I am so glad we are moving on from Jon and Kate. They are becoming boring now.

I am pretty open. I would love to see something on documentaries like Shark Week, Ken Burns National Parks. I find these fascinating. Healthcare and politics are a big draw for me.

The shows I like - House, FlashForward, Modern Family, In the Middle, 30-Rock. All of those are great.

The Late night hosts - Conan, Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson are all interesting.

I love to talk about the old shows that I watched growing up in the 60s and 70s. I would like to hear from the other commenters and it would be great to include commenters posts. Kelly, Chrysee, marieE, Irene, etc. They have some great ideas.

Hi Sherry, Thanks. This gets us off to a great start. Exactly what I was hoping for. I am planning a piece maybe tomorrow on TV moms, and the character played by Julie Bowen on "Modern Family" is a big part of that. Thanks. Z

Z,

Also glad you took a 24-hour vacation. You deserve it. My husband told me I was forbidden from posting today and that we should let you rest.

My husband and I did enjoy listening to the new "Take On Television" today on 30-Rock thanks for that and the one on stations losing anchors. We only have one channel for local news here so if we lost the channel we would have to turn to Columbus. There is virtually no turn around here in WHIZ anchors and they use interns in the radio and TV college classes here locally for weather and sports. Those kids do really well. Maybe that is how they cut costs. I hope those students make something from that besided the experience.

Jon, I can do without but Kate I truly hope there is a way to bring Kate plus 8 back as I love her and the kids. I rarely watched tv but when i first caught the show back in the beginning of it I loved the kids and the way Kate could handle things so if there is specials with her on it and i truly hope she gets her own show then I will for sure watch it.

First of all Z, I cannot imagine anyone disagreeing with me. You deserved a hiatus for 24 hours. I have 2 jobs, a husband and 8 kids & I must say, "I do not know how you do it."

Ok bloggers 1st order of business do not get rid of those white plastic chairs and monkey munch just yet. We are contract honorers here. Let's have a date for December 9 with Barbara Walter's & Kate. Sure we already know the outcome, earpieces, rehearsed, "I think it was good for me to do this cuz of my kids", and I am sure she will restate she just doesnt know how or when her marriage disintergrated. Anyway, for old times sake lets see this through. Plus, it can be our Christmas Party 2009 so to say.

Future plans, I would love to see us get together for live chats every 3 months or 4 times a year. Surely, there will be something for this chatty group to talk about. We got Kate trying her new gig, Tlc trying to justify keeping more kids on reality tv, a President whose staff allowed an unauthorized visitor to the State dinner, Oprah interviewing the Obamas, and Bill Oreilly just got a muppet, Spin Oreilly named after him. (To keep things fair and balanced I think we should get Z a muppet~ in these crazy times the muppets need a good media critic amongst that gang.) :-)

Look, I am game for anything that keeps the integrity of this blog going. You guys saved me from my head exploding during the Gosselin mess. I am here for the long haul. T.V. is part of our life and blog is a great part of T.V.

As, far as posting some of our stuff that is awesome. Bloggers here really put alot of thought & seasoning on their posts. It helps tie things together.

Remember, Bloggers that blog together get to the bottom of it together.

"The Middle Mom" is my year 2009 hero. I can completely relate to children giving me homework projects at 9pm that are due the next day! Modern family is flipping hilarious...the way they tie in the families...I feel like the writers are spying on my house!

Which T.V. mom are you most like?

I cannot believe that the American people can watch this program and think this is entertaining. I take pride in my family and I would never put us in the public eye as they have done. If this is all that television stations can offer to show us..........turn off the tv sets. There are people every day that help others and are never showcased, probably wouldn't want to be so please take them off and never let them return.
ps
I am one of the lucky ones who has never watched a broadcast of this only read it in the grocery lines.

Soooooo glad it's over. I only wish we would never hear about them again. Take them off TV. I don't want to see either of them. Having so many children and then talking to TLC while still in the hospital. Talk about exploiting the kids, why did it take so long for people to notice? It took me some time, I will admit it.

Well, I have to say thanks to you, z. I had long suspected that TLC was sanitizing Kate's image because the media has all but labeled her Saint Kate with 8 - count 'em EIGHT KIDS - despite what we viewers saw. When you mentioned that TLC/Kate's attorneys had indeed contacted you, I was even more disgusted with this sham of a network and their hell bentishness to exploit the Gosselin kids no matter what. I appreciate you sticking to your guns and writing honestly - something rare in this age of corporate owned incestuous media outlets.

I don't always agree with you, but your blog is great as are your 'regulars'. I'm interested in all things media, so I plan to keep reading no matter what you write about...I just need to think of a name!
me

Z, Thanks for asking! I would LOVE to tackle the genre of 'reality' tv, as I think ALL of it (yes, I'm sorry, but including "Survivor") is crap. I do not understand how anyone buys this stuff as 'reality'.

J&K+8 was an interesting topic to me because it allowed people to address relevant underlying issues like mental illness, verbal & emotional abuse, and child exploitation.

Looking f'ward to sticking with your blog - a fun read always - thanks, Z.

Looks like we are still saying "Goodbye" to the Gosslins on my TV. I hope we don't get reruns after reruns on this family. Enough is enough

Would like to see more Mike Rowe - "Dirty Jobs" is a hoot!

Now that Jon and Kate have ridden off into the sunset in their 1975 Yugo, perhaps we all can find some nurmalcy in our lives and let this couple fade into obsucrity. The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that both of their business "pitches" have been met with little or no enthusiasm. Kate's proposed "eco friendly toyline" and "Mom Friendly" cosmetics were led balloons. Equally so were Jon's proposals to cable tv exec's for another type of reality show floated higher and faster like a 1962 Diamond Reo flatbed.

I've been searching my soul, google, the patent office and other places to try to find out just what an eco friendly toy line is. Could that be those recycled cardboard boxes the children were always seen playing with in their driveway aka "stage" for the paps? A "Mom Friendly" cosmetics line?? Just how friendly are they, coming from Kate Gosselin? I imagine once they are applied, you go from Zero to spastic in 4 seconds.

Perhaps we can all now forget the Gosselins and not give them anymore notice on the world stage. Now we should be issuing them parking tickets for staying at the fame meter way past their 15 minutes.

Sadly, there are other reality tv shows on the 300 plus channels that should be towed and impounded as well. One of those happens to be Bravo's "Real Housewife" franchise that is neither real nor are any of them "Housewives".

The glitz and glam on all of these 21st century "Dallas" wannabe's is nothing but smoke and mirrors with the reality of these family's teetering on bankruptcy and jail. I used to like "The Deadliest Catch" but given that it i shown on TLC, my interest in that faded as well. After all, just how many times can you watch a crab pot being thrown overboard and then dragged back onboard? Hmmmm, some good cross promotion for TLC would be using Jon and Kate as Bait.

Good morning to all you Zloggers out there! It's almost 5 am here in the desert and I'll be heading home from work in an hour for 4 days off. Yea!

I sure like the idea of us all staying together. I'm not much of a TV watcher, but like Sherry mentioned, I like documentaries and am interested in archeology, sociology, and also like Sherry, enjoy talking about the old TV programs and old movies. I do catch "Fringe" sometimes and almost got hooked on "Saving Grace."

I'd like for us to continue to follow the explotation of the children on other reality shows and make our voices heard and heard often on that subject.

I'm looking forward to seeing the comments we'll be getting and will be checking often over the next couple of days.

I was watching "Sense and Sensibility" on PBS last evening. The Jane Austin Classics series they did about a 2 years ago is being repeated. All of the shows in this series were marvelously done. I highly recomment them.

PBS is a marvelous outlet to escape the crap that has become the "normal" television offerings - sorry about the language.

I wish when people comment about Jon and Kate they realize that this is a very sad ending to a family who started out with all good intentions and went so far off track.Both Jon and Kate are the parents and it makes me feel bad for the kids when people act like Kate is " A single parent,"She's not, these kids have a Father and like she did before she's making it seem that he's not as important as her. that's not true. His kids love him and he loves them.He hasn't made the best choices lately, but they are both to blame.Having said that, I hope they can come together in a way that will heal them and be the best for the kids.aAnd instead of gloating posters,remember nobody's perfect and if you think you are you are delusional!!!!!

The bloggers are not the ones harming the kids. That trio is Jon, Kate and TLC -- and Jon just took them off the air, which might be the best thing that has happened to those children in three years. No one her is gloating about anything. Many of the bloggers here have been steadfast in wanting to get the kids off TV -- something neither Kate nor TLC wanted, for what appear to be obvious reasons of financial gain. Z

Hey Charlotte, just pull up your white plastic chair then and have all the Kate you can stand. She has plenty of time on her hands~for now. Sorry, but she was as much/or more a part of the total breakdown of her family. She sold her soul for 15 minutes of Monkey Munch. She has and will continue to disown, discredit, and run over anyone who tries to get in the way of her dollar brick road~In other words Charlotte~ you can have her.

Aly~ Zloggers love it. I vote that our new word for bloggers! awesome

Kelly~ really we must keep up the sideline fight against Kate Gosselin. TLC is already trying to rehabilitate her. Beliefnet.com has what she is thankful for this holiday season. Of course, her kids & bodyguard are center stage. Her quotes seem proud of the fact there is collateral damage due to her choices of where to float her boat.

Last night, I watched CNN's Heroes~ Move over Kate a man & his wife adopted 48 kids~ because no child should be without a home. And, he is raising them & still working. I am inspired there are so many people out there trying to make a difference just because it is the next right thing to do.

Z and Everyone,

Z, I hope that we gave you enough of a break except for a little posting. I know I needed it. It was nice to take a break from all of the Jon and Kate craziness. I had a good Thanksgiving, hope everyone else did as well.

Z, I would also like to continue to do the live chats if Carla's computer is recovered. I think those are really fun.

Would it be fun to compare some of the television shows from the past to the ones that are currently on? I think that since shows like Leave It to Beaver etc. we have come a long way in how families are portrayed on television. Some similarities and some differences. Might be interesting to contrast.

Have a great day. Still recovering from being stuffed, eating pumpkin pie for breakfast.

I want to say something about the zlog. (Love that word Aly)

One thing that helped me when I found this zlog is that different topics are talked about.

The Ken Burns National Parks was awesome. I am pretty busy and doing a review of it got my tastebuds watering & sparked my interest. I only watched 2 days of it but man, what a diversion from the roller coaster of the divorce between viewers and Kate. (terms of divorce are still not final. We want her to admit she handled this wrong. It will be a cold day in haties before we see that)

Also, Oprah is interviewing the Obama's for a television special. Sherry T and I would like to be on special assignment to post a post over that issue.

I think we can cover more ground when we divide/conquer. There is so much out there going on. Cable channels are doing some good series & I think giving mainstream networks some competition.

All for zloggers and zloggers for all! (thanks Aly-zwesome!)

Hey Irene, Thanks for the great post. I even like Aly's zlog a lot. And yes, we are going to be on the Oprah-Obamam special. One of the founding tenets of this blog was to chart the teritory where TV and politics meet in American life -- and Obama meets Oprah sounds like Hollywood and Vine to me. And we are going to have more blogging by regulars. Z

Hi Z & everyone -- hope you enjoyed your holiday!

Modern Family & Desperate Housewives are the only shows I make a point to watch (still boycotting TLC, of course). Around the holidays I'd be interested in the shows that talk about the Christmas story from a historical perspective--but only if they're not going to be on Discovery (boycotting, as per TLC above).

Re your book as mentioned during the chat, what about letting some of your bloggers write a few chapters, while you fill in with your industry knowledge? We could have that book out right in time for the holidays!

I like your idea abt including some of the comments as posts. Thank you for asking!

Hi Z and everyone. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

I want to thank Z for providing a place for people to express their strong feelings about the Gosselin issues. I haven't found anywhere better than right here! I thank you so very much!

I would say I enjoy television that includes human interest stories, history, and current events. I watch shows such as: Oprah, Dr. Phil, Larry King, Biography, History Channel, HGTV, etc. I had been following the news of Casey Anthony several months ago.

I would love to learn what you think of the forthcoming retirement of Bill Moyers from PBS and who you think might replace him. I'm concerned that he might be irreplacable.

Hi Mary, I profiled Moyers in 1989 for Esquire magazine. I spent a lot of time with him on the road in Texas. I have to get to work on a Sunday story for the paper. But when I finjish it, I will stop back and post an answer with my thoughts. Remember he retired at least once before abouyt five years ago, I think. lots of storis, then he un-retired. A bit of Brett Favre?Z

ALY,

I think you and I think alike. Are you sure we are not twins separated at birth? haha. ALY glad you get a few days off - whew that is a relief. I know nights are killers.

I like the idea of Fringe! I think Leonard Nimoy is on it now. I keep forgetting to watch, but I am putting it on my list. I love the sociology too and documentaries, because I learn so much and seem to retain more from them than some of the other shows. I absolutely find Modern Family a riot and 30-Rock. Alex Baldwin is perfect in that.

Z, I would love anything Western. Gunsmoke is one of my absolute favorites. I have watched and re-watched. What about M.A.S.H. too, love medical.

Sorry am I being to chatty. Just excited with all the suggestions and glad to get some new ideas. We can certainly keep on the Jon and Kate story and I would like to deconstruct Toddlers and Tiara's if there is an interest. Those mom's are crazy.

Anyway have to go to work soon. Have we given you enough ideas??

mmc I think you were posting about Charlotte's comment. The Kate kool aid camp comments so clearly posted by the Tlc camp to try to do damage control.

Thank you for saying that this is sad for the kids. I did not take your post to think we are gloating as zloggers but that people are trying to make Kate out to be a saint. It really really is. I do not see any evidence that Tlc, Kate or Jon really care for the best interests of the children involved here. I hope they prove me wrong.

This is no situation for gloating & most of us are not. 8 KIDS lost here, they lost innocence, childhoods, & privacy all because the parents were "hollarin' for $$$$'s & a sleazy corporation, that I think is far worse than the Enquirer or Radaronline because they took real children's lives & exploited them. Now because Dad won't go along with the program~they are going to ruin him.

Zloggers! I love it too. Let's use it from now on.

Optimist has a good idea. We could all write a little piece for your book. I think the opportunity of writing a book about this whole Gosselin fiasco would be too good to pass up. You should really write it Z. From the beginning you were the only one we could trust to give us information and articles we needed to deconstruct the TLC lies and get the kids off of this reality show. The book is pratically written from the articles. We will help any way we can. I think Free offered to provide research material, I remember that post. Kelly also has some great insight too. She and Chrysee could be great. Can we do it Z??

hey Sherry, It is only an idea on the table now. So, I appreciate the feedback. But it is a long way from making this kind of commitment. I am thinking about it, because I think it is such an important topic. Z

Hi again, all. Glad you like my "Zlogger" contribution, Irene, Sherry and Z. Makes us rather unique (which we are).

Sherry, I like the idea of keeping an eye on Toddlers and Tiaras for child exploitation reasons. I might start watching it and take some notes for starters.

Also Sherry, just think, we're twins separated at birth and found each other Zlogging! Hey, there's a show for cable!

I really must get to bed for a little nap now, but I'm excited about the ideas you all are coming up with. Too many for me to mention right now since I'm about to fall asleep. See you all later.

Peg, I love stories about real people,places and things too.

The reality show thing sure went down the tubes fast. I am glad though however they tried to sanitized it. It is being seen here for what it really is.

When I think of the Gosselins in the future I will think of the finale and say ~ Got milk!

When I think of Tlc & watching them torture more children. I will think~ Get Laws!

(No Tlc, I wont watch the Duggars, Hayes, LPBW but I do encourage others to keep in perspective that they are just contributing to the delinquency of a greedy cable channel.)

Hi Z,

At least the book is on the table. Not in any hurry. Just let us know if you decide. There is a lot of interest in how it would progress.

Excited about all the other ideas Zloggers have give you. I hope ALEX will give us some ideas. He is one of the really smart zloggers.

Obama-Oprah interview and documentaries and lots of current TV shows sounds great to me.

I have to run to work. Everyone have a great day. Z, don't work too hard. It is the day after Thanksgiving. :)

Hi Z and fellow Zloggers,

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday. I cooked and cleaned and washed a million dishes and ate way too much. But, boy was it good.

I agree Zloggers, it is. Great name. So creative Aly. I'll keep the white chairs in my shed. I think we are still going to need them. They aren't going away. As Sarah Palin said : They are just reloading.

Like Optimist, I am having a feud with TLC. So, I have not been watching them or Discovery, Discovery health and animal planet. I really miss animal planet. On the other hand, Toddlers and Tiaras really needs to go away.

I think reality tv in general is ridiculous. Stupid tv. My husband watched all of it from the get go and I went in the other room to avoid it. Then, I watched survivor and american idol...just to keep him company and finally, I watched dancing w/the stars to avoid J&K. Well, and Donny Osmond was on it. I do like Donny a lot.

I'm open to whatever you guys want.

Irene, absolutely, I am going to watch Barbara and Kate. I bet she does not say anything new. I do really hope that she does not pretend to cry. Kate is not good at it. Maybe, I should start a feud with Barbara Walters. Barbara, could you really not find anyone more interesting than Kate? Really? How hard did you try? Does Barb pick the people or does someone tell Barb who she gets to interview?

And SherryT, I also like the old shows. We watch Gunsmoke just about every weekend. I love Bonanza and Mash, too.

Z, I can only imagine the time and commitment to write an unauthorized truthful version of the realities of the Real Gosselins vs the Lying channel version of the Gosselin.

Eileen Oneill said this summer that we are seeing a snapshot of the family not their whole lives. It would have been better to tell us we were seeing her companies version of the Gosselin. Now, Tlc has the Hayes peddling, "We are doing it for Rebecca line."

No pressure, we will all chip in and since the finale didn't kill us we will donate, plastic white chairs, sunglasses, monkey munch, organic gum, spiral notebooks, pens, whatever it takes!

Television took a regular family with extraordinary circumstances, sliced them, diced them, fried them or whatever. Therein lies a story that only a seasoned journalist & fair media critic could write. Z, if do not do it for the zloggers...do it for the kids.

No pressure...

Hi Z,

If we learned anything from Jon & Kate, it's about how far, and I mean far, parents will go to tragically exploit their own children. The show is designed for Jon and Kate to flaunt off to a national television audience how "adorable" their 8 children are.

Second thing we should've learned is the boundary of when private lives become public domain. Jon and Kate didn't have a camera crew barge in on their lives, they INVITED them in, they said "here's our life, now film it!" As a result, look at all the behind the scenes drama that ensued. I didn't pay a shred of attention, I just go to the grocery store and then I'd see the headlines on the tabloids.

And the unfortunate fact is that Kate had the nerve to complain about TV exploiting their lives. Well sweetheart, those are the consequences of what happens when you ask a film crew to document you life and broadcast it coast to coast.

If there is a theme to this that can be taught to college classrooms, it should be exploitation. That's all I have to say,

Other than that, have a great weekend Z.

Z, write if for the kids, the exiled dogs, the foolish parents, for the unending manipulative emails and phone calls you received from TLC...

just write it! :-)

Am I repeating myself.

Carla already volunteered to edit it. And, I bet she won't leak it to Radaronline or the likes of Eileen Oneill either.

Ok, you got a Sunday article to write, I got a Christmas tree needing to be put up, Sherry T has to work, Aly has to get her some sleep,

everyone...keep on Zlogging!

One of the things that has always been a big question for me is the double standard when it comes to sexuality especially for children. I can honestly say I didn't see it on Jon & Kate, but the whole Tiaras and Toddlers thing is not only about exploiting children, but blatantly sexualizing children for financial gain. So on the one hand, there are laws that prohibit having sex with a minor (no problem there), sex education that emphasizes abstinence over birth control, a society that is horrified by sexual predators and yet on the other hand the media especially through advertisements and the music and video industry projects images of sexualization onto children that tells them if they want to be cool and accepted to by their peers and society as a whole and any money-making entity they have to be sexy, dress provocatively and project a sexuality that they may not be emotionally or even physically ready for.

I think it is a very mixed message we are sending through the media to the younger generations.

Now I know the interest here is how TV and politics merge... but somehow I think politics and sex have a lot to do with each other.

I came to this party late from GWoP, but I have truly felt a kidship with all of you and your desire to get the Gosselin children off the air. Reading all of your insights sent me to the archives to read some of your other posts on other Z articles. My preference became this blog over GWoP because the focus was less about "K8" or "Khate" or "Kon" and her "mullet" and "hooker clothes" and more about the danger to the children and the greed of TLC and Kate. You "zloggers" rock.

Anyway, I would love to continue here and be a part of your next project. I like the idea of going after Toddlers and Tiaras. That is one sick show. Why are babies dressed to look and perform like Vegas showgirls and their mommas and daddys spending a fortune to put them on parade and TLC airing it to the masses to be captured by societal perverts? I've only been able to sit through it a couple of time because its too difficult to watch. Sick.

I also like the idea of the old family shows: Leave it to Beaver, Donna Reed, Ozzie and Harriet up against the family shows of today. Only caught Modern Family once. Would like to check it out, but I can't seem to remember date, time and network.

And lastly, some of the other reality shows like Biggest Loser. Why are those folks getting voted off, if they need help? Why can't everyone stay on until the end and the person who loses the most percentage of body weight gets the prize? Maybe have weekly prizes for incentive.

Love the live chats.

I know Z would like ideas for what direction the bloggers should go, but is it okay if I'm not finished pondering TLC and the Gosselins?

Z, when did you first write about Jon and Kate Plus Eight? When did the blogger response start to become heavy? I'm just curious to know...

Z.,

Guess what? My alter-ego, 'Nit-picky Alexo' is back in town. (Cue suspenseful music.)

In your response to Irene's 8:38AM post today, you opined, "Obama meets Oprah sounds like Hollywood and Vine to me." But more to the point might be Constitution Ave. (one of Washington D.C.'s main drags) and Vine (of course, connoting Hollywood). But I got your point, Z., and it was well taken. Hollywood & Vine does have that old familiar ring. No biggie.

Will be back as my 'normal' self (sans alter-ego) later today to offer up some possible T.V. discussion topics w/ potential 'legs', after my Thanksgiving tryptophan haze subsides. As opposed to Jimmy Hendrix's Purple Haze. HA!

Sherry T., pumpkin pie for breakfast sounds perfectly delightful. I think I'll try some of that, myself. Maybe w/ a little side of left-over stuffing, and a big glass of cold milk. Yum!

Hope all you Zloggers out there had a fantabulous, warm and memorable Thanksgiving! (Hopefully, no major kitchen disasters. Have to keep all our digits, folks. Especially those opposable thumbs. How would we ever operate our T.V remotes without them. ........I don't want to know.HA!)

And Z., a special THANKS to you for enriching all our lives w/ your passion for all things TV. You, along w/ our most loyal Zloggers have created one of the most cool and fun cyber-groups in the greater blogosphere. And you DID most-deserve your 24-hour holiday respite. Running on fumes is no fun.

(Oh, thankfully my back seems to be well on the mend, but am still on meds. So expect me to be firing on all cylinders by next week. HA!)

I'll be back!

ALEX

Exploit- according to Webster's II - to use
to best advantage, to make use of selfishly or unethically. What TLC and these parents did is despicble, to say the least. There has to be regulations put in place with these so called reality shows, strict ones, and limit time on TV. The sad truth is they will just move on to someone else.

I really think this blog, and Ive been to several, has been the most honest and dignified of all. Anyone who says our posts were harsh, should look at some of the others out there that are very demeaning, those are out there for the Gossselins to read forever.

I hope everyone had a great Holiday and I really believe that this blog and the zloggers here have some great potential, so I will be checking back and hope to contribute to the future of this site.

We had friends and family coming and going all day yesterday and the subject of J & K + 8 came up. It was interesting to hear what people, who have never even seen TLC, associate the TLC brand now with child exploitation and being the pedophile networ This is probably not what TLC was hoping for when they shoved Kate Gosselin on to every media they could.

People what to know more about how the networks are all connected and who is controlling the media. I want to know. I want to read more about these issues and where TV is headed.

How about........"The Real Housewives of Z on TV" ????? *LOL* I have a feelin' "our" show would be a ratings bonanza!!!!! :-)

Fellow Zloggers,

I would love to see us take down Toddlers and Tiaras - so horrible in its blatant exploitation of children.

Personally, "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad" and "Medium" are the only TV dramas I make it a point to watch. Based on fellow zloggers' comments here, I'll have to check out "Modern Family."

Reality-wise, my husband and I like the competition shows like "Top Chef" and "Project Runway," but they've been kind of let-downs this season. I think they've both jumped the shark.

Anyway, Z, hope you got some undoubtedly much-needed rest. And thank you again for your honest critiques of the Gosselins. You didn't get sucked into the cult of 15-minute celebrity the way other supposed entertainment journalists have.
You've made me a loyal reader of your blog.

Hi Maura, very good! How the networks are connected and who is controlling the media is exactly up my alley! I'd love to read about that!

Man Zloggers ya'll are great.

Toddlers & Tiaras~might be a good show to write/blog about.It does corner the market on child exploitation. Jon & Kate did it to. Tlc clearly used the camera and was present/and or by their own edited film, we have saw wheree theycrossed the line.(potty,bathes,gymnastic practice) Also, just the plain fact Jon wanted them off & TLC is such a bad sport about it(season 5 finale ~tlc is the proof.)

The biggest Loser~I have never seen but I could use some junk out of my trunk, so it would not hurt me to try it out. Do they at least bring all the dieters back at the finale like American Idol/Dancing with the stars?

Real Housewives~ I do not know if this is true but I saw an internet article on yahoo that Real housewives show had and episode underage child drinking alcohol. If that is true, isnt that against the law? Parents, tv camera crew..Can anyone verify? I have never seen the show.

Man, I got an earful from my favorite uncle. He is such a generous, loving guy. Each year he sends us a Merry Christmas welfare check~I found out when I was older that when I was young he has always donated his vacation check to making sure his relatives have a Merry Christmas. What a great guy? Anyway, he gave me his 10 cents about blogging. 1st of all he thinks it is great we get together from all over the continent. 2nd he thinks we should stop watching cable & mainstream media news & start watching news on PBS...because he says we are getting our news/views from quicksand. He feels blogging can make us blow things out of proportion. I disagree with him totally on the basis of his example that regular people & the internet helped elect our president. Well, turn about is fair play and blogging can help expose hypocrisy in politics. Anyway, he is very respected by me, even if I do not agree. Just wondering how ya'll feel? To me blogging is another avenue. We know from the Jon & Kate mess that blogging contributed to how they edited shows sometimes.

A co-worker and I were talking today about kids shows we watched growing up, and how much more intelligent they were. I really miss the old (CLASSIC!) Electric Company. Since I grew up reading Richard Scarry, I love that it's now on TV, though I guess it was on DVD in earlier years but I missed it. Underdog, Lamb Chops, Captain Kangaroo... what happened to this type show? Underdog had some violence, but it was brief, and made the point that crime doesn't pay. Nowadays it seems like shows like Power Rangers are ONLY about the violence. Am I nostalgic for something that didn't actually exist or is there precious little QUALITY kids programming now?

Maura & Peg @ 2:07pm, I agree! Z can provide a lot of insight there.

Z, I'd be mildly curious to hear more abt how TLC tried to recruit you--unless you'd rather save that for your book ;-). What, no spa holiday bribe? No sushi at Nobu? No half cow? ;-) Seriously, seems they were doing a lot of media arm-twisting, and you are one of the few who had the integrity to resist (maybe the only one). Are TLC's tactics common, or is theirs a new level of bottom dwelling? (Think I know the answer, but just thought I'd ask anyway).

I wonder how Discovery execs will like it if Tlc's new nickname, the "pedophile channel," catches on. Can you see the powerpoint presentation at the next stockholders' meeting: "Pedophile Channel on lookout for new talent." Yuk.

On a happier note, I occasionally seem to miss some holiday classic tv shows as I don't regularly check listings. If you think enough viewers would be interested, pls consider one column on the upcoming classics schedule; maybe a suggestion for any new seasonal specials. Am so looking forward to a Gosselin free holiday season! :)

p.s. Hope all those who tried Black Friday shopping had good luck. This was my first year to arrive on time & I did manage to snag a $3 toaster and a few $1.50 towels. 4pm now & ready to crash. ;-)

Here's the thing for me. I'm becoming more than irritated with most of the reality programming. I've never watched any of the housewives, don't care who survives on any island, and will not pay any attention to anything on TLC, especially.

I want real scripted television back on TV again. More House, The Good Wife, Saving Grace, The Closer, etc. These are all really great shows with talented people from every angle. Give me more of these at the later hours and put some quality family programs on in the earlier slots. Kids have nothing decent to watch these days. What happened to the Waltons and Little House on the Prairie? What happened to family programming?

As long as people watch these insipid reality programs the networks will be happy to keep churning them out. For the money spent on cable these days the networks need to begin listening to its viewers. And the viewers need to speak up.

Hope everyone is blessed with abundant leftovers today!

Looking forward to your thoughts on Bill Moyers. I hope he decides again to "unretire," but he's in his seventies now, if that makes a differences. He has interviewed people for his Journal, such as the former health insurance executive (forget his name) who described how the business really works, whose information I have not seen elsewhere (syntax!).

I would also like to encourage you to write a book. The main reason is because I firmly believe Kate or Jon will eventually write their own book, filled with their own lies. And of course you know if will be chock full of their lies - and we need something to counter it. We need a book with the truth, not just a bunch of lies.

One thing I can't understand is why Kate constantly gets away with saying she "wrote" the book "Multiple Blessings". I'm trying to understand the mindset of the media who never seems to question her about it. Don't they see Beth's name on the book? Don't they know that Beth "wrote it, they lived it". I just don't get it.

Yes, Marie she was not the only author of Multiple Blessings. She doesnt care though it is all about her.

Freegosselin8 I love the Waltons & Little House...:-)

Optimist ~ I bought 17 $3.00 pajamas from Walmart & got out of dodge. I thought they would make great Christmas gifts.

I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents about Toddlers & Tiaras.
Hideous! Our culture should be way past the beauty contest thing! But little children dressed up in all that make-up, I imagine anyone could be made to look...to look...(I don't even know what look they are going for!) It's not a normal look! I never watched the show, but I always assumed in the back of my mind that the mothers had personal issues and want to be validated through their children. It's exploitation once again.

maura and Peg

maura - I like that idea too, who is controlling the media. I had no idea that with Oprah's new OWN channel it would be replace Discovery, which is a part of TLC. Then there was the whole HARPO productions part of it too. I would not have known this except for Z's article. I think that is an important aspect who controls who might have a lot to do with programming choices.

Peg - I don't mind continuing with the Gosselin's if they come up with something new for Kate, like her own talk show that should be fun to talk about. Glad the kids will be off the air, as for Jon and Kate they are fair game.

Eating lots of Thanksgiving left-overs.

I'm with those taking on and talking about "reality" shows in general. I can't believe what is on cable tv these days...as well as what they pass off as "entertainment"... such as the "Real Housewives of _________" (fill in the city). Yes it's filled with more snobby, often condescending, self absorbed people who are very impressed pretty much just with themselves and those in their same high class social status circle. Plus, some episodes I've seen are fairly invasive of families and often have kids (many bratty) in them too. And Bravo has some other superficial reality crap, a show about that mean OCD House flipper and one about those snotty superficial Beverly Hill real estate youngsters. Well the common theme in this reality programming continues to focus on the purely superficial, pretty, petty, and it's all about me, me, mine, and my money. Yes, these people warrant television exposure and exemplify just what kind of values in our society again because why?

I'm not a huge fan of any tv. I don't really watch anything on the major networks, and mainly watch cable tv and the Food Network shows. I also occasionally indulge in Project Runway, Top Chef, Charm City Cakes-Ace of Cakes, and Ghost Hunters. Or I watch sports and some silly sitcoms like King of Queens (love Carrie's father), and other mindless stupidity like Two and a Half men as that gives me a chuckle. I like the Daily Show and Colbert Report... as I often feel they are very clever satire and way more plugged into and connected to my own opinions about the state of the media and what passes for "news" and political punditry these days.

That said. I think the Barbara Walter's /Kate interview would be worthwhile blogging...err zlogging about as I love to watch Kate spin her story to fit her preconceived delusions (with a tlc assist) of her parental super hero saintliness with a touch of victimhood-ish all folded neatly into one calculating control freak doing it all for the kids package.

As I'm fairly recent to this site and enjoy the insights and commentary here, I'll be sure to check in daily to see just what others here think about the latest media created entertainment that graces our airwaves.

Thanks for all the input. And thanks for checking in on daily basis. Today was rough because I had to finish a Sunday story. But I almost always have a few posts up a day seeven days a week. Z

Irene

The pj's sound like a great deal. $3 must've been a magic number this year--It caught my eye.

Wishing you & everyone a Blessed w/e!

Hey there zloggers. It is Friday night and we have all weekend to keep stirring up the zzz'sss on the future of the blog.

Just got out my white plastic chair(decided against throwing it away & becoming eco-friendly)

From some glances at the comments we are gonna be just fine (or at least better off than Kate's laid off camera crew. Ha!)

Here's a brief re-cap of our Who wants to be a zlogger?

*comments are coming in about The *eering Channel & the continuation of children on reality shows like Toddlers & Tiaras~

*comments are flowing about other reality wannabees like Dirty Diapers,Project Wannabees, and Unbelievable Housewives to name a few.

*some people have talked about PBS. ~ I even got a tongue lashing from a beloved Uncle today that I need to watch more.

*Many many are have commented on their ongoing PGTSS~Post Gosselin Traumatic Stress syndrome. Thanks gosh we have eachother!

*Keep checking in. We are picking up new zloggers everyday. We appreciate the input from everyone.

Have a great weekend everyone! More updates to come.

Love the Zloggers term!

Like some others have said, I would enjoy traveling down memory lane and occasionally talking about some of the old shows I used to watch.

I recently caught an episode of Sea Hunt, which I absolutely loved when I was a kid, and I was shocked at how BAD it was!! HA! I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same experience.

Some of my favorite old shows were The Avengers, Branded, Here Come the Brides, Flipper, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Secret Agent, Dark Shadows, Perry Mason, Mannix, Bonanza and (really going back now!) The Gene London Show, Pixanne, and the animated shows like Kimba the White Lion, Aqua Man, Johnny Quest, and Ultra Man. Boy am I dating myself!

Z, maybe you could have a nostalgia blog once a week.

I'm glad you took a day off. Hopefully you won't need any special medication to wean you off the Gosselin-Go-Round.

AnnC, Great idea. Yes, a weekly nostalgia day post. Whatr's the best day do you think? That will be fantastic. I wonder what other bloggers think. Z

Someone mentioned,but I can't find the post, some of the old children's shows like Captain Kangaroo and Lamb Chops. The Sesame Street post was fun Z. I would be interested in learning more about children's television programming too. Remember Mr. Roger's my kids loved that program.

And Mary's comment on Bill Moyers sounds good. I like so much of the programming on PBS. It is really good family programming.

Irene great deal on those PJs. I miss buying those little PJ's with the feet. We usually had to cut the feet out, my kids got too hot. :)

I go in spurts with tv watching. If I find a good series, I stick with it to the end.

Right now, MadMen has my interest and I'm annoyed that its done for the season. I loved The Shield and am waiting for Damages to start again. I also enjoy Top Chef on Bravo, since its a competition based on ability and craft. Its not a personality contest nor is the winner decreed by call in votes.

For years I was a Sopranos fan (still am!) and miss those characters.

But, still, on any given night, I will tune in to watch old reruns such as Andy Griffith which is totally corny, but I don't care! And, when is I Love Lucy coming back?

I'm not an Oprah nor Obama fan, but I will watch the interview, so I can make astute comments on the blog. Oprah has such a love affair going on with that couple, what sort of questions is she going ask?

As for the Walters/Kate interview, I assume we will all watch, even though I hate the thought of what we KNOW will be softball questions. But, at least it will be a chuckle to take apart the next day, right?

I wish someone would ask Barbara WaWa on what criteria she based her selection of Kate G?

Z, I like the idea of the "TV Moms" back/forth. I'm trying to think of just how many moms we can remember!

Off topic: Do we think the Neilds have any family they could have spent Thanksgiving Day with, rather than hike to PA for Paps shots with their new best friend, Kate? I'm still waiting for the post-Gosselin announcement within a year that Mr & Mrs Steve are divorcing. This relationship is just too cozy for words. I wonder if they'll still be bestish friends after the paychecks stop?

Glad it's over, too. This blog has been great, focusing on the facts, and relentlessly trying to get some sort of truth out of the mess.

What will we do with our time now, lol?!?!

I have such disdain for reality shows now, yet them seem to be the bulk of programming. yet they are cookie cutter programming. After the first two seasons, the participants "figure it out" and are cast as particular roles. Each season seems teh same as the last. I was a fan of the Real World (Waaaay back when), Survivor, Top Chef. Yet each season now seems repetitive, same storylines/challenges, etc. Boring.

I was watching Monk, got into Psych, which is clever and I love the pop culture references as I am the same age as the characters. The references are 100% true to the ages--I used to get annoyed with Will and Grace, because that show always had them references pop culture things that really weren't age appropraite to thte characters. I also like Drop Dead Diva, although it is a bit of a "lite" show, it was entertaining enough in a beach novel read sort of way.

Hey Zloggers.

I was just thinking that the end of the year is around corner. It would be fun to do a poll of the top ten blog articles that Z did this year.

Maybe we could review the past blogs and Z could post an article and we could do a live chat about the year in review & the new year.

Reality TV has begun to unravel. Witness the fact that a Virginia couple was able to crash a State Dinner at the White House the other evening and no one knew anything about them, until they posted their coup on Facebook.

Balloon Boy, Gosselins, Toddlers and Tiaras and all the other wanna be's who seek fame are stretching their drive for fame beyond what is safe and acceptable. I will never sit down and watch an episode of Toddlers and Tiaras. It just goes beyond what is acceptable on television. The parents of these children should be given a good lesson in history called Jon Benet Ramsey. Nuff said about that show.

Housewives of DC, the fledgling franchise of Bravo's Housewives seasonal show has stretched to a new low, crashing a White House dinner in an effort to "one up" the other contestants for the next franchise of this really, low life of a show.

This has nothing to do with politics or preference but the fact that these two interlopers were able to get onto the grounds of the White House and then, into the Presidential Mansion, unchecked and photo ops with everyone from the President to the pathetic Joe Biden is a breach of national security and should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

It's not about the people who hold the office, it's about the respect for that institution and to do what this couple did, for the sake of capturing a time slot on the next Housewives show is just so wrong. It's not entertainment. It's a national embarrasement.

Go see that link, read the comment at 7:34 AM Psch101said...
"Profile of the Sociopath

http://www.diariesoftheprofessor.com/2009/05/jon-kate-redux-oh-i-promised-myself-i.html

That is Kate all the way

I just read that:

We have heard from people in the know up here in Reading, PA that the so called "Kate project for 2010" is already being filmed. It is an organic travel show, where Kate (without the kids) goes to different natural food markets and restaurants throughout the nation. Her show is supposedly a mirrored format of the Food Network show; Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives hosted by Guy Fieri albeit an organic and healthy version. So she will be the focus of two TLC shows and possibly part of the proposed talk show with Paula Deen. How much time for the kids now???

Kelly, Re Deadliest Catch.
Jon & Kate as Bait.
Nearly snorted my cup of tea. That, my dear, was hilarious!

I second that. Z

OK, Z, I agree that the Gosselins will not willingly fade out but I think the public's waning interest in them will force them out I believe this is why Kate fought so hard for the children to remain on the show, she knows that without this regular exposure, she will no longer of interest and those pesky "P" people will go away. I am sure her concern is that the money and the hired help will soon follow.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. The highlight for us here in upstate NY was taking our dogs for a romp in the woods after we ate more food than I want to remember. It is uncharacacteristically warm here in the Northeast and I have a house with mud tracked throughout. I wouldn't have it any other way, kids, dogs can clean up and I know how quickly they grow and leave
( at least the kids do)

Hey Z, did you write any blogs during election on Oprah backing President Obama as a candidate?

I am interested in seeing how the Queen of Talk gives the President of Talk some free passes during the Christmas special on December 13th.

Hi Irene, Yes, we launched the blog in September 2008 to chart TV and politics. And so, yes I did some writing about Oprah/Obama. But I cannnot wait until Dec. 13. We will be all over that one. I am converned with how many TV appearances the President has made. I think he should focus more on behind-the-scenes grunt work to create jobs, rather than doing every talk show and interview in the world. Thanks. Z

cathy518-

If the P-people and the tabloids go away we will have truly won the Jon and Kate battle, I agree with you. Then there will be no more exposure for this family. Kate won't make it in a talk show I don't think, unless TLC can work miracles.

Z, maybe a live chat for sometime around New Years?

Thanks we had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I love to walk my dog. It is warm there where you are? We had snow yesterday in Ohio, but it looks beautiful today. Sadly, I have to go to work, but thankful for my job.

Z and all Zloggers have a great day!

Nostalgia day sounds great. Great idea AnnC. Thursdays might be a good day. Then again, Z, might know the best day because of deadlines for articles he has,etc.

Could the reason that President Obama is doing so much interviewing is that he wants the Healthcare reform passed 1st and foremost? Then once that is passed he will work on other thing. I do not know just a crazy idea I have in my head.

Francine, and AnnC-

Francine -Yes, I does not sound like Kate will be spending much time at home with her kids. How sad. They are not being raised by the mother. That's too bad because I like Guy Fieri. She won't even be able to come close to him though. He is a good food host. He actually got his start when they had a Food Network challenge and he won a spot. It was great.

AnnC - I like the nostalgia post idea too!! I am dating myself too, but I loved the show FLIPPER when I was small.

Another issue I would be interested in pursuing is the role of TLC in the Gosselin debacle. We've dissected the parents ad nauseam and at least there is one show cancelled. But there is still a host of shows on that network exploiting children.

Why would a cable network have so much power, or, be able to get away with so much abuse of power? How are the advertisers involved? How can they control a website like RadaronLine or People (well obviously through money, and both are definitely not driven by any form of journalistic ethics)? But how were they able to so blatantly infuse their bias into separate media outlets. How could they intimidate and manipulate so many people through non-disclosure agreements to endanger children in that way?

How are they able to so overtly exploit children - even aided and abetted by parents (as in J&K+8, or T&T) - by "documenting" their sexualization (T&T) or their intimacy (J&K).

Why do american laws no protect children in those cases from networks like TLC... why does our society not scream out in outrage?

How is that possible?

Francine - I think you're right - I remember Kate buying some "globeish somethingish" for the twins and saying "Because no matter where in the world I am......" Major clue there.

On another subject - my friends & I are having fun with the Tiger Woods incident - accident happening at 2:20am is what first got my attention - either the end of a very bad argumenet - or a little sneakin' out....our biggest laugh came from his wife shattering the REAR SUV window to "rescue" someone in the driver's seat....I'm thinkin' she just caught up with him :-)

TB98,
I'm smelling something fishy here as well with the Tiger Woods incident. His car wasn't damaged on the drivers side (see photo's on TMZ). It happened at his next door neighbors house and she just happened to have a 9 iron to rescue him. Cops should look at the palms of her hands to see if there are any cuts or scrapes as she climbed into the back of the Escalade to get him out of the drivers seat. He was pretty much out of it when the cops arrived and he had cuts and scrapes to his lips and face, not conducive to accident scenes. Leaving at 2:30 in the morning?????? I'm sure he wasn't going to get some milk and what's with him driving an Escalade????? He's the spokesperson for Buick.

Forget Joh & Kate they're history.

How about actually noticing MPT:

"They're doing it to us again...!!!!"

No Gwen Ifill
No Washington Week

Why offend watchers of regular scheduled serious news analysis (hey, this IS "public" TV ) by regularly pre-empting serious news analysis for variety entertainment? Unless you have a death wish, or you want to be just another cable channel.

Every 2 months they have another fund drive & do this, and now that we don't get CH 26 we are stuck. Thank God for Howard University TV, at least they aren't completely stupid.

MPT needs to shape up or shut up. I hope nobody gives them a dime, and I hope the TV "critics " -- so self-styled -- quite ignoring their systematic abuse of public funding & privilege.

Frustrated Viewer

AnnC and Sherry T.,

Love your ideas about a regular nostalgia column. I LOVED Dark Shadows growing up & have even read one of the books by Lara Parker. The movies were among the few films we saw as kids.

And who knew Flipper was first a movie, with Chuck Conners (I think) as the Dad. I learned this while channel flipping onto the TCM channel, but Z's column would probably have lots of facts like that.

Dear Uneasy @ 11:11am,

You are so right! Some of us are screaming out, but the question is how to scream out effectively.

I don't think the general public gives a thought to child exploitation on television. I have to admit that I didn't. But, I am glad to have been awakened.

Z,
Another good "zlog" would be MPT, "Maryland Public Television". I haven't paid too much attention to the programing until lately and lately, it has been FABULOUS.

The past three days have featured "Celtic Women" who are the most talented, angelic singers with the best music scores, arrangements, orchestra, songs and unbelievable percussion sections (two of them) that I have ever seen.

These women can sing the high's and the low's and all the in between and what is most fascinating about them is their formal attire while belting out Celtic and American songs that would make you just want to cry, having heard them. MPT deserves kudos for their excellent choice in programming lately and I hope they keep it up. Last week, they featured David Foster in a program called, "The Hitmaker" and during this show, they featured Celine Dion, Baby Face, Josh Grobin, Earth Wind and Fire and Cheryl Lynn as well as a 15 year old Philipinno girl that sang three of Whitney Houstens's songs that would make a blind person believe they were at Whitney's concert. Great Great programming here folks and I encourage you to TIVO

1. Celtic Women
2. David Foster (The Hitmaker)
3 Any and all concert series on this rebounding station. Reality TV that is reality we appreciate.

Hey tb98@11:56 AM,

I know the Tiger Woods' Black Friday early-morning (2:25 AM) 'incident'/ accident is a tad off-topic, but being a fanatic golf nut, and an avid news junkie I just had to respond. I think there are some lessons to be learned in how CNN chose to frame, and embellish this weird turn of events involving one of the greatest athletes of the modern era.

I basically followed this story from the get-go on CNN, who initially had one of their bubbly, enthusiastic, young second-tier anchors on-board for the day-after-Thanksgiving reportage, although Ali Velshi, their in-house financial guru did come on-air to sub in Ric Sanchez's regular time-slot as the Tiger Woods' melodrama thickened.(CNN basically thickened it.)

First off, the early information on Woods' odd 'accident' was very sketchy at best, although CNN was privy to the Florida Highway Patrol's official police report which described Tiger's injuries as "serious", and that he had been transported via ambulance to the nearest medical facility. It was documented that he had apparently smashed his 2009 Cadillac Escalade SUV into a fire hydrant near his estate while backing out of his driveway, and then careened into a tree on his neighbor's property. There was no evidence of alcohol being involved. Whether he was wearing his seatbelt was not revealed. Evidently, he was not traveling at a rate of speed fast enough to have his airbag deploy.

So CNN basically treated the Woods' 'incident/ accident as a major "breaking news story", and quickly glommed onto the words "serious injuries" from the official police report, giving viewers the impression that Woods could have suffered grievous and severe bodily harm, (broken bones and the like), and that his career may be hanging in the balance. (They ran off an entire mini-bio on Woods, reminiscent of what you might read in some famous person's published obituary.)

At one juncture CNN's Velchi contacted, and queried Jimmy Roberts, a well-respected, veteran T.V. sports commentator, as well as the head golf scribe for Sports Illustrated, and framed his questions re/ Tiger in almost maudlin terms, as if Woods had pretty much bitten the bullet; like what kind of impact would Tiger's loss have on the future viability of pro golf? All this fake drama and wild speculation based on a skimpy police report, and very little concrete, hard evidence.

Finally, Velchi connects w/ one of CNN's Central Florida-affiliate field reporters at the hospital where Tiger allegedly is being treated for his injuries, but then the reporter sheepishly cannot officially confirm if Woods is still at the hospital. Wow, what riveting reportage! Roughly fifteen minutes later a spokesperson from the hospital gives a very brief prepared public statement to the effect that Mr. Tiger Woods WAS admitted to the medical facility around 3:00 AM that morning, suffering primarily from facial lacerations and contusions to the mouth area, was summarily treated, and then released in "good condition". The hospital spokesperson refused to give any further details to the gathered press. Woods' management company, in a press release that morning basically reiterated the hospital's statement, and gave no further info.

tb98, like you, I'm just chomping at the bit to get to the bottom of this whole mysterious Black Friday Tiger Woods affair. For such a high-profile, world-renowned and universally- recognized sport's super-star, Tiger has managed , up till now, to keep his private life very private, and has gone to great lengths to keep it that way. Now, the wild media speculation will likely ramp up, as more details of this bizarre 'incident' come to light. As you kinda implied, tb98, is there trouble in paradise? Are there some skeletons in the seemingly squeaky-clean, hugely admired, and respected Tiger Woods' closet ?(or golf bag) Something smells awfully fishy here. (Although maybe he was just rushing off to the 24-hour market to buy some nappies for his little boy? Something as innocent as that. We shouldn't really pre-judge.)

My biggest bugaboo in this whole deal is the way CNN, from the get-go, tried to sensationalize this breaking story, attempting to create an on-air aura of tragedy and
pathos based solely on a very skimpy FHP police report, and very little else. At one point, Ali Velchi was puzzling over the distinction between "serious injuries" and being in serious
condition, a term which should not have even entered the discussion as per the police report. CNN just had to imply that since Tiger sustained "serious injuries" as reported by the attending cops, then obviously he must be in "serious condition", which in medical parlance is a much more dire state than suffering from "serious injuries".

CNN, in their propensity for manufactured hype, on a slow hard-news day, essentially made a mountain out of a mole-hill w/ this Woods 'incident' , or more apropos, a Sahara Desert out of a sand-trap.

Tiger's legions of fans were lead to believe, by CNN's distorted reportage, that his career could be over at 33 years of age..........NOT!

Shame on you hype-meisters at CNN. You should be better than this.

ALEX

Hello and good eveyone.

Im not familiar with the program diners and drive-ins - but Im assuming that this fellow is a food critic who visits restaurants to review the food?

So kate is going to be doing the same thing only in organic food restaurants? How is she even remotely qualified for this job? She has no background at all except that she buys organic food - she has a fulltime chef that makes the meals. We buy organic food as often as we can and actually make the meals for us and he kids, but that hardly qualifies a marine biologist to become a food critic.....

and I think its quie s slap in the face of the qualified food critics. It will be interesting to see what happens with the show - unfortunately I predict it wont over very well - in this terrible economic time, people can hardly afford to put food on the time, much less buy organic.

One other thig - it wont be a "bad" thing if kate spends less time with the kids, in fact I think it will be wonderful for them to be away from such a controlling, short-tempered, short attention span person. I just hope that jon will step up to the plate and spend quality time with the kids - this a a wonderful opportunity for him to make amends and he is more relaxed with them.

I also hope seriously that they are being represented in this divorce settlement. Giving kate full custody is not in my opinion a good solution.

marieE, I am like you. I start watching a show to the end.

Thank gosh I found this blog or I would have been lost with the series finale of our favorite grifters.

Have a happy Sunday ya'll. 26 more days until Christmas. 9 more days until Kate cries, Poor*la*la*la*poor*la*la*la.

TV MOMS BETTER THAN KATE GOSSELIN

The mention of nostalgia TV brought a lot of memories back to me. I started reminiscing about some of the TV Moms and how they would measure up against Katie Irene (or she against them). I have not been around as long as all of these shows have, but I have seen a lot of the old reruns.
One of the first 1950s TV Moms was Harriet Nelson. Their TV show storylines were based upon the happenings in the family’s life. Harriet was always there for her sons when they arrived home from school. She kept them on an even keel. Her family always knew her love was undying. She always supported her husband and never dreamed of badmouthing him in front of the children. Although the outside of their home was used in a few shots of the show, a soundstage was built for the interior. Her real life children were kept out of the family show until they were older, not drug in as soon as they were born.
Who could talk about a TV Mom and leave out June Cleaver? She was always well-dressed – heels and pearls and never trashy. She was always able to deal with her boys and never called them icky or told them to man up. There was plenty of good nutritious home cooked meals and all the milk they could drink. She never argued in front of the boys with her husband but went to a closed room to discuss the best way both parents should handle whatever hurdle her children had.
Another great 1950s TV Mom was Donna Reed. She was another quintessential graceful mother who never dreamed of purposely making fun of her children’s’ misfortunes. She was able to fix any problem the kids had. Too bad Paul Petersen did not know while filming what he knows now.
Let’s move into the 1960s. One TV Mom, although a little goofy, was My Mother The Car. Sometimes there was a crazy guy or two chasing her around, but she never called that guy ahead of time to let him know her location. All in all, she had her son’s best interests in mind and only wanted to spend a little more time with him. She was not interested in the fame and glory she, as the car, could obtain on her own.
Another TV Mom was Lily Munster. She too showed grace that just wouldn’t quit. She taught her son and husband the importance of having extended family around. She knew Grandpa had a lot of things to pass on to little Eddie. She also accepted Marilyn as she was and never made reference that she was odd and did not fit in with the family. She would never dream of cutting any of them out of the picture.
Morticia Adams really knew how to stand by her man. That was soul mate love between those two. Beautiful. She still had as much time to give to her children as they wanted. She also did not let the trappings of wealth negatively impact her family.
Wilma Flinstone was barefoot most of the time, but she kept her feet clean. She was able to whiz through her household chores as quick as lightning, and still serve up great gourmet dinners every evening to her loving husband. Wilma also made sure her daughter had play dates to insure her social growth.
Lordy bee, do you remember there was a 1960s TV Mom who was single and a nurse? Yes sir, it was Julia Baker. She had to manage parenting alone after being widowed and did a bang up job without having 10 pity parties an hour. She only had one child, not eight, but her loving and caring heart was big enough to encompass the entire apartment building her family resided in.
The 1970s brought two of my personal favorite TV Moms to the small screen. The first was Olivia Walton. This was the ultimate TV Mom for me. She let her children know she had anger sometimes, but love would always win out over the mischievous actions. Forgiveness was her middle name. She was another Mom who knew the value of grandparents and relied on them for the life experience and knowledge that was so lovingly shared to the entire family. Her family all treated each other with love and was not afraid to say so.
The other favorite was Caroline Ingalls. She taught facing adversity well to her family. The thriftiness Caroline passed on to her girls would make any of us envious today. This was a family who made do with what they had. She instilled a calm, quiet and undying faith to her daughters. She would never dream of shrieking out orders just to make herself known to all who were around her.
Another single TV Mom successfully integrated her family’s modest amount of fame with the realities of home life. Shirley Partridge might have shook a tambourine a lot, but never a tight-fisted hand at her kids. She was also able to parent without upstaging her children. She never threatened penalties of severeness or anything else, for that matter.
Ann Romano had great lessons for us as well. It was okay to be a divorced Mom. Ann did not have to remind us hourly that her husband was gone and she was the only one her children could count on. She took each day as it came and knew her girls would be stronger for the struggles they encountered. Of course, she was right there helping them through their struggles. You can bet she would never pit her daughters against each other or flaunt favoritism.
Edith Bunker was the glue that held her family together. Her husband was stuck in the 1950s gender/racial roles and her daughter was a full-fledged feminist with a really enlightened husband. Edith managed to keep the peace and the love flowing.
Who wouldn’t want Marion Cunningham for a Mom? Her family lived the life. She hosted the home where the kids (and Fonz) would hang out if Arnold’s wasn’t feasible. She taught her son how to face the obstacles teenage life had and helped him grow into a man. Marion never missed a beat in ushering her daughter into the teenage years as she guided her son into adulthood. She was another woman who chose a great man for a husband and had a great relationship with him. Mrs. C. knew a good thing when she saw it.

By now, you have probably noticed I left out two prominent TV Moms. The first is Lucy Ricardo. You could consider Kate to have some of the same attributes. She was always yelling “Oh Ricky”. Another favorite sound to come out of her mouth was: “WWWAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH”. Then if Lucy wasn’t doing either of those, she was scheming to get a part in her husband’s night club act. The show must go on with her starring in it. She also ended up getting herself into silly predicaments each show.

Carol Brady was another TV Mom who might have had an influence on Kate. There is a somewhat familiar theme with the hair, although Carol wore her style a little short in front and in the back, a tailish kind of pre-mullet theme was going on. Carol was lucky enough to have a housekeeper but no nannies, thank you. Carol was there to oversee the home and family. Two differences I see with Carol and Kate – Carol instilled good manners in her children. I’m thinkin’ there was no lock on the parents’ bedroom door, either.
I have left the 1980s through 2000s TV Moms up for grabs. The TV shows I did watch starting then were the attorney dramas, Cheers and Quantum Leap. I gravitated away from so much TV as I was a busy single Mom myself. It seems TV quickly took a back seat to my reality life at home.

Good morning Zloggers.

Z, it is almost 1 week since the finale of Kate:and the lying channels series finale.

We have tried to let you rest & not pressure you. Please just promise me you will not take as long as President Obama has taken on making a decision about Afghaniston, to decide to write the book about our favorite reality mom?

No pressure

Hi Irene, I am back and all charged up. I have new post up, and I think I just sent you a long message at the end of the comment you added to the "Poll" post. Anyway, please join in on today's topic of TV moms -- post-phony-Kate. Can't wait to get your take on the topic. PS I have made my decision on Afghanistan: We need to get out. We don't have the money, and it is wrong to send soldiers and Marines into harm's way without a full blown commitment. I agree with Bob Schieffer, of CBS News: Afghanistan could well be Presiodent Obama's Vietnam iof he doesn't get his act together and makie some decisive moves. Z

YEA The wicked wicth Kate is dead.Boy I'm I glad.I would love to see this blog to take on the political side of things there is so much wrong up in washington that if you gys were to commit to that as much as ya'll did about Jon and Kate plus eight mybe Obam would get the hope and change he's hopeing for.And maybe things would start getting done.

Hi Donnie, This blog was founded in September 2008 on charting the place where TV and politics meet. Please just scroll back a bit through posts (even just this month), and you will see we love the media side of politics here. Thanks. Z

All I could add to that worderful post TJ is that if Kate Gosselin would get one day with Roseanne Connor....or Mrs Evans of Good times, or get sued by one of the lawyers on the old show, "The practice" OH lol.....

I am watching State of the Union and they were just talking about a war tax to fund Afghanistan...hmmm..

Hi Irene, Thanks for getting the discussion going. I have be down a little on energy, but am back full speed ahead. I am going to check in on State of Union and Reliable Sources, and then back to blog. Yes, great mention of Roseanne. You have to stop back later if you have some time, and check out the post I just put up on TV moms. I included tj's fabulous history. But it is only up to the 1980s, so please help us out. Thanks. Z

Z, Irene and Donnie,

I agree with Donnie, I am kind of glad Kate is gone. Time to move on.

I think the war has already become Obama's vietnam for the most part. I can see a lot of similarities. Probably should not have been there in the first place. We keep trying to get out and then take four steps backward. Decide to send troops, don't send troops. President Obama has wasted too much time on this. He can't make a decision in any area. I am really looking forward to Obama's next interview CNN Tuessay night.

Good article on Vanity Fair's website re: reality tv
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2009/12/wolcott-200912?printable=true

"Amid the smoldering wreckage of the popular culture, the author blames Reality TV, which has not only ruined network values, destroyed the classic documentary, and debased the art of bad acting, but also fomented class warfare, antisocial behavior, and murder."
By James Wolcott
December 2009

@ tj 2:52 AM,

Loved your recap of TV moms, especially three of my all time favorites, Donna, June and Harriet. Oh, by the way, Julia Baker was a nurse just like Kate.

I would like to add a couple more to your list. Abbey Bradford, from Eight is Enough. Career woman, wife and step-mom to eight (Hailey could learn some things from Abbey). Another one of my favorites was the ever patient Kate Lawrence (Family) mother to Nancy, Willie and "Buddy" and wife to Doug. What about Jane Jetson? Wife to George and mother to Judy and Elroy and family dog Astro.

Boy, I miss those shows and my beautiful mom, who died in February (five months after being diagnosed with cancer). My first Thanksgiving as an orphan, but God is good and I survived. On to Christmas.

Regarding Kate's new show. I don't see Kate having the skill level of Guy Fieri, the Neelys, or Rachael Ray to travel and critique restaurants and food. It appears that she doesn't even like food. Guy is a chef, the Neelys own restaurants, and Rachael is Rachael. Give me a break. But I do like the thought of her not being home to torture the children.

How sad was it that they had to spend Thanksgiving with the bodyguard's family? Wonder how excited Mrs Bodyguard was about it. Guess that's why Jon couldn't come to dinner.

Kelly,

I recently saw a program about "Celtic" women and it was fascinating, I just can't remember where I saw it. If I can find it I will link it for you.

Z, there are too many people that I want to answer on this post. So I will have to slow down for a moment. I have to go to the grocery store. But, I will be back.

Finallyover,

I'm glad that you made it thru your 1st orphan thanksgiving. I wish you well with Christmas. My Mom died 18 yrs. ago, unexpected heart attack. I still feel very much like an orphan. It gets easier, but, it never goes away.

I also don't think Kate will make it with a talk show about organic dining. I don't know about anybody else, but, I like my cooks or eaters to look like they eat. I wonder if Kate will just try a spoonful of each selection.

Diane,

I am glad to know there is another Gunsmoke fan out there. I liked Bonanza too, but Gunsmoke is my true favorite. There are some really good interviews with James Arnes out there on the internet if you have time to watch. His limp in Gunsmoke was real because he was injured in the war in real-life. Just thought that was interesting.

8 is enough to fill our lives with love.....thanks Finallyover...

I agree about the Talk show. Rachel Ray, Paula Deen, Oprah, etc...they have spunk, charisma and talent. Kate has 8 kids that are raised by a babysitter....please...there is a Kate koolaid on the new thread started. I was nice to her/him...whatever floats their boat whatever direction ya know.

Mom's rule Kate drools!

tj,

Thanks a ton for your incredibly nostalgia-inducing, bordering-on-encyclopedic post of your favorite early-T.V.-era moms. Absolutely fabulous! Talk about priming the old pump for Z.'s next topic de jour. I don't believe you left hardly a single significant mom out of the mix from T.V.'s Golden Era, and even included Wilma Flintstone, CARTOON mom of, of course, little Peebles, w/ a nod to her gourmet Cretaceous(?) fare, as well. I can just hear Fred now......."Wilma, didn't we have charbroiled Stegasaurus (sp.?) last week? HA!

I'm glad you gave a shout out to actor Paul Peterson who gained almost instant fame playing the young Jeff Stone, the son on the Donna Reed Show, which aired from 1958-1966, from when Paul was a mere 12 years old kid till he turned 20, when the series finally wrapped.

Interestingly, today, much of Peterson's time is devoted to a child-actor support-group which he founded called A Minor Consideration, I believe, based in Los angeles, CA.. He has become this super advocate for child actors who have a difficult time transitioning to adult careers (not necessarily acting), and a stable family life, and his group provides intervention, counseling, and family education to facilitate this transition. Sadly there are so many casualties in the child acting fraternity; kids who can no longer pass as youngsters, and are no longer seen as viable adult performers. Their lives can go completely amok, as we've all witnessed over the decades. Thankfully today, at least there are caring souls like Paul Peterson to intervene in a positive way on their behalf.

Peterson has a regular once-a-week interview show relating to issues of child actors and child exploitation in Hollywood which is carried here in my local L.A. market on
one of our public assess cable channels. Even though he's likely in his early sixties, he still retains some of his boyish good-looks and charm, and his sincerity in his chosen mission in protecting and watching out for kids is just palpable. He is a true inspiration;
one of the true survivors, and one of the good guys in Hollywood, for sure.

Sherry T., I haven't given up the ghost re/ suggestions for future Zlogging 'fodder', and will hopefully get to that today. Just seems like as my back-pain issue is slowly improving, and I'm more mobile, I'm tending to find a lot more loose-ends to deal with, and posting has been relegated to the back-burner. Life does go on.

Hope all my fellow Zloggers have recovered from the Thanksgiving Day/ Black Friday madness and are having a relaxing, enjoyable Fall weekend. (I know some of you folks have to work weekends. A special shout out to you guys and gals:)

I'll definitely be back.

ALEX

Finallyover,

Kate Gosselin won't make it. Rachel Ray worked in a food business with her mom for years at Holiday Inns and Guy Fieri is just like you said, so full on energy and TV charisma, Kate just doesn't have that.

I can sympathize with your loss. First Thanksgiving without my father. Seems strange. God is good and we will survive.

Have a great week Finallyover!

Diane, Irene - I'm going to watch Barbara interview Kate too. I think what bothered me was that she considered her 'fascinating'. But then I remembered fascinating doesn't necessarily mean fabulous. My kids (when they were little) used to think that the water swirling in the toilet was facscinating too, so I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

And I doubt she'll be able to give us any insight inot Kate's thinking or ask any new questions, although I remember some of her interviews where she really digs in - Lewinski and Princess Di - off the top of my head. I don't think it will make any difference though what she asks Kate as she has some sort of immunity from telling the truth.

Z - it looks like some great topics to be discussed here! I'm looking forward to the nostalia posts. I remember as a kid our lone tv station didn't start broadcasting til noon, although we'd still watch the test pattern for some strange reason up until then. And they'd play the national anthem and say a prayer then sign off at about ten o'clock at night. Wow, the dark ages of tv.

Hi, I love the toilet bowl comparison. Yes, "fascinating" to Walters means that the guests will generate some buzz and controversy.Z

Chrysee~ I was thinking the fascinating Gosselin really is Jon ~he stopped a multimillion dollar corporation from interfering/filming his children. I giggle when I think of that. I do not think, well obviously, he would not be allowed by TLC. Because, he does not even think before he speaks, much less memorize PR punchouts.

Yes, I do remember when National Anthem was played each morning to get the television going.

Alex M~Paul Peterson's story and foundation is unique. I was hit in the heart when you said, "Kids who cannot pass as youngsters, and are no longers seen as viable adult performers."

That post made me think of Different Strokes~ what a sad example of the collateral damage from child acting careers. I will never wrap my head around that one.

Diane~ sorry about your mom and dad. You are in our thoughts & prayers. Just keep checking in the blog. You are a BBF (best blogger friend.) And, that goes for everybody even people that just read Z's blog and do not post. Bloggers that blog together get to the bottom of it together.

Have thoroughly enjoyed the myriad suggestions from fellow Zloggers over the Thanksgiving Holiday break re/ possible future Zlog discussion topics and themes related to T.V., past and present.

I must confess that I'm an unabashed PBS junkie, and probably get close to 60% of my viewing pleasure from Public Television. (And I even have Cable.) In my greater-L.A. T.V. market, I'm so fortunate to have ready-access to three PBS feeds; L.A.'s award-winning KCET, KLCS, plus KOCE out of Huntington Beach in Orange County, CA. With the luxury of three PBS outlets, I'll on occasion miss a particular documentary, or music concert on say KCET, but am usually able to catch it a week, or so, later on either KOCE, or KLCS. Case in point; several months ago an emergency called me away in the middle of the 5th and final episode of KCET's BBC "Masterpiece Theater" period adaptation of Dickens' "Little Dorrit". (I don't have a DVR set-up.) Luckily, about two weeks later, the final "Dorrit" installment aired on KOCE, so I was finally able to see the very climatic last chapter of this engrossing drama in its entirety.

I really don't know where to start w/ my PBS favorites. (Too many to count.)

As a public affairs, news, politics, and arts aficionado, I tend to gravitate toward the interview/ talk show forum-type programs like "The Charlie Rose Show", w/ host Charlie Rose, "Washington Week" w/ moderator Gwen Ifill, and "The McLaughlin Group" hosted by the professorial, in-your-face, stentorian John McLaughlin. I love the constant back-and-forth banter, and heated debate between regulars Pat Buchanan, Eleanor Clift, Monica Crowley, Mort Zuckerman and Clarence Page. Their regular "guest" roster includes the likes of the politically conservative, brusk Tony Blankley, the measured Lawrence O'Donnell, and the astute Mark Shields, who always add a nice counter-point to 'the usual suspects' lively discourse. (Sometimes I find host McLaughlin a little too pushy, abrupt, and blustery.)

Veteran Jim Leher's nightly "NewsHour" is always informative and prescient. I particularly like his three-way discussions on the news of the day w/ the NY Times brilliant columnist David Brooks, and the politically savvy Mark Shields.

Oh, "The Tavis Smiley Show" is also one of my regular destinations on the PBS 'playlist'. Having kind of developed his early interviewing chops w/ a relatively' brief stint on the BET Network where he dialogued primarily w/ African-American 'celebrity' guests, he has matured over several years on PBS (and PRI Radio) into a very engaging, eloquent, and personable T.V. host, now attracting the whole gamut of celebrities from the arts, politics, science, letters and education. Some Tavis detractors claim his PBS show is still "too Black", i.e., having too many African-American guests. But as a confirmed Smiley fan, and a confirmed White person (HA!), I respectfully beg to differ. I think he provides a fine and fair 'ethnic' balance (as if this should even be an issue), but I do admit that Tavis is far from shy in extolling and showcasing the best of the African-American experience in America today, on his eponymously-named show. This guy is gong places. You heard it here first. HA!

Another strong suit in PBS's varied line-up is their travel show roster. I am particularly fond of the super-informative, jovial, and intrepid travel guru, Rick Steves, whose specialty is primarily travelogue-style documentaries to European destinations, although he does venture to other exotic locales. Recently, in fact, PBS aired an incredible Rick Steves' excursion to Iran. He claimed at the outset that he held so many preconceived notions (mostly negative) about Iran, and its people prior to traveling there for the very first time. Yet, remarkably, by the time he had explored most of the vast country over about a period of a month, from the capital Teheran to Isfahan, Kom, Shiraz, Persepolis (most of the major cities and regions), he had totally fallen in love w/ the culture, the warm and welcoming people, the amazing Persian cuisine, the gorgeous architecture, and the tremendously rich and storied history of this ancient land. Travel can indeed open up one's heart and mind.

"Travels With Rudy Maxa" is also a fun and well-produced travelogue-type PBS show. Maxa, who is our main travel guide on all his world-wide excursions is a true bon vivant; open, up-beat and curious to explore the off-the-beaten-path local cultural gems, and rarely projects a bad mood. (Good editing, maybe.)

Probably, my 'fav' PBS travel show has to be "Globe Trekker", which tends to push the exotic travel envelop, w/ each episode being hosted by a different intrepid, energetic and most enthusiastic commentator/ guide. Ian Wright, a youngish, wiry, slightly goofy cockney-Brit, is probably the most adventuresome, over-the-top of the three principle hosts. Two very sociable, out-going, fun, and extremely bright American gals, Justine Shapiro and Megan McCormick, round out the hosting trio. If you can't afford to travel much beyond your State borders, then I guarantee that watching Globe Trekker every week can at least give you a virtual escape from the hum-drum of our work-a-day lives. These shows are artfully produced, and offer a great window into other cultures , and awe-inspiring foreign vistas. Try it, you'll like it. HA!

Sherry T. I too would love to 'rap' about the Golden Age of T.V.; the first few decades when we 'boomers' were, in a sense, kind of like guinea pigs in terms of this relatively new, exciting phenomenon of home-entertainment contained in a plug-in little box--the mid-century miracle of T.V..

I like the suggested idea of having Z. post a nostagia-related article once a week, to kind of force us (in a good way) to look back thru our collective pop-culture rear-view mirrors and compare shows from that bygone era to what we're watching today, where Network television is hardly the only game in town. I think the concept of specific themes, like Z.'s current one on T.V. moms, is a great way to get the conversation-ball rolling.

Sherry T., like you, I am always curious about the on-going machinations of the late-night talk shows, especially now w/ the impact of "The Leno Factor"; the NBC 'experiment' in the 10:00PM-11:00PM time slot.

It's very odd, but as far as my taste in sitcoms, I often come to very popular, long-running series kind of late-in-the-game. I didn't catch "Seinfeld" initially until maybe its 4th season, and once hooked, eventually managed to see probably every single episode thru mainly reruns. Same w/ "Everybody Loves Raymond" ; I watched the entire series in reruns, having never seen an original airing. Now I've discovered "Two and a Half Men", pretty much in reruns. It's a very funny, but marked cynical show. Charlie Sheen is brilliant as the slacker, jingle-writing Lothario and the actor that plays the hapless brother Alan is just the perfect comic foil for the self-centered, perpetually-horny Charlie character. Alan's son is great, as is the bossy, ofttimes scary housekeeper. The fashion-plate, super-critical mom is priceless. (She and Cruella Deville must have been separated at birth. HA!)

I was an early "Office" fan, but last season I thought the show was starting to lose its edge. This was around the time that Michael Scott left Dunder Mifflin to go it alone. Curious to know if other Zloggers had the same impression?

I like "30 Rock", but am not a must-see-every-week kind of fan. Tina Fay and Alec Baldwin are comedic gems. All the supporting cast members are strong. A great ensemble show.

Anywho, I think I've rambled on quite enough at this point. Hopefully, I've offered up some food for thought?

Oh, Irene, could you please define "monkey munch" for me, and for maybe some other clueless Zloggers like me? Is it anything like our Canadian "moose munch"? Is it veterinary
approved? HA! (Is it anything like "party mix"....... you know pretzels, nuts, cereal-chex, etc.?)

Zloggers, just keep on Zloggin'!

ALEX

Z.,

I made a huge error of omission in my last post in not highlighting the splendid, consistently engaging, and informative regular nature and science-themed PBS programming. My two favorite series have to be "NATURE" and "NOVA" , particularly "NOVA"/ Science NOW out of WGHB/Boston and hosted by the fun-loving, likable brainiac astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson. This effusive, inspiring guy has the most uncanny ability to make the murky stuff of the Universe, and the related worlds of physics, chemistry and mathematics somehow comprehendible and less complicated for us average scientifically-challenged Joes. Black-holes, quarks, super novas, string theory, death stars, asteroids..... all those mysteries of the heavens that to the average lay person seemed so remote and totally baffling, explained by the methodical, and visually-oriented Tyson, suddenly make some kind of sense.

Cable's "National Geographic Explorer" is generally first rate, as is the programing on "Animal Planet " and the Discovery Channel. (I know, "Discovery" is affiliated w/ that shifty TLC, which several of our Kate + 8 haters
in our Zlogging fraternity have opted to boycott. Oh well.)

Z., have a great week. It should be a good one.

ALEX

I say the next show to be exposed for frauds is Whale Wars on Animal Planet.
.
These hippies cant sail their way out of a paper bag.

Lets see a sail off between Whale Wars and Deadliest Catch!

Hi ALEX,

I am not boycotting Discovery channel just because of TLC. I like the science shows very much. I watched a lot of National Geographic. I really liked Steve Irwin on Animal Planet before his untimely death. I an not sure if we get the NOVA channel, but I will check our TV guide.

Sounds like we like a lot of the same programs ALEX. Good poll suggestions I am glad you got those in on time. Do you like Modern Family? I really like it an 30-Rock. I long for another show like X-Files. I miss it. House has been pretty good this season, I like Lisa Edelstein.

Z is going to lead us in some great discussions.

ALEX,

I can definie "monkey munch". It is Chex cereal and powdered sugar and cocoa and then you put it in a ziplock bag (very important) and shake the dickens out of it. Does that help. Maybe Irene will have a better description, but I took a shot, and that is without googling it. I watched Kate make it enough times for her eight little monkeys.

I love CHEX party mix. But better than that are those Rice Crispy treats that have the coolest commercials with the kids helping their mom's or grandparent's in the kitchen. See advertising works.

Hi Alex M.
Let me get your last question out of the way 1st.

Monkey munch~ defined by Kate Gosselin as an organic like snack to give her children as a dessert.

I make munch to do about munching because @ the time I ate all the monkey munch Kate could spew out on an episode. ~ Boy have I been munched!

On Jon&Kate plus 8~a balanced view they gave the recipe.

Ingredients:
9 cups chex
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
Put cereal in a large bowl. Melt chocolate chip, peanut butter & butter on stove. Remove from heat stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over Chex cereal, then put mixture in large plastic bag. Sprinkle powdered sugar in the bag and shake. Spread mixture over piece of wax paper cool.

Thanks also Alex for some PBS ideas. My favorite uncle let me really have it about watching mainstream media. So I will check a few of those shows out. Thanks.

And, yes unlike Sherry T I wanted to stage a boycott of Tlc. Then I realized they are part of a 70 million viewer conglumaration called Discovery. I am just going to try to watch the least TLC I can get away with. But, my son Trent is ga ga over Animal Planet so I just cannot see letting him suffer over the pettiness of TLC.

Oops ALEX, I left peanut butter out of the "monkey munch". Very important, and I guess they use organic peanut butter at the Gosselin's. Also they use melted chocolate chips, but it can be done with cocoa and powdered sugar because I have made it that way. Oh well, I got three out of four ingredients.

Have a great day ALEX. I never will claim to be an expert on "monkey munch" you will have to see Irene for that. haha So is it like "moose munch"??

Hi Z and Zloggers,

Wow! You guys actually made monkey munch. Congratulations. I do not know how you got that top secret recipe without buying Kate's cookbook.

Talking boycotting TLC and their sister channels....I have been wondering if it is even worth it for me. I doubt that they are really upset about losing me as a viewer. I used to watch Discovery and Animal Planet all the time. Maybe, it is time for me to quit my boycott.

Diane,

I think there are a lot of educational programs on the Discovery channel and so I cannot completely boycott it because it is part of TLC or let the fact that TLC participated in the ruination of Jon and Kate Gosselin completely keep me from watching all the other science and animal oriented programing that is offered on Discovery. And actually we can also blame Jon and Kate for their participation not just TLC alone.

But, if you have to you might consider NOVA or PBS, they offer really good programming. Did you see ALEX's post?

Diane - Maybe all those who have made "Monkey Munch" were really making "Puppy Chow", and that's why they were able to do it without Kate's Top Secret Recipe. :) :) :)

Alex - since I dumped cable a year ago I find myself watching PBS a lot more. They had some good stuff on last night. And I love that they still show the Lawrence Welk show. Yes, I'm 38 and I love LW. :)

Hi Sherry T,

I just went back and reread Alex posts. I do watch National Geographic and I enjoy their shows a lot. I have been wondering if my vendetta with TLC is worth it. I sometimes think I may just be "cutting off my nose to spite my face" as my old German Daddy used to say. I watch a fair amount of pbs. Did you or Irene watch the everyday heroes last night on pbs? Those people are so impressive. Have a great day!

Hi Diane,

Yes, if you mean the show presented by Anderson Cooper - Everyday Heroes. That was very encouraging. The man who is working so hard to provide clean water around the world to people who do not have it. Also, providing for the homeless and literacy programs, Katrina victim help program. They were very inspiring. I saw it and I think it was aired again last night, I think.

You have a great day too. I am having a lazy day, which I needed. But I think I need to do something? Sorry Z we are really off topic. But I am enjoying Diane a lot.

Hi Sherry,

Yes, that is the one. Those people were awesome and awe inspiring. That boy who lost his legs when he was 14...his parents must be so proud of him.

Hope,

Welcome. And, as Irene, usually does this. please come back often. We have a great group of Zloggers here. We always enjoy new opinions.

Sorry Z,

We are very off topic. I'm so glad that you don't seem to mind. Thank you Z.

Hi Diane,

Yes, we watched the same show then. I forgot about the wheelchair program yes, that was a good one. The father that said I am going to carry my son because I have always carried him. That was so touching. Some of those were bringing tears to my eyes.

Diane, Z is so kind he used to let ALEX and I run wild off topic sometimes. Thank you Z. Rein us in if you need to, but thanks I have loved this conversation with Diane. Sorry we will try to behave now. Diane you don't live anywhere near southeastern Ohio do you?

Hi Z,

I hope everyone had a great holiday and has sufficiently recovered to undertake the needs that reality, this Monday, require. I'm not too sure yet of my fitness to be 100% but am giving it my best - that turkey was delicious! lol

I'd like this blog have a continued focus on child exploitation and especially the part TLC's plays in it since they seen to be the leader in child/family themed shows right now. We've seen the lengths they've gone to try to keep J&K+8 on the air and I'd like to keep the heat on them to get rid of their other exploitative shows.

I'd also love to see this blog take a look at how reality programs involving competitions and winners and losers might 'twist' the outcome for their network's benefit. You know - the fine print at the end of the show that says outcomes involve the decision of producers as well as contestant participation, etc. on shows like tv food hosting, tv decorating, etc, etc.

Hi Sherry T,

I live in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO. My b-day is Oct. 2. What day in Oct. is your oldest daughters?

Hi Diane,

Sorry we are so far apart. Same with Irene who lives clear in Mississippi (try typing that fast -yikes).

Actually neither of my kids are October. My oldest daughter had a birthday September 21st and was born in 1993. My youngest daughters birthday is November 10th and she was born in 1994. She shared it with Sesame Street's anniversary this year. Z had a post on Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary. She thought that was very neat. So I have teens, a sixteen and a fifteen year old. My birthday was Sept. 17th.

Diane,

Actually no Oct. My oldest is sixteen and birthday is Sept. 21 of 93 and my youngest is Nov 10 of 94, so I have teens 15 and 16 year olds. My birthday is Sept 17th.

Sorry we are so far apart. Like Irene who lives in Mississippi.

Irene, Alex M and others interested in Monkey Munch,

Irene posted the recipe above that was given by TLC which Kate claimed to be her own concoction - something created for her family. But, low and behold --- it is a recipe Chex published years ago (with variations available all over the web). It was just another example of Kate's recipe prowess - just like 'her' idea to cut sandwiches on the diagonal for kids or to put apples on a peanut butter sandwich. It was laughable at the time it happened and even more funny when Kate announced plans for her own cookbook since we wondered what other recipes she would hijack and call her own.

Hey everybodzies! Is that a word. hehe

It has been 1 week since Jon and Kate plus 8 went off the air. How do you spell relief:
N*0*K*A*T*E.

Really, I know the paparazzi has died down. Tlc is probably gonna try everything to revamp her image. And, there will be people that will want her reimaged for the sake of those kids. And, there are people that know nothing can reimage someone as phony acting as her.

To the Kate Kool aide camp..before you get your glamo comments all going. I watched all 5 seasons. I formed an opinion. If Kate proves me wrong and does the best she can for those 8 beautiful children then this zlog will be the 1st to have a party, for the sake of the kids of course!

Hey Diane I have family around St Louis. Are you a Cardinals fan?

I was raised a Cub's fan & married a St Louis fan. Holy Cow!

Hi Sherry T,

Wow, I thought sure your daughter was an Oct. girl.

Hi Irene,

I am absolutely a cardinal fan. I have so many cards t-shirts it is almost funny. My husband probably has 10 times as many as me. We try to be Rams fans, as well...although that is harder. We still root for Cowboy Curtis Warner, who went to Arizona. We miss him. Hope you are having a nice birthday.

Hi Diane,

That is interesting, not sure why you thought that. My daughter should have been in October right around the 25th or so, but she was two weeks overdue, so it made her a November baby. Give or take a couple of weeks, I guess we can't predict these things, but she was almost Oct.

I am a Yankee's fan, I decided that one day. Wow OT again.

Sherry T. & Irene,

Howdy....Queens of 'the Z-ene'! ( short for the Z-scene......groan?)

Thanks gals for the detailed heads-up on the "monkey munch" mystery. Sounds absolutely divine...NOT! Geez, If only I had been a dutiful regular "Jon & Kate+8" viewer (fat chance), then I would have been totally hip to the "munch" routine. My bad. (fake tears HA!)

Re/ the "Moose Munch", I actually just stumbled on this almost scatological-like confection that comes in several assortments (picture your pooch's free-form, sculpted poop-droppings---Sorry for that graphic image!), in an unsolicited Harry & David / Xmas Gifts 2009 catalogue; one of seemingly zillions of mostly useless catalogues I've received in the post over the last month, or so, in the run-up to Dec. 25th. (I guess my generosity in donating to over 15 different animal-rights, environmental, and nature-related organizations, subscribing to almost every major golf publication on the planet, and getting a handful of art-related monthly magazines, means I'm on every Tom, Dick and Harry's (& David's-HA!) darn mailing list.). I just sort of adopted "moose munch" as a Canadian confection, because next to our industrious beaver, the moose is probably Canada's most widely-recognized, iconic wild beastie, EH? (Sorry all you Polar Bears out there.) Wow.... look at the rack on that one..... you know, that female moose over there. HA! (I apologies for that cheap, sexist attempt at humor.)

On kind of a related subject, this past Saturday afternoon I was listening to NPR's The Splendid Table w/ the delightful, uber-foodie/ hostess w/ the mostess, Lynn Rosetta Casper (no relation to the cartoon ghost, by the way), and a gal phoned in from , I believe Vermont, wanting to find an easy recipe for home-made, from-scratch granola bars for her young kids who devour, w/ gusto, the store-bought, overly sweet, and highly-calorific variety. Host Rosetta Casper suggested the usual main ingredients like raisins, whole grains (oats and the like), sesame seeds, nuts, etc., but instead of a corn syrup-based 'binder', came up w/ rice syrup as a healthier option. Who knew?
Frankly I had never heard of this product, but Casper claimed it was less sugary than say honey, or melted marshmallow a la those sinful Rice Krispy treats, and urged her caller to give it a try. (This was a 'bakeless', granola bar recipe, where one merely rolls out the gooey, lumpy melange and then scores the flattened confection 'sheet' into rectangular, individual bars. VOILA!

I always pick up great little useful culinary tips from Lynn Casper. (Not that I'm exactly a 'galloping- gourmet' in the kitchen) She's always up, and bubbling over w/ enthusiasm for food, and creative cooking.

Irene, sounds like your 'fav' uncle is a man after my own heart in his bias toward PBS political news and current affairs programming? And I'm glad for the sake of your son, Trent, that you haven't issued a complete 'fatwa' against Discovery/ TLC, because being discriminating T.V. viewers that we Zloggers are, we shouldn't attempt to paint an entire channel w/ one, negative (or for that matter, positive) brush. Being selective is probably the best way to go. Although, Irene, I definitely feel your pain re/ the irresponsibility, exploitation, and blatant enabling that seems to be de riguer in the TLC's modus operandi.

Sherry T., bringing up the CHEX party-mix kinda brought back some fond memories of my misbegotten youth, when my younger brother Don and I would sneak downstairs to the rec-room at the very crack of dawn after a late-night 'adult' party that my folks had hosted (no they were not into 'swinging'-HA!), and proceed to raid the scattered bowls of stale CHEX party-mix, Fritos corn chips, and mixed nuts. (Darn, who ate all the cashews?)

Sherry T., have you checked out the dramatic crime series, "The Mentalist", yet? I've seen a few episodes, and it's quite good. Haven't gotten around to "Modern Family" as yet, but from the positive buzz on our Zlog, and the fact that Z., has incorporated it into one of his college class discussions re/ T.V. depictions of moms, I think I'll start to tune in.

Hope you guys, 'Queens of the Z-cene', are having a super-fantabulous day, so far. Look forward, as always, to your wit, wisdom and sincerity on our ever-expanding Zlog. This should be a great Zlogging week. Lots to ruminate over. Moooooooooo!

Irene, are you sure you don't have a clone? HA! Where do you get all your energy? And they say that there's no such thing as a Superwoman. I beg to differ.

Oh, and before I split, I just want to wish you the happiest of HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!!!!!! (That goes for your clone, too.)

ALEX

ALEX,

So "moose munch" is not really something you can make you have to order it right. And is there an organic version? Well that is definitely not as fun as Chex Mix or "monkey munch", or Rice Krispy treats.

I have never watched "The Mentalist", but I might try it. You should definitely try Modern Family, you will be hooked.

I would have to clone myself to keep up with Irene, but I pretty much think she does not have a clone. She is one of a kind. I don't know how she does it either. I somehow lack that kind of energy. I think that is why she has eight kids and I have two. God knows best.

Hey all. Thanks for the shout out Alex M.

Ya'll are such a kind bunch. It is great to zlog with ya'll.

We have miles to zlog guys. And, from the looks of TV lately it needs it critics.

I got an email newsletter from the Roloffs today. In it Matt Roloff said his family has completed over 200 episodes of Little People Big World. He gave an update on the family & about the farm. They had for Pumpkin season someone from all 49 states, only exception Delaware. Also, talked about the charitable work they are doing. 200 shows you guys...this reality stuff is not going anywhere soon. I am thinking the best we can hope for is federal laws. This is morphed into a big big business. google Roloff farms if you are interested in the newsletter.

I've been quite puzzled by this site's fascination with John and Kate. I surmise that it leads to nice web traffic for you. But are you really offering your readers anything that the countless other blogs dissecting the couple's life aren't doing? There are plenty of blogs and television critics that focus on nationally televised broadcasts, so why can't this one be more Baltimore-centric?

To me, The Sun constantly misses one important angle: the local one. With all the various forms of media in this town, you dwell on a reality show on a cable network. As I understand it, the only local connection to John and Kate is that the cable network is based in a DC suburb, which is relatively close to Baltimore.

Why is there so little exploration of Baltimore media? Sure, there are the occasional mentions of a TV anchor retiring, the latest Neilsen ratings and the rare piece of how radio is reacting to a local story. But is there nothing to report beyond that? There are many, many talented people working on LOCAL radio, television and websites.

A cynical person could point to promotional agreements between organizations, as well as the employment of Sun employees by certain stations. WBAL Radio has been the subject of several posts on this blog. It is currently the eighth highest rated station in Baltimore. The top 5 stations (WPOC, Magic 95.9, Mix 106.5, 92Q, and Lite 101.9) have never been mentioned, according to a quick search. All of those stations have (some) LOCAL on-air staffs that I've never seen mentioned; of course, none of those stations have a marketing agreement or Sun employees on staff. I'd rather read about what Laurie DeYoung, Tim Watts, Jojo and Reagan and Greg Carpenter are like off the air and how they put their shows together than what you thought of a Sarah Palin interview or a Today Show guest. Same goes for local television personalities and magazine editors. Are they seen as competition?

As for new media, Baltimore is the home of a number of successful blogs. “Coconut and Lime” is one of the biggest sites for original recipes, and “The Comic Curmudgeon” is an enormously popular humor site. Why can't they be included in coverage by the media critic? I'd love to see a blog highlighted now and then, with a feature on our LOCAL neighbors that are creating these widely read websites.

It says a lot that most of the local forms of media in your “Categories” box are grayed out, since there's no content there. Baltimore Magazine, City Paper? Grayed out. Radio? 4 posts, 2 about WBAL. Reality TV? Pages and pages.

If the focus of your blog is destined to be reality shows (and isn't there another Sun blog dedicated to that), why not find ones with a local angle? Two locals and one transplant on this year's “Top Chef”...let's see...zero mentions. Surprise, surprise.

Some Baltimoron I know it seems we tromp on the reality television angle we do.

Kate G bodyguard is from Maryland. So we are covering the local aspect. Only kidding.

Seriously, reality television is a hot topic. Look at all that is happening in the media with reality participants and wanna bees.

SomeBaltimoron,

I see a lot of topics related to Baltimore. Isn't anything that is political or related to the stations in Baltimore that Z writes about Balitmore news. Jon and Kate probably is news to anyone who lives in Baltimore that watches the show.

I'm back.

Some Baltimoron - I quite disagree. David Zurawik writes about the business, culture and craziness of television - says so right at the top of this page. I applaud him for shedding light on the underbelly of reality television through his observations of the Gosselin phenomenon. As to the comment about 'nice web traffic', the amount of blogs, articles and newscasts alone should give anyone a clue that the behavior of all parties concerned with this program was not ordinary. Anything of sufficient interest is going to draw traffic - which I believe is the intent of having a website/blog on the internet. A quick glance to the right of your screen indicates that Z writes about other subjects on television as well.
I think your name suits you perfectly.

Hi Z!!

Any chance we could get a Tiger Woods blog/article/discussion going? He's obviously a very hot topic right now & I'd be interested (as a golfer myself) to hear the views & thoughts on the situation from the wonderful Zloggers here!

No response to the comments about the tie between coverage and promotional/content sharing agreements? Interesting...

I have no idea what you are referring to. Please clarify if you can. Thanks. Z

Kate's filming in Raleigh today..

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6572249/