killer roles, so this has been a welcome reprieve. I don't know.

I used to want to go into politics, I even interned in the White House for Bill Clinton at one point. Now I think it would be fun to be cast as a lawyer or a politician, it would give me a chance to play out that fantasy without actually having to slog through law school.

Q: Considering we're in the middle of an economic meltdown, how does it feel to be playing in a storyline about the Apocalypse?

A: The apocalypse that "Supernatural's" writers are creating is not sudden or cataclysmic. It's more insidious and incremental. The apocalypse on our show is really just a worst-case-scenario modern life.

Today's cuppa: office coffee

Today's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Vanilla Nut

Right now, I'm not sure how much "Wipeout" fans in Eastern and Central time are going to see on Wednesday, Sept. 9. It depends on whether live coverage of the presidential address to a joint session of Congress and whatever reactions and/or commentary follow it wrap up by 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.

(Info below was revised from original post.)

According to ABC, fans in Pacific time can expect new "Wipeout" at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. MT), followed by a repeat.

But please don't trust me, check your local listings, whether online, in print or in the on-screen guide.

Whenever the new episode airs, it's a special installment, and here's what ABC had to say:

JOHN HENSON AND JOHN ANDERSON GO DOWN UNDER TO SHOW AMERICAN VIEWERS HOW AUSSIES BOUNCE, IN A UNIQUELY AUSTRALIAN VERSION OF ABC'S "WIPEOUT"

 

G'day America... The Johns go down under after receiving an opportunity to host this unique Australian version of "Wipeout," which we wanted to share with our audiences as part of the WIPE Program, the Wipeout International Presenter Exchange. This Aussie-filled hour will feature native mates and ladies bouncing off Big Balls, among other over-the-top obstacles in the outback. "Wipeout," which is seen in 25 countries, will surely delight viewers with one of the most spectacular sweeper wipeouts ever seen in Wipeout history! This special version of, "Wipeout" will air WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 (9:00-10:02 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

 

Note: This program was originally scheduled to air at 8:00 p.m., but was pre-empted by President Obama's address to Congress.

Last week, we met the female half of the "Black & Blue Team," a quartet of energetic individuals that tests the "Wipeout" stunts to make sure they balance thrills and spills with health and safety.

This week, we'll meet the male half, Kyle Wasserman (left) and Kenny Shackelford (right), who also took time off from their day to chat during production of the current season.

Shackelford had a cousin who worked on "Wipeout," and who had worked on "Fear Factor," and Wasserman was acquainted with the assistant to "Wipeout" executive producer Matt Kunitz.

For both of them, when presented with the opportunity to run around on an abandoned ranch and bounce off of giant red balls into cold water all day, it wasn't a tough decision.

"They needed some people to run the courses and get hurt," said Wasserman, "and I signed up as quick as I could. Here I am, still here!"

"It's pretty much summer camp, for life," said Shackelford.

"Super playground summer camp," said Wasserman.

Asked about requirements for the job, Wasserman said, "Sturdiness."

"High pain tolerance is crucial," added Shackelford.

"And a lot of endurance," said Wasserman. "You've got to be able to go over and over again. Sometimes the test isn't finished until you've done it six times, and then you've got to move over and test the next thing, move over and rig the next stunt -- just keep going."

As for injuries, Shackelford said, "Every now and again (we get hurt). None of us, I think have broken anything yet. None of us has done anything that critical. A lot of stitches in the last year, here and there."

"A lot of hematomas," said Wasserman.

"Sore muscles," said Shackelford.

"Bruises," said Wasserman.

"That's how we got our name," Shackelford said. "We were originally called Bumps and Bruises, I think, but our team leader didn't like that."

Shackelford couldn't think of anything to criticize about his job -- not even having to get up early to drive in -- but Wasserman had a gripe.

"The only thing is," he said, "after my feet have been wet for about six hours, they start to hurt and get all prune-y. Six hours of wet feet, that can be a bummer."

If you're a kid out there who'd like to grow up to do what the Black & Blue Boys do, Shackelford said, "I grew up in a small ski town -- Park City, Utah -- and when you have seven feet of snow in your yard, the trees and your house are the playground. I used to jump off my roof a lot, do crazy things.

"All my friends' parents used to give me crap and say I was crazy. Now I get paid to do it. That would be my advice, I suppose, so crazy when you're a kid. You can't think too much.
We're smart guys, but when you over think the stunts, that's when you get hit."

"Just relax and go," said Wasserman. "It's alla bout playing. It's all about relaxing, having a good time and getting the rush, jumping around."

And, it's a pretty good workout.

"You don't have to go to the gym," said Shackelford, "and look at a bunch of lame people. We come here, eat hearty, run as hard as we can, sleep well."

"I wouldn't trade my job for a thousand dollars a day in gas," said Wasserman.

"Me, neither," said Shackelford.

Today's cuppa: Bewley's Gold Blend tea

Forget the mortgage meltdown, forget economic upheavals, forget rising mountains of national debt -- a lot of young Americans are starting out in life with a crushing personal debt load, busted broke before they even get a chance to have house payments, be laid off or find themselves in a punishingly high tax bracket.

Here's a syndicated piece I did for this week on how PBS is stepping up to help out ...

It's exhilarating and scary to graduate from college and head out into the world. Of course, it's probably just plain scary if you're heading out carrying $30,000 in credit-card debt.

 

Premiering Wednesday, Sept 9 (check local listings), the PBS special "Your Life, Your Money" introduces viewers to Amanda McCormick, the indebted Florida college senior, along with six other young people facing financial issues.

 

Donald Faison ("Scrubs") is host for the one-hour special, which also offers insights from hip-hop icon Russell Simmons and R&B/pop singer D. Woods (Danity Kane).

 

Also offering advice is personal finance expert Beth Kobliner ("Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your Twenties and Thirties").

 

"Financial education should be a one-credit course that everyone takes," Grant says.

 

"Why did they give mortgages to people who didn't have jobs, who didn't have incomes?" Kobliner says. "Same with credit cards. And these young people are graduating, and they can't get jobs. If you owe $1,000, and you only make the minimum monthly payment, it's going to take you 18 years to pay it off.

 

"I'm a financial journalist. I go around the country and talk a lot to colleges. And the number-one point that young people of this age group are realizing: They're going to have to move back in with their parents."

 

Obviously, many of these parents would like to avoid that eventuality and steer their kids on the right financial track.

 

"A lot of us wound up having kids at or near the target age of the program," executive producer John Grant says, "so we would sit around and tell these personal stories of either their failures or successes, in that regard.

 

"The broadcast of the program is really aimed in as many ways at parents as much as it is the target audience."

 

"Your Life, Your Money" also has a companion Web site with extensive information to help young people become more financially literate.

Today's cuppa: Bewley's Gold Blend tea

Today's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Vanilla Nut

Today's cuppa: iced green tea

Next Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 8 pm. ET (live in all time zones), the President is addressing a joint session of Congress to discuss healthcare reform. ABC, NBC and CBS have agreed to cover the speech live, but as of this moment, that does not yet include Fox, which is premiering "So You Think You Can Dance" and the much-anticipated "Glee."

Keep your eye on your local listings to see what the final network lineups are -- and fear not, the speech definitely will be on the cable newsers (including Fox Broadcasting's corporate sibling, Fox News Channel) and PBS -- but this White House sure seems fond of being on TV, whether during the day or in primetime, with speeches, press conferences and a variety of photo ops.

How are you feeling about that? Vote!

Today's cuppa: iced green tea with mint (still, still hot in L.A.)