Changing Channels: Best of 2011

Another Eclectic Group on The Apprentice

The next season of The Apprentice hasn’t even started and the sparks are already flying on Donald Trump’s hit NBC reality show. One of the contestants, Dee Snider, complained to “The Donald” about members of the other team.

“Listen, Mr. Trump,” the ex-Twisted Sister frontman apparently told the business mogul, “the women are already acting up and, frankly, we’re not gonna take it…anymore!”

OK, that didn’t really happen, but it could as Snider is one of the interesting group of competitors in the upcoming show as unveiled on Wednesday’s Today show. He joins characters such as lurid comedienne Lisa Lampinelli, crooner Clay Aiken, businesswoman Victoria Gotti and actress Tia Carrere, among several others in trying to join past winners like Piers Morgan and Joan Rivers in hearing the famous “You’re Hired!”

Read the rest at Changing Channels.

Kirstie Alley Deserves Cheers, not Jeers, for 'Dancing'

Kirstie Alley will have a heckuva time winning “Dancing With the Stars” this season. The other dancers are younger, more talented and yes, thinner than the former “Cheers” star. There’s still something pretty cool about Alley hanging in there show after show and doing the best she can to compete.

The other competitors are more fluid and easier to watch, but Alley is the most “American” of any of them. Meaning her on and off weight issues, similar to Oprah and like so many Americans makes her more like many of “us”.

While I cringed at Alley at the start of the season, particularly after she fell, I have re-learned an important lesson from watching her persevere week after week. Everyone falls at one time or another … even “stars” that people look up to!

So way to go Kirstie … you did fall. But you certainly got back up and have become an inspiration along the way!

The NEW Two and a Half Men

Call me a prude, or say that I don’t have much of a sense of humor. Say what you want, but I am not all that concerned about who replaces Charlie Sheen on the CBS comedy “Two And A Half Men”. Word that it will be Ashton Kutcher doesn’t particularly excite me because I am not a fan of the show.

The half-hour program was kind of cute and funny in its early seasons with Jake being a not particularly bright kid being raised by his mostly decent dad (Jon Cryer) … and with growing influence from his his Uncle Charlie (Sheen). Sheen’s character is completely obsessed with sex, however, which made the “humor” obvious and he became a one-trick pony.

One of Kutcher’s recent movies (“No Strings Attached”) is about his character having an unmarried affair with a supposed “friend” (Natalie Portman). That said, the move to “Two And A Half Men” will be a seamless one for Kutcher.

But I won’t be watching … I’ll be changing channels.

Best Buy Slams Santa

Let me make one thing perfectly clear … as the late, great President Nixon used to say… I have NEVER been a big fan of Santa Claus. I think he’s part of the commercial distraction that takes away from the Christ in Christmas. Or tries to.

That said, I am actually a bit uncomfortable about the ads “starring” Santa on Best Buy, where people try to one-up him by getting better gifts for people than he does. The commercials are smart and edgy, to be sure, but they seem a little mean-spirited as well. I mean, what did Santa ever do to these people to get mocked by having his replica kicked off the roof or get texted nasty little messages?

Santa’s not sacred to me, not by ANY means, but it could be jarring for little kids to see him treated so shabbily. It seems like the part of our culture about “buying happiness” through gifts, electronics or whatever, trumps everything. Even poor Santa!

Jackie Evancho

I knew, just KNEW it would happen but I left the TV on anyway. Jackie Evancho, the great young singer — the America’s Got Talent runner up (how on earth didn’t she win?) turned me into a blubbering fool Wednesday night when she performed with an orchestra and with Barbra Streisand on PBS. OK, it wasn’t REALLY Barbra, but a recording of her in Streisand’s prime.

Evancho, get this, is an even BETTER singer than Streisand. People kill me when they refuse to admit there’s a God…I know, I know…here Aug goes again. But how else can you POSSIBLY explain this girl’s incredible voice? If I could write 1/100th as well as she sings … well I wouldn’t have to substitute teach any more.

But I don’t want to think about that right now … pass the Kleenex, will ya?

Kate Gosselin: Viewers Could No Longer Relate

I don’t get any joy from Monday night’s news that TLC has pulled the plug on its reality show Kate Plus Eight. I feel sadness for a woman, Kate Gosselin, whose life has changed so much due to fame and infamy.

Much of it is her own doing, however, which explains the vitriol I am reading on facebook from people who clearly won’t miss Kate. Kate Gosselin is not likeable and not watchable. In short, viewers can no longer relate to Kate.

“WHOO HOOO, she was giving motherhood a bad name,” wrote one person.

"I don’t relate to this new and improved Kate (sarcasm),” another person chimed in.

In other words, Kate no longer rates and can start looking for dates? OK…I couldn’t resist, based on her own recent words, but I still hope for the best for Kate Gosselin and her kids. The latter never asked for all this nonsense, after all.

No Justice For Caylee

I believe all babies and children go to heaven when they die. It gives me some peace to know that, especially after things happen like the Casey Anthony murder trial. It made for riveting television watching the jury decision come down Tuesday finding her not guilty in the murder of her baby Caylee.

But the fact a child was left for dead in a garbage bag leaves me with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. Anthony’s previously much-maligned attorney Jose Baez was measured, even classy, in his post-verdict remarks which was nice to see. (except for unnecessary stumping against the death penalty as he closed). It was much better than his mentor who spoke right before Baez and lashed out at the media and so-called “talking heads”. Wrong message, wrong forum…and wrong time.

As Jeanine Pirro of Fox News opined: “This baby died before her time…who threw her in a bag? who duct-taped her skull? who threw her in a swamp?…”

Who could do such a thing? And why won’t they pay for it?

Colton Burpo: Inspiring Kid

I am more than a day late and probably a dollar short on this post, but I still have to write about one SUPER inspiring kid: Colton Burpo. The kid author of Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Trip to Heaven and Back is such an impressive little man it’s unreal. Colton visited Today Weekend with his parents last weekend … I know, I know … I am really behind on this one but I STILL can’t help but give the youngster his props.

Colton claims he died for a brief time after a medical emergency when he was 4, and actually got to see friends and family who had departed long before him. It is a story that’s hard NOT to believe because of the descriptions he gives of people he never met before. He also tried to describe seeing colors he’s never seen before because they are not on this earth. He came across as lucid, decent and respectful despite his special “journey”. What’s more impressive is how willing and able this now 12-year-old is to stand up for Christ. He makes no excuses and is firmly in command of himself and what he’s saying. Amazing!

“I remember being with Jesus and having a great time with him up in heaven,” he told an NBC interviewer. “With adults (my story) is healing some of their hurts.” What a GREAT kid, who is not afraid to tell his story including in a new book, co-written by his dad, Todd: Heaven is for Real for kids. Great story, great kid … GREAT God!

Happy New Year everyone and thanks for reading Changing Channels in 2011!

Keep on Rockin', Dick Clark!

I’ll admit it, I’ve changed my tune on Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve party. Well, at least the program’s namesake, as co-host Ryan Seacrest and music acts like Lady GaGa are not my thing. I have been a little harsh on watching Dick Clark slur his way through some segments during the ABC broadcast in recent years. It has gotten painful to watch, or listen to, the American Bandstand legend but so what?

I should find it inspiring that Clark has fought his way back from a stroke and looks better than ever. Perhaps a compromise should be a non-speaking role for Dick, just show him waving to the crowd and doing the countdown with a group of revelers. Watching him kiss his wife at midnight is a nice touch, too … a bit of Americana we shouldn’t easily let slip away.

Dick Clark isn’t, after all. I hope to see him again at the end of 2012 … and beyond.

Thoughts on 9/11

It was and is nice to see all the TV programming remembering 9-11-01 and the tragic events of that day. It proves many of us have NOT forgotten that day and how awesome it is to be an American. Here are some thoughts from a conservative … me … about 9-11.

While many of us have NOT forgotten that day, still TOO many of us have …Our government and military have done a great job of keeping us free and safe after the horrible event. Some of you won’t like this, but MUCH of the credit goes to the previous administration …that of George W. Bush … for putting measures and plans in place to keep us free and safe. It was interesting to see Dick Cheney, on Today, and other Republicans credit President Obama for his role in taking out Osama Bin Laden. I NEVER heard President Obama do the same, however.

It was touching to see all the names of the deceased called at the 9/11 memorial … that day was an attack on the greatness of America, and it should have rocked us to our very core. There was incredibly selfless giving that day, including those who gave of their lives to save others. Are we still in that mindset … giving? because after all we are only borrowing all this from God, anyway.

I hope we remember that EVERY life is precious and we shouldn’t forget about those who are being unfairly imprisoned all over the world … including those American hitchhikers still being unjustly held in Iran. They aren’t spies, it’s just a way for Iran to thumb its nose at us. Shame on us for allowing it to go on so long … we seem powerless in this situation, and it just shouldn’t be so.

Finally, the more people we can make free around the world, the more we will remain free here.