Letterman books Robin Williams for Wednesday

As his first guest, on his first show back, after his company Worldwide Pants got a waiver from the Writers Guild, allowing The Late Show to return with the full writing staff.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/arts/television/31cnd-letterman.html?8au&emc=au

Meanwhile, the AP reports that NBC's Tonight Show will have an appearance by Repubican presidential candidate Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Deadline Hollywood Daily: Dave Dumps Trump; Jay says "Huck you!" by booking Mike.
http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/dave-dumps-trump-for-robin-williams/

Hosts prepare to walk a fine line, working without writers.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117978251.html?categoryid=1682&cs=1&nid=2562

Eleven Trends In 2007's Top Ten TV lists

From the NY Times TV Decoder Blog. Info compiled and article writen by Brian Stelter. http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/eleven-television-trends-in-2007s-top-ten-lists/

Z100 New York's Top 100 songs of 2007

List: http://www.z100.com/pages/top100/2007.html?feed=234160&article=3004568

Gallery: http://www.z100.com/cc-common/gallery/display.html?album_id=91190

Listen Live: http://www.z100.com/pages/streaming/

WHTZ-FM

12 Questions for the 12 NFL Playoff Teams

It all starts with "Can anyone beat the Patriots?"
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2007-12-30-playoff-questions_N.htm

Mid-Season TV Highlights

With the writers' strike ongoing, they are minimal.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/12/30/2007-12-30_midseason_highlights_will_be_hitormiss.html?page=0

R.I.P. Court TV

Terrible idea, blowing up a brand with such name recognition. truTV looks odd to the eye, and sounds more like a channel that would be running "Who Wants To Marry a Millionaire 7" than court proceedings weekdays from 9am-3pm. I mean, if you asked people today where they'd watch the upcoming O.J. trial, most would say "Court TV." Try explaining to them what "truTV" is. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071230/ap_en_tv/ap_on_tv_court_tv_s_exit

New York Post's Best 207 Downloads of 2007

One critic's list: http://www.nypost.com/seven/12282007/entertainment/music/207_best_songs_to_download_from_2007_961109.htm?page=0

Sweet 16 for Patriots

The Patriots cap an unbeaten regular season by beating the Giants, 38-35. Giants had a chance with a minute to go, but couldn't recover an onside kick after a Plexico Burress TD reception. The Pats are the first unbeaten team since the Super Bowl winning Dolphins who went undefeated in 1972. http://www.nypost.com/seven/12302007/sports/giants/sweat_16_for_perfect_pats_757310.htm?page=0

Jim Donaldson, Providence Journal - http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/projo_20071229_donaldson.65b015d9.html

A British view... Tom Brady is Mr. Perfection:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/us_sport/article3108199.ece

$50 Instant Lottery Tickets

Nah, those couldn't be addictive.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/business/27lotteries.html?th&emc=th

NY Daily News' John Harper on Jim Leyritz

Harper makes an ill-advised link from Leyritz (a 44 year old former Yankee backup) to playoff woes, and the inability to land Johan Santana from the Minnesota Twins via trade. In the Leyritz case, a 30 year old mother of two is dead; a court will determine Leyritz's guilt or innocence. Joe Torre leaving? Clemens and Pettite used steroids and/or HGH as stated in The Mitchell Report? Somehow, we'll survive.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/12/29/2007-12-29_bad_karma_continues_for_yankees.html?page=0

Top Sports Stories of 2007

NY Daily News Top 10. They call it "A year to forget." http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2007/12/26/2007-12-26_2007_a_year_to_forget_in_sports-3.html?page=0

USA Today calls 2007 "a year that will live in infamy."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2007-12-25-year-in-review-cover_N.htm?csp=Sports

NY Post: 2007- Year of the cheater.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12302007/sports/2007__year_of_the_cheaters_705308.htm?page=0

QB Chris Leak to play in new All-American Football League

Scott Fowler column: http://www.charlotte.com/panthers/story/423801.html

AAFL official website: http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/

Great book about the failed XFL: http://www.amazon.com/Long-Bomb-Became-Biggest-Fiasco/dp/0609609920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198970195&sr=1-1

Testaverde, 44, calling it quits... again.

Somehow, this has turned into the NFL equivalent of the annual Roger Clemens retirement. I have a feeling that when some team loses 2 QBs in one game next October, Vinny's phone will ring, and he'll answer the call. http://www.nbcsports.com/portal/site/nbcsports/menuitem.6f806e473b4cb158fb00ec22493c2d04/?vgnextoid=a58556fa90727110VgnVCM10000075c1d240RCRD&vgnextchannel=7cfda7dea9a92110VgnVCM100000dc032c03RCRD&vgnextfmt=default

Outdoor NHL game forces rule changes

http://www.nbcsports.com/portal/site/nbcsports/menuitem.6f806e473b4cb158fb00ec22493c2d04/?vgnextoid=0a05cb30be727110VgnVCM10000075c1d240RCRD

Game celebrates Buffalo's culture- (uh... Buffalo has culture?) http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2007-12-27-buffalo-outdoor-hockey_N.htm?csp=DailyBriefing

All things Buffalo wings- http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-2104401-9816601?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=buffalo+wings&x=15&y=21

Giant chance for an upset

NY Post- http://www.nypost.com/seven/12292007/sports/giants/giant_chance_for_an_upset_278825.htm?page=0

Giants feel capable of beating Pats - NY Daily News
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2007/12/29/2007-12-29_giants_feel_capable_of_stopping_patriots-1.html

Poker's a BIG deal

Economist magazine via Freakonomics Blog.
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10281315#top

Law & Order's Nip/Tuck for the new season

At least 12 eps are available for this season, starting Wednesday @ 9pm.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-ca-laworder30dec30,1,2982824,full.story?coll=la-entnews-tv

1/2 - Robert Bianco, USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2008-01-01-law-order-new-season_N.htm?csp=Entertainment

Letterman inks deal with striking writers

He'll be back Wednesday, January 2 with his writing team intact.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/business/media/28cnd-strike.html?hp

The deal covers Worldwide Pants, Letterman's production company that also owns "The Late, Late Show," so Craig Ferguson will be back to work, with writers, as well.

An Ordinary Spy by Joseph Weisberg

NY Times review: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/books/review/Costello-t.html?8bu&emc=bu

NY Times profile of Joseph Weisberg: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/22/books/22weis.html?fta=y

The Book: http://www.amazon.com/Ordinary-Spy-Novel-Joseph-Weisberg/dp/1596913762/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198876954&sr=1-1

Former Yankee Leyritz arrested for DUI homicide

UPDATED: Leyritz knew the victim. - http://www.pagesix.com/story/exclusive+jim+leyritz+knew+his+victim

MLB.com - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071228&content_id=2337076&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Sun-Sentinel (South Florida) -
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-1228leyritz,0,1508770.story?coll=sofla_tab01_layout

Jim Leyritz Career Stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/leyriji01.shtml

MLB's Twins playing a (financial) game they can't win

Short term prospects are "dismal." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22412228/

Latest Johan Santana rumors: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22412228/

Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2008: http://www.amazon.com/Hardball-Times-Baseball-Annual-2008/dp/0879463414/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198818760&sr=1-2

Author Rick Mofina

Rick and I have e-mailed a few times and I enjoy and recommend his books.

Discover why James Patterson, Michael Connelly, Dean Koontz, Sandra Brown, Kay Hooper, Tess Gerritsen and David Morrell, have all praised the thrillers of author Rick Mofina. http://www.rickmofina.com/

His current release is A Perfect Grave. The novel concerns rookie reporter, Jason Wade, a troubled loner from the wrong side of the tracks who pursues the story of a murdered Seattle nun. The case leads him to a hermit nun who founded a mysterious religious order; and ultimately to the dark secret that has tormented his ex-cop father for decades. It culminates in a life and death struggle against the clock. With time running out, Jason and his father battle the odds to confront a terrible truth .
http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Grave-Rick-Mofina/dp/0786018488/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198806667&sr=1-1

A Perfect Grave has just been named one of the best paperbacks of 2007, by Deadly Pleasures, the online magazine known as America's premier fan-oriented mystery magazine.

Congratulations to Rick, as the book has also been picked up (in a Hardcover version) by The Mystery Guild and its affiliated book clubs.

The buzz about Mofina continues here in the U.S. and Canada.

On December 16th, Ottawa Citizen Mystery reviewer, Mike Gillespie mentioned the following tidbit in his column.
"Mofina is now working on the new standalone thriller Six Seconds, one that while a year from publication (January 2009) is already creating buzz in mystery circles after a major star in the genre previewed an early manuscript and gave it a five-star rating."

Okay, consider my interest officially piqued.

Here in the U.S., Oline H. Cogdill, mystery columnist for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, had some very kind words for the author in a recent blog posting.
http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/features/arts/offthepage/blog/2007/12/authors_i_wanted_to_review_cha.html

All of Rick's books on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_af_1?ie=UTF8&field-is-available-new=1&rs=1000&rh=n%3A1000%2Cp%5F27%3ARick%20Mofina

Dancing With Da Coach

This would've been classic.

"I turned down 'Dancing with the Stars.' I just turned it down. Believe it or not I just turned it down."—Mike Ditka, telling Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman of WMVP-AM 1000 about his decision to reject an offer from the popular television show.

-From Fred Mitchell's Around Town column, Chicago Tribune 12/27/07

"Miley Radio!" on SIRIUS Hits 1

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071227/nyth047.html?.v=101

Miley Cyrus aka Hannah Montana will sub for Spyder Harrison on the Sirius Hits 1 Weekend Countdown.

Spyder's site: www.spydervo.com

Next Great American Band

Safe to say this won't become an annual event... an estimated two million viewers caught the finale. It was a bad sign when:
a) Don't Forget the Lyrics RERUNS outrated the show.
b) They swapped time periods with the reruns.
c) The reruns continued ratings supremecy.
http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/next_great_american_band/2007_Dec_27_clark_brothers_win

If this show had gained any traction with viewers, you can be sure they would've milked (at least) the finale to two hours.

Flo Rida tops Singles chart

Sadly, that's not a typo. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071227/media_nm/singles_dc_1

Josh Groban stays at #1 on the CD chart. Sadly, that's not a typo, either. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071227/music_nm/sales_dc_3

Return of late night TV...

or train-wreck TV? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071227/ap_en_tv/tv_late_night_return_2

Maxim Cover Girl Mischa Barton Arrested

Story with mugshot: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071227/ap_en_tv/people_mischa_barton

Non-mugshot pics: http://www.maximonline.com/Mischabarton/girls_of_maxim/591.aspx

Maxim Mag on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-8306990-6801455?url=search-alias%3Dmagazines&field-keywords=maxim&x=7&y=18

The Worst in TV 2007

from Alan Sepinwall: http://blog.nj.com/alltv/2007/12/sepinwall_on_tv_the_dishonor_r.html

I'd like to add:

CSI: NY - Desperately trying to distinguish the show as "Noo-Yawk-ish," they have a show with no chemistry among leads, and as bad as David Caruso can be on CSI: Miami, this show is at the bottom of the TiVo playlist.

ESPN - Monday Night Football and the pre- and post-game coverage, in particular. I think adding Ron Jaworski to the booth was great, he REALLY knows the game. Mike Tirico doesn't thrill me, and while I like Tony Kornheiser, somebody PLEASE tell him that MNF is NOT "The Tony Kornheiser Show." Shut up, there's a game going on.

MSNBC - Budget cuts at parent NBC have turned the network into a home for endless reruns of taped programming late nights, weekends, and holidays. Say all you want about FOX News and whether they are "Fair and Balanced" or not; I give them kudos for actually having live bodies on air while MSNBC airs the 38th replay of "Dateline: To Catch A Predator." In fact, from Monday December 24 at 3pm to Wednesday December 26 at 5am, MSNBC aired 30 minutes of live news. CNN and FOX News had live coverage, and my local affiliates didn't miss a newscast-
ESPN had SportsCenter... MSNBC was closed for business.

Jon Bon Jovi: New Jersey's Elder Statesman

Democrat or Republican, having Bon Jovi as an ally can only help in the Garden State.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/nyregion/26jovi.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Interesting new site

http://starbucksgossip.com/ The URL says it all.

Cancer on Five Dollars a Day by Robert Schimmel

From NY Post: http://www.nypost.com/seven/12262007/gossip/pagesix/hoping_to_score_one_last_time_72068.htm
Amazon.com link- http://www.amazon.com/Cancer-Five-Dollars-chemo-included/dp/0738211583/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1198792638&sr=1-1

Book Description:
Stand-up comedian Robert Schimmel's edgy, hilarious, and poignant musings on his battle with cancer.
In the spring of 2000, Robert Schimmel was riding high. He'd won the Stand-Up of the Year Award, his HBO special was a huge hit, and his sitcom had been picked up. And then it all came crashing down.
Diagnosed with Stage III non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, he was told he would have to undergo chemotherapy immediately. The sitcom was dumped and the fire of his white-hot career started to go out.
But Schimmel never lost his sense of humor, his knife-like edge, and most of all, his passion to entertain. Indeed, it was his basic need to laugh--even if the only people around him were suffering from cancer and the room he was playing was the Mayo Clinic infusion center--that carried him through his ordeal. From his colorful banter with nurses and other patients during chemo, to his hilarious conversation with a wig salesman, going for the laugh was Robert Schimmel's survival mechanism.
Alternately laugh-out-loud funny and profound, Cancer on Five Dollars a Day is an honest account of how one man's face-off with a deadly disease helped him better understand himself. About the Author:
Robert Schimmel, named one of Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Comics, has had Showtime and HBO specials, bestselling CDs, a Fox TV pilot, consistently sold-out club dates, and is a regular on both Howard Stern and Conan O'Brien. He lives in Los Angeles.

Letterman to announce return?

NY Post says he'll return Jan. 2 along with Jay, Conan, and Jimmy Kimmel, with or without writers. http://www.nypost.com/seven/12262007/tv/dave_cant_wait_633465.htm

Jeremy Sisto joins Law & Order for its 18th season

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071226/ap_en_tv/ap_on_tv_sisto_law___order;_ylt=Avxzp6rG1JULJ.5_5LpU4wO2GL8C

Jamie-Lynn Spears BabyDaddy

from Defamer- Is the father of Jamie-Lynn's baby actually an older executive on her Nickelodeon show Zoey 101? http://defamer.com/337886/jamie-lynn-spears-babydaddy-may-be-more-daddy-than-baby

Patriots-Giants to air on THREE networks

The NFL Network coverage will be simulcast by BOTH CBS and NBC as the Patriots shoot for 16-0. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/26/sports/football/27cnd-patriots.html?em&ex=1198818000&en=dd9a38b96234e648&ei=5087%0A

10 Worst Sports stories of 2007

http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7574730

#11- Mets collapse; up 7 with 17 to play.

Mike Wallace, 89 to interview Roger Clemens on 60 Minutes

CBS got an interviewer in Clemens' demographic for the exclusive discussion on steriod use and Clemens repeated mentions in The Mitchell Report. No word on whether Wallace will be doping in preperation. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/sports/baseball/25mitchell.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

2007 - The Year In Sports

MLB - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/12/24/year.mlb1231/

NFL - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/12/24/year.nfl1231/

The Rest - http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/12/24/year.rest1231/

Whole Foods- giving away groceries

Well, if the register's down, at least. Quick thinking by store management made for the ultimate in customer service. http://www.courant.com/business/hcwatchdog1221.artdec21,0,4569213.column?coll=hc_business_util

Fox Sports' Jeanne Zelasko battling cancer

Rough year for Jeanne; her father passed away and now she's been diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She does a good job on the baseball pre-game shows; get well soon, Jeanne.
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/fox-host-jeanne-zelasko-to-undergo-cancer-treatment-15155

Breaking News In Chicago

A van crashes into the studio of WLS-TV, the ABC affiliate in Chicago, breaking the bulletproof glass and startling the anchor. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/offbeat/2007/12/24/sot.van.station.wls

Story from ABC7: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=5853137

Winter TV Preview

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12232007/tv/winter_preview_456725.htm?page=0

1999 World Series winner talks about steroid use

Yankee reliever Dan Naulty opens up to the NY Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/12/23/2007-12-23_reliever_dan_naulty_from_1999_world_seri-2.html?ref=nl&nltr_ct=1&nltr_id=Juicy%20tale%20of%20former%20Yank

News unlikely to fill TV strike holds

Not when you can potentially make more money by bringing "American Gladiators" back.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071223/ap_en_tv/ap_on_tv_no_news

Warner Wolf

Doing double duty on the radio in NYC, at the age of 70. Profile by Neil Best.
http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-spmedia215509764dec21,0,3418293.column?page=1&track=rss

More about Wolf that couldn't fit Newsday's print edition, from Neil's blog: http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/2007/12/warner_wolf_changed_his_name_t.html

Imus rips Tom Brokaw

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12212007/gossip/pagesix/imus_rips_not_so_brave_brokaw_671773.htm

ESPN hiring magazine and newspaper writers

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119820369820344043.html?mod=yahoo_hs&ru=yahoo

12/24 - NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/24/business/media/24sportswriters.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Sacha Baron Cohen offing "Borat" and "Ali G."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071221/ap_en_tv/people_sacha_baron_cohen_1

ESPN's Stuart Scott to return

While undergoing preventative chemotherapy. A get-well "Boo-yah!" to Stu. http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/cabletv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003687704

Late Night hosts back; what about the guests?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/arts/television/20late.html?_r=1&ex=1355893200&en=0997298b5734668e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Schilling: Clemens a cheat? Take back Cy Young awards

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3162329

Bill Parcells coming to Miami

"Big Tuna" to lead Dolphins. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-parcells121707,0,7396681.story

Four year deal: http://www.miamiherald.com/616/story/350561.html

12/20 - Parcells: Tony Soprano with a clipboard. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking_news/story/352066.html

Time Magazine's Person Of The Year 2007

If you had Vladimir Putin in the office pool, you win. Al Gore and J.K. Rowling complete the trifecta as first and second runner ups. http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/personoftheyear/0,28757,1690753,00.html

Jamie-Lynn Spears pregnant at 16

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-News-Blog/Todays-News/Jamie-Lynn-Spears/800029554

Kimmel's back Jan. 2

Joining Jay and Conan sans writers. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071218/ap_en_ot/hollywood_labor_kimmel_4

NBC to air USA Net's "Monk" and "Psych"

http://tvdecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/nbc-to-repurpose-usas-monk-and-psych/#more-443

ESPN adding Los Angeles studios

Late night SportsCenter may be "Live from L.A."
http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-espn18dec18,1,5581193.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-sports

UK's "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" to air on Showtime

Stars pop singer turned actress Billie Piper. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117977811.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

5th Grader, Power of 10 mulled for syndication

Great, five days a week of proving that game show contestants are dopier than 5th graders.
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/12/5th_grader_10_mulled_for_syndi.php

Football Roundup from The Daily Fix

On WSJ.com: http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2007/12/17/dolphins-win-dolphins-win/

Leno and Conan return to NBC Jan. 2

Without writers- http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117977838.html?categoryid=2821&cs=1&nid=2565

Singer Dan Fogelberg dead at 56

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117977824.html?categoryid=16&cs=1

Anchorwoman Alycia Lane arrested

Lane, formerly of NBC6 in Miami, and currently at KYW (the call letters in the NY Post article are transposed) in Philly allegedly hit a police officer. http://www.nypost.com/seven/12162007/news/regionalnews/alycia_lane_arrested__punches_cop_545795.htm
Update on 12/17: http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20071217_Anchor_Lane_arrested_in_NYC.html?referrer=delicious

Fodder for Shep Smith on FOX-
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/court_cases/lane_arrested_shep_talks_up_tabs_73221.asp

The Year In TV

From The LA Times - http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-tv200716dec16,1,906155.htmlstory?coll=la-entnews-tv

"Baseball Writers Blew The Drug Scandal"

"Years ago," says Editor & Publisher. http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003685221

Clemens to Return in '08?

Act of defiance? Or another $20 million in the bank? After being named in the Mitchell Report, you'd have to imagine the questions would follow him all season long.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ny-sproger1215,0,3405607.story

Baba Booey talks Baseball

Touching Base with the Stern show's Gary Dell'Abate. http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/touchingbase/2007/12/celebrity-nine-innings-gary-ba.html

Huizenga in talks to sell Dolphins

http://www.miamiherald.com/614/story/345175.html

Oops: WNBC.com publishes false list of steroids users

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/1214071wnbc1.html

Late Night TV Hosts back by Jan. 7?

Regardless of the Writers' Strike, plunging ratings and revenue as well as full staffs of employees on the payroll may force the hosts back. http://www.variety.com/VR1117977689.html

Rolling Stone's 100 Best Songs of 2007

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17601363/the_100_best_songs_of_2007/print

Feel free to add your favorites in the comments.

Marlins angling for Stadium deal

from The Hardball Times. http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/gutted-fish/

90's One Hit Wonders

from ABC: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/FallConcert/story?id=3989089&page=1&GMA=true

"Daughtry" top selling CD of 2007

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071214/ap_en_mu/music_billboard_top_albums

VH1's Top 40 of 2007

via Idolator.com http://idolator.com/tunes/year_end-analysis/vh1s-viewers-sure-do-like-looking-at-jess-mariano-when-hes-not-wearing-a-shirt-333652.php

Freakonomics: a great day for McGwire

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/13/is-today-mark-mcgwires-best-day-in-years/

Interesting that some of the players mentioned in The Mitchell Report on Steroids signed free agent deals in the last 48 hours, while Miguel Tejada was traded the day prior to the release.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/13/AR2007121301076.html?hpid=topnews

More names coming: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/12/13/wertheimllosa.mitchellreport/

Excerpts, from WSJ.com:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119758126963927545.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Chinese Food on Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1uZ_W7atDE

Newest membere of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Madonna and John Mellencamp top the list. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071213/ap_en_mu/rock_hall_inductees_9

Analysis: http://www.futurerockhall.com/index.php

What were they thinking? http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2007/12/what-is-the-roc.html

Golden Globe Nominees

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/65th-annual-golden-globe-nominations/

Globes favor Cable TV, new series: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071213/ap_en_tv/golden_globes_television

TV Prognosis for 2008

from Gary Levin of USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-12-12-strike-effects_N.htm?csp=Entertainment

A casino comes to... Pittsburgh?

Believed to be the most valuable license in Pennsylvania.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/us/12pittsburgh.html?th&emc=th

VH1's Top 100 of the '90s

Hard to believe, but we're only three years from the best of the '00s

http://idolator.com/tunes/a-.pointless-listmaking.-special-report/vh1-ranks-the-90s-blames-gerardo-inclusion-on-viewers-332943.php

Mitchell Report on Steroids due tomorrow

ESPN will have coverage from 1p-7:30p.

Jon Heyman of SI.com:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/12/12/mitchell.report/

Cubs sign Japanese OF Fukudome

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7554498

Fuk-U-Dome? Bound to be FCC fines with this. I can only imagine if Harry Caray were alive.

If the the Marlins' stadium had a roof, it would certainly be called the Fuk-U-Dome.

Top iTunes songs of 2007

from Idolator: http://idolator.com/tunes/year_end-analysis/itunes-proves-people-really-are-as-tasteless-as-you-think-they-are-332459.php

Las Vegas plans Mob Museum

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2007-12-10-vegas-mob-museum_N.htm?csp=Travel

Bubba The Love Sponge

Mornings on "free" radio in Tampa and Jacksonville and afternoons on Sirius. Estimated total earnings: $3 million. http://www.blogs.tampabay.com/media/2007/12/bubba-the-love.html

From YouTube to Diet Dr. Pepper

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/business/media/10youtube.html?th&emc=th

12 million hits on a website, and you can get a beverage as well.

Reruns and Reality about to set in

Scott Collins of the LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/tv/la-et-channel9dec09,1,2925340.story?coll=la-entnews-tv

Writers on Strike: Reality about to set in

More reality and competion shows than ever, coming in 2008.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/arts/television/09tube.html?th&emc=th

Miami Talker Neil Rogers "On the market"

Just to clarify- for a new a radio gig. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/broward/story/336624.html

TV Season To Date

http://www.variety.com/VR1117977354.html

The History of Howard Stern

from FMQB: http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=528001

Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?

Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame) goes on the hunt in his new film. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/12/07/2007-12-07_a_real_movie_find_osama_just_maybe_.html?ref=nl&nltr_ct=1&nltr_id=A%20real%20movie%20find:%20Osama,%20just%20maybe

Tebow could be first Sophomore to win Heisman

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/sports/ncaafootball/06heisman.html?th&emc=th

Grammy Nominees

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071206/ap_en_mu/grammy_nominations_short_list_1

NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/arts/music/06cnd-grammy.html?hp

"ER" turns 300

Hard to believe that the show debuted in the same day and time slot as "Chicago Hope," which would've been considered a hit under any other circumstance- it ran for 141 episodes.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071206/en_nm/er_dc_1

E! online : http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=9ddd98b4-ae92-4f43-acf3-878e323a6145&entry=index&sid=rss_topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories

Like the ESPN "This is Sportscenter" commercials?

Well, you'll love the show. http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/12/a_special_on_spots.php

Why NBC (really) brought back "The Apprentice"

Celebrity edition, no less. Mark Burnett cut NBC in on the action. The potential for a Writers' Strike (when they renewed the show) clearly factored in as well. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i35ab2fc2fb51e6e201df1c0dd8239720?pn=1

Three team blockbuster could land Mets J. Santana

from MLBTradeRumors: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/santanareyeshar.html

Did Giants risk NFL game to cover point spread?

Unlikely. Interesting thread, however, at the Freakonomics Blog at the NY Times.
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/did-the-new-york-giants-risk-losing-the-game-to-cover-the-spread/

From Consumerist.com

Great site; love this picture. http://consumerist.com/consumer/badvertising/this-boneless-spiral-ham-is-delicious-for-chanukah-329904.php

Maggie Rodriguez to join CBS' "The Early Show"

She moved from CBS O&O WFOR/Miami to The Saturday Early Show earlier this year.
http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/12/rodriguez_new_early_show_coanc.php

Marlins trade Cabrera AND Willis

I guess former Marlins GM (and current Tigers President and GM) Dave Dombrowski likes one-stop shopping, trading SIX prospects for Miguel and Dontrelle. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071204&content_id=2317414&vkey=hotstove2007&fext=.jsp

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com says that the Marlins and Tigers are heading in different directions.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove07/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3141990

End of an era: http://www.miamiherald.com/589/story/331900.html

Dan LeBatard: Give Marlins the benefit of doubt- http://www.miamiherald.com/609/story/332399.html

For Marlins, show must go on: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/332658.html

Garth Brooks to play 5 benefit shows - in 30 hours

Wasn't this guy retired? The concerts are for a great cause, but I hope they have EMS standing by for him. http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071204/en_nm/brooks_dc_1

Dexter to CBS?

Les Moonves may go to the bullpen and grab some Showtime series for CBS due to the Writers' Strike. http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/12/moonves_cbs_to_tap_showtime_se.php

The Farnsworth Invention

Classy joint this blog-a Broadway review.
From Variety: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117935557.html?categoryid=1265&cs=1

NY Times: http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/theater/reviews/04farn.html?th&emc=th

Had to do it; went to summer camp with the star, Hank Azaria.

The NY Times Learns Top 40 Radio's "Secret"

Hmm... playing the hits over and over... now more than ever, what with all of the competition for attention is this ADD society we live in. When people tune in, they want the hits, with no waiting. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/arts/music/01one.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&ref=todayspaper&adxnnlx=1196688465-p/M/TXWEIcM1fWO23NdHFw

Keith Olbermann: Double duty at NBC

Newsday's Neil Best writes: http://www.newsday.com/sports/columnists/ny-spbest025485330dec02,0,1999539.column

Neil's Blog, "Watchdog," covering sports media: http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/

Scott Boras: Not just A-Rod level clients

Tyler Kepner of the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/sports/baseball/03boras.html?ref=sports
Those former MLB'ers who work for him seem like my Strat-O-Matic teams from years past.

Strike may send TV season into summer

From TV Week: http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/12/strike_sends_season_sliding.php

hat tip: www.tvbythenumbers.com

Imus' return

Reuters: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071203/en_nm/imus_return_dc_2

E! Online: http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=debe8d91-eda6-4dc6-9847-5859a888d82a&entry=index&sid=rss_topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories

Mediabistro.com's Fishbowl DC gives a play-by-play of the first hour: http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlDC/radio/imus_is_back_72067.asp

Aaron Barnhart @ TV Barn: http://blogs.kansascity.com/tvbarn/2007/12/barack-in-the-s.html

Citadel's official site: www.ImusOnAir.com

NBC to buy blocks of programs from outsiders

If you like "Ice Road Truckers," or shows made for about 1/6 the cost of some network dramas, this deal may produce programming for you. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/business/media/03nbc.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Super Bowl Halftime show...

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. http://www.azcentral.com/ent/music/articles/1202halftime1202-CP.html

Artie Lange

NY Daily News story about his interview in Playboy. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2007/12/02/2007-12-02_comic_artie_lange_bares_soul_talks_of_lo.html?ref=nl&nltr_ct=1&nltr_id=A%20comic's%20life,%20on%20the%20edge%20Artie%20Lange%20bares%20soul,%20including%20a%20lost%20love,%20in%20Playboy

NY Post's Phil Mushnick on ESPN NFL announcers

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12022007/sports/espn_booth_bumblers_always_last_to_know_131146.htm?page=0

Imus' return to radio loaded with drama

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071202/ap_en_ot/imus_returns_9

NY Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/12/02/2007-12-02_all_eyes__and_ears__are_on_shock_jock_do.html?ref=nl&nltr_ct=1&nltr_id=All%20eyes%20and%20ears%20on%20shock%20jock%20Don%20imus