AMERICAN IDOL In Close Ratings Race With BIG BANG THEORY and ROB

CBS scored a technical win over AMERICAN IDOL this last Thursday among that coveted 18-49 age demographic. However, AMERICAN IDOL did manage to capture an overall estimated 16.99 viewers compared to THE BIG BANG THEORY which drew an estimated 15,.96 million viewers. ROB was the third strongest show on Thursday with an estimated 11.58 million viewers, or nearly four times as many viewers as PARKS & RECREATION on NBC.

Rob Schneider has to be pretty pleased that he finally has a hit comedy associated with him. Usually, the word "hit", and Rob Schneider usually never appear in the same sentence. Part of the appeal of the show is the funny relationship he has with the Mexican family of his Mexican wife, giving the show some appeal among the growing segment of Latin viewers. The show is becoming far more evenly written after after a jerky pilot episode that was critically panned. CBS is already proclaiming the show to be a "hit" in advertising. Another good sign is that the show's ratings have stabilized at the 11.5 million mark. proving that the show has found an audience. Signs look good at this point for CBS to possibly renew the show beyond the probable 8 episodes they bought.

Thurday was very good for both CBS and FOX, but terriblle news for NBC. ABC's reruns of WIPEOUT, GREY'S ANATOMY and PRIVATE PRACTICE also fared very poorly as well. ABC pretty conceded last thursday to the big CBS and FOX.

Outrageous McDonald's Business Trademark Ripoffs

Around the world some countries seem to take American trademark and copyrights far less seriously than here. That has only helped to spur more than a few really funny ripoffs of the famous McDonald's trademark yellow arches and other trademarks of the company. The Website, DAMN COOL PICTURES, posted these funny photos. Check out their great Website for many more laughable McDonald's ripoff photos and other great funny stuff.

KILLER KARAOKE Seriously Injures Contestant

Things sure went wrong on the set of a new upcoming singing competition game, KILLER KARAOKE, when a female contestant fell off the stage and broke many bones in her lower back after she was sprayed with water. The new singing competition show, which bis likely to air on TruTV in early 2012, involves contestants attempting to perform songs while there are attempts by the show to disrupt their singing. The object of the game is for a contestant to be able to perform despite water or other disruptions to their performance. It is based off a popular British TV show, SING IF YOU CAN.

JACKASS star Steve-O is the host of the new show, which already has it's first lawsuit because of the serious injuries to the female contestant.

That's one heck of a start to a show. You haven't even aired one, and you're already being sued.

Is This A Joke?

A priest, a rabbi and a minister walk into a bar. The bartender says, "Is this a joke?". ----That's it, that's all she wrote. I heard this one this week. I suppose there just might be barely enough here to meet the legal definition of a joke according the international office of weights and measurements. And I think it was Justice Potter Stewart who once famously said, "I know a joke when I see it". Yet, somehow it seems like there should be more.

I also wonder about a quick little one like, "I once lived in a town so small, the post office had a screen door". Is that legally a joke or not?

I can't help but look to other more developed examples such as: A mother and her young toddler son were down at the beach, when suddenly a huge ocean wave sweeps the poor child out to sea. The mother pleads with Heaven, "Lord, Lord. Please bring my son back. I'll never ask for anything ever again". God must have been moved by the mother's anguished cries to Heaven, so suddenly a second wave from the ocean sweeps the little boy back safely the to shore. The mom looks at the boy, and then looks back up to Heaven and says, "Yeah, but he had a hat!". To me, that's a joke. More development.

So the question remains, is the opening example a joke?

The Demi Moore Crisis

After her marriage to Ashton Kutcher broke down, the life of Demi Moore has gone down a real spiral. It all seemed to reach a real head with her hospitalization this week, which has only fueled more rumored stories about anorexia, possible drug or alcohol abuse, or some serious health problems. But, many reports now claim that she was having some sort of epileptic seizure. However, she hasn't been publicly been known to have such a condition, so expect far more speculation about her condition to continue until she comes clean.

PEOPLE MAGAZINE now claims in a new story that Demi Moore will only be forced to be public about the true nature of all her problems. Now, that her serious problems have become such big news. Soon , the true nature of all of her demons will be an open book.

Joe Paterno Dead At 85

Penn State's legendary coach, Joe Paterno has died as a result of his aggressive fast spreading lung cancer. It's a very sad end to this legendary figure who to leave his post at Penn State earlier in 2011 after a major sex scandal rocked the school's football program. Paterno was the school's head coach for 46 years, and a well loved figure. When he was forced into retirement by the assistant coach sex scandal involving Jerry Sandusky, students held protests on the campus.

There were stories that Paterno had consulted a lawyer because he might be possibly charged for not reporting knowledge of the sex scandal involving Sandusky, which seemed like terrible news. But, then more news came when it was disclosed that Paterno was suffering from aggressive and fast growing lung cancer. But, much of the public dismissed this news as a probable attempt to use a health issue to delay any investigation into Paterno's role in allowing the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal to continue.

Regardless of the serious scandal at the school, the death of Joe Paterno is deeply sad. And no doubt his sadness about the events played at least some role in his sad death. He was a great college sports legend, and should really be remembered for what he did for the game and his school.

Strong Faith In God Aids The Recovery Of Lauren Scruggs

The strong faith in God of the family of Lauren Scruggs seems to be playing a critical role in her recovery efforts. The fashion blogger and GOSSIP GIRL wardrobe intern was critically injured in a aircraft ground accident last month when she accidentally walked into the plane's propeller. She apparently couldn't hear the pilot's warning over the engine noise. And some aviation sources questioned why the pilot allowed passengers to exit the plane while the engine was still running. The terrible accident resulted in the loss of the fashion blogger's left hand, left eye and horrific head and brain injuries. It is remarkable to see her fast recovery from such a terrible life threatening accident.

But, with the support of her loving family, Lauren Scruggs has survived this accident and even took to blogging her many fans and supporters this past week, thanking them for their support.

The fashion blogger no doubt had many prayers from her many fans as well. And faith will no doubt play a critical role in the difficult adjustment to her new life. We certainly wish her the very best.

Former President George H. W. Bush And Actor Terrence Howard Share Special Screening Of RED TAILS

George Lucus had to finance the $100 million dollar RED TAILS war film about the highly decorated Tuskegee Airmen all by himself after big money in Hollywood doubted a film with an all-Black lead cast would make enough money. Lucas felt that this great story needed to be told. And strong box office numbers on Friday, where the film grossed $6 million dollars seem to be confirming that George Lucus did the right thing by producing this film which is becoming highly acclaimed and earning strong critical approval. The film is so good that the White House set up a special screening of the film, and former President George H. W. Bush attended a special screening with lead actor Terrence Howard as well. Howard said that the former president just loved the film. At just age 18, Bush became the youngest Navy pilot and was shot down by the Japanese. Bush's wife actually cried during the screening, because she was so touched.

With so many big box office failures this past Summer, including COWBOYS & ALIENS and the new version of CONAN, the purse strings that finance the films in Hollywood have grown more tight. Certainly, it made some producers in Hollywood look very bad when they refused to fund such a significant story with an all-Black lead cast, but the economy is having a huge impact on Hollywood. More and more, the movies that are being made are on a smaller budget because it just seems to make more economic sense right now. Huge budget films are a big risk right now as movie goers don't always want to spend a lot on every film right now.

As the real Tuskegee Airmen diminish in number from old age, George Lucas didn't want to wait any longer to retell their inspiring story of this elite group of pilots, who had to combat not only the Axis, but racism in the military as well. Many of these former airmen went on to become doctors, lawyers, educators or top professionals. They were truly an elite force of very intelligent men who risked their lives, where not one single bomber was lost while under their escort. It was an amazing record of success considering the amount of danger involved.

Certainly, George Lucus is going to look closely at the box office numbers from this weekend on Sunday evening and hope that it made financial sense to make this great movie. That's one heck of a standard, but the new economics of Hollywood will probably make big production, but significant, films like RED TAILS more of a rarity for the near future. Right now it just makes more economic sense to produce a cheap comedy, and score an acceptable enough box office weekend. But, such a standard will hardly produce many movie classics.

A Con Man For Congress?

Congress is drawing legendary bad approval numbers from a weary public, and a special election in Oregon isn't making voters much better about the dismal state of Congress. Congressman David Wu had to resign his office in disgrace after months of very weird personal conduct including some serious allegations of improper sexual conduct after he was accused of making unwanted sexual advances on the teenage daughter of an important campaign donor. That's one heck of a way to repay a favor, huh? Wu had previously been accused of a sexual assault on a former girlfriend while he attended Stanford, but survived politically when this old story resurfaced in 2004 three weeks before the election. Voters had hoped the problems with Wu were in the past. Apparently they certainly weren't.

In the last election Wu defeated Tualatin businessman Rob Cornilles by a handy margin. This year, Cornilles hopes to take Wu's old seat by selling himself as a successful businessman who has supposedly created 500 jobs according to his campaign claims. In his campaign ads, Cornilles is photographed in large warehouse with busy activity. It's all set to make the false impression that this big and busy company somehow is the big 500 employee company that Cornilles is bragging about in his campaign ads. To hear Cornilles describe himself, you'd expect him to be the next Bill Gates. Unfortunately all of this appears to be a complete myth. Cornilles is hardly the success that he claims to be.

It appears according to state tax records that Cornilles has just 6 employees for his Game Face, a sports ticket telemarketing business. And Cornilles no longer even even has this business registered with the state of Oregon either. Voters are probably scratching their heads how some telemarketing business that lists just 6 employees is somehow represented as a 500 employee company in Cornilles ads. Even worse, it appears that Game Face no longer even has a business office, and the six employees of Game Face largely work from their homes as telemarketers. The big company featured in the ads that Cornilles runs apparently isn't Game Face, but some other business. Nothing is as Cornilles claims.

Even worse for Cornilles is that he run some sort of telemarketing training school course for a while charging persons around $1400 to be able to take telemarketing jobs. That telemarketing training school course is now closed down. But, some former employees of Cornilles filed labor complaints claiming that they weren't paid any wages for 11 weeks working for him as a telemarketer, and further had to pay about $1400 for his telemarketing training course.

Cornilles also has had some back tax problems as well, owing the IRS around $83,000 in unpaid taxes. He claims that this was the result of some problems with a past bookkeeper, yet all of these problems only seem to point to someone nearly as questionable as David Wu, who he hopes to replace.

Cornilles talks a good game. But, the reality is that he constructs some mythical world for his Game Face business. He claims to be some huge job creator, yet former "employees" file complaints with the state for unpaid work as telemarketer of all things. And Cornilles is hardly any self made man, as much of his claimed wealth is actually all money that belongs to his wife. He's a former small time actor, who know how to sell himself. But, it appears that nothing is what it seems with him.

Meanwhile , who wants to pay $1400 to learn to be a telemarketer? Who wants to buy some ocean front property in Arizona?

Disgraced Glam Rocker Gary Glitter May Be Attempting A Comeback

During the 1970's Gary Glitter was once a hot item among the glam and glitter rock scene over in the UK, competing with T.Rex, Slade, The Sweet. Mud, Alvin Stardust, David Bowie and other acts to top the British charts. Gary Glitter always seemed like one part Elvis, one part nightclub performer, with primal sounding electric raw edged hits like "Rock And Roll(Parts One And Two)", "I Didn't Know I Loved You To I Saw You Rock And Roll", "Do You Wanna Touch Me(Oh Yeah)" and many more singles that hit either #1 or at least the top ten on the UK charts. Gary Glitter seemed to have it made as really major UK recording act. But, in his later years following the end of the glam and glitter rock craze in the UK, Gary Glitter's life began to fall apart. Not only did he develop some heart problems, but twice he served time in prison for sexual offenses involving children. He last imprisonment was over in Vietnam, where he was convicted of sex crimes involving two children, one of which was a young girl just 11 years of age. It was a disgraceful end to a career of a once huge UK recording act.

Gary Glitter could have received the death penalty of a firing squad if he had been convicted of rape of a child over in Vietnam, however he was convicted of lesser sex crimes, where he served a little more than two years in prison before being deported from the country and banned from entry into many more countries as a registered sex offender. It was a far cry from a top British performer who even toured with The Who performing concert shows.

Now, it appears that this disgraced convicted criminal may be attempting a comeback of all things. There is an outrage that he has apparently opened up a new Twitter account as a first step toward a possible comeback , creating a backlash now known as "Get Glitter Off Twitter" among some outraged persons in the public. There's a lot of people who just want Gary Glitter to go away.

But, all of this creates an interesting dilemma. Gary Glitter was a top entertainer and a major name in British rock for many years, and a top competitor to the other big name acts such as Marc Bolan's T.Rex or David Bowie. He was a great performer who sold a lot of records. But in his alter ego, as the real life Paul Francis Gadd, he is a very sick man who has committed some terrible crimes. He is stuck in that strange position like someone like a Roman Polanski, who is respected for his works, but hated for his sordid personal life.

Maybe, Paul Francis Gadd is hoping for some redemption by attempting a comeback. He was indeed a great entertainer as Gary Glitter. His "Rock And Roll(Part Two)" is often included in many NBA games, where this primal sounding and chest thumping anthem seems like a perfect rush of testosterone. But, also perhaps, Gadd just doesn't have a clue how bad his crimes were were. Perhaps there are some things so bad, that a comeback and redemption with the public is just not possible. At 67, Gadd should probably have the common sense to realize that the train left the station many years ago, and just be satisfied that he created much better music than he did a personal life.