Thumbs Down: Blake Shelton

Given all the attention his tweets got last week it is 'unfortunate' Blake Shelton did not choose Tyler Robinson. Patrick Thomas is a cutie but Tyler was the far better singer.

Thumbs Down: ABC

I did not really pay much attention to the recent stories about Chris Brown until today. Anyone who reads FH on a regular basis knows I loath cruelty and violence, but decided there was no need for Chris Brown to get even another second of my attention. But... over the past couple of days I have reading some bloggers and forum posters making some interesting comparisons to how ABC reacted to Adam Labert (who although acted out sexually did not break any laws). Brown, currently on probation, admitted to losing it on the set of GMA. I guess being gay is a much greater crime to some of the suits at ABC...
Read more HERE:

Thumbs Down: Bridget Screws Birney

First off let me say I LOVED Family Ties (Yo Mallory!!!) and Meredith Baxter was wonderful as Elyse Keaton. (Although didn't you always think those rumors of her being jealous of Fox had some validity...).

Baxter is a good actress and a beautiful woman but something about her current talk show spree (almost as extensive as Charlie's) bothers me. It is not that I don't believe her, I do believe her story to an extent but...

She's a lesbian, cool, I was as happy as the next guy when she came out last year on The Today Show. Now however she has a book to promote, a book to sell, money to make. So... the lead in most of her interviews is the abuse she claims she suffered at the hands of her husband from 1974 through 1989, actor David Birney. Again it is not that I am doubting it...completely, but the story literally REEKS of pushing something sensational simply to sell a book.

Baxter admits her lack of self esteem played into the relationship and the abuse described though not acceptable is also not extreme. Now don't hate me, I loath abuse of any kind, but given the marriage ended over 20 years ago, given they have three children together I find it sort of... well 'skeezy' (it's a word), Baxter is using it now to profit off of. David Birney has denied the claim and given we have only heard her side I question how the impact on her three children compares to the current attention it is getting her.

I suppose it could be argued it helps explain how she became the woman she is and like all celebrities, she can 'claim' it is there to help others in the same situation. Really though, if Baxter were not pushing the sales of her current book the story really helps no one. Through Baxter's eyes, Birney comes off like an complete ass. Maybe he is.

Abuse is never OK, but neither are stories, real or not, used by celebrities for profit or for public sympathy. I am sure another former sit com star, and her family might agree, right Roseanne?

Thumbs Down: The Oscars

It is said every year, hell maybe by me but this years Academy Awards was the worst in my 20 or so years of watching. There were so many reasons and not one in particular that made the show so horrid. The hosts cannot be blamed fully. Although Franco looked high and uncomfortable with Hathaway, both did their best with the material supplied. The writing was ok, not great, not bad. The winners predictable and no real moments of emotion. The highlight for me was seeing Eli Wallach whom I cannot help but adore.



Yes, every blog is showcasing James Franco's lovely tutu clad derrière today (thanks Superherfan!) but it is a shame that the opening skit was the high point of the 3 hours. I think in a year with new hosts and very few surprises with the winners it was important to be especially creative with the actual show. The producers and writers were most certainly were not. The show needed to pull out the talent, not the beauty in it's presenters. Jake Gyllenhaal is a great actor and beautiful to look at but a snooze as a presenter. Where were Will Ferral, Jack Black, Chris Rock? In years past, a talented comedian presenting often provided much needed laughs. You just know if Ricky Gervais was there he would not have let Halle Berry's current custody battle go unmentioned.

Of course, like the rest of the world Melissa Leo bugged the shit out of me. She may have deserved the award but she has annoyed one and all each time she has stepped up to the mike this award season. She has the award, but we shall see if it leads to future work.

Oscar producers, no matter how much it costs, please pay whatever it takes to drag Billy Crystal back next year! No matter how lame the awards may be, his openings always deliver!

Thumbs Down....

I am not jumping on a bandwagon.

The first time I saw Charlie Sheen was in the 1986 film Lucas. This was also the only time I actually enjoyed a performance by him. Although I admire the work of his father and brother he always turned me off, even in shows I liked (like his role on Friends).

I have written before how much I despise 'Two And A Half Men.' It is not that the show is so bad really. I do however loath that CBS plugs this garbage as a 'family show' and that American stupidly listened and made it such a hit. It is on all times of the day and even if one finds it funny (which I do not) it is beyond warped to be targeted at children. Sheen's recent quotes about the show and those who run it prove what a knob he truly is. (full story). 'I’ll go make movies with superstars'. Personally I highly doubt this will happen. If the man survives, his future looks pretty much tabloid and reality filled.

Thumbs Down....

As if I could not loath what he represents even more....

Thumbs Down: Makin Whoopi....Mad

Being a co-host on The View really does not help an acting career. It might help the pocket book, but not your reputation. Whoopi Goldberg used to be one of my favorite actresses. Truly a unique talent whose choice of roles I really admired. Her willingness to go between television and movies was something I respected. But... there is having a healthy ego and then there is having an inflated one.

Now dispute the writers at the New York Times saying they focused on Oscar winners since 1992, I can still see why Goldberg would be angry. That being said, what she stated about herself, her stardom on today's View may have been mostly accurate but given it was she who was saying it, it also made her seem both a little vain and more than a little pathetic.
MORE:

Thumbs Down: Dr. Phil

I did not think my opinion of Dr. Phil could get any lower than it already was but reading about his thoughts on boys and dolls today brought it to a new low.

I ask any of you who watch Dr. Phil...WHY? I dislike most daytime talk fests but if your watching Dr. Phil you might as well put on Jerry Springer. Both are trash but at least Springer is honest about it. Don't let the d.r initials fool you, Phil is just another person exploiting the problems and vulnerabilities of others to make a buck.

Thumbs Down....

Thumbs down doesn't really cut it,
But...

If anyone really needed another reason to start the New Year by dumping any piece of music from Chris Brown his recent homophobic comments on twitter might be do the trick...

Thumbs Down: The View

At the risk of sounding hypocritical, I have to give a big thumbs down to The View. If you read FH at all you know I have zero tolerance for cruelty and Kathy Griffin certain laces cruelty within her humour...but... The View, Elizabeth Hasselbeck in particular, are experts at holding a grudge and yesterday the show took it's opportunity to get back at Kathy for her last appearance on the show. Using your 'pulpit' to get back at guests who show you up in the form of a 'hot topic' is not very subtle. I await Kathy's rebuttal!

Thumbs Down: Human Beings

Anyone who clicked on yahoo today was greeted with the following headline:

'Tigers could be extinct in 12 years if unprotected'

'Their habitat is being destroyed by forest cutting and construction, and they are a valuable trophy for poachers who want their skins and body parts prized in Chinese traditional medicine.'

Why are we so stupid, truly. If this planet survives when those in the future read about human being from this century they will talk about how many things we ruined and how selfish, arrogant and ultimately...how stupid we were.

Full Story:

Thumbs Down: chi chi chia

I try not to use the word 'offensive'. It is a good year but has become overused and pretty much meaningless these days. There is not much someone does not find offensive...

That being said, I think the current presidential chi chi chia Obama really shows how the country has stooped to new lows. Presidents used to be restricted to coins and post cards. I am sure other political figures have been chi chiaed but for some reason this one, and the constant commercials for them seem... well...hmmm...that overused word above.

With Obama as a chia and Palin on a reality show the role of Commander and Chief is really taking a shift...downward!

Thumbs Down: Bashing of any group of people

I was going to post the other day on the blogger from Marie Clare writer who wrote a piece so caringly titled 'Should "Fatties" Get a Room?". I decided against it as I don't like to draw attention to such garbage. Then yesterday and again today the story seems to be everywhere so I thought I would put in my two cents.

The issue is not weight, no matter how the writer chose to spew it. The issue is again the word Dujour these days bullying. Somehow it has become ok to spew hate at any group of people and have it be ok. Thankfully about 99% of those who commented let her know it clearly it is not. I have been lucky to have never had a struggle with weight, but I did battle smoking for years until finally quitting a few years ago. I don't think there is anyone who cannot identify with battling some addiction at one time or another. The hypocrisy of this writer identifying herself as a former anorexic, also an eating disorder, is not lost on the reader I am sure.

Those who are defending this writer are missing the point IMO. Of course we all know that being obese is unhealthy and is an epidemic in North America, that is not up for debate. But...by implying they have no right to exist or been seen is not going to do anything but increase the self hate and therefore the eating. Like the writer, I have never watched a minute of Mike and Molly but...I do love Melissa McCarthy. I still miss her and the cast of Gilmore Girls and Melissa a talented beautiful actress.

Really Lady Gaga....Really

I have never been a huge fan of The Gaga. Now like the rest of the world,I see her talent, love some of her songs, and see in her a unique and brilliant artist. I also see in her something that does not quite ring true. I think Gaga is often 'making it up' as she goes along, claiming it was all a well laid out plan. I think watching her this week you could think either she is a true original with all her costume changes and statements or you could think she is desperately trying to grab and hold onto attention and headlines at any cost.

Her 'meat dress' this week was a great example. The dress could have been quite powerful if Gaga had the ability to clearly articulate what message she was trying put out there. It might also have been powerful if she had let the dress speak for itself. Instead she made various statements, some contrary, some making no sense about the meaning behind the outfit. From what holds us down to freedom to 'don't ask don't tell'.

As much as I admire her intent, she is truly at risk of becoming a joke within the industry. The woman is smart no doubt but I fear she is not quite as smart as most initially gave her credit for. Gaga does not seem able to simply attend an award show, instead she demands she be the center of attention. On stage or walking through an airport she refuses to simply be, but instead is always forcing us to look, to react. This is beginning to get tiring, not just for the audience but also for Gaga who has had health issues connected to exhaustion.

It was not left unnoticed by many how she interacts with other iconic women such as Cher who presented one of her awards this week(above). Cher, in her sixties, is still drawing attention decade after decade. Cher knows when to go out, do her work and grab attention. Cher also knows when to back off, lay low and disappear for awhile. By doing this, her audience remains interested. Gaga...take heed!

Thumbs Down: Oprah

If the show had not already jumped years ago I would say the shark was back for another chomp...

So O is flying her audience to Australia on a plane piloted by John Travota...
Australia I love, but not even a Travolta from the so bad it was good 'Staying Alive' era would make this stunt anything more than a desperate move to boost her faltering ratings.

Thumbs Down Y & R

Although not a regular watcher of 'The Young And The Restless' I do love me some Thad Luckinbill. Not only a beautiful man, also a talented actor the show has really wasted the past couple of years. Sad if the rumors are true he is getting the heave ho, he deserved better!

Thumbs Down: 'Choose A Size' Paper Towels

No this post has nothing to do with the beautiful nor the talented but I do love me my Paper towels so roll with me...

I am sure the inventor of those 'choose/pic a size' roles of paper towels got plenty of praise. We are all concerned about the environment and using less of anything is a good thing. I am sure the boardroom presentation included pictures of land fills with huge amounts of paper towels that the presenter claimed would not end up in there if only we could grab the roll and use a smaller portion.

WRONG!

My compost bin is currently full of paper towels due to this stupid invention!

I recycle bottles, cans, cardboard, newspapers, magazines and food waste. It takes a good hour on garbage day to get it all ready, but I was as Al Gored as the next guy. But...there are certain things I do not want to give up and one is my God given right to use an entire sheet of paper towel. I love my paper towel, I am at a loss without it. It is harder and harder to find full sheets at the grocery store due to all those stupid packages of 'choose a size'. Let me tell you something, I made chicken fried rice tonight and the amount of paper towel I ripped, ruined and wasted by not being able to properly grab an entire sheet most certainly wiped out any waste savings the company is trying to make the public think they care about.

Get rid of them!!!
Rant over :)

Speaking of Imperfections....

I try not to judge, truly but seriously Mel, seriously...

I so loved many of your movies but your DVD's are heading to the trash. I will keep 'Signs' because I so love the work of M Knight Shyamalan and that movie truly spoke to me. As they say on Total Bastard Airlines... "Buh-bye"

Thumbs Down: The Buzz around The World Cup

Above: Cristiano Ronaldo

I LOVE the world cup. I am catching up on games each night, in a betting pool at work and enjoying my sports fix now that the NHL playoffs are over. (I cannot get excited about baseball the way I can basketball and hockey). They are helping me to move on afer my down after the Winter Olympics. ;)

But...

CANNOT THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE SOUND!!!

The constant buzz from the plastic horns is truly ruining my viewing experience. I feel like a mosquito is constantly buzzing around my ears. It drives the players crazy and has made me watch with the sound off. Why cannot they either find a way to edit this noise pollution off the tv broadcasts or not allow the plastic horns in the stadiums.

Thumbs Down to Barbara Walters & 'The View'

I have a love hate relationship with 'The View' as many who read FH may know. I often dislike much of the show (and the women), yet DVR the show most days. I watch most of the shows I DVR, although often skip when Barbara Walters is on the panel. She bugs the shit out of me for some reason.

I think the show really sunk to new lows by having Mike Tyson on yesterday. (I also wondered if Elizabeth was not there for that very reason...). I love Whoopi, but she has a a bit of a pattern of defending the men in most cases (Tiger Woods, Chris Brown...). Joy at least seemed a bit uncomfortable with the whole thing.

I understand everyone needs a second chance but the way women chose to interview him, often as a victim was more than a bit disgusting. If you look not just a the rumors of what crimes Tyson has committed, but the actual offences he has been charged with you have to wonder why Walters and the show would have had him on. The actual interview did little to push Tyson on issues, but rather geared talk more towards his accomplishments and role as a mentor for youth. Really...Really.

All this in the same week where Elisabeth Hasselbeck had to say she was sorry to Erin Andrews (which she should have btw) for her remarks about her DWTS costumes. Although Robin Givens may not be the most likable of women, that should really not be a factor, yet it often comes up. For a show that describes themselves 'for and about women' The View certainly took two very large punches at a pair of women both of whom are largely known to the public for being victims themselves.

Way to go ladies!