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Many celebrities do really nice things for charity, but every once in a while they not only take on a cause, but they're willing to get uncomfortable doing it.

Such a sacrifice will be made next week above New York City's Madison Square Garden marquee, which not only raised money but also set a wonderful example.

David Arquette, star of the "Scream" movie franchise, will spend two nights (Tuesday and Wednesday) in a Plexiglas box where all could see him. He will receive text messages and eat. The funds being raised will go to Feeding America, the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity, with network members supplying food to more than 25 million Americans each year.
Revenues are being managed through several sources including a Facebook page set up by the people who make M&M's and Snickers (Mars, Inc.).

When an actor is willing to do more than just write a check or do a photo opportunity--but really able to become uncomfortable for a long period of time--more than just money is raised. We can all reflect on what we are able and capable of doing for those less fortunate, and perhaps we can also get a little more honest about the many comforts we enjoy and the rarity of sacrifice we're asked to make.

We like to keep things positive here at Idol Chatter. The intersection of pop culture and faith is a dynamic and inspiring corner of the blogosphere. But I'm struggling to find what's positive or inspiring about Sasha Baron Cohen's latest film, "Bruno."

From "The Pink Panther" to "Monty Python," "Blazing Saddles " to "Ace Ventura," and "Austin Powers " above them all, our cinema history includes a fine tradition of edgy humor that produces both laughs and insight through cultural satire. "Bruno" is essentially about shock value and obnoxiousness, neither of which are synonyms for humor. And when crudeness and crassness lacks humor, it is, indeed, uninspiring.

USA Today liked it, as did Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times. But many--including the The Washington Post, Associated Press, The Chicago Tribune, and the New York Times did not.

"We all knew 'Borat.' 'Borat' was a friend of ours," offered Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter. "'Bruno,' you're no 'Borat.'"

In this clip from the upcoming comedy, title character Bruno (Sacha Baron Cohen), a gay Austrian fashion journalist has a conversation with an ex Palestinian Prime Minister and the ex head of Mossad, about hummus. The film releases July 10.

If you missed the recent PBS airing of "The Mosque in Morgantown," about "Muslim Bad Girl" Asra Nomani's fight to reform conservative mosques, good news--you can now order the DVD. And, to tide you over until it arrives, be sure to check out Dilshad Ali's wonderful interview with Nomani, where they spoke about making mosques friendlier, why moderates can be pushovers, and how humanity, not religious dogma, must be the last word.

Apparently death isn't a strong news story if there's too many at one time. I fear our pop culture has become such a strong force in our nation that it may have more of an impact than it should upon what's considered real news.

After the sobering news of the passing of Ed McMahon, then Farrah Fawcett, then Michael Jackson, then Billy Mays, then Karl Malden and then Steve McNair, came the news of the death of Robert McNamara. Actually his passing came and went. The news hardly came at all.

Mr. McNamara was one of the strongest and most polarizing figures in American political history, and his decisions and talents affected our lives--and the lives of our fathers and mothers--more than most of us even know. Entire college courses could be taught about just his events. A Modern American History class would have his name and feats in most of the units. Mr. McNamara was the United States Secretary of Defense for President John F. Kennedy and President Lyndon B. Johnson. He was the President of the World Bank from 1968 through 1981. He was the father of what we now call policy analysis, which basically happens before most of the news that gets announced to you and I regarding our government's policies, including those affecting our safety and our finances. He presided during the Cuban missile crisis. He was known as the architect of the Vietnam War. News was reported, speeches were given, songs were written and movies were made about the world events he shaped.

But as he passed this week, the news was largely lost in a culture where celebrity death has become a ratings issue rather than a season of respect. Tabloid fodder seems to be more newsy than a news story.

For example, I received two "Breaking News" alerts yesterday regarding Michael Jackson's memorial service. With all respect to what he accomplished in life, I wonder whether it was really a dramatically breaking news story that, first, his casket was placed into the service and, second, that there were positive tributes at his service. I would consider that neither "breaking" nor "news," because that is exactly what I would have expected would happen.