Lilit Marcus: September 2007 Archives

Now in its 20th season (can you believe it?) on CBS, "Survivor" still has some tricks up its sleeve. This season, the show is set in China, and incorporates many new twists like a "kidnapping" stunt.

However, some habits die hard. "Survivor" has come under fire before for its casting practices. They have openly recruited cast members (including this season's Ashley, who is a wrestler for the WWE) and have a disproportionate amount of struggling actor/bartenders or actor/massage therapists from the LA area. "Survivor" also loves to cast people who fulfill stereotypes, and China is no exception. Meet Todd Herzog, this season's gay guy. Who is also Mormon.

Ashley Perrin was involved in what's safe to call the most-talked-about-ever episode of "Trading Spouses." On the show, two families switch moms for a week and agree to go along with the new mom's rules. For maximum drama, the families are almost always polar opposites. Ashley's family, conservative Christians, traded their mother Marguerite (who referred to herself as a "God Warrior") with a woman from a New Age "hippie" family. The episode probably went past the producers' wildest dreams when Marguerite had a freak-out and began screaming in front of the cameras. When reunited with her family at the end of the episode, her eldest daughter Ashley cried to see her mother's behavior.

In her brief amount of screen time, Ashley came across as a kind and warm-hearted young woman. Even though she was alarmed by her mother's outburst, she seemed concerned rather than embarrassed. At the end of each episode, each mom is given $50,000 to give to the other family, allocated any way they want. Ashley was given $15,000, partly to give her enough financial security to move out on her own.

Ashley was driving a minivan when she apparently ran off the road, reports Reality Blurred. She was driving along Interstate 55 in her home state, Louisiana. Ashley was 25 years old. Her family has not yet released information about funeral services.

Presidential daughter Jenna Bush will be interviewed by Diane Sawyer on ABC's "20/20" this Friday night. It's nice to see that Jenna isn't following the pattern of famous-because-of-who-their-parents-are celebrities like Paris Hilton and Kimberly Stewart. Instead of being photographed at Hyde every night, Jenna has traveled around the world and learned about social issues. Her new book, "Ana's Story" is based on Jenna's experiences in South America, where she befriended a teenage mother with AIDS. Jenna also recently got engaged, so I can imagine her book and her upcoming wedding will be the two hot topics in the interview. A book and a wedding in one year... not too bad for a 26-year-old.

"20/20" airs on ABC Friday night at 10 PM.

This past weekend was the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. It was also the week that CBS' trainwreckier-by-the-minute reality show "Big Brother" concluded. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Previously on Idol Chatter, I joined the many media voices criticizing BB houseguest Amber for narrowminded comments she had made about Jewish people, calling them "greedy" and "selfish." Because CBS had an embargo on the BB contestants (meaning they couldn't talk to the media until the show ended), Amber only recently tried to defend her comments. And boy, what a terrible job she did.

If Barbara Walters wanted to get publicity when she hired two new cohosts this month, she sure got her wish. New hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd have so far fit into the chatfest seamlessly. Goldberg, whose views are more left wing, aligns with longtime host Joy Behar, while Shepherd, a devout Christian, skews more conservative like host Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

Yesterday, during a discussion on evolution, Shepherd and Hasselbeck both discussed Bible verses that made them doubt evolution. Goldberg, who is the show's moderator, pressed Shepherd on her beliefs, asking if Shepherd "believed the earth was flat."

I always wondered what became of Janine Turner, who was the female lead on the late, great sitcom "Northern Exposure." Well, my question has finally been answered--she's been directing short films, recording Christian music, and making Christian yoga videos. Wait,...