Former Kentucky coach Eddie Sutton to un-retire

ESPN reports that retired Oklahoma State University coach Eddie Sutton will coach San Francisco for the rest of the season.

Eddie Sutton is going to get another shot at his 800th victory.

The former Oklahoma State coach will come out of retirement to coach San Francisco for the remainder of the season in an attempt to win his 800th game.

Sutton's return was first reported by CBS Sports.com.

Sutton's 798 wins at Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Kentucky and Creighton are the fifth-highest total for any men's NCAA Division I basketball coach. When his victories at Tulsa Central High School and the College of Southern Idaho are included, he won exactly 1,000 games before retiring from coaching in May.

Sutton pleaded no contest to misdemeanor aggravated drunken driving and two other charges following a February 2006 car accident that prematurely ended his time on the sidelines.

Current Dons coach Jessie Evans will announce his resignation as coach later Wednesday, The Associated Press is reporting.

San Francisco has lost five of its last six games in addition to the NCAA suspension of one of its international players.

Today in Jewish history

Per AISH:
16 Tevet
In 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant was instructed to revoke Order No. 11, which had called for the expulsion of all Jews from Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi. During the Civil War, smugglers were illegally selling southern cotton to the northern textile factories. Grant, commander of U.S. Army forces, believed that Jews were primarily behind this illegal cotton trade, and he decided to expel all Jews from southern territory. Grant wrote: "No Jews are to be permitted to travel on the railroad southward from any point... The [region] must be purged of them." Based on Grant's orders, Jews were expelled from their homes, including 20 families from the town of Paducah alone. Some Jews were denied rail transportation and had to flee northward on foot. Those who did not cooperate were thrown into prison. Jewish community leaders immediately arranged a meeting at the White House with President Lincoln, who cancelled the expulsion order. Grant, who would later become U.S. president, never offered any explanation or apology.

No Place Else To Go Day

Yep, that's the life for us Jews during this time of year. Chinese and movies...seems like the only thing open today.

Go see Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story! It's frickin' hilarious! I saw it yesterday and absolutely loved it so I'm sure you will, too. For those that say that it crossed the line, it did not. Surely, you have seen the Airplane and Naked Gun movies, right?

Late Night Shows resume January 2nd or 7th

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - January 2

"This has been a very difficult six weeks for everybody affected by the writers strike. I was, like most people, hoping for a quick resolution when this began. I remained positive during the talks and while they were still at the table discussing a solution "The Tonight Show" remained dark in support of our writing staff. Now that the talks have broken down and there are no further negotiations scheduled I feel it's my responsibility to get my 100 non-writing staff, which were laid off, back to work. We fully support our writers and I think they understand my decision."

"The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" is from Big Dog Productions in association with Universal Media Studios. Debbie Vickers is the executive producer.

Late Night with Conan O'Brien - January 2

"For the past seven weeks of the writers' strike, I have been and continue to be an ardent supporter of the WGA and their cause. My career in television started as a WGA member and my subsequent career as a performer has only been possible because of the creativity and integrity of my writing staff. Since the strike began, I have stayed off the air in support of the striking writers while, at the same time, doing everything I could to take care of the 80 non-writing staff members on Late Night.

Unfortunately, now with the New Year upon us, I am left with a difficult decision. Either go back to work and keep my staff employed or stay dark and allow 80 people, many of whom have worked for me for fourteen years, to lose their jobs. If my show were entirely scripted I would have no choice. But the truth is that shows like mine are hybrids, with both written and non-written content. An unwritten version of Late Night, though not desirable, is possible - and no one has to be fired.

So, it is only after a great deal of thought that I have decided to go back on the air on January 2nd. I will make clear, on the program, my support for the writers and I'll do the best version of Late Night I can under the circumstances. Of course, my show will not be as good. In fact, in moments it may very well be terrible. My sincerest hope is that all of my writers are back soon, working under a contract that provides them everything they deserve."

The Late Show with David Letterman - Meeting with writers to discuss an agreement
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson - Produced by Dave's company, Worldwide Pants
Jimmy Kimmel Live - January 2

"Though it makes me sick to do so without my writers, there are more than a hundred people whose financial well-being depends on our show. It is time to go back to work."

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart - January 7

We would like to return to work with our writers," Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert said in a joint statement. "If we cannot, we would like to express our ambivalence, but without our writers we are unable to express something as nuanced as ambivalence."

The Colbert Report - January 7
Last Call with Carson Daly - Carson Daly is a no-good schmuck who came back early and crossed the picket lines.

Umm...Britney's a bad influence

I said it before it was even cool to say it. Britney Spears is a bad influence.

Jamie-Lynn Spears Is Pregnant at Age 16.

This is absurd to think that the Spears family makes the Simpsons look better. By Simpsons, I mean Jessica and Ashlee.

Umm...

Apparently, I'm a "political idiot."

I may be on record in support of Sen. Clinton. However, in all honesty, I want to see someone like Michael Bloomberg running for president.

I-66?

Is it worth it? No, it's not worth it.

What's the point in building in INTERSTATE if it doesn't connect TWO OR MORE STATES.

It's hogwash just like the unjustified plan to remove I-64 in the Ville.

A waste of taxpayer and federal money.

Hal Rogers, please resign.

Run for the Roses no more

Dan Fogelberg, who wrote the Kentucky Derby anthem, has died of cancer at the age of 56. May he rest in peace. As a tribute to the singer, here are the lyrics.

Run for the Roses
Born in the valley, raised in the trees
Of western Kengucky on wobbly knees
With mama beside you to help you along
You'll soon be a-growin' up strong

The long lazy mornings in pastures of grain
The sun on your withers, the wind in your mane
Could never prepare you for what lies ahead:
It's the run for the roses so red

And it's the run for the roses as fast as you can
Your fate is delivered, your moemnt's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined in the dance

From sire to sire it's born in the blood
The fire of a mare, the strength of a stud
It's breeding and training and something unknown
That drives and carries you home

And it's the run for the roses as fast as you can
Your fate is delivered, your moment's at hand
It's the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance
And it's high time you joined in the dance
And it's high time you joined in the dance

UK fans, take note...

From the Herald-Leader:

Tom Leach and Jeff Piecoro will call Kentucky's game against Florida State in the Music City Bowl.

That leaves UK needing a play-by-play announcer to work with Mike Pratt in the UK-Florida International basketball game.

Among the options being considered are the voice of the Cincinnati Reds, Marty Brennaman, former UK play-by-play man Ralph Hacker and Neil Price, who calls UK women's games.

When UK played Clemson in the Music City Bowl last year, the school moved a scheduled basketball game against Eastern Kentucky. But Florida International had too far to come and plans already made to accommodate a switch.

So UK will play Florida International at a noon tipoff and Florida State on a 4 p.m. kickoff.

You'd think Leach would face a quandary of which game to call if UK played a high-profile basketball opponent. Actually, he had pondered that scenario earlier this season. If Kentucky had played in the SEC football championship game, it would have conflicted with the basketball game against North Carolina.

Leach had decided to work the football game. "You finish what you start," he said.

Expect any game on the Big Blue Radio network to have a short post game show followed by the pre-game show for the next game.

The Names in the Mitchell Report

Connected by use or possession:
Chad Allen
Mike Bell
Gary Bennett
Larry Bigbie
Ricky Bones
Kevin Brown
Ken Caminiti
Mark Carreon
Jason Christiansen
Howie Clark
Roger Clemens
Paxton Crawford
Jack Cust
Brendan Donnelly
Chris Donnels
Lenny Dykstra
Matt Franco
Ryan Franklin
Eric Gagne
Jason Grimsley
Jerry Hairston
Phil Hiatt
Matt Herges
Glenallen Hill
Todd Hundley
Ryan Jorgensen
Wally Joyner
Mike Judd
David Justice
Chuck Knoblauch
Tim Laker
Mike Lansing
Paul Lo Duca
Exavier “Nook” Logan
Josias Manzanillo
Cody McKay
Kent Mercker
Bart Miadich
Hal Morris
Daniel Naulty
Denny Neagle
Rafael Palmeiro
Jim Parque
Luis Perez
Andy Pettitte
Adam Piatt
Todd Pratt
Stephen Randolph
Adam Riggs
Brian Roberts
F.P. Santangelo
David Segui
Mike Stanton
Ricky Stone
Miguel Tejada
Derrick Turnbow
Mo Vaughn
Ron Villone
Fernando Vina
Rondell White
Jeff Williams
Todd Williams
Kevin Young
Gregg Zaun

Internet allegations:
Rick Ankiel
David Bell
Paul Byrd
Jose Canseco
Jay Gibbons
Troy Glaus
Jose Guillen
Darren Holmes
Gary Matthews Jr.
John Rocker
Scott Schoeneweis
Ismael Valdez
Matt Williams
Steve Woodard

BALCO:
Marvin Benard
Barry Bonds
Bobby Estalella
Jason Giambi
Jeremy Giambi
Benito Santiago
Gary Sheffield
Randy Velarde

Why I'm for Andrew Horne

I should note that from a PR perspective, Col. Horne picked the worst possible day to announce his candidacy since there's a chance that it will be buried in the news due to the ongoing Bobby Petrino debacle and today's release of the George Mitchell Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball.

Andrew Horne represents a change for the Democratic Party. You can read my interview with him from this past September right here.

DS: You're a military veteran so how do you feel the Iraq situation needs to be handled. With our armed forces stretched so thin, what should happen in the event that America does something about Iran?
AH: There are no good answers in regard to Iraq only a list of bad ones. However, we must get beyond partisanship and think first of our children's future. Whatever we do we must have as solid a consensus as possible. The recommendations of the Iraq Study Group are a good place to start the debate, but the ultimate long term goal must be to remove all of our troops from Iraq. Because of the way we entered Iraq and have handled it since, any residual U.S. presence will be seen as an occupation by most Iraqis and the majority of the Arab world. In that vein, it will appear coerced if we were "asked" by the Iraqi government to keep troops in Iraq while we still had thousands of combat troops there. There should be no discussions concerning permanent bases in Iraq.

Concerning your question about Iran, in every matter concerning relations between nations the use of military force should only be a last resort. We must pursue every diplomatic and economic option. In the case of Iran we quite frankly have very few military options. We do not have the manpower to fight another ground war and the effect of air power alone is very limited - just look at "shock and awe." Under these circumstances we must avoid a shooting war at all costs because our choices are either a small interdiction to address the support to the Iraqi Shi'ia Militias, which is akin to stirring-up a hornet's nest, or an attempt at a knock out blow. Neither option would do much for our standing in the world and would not be in our long term National Security interests.

Horne may be considered a long shot by some but he is the candidate, in my opinion, that can knock Mitch McConnell off his throne.

Nobody has forgotten how South Dakota Republicans brought in Bill Frist to take out Tom Daschle. Mitch, I've got some news for you. We will OUST you by all means necessary. Lest, you forget this quote that you made:

Nobody is happy about losing lives, but remember, these are not draftees; these are full-time professional soldiers."

Breaking News: Andrew Horne announces Senate candidacy

The following press release was just issued by Andrew Horne:
Louisville, KY – Lt. Colonel Andrew Horne (Ret.) launched his campaign today to take back the U. S. Senate seat for the people of Kentucky, now held by Mitch McConnell. Horne, while a Marine and Reservist, served tours of duty in Desert Storm and recently in Iraq. Horne outlined his decision to run and what he plans to focus on as Senator in a video released on the internet this morning.

You can watch the video at www.AndrewHorne.org. The full text of it is available on the site, as well.

“I’m running for U.S. Senate because it's time for a change and because Senator Mitch McConnell is more than part of the problem. He is THE problem. It is time for Kentuckians to take our government and country back. We should not be told to take a backseat to the wealthy and powerful. It's time to tackle the challenges facing our country instead of passing them off to our kids. It's time for leaders who'll take the right stand,” Horne says in the video.

“Mitch McConnell, the Republican Leader, symbolizes everything wrong with Washington. He bows to big business, practices the worst kind of politics, and doesn’t take a stand when faced with tough issues. Simply put: Mitch McConnell carries George Bush’s water on Iraq; I carried a rifle in Iraq” he added.

Horne noted that under the Bush-McConnell regime, Washington politicians have:
-failed to fix our health care crisis;
-sent our jobs to China and Mexico;
-failed to lead on immigration reform;
-ran up a nine trillion dollar debt for our children, and
-led our country into an ill-conceived and mismanaged war in Iraq.

Horne also noted yesterday that the Bush-McConnell obstructionism has continued to hinder progress, pointing to the latest example, the President’s veto of S-Chip fully supported by McConnell.

In the coming weeks and months, Horne will lay out his proposals to benefit the people of the commonwealth.

Groucho Marx Old-School Quote of the Day

"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book."
--Groucho Marx

Guest Post: Steve Beshear's Inaugural Address

The following is presented to you by...wait, this isn't a television show...the following was delivered this afternoon by Kentucky's 61st Governor Steven Lynn Beshear

Once more, our Commonwealth is at a crossroads. The course we set out upon today will help to determine whether or not we pass on to our children and grandchildren a Kentucky that’s better and more prosperous, and more promising than the one we live in today.

We can choose the path of least resistance; the status quo.

Or, we can choose the path of progress. This path will involve new thinking and new ideas. It will require cooperation and patience. And it will demand courage.

The status quo is unacceptable to me. There’s too much to do. We need to act.

We often look to the past to find clues to the future. Our challenge as Kentuckians is to hold fast to the values that embody Kentucky’s past, and learn from them as we create our own future.

Kentucky was America’s first frontier. The first state west of the Appalachians.

Our ancestors succeeded by creating opportunities, working hard, building communities, and putting their faith in God and in each other. That is the legacy they left to us.

We need to get back to those values so that we can be proud of the legacy we leave to our own children.

However, in many ways, the Kentucky of today has stood still while others have moved forward.

When it comes to economic and educational opportunities, Kentucky has fallen behind.

When it comes to investing in our people, we’ve too often fallen short.

When it comes to hope for the future, we’ve become resigned to watching helplessly as many of our children move to other states where better opportunities beckon them.

But it doesn’t have to stay that way. If we address the challenges that face us, and take bold steps to meet them, I believe that we can make Kentucky America’s Next Frontier.

A frontier of imaginative solutions.

A frontier for new technology and new industries.

A frontier that protects the environment, while creating opportunities.

A frontier that attracts entrepreneurs, tourists, retirees.

A frontier that keeps our own graduates right here at home.

My administration will be about our shared future. We have a responsibility to work together and I have a responsibility to lead. I take that responsibility seriously because our prosperity is at stake.

I ask everyone in this great commonwealth of ours — Democrat, Republican and independent, white, black and brown, from Pikeville to Paducah, from our bustling cities to our small towns, to our farms both large and small — to join hands with me in meeting this challenge.

We have just come through the time-honored American rite of a hard-fought campaign; as a result, it is easy to see what divides us. Instead, what I want to see, and what I do see today, is what unites us.

As Kentuckians, and as Americans, we share the same basic values.

We’re passionate about our freedom, we celebrate our differences, we cherish our faith, and we love our families.

Our history is filled with examples of overcoming division. During the Civil War, our Commonwealth was split between those siding with the Confederacy and those favoring the Union.

The years following the war were hard, but our ancestors came together to build the foundation for a modern Kentucky. Eventually, they worked through their differences for the sake of the future.

It’s time to focus again on what unites us. Only then will we achieve truly great things.

Abraham Lincoln, whose 200th birthday we will begin to celebrate 2 months from now, said in his first presidential inaugural address:

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break, our bonds of affection.”

Lincoln’s plea for unity in 1861 is no less relevant today. While we have made extraordinary progress as a people since that time, we still must work to overcome our differences and not allow them to impede our progress.

Sixty years earlier, in his 1801 inaugural address, Thomas Jefferson said: “Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.”

Now, some may disagree with me on opinions, but let’s agree on principles and goals.

We can accomplish much over the next four years, but only if we work together for the common good.

Only if we’re open about the challenges we face and honest about the solutions.

Only if we’re open to new ideas and new ways of thinking.

Only if we put the interests of all Kentuckians ahead of the interests of political parties, individuals and special interests.

The great Kentucky Senator Henry Clay once said:

“Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees. And both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.”

Let us remember those wise words as we begin the difficult and exciting task of creating a new Kentucky for the 21st Century.

A Kentucky where the youngest among us have expanded learning opportunities that will serve a lifetime;

A Kentucky where the oldest among us are not forced to choose between food and medicine;

A Kentucky where citizens trust that their leaders are doing the people’s business, not their own;

And a Kentucky where it doesn’t matter if an idea is a Democratic idea or a Republican idea, as long as it’s a good idea.

My administration will be looking for good ideas to help Kentucky innovate and become a leader among the states.

I expect to earn your trust, not to simply be given it. I expect my administration to be accountable — and it starts at the top, with me.

That’s why one of my first official acts as governor will be to require all my top appointees to take extensive training in laws relating to ethics and the merit system, and to pledge to follow them.

In addition, one of my first proposals to the legislature will be a package of new ethics laws to govern us — increasing penalties for violating the ethics code, strengthening protections for whistleblowers, and changing the way appointments to the Ethics Commission itself are made.

We need to get our own house in order before we can be trusted to do the people’s business. I look forward to working with legislators of both parties to pass tough new ethics and accountability standards we can all be proud of.

We’ve seen too often what happens when the people don’t trust their government. Enacting new ethics standards will help to regain some of that trust.

So will governing effectively, efficiently and with humility. This, I pledge to you.

And that starts with being honest about the serious challenges we face as I take office today.

The current state of the economy means that we will need to be jealous guardians of the public’s money. We will need to make difficult choices and set clear priorities. We will need to show the courage to cut back where we can now in order to invest in what we must in the future.

My priorities are ones we all share: investing more in the education of our people to better prepare them to compete in the global economy; creating more opportunities by attracting better paying jobs throughout Kentucky, in industries that promise long-term growth not just for today’s workers but also for tomorrow’s; and making health care more affordable for all our people so that every family can provide their children the care they deserve, and so that no senior need go without the medications they need.

We must address these challenges if we are to preserve and protect our quality of life and build the future that we all hope for. …

A future where our children don’t need to move away to find good-paying jobs with benefits.

A future where new ideas will create new opportunities and new industries.

A future where Kentucky is competing not just with our neighbors, but with the world.

I see Kentucky as one big family. We may have our disagreements, but we share the same values and we want what’s best for our children and our grandchildren. And we want to keep our families together.

Wouldn’t it be something if we could build a Kentucky that our children would not want to leave and that would attract many others because of the opportunity we would offer them here?

The Bible states, in Jeremiah, chapter 31, verse 17:

“So there is hope for your future,” declares the LORD. “Your children will return to their own land.”

That, my friends, would be something!

This inauguration is a new beginning. Now is the time to put aside our preconceived notions and our ideologies.

Instead, let us strive to work with those who differ with us and forge new alliances. Let us consider new ideas and revisit old ones. Let us demand excellence and honesty. And let us listen. For if we listen, we will never forget why we’re here or who we’re here to serve.

I will never forget that I serve the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Thank you. G-d bless you.

Now let’s get to work!

Jews prefer Clinton and Giuliani for President

A recent American Jewish Committee poll shows that Jewish voters overwhelmingly prefer Senator Hillary Clinton and former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani for President during next year's 2008 elections.

U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Rudy Giuliani come in first and second in approval ratings in a poll of American Jews.

Clinton, the front-runner among Democrats, scored 53 percent in this year’s American Jewish Committee poll. Giuliani, the former New York mayor and a front-runner among Republicans, received a 41 percent favorable rating.

Giuliani was ahead -- albeit within the margin of error of 3 percentage points -- of two other Democratic front-runners, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who tied at 38 percent.

Such a staunch showing for a Republican is unusual in a community that trends strongly Democratic.

Respondents broke down into 58 percent Democrat, 26 percent independent and 15 percent Republican, diverging from the third-third-third breakdown that is the norm in general population polls. The phone survey of 1,000 Jewish Americans was conducted Nov. 6-25.

Ami Eden examines some of the survey's findings.

Crit Luallen: Not a Senate candidate

Crit Luallen has released a statement saying that she will not be a candidate for the US Senate in 2008.

"While I have been honored that so many respected state and national leaders have encouraged me to consider running for the United States Senate in 2008, I have no plans to enter the race. I have just been re-elected as State Auditor and look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Kentucky in that capacity. The polls show that Mitch McConnell is certainly vulnerable and Kentuckians are ready for a change. I am confident that Democrats will field a strong candidate next year."

That leaves us with the strong possibility of a Horne-Stumbo matchup.

Exclusive Interview with Steve Hofstetter

Danielle Solzman: Steve, thanks for joining the Kentucky Democrat today. How are things going with you?
Steve Hofstetter: It's going well. I just shoveled snow for the first time since I was a kid. It's not as much fun when there's no hot chocolate waiting for you afterwards, but I still felt all nostalgic.

DS: When did you decide that you wanted to be a comedian and why did you make such a decision?
SH: Six months after I was a comedian. At first I just did it because it was fun and a way to pay rent. But laughter is a drug, and I realized I was pretty good at it. During a show at MIT, the openers were eating it, and I was waiting to go on. I actually wanted to go on even though the crowd sucked. There's an old sports cliché, “winners want the ball.” That was the first time in my life I ever wanted the ball.

DS: Jewish parents often brag about their children being lawyers or doctors, how often do you hear parents bragging about their children being a comedian?
SH: Jewish parents, all the time. Because we have Seinfeld and Jackie Mason. We also have a billion others, but those are the two my parents’ friends have heard of.

DS: You wrote a book, National Lampoon Balls! An In Your Face Look at sports , this past year. Given the title, when you inscribe it to someone, do you sometimes feel sick in your stomach?
SH: Not at all - I try to have a sense of humor about all things. If I didn't think “enjoy my Balls!” was funny, I wouldn't have written the book.

DS: How did you get the idea to write that book?
SH: I've been a sports fan for my whole life. And to me, there's nothing funnier than how seriously people take sports. There's never been a sports book that valued humor over information. It's usually a bit funny, but mainly sports. This is a bit sports, but mainly funny.

DS: What’s the day in the life of a touring comedian like?
SH: It’s different for all of us. For me and my guys (Denis Donohue and Phil Mazo), I usually wake up around 9 or 10, and check my email and write til they get up at 12 or 1. They go running while I check my email (we all have different types of laziness), then we all go eat. We drive 4-5 hours to the next gig, and en route we listen to Sirius, play Guitar Hero, and check our email. We do the gig, and either party after or go back to the hotel and watch Family Guy. And then we do it again the next day.

DS: At an average show, how many people come up after the show ends and tell you that you’re a friend of theirs on sites like MySpace and Facebook?
SH: Usually 5-10. Most realize that I won't recognize them. Occasionally, someone is offended that I don't remember them. “Come on, you don't recognize me? I'm the person that emailed you once two years ago, you know, with the picture of the cat instead of my face.”

DS: Do you think that social networking sites are helpful to aspiring comedians when it comes to building a name for themselves amongst the fans?
SH: Certainly, they're democratic. I'm rising because people are telling their friends to check out my stuff. The internet is about what people think is funny, not what TV execs think is funny.

DS: With all the “friends” that you have, when do you think you will be appearing on the late night shows…if they ever get back into production again?
SH: I am in the final stages for two of them, so if they go back to production, I’d guess I’ll be on at least one of em in 2008. But it's such a crap shoot that it's hard to say.

DS: You graduated from Columbia University, right? What did you do there to further your comedic career?
SH: Yup. While there, I joined a fraternity, not because I thought i should but because it was 30 of the funniest guys I'd ever met. They influenced me more than most things to develop a sense of humor. And I had to be quick - we were vicious.

DS: You’re a Mets fan, correct?
SH: Yup.

DS: What the heck happened to them this season?
SH: Rickey freaking Henderson.

DS: After Endy Chavez stole a home run from Scott Rolen, did you think that the 2006 NLCS series was over?
SH: No, I'm not silly enough to think that its over until 3 out in the bottom of the ninth. Or after if it’s an extra inning game. I also didn’t see it live - I had a gig that night and had to get score updates on my phone. Denis left after his set to watch - the bastard.

DS: What do you tell people when they ask you for advice on starting a career in comedy?
SH: Shut up and do it. There's no “I'm thinking about it.” It doesn't hurt to try it. And the stage is not for every body. If you're a great writer but can't think on your feet, you won't be a good comic. If you can think on your feet but can't write, you won't be a good comic. Comics are a combination actor, writer, and improver, and if you aren't all three, just be what you are. Also, you will not be famous tomorrow. For every laugh you get, there’s a thousand other guys getting bigger laughs than you. Check your ego at the door, prepare for 5-10 years of struggle, and get up on stage already.

DS: Why do you think Jews are so successful in comedy?
SH: Humor is honored in the Jewish tradition, all the way back to the Rabbi Baal Shem Tov. Rabbis usually insert jokes into sermons - certainly way more often than priests.

DS: Jon Stewart or Bill O’Reilly?
SH: Definitely Jon Stewart. Unless the question is “Which one would you like to get skull fucked by fire ants.” Then definitely Bill O'Reilly."

DS: Jack Benny or Groucho Marx?
SH: Groucho. Jack Benny was funny for his time, but Groucho's stuff endures.

DS: Thanks for joining the Kentucky Democrat. Have a happy Chanukah. Is there anything you would like to plug before leaving?
 SH:  I have a new CD coming out in the next few weeks, recorded live in Louisville. We just mastered it and we're sending it off today. Stay tuned. And Happy Hanukkah back atcha.

Back to Nashville! Kentucky Wildcats to face Florida State in Music City Bowl

It's official! The University of Kentucky Wildcats have accepted a bid to play Florida State in this year's Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl presented by Bridgestone.

The University of Kentucky football team will be spending its New Year’s Eve bowling in Nashville.

The Wildcats are headed to the Music City Bowl for the second consecutive season and will face Florida State on Monday, December 31 at 4 p.m. at LP Field.

UK finished the regular season at 7-5. Kentucky beat Clemson 28-20 in last year’s Music City Bowl.

Florida State is coached by the legendary Bobby Bowden, who is the winningest coach in Division I-A football. Bowden’s 20 bowl wins are two shy of the bowl record, and he led the Seminoles to its 25th consecutive bowl last season.

Bowden has won two national championships at FSU (1993 and 1999) and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame last December.

The Seminoles also finished the regular season at 7-5. They were 4-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference league play.

Tickets are now on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets and at ticketmaster.com. Fans can also call the Music City Bowl office at 615-743-3130 for more information or to purchase packages.

RIP: Tommy Kron and Ralph Beard

It is a sad day for myself and Big Blue Nation as we mourn the passings of both Ralph Beard and Tommy Kron.

UK baseball signings

The University of Kentucky Wildcats baseball team has signed 16 new players including:

Five players ranked in the high school top-50 by Baseball America
Two Aflac All-America game participants
Two Team USA Junior Olympic Team invitations
Three first-team All-Americans
Participation in 13 major high school showcases (Perfect Game National, Area Code Games, East Coast Professional Showcase)
One high school state player of the year as a junior
Six high school all-state honorees

Here's a little bit more:

After the most successful two-year run in the 103-year history of the UK baseball program, Kentucky head coach John Cohen has announced the signing of 16 of the top prospects in amateur baseball, including five of the top-50 high school players in the nation.

“This is by far the most talented group we’ve brought in during the early signing period and it might be one of the best in the country,” said Cohen, UK’s fifth-year head coach. “A handful of these kids could have chosen virtually any school in the nation and they chose Kentucky because they are excited about what we are doing here and about the type of people we have in our program.”

“We are losing a significant amount of at-bats and innings after the upcoming 2008 season and it was important to sign a group that could step in immediately and have success in the best conference in college baseball, and we did just that.”

Highlighting the group are five of the top high school players in the nation, as ranked by Baseball America. Alex Meyer, a 6-foot-7 right-hander from Greensburg (Ind.) High School, tops the list, ranking fifth in the listing of the top-100 high school prospects.

Meyer was ranked as the No. 2 prospect by Baseball America at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Cincinnati. A member of the Indiana Bulls travel team over the summer, Meyer played in the East Coast Professional Showcase in Lakeland, Fla. in August, in addition to playing in the Aflac All-America game in San Diego, Calif.

“Alex has tremendous upside – he has a great arm, he’s athletic, and he has a frame that can easily handle another 40 pounds,” Cohen said. “We expect big things from him during his career at Kentucky.”

I look forward to the great future of baseball at UK.

Exclusive Interview with The Daily Show's Rob Kutner

Danielle Solzman: Thanks for joining the Kentucky Democrat today. You're on strike at the moment. How is that going for you?

Rob Kutner: Very strange. Believe it or not, the past three weeks I've been so much busier than at work. Between the mandatory picketlines, I've been working on a number of campaigns to try and get this resolved. It really is like a political race, except we know it has to be won now, or the studios can wait us out and we could face a much longer strike.

DS: What is a day in the life of a writer for The Daily Show like?
RK: A hazy memory right now. :)

It's surprisingly businesslike. We work 9-6. We come in the mornings and watch a few packages of video footage from the AP wire service, decide which stories are the most Headline-worthy, then some people go off and write those, others work on the Jon-and-Correspondent dialogues (or "Chats"), and others take on whatever free-floating assignments are around (field pieces, special correspondent pieces like Lewis Black and Demetri Martin). You almost never know from day to day what you're going to be working on.

DS: A few years ago, there was talk of a Draft Jon Stewart for President campaign. Was it all a cover-up for Colbert's failed campaign?
RK: I can't tell you, b/c the NSA might be monitoring these e-mails.

DS: When did you decide to become a comedy writer and why did you make that decision?
RK: When I was in college, one day I realized that everything I was doing extracurricularly was comedy-related: editor of the humor magazine, founding member of the improv troupe, writer for the musical-theater group. Then, my friend's brother got a job writing for the Simpsons and I was like, "Wait, you can get paid for this?"

DS: While I'm asking about comedy, what's the percentage of Daily Show writers with a stand-up or improv background?
RK: Actually, probably the minority. A few of us go up now and then, but largely, we come from different writing worlds (journalism, Web humor, other TV shows, etc.). But our correspondents come out of improv: UCB or Second City

DS: So, um, what's the fourth male lead of Death to Smoochie like? Is his acting that bad?
RK: Seeing as how I would like to have a job to come back to if this thing ever gets resolved, I'm leaving this blank.

DS: If the strike does last till early 2008, how are we supposed to get our news for Indecision 2008?
RK: Fortunately, there's still a lot of good, entertaining blogs out there -- mostly what we read when looking for stories. I'm a big fan of andrew sullivan, wonkette, josh marshall's talking points memo, and mediabistro.

DS: Over the past few years, people tell me that they got their news from Jon Stewart. Now we are getting it from Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood Daily. Is that how the writers feel?
RK: Pretty much. No one seems to have the inside scoop faster or "insider" than she, and also she mostly attempts to straddle the middle.

DS: Have you gotten to know your fellow writers better while on the picket lines and have you met any big-names from years past like Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks or Woody Allen? Or are they not part of the WGA-East?
RK: Absolutely. In fact, this has been maybe the silver lining of the whole thing. We NY writers didn't really know each other at all before, and now we're much closer. I have gotten to spend some quality time with Seth Meyers, for instance, a terrific guy who's been out there everyday at the pickets. And yes, a few comedy idols: I met veteran SNL writer Alan Zweibel and Nat'l Lampoon founding member (and "Ian" the manager in Spinal Tap) Tony Hendra. Also Gilbert Gottfried and Robin Williams have been out with us. Obviously, the picketers in LA get a much better range and depth of celebs (not to mention weather). grrr!

DS: How did the Not The Daily Show video on YouTube come about?
RK: We saw the video put out by the writers and actors from The Office ("The Office is Closed"), and saw how quick, low-tech, but still sharp, funny and on-point it was. And we were like, "Why can't we do that?" So we set about constructing a Daily Show story by e-mail, which was actually kind of fun. The actual video was shot on the picket line at Battery Park by Eric Drysdale, TCR writer otherwise known as "Bobby."

DS: For my readers that are not familiar with why the writers are striking, can you explain?
RK: Sure. Two main issues: DVD and New Media. When you buy a DVD, know how much the writer gets? 4 cents. We're asking for 8, as that deal dates back to the 80s when the studios implored us to not ask for much money until home video became proven business, then they'd make it up to us. They never did.

Now we're concerned they're trying to pull the same game with New Media. As your readers may be aware, the future of movie and TV distribution is shifting over to digital media (iTunes, cell phones, sites like ABC.com where you can watch full episodes of shows). Even though all of that is just burgeoning, the studios are already making money off the new platforms. We're asking for a modest 2.5% of whatever revenues they make off our work when shown digitally, the same re-use fee that's been in effect for TV and radio for decades.

Their opening/closing offer was "0." We felt we were at an impasse, so 90% of us voted to strike (and we never agree on anything, so that tells you something).

Hopefully, the new talks beginning will start off in a more deal making fashion this time around.

DS: Why do you think it is that so many Jewish people chose comedy or comedy writing for their profession?
RK: I think it's a combination of hyperverbality, our distance from the mainstream culture that lets us observe it, and the idea in our genes that everything could be taken away from us at any moment (hence, no attachment to sacred cows or institutions)

DS: I usually ask those that I interview to choose between Jon Stewart or Bill O'Reilly but seeing as how you write for Jon Stewart, I'll try something different here...Jack Benny or Groucho Marx?
RK: Give me a minute... I'm thinking.

DS: Have you ever collaborated with Judd Apatow in the past. If you haven't, would you like to?
RK: No I haven't. But I absolutely would like to.

DS: What are the odds of President Bush ever appearing on The Daily Show before January 20, 2009?
RK: They seem infinitesimal, but on the other hand, this guy has shown a penchant for doing whatever he feels like, and maybe as he's in the final waning days, he'll be like "What the hell?"

DS: Now, if it's called The Daily Show, why is it not on seven days a week and only four? Did I miss the memo and the fourth day is actually longer than 24 hours?
RK: I'm not really sure, but I believe it has something to do with dog years. And possibly Halley's Comet.

DS: What do you tell people when they say they want to go into comedy?
RK: Make sure there's nothing else you'd be just as happy doing first. It's really really hard breaking in, and there are so many talented (and untalented) people clamoring for every opening,

It could be a long road. It took me five years to get my first break, and although I have no regrets, that's pretty average.

DS: The media has pretty much said Clinton will be the nominee for President. Has The Daily Show jumped on the bandwagon or will Stephen decide to run in all 50 states and become the dark horse?
RK: We try to stay as far away from bandwagons as we can. We'd much rather stand back and mock everyone else jumping on board. Although some of those wagon-groupies... quite enticing.

DS: When does the coup to overthrow Jon take place? Or are the bloggers making that up?
RK: You really are trying to get me fired so I can come and blog for you full time, aren't you?

DS: Is the writing room similar to that of Caesar's Hour, which is arguably the smartest room since Thomas Jefferson dined alone at the White House?
RK: We don't have the same kind of traditional 'room' that you'd find on a sitcom, as we do some work individually, in pairs, or in smaller groups. That said, our morning meetings are pretty raucous, fairly unfocused, and extremely un-PC. Pretty much everyone there is a comic genius and it's equally exhilarating and intimidating to just try and keep up.

DS: Thanks for joining us. Before you go, is there anything you would like to plug?
RK: Yes, I'd like to urge fans of our shows, other scripted TV shows, and just those who support creative people being paid for their work to help make our case to the studios to join up with fellow fans who are taking action, at www.fans4writers.com and http://community.livejournal.com/wga_supporters/108254.html.

All joking aside, we are very concerned about who we're up against -- so a strong show of support from the public (sooner rather than later!) might be the critical factor that pushes the studios to give us a fair deal.

Catching up on news...

It's been a while since I've blogged about non-strike news.

Here's a tidbit about the upcoming December movie from Judd Apatow, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

John C. Reilly gives voice to 50 years' worth of popular music in Columbia's "Walk Hard," which opens Dec. 21. His tour de force performance as the Johnny Cash-like Dewey Cox was the subject of an afternoon panel with writer-producer Judd Apatow, director Jake Kasdan and the film's songwriting team.

"Before we'd even begun writing, Judd and I almost immediately said it should be John," Kasdan said. "It's a well-known secret that he's an amazing singer and the kind of actor who might play someone for their entire life in a biopic. It's a level of acting that you just wouldn't expect in this kind of movie."

On the Columbia soundtrack, due Dec. 4, Reilly sings all 15 songs, which were penned by such names as Marshall Crenshaw, Van Dyke Parks, Dan Bern and Mike Viola. Sony's Vollack said an expanded edition of the album with 15 additional tracks will be available on iTunes.

"He covers a lot of different genres and a lot of different kinds of singing," Kasdan said. "He was the other major voice in this writing development process of getting the songs together and then making them sound right coming out of his mouth."

Among the songs previewed during the panel was "Let's Duet," which Cox sings in the film with backing vocalist Darlene Madison (Jenna Fischer). "As soon as we heard that phrase, "In my dreams you're blowing me ... some kisses,' we knew we'd found our duet," Kasdan said.

"Walk Hard" features cameos from artists including Eddie Vedder, Jack White of the White Stripes and Ghostface Killah, which Apatow said helped "to create a credible world." Apatow even wrote some lyrics with Ghostface, which he describes as "as uncomfortable a moment as you could imagine for me. But he was very cool and was not at all offended when I asked if we could get the word 'shiv' in there."

Apatow recently spoke about the writers' strike. Longtime writer Larry Gelbart also commented on the strike.

How about an Oscar nomination for Steve Carell's performance in Dan in Real Life? After his great performance in Evan Almighty, I'd say he deserves it!

A Thanksgiving Message - 2007 Edition

May you have a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving.

On this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my family and friends.

I am thankful for promising Democratic leaders in Jonathan Miller, Steve Beshear, Daniel Mongiardo, Ben Chandler, Crit Luallen, Jack Conway, Steve Gold, John Yarmuth, Howard Dean, etc.

I am thankful for a party that works for the working class.

I am thankful for my great-grandparents getting out of Europe and Russia before the war started.

I am thankful for my public school education, although the state has a lot of work to do.

I am thankful to those of you who have forgiven me for doing that which will not be mentioned.

I am thankful for our troops serving us overseas even if I disagree with why we went over there in the first except for Afghanistan which was justified.

I am thankful to be living in a free country which allows the freedom of religion.

I am thankful for the Jewish comedians of the vaudeville and Borscht Belt eras for paving the way for comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Jon Stewart.

I am thankful for President Bush for providing so much comedic material even though I only have just over a year to perfect my act.

I am thankful for the members of the Writers Guild of America fighting for the residuals for current and future members.

I am thankful that shows like Heroes, The Daily Show, Late Night with Conan, The Tonight Show, The Late Show, Saturday Night Live, The Office, and The Colbert Report were approved by the networks so that I have television to enjoy.

I am thankful for the writing room of Caesar's Hour, considered to be the smartest and funniest room since Thomas Jefferson dined alone at the White House.

A Marxist take on the strike

Irv Brecher does not recieve any residuals for screenplays prior to 1960

Saturday Night Live - The Mighty Pencil

This one has Will Forte and the very hilarious Kristen Wiig! It's about the Pencils to Media Moguls campaign

Mitch McConnell's approval ratings

Mitch McConnell's approval ratings came out this week. Forty-four percent approve of him. When Ernie Fletcher heard this news, he smiled.

Did you hear about this Jim Gooch guy? A state representative from Kentucky recently held a panel on global warming but refused to invite former Vice President Al Gore. That's like holding a drinking panel and not inviting Britney Spears or Lindsay Lohan!

Did you hear this one today? The Louisville Metro Council is holding hearings on 86-64. I'd like to 86 their 86-64 plan. What's next, 86-65?!?

No joke...FOX employee spent half an hour here

And they were probably paid with the money earned from new media revenue or maybe your magazine subscription. Or maybe they just wanted to watch a Jon Stewart video. No actually, it was the Boycott MySpace posting.

Don't these people have real work to do?

Colbert Report writers chime in

Official Myspace Boycott

A lot of musicians, comedians, and filmmakers use MySpace to promote themselves. A lot of them also usually go on talk shows, but have been refusing to make the rounds anywhere that they would cross a picket line. How am I any different if I proclaim my support for the writers, yet log in and use this site, which is owned by one of the moguls that the writers are currently striking against?

So until the strike is over, I will not be using MySpace, and I encourage you to join the boycott, whether you're an entertainer who uses MySpace to promote themselves, or a viewer who supports the writers. Here's how.

1). Download this photo

2). Upload it onto your MySpace profile and make it your default pic.

3). Repost this message as a bulletin and a blog to explain why you support the writers' strike, and how your boycott of MySpace reflects that.

4). Contact MySpace customer service with the following message:

I am boycotting MySpace until its corporate parent, News Corporation, plays its part in settling the Writers Guild of America strike and fairly compensates writers for residuals from internet broadcasts of films and television series. I will not log in, I will not give MySpace.com page hits for its advertisers, and I will encourage all my friends, family, colleagues, and favorite musicians, comedians, writers, and filmmakers to join the boycott.

5). Post the same message on your page, in profile editor, and in your away message, in miscellaneous settings.

6). Log out of MySpace.com. And don't come back until the strike is over!

7). If you have Facebook or Livejournal accounts, if you frequent a bulletin board, or even if you just send out an e-mail to everyone in your address book, let everyone know about the boycott!

Well, it's not The Daily Show

They have to be productive, somehow, right?

SUPPORT THE WGA!

Dark Tuesday

No blogging from me on Tuesday.

All I ask is that you PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION IN SUPPORT OF THE WGA.

I am showing solidarity with several entertainment blogs and I assume individual bloggers as well. See Nikki Finke for more at DHD.

The Late Show

You can see what The Late Show writers are up to at LateShowWritersOnStrike.Com

I wish that they were back at work but the studios apparently don' want that.

Oh, really?

Oy, do I hate corporate bullcrap, and by that, you know exactly what I mean...

Jason Bateman rocks!

Enough said

To my usual readers

Expect a full-out focus on the current writers' strike until it ends. Presidential and Kentucky politics can take a back seat right now. Yes, I am still following my beloved University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball and football teams but there won't be that much blogging on that.

It's up to us to get our favorite shows back in production and to prevent more crew from being laid off.

Contact the studios. Email them or call them. Tell them that the writers should be getting a fair share of the pie.

CBS Television
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

CBS Paramount Television
5555 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90038

King World
2401 Colorado Avenue, Suite 110
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Jeff Zucker
NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

WARNER BROTHERS
4000 Warner Boulevard
Burbank, CA 91522
(818) 954-6000

1325 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 3240
New York, NY 10019
(818) 954-6000

FOX
10201 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
(310) 369-1000

1211 Avenue of the Americas, Third Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 852-7000

SONY
10202 West Washington Boulevard
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 244-4000

550 Madison Avenue, Eighth Floor
New York, NY 10022
(212) 833-8833

CBS
7800 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 575-2345

4024 Radford Ave.
Studio City, CA 91604
(818) 847-6000

ABC
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
(818) 460-7777

77 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 456-7777

Sunset/Gower Studios
1438 North Gower Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 467-1001

PARAMOUNT
5555 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90038
(323) 956-5000

NBC / Universal
100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, CA 91608
(818) 777-1000

30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
(212) 664-4444

NBC Burbank
3400 West Olive Avenue
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 840-4444

We're bringing the fight to them and we will prevail!

Steve Bodow writes on the strike

Steve Bodow, the head writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, wrote about why he went from the punch lines to the picket lines.

'Daily Show' writer: Why I went from punch lines to the picket line
By STEVE BODOW
Be Our Guest

As you may have heard, Hollywood writers (including about 2,400 of us in New York) are on strike. Yep, all of us: the serious ones, the funny ones, the soap opera ones with whose help Todd Manning discovered that not only had his biological son survived, but he was living as Marcie and Michael McBain's adopted boy Tommy.

We've stopped working because our contract with the big studios ended last week, and though we've been negotiating in good faith with them, we're having a pretty fundamental disagreement about how we should make our livings in the years ahead.

It's all about the Internet. Maybe you've heard of it. We think we should get paid for when our work appears or is sold online - just like we do when it's on the tube or in theaters. We're up against conglomerates such as CBS, Disney and Fox, which have, after much searching in their souls (sic), determined they'd prefer not to pay us.

Now, we writer types are notoriously bad with numbers. Our skills lie more in the deft crafting of well-turned phrases - "neat-o word-packet makery," we call it.

But even we can tell that, for the right to rebroadcast our work online, "zilch" is a crummy offer. And that's why Wednesday you were watching Jay and Dave and Conan and Jon crack weeks-old jokes. And it's why we were marching around waving placards outside the "Law & Order" production studios.

If you've never had the pleasure of picketing, there's a lot to learn from life on the line. For instance:

1. Doughnuts: not a food group. That queasy feeling on day three of picketing? It's not from a lack of resolve. It's from the all-Dunkin' diet. Hopefully, today will be better - we'll be marching outside Time Warner, i.e., upstairs from Whole Foods.

2. Political pandering can be cool. Earlier this week, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Hillary Clinton spoke out in support of the Writers Guild. Normally that's the kind of toothless sucking up I'd spend my time satirizing. But this time they're pandering to me - very different. In fact, I heard all three candidates have pledged to return all donations from Hollywood studio execs unless the strike is resolved. (Correction: they're totally not doing this in a million years.)

3. If you want to win a labor dispute, bring duct tape. Sure, you can fasten your oaktag placards to your cardboard tube with staples. But you'll be restapling it in about 20 minutes. Not a huge revelation, but remember, we're not used to making anything with our hands.

Which brings up another point. Our picket days have all been unusually windy. Coincidence? Or meteorological conspiracy at the behest of a corporate entertainment cabal with access to billions in special-effects machinery? Tuesday we lost several good people to a 30-mph gust. We're not the most physically robust specimens, is what I'm saying.

4. Hollywood producers can be greedy. The real shocker in all this, I know. The execs have argued time and again that television content appearing online is strictly promotional, and under Guild rules, they don't have to pay for promotional uses of our work.

So I checked this out - I'm nothing if not a fair-minded word-packet maker - and it was true! I watched last week's episode of "The Office" over at NBC.com, and it was promotional. It was promoting BlackBerrys and Fidelity Investments and Clorox bleach. Nice of NBC to give those ads away for free ...

What's that? NBC got paid for those ads? Just like if they ran on TV? It's the same over on the very fine new Web site for "The Daily Show," by the way: unlimited clips, sponsored in part by - get this - TiVo. I assume that's some ad-sales guy's idea of irony.

Is it absurd to see writers picketing? Perhaps. We realize things could be worse. We could be lawyers, and this could be Pakistan, and then we'd have to get dressed up in those black suits and throw rocks. But picketing writers are less absurd than writers not getting a cent for their work.

We create something people value. It is our livelihood. We take it seriously. It's being threatened. And we're going to fight until we get what we need.

Normally I'd end with a joke, but sorry - I'm on strike.

The Daily Show's Rob Kutner chimes in

Quote of the Day

"It's not delivery, it's Mongiardo!"
--Jeff and Gary in the Morning, WRKA, November 9, 2007

Cooler heads must prevail

If you've been living in a cave, then you probably did not know that the writers of your favorite television shows are on strike. They are not working right now. They are picketing. They are picketing because the studios will not pay them residuals for what has become to be known as new media.

I encourage you to stop downloading television shows on iTunes since the writers do not see a dime from those sales.

And that show you missed last night? Don't watch it on the network website as no one but the studios see a dime from that either.

That, my friends, is why we are looking at an extended hiatus of our favorite shows this winter.

This strike could last into the springtime, maybe even the summer.

It's all because the studios don't think that new media is the way of the future and they don't want the writers, cast, or crew to see a single penny from online viewings.

In 1988, the writers struck for five months and the fall season was delayed until December of that year.

You might be thinking that people in Hollywood are rich. That is not the case. Most people depend on residuals just to pay rent...in their apartment. Not their house but their apartment. It's not just the writers affected by this but cast and crew members, too. Production assistants in LA struggle if they don't have work.

You might be asking yourself, why am I even doing this.

I care. I'm a future WGA member and I want a good deal in place when I break into that industry. I'm an aspiring actor-comedian-screenwriter and I support these people and show my solidarity with them. They deserve it.

As long as writers, cast, and crew don't see a dime, I won't be watching a single show online and I sure as heck won't be watching that reality crap that they are on television because that's just an easy way out in order to make a profit since those shows are so inexpensive to produce.

Show your support for the WGA and sign this petition. They need to know that you support them in this fight against the studios.

Why the writers must prevail...

The writers must prevail in this fight. My future depends on it.

The studios are corporate assholes that don't give a f**k about anyone but themselves, kinda like the fatcats that deal with the oil industry. You know?

On strike, shut it down, Hollywood's a union town!

I will not watch any alternative programming at all during the extended rerun season and you want to know why, because those programs are inexpensive to produce since they don't pay writers or have several cast members that get paid so much per episode.

And I know that there are Republicans out there that must be pro-union when it comes to this.

2008 Candidates

This is the listing of names that I have heard so far of folks considering running in 2008 for Congress or Senate. I will update this as we get close to the filing deadline.

2008 Congressional
KY1
Heather Ryan (Fired executive director of the Maiden Alley Cinema)

KY2
David Boswell (State Senator, former Agricultural commissioner)
Reid Haire (Daviess County Judge/Executive)

KY3
John Yarmuth (Incumbent)

KY4
Michael Kelley (Physician)

KY5
As of 2:50 on filing day, no Democrat has filed.

KY6
Ben Chander (Incumbent)

2008 US Senate
Andrew Horne (Iraq veteran)
Greg Fischer (CEO of Dant Clayton)
Bruce Lunsford (2003 and 2007 gubernatorial candidate, Brown Administration Commerce Cabinet secretary, Vencor co-founder, thoroughbred owner and film producer)
Michael Cassaro (Physician)
David L. Williams (Retiree & Frequent Candidate)
Kenneth Stepp (2006 KY5 candidate)
James E. Rice (Amazon.com employee)
David Wylie (former U.S. Postal Service employee)

2010 US Senate
Ben Chandler

That's a wrap (the elections, that is)

In spring of 2004, I transferred closer to home because of the guilt that I had due to being away from Kentucky during a statewide election.

This year, I don't have the guilt that I did in 2004.

The era of Republican control, for the most part, in this state is over. The GOP is survived by Trey Grayson and Richie Farmer.

Next fall, Mitch McConnell goes down to an unnamed candidate as of the moment.

Greg Stumbo will make his decision known by the middle of December.

In the meanwhile, I offer my congratulations to Steve Beshear, Jack Conway, Crit Luallen, and Todd Hollenbach.

On Strike...

The Writers Guild of America has made their decision to go on strike. I fully support their decision to do so. Much of this has to do with the studios not caving in when it comes to DVD sales and revenue generated by new media.

The current residual rate is based off of VHS and DVD sales. Right now, 80 percent of sales go towards manufacturing and distribution. Of the remaining 20 percent, writers only get 1.2 percent or three cents for every $20 sold.

The WGA would like it to be 40% of the sale, rather than 20%.

South Carolina bans Colbert from ballot

In a move detrimental to the state of the Democratic Party, the South Carolina Democratic Party's Executive Council voted 13-3 to make sure that Stephen Colbert will not be placed on the ballot.

Colbert, who poses as a conservative talk-show host on the Comedy Central cable network, filed to get on the ballot as a Democratic candidate in his native South Carolina. His campaign paid a $2,500 filing fee just before the noon deadline, said state Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler.

However, after about 40 minutes of discussion by top party officials, the executive council voted 13-3 to keep the host of "The Colbert Report" off the ballot.

"He's really trying to use South Carolina Democrats as suckers so he can further a comedy routine," said Waring Howe, a member of the executive council. And Colbert "serves to detract from the serious candidates on the ballot."

But state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter told the committee Colbert could showcase the state "in a way that none of the other candidates on the ballot have been able to do."

"I think you're taking this a little too seriously," she said.

When Colbert announced his candidacy on his show last month, he said he would run only in this key primary state. He said then he planned to run as a Democrat and a Republican — so he could lose twice.

What a shame indeed.

Writer's strike looming

The writer's strike is looming and if they can't agree to a deal by midnight tonight, a meeting will be set for tomorrow for members of the WGA with regards to a strike. It will affect all shows, especially the late night programming that is usually aired daily. Most of those will be forced into reruns until the strike ends.

Starting the season right...

Coach Joe B. Hall speaks...

Steve Beshear will put Kentucky first

Steve Beshear has pledged that we will always know where he stands and that he will always put Kentucky first.

Honest Change

Just over another week! I am posting a video daily until the election!

Coach Joe B. Hall for Senate?

Coach Joe B. Hall for Senate? This draft campaign just got underway. How do you feel about it?

MItch McConnell is vulnerable

The following is from a diary posted on Kos:

A new Herald-Leader/Action News 36 Election Poll is out and McConnell continues to slip. Among the worst news for McConnell was that 46 percent of respondents disapproved of his performance compared to 45 percent who said they like what he’s done — the first time an independent media poll has shown the senator with a higher percentage of disapproval.

McConnell’s numbers are slipping and it’s because of national security and national defense, Lt. Col. Andrew Horne is the best candidate to counter the Republican’s arguments on the war in Iraq. Who else can stand with our Democratic Presidential candidates on the issues other than Lt. Col. Andrew Horne?

This Poll is very encouraging for Lt. Col. Horne; a person who has run only one race is now within 11% of McConnell. This shows that the people of Kentucky are ready for change. Also encouraging is Horne’s low disapproval rating of only 9% compared to a 46% disapproval for McConnell’s. In fact, Horne has the lowest disapproval of any candidate mentioned in the poll this shows Horne is in great position to Ditch Mitch.

This election is a huge, tough, hard fight. This fight is for people like Lt. Col. Andrew Horne with a national profile, people like Andrew who give the Democratic response to President Bush, people like Andrew who have been to Iraq and have seen the situation on the ground.

We need a new face in Kentucky politics one without baggage, not the career politicians who runs for office every year. We need a unifying candidate for all Democrats across the state. We need Lt. Col. Andrew Horne.

It should be noted that while I admire and respect Col. Horne, I have not endorsed anyone in the 2008 Senate race.

St. Louis Cardinals

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BR 302

The following bill, which has been prefiled, must be passed.

BR 302 - Representative Mary Lou Marzian (10/09/07)
A JOINT RESOLUTION relating to the inclusion of the Holocaust in the school curriculum.
Direct the commissioner of education to convene a work group to review Holocaust curricula developed by other states and review the Kentucky core content to determine places where the study of the Holocaust may be included; require the work group to develop a curriculum guide that teachers may use to teach the history of the Holocaust; require the work group to submit a final report and curriculum guide to the commissioner of education and the Kentucky Board of Education no later than March 1, 2009; require the changes to the Kentucky core content be disseminated to local schools to be incorporated into the school curriculum for the 2009-2010 school year; specify that the Department of Education shall disseminate the final report and the curriculum guide to local districts and schools prior to the 2009-2010 school year.

I expect unanimous passage of this bill.

The Ann Coulter Song

You have to watch this video by Leah Kauffman!

The Armenien resolution controversy and more

Several Jewish groups are not a fan of dividing Jerusalem as Olmert wants to do.

Ministers of the current Israeli government publicly have floated their intention to divide and surrender the Jewish People’s capital city and discard our holiest site -- the Temple Mount," reads a letter to groups invited to join a conference call Thursday on the issue of Jerusalem. "We are forming umbrella organizations in the United States and in Israel as well as an international coordinating committee. We have a mandate, an agenda and clear principles."

The letter was signed by Jeffrey Ballabon, an Orthodox Jewish activist in Republican Party politics and Rabbi Pesach Lerner, the chief executive of the National Council of Young Israel. Among the organizations participating or likely to participate are Young Israel, the Orthodox Union, and the Zionist Organization of America, as well as some pro-settler groups.

The congressional resolution to label what the Turkish people did to the Armeniens is drawing a lot of conflicted feelings.

And, despite the overwhelming support of Jewish committee members for the resolution, nowhere was the anguish more palpable than in the comments of some of these lawmakers, as they struggled to balance their Holocaust-related sensitivity to the issue of recognizing genocide and concern for maintaining strong ties with Turkey, a friendly pro-American pro-Israeli Muslim beacon in a hostile neighborhood.

Weighing additionally in the considerations of the Jewish members was an 11th hour plea from Turkey's Jewish community, which fears a rise of anti-Semitism should the resolution pass. Plus, in recent weeks, Turkish spokesmen have noted the outspoken role of some Jews and Jewish organizations in the campaign to pass the resolution and have suggested that relations with Israel could be affected, although Israel has been supportive of Turkish calls to resolve the issue through an international commission.

"This has been tough for me," said U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.), the chairman of the committee's Middle East subcommittee, when announcing his vote in favor of the resolution. "I'm a big fan and supporter of Turkey."

Ackerman looked across at four nonagerian and centenarian survivors of the genocide who had flown in for the hearing -- two from his district. His New York Democratic colleague, Eliot Engel, also contemplated the women as he announced his position: "With a heavy heart, I will vote for this resolution."

The measure is losing support in Congress though and yet even more support.

In lighter news, Evan Bayh will campaign in Iowa for Sen. Clinton. Could Bayh perhaps be named as the next VP candidate?

The French supporting Israel? Wow, there's a shock there. It's a positive change.

Israeli officials quoted Sarkozy as telling Olmert that he considers Israel's creation a "miracle" of the 20th century. Though the French president had a Jewish grandfather, he described his pro-Israel sentiments as less a matter of ancestry and more an acknowledgment of the country's role in introducing democracy to the Middle East.

During his meeting with Olmert, Sarkozy reiterated his strenuous opposition to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons and said Israel's security is a "red line" that must not be crossed. But France has yet to support the idea of preventive military action as a last resort for blocking Tehran's atomic ambitions.

In a further departure from France's traditional equivocation on Middle East affairs, Sarkozy came out against the Palestinians' demand that their refugees get a "right of return" to land now in Israel. According to Israeli officials, Sarkozy said it is unreasonable for Palestinians to expect statehood in the West Bank and Gaza Strip while wanting their compatriots resettled in the neighboring Jewish state.

Talkin' Illinois Politics...

Since I plan to move to Chicago sometime late next year, I figure I should start looking at some of the campaigns up there...no, I am not renaming the blog anytime soon.

This is despicable. How do you expect to get elected to Congress after saying Israel should negotiate with Hamas? That's not a person I want in Congress. Doesn't anyone remember the rule: You don't negotiate with terrorists. It's an unwritten rule but it's still a rule.

At a Daily Kos meeting last Thursday, Seals told audience members that Israel should negotiate with Hamas (reminding you that Hamas is a recognized terrorist organization that even Fatah wants nothing to do with because of all the damage they're doing to Palestinians).

I'm surprised that someone like Jeffrey Schoenberg would support Dan Seals after such comments were made.

State Sen. Jeffrey Schoenberg, a prominent Illinois Democrat and Jewish leader, is not thrilled with the development.

"I've known Jay Footlik for a number of years. He did a fine job as the Jewish liaison in the Clinton White House, but Dan Seals has clearly demonstrated an ability to make a strong case for his legislative agenda, including his unshakable support for the state of Israel."

Seals lost a campaign in 2006 and he had a campaign message against the likes of Bush and Hastert. Clearly, it did not play well in Illinois' 10th congressional district or he would have been elected and not lost by 7% of the vote.

Under President Bill Clinton, Jay Footlik became one of the architects of Clinton's policy towards the Middle East. By far, it's the closet thing we have had to a peace plan between Israel and the Palestinians. Footlik seeks a firm deadline for withdrawing from Iraq. He believes in universal healthcare. He would like to see an America free from dependence on foreign oil.

Mark Kirk is the type of incumbent congressman who will use his money to turn Dan Seals into someone with the reputation of Cynthia McKinney--and believe me, their policy towards the Middle East are very similar. This proves to show even more that Dan Seals cannot win in IL-10.

Congressional campaign rematches almost always turn out the same except that things are different when it's a presidential election year. After a while the rematches get old. We have the ninth district in Indiana as a prime example...I'm pretty sure it's the 9th that has featured a match-up between Baron Hill and Mike Sodrel for the past few campaigns.

Please sign!

NJDC Petition to encourage the media to stop inviting Ann Coulter to appear on their programming.

Ann Coulter

Ann Coulter can fricking go to the frickin' eternal barbeque for all anyone frickin' cares about her. Seriously, why is still allowed to fricking spout off to the media?

The fact that she can spew hurtful things on national television is a disgrace!

Where does she get off on spouting anti-Semitic garbage? Sure, she's a media whore but the fact that no member of the GOP has condemned her and the fact that they have stayed silent means that they have "silently" endorsed what she said.

The ADL has condemned her.

The Anti-Defamation League strongly condemns Ann Coulter for her anti-Semitic comment that Christians "want Jews to be perfected" in an interview with Donny Deutsch on CNBC's "The Big Idea." During her October 8 appearance, Coulter suggested that Jews should convert, adding that, "we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say. … That's what Christianity is."

Ann Coulter may be a political pundit but she clearly knows very little about religious theology and interfaith issues. Coulter's remarks are outrageous, offensive and a throwback to the centuries-old teaching of contempt for Jews and Judaism. The notion that Jews are religiously inferior or imperfect because they do not accept Christian beliefs was the basis for 2,000 years of church-based anti-Semitism. While she is entitled to her beliefs, using mainstream media to espouse the idea that Judaism needs to be replaced with Christianity and that each individual Jew is somehow deficient and needs to be "perfected," is rank Christian supersessionism and has been rejected by the Catholic Church and the vast majority of mainstream Christian denominations.

Clearly, Ann Coulter needs a wake-up call about the power of words to injure others and fuel hatred. She needs an education, too, about the roots of anti-Semitism and the shared values of Judaism and Christianity. Christians and Jews have worked tirelessly for more than 40 years to overcome the past and to promote a more tolerant and pluralistic vision for the future and especially for America.

Donny Deutsch is to be commended for his immediate and forceful denunciation of Coulter's statements, for calling her remarks personally offensive, and for rightly characterizing her suggestion that Jews are inferior to Christians as anti-Semitism.

The NJDC has condemned her and asked the media to stop inviting her on their shows.

Today, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) called on mainstream media outlets to stop inviting Ann Coulter as a guest commentator/pundit and strongly condemned recent comments that Jews should be “perfected” by accepting the New Testament and that America would be better off if Judaism were “thrown away” and all Americans were Christian.

“While Ann Coulter has freedom of speech, news outlets should exercise their freedom to use better judgment,” said NJDC Executive Director Ira N. Forman. “Just as media outlets don’t invite those who believe that Martians walk the earth to frequently comment on science stories, it’s time they stop inviting Ann Coulter to comment on politics.”

Enough is enough! Ann Coulter is anti-American is she continues to spew such garbarge from her mouth. And the media should be boycotted if she is allowed to do so on TV.

Official Birthday Thread

You know what to do...

Other news...

I've been so busy as of late that I really haven't had the greatest time in the world to blog.

A few weeks back, Senators Evan Bayh and Hillary Clinton held a joint news conference.

Citing Hillary Clinton's devotion to the middle class, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. "Hillary Clinton is a seasoned, experienced leader who will be ready to lead this country on Day One," Bayh said during a news conference with Clinton.

Bayh, who previously was in the running for the Democratic nomination, is from a Republican-leaning state. Clinton said his endorsement "underscores my commitment for running a national campaign." She compared her presidential run to her previous Senate races, where she campaigned all over the state, including "red New York."

"I believed that I was running to be the Senator for the entire state,” Clinton said, “not a segment of the state, not a set of constituencies in the sate, but the entire state. I feel the very same way about my campaign for the presidency."

The Clintons and Bayhs have a long history together, dating back almost 20 years to when Bill Clinton and Evan Bayh served as governors of Arkansas and Indiana. Now Hillary Clinton and Bayh both serve on the Senate Arms Services Committee and have traveled to Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan together.

The question that remains is, does Bayh have vice presidential aspirations? When a reporter asked Clinton and Bayh if the Indiana senator would be a good VP candidate, Bayh appeared as eager as the reporters to hear Clinton's answer. He nervously said to the reporters, "thank you all for coming," and then allowed Clinton to respond.

"It goes without saying that his record of public service is extraordinary," Clinton replied, "and I have the highest personal and professional regard for him."

Democrats around the state are rallying for the slate of candidates.

My 2008 Presidential Endorsement

As many of you know, I was one of many grassroots leaders of Americans for Bayh from late 2004 to sometime in 2006 when Sen. Bayh ended his run for president in December 2006.

I've taken the last several months figuring out the rest of the Democratic field and I finally made an endorsement a few days ago, which I have since emailed to my political contacts. This was made tough by candidates dropping out left and right. I think it is a safe bet right now that Al Gore is not running.

As one knows, I am Jewish and very passionate about issues relating to Israel so I have been busy (during free time) with regards to finding out where the candidates stand on Israel and other relevant issues. On domestic issues, I am in agreement with much of the field but foreign policy is an entirely different story. I have read through the position papers and Sen. Clinton's is one that I find myself in high agreement with.

I have come to the decision of makinng my endorsement in support New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to be the next President of the United States. I have no reservations about this decision and I hope that she names Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh as her choice for VP. I am pleased and honored to join a long list of names such as Bayh, O'Malley, McGovern, and Clark to name a few.

When all is said and done, she will win the Democratic nomination and the presidency.

Saturday Night Live - Iran So Far Digital Short Lyrics

To start the season off, in the September 29th season premiere episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Lebron James with musical guest Kanye West, we got this latest gem from Andy Samberg featuring Adam Levine, Fred Armisen, and a cameo appearance by Jake Gyllenhall.

Andy Samberg:
They say true love comes only once in a lifetime
And even though we're from opposite ends of the earth
My heart tells me you're the one for me

Mahmoud, I remember when it started, saw you on the news
You hating gays, I was eating food
I was feeling you, and even though I disagree with almost everything you said
You ain't wrong to me, so strong to me, you belong to me
Like a very hairy Jake Gyllenhaal to me
Mahmoud, make my heart beating out of my chest
my mind says no but my body says yes
You ain't no threat, the only threat I see, is the threat of you not coming home to me
Our love for each other is like when atoms collide
Can't express how I feel, and yo Adam let's ride

Adam Levine:
And Iran, Iran so far away is your home, but in my heart you'll stay

Andy Samberg:
He ran, for the president of Iran
We ran together to a tropical island
My man, Mahmoud is known for violence
Smiling, if he can still do it then I can
They call you weasel, they say your methods are medieval
You can play the Jews, I can be your Jim Caviezel

S&M, listening when we're wrestlin'
You can be the port that I put my vessel in
So I try to be concieving but you can still see me
With your sleepy brown eyes, butter pecan thighs
And your hairy butt... Yeah.

Adam Levine:
And Iran, Iran so far away
Come home, and in my arms you'll stay
Used to look at the stars and dream
Around the world the same stars we're seeing
And a twinkle in your eyes Mahmoud

Andy Samberg:
Talk smooth to me, in the night sky
With you pants high waisted, damn so fly
We can take a trip to the animal zoo
And laugh at all the funny things that animals do
Like Eugene, you got me straight trippin' boo
Hope you look at my eyes and say I'm trippin' too
You say Iran don't have a bomb but they already do
You should know by now, it's you

You crazy for this one Mahmoud
So give us another Holocaust all you want
But you can't deny that there's something between us
I know you say there's no gays in Iran
But you're in New York now baby
So time to stop hiding and start living, ONE!

George McGovern endorses Hillary Clinton

Former Senator and 1972 Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern has endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton.

George McGovern, the former South Dakota senator and presidential candidate, endorsed Hillary Clinton in Iowa City on Saturday.

"I think that if we can elect her president, she'll be a greater president even than her brilliant husband," McGovern told the crowd gathered in a hot barn at the Johnson County Democrats' annual barbeque.

Organizers estimated 1,800 people showed up for the event, calling it the biggest crowd in the barbeque's history and noting they had to run out twice for more food.

McGovern talked about the challenges Clinton and her then-boyfriend Bill Clinton faced when they helped run his organization in Texas during his 1972 presidential campaign, predicting he would have an easier time selling her in Iowa than she did selling him in Texas.

He praised Sens. John Edwards and Barack Obama and said he hoped to live to see America elect a black president, but said, "We have an old rule of courtesy in the United States: Ladies first."

Clinton thanked McGovern and went on to deliver a stump speech that touched on health care, rebuilding the middle class and investing in clean energy, before ending with a direct appeal to Iowans to support her in the caucuses.

"Take a hard look at my candidacy. Judge me for who I am. See what I stand for and what I have done for 35 years," Clinton told the audience, many of whom sat on bleachers or folding chairs fanning themselves. "Let's start right here in Iowa and go all the way to the White House."

Seth Rogen hosts Saturday Night Live

The very talented actor-comedian Seth Rogen hosted this past Saturday's episode of Saturday Night Live with musical guest spoon. While none of Rogen's crew with Judd Apatow cameoed, we were treated to a guest appearance of the original Weekend Update anchor, Chevy Chase.

Seth Rogen is everywhere these days. Chances are you saw him this past summer in Knocked Up or SuperBad. If you didn't, you likely saw him in Anchorman, The 40 Year Old Virgin, or the two short-lived sitcoms, Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared.

As far as Spoon goes, what band would name themselves after an eating utensil?

Now, the sketch by sketch analysis.

Cold Open: Kevin Federline (Andy Samberg) brags about his parenting skills after he gained custody of his two children from Britney Spears. He goes on to offer parenting advice despite his being considered a slacker.

Monologue: Seth Rogen wrote his monologue in the mid 90's after he wrote SuperBad with Evan Goldberg. It was very entertaining especially since he lost a friend to the war on North America from the Zorcons. Steven Seagal (Bill Hader) cameos.

Veritas Ultrasound HD (Commercial): The usual post-monologue commercial. Taking off on all the commercials for HD televisions and satelite, here comes the first HD monitor for ultrasounds. No more grainy black and white images on that monitor. Now, with a sponsorship from the NFL, you can find out what your unborn child will look like in a Colts helmet!

2007 National Douchebag Championships: Jason Sudeikis hosts this championship featuring Bill Hader, Seth, and Will Forte. The judges include Sharon Osbourne (Amy Poehler), Gene Simmons (Fred Armisen), and last year's winner, Andy Samberg.

MacGruber: As is the case with the past few times, MacGruber comes in three's and just once, can we get Richard Dean Anderson to cameo?!? In the first one, while being trapped in an abandoned silver mine, his lack of hair is a priority rather than saving himself. Also in this first short are Maya Rudolph and Seth Rogen.

Jeremy and Sasha: Bill Hader and Amy Poehler play the parents of two very creepy children (Seth, Kristen Wiig). At the end of the sketch, Will Forte jumps out the window from the 15th floor.

MacGruber: Take 2. In a deserted tower, the new girlfriend (Kristen Wiig) is introduced to the family but so much for their life.

Fred Thompson '08: Fred Thompson (Darrell Hammond) talks about his low poll numbers and his interest in running in 2008. Sam Waterston (Fred Armisen) gives a stump speech using all the terms from the long running television series, Law and Order. As a satirical note, the ad was created by Dick Wolf.

MacGruber: For this third take, MacGruber is too focused on plastic surgery to his face than worry about the deserted monestary.

Spoon sings "The Underdog."

Weekend Update: This was a bit too long and what was up with "Anita Hill? I need a vacation." Lou Dobbs (Darrell Hammond) talks about the American and Canadian dollar and then rips all the Canadians involved with Saturday Night Live. Later, Willie Randolph (Kenan Thompson) and Omar Minaya (Fred Armisen) try and explain the collapse of the New York Mets. There was another "Really?" bit about Larry Craig. But the highlight came with Chevy Chase making his first appearance in quite some time and he started out by saying "I'm still, and you're still not." Chase talked about both the Democratic and Republican candidates for president in 2008.

America's First Colonists: I can't help but think that Seth Rogen had something to do with this sketch since it was about the failure of one of America's first colonies, Stonetown, due to everyone getting high on weed.

Rowlf & The Swedish Chef: The chef (Andy Samberg) convinves Rowlf (Seth Rogen) to not play "The Rainbow Connection." As such, they jam to Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea" instead.

Spoon sings "You Got Your Cherry Bomb."

Mad Joe Dixon: Seth and Maya star in this sketch which was very poorly done, and the final sketch is almost always that type of case.