Mark_Thompson's Blog

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I don't get it...you can believe it or not, but the fact is Jay Leno is dominating Letterman and Kimmel in key demos during late night.

I'm not necessarily a Leno fan or detractor but I certainly don't see how the network justifies cutting him loose when he's leading the ratings field in dominant fashion.

Now, the fact may be that NBC thinks Conan can command the same audience more or less, but if you are NBC, when you are winning the game so handily, why would you turn Leno loose???? Why not cut Conan a check for 40 million--his penalty if not given the show (which you will make up in 2 months of Leno's show) and march on into the next decade.

Am I missing something??? All you armchair execs help me please :)

If you and I had a business and it was run as poorly as the deadbeats we have sent to Washington are running the business of our country we would have a quick meeting and agree to throw them out on their backsides....and it's not specific to either political party.

$ 9 , 3 5 9 , 9 2 7 , 9 7 6 , 8 8 6 . 5 6 is the national debt as of this writing and for those who cannot get accustomed to choking down sick numbers, that's a 9 TRILLION dollar number.

The dirty secret is that sick number is not even the real deficit. It is a Treasury Dept put your best foot forward number that conceals the REAL DEFICIT. Yes, the real budget deficit....the debts we are going to have to pay long after these jerks who are living high on the tax payer hog leave their cush gigs in D.C. is a much higher number.

Call it the IMPLIED NATIONAL DEBT if you prefer. It's the true liability of the United States of America. That is, not only the Treasury bills, notes and bonds we sell to finance our annual deficit and past deficits. But all the promises we've made to make payments in the future...you know, Medicare and Social Security, etc.

That's how you get a ridiculous $55 trillion national debt.

Even with a war that has us hemorrhaging money (and, by the way, running up bills for the treatment of an entire generation of war torn soldiers with head traumas that will cause massive debilitating problems and expensive therapy for decades to come), the war is NOT the biggest weight on this country's economic future. The biggest problem is health care costs that are spiraling so quickly they will turn this once great nation into back of the parade carcass of what it once was.

Ask of your candidates what they plan to do about this. Usually you can get the best info on their websites because in this superficial culture the debates are increasingly about things like gays marrying and gun control.

Unless you are charging gays 40 billion per marriage and each gun owner 2 billion per gun they own, those issues ain't gonna protect us from being ground into dust by the death star of debt.

Let's get focused on the right stuff and get out of this mess.

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Hmmmm the dropping of the 18.4 cent gas tax for summer will make almost NO impact on our pocketbooks (and I have a lovely pocketbook that matches my heels by the way!). The average driver will save 30 dollars--FOR THE WHOLE SUMMER.

If it didn't do anything, that would be one thing but the truth is that by dropping the tax on gas at the pump we face the likely prospect that demand rises with the apparent or perceived "lower" cost of fuel and the corresponding price rises will be permanent.

Plus, (or perhaps it should be first of all) there is no guarantee that the oil companies will pass along the corresponding savings to us. They don't have to by law. In fact, they will likely hang on to a bunch of that money. Why not?? That's Econ 101.

It's a miserable idea and President Bush supports it. I don't blame the President. After all he's a lame duck president who is managing an economy that has been run into the side of a mountain and there's no prospect for good news. So this LOOKS like it provides relief for consumers but as I just mentioned, IT DOES NOT.

Hilary is on board because she's fighting for her political life and wants to throw the crowd something to chomp on.

Well, at least we don't need the money as a country. I mean it's not like we are in debt or are trying to finance a war that we cannot pay for..oh wait...Yah I hate it too, but we need those tax dollars.

What do you think??

Before you read this you have to know I have NO ongoing health concerns and I am not a bit hypocondriacal ..... so how weird and a bit funny the following is:

Last night I awoke from a dream in which I am watching the 5pm television newscasts and I see a story come on.   The anchor, Furnell Chatman (yah, why him?), tells the audience  "Mark Thompson of Fox11 has just been diagnosed with testicular cancer".

Then I flip over to see the anchor on channel 2 reporting the same diagnosis....and then, channel 7 as well.

Now I'm worried that my newscast on Fox11 is also going to report it at 10pm.  Plus, in the dream I am confused and worried because I don't know anything about this, and I suppose I must be wondering why the other stations would have such a keen interest -- make that ANY interest-- in me. 

then....

I wake up, check my private parts and go back to sleep.

What's it mean???

I don't get it...is this election really getting hijacked once again by someone's (in this case Obama's) remark about something that doesn't really have to do with soaring fuel prices, foreign policy that has lost it's way and a disintegrating economy?

It must be easier to focus once again on whether or not a candidate "shares our values" based on one comment, rather than whether or not a candidate has a notion about how to get us out of this colossal jam we find ourselves in.

Of course it's important to find a candidate that shares your values, but haven't these people all survived the rigorous tests of patriotism and basic values to get this far. Hey, they all share our values.

Get your checklist out and check off God and country. Now let's turn the attention elsewhere. We have to start focusing on things that are a bit deeper than the little sound bites that the cable networks can hang a whole day's programming on.

We are a better electorate than that and we can do better than to focus on whether or not someone's just like us. You know, a bible reading, tequila drinkin', target shooter who on the weekends will have time to concentrate on the considerable problems of this country.

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When people say "y'know those actors should keep their mouths shut about politics and just act" or "Why do famous people feel they HAVE to give us their opinions on ...."

I've always felt that anyone should be able to talk about anything and their views may indeed weigh in as higher profile as a result of their station in life or celebrity. In fact, I've heard many a "celebrity" well educated and informed on the issues to the point that their celebrity begins to fade into the background.

But when these higher profile folk TAKE ACTION instead of just talk about it, THAT really sets them apart.

And so it was with American Idol Gives Back. Weren't you impressed by the number of singers and performers that visited the continent of Africa to point up the unfolding tragedy there? It was a devastatingly powerful window on a continent and people set adrift by political corruption and situations so complicated and mired in horror that one can scarcely understand how it all got that way. I was choked up on multiple occasions looking at it from the comfort of the USA.

When Forrest Whittaker, Annie Lennox, Bono and Daughtry take their bands or, in Whittaker's case their family to these places that are a world away, my respect grows and all cynicism melts away.

I've always been impressed by the DOING that goes on and less so by the talk. In the Idol Gives Back show I saw both.

There are other examples of the DOING coming out of this otherwise superficial, self-absorbed culture every day. That's the stuff of real value.

Is this great nation sagging toward the third world...????

Have you noticed? Slowly we are losing laps to the other industrial nations of the world.

The U.S is being battered by a world economy that cannot value our dollar like it used to (in fact many economists suggest t it's only a matter of time before the dollar will lose to the Euro as the standard trade currency worldwide) and even the quality of life in this nation is beginning to suffer.

Our roads, bridges and communications infrastructures have deteriorated to the point that lives are dramatically effected, even ended, by our inability to maintain these basic elements of life.

As great as our technologies may seem, across the Atlantic through Europe and in Asia as well there are examples of REAL technological advantages.

Many of these problems are not so much of our own making in the sense that they are the result of aging institutions and ways of thinking that create their own batch of problems. But it is our responsibility to maintain and improve this place we live.

It would be nice if we could give ourselves a cold slap in the face and begin to address the actual problems of this nation instead of blindly defaulting to sloganism or getting distracted by how personable or angelic our politicians are or are not.

The problem is that we ARE the coolest place in the world in many ways. We WERE the prettiest girl at the dance for a long time. The other kids on the international playground want to be like us in terms of a lot of cultural elements. I think we feel that. But everything else is lagging behind and even that envied culture/image that we export will evaporate if things don't change.

We ARE a great country that was once among the greatest countries but now we have to hustle and regain a lot of ground just to secure a decent future don't you think?

I have a few recommendations for you.

SEE IT:  There is a terrific movie in theaters now called IN BRUGES.  It's about a couple of hit men, one of whom is Colin Farrel (something for the ladies) and they have been sent to Bruges Belgium to cool their heels and await word.

We learn that they have been sent there for a reason and that all may not go well for one of them.  It's a comedy and also dark and interesting...more than anything, really worth seeing.

RENT IT:  I also liked all the usual suspects from the most recent Oscar crop: The Kite Runner , Away From  Her and  The Savages.

RENT IT:  In the documentary category I want you to check out THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED.  It's all about how ridiculous the MPAA ratings system is.  You know, the one applied to all the films that are released in theaters.  They stake out the businesses of those who are members of the ratings board and you will not believe what they discover.

RENT IT:  Finally, the movie MURDER ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON will blow you out.  A documentary following  a young guy wrongly accused of a murder near Miami and the dogged determination of one public defender to acquit him.


VISIT IT:  Last recommendation :
If you are lookin' for something to do around town, check out the NEW Chinese Gardens at the Huntington  Library and Gardens in Pasadena.  It is one of the great resources we have here in Southern California and I think you will really be blown away by everything that is there.

Okay that's a quick sampler...next restaurants  :)

Thanks to all who reminded me of the name of one of the great documentaries that the whole family can enjoy. 

I couldn't think of it on the air...

It's all about the national spelling bee (we had a story on it on the Fox11 10pm News tonight)  It's called SPELLBOUND.

Enjoy!

Mark

Does anyone else suffer as I do from allergies?? Bad allergies?

Y'know the full range of symptoms: sneezing attacks, itching and drippy nasal passages, and the tickle in the throat...and that's  AFTER all the antihistamine is coursing through my bloodstream.

And, by the way, which IS the best antihistamine/decongestant????  Have you gone to the pharmacy??  There is wall upon wall of decongestants and allergy treatments.  You need a sherpa guide just to navigate all the  options you have.  Then, they all seem to work with varying degrees of effectiveness depending on when I have tried them.

Recently, I have been so hobbled by these allergic symptoms that I actually considered a trip to a cold place where there is little currently in bloom, if only to get temporary relief!!   Then I realized what a stupid idea that was (When you are me, you have to wave stupid ideas like that off on an almost daily basis so you get used to it)  

We all love the return of the warm weather, but, when it's coupled with the winds, the pollens and allergens are scattered through the air like cash through the hands of "Client No 9".

What's the best treatment?? I have yet to figure it out. 

The other night I got up at 3:30am, boiled water and then stood over  the stove to breathe in the vapor of steam which actually brought profound relief....relief that vanished seconds after walking away from the stove by the way.

Okay, enough about the misery of allergies in my world,  but if you are indeed a sufferer I wish you a better allergy season ahead and my hopes that all of us improve as the weather settles in.

Happy Spring

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I guess Eliot Spitzer has 10 foot pole marks all over him. No one wants near this guy unless they've got a camera and a microphone.

Sex outside the marriage is something that we are not crazy about in this country and when you find a woman on the internet --make that WOMEN on the internet--whose trade is the sex biz , you are likely gonna have a rough day if you get caught.

Oh, and when you are the Governor of New York, you can make that bad day, a bad few years.

Should we change the way we view these public officials who have affairs, relationships with prostitutes and other transgressions in their life?? I don't know, it just seems to be America's favorite media pastime every few months. Many say how great a governor Spitzer was but all note he was tough and kind of lacked any friends because of his personality and aggressive style. Now the dude is apologizing and is forced in shame into the shadows.

His real sin is that of hypocrisy isn't it?? He's the crusader who's gonna bring down every BLEEP house, crack house and illegal gambling house in New York State. He was doing well at it. But the truth hurts and his personal transgressions were substantial and apparently chronic.

The Spitz is a Democrat but that's my problem also with the holy roller Republican Larry Craig as well. Not so much that Larry Craig was trying to get a date in the men's room (that's pathetic and disgusting but if it's what he does on his lunch hour and he's not missing a meeting, should I care??) but his judgment and unrelenting criticism on the public stage and in the media of others with "less than traditional" personal sexual practices.

In Europe they look at our puritanical tendencies in this country and the way we drum politicos out of public life for private sexual habits and laugh. Are they right? I ask you??

AND WHAT ABOUT DAWN WELLS???

She's 69 years old, used to play Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island and now the poor woman's picture is back on TV everywhere because she got stopped with 4 marijuana cigarettes in the car. You HAVE to be kidding.

Unlike the previous examples, she is not a person who is preaching the straight and narrow to us so there is no hypocrisy here. She's just a senior citizen on the way back from her own birthday party and she got nabbed.

My problem here is the driving part. Get someone else to drive you Dawn. After that, you are 69 years old honey...if pot is what you are into, God bless. You can get baked every day from now until the end.

Wait, In Dawn's case, a little publicity might not be a bad thing, especially with a community at large that probably doesn't care that much about pot. She hasn't been on TV in a long time. Come to think of it, this might actually lead to a casting!! I see a guest role in her future, or at least a visit to the Larry King Show.

Hmmmm...call me when I turn 69 ...I'll let you know what I'm thinkin'

Yes, it's true. Our little show has gone away.

I must say management was always supportive and interested and curious to see what could be done to improve and grow the show.   I felt good about the support from management that the show received given the limitations we had.

In truth, we had a bunch of challenges many of which were identified or hinted at in this space and I don't think we were getting any better at meeting those challenges.

It was great having so many people in to co-host and sit in with us but consistent on-air people on any show is important and it was difficult perhaps over time and probably jarring to the viewers as well.

I'll miss the fun people and the and trying to make something better... But it was a tough ride at times and we all knew it.

There was an enterprising small group and passionate producer that put the show together every week and they worked tirelessly to put on what they thought worked best on TV.

Thanks to the viewers of the show and the readers and regular contributors to this space. I always valued your input and opinions.

By the way, of course I was being facetious/sarcastic about celebs being more important than the rest of us :) It's not all celebs--just the movie stars. (joking!!!)

Thanks again everyone,

Mark

Loved having Liz and Adrianna on the show.  Both contributed and had good energy.

I wasn't sure why we started with Jane Fonda when we couldn't really say what the word was that got her into trouble ...it was a tough situation we found ourselves in I guess.

Liked Brownlee's piece with a bunch of red carpet stuff...

I guess Paris' movie really tanked....it looked like more people were at the theater for the premiere than ever again.

Really liked the look back at the Fox lot and how they had to cut back when TV hit the entertainment landscape.

While I like Lainee Kazan, I thought our piece on her ran a tad long.

I know we did a talkback with Shira on it, but are narcotics really that glamorized???  You will have to tell me.

That's the good and the bad of it

As always, thanks.

I really liked our guest this week, Michael Urie.
You may have seen him on Ugly Betty, but this guy is one of those Julliard graduates who is sharp and funny and clearly quite talented...not to mention I felt a chemistry between him and Liz Habib.  :)  I wanna check out his play in Santa Monica.
With an end to the writer's strike only days away it was nice to pay off a bit of info on that ever changing and long lingering story.
There was some weird stuff that was in the show that I still cannot figure but I liked the celeb endorsement angle on the elections...that is where politics meet.  In a pop culture that is celeb oriented it may be more important than ever to a candidate's fundraising and visibility within the media cycles of each week.
As always...for those who  watched through the good and the not-so-good....thanks!

Look, I'm sure it's tough to produce a halftime show for the Super Bowl, but Tom Petty?? Come on.

First, I have to tell how much I love Tom Petty's stuff.  I have his multi-CD set that has all his studio cuts that didn't make the album and off album cuts, etc.  In fact, Tom Petty is among the only artists whose albums I will buy without hearing one note on the radio or elsewhere.  I think he's terrific.

So when I say Tom Petty was a bad choice for the halftime show it is NOT because I don't like him, it's because it's bad producing for the audience at large.  He doesn't bring the kind of performance and contemporary sensibility that the Super Bowl should want....unless you perhaps pair him or have him joined on stage by a collection of all stars of his vintage and stature in an all star jam.

Failing that, it is a bad choice.

It's odd because it's not as though they don't know what they are doing.  Prince was unreal last year.  He nailed one of the most electrifying performances I've seen at a Super Bowl show and in a driving rain.

Yes, they were turned down by a bunch of people and a bunch more were unavailable.... Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, etc.

But wait...on the pre-game show Alicia Keys was performing...WHY NOT SWITCH THOSE BOOKINGS???!! 

It should have been Tom Petty on the pre-game and Alicia Keys on the Super Bowl (she has a song that's charting right now!!!  And she can crank it)

Or how about the Black Eyed Peas perhaps if you don't care if a group has a current song.  They will bring it in performance and have some real great party songs.

Nope, they blew it and because the ratings were so good and the captive audience had no choice, they will never know how poor their decision was.   This blog will fall in the rock and roll forest and never be heard :)

And again, I love you Tom Petty..I'd love to see your show at the Greek Theater maybe but not as the Super Bowl halftime show.