Recently in RedEye Category

Today's cuppa: Irish afternoon tea
Recently, Adam Baldwin made a guest appearance on "Castle," the hit ABC drama starring his former "Firefly" co-star Nathan Fillion (click here for my Zap2it story about the episode).

Not long before that, HCTV reached out to Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), an acquaintance of Baldwin's and a "Castle" fan, for his thoughts on the show -- click here for that -- which airs its season finale on Monday, May 7.

Since McCotter is a recurring guest on Fox News' latenight political/comedy roundtable "RedEye W/Greg Gutfeld," and Baldwin is well acquainted with the "RedEye" crew, all this "Castle" talk got me thinking crossover.

Fillion's character, successful mystery novelist Rick Castle, lives in New York City, and "RedEye" shoots in Manhattan, so, I thought, perhaps Castle would go on the show as a guest panelist, along with his partner, NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), inspiration for his fictional character, Nikki Heat.

On that same panel, of course, would be McCotter and Baldwin (who would look suspiciously like this rogue detective that Castle worked with on a case the year before) and perhaps some other folks, one of whom would naturally have to die in a suspicious manner.

Since "Castle" actually shoots in Los Angeles, the "RedEye" set might have to be recreated on a soundstage -- frankly, it's not that elaborate, so it wouldn't cost a bundle -- and maybe some "RedEye" West Coast regulars would have to substitute for New Yorkers Bill Schulz (Gutfeld's sidekick) and Andy Levy (host of the pre-game, halftime and post-game segments).

But Gutfeld himself is irreplaceable, so he's a must.

Asked about the idea, Baldwin said, "I like it. You're going to have to figure out a way to coordinate between the networks, but that's above my pay grade. I'd love to see it. That'd be terrific. I'd be playing me on 'RedEye.' Thad would be himself.

"Could we talk about music on the show? I know Gutfeld's a big fan of music, rock 'n' roll and stuff. I know McCotter is. Just steer clear of the politics. Who gets killed on the show is the question."

Baldwin volunteered Los Angeles-based comedian, political commentator, recurring "RedEye" guest and mad Twitterer Stephen Kruiser.

"Kruiser dies," said Baldwin. "He would go for that. Kruiser would accept being killed on the show."

As to who would sit on the end, in the show's infamous "leg chair," Baldwin replied without hesitation, "Stana Katic. And Beckett and Andy Levy fall in love."

Emailed for comment, McCotter -- a guitarist who has his own bipartisan Capitol Hill band, the Second Amendments -- spun the idea out even a little further, writing: "Do it like 'Murder on the Orient Express.' Except for Castle, who is a last minute fill-in for another author (who is clearly the first suspect), Kruiser is everybody's agent -- Gutfeld, Levy (character), Schulz (character, who should be a woman cast member who sits in the Leg Chair and is suing Kruiser for sexual harassment), Baldwin and me (an aging rocker in the band Love Nest Monster, who is trying to make a comeback after going bald and outgrowing his spandex).

"In the end, they all killed Kruiser, just like Hollywood would love to do to every agent."

Well, that's our ideas. The ball is now in series creator Andrew W. Marlowe's court. He will either run with the "RedEye" ball or turn out all the lights on set and pretend not to be home. Either way, it's all in good fun.

Tune in next season ...

Today's cuppa: Dark roast coffee

On April 2, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) tweeted from @ThadMcCotter: "Poor #Castle & Kate ... sad times. Dylan time ..."

He then added a link to the following mournful Bob Dylan song as a reference to the frustrated not-lovers from ABC's Monday-night mystery hit "Castle": mystery novelist Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion) and NYPD Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic).

Ever alert, the staffers here at HCTV (a k a me and my trusty assistant, the battery-operated hamster Badger) noted the congressman's TV reference.

Knowing him to be a regular on FNC's latenight pop-culture/politics roundtable "RedEye W/Greg Gutfeld," a musician and a former GOP 2012 presidential contender -- click here and here for coverage of both,  the first for the Los Angeles Times' Top of the Ticket blog and the second for HCTV -- we decided to investigate.

After confirming the congressman's "Castle"-fan status on Twitter, we asked him to share a bit via email regarding his love for the show and his thoughts on a few other TV topics.

For those unfamiliar with Rep. McCotter, "RedEye" fans and those who have seen him play with his bipartisan congressional rock band, The Second Amendments, know him for his dry wit, erudition and mad guitar skills.

Apparently he's also got a thing for lovely brunettes (we're not sure if Mrs. McCotter is aware of this, but she will be now).

And here we go ...

Q: I've seen on Twitter that you're a fan of ABC's "Castle." What appeals to you about the show?

Stana Katic.

Oh, the show also has the dude who plays Castle; Kate and Castle's witty verbal jousting that exquisitely enhances the romantic subtext's tension; the exceptional stable of writers and ensemble of talented actors executing their craft; and solving murders and stuff.

Did I mention Stana Katic?

Q: Do you think there will be forward motion in the Castle/Kate romance before the end of the season or will they just tease us along until next year?

Life imitates art: Like the characters themselves, the show is fearful of Kate and Castle precipitately taking "the next step" and losing something - namely, its audience. Further, absent significant forward motion in their (non-) romance leading to a timely new conflict for prospective resolution, it would be harder to fashion a fitting season ending "cliffhanger" should Kate and Castle finally, shall we say, come to grips with each other.

Q: Are there other primetime dramas that catch your fancy?

The House.

Q: How about comedies?

The Senate.

Q: What would you consider to be your guilty pleasures on TV?

I'm ashamed to concede my TV vice is DC NewsChannel 8's "View from the Capitol" with host Katherine Amenta and some snarky cat.

Q: If, one day, you were approached to do a TV reality show, what would be your ideal format?

I'm already in a TV unreality show airing on CSPAN.

Q: As a conservative, do you think there's any way that folks of your mindset can do more to promote their ideals and philosophies through the entertainment industry?

The first step is admitting the entertainment industry exists.  The second step is accepting the late Andrew Breitbart's dictum that "politics is downstream from culture." The third step is to NOT pollute art with political proselytizing, because it is contrary to philosophical conservatism's recognition and embrace of the truth that true art provides universal insights into our frail, flawed, finite human condition's enduring misery, mercies and majesty. 

Q: Whether or not they're intended to do so, what shows out there do you think most often embody what you consider to be conservative values?

Any show that keeps faith with true art and doesn't try to be political (see above).

Q: If you could program your perfect night of television, what would it be?

Undisturbed.

Q: Name your Top 5 all-time favorite TV shows and what you love best about them.

Soul Train: The Music.

The Scene (local Detroit show): The Music.

The Midnight Special: The Music.

American Bandstand: The Music.

Charlie's Angels: The Music.

Today's cuppa: Green Mountain breakfast blend from the Keurig (alas Tassimo, farewell)

In this social-media world, I'm wondering if tape-delay might have to go the way of eight-track tape and giant-tube TVs, especially for those of us in the Mountain and Pacific time zones (not to mention the folks in Alaska and Hawaii).

Take, for example, ABC's Monday-night competition show for "Dancing With the Stars." (That's Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Melissa Gilbert above.)

Unless I assiduously avert my eyes from Twitter and Facebook starting at 5 p.m. Pacific time, I will start seeing comments and links to stories about the night's dances and cannot avoid some level of spoilage.

Yes, I could log off social media entirely, but it's part of my job, and my workday is still going on at 5 p.m.. Yet, the ancient rules of TV dictate that I must wait until 8 p.m. rolls around in my time zone to watch the show (of course, there is Slingbox or one of the other ways to get around that, but that requires extra work and expense, and I resent both).

I also get the joy of being reminded throughout the Pacific time airing that the "live" show that I'm watching was live for those privileged folks in the Eastern and Central time zones -- when it was actually taking place just a few miles from where I live -- but is on tape delay for me.

Blessedly, that no longer happens for the Oscar, Golden Globe and Emmy Awards, which have finally leaped into the 21st Century and reality and air live both in the Eastern time zone and in the time zone where they're actually happening (imagine asking the denizens of Broadway to wait three hours to watch the Tonys).

As for the Tuesday-night "Dancing" results show, before I finish dinner, I can find out who was eliminated, thereby eliminating any need to actually watch the show. Granted, that saves me time on a Tuesday, but it doesn't do ABC's bottom line much good.

Whether it's "Dancing ..." or "American Idol" or any other reality-competition show featuring live elements, it may be time for the networks to bite the bullet and go live in all time zones.

Barring that, perhaps the shows could stream live over the network's Website -- which makes a kind of sense since it's Web-savvy folks that are most likely to suffer from social-media spoilage anyway. If you're not on the computer during the Eastern-time airing, you're not going to mind waiting until 8 or 9 p.m. Pacific to watch the show.

(By the way, it's great that the sharks go to the trouble to live-tweet ABC's "Shark Tank" on Friday nights. I just wish I knew what the hell they were talking about, but I don't, since they're only doing it for the Eastern/Central time airing. Stream it online, ABC!)

Then there's the question of the network morning shows, which are also tape-delayed. A former "Good Morning America" and "Today" devotee, I haven't watched any of them since I moved to the West Coast. They're three hours old by the time they air here, and if I'm going to watch news, I want fresh news, not stale news (OK, I also miss David Hartman, Tom Brokaw, Jane Pauley and Bryant Gumbel, but stale is still stale). I want to know what's going on right now, not what went on three or more hours ago.

I did give in to the temptation to check out Sarah Palin's appearance on the Tuesday, April 3, edition of NBC's "Today" show. But, I put it on the DVR and fast-forwarded only to her parts and skipped the rest. Oh, well, NBC.

When I get up in the morning, on goes a local morning show or cable news. Back in the '90s, it was all about CNN, but these days, I'm a Fox News viewer. But, I didn't start watching FNC until I moved to Los Angeles, so my experience of the channel is a little different than an East Coaster, and I suspect that's true of any Pacific-time cable-news watcher, no matter which channel you're on.

I never see FNC's morning show, because I'm still sleeping. "The Five," for me, is at 2 p.m. The 8 p.m. primetime lineup actually starts at 5 p.m.. I work at home if I'm not out on a set visit. By that time, if I've had news on as background all day, I'm tired of it after Bret Baier signs off at 4 p.m., so I put in screeners or catch up on the DVR until dinner.

Unless I make a point of putting "The O'Reilly Factor" or "Hannity" on the DVR -- usually because of a particular guest, or it's Wednesday and Dennis Miller is visiting with O'Reilly -- I usually don't tune in again until "On the Record With Greta Van Susteren" at 7 p.m. (my favorite FNC news show, along with "Your World With Neil Cavuto"), after which I'm into entertainment programming.

From anecdotal evidence, it seems that FNC's pop-culture/news roundtable "RedEye W/Greg Gutfeld" may be even more of a hit out here than it is back East, since we get it at midnight instead of 3 a.m., and some folks actually stay up for it (not me, it's my favorite breakfast viewing on the DVR).

Populations are shifting, and now with DVRs and lots of folks cutting the cable cord to stream TV over their computers and other devices, time slots are shifting as well. The toughest thing for any TV channel to do these days is to get someone to actually tune in for a show as it broadcasts the first time, whether it's a live event or the initial airing of new drama, comedy or unscripted reality episodes.

Social media -- whether through check-ins or live-tweeting -- can add to that, but the greatest value comes from the experience of bringing people together in one place, at one time. Just ask those advertisers about the eyeballs the Super Bowl delivered. Right now, for a lot of us on the Left Coast, that's often not an option.

On my cable system, some of the HD versions of cable channels are in Eastern time, so I get to see new episodes the same time as everybody back East does.

And I like it. More, please.

Today's cuppa: PG Tips tea (single bag, in the small mug -- I had places to go!)

On Monday, July 11, the host of Fox News Channel's "RedEye W/Greg Gutfeld" begins his second regular gig as part of the roundtable of FNC personalities on "The Five," the cablenet's summer replacement for "The Glenn Beck Show."

Click here for a Zap2it story I did with Gutfeld about his new job.

But that's not the only exciting element in the world of "RedEye," FNC's pop-culture/news roundtable free-for-all that airs nightly at 3 a.m. ET.

Over the July 4 weekend, regular "RedEye" guest Thaddeus McCotter, a GOP congressman from Michigan, announced his candidacy for his party's nomination for the presidential race in 2012. Click here for my rundown on that (which includes link to a "RedEye" clip from earlier in the year of Gutfeld urging McCotter to run, and a clip of McCotter's announcement speech).

"Yeah, I know," says Gutfeld. "Pretty exciting, huh? I wonder how that's going to go. He's an interesting character. I thought he'd be an interesting voice to hear in the campaign. I just really wanted to see him in debates, that's all. It would be highly entertaining.

"But he'll have to rely on his acidic wit. If he doesn't use that, it's like showing up at a gunfight and keeping your gun in the holster. That's what he's got going for him.

"He has to be unafraid to quip."

Asked if he has any expectations of a role in a McCotter administration were the congressman to be elected, Gutfeld says, "None whatsoever. I'm very happy here."

Below is a sample of McCotter on "RedEye" ...

Today's cuppa: coffee after lunch

Let me say up front that I have no idea who or what's going to replace "The Glenn Beck Show" when it goes off the 5 p.m. ET slot on Fox News Channel after the June 30 episode. One suspects that the good folks at FNC know, but why hasn't there been an announcement yet?

Could it be that they are ....

(Cue portentous music)

....waiting to see if the possible host jumps into the 2012 presidential race?

Or are they waiting to see if the host is willing to work two jobs?

Is ready for TV?

Is ready for not-quite-primetime TV?

Here are my entirely uninformed guesses and the rationale behind them ...

Sarah Palin: The former Alaska governor, 2008 GOP vice-presidential candidate, author, social-media diva, TLC TV star and Fox News contributor has the mainstream media following her around like ducklings (when they're not rooting through her old emails like pigs at the trough).

The rest of the time, she's selling books, supporting candidates, writing Facebook posts and Tweets on current events, and being the subject of a new documentary, called "The Undefeated," coming out July 15.

If Palin decides not to jump into the presidential fray, she could be host of a show that hits on some of the more successful Beck themes --such as hidden American history, the Constitution and the Founding Fathers -- but likely without the "spooky dude" stuff.

After all, did she not just do a bus tour highlighting historical sites? And she even snookered many in the mainstream media by being correct about Paul Revere's ride while some of her critics seem to have relied on Longfellow's "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" for their history.

BTW, that's a poem, not a history book.

And goodness knows, Palin's got the gams to qualify as an FNC host.

Dennis Miller: The longtime comic and former "Weekend Update" anchor from "Saturday Night Live" has carved himself out a nice niche on talk radio, blending his right-of-center politics with pop culture, entertainment and comedy.

The "sage of Southern California," as Bill O'Reilly calls him when he makes his weekly Wednesday appearances on FNC's "The O'Reilly Factor," is headquartered in Santa Barbara, Calif. north of Los Angeles.

After doing three hours a day on the radio, I'm not sure Miller would like to extend his schtick to the 5 p.m. ET slot, but, after all, that's the 2 p.m. PT slot, and he'd be done in time for tea.

On a personal note, now that my local radio station (yeah, talkin' about you, KRLA) has moved Miller out of evening drive-time into the night, I'd love to be able to have him on my DVR.

Mark Steyn: The bearded columnist, political commentator, author and cultural critic was born in Canada, educated in the U.K., and now lives in New Hampshire. Granted, this does make the logistics of a daily show a bit challenging, especially in the winter.

But Steyn has filled in for Sean Hannity on FNC, so he has TV experience, and he's a frequent radio guest (and substitute host for Rush Limbaugh), so he's got media chops.

Also, Steyn's got a great accent, is fiercely witty and smart and has more than enough pointed and "polarizing" opinions to keep both Beck's critics and fans engaged.

As a bonus, he's also put out a couple of Christmas music CDs with Jessica Martin -- "A Marshmallow World" and "Gingerbread and Eggnog" -- so he could even have a band, a la FNC's weekend show "Huckabee."

Greg Gutfeld: The host of FNC's latenight pop-culture/politics roundtable -- golly, that's a polite way to describe Gutfeld's band of merry pranksters and the outrageous things they say and do -- pitched in on Beck's show today as host of a game show featuring people and events Beck has discussed.

(Gutfeld even joked about, "When I take over the 5 p.m., things will be different.")

Gutfeld, a former Huffington Post blogger and magazine editor, who's also written a couple of books, has taken "RedEye W/Greg Gutfeld" -- which just celebrated its 1,000th episode -- from nearly complete obscurity in the wee hours of the morning Eastern time to a show that has scored higher ratings than CNN primetime (while still airing in the wee hours of the morning).

Gutfeld is a charming wiseacre with a soft spot for his mother (a recurring "RedEye" contributor).

He delivers monologues with snarky brio about the events of the day, making serious points in between references to unicorns and unfortunate houseboys.

Is he ready for TV when the sun is still shining? More importantly, is America ready for Gutfeld in the naked light of day?

Of course, there's always Anthony Weiner, unless CNN (UPDATE: or Current TV) has snagged him first.

On an unrelated note, we hear today that "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh is not taking Fox Broadcasting's demotion of his weekly crimefighting show to specials lying down, but instead he is shopping it around, even to FNC.

For what it's worth, I think that's a super idea, and would slot in nicely after "Huckabee" on FNC's Saturday-night lineup.

Today's cuppa: hazelnut coffee



Yesterday I revealed that I have an issue with high fantasy, but proclaimed my intention, despite being all "meh" about it, to watch HBO's upcoming fantasy epic  "Game of Thrones," a series based on the works of novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin.

And then I said I would come back and tell you what I thought. Last night. Or first thing in the morning.

Right now, it is neither of those.

After watching four episodes last night, I wrote a Zap2it post, watched "Dancing With the Stars" (OMG, poor Maks! But Kirstie still rocked it out. Confused? Click here), checked my Google Reader, wrote some emails and then was just too sleepy to write.

Today, I'm on vacation, so I made breakfast, watched "RedEye w/Greg Gutfeld," checked my Google Reader again, wrote some more emails, ironed a shirt (you know things are bad when I start to iron) and was considering starting the laundry -- all in the interests of not writing this.

But, I promised, so here goes.

The good news: I didn't hate it. The production design is gorgeous; the horses are gorgeous; Sean Bean is awesome, and gorgeous. The dialogue is good; the acting is excellent (but then I'm a big Peter Dinklage fan in any setting -- he's in the picture below, at right); and it doesn't look cheesy (yeah, Starz' "Camelot," I'm looking at you, here).

The bad news: I just don't care.

I have written before about the importance of caring. It's usually the reason why I love something or don't. After four hours of "Game of Thrones," the only thing that got me emotionally involved that evening was seeing Kirstie and Maks' "DWTS" mishap.

Honestly, it just comes down to my problem with fantasy. To make me care, you have to give me stakes, context, parameters, something solid to hold onto, a reason to root for one side over the other.

In stories based in the real world, even if they're fictional, they're still constrained by the way the world works, and depending on your personal history and preferences, you can usually figure out who to root for (but the storyteller can mess with that, if he or she is really good).

If you introduce a supernatural element into that, part of the dramatic tension comes from the contrast between this occurrence and the ordered natural world that we all understand.

To me, the best stories that do that, like "Frankenstein," show that messing with Mother Nature has tragic effects. You can supersede nature, but you'll still pay for your hubris. Or, in other stories, humans triumph over natural catastrophe, but that seldom comes free.

Even Spider-Man and Iron Man pay a steep price for their super-powers (and I love me some Spider-Man and Iron Man).

In the best science fiction -- from "Dune" to "Ringworld" to "Star Trek" -- the world created is still rooted in reality, even if it's an entirely created reality. It must have consistent rules; things must exist in context.

If a human character on an alien planet has a golden retriever, he brought it with him, and at some point in the past, both species originated on Earth. We're not expected to believe that other worlds also evolved human beings and golden retrievers.

(OK, TV science-fiction and movies have often strained this conceit to the limit, especially before the creation of computerized special effects. Sometimes budget constraints just called for a golden retriever, but maybe with wings attached, or a dude with antennae. Novelists have it easier this way.)

But in sword-and-sorcery high fantasy, all bets are off. The worlds often look medieval, but everything in medieval times -- from clothes to weaponry to armor to social mores -- existed for reasons specific to that period and its political structure and religious beliefs.

Reality is a seamless garment, with everything connected to everything else and obeying specific natural laws. That's why stories where reality is rent asunder are so compelling. We know the world should be one way, and suddenly it's not, and that's terrifying.

The animals in a world also exist in context of that world's ecology; they don't just spring up for no reason. Many fantasy worlds have horses and dogs, but also dragons and perhaps prehistoric elephants co-existing with modern animals (as seen in "The Lord of the Rings").

"Game of Thrones" has dire wolves. Now, dire wolf sounds cool, which is maybe why the author used the term, but they're real, and they only existed in North and South America during the Pleistocene Epoch. Is this North America during the Pleistocene? If so, where are the giant sloths, mammoths and American lions?

Of course, it's not North America. It's not anywhere. The world of "Game of Thrones" is a free-floating patchwork quilt of customs and styles and animals and weaponry from a range of human history, tossed together with a vague sort of religion ("gods" are mentioned) and an ecology of winters and summers that vary wildly in length.

The erratic weather is a big plot point -- "Winter is coming" is constantly intoned --  but this planetary irregularity is not explained.

But this is fantasy, so you're not supposed to ask. You can have kings and queens and keeps and knights and horses and extinct dire wolves and winters that last ten years and whatever else there is, just because the author said so.

Even with all this, I can still enjoy a fanciful story if it feels emotionally true, if it follows classic themes of human storytelling -- like how the original "Star Wars" trilogy uses the timeless form of the Hero's Journey -- or is an allegory or a metaphor -- like how "The Chronicles of Narnia" is a Christian allegory, with a lion substituting for Christ (OK, I don't love "Narnia," but I got the allegory).

"Game of Thrones" reminds me of the second "Star Wars" trilogy, in which the Hero's Journey was set aside in favor of a complicated tale of political maneuvering and power plays.

I haven't figured out if "Thrones" has a larger theme -- such as Frank Herbert's fascination with ecology, which underpins the political machinations in the "Dune" books -- or if it's an allegory for something else. So far, it doesn't seem so. It just seems like characters moving in a landscape, maneuvering for power.

I'm just not sure if I care who wins or loses.

Now, I'm not saying fantasy is bad or people shouldn't enjoy "Game of Thrones" -- different strokes for different folks, and millions of ardent fans can't be wrong. Obviously this story touches them deeply in a way I just don't understand.

But for me, in terms of HBO,  "Boardwalk Empire" can't come back soon enough.

HCTV: Because of a couple of truly filthy comments (we here at HCTV get stupid spam comments on occasion, but these weren't spam), comments are now closed on both "Game of Thrones" posts. And to those commenters who wondered why I pointed out that the series is well-made and credited those parts of it that are good, that's called being fair, which I try to be, even when something isn't my taste. Thanks for stopping by.

Today's cuppa: English breakfast tea (double-bagged, in the big mug)

From the labor-union protests in Madison, Wisc., yesterday afternoon, to the LAPD raid on Charlie Sheen's house and the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan last night, I've begun to think that TV is the killer app for Twitter, and that Twitter is the killer app for TV.

Both are live and continuous, with tweets reporting and reposting what's happening on TV, and TV news taking in reports via Twitter (and Facebook, although Twitter is faster and more sensitive moment by moment).

TV awards shows and news events are live-tweeted (one could almost "watch" the Oscars just on Twitter), and tweets stream across TV screens.

And some TV-news personalities, like Eric Bolling ( @ericbolling on Twitter, left) of Fox Business Network's "Follow the Money," and CNN's John King ( @JohnKingCNN , right) like to tweet right up to the beginning of -- and sometimes during -- their live TV broadcasts.

On the entertainment side, fans of CBS' "Survivor" are really missing out if they're not following host Jeff Probst's ( @JeffProbst ) frank commentary on his blog and Twitter.

It's getting hard to remember what it was like to watch TV without Twitter. No doubt my friends and relatives are relieved not to get calls during their shows just because I have a comment I can't wait to share.

Was amused the other day to see a breathless piece by David Carr of the New York Times about the supposed slide of Fox News host Glenn Beck (below, left), characterizing him as a "conservative Jeremiah" painting a dark view of the future.

Perhaps the Gray Lady was tired of seeing Pinch the talking paper on FNC's overnight news/comedy roundtable "RedEye W/Greg Gutfeld." The pompous puppet is named after NYT publisher Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr., and is known for sarcastic rhymes spoofing on the names of Times reporters and columnists.

(Click here for one of a series of "RedEye" shorts called "Pinch & Me," featuring the the paper and its human alter-ego, Bill Schulz, on an adventure in NYC.)

I don't pay too much attention to the horse race of cable-news ratings, but I'm pretty sure that even if Beck's ratings have dropped from their peak, they're still numbers that FNC's competitors probably can't hope for in their wildest dreams at 5 p.m. ET.

Of course, picking on a popular and controversial figure like Beck might increase the revenue of the Times itself, which is not the financial media powerhouse it once was (decline being a thing it understands very well).

In the interests of full disclosure, I watch "Glenn Beck" every day (except when Judge Andrew Napolitano is guest-hosting, because his monotone bellow is a bit much after a few minutes). It's fascinating. I've never seen anything on TV like it.

Since he's discussing such sexy topics as the Founding Fathers, monetizing the debt, early 20th-Century Progressivism and the decline in Americans' personal morality and reliance on God, it's a wonder that anybody watches. Really.

Why do they? Can't speak for them, but I'm mesmerized by how he blends radio drama, stage theatrics, visual aids (magnets, blackboards, pieces of pie, cupcakes), semi-Shakespearean soliloquy, portentous video clips, graphs, charts and physical comedy.

And blessedly, when he does have guests on, they 're not yelling at or talking over each other. Such a relief.

If only the rest of the TV commentariat could break away from their apparent fascination with sitting behind a desk and trying to look like Edward R. Murrow and cut loose a bit.

I don't buy everything Beck says, but then I don't buy everything anyone says. Contrary to the assumptions of many of Beck's critics, I'm capable of rationally weighing evidence and opinion and making up my own mind -- and I didn't even have to go to an Ivy League school to do it (in fact, that's possibly a big help in that area).

And I haven't bought any gold or food insurance.

In general, I think it would serve all news enterprises well to spend a little less time harping on what their competitors (and yes, they are competitors and therefore, to one extent or another, are rooting for each other's failure) are doing or saying and spend a little more time covering, you know, the news.

(FYI, if I cared what cable-news networks I'm not watching were saying, I'd be watching them.)

Unless a cable-news host or reporter says something demonstrably factually inaccurate about an important topic, or breaks a law, I don't see where it's news.

Because, when we have breaking events like the Japan earthquake, cable news really demonstrates its value. Focus on that, not each other.

Tonight's cuppa: coffee from fresh-ground beans

Back on New Year's Day, after seeing "RedEye" host Greg Gutfeld talking to Old Spice spokesman Isaiah Mustafa in Times Square on New Year's Eve as part of Fox News' coverage, Hot Cuppa TV put out the call for the realization of the long-awaited "RedEye" in-person meeting between Mustafa and political commentator Ann Coulter.

Months earlier, the two had a brief TV flirtation while Coulter was in-studio for the FNC pop-culture/politics roundtable in New York City and Mustafa appeared on a remote from Los Angeles.

Coulter even picked up the HCTV post on her blog, claiming Bill Schulz of "RedEye" was responsible for causing her to miss Mustafa's New Year's Eve appearance on FNC.

On the Monday, Feb. 14, Valentine's Day edition of "RedEye," Coulter -- who apparently had regained her voice after blaming the "'RedEye' boys" for keeping her out late last Friday night at CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) in Washington, D.C. -- was in-studio with author/wrestler Chris Jericho and Blink 182 frontman Mark Hoppus.

To her surprise, Mustafa appeared during Andy Levy's Halftime Report and handed Coulter a rose.

Sparks flew -- click here for the Mediate story -- and while Coulter momentarily threatened to abandon her seat in the camera-facing "leg chair," she did stick around for the end of the show.

Click here for Mustafa's latest Old Spice commercial.

Here's the "RedEye" clip from last night ...

And here's Coulter at CPAC on Saturday, Feb. 12 (warning, not for the politically liberal or faint of heart) ...

Today's cuppa: not-exactly-morning coffee (last night was New Year's Eve, of course)

Last night, during Fox News' New Year's Eve coverage, roving street correspondent Greg Gutfeld, who's also the host of the late-night FNC comedy/news roundtable show "RedEye W/Greg Gutfeld," caught up in New York City's Times Square with Old Spice spokesman Isaiah Mustafa, who made a memorable appearance on NBC's "Chuck" last fall (and, according to him, will be in an episode of NBC's upcoming "Love Bites").

Gutfeld asked him about his on-screen flirtation with conservative author and columnist Ann Coulter -- whom Mustafa affectionately referred to as "The Coultergeist" -- which began during this April 2010 appearance on "RedEye," when Mustafa specifically asked to take a moment to say hello to Coulter, who seemed delighted to return the greeting.

As far as I know, Mustafa has not been on "RedEye" in a while -- Coulter is still a frequent visitor -- but perhaps he will return soon after chatting with Gutfeld last night.

I caught up with Mustafa last August on the "Chuck" set and asked him about Coulter.

"Oh, Ann's great," he said. "She's great, funny. I like Ann. I call her the Coultergeist, because she haunts me."

His first "RedEye" encounter with Coulter took place when he was in a remote location, but he said at "Chuck" that he'd been on the show twice in studio -- but neither time with Coulter.

"Every time I go there," said Mustafa, "I say, 'Greg,' what's going on? We've got to keep my flirtation with Ann alive.' He's like, 'I'm sorry.' He'll said, 'We'll get it.' I gave him that 'Coultergeist' line. He goes, 'Oooh, that's good. I'll use it.'"

After talking to Mustafa, I sought an email response from Gutfeld, who wrote, "He's funny, smart and gets the show. My guess is, in two years, he'll be one of the biggest stars on the planet, and he won't remember me."

Regarding the Mustafa/Coulter flirtation -- which appears to be just all in good fun -- Gutfeld wrote, "Things like that happen all the time on our show. The flirtation was much worse between GWAR's Oderus Urangus and (conservative columnist) S.E. Cupp."

With no action on this front in months, maybe Gutfeld's appearance with Mustafa on New Year's Eve will bring about the long-awaited Mustafa-Coulter joint appearance on "RedEye."

As FNC's Neil Cavuto always says about Fox Business Network, "If you don't get it .. demand it!"

Today's cuppa: blend of organic coffee from Mexico and Latin America

This season on USA Network's "Royal Pains," airing Thursdays, Reshma Shetty's character, physician's assistant Divya Katdare, is trying to decide whether to go through with the marriage that her traditional Indian parents want for her or to pursue her career working for concierge physician Dr. Hank Lawson (Mark Feuerstein), who services private, rich clients (and some who aren't rich) in the exclusive Hamptons on Long Island, N.Y.

In real life, Shetty is planning her upcoming wedding to Deep Katdare (Shetty decided to name her character after him), whom she co-starred with in the musical "Bombay Dreams."

"We played fiances in the show," says Shetty, "Vikram and Priya. Here we are, three-and-a-half years later, we're getting married. The wedding's going to happen in March of next year, and we're trying to coordinate where it's going to be.

"It's going to be in Manhattan. I have a few places I want. It's going to be an Indian wedding, because my fiance is Indian. It's definitely a wedding more for my family, because a wedding is not just you and your husband getting married, but two families getting married.

"So I'm just starting all of that stuff. We'll see where it goes. It's already very stressful, and we haven't even picked the venue yet! I do have time, and I have a really great wedding planner, so I think it will all mesh out."

As it turns out, the stage of "Bombay Dreams" wasn't the first place that Shetty saw Katdare.

"He was an actor," she says, "and I saw him in a movie my mother forced me to see in college before I was even an actor. He was the star in it. So it's funny that our lives have been intertwined for quite a while."

As for Divya's possible wedding on the show, Shetty says, "It's going to be her battle year. It's going to be people really seeing more of who Divya is, not just this career-minded, put-together person. She has dreams, and they're kind of against what her family has wanted.

"You're really going to see how she battles it. The big thing is the marriage. Is she going to marry this guy? Is it the right thing to do? Her head and her heart, are they really going to align? You're going to have to watch the show. At this point, I don't even know. It could go either way.

"But it's kind of apt, isn't it, that I'm getting married in real life and also getting the preparations done on screen? So, let's hope those two aid each other."

When Shetty isn't pondering weddings real and fictional, she's expanding her horizons as part of the regular rotation of guests on Fox News' latenight politics/pop-culture roundtable show, "RedEye W/Greg Gutfeld."

Known for its raucous, sometimes profane humor, wide range of viewpoints and freewheeling discussions, "RedEye" could be an intimidating environment for the uninitiated.

(Click here for a recent post with host and author Greg Gutfeld.)

"The first time they asked me to come on," says Shetty, "I was terrified, because I'm a staunch Democrat. So when I was told it was on Fox News, I said, 'That's just not a good idea. I don't think our politics will mesh very well.' And I'm not a political analyst, and I hate to go to things and not know what I'm talking about.

"So it was intimidating. But they are so nice over there, and they keep asking me back. Every time I go, it's a fun topic, and they're so fun. It's a different set of skills to be able to do that stuff. They're so fast on their feet. They're so witty, and their banter is so quick, and to keep up with that was a learning experience and still is, every time I go.

"It's a very boys' show. You know that going into it, but honest to goodness -- they know exactly who I am and what I think, and they always have been really welcoming about it and very open."

More than once, Shetty has occupied the so-called "leg chair," the last chair around the table from host Gutfeld, where the camera gets a full profile shot of the guest -- which is usually an attractive female.

(Click here for video of Shetty's first "RedEye" appearance.)

"I actually complained about that," says Shetty. "I said to them, 'Hey, guys, how come I'm always in the chair on the left, while when I started this, I was next to Greg?' They're like, 'No, no ...' The next time I did it, I was next to Greg, and I've actually said, 'Can I not be in the leg chair?'

"I think I should take it as a compliment, that they felt my legs were good enough to be shown in that way, but yeah, I can't deal with the leg chair."

After all, for a woman in that chair, there's a lot to keep in mind in terms of leg crossing and skirt placement.

"You've got to keep your back straight, too," Shetty says. "I tell ya, there are too many things to think about."