November 2010 Archives

On Wednesday, Dec. 1, the latest season of Discovery's "Storm Chasers" comes to a conclusion, after a spring and summer tornado season that saw tumult and tragedy -- and not all of it was because of mighty twisters.

(Click here for a clip from the finale.)

The show's cameras followed storm chaser Reed Timmer and his Dominator team as they were among the first to arrive in devastated Yazoo City, Miss., an experience which rededicated Timmer to the science side of his mission, which may provide data to be used in tornado early-warning systems.

Other huge storms also battered Dominator, along with the Twistex scientific team led by Tim Samaras, while also providing new information for the ambitious research team Vortex 2.

(Photo: from left, Samaras, Timmer, Sean Casey)

Also on the trail of wild weather was IMAX filmmaker Sean Casey and his heavily armored tornado-intercept vehicle, the TIV 2 (the first TIV was featured in earlier seasons of the show).

Some possibly imprudent driving by TIV 2 (Casey was not at the wheel; he's positioned behind the driver operating his camera) caught on video and posted on YouTube caused friction with Vortex 2 head Josh Wurman.

As the V2 project provides funding for Casey's upcoming IMAX film "Tornado Alley," set to be released next April, Casey had to agree to keep his distance from Wurman.

But friction with Vortex was only one of Casey's trials, as he and his team dealt with the suicide death of meteorologist Matt Hughes, which took place during a break from chasing. At the request of Hughes' family, the show aired an episode featuring Hughes' last chase, an epic and exhilarating trip through a brutal storm (click here for a clip).

It was a wild ride all around, and below find an email interview with Casey, conducted earlier today ...

Q: How did Matt's death affect the team, and how difficult was it to get back to business afterward?

A: Matt's death put us all into a state of grief and numbness, I don't know if we ever recovered. We had a brief respite when we encountered the massive tornadoes of June 17th in Minnesota. That day I felt that Matt was with us. But, I don't know, does anyone ever recover fully from the death of a close friend?

Q: What does your relationship with Vortex 2 - which seemed strained at best - look like for the future?

A: The people in V2 are my friends, some of them good friends. Their field operations ended this year, as it was a two-year field mission for 2009 and 2010. But who knows, 10 years down the road, there will probably be a VORTEX3 and, by then, I should have TIV5 ready, with all of its hovercraft capabilities in place.

Q: Once your IMAX movie is released in April, will you return to storm chasing?

A: You ever see an image of one of those salmon that migrate hundreds of miles up a stream, their body slowly disintegrating and turning to mush, as they spawn out the last of their lives and then wash up on the gravel, go belly-up and just lay there slowly gasping? That's me. I'm spent.

But...

That said (a bit over-dramatically) I feel a compulsion to keep storm chasing, to see something that for me is like being in the presence of God, to be witness to something that brings awe to my soul.

Q: This season looked like an extraordinary one - was it, or was it just clever TV editing?

A: It was a season of a lifetime, and one I hope to God I never have again.

Q: Is there a TIV 3 on the drawing table?

A: Yeah, but the problem is that the drawing table is still only in my mind.  One day though, as I can't leave an idea behind, my garage doors will part, and I'll emerge driving TIV3 or riding Rocinante 3.

Q: What significant additions to tornado science were made during this past season?

A: That's something for V2 to answer. I do know they captured amazing data sets on 25 tornadic storms and an equal amount of data sets on non-tornadic storms. But it takes awhile to vett that info. But I believe that, in the future, tornado science will be divided into pre-V2 understanding and post-V2 understanding.

Q: How are you and Reed Timmer getting along?

A: Great, I gave his pants back two weeks ago! I'll explain that one. We did a photo shoot together, and the wardrobe lady gave me my clothes back. When I got home I had Reed's pants in my duffel bag. There was even $24 in the front right pocket!

Q: Have you firmed up plans for the movie premiere?

A: It might be in Chicago, or DC, I don't know.

Today's cuppa: English afternoon tea

Earlier this fall, I visited the crew and host of PBS' "Ask This Old House" as they helped a homeowner in Pasadena, Calif., upgrade his kitchen light fixtures (more on that when the airdate is announced). Then, a few weeks later, I headed to the eastern side of Los Angeles to visit this year's winter project for the mothership, "This Old House."

(Above, from left, landscaper Roger Cook, HVAC/plumbing expert Rich Trethewey, general contractor Tommy Silva, host Kevin O'Connor and master carpenter Norm Abram)

Below find excerpts from the press release that describes the project, and below that is a slideshow of a few of the things I saw that day. I'm planning to head back over when Abram is in town, to add more material for a feature story to run closer to the premiere.

(And, BTW, I learned from producer Deborah Hood that Silva can cut a rug, so will he be the first general contractor on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars"? If I could see him and "Deadliest Catch" crab Capt. Sig Hansen in the same show -- blue-collar ballroom nirvana! Ah, well, a girl can dream ..)

THIS OLD HOUSE® EMBARKS ON FIRST-EVER RENOVATION PROJECT IN LOS ANGELES

Spanish Colonial Revival to Get Hollywood Treatment on New Season of Emmy® Award-Winning Show

CONCORD, Mass., (September 23, 2010) - For the first time in its 30-year history, the PBS home improvement series This Old House is traveling to Los Angeles to tackle a West Coast renovation project. A charming 1930s Spanish Colonial Revival home located in the picturesque hillside community of Silver Lake will get a Hollywood makeover from the show's expert crew. The This Old House Los Angeles project, featuring 10 brand-new episodes, premieres nationally on PBS beginning Thursday, January 27, 2011 (check www.thisoldhouse.com/tvschedule or your local listings).

In order to accommodate a growing family, the This Old House team, with the help of local tradespeople, plans to expand the home's existing footprint, add a second floor and make updates for modern living, while preserving the quaint period details that make the property unique.

Homeowner Kurt Albrecht purchased this home in 1998 and moved in with his wife, Mary Blee, shortly thereafter. The couple was not only drawn to the original period style of the house and its view of the Silver Lake Reservoir, but they loved the diverse community and its central location to most Los Angeles areas like Downtown, Glendale, Burbank and Hollywood. The one floor, 1,500-sq.-ft. house was the perfect size for a young, married couple so they only made minor cosmetic updates at first. However, in recent years as their family began to expand and basically outgrow the two-bedroom, one-bath house, they decided it was time for more extensive renovations.

The This Old House experts are working with Los Angeles-based contractor Steve Pallrand and his design-build firm Home Front on a modest 750-sq.ft. expansion which includes a new second floor, larger kitchen, new family room, two additional baths and two more bedrooms. The plan also calls for preserving and replicating some of the homeowner's favorite existing period details such as arched doorways, tray ceilings, plaster ornamentation, inlaid floors and art deco light fixtures. ...

Show producers found this Silver Lake property after an exhaustive search, which included extensive outreach to the local building/architectural community and a public call for entries earlier this spring, which yielded several hundred project submissions. Previously, the expert crew renovated four other homes in California, two in Santa Barbara, one in Napa Valley and one in San Francisco. The last California project was completed 10 years ago.

Click here for my second visit to the job site.

Today's cuppa: Coffeeshop coffee

Before tomorrow's turkey stupor, I'll give thanks for things in my life and the world at large. Today, though, it's all about the TV.

Here's what I'm thankful for right now ...

* That Discovery and Science Channel are simulcasting "Punkin Chunkin 2010 " tomorrow, on Thanksgiving Day. Ever since "Junkyard Wars" days, there's hardly been anything better than watching an unsuspecting gourd flung through the ether to its eventual splat-tastic demise -- except when you add in Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of "Mythbusters" as hosts. (BTW, it starts tonight on Science Channel with "The Road to Punkin Chunkin.")

* That no more Bristol Palin-hating wingnuts did anything abominably stupid during the "Dancing With the Stars" finale on Tuesday (at least as far as I know). Getting drunk and shooting your TV? Sending a threatening letter with white powder that just scared the heck out of a bunch of innocent people at CBS Television City, where ABC's "Dancing" is filmed (and "The Price Is Right," why the hate for Drew Carey)? And, death threats? DEATH THREATS? Someone needs a reality check. Reminds me of what I was taught as a kid, that how you treat others says nothing about them, but it says everything about you.

* That we didn't have any entertainment-industry strikes by any of the many alphabet-soup unions, whether it's the WGA, the DGA, SAG or AFTRA. Yes, there was a labor dispute at NBC's "The Biggest Loser," but that was settled in what seemed like a reasonable amount of time, and nobody got hurt. With any luck, none of the contestants gained any stress weight either.

* That Thom Beers keeps making TV shows. Yes, I do watch History's "IRT: Deadliest Roads" -- in which North American truckers navigate terrifying mountain byways in Northern India -- while curled in a fetal position and through my fingers, but It's the most fun you can have behind the wheel while not actually getting behind the wheel (or risking a hideous death plunging off a cliff, as often depicted in the Thom Beers Graphics of Doom).

* That, after a bruising fall season, midseason is charging in to save us, armed with such returning goodies as FX's "Justfied," Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares," NBC's "Parks and Recreation," and ABC's "Shark Tank," "Wipeout" (the winter edition) and "V."

There is also a bunch of promising new shows, such as NBC's "Love Bites," "Harry's Law" and "The Cape"; and Fox's "Bob's Burgers" and "The Chicago Code" (formerly known as "Ride-Along," from "The Shield" executive producer Shawn Ryan).

* That, on Dec. 1, "Celebrity Rehab" is coming back on VH1. 'Nuff said.

* Finally, and most importantly, that America's first responders and armed forces keep watch on the holiday, protecting our homes and lives, along with the liberty that allows me to not only watch good TV, but to complain when TV isn't so good. God bless and keep safe.   

Today's cuppa: English afternoon tea

An abbreviated version of this profile appeared online, but my Cuppers deserve the full Monty ... or the full Awesome, as the case may be.

When you play a character named "Captain Awesome" - and your chair and script pages also say "Awesome" - that could be a little intimidating for an actor.

But it's all in a day's work for "Chuck" star Ryan McPartlin, a former Abercrombie & Fitch model and varsity linebacker for the Fighting Illini (and certified personal trainer).

"I gotta be honest," says McPartlin, who can be seen on the hourlong action comedy-drama Mondays on NBC, "the whole first season, I was like, 'What's my name again? I forget.' Just Captain Awesome is what I went by."

For the record, Awesome's real name is Devon Woodcomb. He's a cardiologist married to another doctor, Ellie (Sarah Lancaster), sister of Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi), a big-box electronics store employee who became a spy after a top-secret computer was downloaded into his brain.

Chuck gave Devon his nickname because he's confident, easygoing and "awesome" at everything he does (and Devon also uses the word a lot). As of season two, he became aware of Chuck's spy alter ego; now, in season four, he's also an expectant father.

Even in season one, where no one was sure whether Devon knew people called him Awesome,

McPartlin says, "I just played it like I knew I was Captain Awesome. I took ownership of the name, and I took pride in it. We've slowly worked it through the first season, so that people would call me it to my face, and it never fazed me. I obviously took pride in the name.

"To be honest, it's a great name, the best character you could hope for."

In his real life, McPartlin is a husband and father of two who is "about to get a minivan."

As to whether he also mows his own lawn, McPartlin says, "I don't have a lawn. I have a lot of concrete. This is the glamorous lifestyle that I live."

Birthplace: Chicago, on July 3, making him a Cancer

School cred: Graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

TV cred: "The Nanny," "Three Sisters," "According to Jim," "Still Standing," "North Shore," "Passions," "What I Like About You," "Pepper Dennis," "CSI: NY," "Notes From the Underbelly," "Living With Fran," "Swingtown," "Mad Men"

Music video cred: In 2010, he appeared in Sugarland's music video "Stuck Like Glue," playing a man stalked and abducted by lead singer Jennifer Nettles.

Nearly superhero cred: McPartlin auditioned for the role of Clark Kent/Superman in "Superman Returns" but lost out to Brandon Routh, who later guest-starred on "Chuck."

Today's cuppa: coffee at Coogie's in Malibu (no star sightings, however)

Tomorrow night is the final performance show of this cycle of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," and the recipient of the mirror-ball trophy will be announced on Tuesday.

This season has got a lot of people hot and bothered -- sometimes to ridiculous extremes, including a cruel white-powder fan-mail prank -- but as anyone who's watched this show since season one knows, "DWTS" and controversy are old friends.

Be that as it may, as of Tuesday, there will be one winner, and I come here not to bury the finalists, but to praise them, because it's taken a lot of pain, sweat, tears and effort for them to get to this stage, and I respect anyone who's willing to work hard for what they want.

Jennifer Grey, a k a "The 'Dancing' Queen": As Baby in the iconic 1987 film "Dirty Dancing," Grey and her partner, the late Patrick Swayze, set a new standard for movie action on the dance floor. But it's been a long time since that flick, and Grey has suffered some physical ailments in the meantime (including a neck injury that finally received proper treatment after a physical for 'DWTS" -- thank goodness for that!).

Grey, 50, has also endured some knee problems during the competition, but for the most part, you couldn't tell by looking at her performances on the ballroom floor.

She's had her ups and downs, with a couple of shaky dances, but her "Instant Dance" rumba a couple of weeks ago (which I witnessed firsthand) wowed the judges and earned her perfect scores.

With young partner Derek Hough (who's had his share of neck injuries and other mishaps during his time on the show), Grey has been classy, diligent, resilient and gracious, a diva on the floor and a lady off. Somewhere Swayze is smiling.

Kyle Massey, a k a "Man in the House": At 19 years old, the youngest in the competition, Massey gained fame in the Disney Channel series "That's So Raven" and then in his own spin-off, "Cory in the House." Along with acting, he's a musician and rapper, but now he can legitimately add dancer to that repertoire.

With pro partner Lacey Schwimmer, Massey has evolved from a kid who loved hamburgers and goofing off to a young man of elegance and presence -- who can still cut loose when necessary, as in his perfectly-scored "Instant Dance" jive, which was good enough to earn a results-night encore.

He reminds me most of NFL star and former "Dancing With the Stars" winner Emmitt Smith, who was not the most technically perfect dancer, but who used his charm, charisma and natural performance style to win over fans and make a real impact in the ballroom (a technique also employed to good effect by race-car driver and "DWTS" champ Helio Castroneves).

Don't count Massey out -- this underdog could have some last-minute bite (and it looks like ousted competitor Brandy agrees).

Bristol Palin, a k a "The Zero-to-Sixty Kid": After a bad-boyfriend experience, an unplanned pregnancy, sudden worldwide fame, teen motherhood and a press barrage that at times resembled an F-5 tornado, this just-turned 20-year-old daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been a no-drama-mama during her time on "DWTS."

While controversy raged around her -- a lot of it centered on an apparently mistaken belief that massive voter cheating has been going on -- Palin has kept nose to grindstone, seemingly free of rehearsal-studio emotional meltdowns (knowing how "DWTS" edits for drama, if there had been any, I suspect we'd have seen them). She probably couldn't afford to take the time, since she came into the competition with zero dance experience.

Her technique has steadily improved -- earning her a personal-best three 9s for her recent paso doble with pro partner Mark Ballas, and some praise from "DWTS" executive producer Conrad Green

She hasn't quite let loose her inner dance diva on the ballroom floor, but she's seldom put a foot wrong, and she's proven that no matter how far behind you start, and no matter what the world throws at you along the way, hard work and effort (and little help from your voting friends) can take you pretty far.

As always, the ultimate winner of "Dancing" will get there through a combination of dance-floor prowess and popular support. Neither alone will take you all the way. If you have a favorite, remember to call, text or vote online at ABC.com.

(UPDATE: BTW, ABC is NOT changing its voting system, and Tom Bergeron has no patience for the voting conspiracy theorists)

And if the results don't go your way -- welcome to the club. I'm still not over Jason Taylor losing in Season 6. *sniff*

Today's cuppa: coffee on the set of Fox's upcoming game show "Million Dollar Drop" (lots of fun!)

On Sunday, History Channel premieres its version of the hit BBC show "Top Gear." Not long ago, I did a set visit to the show's location in Orange County, Calif., south of Los Angeles. Click here for my syndicated feature story on the day.

As a bonus, click below for a slideshow of some of the things I saw there ...

Tonight's cuppa: Irish breakfast tea (good anytime!)

A few weeks ago, I interviewed Sarah Palin for her TLC series "Sarah Palin's Alaska," and since then a lot of controversy and comment has swirled around that show, but certainly no more than has been swirling around the fact that her eldest daughter, Bristol, has made it to the final round of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" (the last performance show and the last results show air Monday and Tuesday, respectively).

As I talked about in a previous blog post, this isn't the show's first time dealing with a controversy -- far from it.

Also, in a story in the New York Daily News, "Dancing" executive producer Conrad Green explained some of how the voting, particularly the online voting, is managed.

According to Green, there are internal controls that prevent multiple voting from the same computer, no matter how many e-mail addresses the user registers at ABC.com.

Green told the Daily News: "It is possible to register lots of email addresses, but the IP address identifies which computer sent it. If that does happen, we wipe out [those votes]."

(UPDATE: In another interview, this time for EW.com, Green reiterates many of the same points about the voting, plus talking about Palin's dancing ability and possible fan base).

So, however many votes Bristol Palin is getting, "Dancing" believes she's coming by them the usual way.

Tonight, I got an email from Sarah Palin, stating: "Bristol's work ethic and dedication to improving, as led by the most patient and competent partner -- Mark Ballas -- have combined to illustrate a compelling and inspiring story. Viewers have voted to see that journey continue each week, and Bristol is humbled by the support."

Mrs. Palin also clued me in to a fascinating blog post by former "Dancing" competitor and retired Internet mogul Mark Cuban, called "How Dancing With the Stars Voting Works -- Why Bristol Pallin (sic) Could Win Easily."

Beginning with the statement, "First, let me say that the scoring process for Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) is fair. It is honest. It's just not obvious," the post goes on, with great mathematical precision, to detail how the judges' scores are combined with the viewer votes to determine who advances.

Using quotes from the "Dancing" website that outline the voting formulas, Cuban goes on to examine the process in depth.

I'm no math whiz (which is why I'm a writer), but Cuban seems to know what he's talking about.

I doubt that Cuban's post (or a mother's support) will change the minds of many who believe the voting has been unfairly influenced, but Cuban offers an illuminating glimpse into just how the numbers add up, from someone who's been on the ballroom floor.

Today's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Patriot Blend (believe it or not, I'm out of tea. That must be rectified ... quickly)

Monday night, a man in Wisconsin shot his television and threatened to shoot himself, winding up in a standoff with police (all ended without violence, and he's in jail), because he reportedly was so incensed over Bristol Palin's scores on "Dancing With the Stars."

On Tuesday, she advanced to the finale, airing next Monday and Tuesday on ABC.

I don't even know what to say about the guy with the gun, except to be glad that the only casualty was electronic.

While fervently hoping this sort of idiocy is not repeated ever again, this is far from the first time that controversy has erupted over "Dancing With the Stars."

In fact, the first time there was controversy was the first time the show aired in America in the summer of 2005.

"General Hospital" star Kelly Monaco and pro Alec Mazo faced off against former "Seinfeld" star John O'Hurley and pro Charlotte Jorgensen in the finale, where Monaco eared three perfect 10s, to the surprise of many viewers -- including me -- who saw several flaws in her final dance.

The furor continued into another ballroom, one of the hotel ones where North America's TV press gathers twice a year for the Television Critics Association Press Tour. When the show's producers stated during a press conference that they believed the outcome was fair, there was dissension in the room, with many reporters speaking out on behalf of angry fans who had written to them.

The producers then decided for the first -- and so far, only -- time, to bring back O'Hurley and Monaco for a dance-off, which O'Hurley won.

Later on, in early 2008, after male stars began to dominate the show, figure-skater Kristi Yamaguchi was cast, prompting me to yell, "Ringer!" I wondered whether the producers had stacked the deck with someone who already had many of the necessary skills for dancing to ensure that a female won the competition.

For all I know, that's exactly what they had in mind, and if so, they got their wish when Yamaguchi took the crown, to absolutely no one's surprise.

And they probably cast ABC soap stars because soap fans will watch (and the show is on ABC). They throw in Disney Channel stars because, well, one big happy corporate family. They throw in athletes because they have built-in fan bases, and they throw in controversial figures because people will tune in, stories will be written, and ratings will go up.

In other words, it's a TV show. I gave up complaining after the Yamaguchi incident and just decided to go with the flow. After all, it's BBC Worldwide's show, and the producers can put anyone on it they want. The definition of "Star" is based on two critieria: A, the show asked the person to participate, and B, the person said yes.

There is no objective standard as to what constitutes a star on "Dancing With the Stars."

(Therefore, Sig Hansen of "Deadliest Catch" should not be kept waiting any longer!)

Also there are really no objective standards to the judging. This isn't a real ballroom-dancing competition or the Olympics (frak, after watching a lot of dodgy figure-skating judging at the Olympics, I'm pretty sure the Olympics isn't always the Olympics).

While there are specific things the judges look for (although Carrie Ann Inaba marks down for illegal lifts, while her fellow judges seem often to ignore them), they also have enormous wiggle room when it comes to judging style and performance.

Is the show a dancing contest or a publicity contest? It is, always has been, and always will be ... BOTH.

Emmitt Smith (with pro partner Cheryl Burke, below) didn't win in 2006 because he was technically the most perfect dancer. If you recall, he tied in the scores at the end with former "Saved by the Bell" star Mario Lopez, but ultimately won because the fan voting pushed him through.

I was thrilled at the ending while knowing full well, and not caring in the slightest, that Lopez was the superior hoofster.
 
A person advances because of judges' scores and vote totals (which are never revealed to the public). If your scores are lousy, even huge voting probably cannot save you for long. But if your scores are not great but good enough, heavy fan voting can carry you through.

Have Palin fans gamed the online voting, as Jezebel is claiming, because email addresses don't have to be verified? Maybe, but that's an issue for the ABC.com webmasters to solve -- if they want to, that is. And I'd be gobsmacked if this is the very first time that this particular technical loophole was utilized, whether or not it's the first time it's been used to a large extent.

UPDATE: Click here for an article quoting "Dancing" executive producer as saying that the show's voting system prevents efforts at online ballot-stuffing.

Is there going to be a "Quiz Show" scandal moment? I doubt it, because the contestants are not just members of the general public, they're paid to participate, and there is no money prize at stake, just a fugly mirror-ball trophy (although the winners do get to go on a nationwide tour).

But, if someone suspects real irregularities in the judging or voting, I suspect the FCC would be happy to hear about it.

Is Palin's advancement, as has been alleged, a possible death blow to the credibility of the franchise? I can't help but think that if there wasn't a large group of people inclined to object to her before she ever set foot on the dance floor, we might not be having this conversation.

Or we might. It's happened before.

"Dancing With the Stars" is a reality-TV show that is not even a competition on the level of "The Amazing Race" or "Survivor," where cash money is on the line. The producers cast for talent, they cast for name recognition, they cast for ABC/Disney stars, and they cast for controversy.

Mostly they cast for ratings.

People will win because of talent or because of personal charisma or because of having built-in fan bases -- or all of the above.

Is there a larger political aspect to the voting for Palin? Maybe, probably, so what? Soap fans vote for their faves; sports fans vote for theirs; reality-show fans vote for theirs. It's not as if the "Dancing With the Stars" producers didn't know exactly what they were doing when they cast Bristol (according to her dad Todd, after they asked him first).

The producers could also choose to change the way the show is scored. They've done that before, and could do it again.

I've read a lot of comments from people threatening to never watch the show again because they don't like the results so far.

Awesome, that's exactly how you should react if you don't like something on TV -- DON'T WATCH. That's how fans really send messages to TV execs. If the audience drops significantly for the next season's premiere, a message will have been sent loud and clear.

All shows have "jump the shark" moments, and many think this may be "Dancing's." I don't know if that's true, time will tell, and since another cycle of the show will ramp up in early 2011, we won't have long to wait.

There's even talk there may be a same-sex couple on the next season.

I'm quite sure that wouldn't garner any publicity or fan reaction at all, not even a little bit.

Today's cuppa: Newhall Coffee Patriot Blend (as this past week featured both the birthday of the United States Marine Corps and Veterans Day)

Type "Sarah Palin's Alaska" into Google, and you get an avalanche of articles and reviews, some as least as revealing about the writers as the subject matter.

Yes, I'm out there in the mix. Click here for my syndicated interview feature on the show, which came out online a couple of days ago and will start appearing in print on Sunday.

The eight-part TV series that follows the Palin family on a summer adventure around the 49th State launches on Sunday, Nov. 14, on TLC, and is bound to stoke speculation on the former Alaska governor's future political plans, her personality, her family situation, etc. It will also offer an eyeful of staggeringly beautiful Alaskan scenery, courtesy of the crack production team headed by executive producer Mark Burnett ("Eco-Challenge," "Survivor," "The Apprentice").

Many are thrilled this show is happening; many are seriously not; many more may just tune in out of curiosity. Others feel that such a show "should" not happen. Ultimately, viewers will render judgment with their remote controls about whether there's a sufficiently large audience for a show like this, and the voice of the people will be heard. As always, upon that rests success or failure in TV.

For my story, I talked to both Burnett and Palin, and, as usual, not all of the conversations fit into an 800-max-word piece. Here's a bit more for my loyal Cuppers.

Burnett on why he produced this show: "I saw her step on that vice-presidential ticket, and suddenly, it was everywhere. Then, when the election was over, it carried on being everywhere, and everything she did was talked about.

"As a producer, my job is casting, and there are so many channels, and how do you break through the clutter? By the way, over 200 people like me approached her, every single channel, everybody approached her.

"My 'Eco-Challenge' and 'Survivor' background and my cred made her realize very quickly, 'OK, if I'm going to do something beautiful, this guy can do it.'"

Palin on hearing from Burnett: "He called us and said that he had always been fascinated with Alaska. He'd done work up there, and he knew that a way to showcase Alaska in a different way than he'd had opportunity in the past, was through my eyes.

"He knows that I'm just so extremely passionate about it and have a unique perspective on our resources and the people and the independent spirit that's up there, and I'd be able to share that by him working with me and documenting what it is that makes Alaska so unique.

"A lot of people have no idea about what Alaska has to offer. Alaska has the resources to secure our union, to allow prosperity to just flow throughout America. Through the lens of the camera and through our commentary, we're going to be able to show what the potential is that can be tapped into, to better our nation, from Alaska."

Palin on being a woman in Alaska (I was also thinking of Lisa Kelly from History's "Ice Road Truckers," Palin's fellow Wasilla resident, when I asked about this): "You have to be self-sufficient, and you can't really look to others to fix your problems or to take care of the practical things that need taking care of. Just basically to survive the harsh conditions of Alaska, you have to do it yourself.

"For me, when (my husband) Todd worked up on the North Slope oilfields and as a commercial fisherman for all of our marriage, for all those years, so, as a mom, home with little kids while he'd be gone six, seven, eight months out of the year -- the women in Alaska, we've got to take care of ourselves.

"We've got to fix things that get broken. We've got to work on the equipment. We've got to make sure that the house is heated. All that came into play this summer (during filming), too, with that streak of self-sufficiency that's required up there, especially in the women."

Palin on looking out for others in an unforgiving environment (I was thinking of this article when I asked her about this): "Especially in our villages, you have these safety cabins, essentially, and they're community-used. There are cabins that are left open, and there are foodstuffs, and there are sleeping bags. There's wood left in the cabin, because maybe somebody out snowmachining [HCTV: that's snowmobiling, for those in the Lower 48] or dog-sledding, they're out there in the wilderness, and they're going to need help.

"It's all about the Golden Rule -- you do that for somebody else, because you hope that they would do it for you. You leave the door open."

Palin on whether Burnett should do "Survivor: Aleutian Islands" (I've been after him about this for years): "Oooh, but you're exactly right. What could be tougher than trying to survive out there?"

(Don't hold your breath waiting for this -- I've never been able to budge Burnett an inch.)

Palin on "I can see Russia from my house": "I know. Eighty-seven percent of Americans who were polled thought I did say, "I can see Russia from my house.' But it was Tina Fey who said that, and 87 percent attribute it to me. That's how effective 'Saturday Night Live' was.

"But, of course, I capitalize on it. I'm like, 'OK, I'll put it into something fun, make lemonade out of a lemon.'"

So, is "Sarah Palin's Alaska" a travelogue, a documentary series or, as some pundits have suggested, an extended political ad signaling the start of her 2012 presidential campaign? I'm no prophet and no psychic, and I don't suppose you are either. If you're interested, you'll tune in and make up your own mind.

Today's cuppa: pink lemonade Arnold Palmer

Although I've been a fan of the show since the beginning, until last night, I had never been to a broadcast of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," so I thought I'd share a few observations:

* Yes, the ballroom looks smaller than it does on TV, but not a whole lot smaller. It's constructed either on the same soundstage or adjacent to the soundstage at CBS Television City where NBC's "America's Got Talent" and CBS' "Rock Star" also taped, which is near the studio that is home to "The Price Is Right" (saw several audience members from that lined up as I walked in).

It's an impressive space, with curtained walls lined with twinkling lights, huge crystal chandeliers and swag-draped balconies. The chairs on the risers are the sort you might find at a swanky banquet hall, quite a lot nicer than you normally get at a taping (where the chairs are often more cafeteria than banquet hall). This goes along with the show's request that the audience dress up a bit (no jeans, no matter now nice, no ballcaps, no T-shirts, etc.)

* The line for the ladies' room as the audience loaded in was ridonkulous. In the end, I and a few others "liberated" the men's room. As it had only stalls, it was fine, and the men in there didn't mind a bit. Hint: If you go to "Dancing With the Stars," go to the bathroom before you arrive, especially if you're female.

* As the Monday-night performance show  is a truly live show (as is, I assume, the Tuesday results show), instead of a live-to-tape show, it clicks right along, with only the usual commercial breaks.

As with all tapings, there was a warm-up guy. He brought out some folks to dance beforehand and chatted up people in the crowd during the commercials, handing out T-shirts.

At one point he became quite enamored of a lady named Sue up in the balcony across from the judges. Then he moved onto another lady named Kiki, who announced it was her birthday (and later complained that the warm-up guy was cheating on her with Sue in the balcony, even though it was clear that he latched onto Sue first).

Sue said she her favorite dancer was Rick Fox, who got booted last week. That was a godsend for the warm-up guy, who worked that bit all night.

* Yes, I was on camera a couple of times. Yes, once I saw myself sucking a cough drop. Oh, well. I'm just getting over bronchitis, and I suppose it was better than coughing (which I didn't do).

* Unlike some musical tapings I've been to, where the music sounds substantially different on TV than at home, the "DWTS" band sounded just as good live as on air. However, at several points, because of the crowd noise, it was impossible to hear hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke, and the judges. They have REALLY good mikes.

* The cameras do get in the way of watching the dancing a little bit, but it's not bad, and it's entertaining to observe how the cameramen and their handlers maneuver to keep out of the way.

* One audience member interviewed said he'd been on the list to come for two years, and he and his wife got their email and hustled in from out of state. I only had to drive across town -- they're the REAL fans.

* I didn't see a whole lot of celebs in the audience, but I attribute that to my position in the crowd. I did see Todd, Willow and Piper Palin (but not Sarah), who looked pleased as punch when Bristol came out to do her Argentine tango and "Instant Dance" samba (in an eye-popping orange fringe dress).

Just as proud and vocal was Jennifer Grey's pal, frequent "DWTS" attendee Jamie Lee Curtis. I also read that Grey's dad, actor Joel Grey, was on hand to see his daughter earn three perfect 10s for her "Instant Dance" rumba, but he must have been sitting where I couldn't see him. Kyle Massey's "Instant Dance" jive also scored very high, so I suspect this challenge will return in future seasons.

Grey had to dance to Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You," a song she didn't know at all. But when asked, the people to the left of me broke out into a pretty fair rendition.

* I seemed to be sitting next to a large contingent of Kyle Massey supporters, and they were doing an impressive job of cheering for their favorite.

As I type, the results show is airing in Eastern time, check back later for an update after it airs on the West Coast.

UPDATE: We bid farewell tonight to former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, who was a gentleman throughout. He's no Emmitt Smith ... but who is? Thanks for the memories, QB, and rest secure in the knowledge that you're too good to come back on "Dance Center." 

Tonight's cuppa: Peppermint tea (gong off caffeine early for the stress of Election Day)

As you head to the polls tomorrow -- and you ARE headed to the polls, if you're eligible to vote and still alive? (gotta throw that one in for some precincts in the nation, and you know who you are) -- you'll have a choice between two major parties and a plethora of smaller ones.

But for a lot of folks, the perfect thing would be a "None of the Above" checkbox.

How to fix a broken political system? Easy -- I went to three of TV's top handymen, figuring that any guy who build out a closet, put in a new sink or pour a foundation just might have some suggestions on how to put together a new political party.

(Photo credits: Kevin & Matt, me! Steve, courtesy of Steve.)

So, here goes ...

Kevin O'Connor (PBS' "This Old House," "Ask This Old House"): "Republicans, Democrats, Tea Party and then the Toolbelt Party. 'Ingenuity, Competence, Thriftiness,' those are the planks. You get paid for showing up; you get get paid for what you do; you don't get paid until the job is done."

Matt Iseman (Style's "Clean  House," Versus' "Sports Soup"): "As someone who majored in American History with a focus on political theory, i truly believe that our divided nation can only be unified by one party -- The Party Party.

"Our platform is that liberal and conservative can truly come together over an ice-cold keg of beer. The most contentious issues could be resolved once and for all over an epic game of beer pong. Who needs health care or Social Security when the beer's flowing?

"In my defense, I first formulated the idea for the Party Party the night after graduation, so some of the details are a bit hazy."

Steve Watson (HGTV's "Don't Sweat It," formerly of Discovery Channel's "Monster House"): "The DONE! Party. I don't care how you do it, just quit bitchin' and get the job done."

So as you get ready to cast your ballot tomorrow, remember ...

Competence is sexy. No, really, it is. And when your roads are beautifully paved; your state, city or country's budget is balanced without raising taxes; there's a short DMV line; and you can get your license renewed, drive to the restaurant and have money left in your pocket to romance your beloved, you'll agree with me.

You're the boss. And, as the boss, hire wisely, and fire when necessary.

Voting earns you the right to kvetch later on. If you're eligible to vote, but don't, and you still insist on complaining about the state of things, then you're a moron. Pull the lever, ink the dot or do whatever it is you do, and your Creator-endowed right to yell at your television or fire off dissenting missives to your elected representatives is both morally and Constitutionally protected.

Vote on, America!

Today's cuppa: Irish breakfast tea

I've been thinking for a while now that "Chuck" star Zachary Levi may be a Jimmy Stewart for the 21st century -- a tall, lanky actor with the ability to do drama, comedy, action and romance; who has a warm, easygoing style with an underlying intelligence and wit; and who exudes an all-American sense of honor and right and wrong.

Levi is the first young actor I've ever thought this about, and I'm wondering if I'm alone ... so let me know: