Clarence Clemons Suffers Stroke

UPDATE, June 18, 2011: Clarence Clemons passed away on Saturday evening.

From BruceSpringsteen.net:

It is with overwhelming sadness that we inform our friends and fans that at 7:00 tonight, Saturday, June 18, our beloved friend and bandmate, Clarence Clemons passed away. The cause was complications from his stroke of last Sunday, June 12th.

Bruce Springsteen said of Clarence: Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band.

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UPDATE, June 14, 2011: Springsteen: Band mate Clemons' stroke 'serious'

Bruce Springsteen says band mate Clarence Clemons' stroke was serious and he's going to need a lot of help to get back to his former self.

The Boss commented Tuesday on his longtime friend and E Street Band member on his website, Twitter and Facebook. It's the first time he's spoken since it was revealed Sunday that the 69-year-old Clemons had suffered a stroke.

Springsteen calls the saxophonist a "beloved comrade" and described the stroke as "serious."

He says: "Clarence will need much care and support to achieve his potential once again."

Springsteen says Clemons is surrounded by wife Victoria, other family and friends, and thanked fans for their prayers and good thoughts.

Clemons' family also thanked fans on Springsteen's site and urged fans to email their well wishes to notestoclarence(at)clarenceclemons.com.

Here's more, from Bruce Springsteen's website:

By now, many of you have heard that our beloved comrade and sax player Clarence Clemons has suffered a serious stroke. While all initial signs are encouraging, Clarence will need much care and support to achieve his potential once again. He has his wonderfully supportive wife, Victoria, excellent doctors and health care professionals, and is surrounded by friends and family.

I thank you all for your prayers and positive energy and concern. This is a time for us all to share in a hopeful spirit that can ultimately inspire Clarence to greater heights.

-- Bruce Springsteen

Apparently, the stroke's severity and its consequences have left Clarence with a challenging recovery.

I'm joining people around the world praying for him.

God be with Clarence and his family.
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From the Associated Press:

Saxophonist Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band has suffered a stroke.

A person who has worked with Clemons in the past confirmed Sunday night that Clemons had the stroke. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter. The person had no additional information on Clemons' condition.

Clemons is known as the Big Man in the E Street Band and his sax has been one of the most defining elements of the band's sound. He has suffered from numerous ailments over the last few years. He had double knee surgery and even had to perform from a wheelchair at one point.

But his health seemed to be improving. Just last month, he performed with Lady Gaga on the season finale of "American Idol."

He is 69 years old.

Prayers for the Big Man.

American Idol Final Three

Jason Castro's departure from American Idol was a couple of weeks overdue.

After his string of disastrous performances, including Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Memory" and Neil Diamond's "Forever in Blue Jeans" and "September Morn," it was time for him to go.

NEW YORK -- Simon Cowell once told Jason Castro that his face would save him from elimination. Not this time.

The dreadlocked heartthrob was voted off "American Idol" Wednesday as the show narrowed the competition to three finalists: David Cook, David Archuleta and Syesha Mercado.

Castro, 20, from Rockwall, Texas, started off strong in the show's seventh season but lost momentum in recent weeks. He gave weaker performances, and flubbed the lyrics to Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" on Tuesday's performance show.

Cowell predicted Castro's gaffe could spell the end of him. "Jason, I'd pack your suitcase," Cowell told the singer.

Castro took his fate in stride and didn't wipe the ever-present grin off his expansive face after learning the result.

Lately, it seemed like Castro was auditioning for a sequel to the movie Half Baked rather than trying to be the next American Idol.

...Castro had his share of spacey moments while he was in the running, like when a viewer asked Wednesday what the contestants' biggest challenges were in the competition. Castro answered: "Just the brain being dead."

As time went on, Castro's spacey moments appeared to be contrived. He developed a rather annoying persona, like he had been plucked off the street and didn't know quite what was happening.

He definitely didn't deserve to be in the final three.

Weeks ago, it was easy to see that the two Davids, David Cook and David Archuleta, would be contenders. I wouldn't have picked Syesha Mercado to be rounding out the final three, but she's had some strong performances in the later weeks of the competition. It seems right that she's there.

It was odd on Wednesday's show when she started talking about her emotions, how she's changed, and how we might have the first female or first African-American president. It was as if she morphed into spacey Castro for a while.

I bet Andrew Lloyd Weber has nightmares about Castro singing "Memory."

American Idol Shouts to the Lord

UPDATE, April 10, 2008: The Thursday night broadcast opened with the eight contestants and the choir singing "Shout to the Lord," currently the number one download on iTunes.

Tonight's version did not alter the lyrics.

The first line tonight: My Jesus, my Savior

The first line on Wednesday's broadcast: My Shepherd, my Savior

Some people weren't happy that the first line was changed. If you prefer the song with "Jesus" in the lyrics, download Thursday night's version.

Now everybody is happy!
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American Idol's telethon of over two and a half hours, Idol Gives Back, ended with a big shout out-- to the Lord.

The eight remaining contestants sang the popular worship song "Shout to the Lord."

Gee, a song about God was sung on the most popular show on American TV. Millions of people heard it.

Was that offensive? Was it insensitive to all those non-believers in the audience?

The first line of the song was altered a bit.

"My JESUS" was changed to "My Shepherd." I think that was wise.

That change made it more inclusive, though "Shepherd" is still a very Christian substitute.

The lyrics of "Shout to the Lord" as sung last night:

My Shepherd, my Savior
Lord there is none like You
All of my days, I want to praise
The wonders of your mighty love

Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You

Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You

There's no dancing around the meaning of that song. It praises the Creator, not Darwin the King.

Last week, Dolly Parton sang "Jesus and Gravity."

American Idol certainly isn't afraid to acknowledge God.

I wonder if young fans all over the country will be singing "Shout to the Lord" in the days ahead. Will the halls of public schools be filled with a joyful sound?

I don't think American Idol is in violation of the Establishment Clause.

I wonder if Annie Laurie Gaylor was watching. If so, it must have been a painful experience for her to be exposed to an expression of praise to God.

I think it was a beautiful rendition of the song and a stirring way to end the program. I didn't find it to be preachy. It was a reminder to give thanks for life's blessings and to help those less fortunate. It was an inspiring call to serve others, which is what Idol Gives Back is all about.



Idol
by krs601

Idol Gives Back and Malaria

While watching Idol Gives Back tonight, I saw a heartbreaking segment on malaria.

Forest Whitaker and his wife were in Africa drawing attention to the disease and the millions of lives it claims.

One child dies of malaria every 30 seconds. The truly tragic thing is that the disease is preventable.

Mosquito nets at $10 a piece are touted as the solution. But there are more weapons available than nets to prevent the suffering.

Once again, I'm reminded of Rachel Carson and her legacy.
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From the 1998 PBS Frontline report, "Fooling with Mother Nature":

On the walls of the US vice president's office, you might expect to see framed photos of political giants past and present. Amidst his collection, however, Al Gore cherishes a picture of a biologist from Western Pennsylvania - Rachel Carson, author of "Silent Spring." Why does an unassuming scientist lay claim to this space? "For me personally," says Gore in his introduction to the 1992 edition of her book, "Silent Spring had a profound impact ... Indeed, Rachel Carson was one of the reasons that I became so conscious of the environment and so involved with environmental issues ... Carson has had as much or more effect on me than any, and perhaps than all of them together."

Yes, Gore wants to be the Rachel Carson of the new millenium, maybe more than he wanted to be President of the United States. He wants to follow in his hero's footsteps.

That's probably doubtful, but it can't be denied that Gore seems to be displaying far more passion for the environment than he was able to muster for the 2000 presidential campaign.

I think he wants that to be his legacy -- Al Gore, savior of the planet.

It bugs me that Rachel Carson continues to maintain hero status among environmentalists.

The fact is Carson relied on bad science to spur the modern environmental movement.

So many of Carson's claims have been refuted.

Read a sampling of the debunking of Silent Spring.

Why The Insecticide DDT Should Never Have Been Banned

Killing People - The banning of DDT and radical environmentalists

Malaria Foundation International

The Lies of Rachel Carson

Bring Back DDT, and Science With It!

The latter is a 2002 piece by Marjorie Mazel Hecht. It provides a concise overview of Carson's illegitimate assertions and the consequences of the hysteria that she launched.

The 1972 U.S. ban on DDT is responsible for a genocide 10 times larger than that for which we sent Nazis to the gallows at Nuremberg. It is also responsible for a menticide which has already condemned one entire generation to a dark age of anti-science ignorance, and is now infecting a new one.

The lies and hysteria spread to defend the DDT ban are typical of the irrationalist, anti-science wave which has virtually destroyed rational forms of discourse in our society. If you want to save science—and human lives—the fight to bring back DDT, now being championed by that very electable candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination, Lyndon H. LaRouche, Jr., had better be at the top of your agenda.

Sixty million people have died needlessly of malaria, since the imposition of the 1972 ban on DDT, and hundreds of millions more have suffered from this debilitating disease. The majority of those affected are children. Of the 300 to 500 million new cases of malaria each year, 200 to 300 million are children, and malaria now kills one child every 30 seconds. Ninety percent of the reported cases of malaria are in Africa, and 40 percent of the world’s population, inhabitants of tropical countries, are threatened by the increasing incidence of malaria.

...The campaign to ban DDT got its start with the publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring in 1962. Carson’s popular book was a fraud. She played on people’s emotions, and to do so, she selected and falsified data from scientific studies... .

Does that sound a bit extreme?

Are you thinking that I'm citing sources that lack credibility?

Do you need a source that you can identify as enlightened, sophisticated, and acceptable to the liberal mindset?

OK.

Read "What the World Needs Now Is DDT."

It's by Tina Rosenberg and was published in The New York Times on April 11, 2004.

It appears that Rachel Carson, Al Gore's inspiration, sparked a movement that cost millions of lives.

The fact is Gore's hero had a role in millions of preventable deaths from malaria.

This reveals that the environmental movement is capable of producing catastrophes rather than preventing them.

I believe that we are stewards of God's creation and must care for the earth. I believe that we are called to protect the environment and not abuse the gift that it is. However, that goal cannot take precedence over caring for human life.

What was the cost of an environmental movement run amok?

Millions of precious lives.
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All three presidential contenders taped segments and were scheduled to appear on Idol Gives Back. Didn't happen last night.

Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain made taped appeals for charity on a special edition of “American Idol” on Wednesday night that didn’t make the cut. The telethon for needy children around the world entitled “Idol Gives Back” drew the likes of Fergie, Bono, Brad Pitt, Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus, and went too long. The candidates’ contributions were kicked back to Thursday night’s episode.

Oh, spare us.

I think it would be better to leave Hillary and Obama and McCain off the show entirely.

Why should Idol offer them free campaign commercials on the broadcast?

Boing-Boing Becomes Simon

(Photo/Milwaukee County Zoo)

This bush baby is a star.

The bush baby formally known as Boing-Boing will now be called Simon, in honor of the American Idol judge.

From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Wednesday night, "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest announced on the air that the show was donating $1,500 to sponsor a wide-eyed, cuddly, real-life bush baby in Milwaukee in commemoration of the bush baby brouhaha that hit early in the TV show's season.

"Idol" fans will recall that decidedly uncuddly judge Simon Cowell told "Idol" hopeful Kenneth Briggs that he looked like a bush baby. The rip caused a national outcry.

So the zoo's eight-year-old resident "bushkin," Boing-Boing, whose ancestors hail not from Britain but from Central Africa, is getting a new handle: Simon. Like Cowell, bush babies are known for their rasping nocturnal hoot calls.

Unlike him, "they're so cute," says Jenny Diliberti, a zoo spokesman.

The sponsorship came about through the Association of Zoos & Aquariums. The show's producers tried tracking down an American bush baby to sponsor, but it turns out examples of Galago moholi are harder to find than "Idol" finalists in Oshkosh.

According to Diliberti, the Milwaukee County Zoo got the "Idol" call two days ago because Milwaukee has one of the few bush babies registered with the national zoo group.

County Executive Scott Walker has gone ape over the "Idol"/Milwaukee hookup.

"For us, this is a major coup," says Walker. "It's a great thing that we have such a vibrant zoo with such rare animals. When I watched the show last night, I was worried that Seacrest was going to step on it, talk over the name of the zoo or something, but he did pretty well."

Walker hopes the Simon-"Simon" connection will only get bigger.

"We plan to invite Briggs to the zoo and give him a permanent pass," Walker says.

The zoo should capitalize on the American Idol attention and put out a line of bush baby Simon souvenirs -- T-shirts, caps, key chains, mugs, etc.

I imagine online sales of the stuff would be profitable.

I'm sure there are Idol fans around the country, even around the world, that can't make it to the Milwaukee County Zoo but would like to purchase a little piece of Simon bush baby memorabilia.

If handled properly, the bush baby could be a real windfall for the county.

Scott Walker -- idol maker.

The American Idol Finale: Jordin Sparks Wins

The American Idol finale had something for everyone, all generations.

The show relied more heavily on past Idol talent than in other years.

That could be a function of the fact that the show has a larger pool of previous winners from which to draw.

Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Stoddard, Carrie Underwood, and Taylor Hicks all performed, separately and together in a Beatles medley.

Of course, Sanjaya was there to sing his famous rendition of "You Really Got Me," Aerosmith's Joe Perry accompanying him. Ashley, the crying girl, was in the audience crying again.


Former American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar, left, performs with Joe Perry during the finale of American Idol at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Other performers included Gwen Stefani, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Doug E. Fresh, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Green Day, and Bette Midler.

The audience had that unusual mix of stars and has-beens -- Jerry Springer, Jeff Foxworthy, Brad Garrett, Teri Hatcher, David Hasselhoff, Michael Chiklis. If Bill Maher was there, I didn't see him.

Last year, an odd and laughable moment came when the camera caught David Hasselhoff crying after Taylor Hicks was announced the winner of season 5.

This year's audience celebrity emotional moment came with a closeup of Jerry Springer visibly moved after Bette Midler finished singing "Wind Beneath my Wings."

And finally, what it was all about--

After a record 74 million votes cast, Jordin Sparks was announced as the American Idol of 2007.


Jordin Sparks reacts to being announced the winner of American Idol at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 23, 2007. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
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Has Idol past its peak? Is it losing steam?

It certainly didn't seem to appear that way tonight.

American Idol and the Milwaukee County Zoo Bush Baby

I never know what to expect from an American Idol finale.

As usual, standouts from the audition portion of the competition were invited back.

The "impressive ones," short on singing talent but long on memorability, were given Golden Idol Awards.

In a mock awards show style, Ryan Seacrest handed out the statues to people in different categories, like "Best Presentation," "Most Original Vocal," and "Best Buddies."

The "Best Buddies" honor went to Kenneth Briggs and Jonathan Jayne.

Kenneth is the contestant that Simon Cowell said looked like a bush baby.

Simon told Kenneth: "You look a little odd... you look like one of those creatures that live in the jungle, with those massive eyes. What are they called? A bush baby."

While Kenneth and Jonathan were on the stage to accept their awards, Seacrest directed the audience to look at the screen. A giant image of a bush baby dwarfed the stage.

It was then that Seacrest announced that American Idol is sponsoring a bush baby at the MILWAUKEE COUNTY ZOO.

Will Idol fans flock to Milwaukee to visit the famous bush baby?

I think so.

Still, I doubt the bush baby will overtake Samson as the most popular resident that the Milwaukee County Zoo has ever known.

American Idol Final Prediction

Will Jordin or Blake take the American Idol title for season 6?

My opinion: It should be Jordin.

I make no predictions on the results; it's too close to call.

However, I will make a prediction.

Bill Maher was at the show last night. I saw him pumping his fist in the air after Jordin sang.

Of course, a few weeks ago, Maher was in the Idol audience cheering Barry Gibb.

This guy is a real Idol fanatic.

That just seems strange to me. I'd expect Maher to think that he was too cool for Idol. At the very least, I'd think that Maher would keep his Idol love in the closet.

He doesn't. He's loud and he's proud.

I predict that Maher will be there tonight. He'll be this year's David Hasselhoff, wiping tears from his eyes as the winner is crowned.

Bill Maher on American Idol

The shock of tonight's American Idol broadcast wasn't that LaKisha was sent home.

The shock was seeing Bill Maher in the audience.

After Barry Gibb performed "To Love Somebody," the camera panned the crowd.

On his feet, cheering Gibb, was the crass, hateful, foul-mouthed, venom-spewing Bill Maher.

I had no idea that Maher was an Idol fan or a Barry Gibb fan.

It seems so... so... unlikely.

Very surreal.

I wonder if U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken will be in the Idol audience next week.

American Idol President Bush

Tonight's American Idol ended with a message from President and Mrs. Bush.

They thanked the Idol audience for raising over $70 million to alleviate poverty in Africa and here in America.

President Bush also thanked the celebrities that took part in the effort, mentioning Bono by name.

The President suggested that he should sing a song. Mrs. Bush remarked that it wouldn't be a good idea. The country has already seen him dance.



Mrs. Bush said that we don't need to hear him sing.

How many televised entertainment shows can get the President and First Lady to appear? Not many.

$70 million is A LOT of money. I think it was appropriate that the President acknowledged the incredible fundraising that took place on the show last week.

Oh, yeah. I should mention this. Bush addressed the nation earlier today, about 5:00 pm CDT.

He vetoed the war funding bill and commented on the Democrats' disgrace. More on that later.

Sanjaya and Jay Leno

It was a blockbuster Tonight Show.

Jay Leno actually did a Tommy Thompson joke, signaling that he is in the race for real.

I guess Thompson could consider that a good thing. It's getting his name out there.

The problem is Leno referenced Thompson's recent gaffe while addressing a Washington, D.C. gathering at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Leno found great amusement in Thompson's unfortunate comments. Highlighting his statement for a national audience, being the buffoon, isn't a plus for Thompson's campaign.

After the monologue, Leno went into his American Idol post-elimination show routine. As usual, whenever a contestant gets booted from Idol, that person does a walk-on when Leno completes his monologue.

Tonight, it was the official coming out of SANJAYA. A bittersweet moment for "fanjayas," I know.

This season the Tonight Show bit has been to have Leno ask the former Idol contestant a few questions and have a celebrity or someone else translate.

Donny Osmond provided the translation for Sanjaya.

Osmond was hawking a new CD. (Can you believe that Donny Osmond has a new CD?)

Cut to commercial.

After a "Ross the Intern" segment, Jack Black was introduced. He's a big lib, but I like Black.

Then came Sanjaya.

I don't recall an Idol contestant ever appearing as a guest on the show while the competition was still underway.

It's Idol history -- the phenomenon of Sanjaya.

Leno was nice to him and Black was also very supportive.

I don't understand the Sanjaya thing. That's probably because I'm not twelve.

For all his newfound fame, he didn't act like a jerk. He was very sweet.

Now that I think about it, I'm going to miss Sanjaya on Idol. His squeaky little voice and his big smile were kind of endearing. It won't be the same without him.


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Sanjaya goes to Washington!

In Defense of Simon's Eye Roll

Yes, I watch American Idol.

Last night's show began with Ryan Seacrest acknowledging the Virginia Tech shootings and expressing condolences.

I thought it was the proper way to begin the show. Mentioning the tragedy upfront was appropriate.

I also caught Simon Cowell's now infamous split-second eye roll after contestant and Virginia native Chris Richardson said, "My heart and prayers go out to Virginia Tech. I have a lot of friends over there. Be strong."

I saw it as it aired last night, so my immediate reaction wasn't colored by any of today's comments.

My opinion:

I thought the cutaway was extremely unfortunate in terms of timing.

I suspected that some people might interpret Cowell's reaction to be in response to Richardson's words of support for Virginia Tech.

(Apparently, I was right.)

In my opinion, Cowell is being unfairly accused today of callousness.

I took the eye roll to be in response to Richardson's argumentative attempt to justify his nasally performance, not his comments about the tragedy.

I also don't think the words were a cheap effort on Richardson's part to deflect from his poor performance.

It appeared to me that Richardon was sincere in expressing his concern for the people at Virginia Tech.

It appeared to me that Cowell was sincere in expressing his disgust for Richardson's reaction to his criticism about the PERFORMANCE.

In short, there's no controversy here.

Case closed.

Nancy Pelosi, Sanjaya, and Jay Leno

October 2, NEW: Nancy Pelosi on The View

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It seems like Jay Leno has been promoting the appearance of Nancy Pelosi, his Thursday night guest, for a month.

He's been acting like Elvis Presley was going to be on his show.

Whenever he would mention that Pelosi was scheduled to be a guest, he'd start drooling and get all excited. The audience members would react as if they had never heard of her.

Finally, it was show time for Pelosi. And mercifully, Leno’s lame Pelosi promos were over.

Before the monologue, the show had an opening bit with Leno bumping into Pelosi in the hallway. He thanked her for coming. She apologized for being late but explained that she had a very important vote to take care of.

Leno said, "Probably government spending, something like that ?"

Pelosi replied, "No, no, no. American Idol. I had to vote for Sanjaya. I just love him."

Kind of funny, but not really. Too predictable.

Pelosi was not the first guest. That honor went to Julia Louis-Dreyfus, hawking her NBC series. I'm surprised the historic lady Pelosi agreed to fill the second spot.

Anyway, Pelosi comes out wearing one of her snug pantsuits and sporting her very tight skin.

Leno gushed about her being the first woman of Speaker of the House.

She talked about the marble ceiling -- Again!

She babbled about what the Dems accomplished in the first 100 days, which will be April 14. Basically, she claimed they've turned the country into a Utopia.

Leno wanted to know what she thinks of President Bush.

Pelosi claimed that she respects the office and respects Bush as a person. Really? I don’t see it.

She talked about bringing civility to Washington.

What a crock!

Leno wanted Pelosi to explain why Bush was so upset about your trip to Syria.

Pelosi floundered around.

She stuttered, "Well, actually, we only found out he was upset after we left. They said, you know,...the White House said not to go, but that really didn't happen. Why he was upset... I don't know, because actually we had a bipartisan delegation which was delivering President Bush's message to President Assad, which was a very firm message."

WHAT??

Does she think that she can get away with that and not have someone call her on her utter lunacy?

Pelosi said she didn't understand what the big deal was.

Leno didn't challenge Pelosi, but he did gently comment that The Washington Post was critical of her, too.

She said as Speaker of the House it's her job to oversee the budget so it was important for her to go.

Because Bush supposedly wants a blank check when it comes to foreign policy, Pelosi rationalized that it was her duty to see what was happening in Syria.

Sure. Not surprisingly, Leno didn't follow up. He just swallowed her gibberish.

Then, Leno brought up criticism she received for wearing the headscarf.

She said as a Catholic, she'd been wearing the scarf for a long time.

When was the last time Pelosi went to church? Pre-Vatican II?

Leno asked her opinion of the Dem field for Election 2008.

In response, she said people are battle fatigued. She babbled about the Internet and what young people want. She said we're in a new technological age.

She made absolutely no sense!

She finally got around to saying that all the Dem candidates are good.

Leno then inquired about the Republican candidates.

Pelosi said if she thought one was strong, she wouldn't say which one.

The audience chuckled a little bit.

Leno wanted to know if Pelosi plans to run for higher office someday. She insisted that was not in her future. (God willing, she means it.)

After throwing all those super soft "hardball" questions at her, Leno switched to a lighter topic and talked about Pelosi's love of chocolate.

She eats chocolate ice cream everyday. Leno gushed that she's so slim. Pelosi said she chose good parents. "My Italian-American heritage gives me all this energy to work it off."

That sounded weird. I think Al Sharpton should demand that Pelosi apologize for suggesting that Italian-Americans are hyperactive or else she should resign.

Leno ended by asking Pelosi to comment on the Don Imus dust up.

Pelsoi said, "It's really sad people mistake cruelty for humor in certain circles. I think it's important for people to know that that has no place."

She said, "I want to commend you for understanding,... handling comedy with dignity for now almost 15 years."

Leno quipped, "Apparently, you don't watch the show on a regular basis."

That was obvious.

It was also obvious that Pelosi is new to the entertainment talk show circuit.

Sanjaya is far more entertaining than she is.
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Read about Sanjaya's April 19 Tonight Show appearance here.

Antonella Barba

Antonella Barba fully-clothed

The Internet strikes again.

The immediacy and the speed with which information spreads really is astounding.

The latest victim of the new media is Antonella Barba, a contestant on American Idol.

From her page on the Idol website:

Q: What other talents do you have?

Barba: Violin, piano

Q: Most embarrassing moments?

Barba: Saying the wrong things before I think

I think Barba might need to revise those answers.

LOS ANGELES -- The Internet was abuzz Friday over a series of racy photos linked to an "American Idol" contestant. The pictures, posted on several Web sites, included one with four women posing topless at the beach, their hands covering their breasts, and others with a woman engaged in a sex act.

The anonymous postings alleged that Antonella Barba, 20, of Point Pleasant, N.J., was depicted in the photos and didn't indicate how they were obtained.

Alex Gillespie, a Fox publicist in New York for the top-rated show, said the network would have no comment on the incident or whether it might affect Barba's participation in the contest.

Gillespie said the network is not making any of the contestants available to speak to the media.

...Nigel Lythgoe, an "American Idol" producer, was quoted on Entertainment Weekly's Web site on Friday as saying he was unaware of the photographs.

"We have really good background checks on everybody, and we deal with that every season," he told EW.com. "It's sad, isn't it, that your best friends are the ones that come forward with information that will go to Smoking Gun or put your photographs on the Web?"

Interested in seeing the photos?

Here's more photos alleged to be Barba.


It is sad that her "best friends" were willing to post these compromising photos of Barba on the Internet.

I wouldn't call them friends.

However, much sadder than the betrayal by these so-called friends is the fact that Barba engaged in the behavior depicted in the photos.

Quite literally, she blew it.

American Idol has a precedent to follow. Other contestants have been forced off the show for behavior that its producers deemed inappropriate.

I don't see how Barba can be allowed to remain if it's determined that the most sexually graphic photos are actually of her. It would be inconsistent with the treatment that other contestants received.

I suppose Barba could spend a day or two in "poor judgment" rehab. She could blame an addiction. Maybe Donald Trump could intervene and make things all better.

But in the final analysis, the show must uphold the standards it has set.

Actually, I don't see Antonella Barba as a victim of the Internet or disloyal "friends."

She made poor choices and those choices have consequences.
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Update:

What are the consequences for Barba? Other than being publicly humiliated and getting an incredible amount of attention, NONE.

If the ones responsible for releasing the photos hoped to destroy her chances to remain on the show, they made a gross miscalculation.

American Idol producers are going to support her. Why? Ratings. Money.

Barba's popularity has skyrocketed. She has a new audience of admirers.

As long as she stays on the show, American Idol will be attracting a new demographic -- the cramped hand demo. Yes, the producers have decided to reap the benefits of the sleazy photos.

In my opinion, it's creepy and reflects poorly on the show.

I wonder how the show's producers would have reacted if sexually explicit photos of a male contestant surfaced. Would they be as forgiving in that case?

I'm not sure what the lesson here really is.

I guess if you want to be famous, Barba is a role model.
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I'm surprised it took this long for someone to bring up the issue of race when comparing how American Idol treated Frenchie Davis versus how Antonella Barba has been given a pass.

LOS ANGELES -- Frenchie Davis, dumped by "American Idol" in 2003 for lingerie shots posted on a Web site, moved on to Broadway success and thought she had buried a humiliating chapter of her young life.

That changed in the last few days after contestant Antonella Barba was allowed to stay on the top-rated Fox series despite the emergence of racy online photos that purport to be of Barba, but with no verification.

The first big controversy of the show's sixth season swelled Tuesday when fans and a civil-rights activist rallied to Davis' side, saying she was the victim of unfair and potentially biased treatment. Davis is black; Barba is white.

"We object to having one rule for black contestants and a different rule for white contestants who exhibit the same behavior," said Najee Ali, community activist and founder of Project Islamic H.O.P.E.

Davis said she is bewildered over what's happened with Barba, 20, of Point Pleasant, N.J.

"I don't necessarily think that (it's racism), but I can certainly look at this and understand why people would draw that conclusion," Davis said Tuesday from New York, hours before going on stage in the musical "Rent."

"I'm not bashing `Idol' or Antonella. She's a beautiful girl and she's young. I think it's great that she didn't have to go through what I went through," said Davis, 27, who suggested that the show's producers might have learned from how they treated her.

Davis would welcome a public apology from them as "a great start." But she said she is owed more for "the manner in which I was humiliated and the manner in which Antonella was defended and protected by the same people who humiliated me."

"Now they need to come to the table and see what we can do to make up" for her treatment, Davis said. She declined to say if she would seek a financial settlement or a record contract or other deal.

Belinda Foster, Davis' manager, took part in a small protest Tuesday with Ali outside the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles where "American Idol" tapes. She said there are stark differences in the treatment of the two contestants.

..."`American Idol' has first and foremost proclaimed it is a family show. ... No matter who made the photos public, it still speaks to her moral character and integrity, and certainly her silence speaks for itself," he said.

A fan group lead by Chris Tian, a singer-songwriter in Portsmouth, N.H., is calling on Fox to give Davis another shot at competing on "Idol."

Where's Jesse Jackson?

American Idol-gate

From Drudge:

WILL PAULA BE BOUNCED FROM 'IDOL': ANSWERING MACHINE MESSAGE TO BE AIRED

**Exclusive**

Is Paula Abdul the next person to be booted off AMERICAN IDOL?

FOX executives have declined to answer any and all questions posed by ABCNEWS regarding claims AMERICA IDOL judge Paula Abdul personally "coached" a favorite contestant and then tried to cover up the breach, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

MORE

Even though ABC has been warned by Abdul powerattorney Marty Singer that the network faces legal action if it proceeds with Wednesday night's PRIMETIME LIVE expose -- ABC lawyers are convinced the bombshell audio evidence and video material to be presented in the special will pass any legal challenge.

Late night phone calls and answering machine messages are said to tie Abdul, 42, to an inappropriate relationship with a 22 year-old contestant, sources tell DRUDGE.

ABC is preparing to play the audio, along with on-camera interviews given by former contestants who did not receive the same personal "coaching."

"I am quite surprised and disappointed ABC is devoting an hour of its prime time programming to air tabloid trash," a top FOX executive said from Los Angeles.

FOX owner Rupert Murdoch has informed executives that it appears ABC is attempting to maliciously "destroy" the nation's most-watched series as it heads into the final weeks.

Developing...
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I have to wonder about ABC. They're promoting this expose like it's the Abu Ghraib scandal.

In reality, ABC is probably just generating more interest in American Idol.

The program thrives on intrigue. I doubt that its fans will desert the hit show because of ABC's airing of American Idol's dirty laundry.