Welcome to your daily report and commentary from the intersection of Faith &
Media.
They’re back!
None of these returns are quite the Second Coming but they’re kinda interesting.
George W. Bush began his Decision Points book blitz by sitting down with Matt Lauer. He wasn’t always right but his mistakes were, I believe, honest ones. A mixed bag, like most of us.
Conan O’Brien back on late night courtesy of TBS while a new book chronicles the comedy of errors that lead him there. Alas, if NBC had only listened to me all this ugliness could have been avoided.
Keith Olbermann‘s MSNBC suspension ends tonight.He says he violated a network policy (regarding political donations) that he didn’t know existed. He actually shouldn’t have been suspended — but, as Mediaite points out, it is interesting to look back on his comments regarding Juan Williams and Rick Sanchez. The guy doesn’t exactly have a rep for graciousness when it’s the other guy who runs afoul of the suits. Mediaite also points out that Olberman told the ladies of The View that he doesn’t even vote so as to maintain his mantel of journalistic objectivity. Voting undermines political objectivity but donating to political candidates doesn’t? Weird logic to say the least.
BTW, Jon Stewart had an interesting take on all this — while also answering his left-leaning critics (including Olbermann) of his Rally to Restore Sanity. Bill Maher went so far as to suggest that the event wasn’t about anything — obviously confusing Jon Stewart’s rally with Jerry Seinfeld‘s TV show (you know, the one about nothing).
And, finally, Sarah Palin‘s back — not that she’s ever really left us — via an upcoming reality show on TLC. The show, produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor) follows the Palin clan as they trek across the 49th state. Call it Political Survivor: Alaska.
The Wrap raps GLAAD for bullying tactics. Story. The issue arises from the Gay media watchdog’s reaction to a rather innocuous joke in Ron Howard‘s upcoming comedy The Dilemma. My advice to GLAAD is the same I would give to the Catholic League or any other such group. Pick your fights wisely. There are enough real instances of gay, Catholic and everything else bashing. Fighting over the trivial only makes it harder to be taken seriously when serious attacks occur.
BTW, The Wrap also wonders how The Forty-Year-Old Virgin escaped GLAAD’s wrath.
Double BTW, that movie is not to be mistaken for my soon-to-be-released epic about a middle-aged guy who has never eaten meat entitled The Forty-Year-Old Vegan. Look for it at a theater near you.
