Saturday Night's all right

Kates and I got around to watching last weekend’s Saturday Night Live last night, which is a record turnaround for this season. Considering the bad buzz and awfulness of the episodes this season, it’s taken us at least a week to watch other episodes …

But finally -- finally! -- we got an SNL over the weekend that had more than one or two sketches worth watching. And a host we actually cared to see (Megan Fox!? Gerard Butler!? Seriously!?) … Taylor Swift turned in a fine appearance last weekend, and I'd like to think that was only a warm-up for another great one next weekend -- Mad Men’s January Jones will host and the Black Eyed Peas will perform. Aw yeah!

I have to admit, I've gained a newfound respect for Taylor during the last few months, with the catchiness of her recent hits, the success of her album, and the whole run-in with Kanye at the MTV music awards.

But the thing that put me over the top – dare I admit this – was Taylor's Oprah appearance a few weeks ago ... I was flipping through the TV channels one day when I stumbled on it and caught this 11-year-old girl, who happened to be a huge fan of Taylor's, and Oprah hooked her up for an exclusive interview with the country star. I was charmed by how sweet Taylor was with the young interviewer, and I was equally taken by Taylor's openness and wit and the drive she showed during her conversation with Oprah. For all her success and the attention she garners, it appears it's hardly changed her from her roots as a simple country girl. (And by the way, this surprise for a pair of twin girls was classic! ...)

Saturday night’s SNL wasn’t great from top to bottom, but it did have some good moments that, at the very least, brought out a smile -- from the opening sketch lampooning Fox News’ insanely right-wing views on last week’s not-so-important election, to the “Roomies” sketch that had Swift and Nasim Pedrad playing a pair of roommates who cuddled and loved each other more than Pedrad's character did with her own boyfriend …

I loved that Taylor showed off some strong acting chops and that she held nothing back, doing excellent impressions of Kate Gosselin and Shakira …

Best of all was her hilarious and adorable “Monologue” song – which I was repeating the rest of the night (“ … In my Mono-logue … La la la …” ), and her public service announcement for T.R.A.A.A.P.D. (That’s Teens Raising Awareness About Awful Parents Drivers).





Apart from Taylor, I was quite pleased to see the return of Nicholas Fehn – my favorite “Weekend Update” character – even though his bit was hardly memorable. And better yet was Seth Myers’ introduction of another “Really!?! With Seth & Amy” segment, which gave way to Amy Poehler’s surprise appearance / return to the “Weekend Update” desk. …

Here’s what EW’s Ken Tucker had to say ...

Sunday reading

Some of the good reads that caught my eyes this past week ...

Entertainment ...
a Letterman Appears on Oprah's Talk Show ... I'm sorry I missed it.
a Kennedy Center Announces Honorees
a Emmy Awards: The bland and the clueless ... not in our office.
a In Defense of Nude Celebrities
a Fans don't have to wait to see new fall shows
a Devastated Britney bawls at VMAs
a We expected Britney to maintain a sad ideal
a The Britney brand is busted

Other stuff ...
a Use time wisely -- by slacking off
a Typeface Designers Mix Art, Engineering
a Popcorn Lung Patient Inhaled Fumes Daily

Sunday reading

... The Shins strong -- and overdue -- showing on SNL last night inspired me to pull out my Shins CDs this afternoon. Great stuff ...

Here's some good reading (and cartoons, courtesy of Cagle's Cartoons) that caught my eyes this past week ...

Entertainment buzz ...
a What does Oprah believe?
a It's Not All About the iPods, Oprah
a You'll likely read more about Britney in '07
a Comedy writers aren't laughing about 'Studio 60' ... I have to agree: It's a show about a comedy show, but the comedy in the show that the show is about isn't funny at all!! ... I so wanted it to do well, but at this point NBC would be wise to let it fade away ...
a Who's that 'Studio 60' nominee? ... whatever. I've admired Sarah Paulson long before Studio 60 came along ...
a Matthew Fox talks about his dark side
a Vieira Settles In, and 'Today' Gets Ready to Go Long
a Tween actress' sex scenes raise ire ... Oh, Dakota, why must you grow up so fast? Please don't become a ruined child star ...

Music ...
a Ain’t it odd? Song lyrics defy grammar rules music ... Get over it, English teachers. Alanis Morrissette's ironic is one of the greatest songs ever, whether you like it or not ...
a Will compact discs go the way of the LP? ... Whatever. I'm still buying them -- heck I'm still buying LPs. The sweet cover art, liner notes and that feeling of tearing off the wrapping -- like opening a new toy on Christma morning -- is a big part of what makes certain music so special and enduring ...

News & trends ...
a Theme party ideas for February's major events ... As cheesy as some of these suggestions are, these parties could be a lot of fun to host! Who's in?
a After laughter, action ... Great column. So true.
a Too Casual To Sit on Press Row? Bloggers' Credentials Boosted
a 1870s dead horse photo sparks mystery ... Great story!! from Sheboygan!!
a Is there a new calling for Apple? ... My friend Sean appears to be obsessed with the iPhone; his eyes looked as though they were going to pop out every time the mega-hyped gadget was mentioned this week. I, on the other hand, prefer to use my phone as a phone and for calling people only, thank you very much.
a Kathleen Parker: Clicking on death ... So true.

Baseball ...
a Suppan joins Brewers after dinner, $42 million contract ... Now let's hope he holds up. If he does, it could be a very good Brewers season ...
a Don't Expect Hall Call, Big Mac

Monday, Monday

Already late for work, I was about a minute from our house this morning when I realized I didn’t have my glasses and had to turn around to fetch them …

I picked my glasses from the night table -- the same place they are every morning -- and got back in the car to try my drive to work again …

Until I made a pit stop at the post office for stamps, looked down at my feet as I opened the entrance door and noticed I was wearing two different shoes. That’s right -- a gray New Balance tennis shoe on my left foot and a brown dress show on my right foot.

Only slightly embarrassed, I joined the line in the lobby of the post office -- behind a police officer in full uniform -- and waited patiently until it was my turn. When it was, I scurried to the counter, trying to draw no extra attention to myself and playing Morgan Freeman’s line over and over in my head from the end of ‘Shawshank Redemption:’ “How often do you really look at a man’s shoes?”

I bought my stamps and thankfully drew no funny looks -- as far as I could tell. And then scurried back to my car, still trying to draw no extra attention. And drove home once again, this time to find matching shoes.

Finally at work -- a half hour late -- it took me another hour to get my ancient computer (don’t even get me started …) booted up and working properly. By the time that happened there was barely an hour left before I would take my lunch break and my mind was so far away from my cubicle I could hardly concentrate …

Leftover Chinese food for lunch, I returned to the office this afternoon re-energized and ready to crank out a couple stories. But still didn’t get a lot done …

My editor sent out an office-wide email announcing a change in our byline format that would include our email addresses and asked for feedback. That prompted a conversation about the majority of our readers being elderly and out of the loop when it comes to the World Wide Web, to which I responded, and the majority agreed, ‘Well, get e-mail, dang it …’ And my friend Liz noted this wonderful column in the Chicago Trib over the weekend …

And later, when a headline came over the wire about Baby Jessica being all grown up, we all took a stroll down memory lane, discussing our memories of the historic TV coverage and the made-for-television movie that soon followed … which led to a conversation about tonight’s ‘Flight 93’ on A&E and my friend Liz, again, saying something like ‘That’s the thing about TV movies: they just make up %#?! No one knows what happened on that plane.’ (… It was more comical hearing her say that then it is writing it now). Nevertheless, the film is getting good reviews and I do plan to watch it, or at least DVR it.

I spent the remainder of my day reading more of the Trib and swapping story ideas …

And came home. Again. For good.

In other news of the day ...
a Sorry, Oprah: It's still a great book! ... my thoughts exactly. I can't say I've read the illustrious book, but if it reads well and people like it, should anyone care?
a In harm's way, as Woodruff wanted ... a great column about the more personal side of Bob Woodruff, along with the related piece about the latest on Woodruff's condition.
a Favre claims he's leaning toward retiring ... It sucks to hear, but we have to move on people.
a Mike Piazza is Padres' catch ... very interesting. I like it.
a Tigers' Leyland expecting quick turnaround ... I like that too. Welcome back to respect, Tigers.

Dave!

Is it just me, or has Dave been ON FIRE since his bout with Oprah a couple weeks ago ...

Night after night, the shows have been laugh-out-loud-for-several-minutes-straight funny, and the chemistry between Dave and his guests has been wildly entertaining. Last night it was hand surgery and Jim Carrey on the show. Tonight, it was a HA-larious conversation with Bonnie Hunt and her nursing years ...

And speaking of Bonnie Hunt and Jim Carrey, I started reading the reviews for 'Cheaper by the Dozen 2' and 'Fun With Dick & Jane' today. Sadly, they were dissappointing ... Too bad because I thought the first 'Cheaper' with Hunt and the gang was pretty decent (albeit, not great). Plus all 12 of the children came back for the second, which adds Eugene Levy and Carmen Electra... C'mon, it can't be THAT bad!?... and the trailers for 'Dick & Jane' with the physical comedy of Carrey and Tea Leoni make it look pretty darn comical...

I guess it's better that the critics lower are hopes and then, after seeing the movies, we end up thinking they were better than we had anticipated ...

A memorable night in TV

Oh Dave!

From the quick, let’s-get-down-to-business monologue to the wonderful conversation, all the way up to Dave’s gracious escort to the ‘Color Purple’ opening, last night’s Letterman-Oprah reunion could not have been more fun to watch!

I was smiling from ear to ear almost the entire show, and even welled up a little at the moment that Oprah appeared on the stage and the audience rose to its feet (something I actually envisioned in the days leading up to the show). And then Kates and I sat glued to the TV as the flashbulbs popped and Dave and Oprah made their way across the street.

The biggest night in television? Maybe. At least one of the most memorable for sure.

Here's another story from the Chicago Trib.

ADDED 12.03.05: Oprah's 'Purple' Ploy Puts Letterman in the Pink

Let the countdown begin!

Dave, Oprah. Oprah, Dave.

Oh let the fun begin!

aLet your love in
aTop 10 reasons to watch Oprah's Letterman visit
aThe Letterman lampoons
a Back on speaking terms Dave and Oprah chat tonight

Stay tuned ...