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Rich Little came and went. But Stephen Colbert’s 2006 Bush Roast Toast was the Gettysburg Address of Comedy.
Colbert’s speech was spot on and so perfect in speaking truth to power that Bush and his posse didn’t know what him ‘em. One hundred years from now, historians will be studying Colbert’s roast of the President of the US. While all the media were peeing in their pants just to be there in sycophant mode, on national television, to his face --- Colbert told Bush that he was a fucking asshole, something millions of us would love to do had we the chance.
For 8 years, nobody has challenged Bush at all and Colbert did more for rationality and progressive action than nineteen senators lined up in a row. All this and more, from the funniest guy on television, the media, and 'the nation' combined.
-2Truthy
Video: President's Dance http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/
http://defamer.com/hollywood/alec-baldwin/first-inevitable-alec-baldwin-mash+ups-arrive-254207.php
Special thanks to funnyordie.com and Defamer
If you haven’t heard Alec Baldwin’s no doubt regrettable private, angry phone message to his daughter yet, here it is:
http://jazzlyn.newsvine.com/_news/2007/04/20/674004-baldwins-phone-tirade-to-daughter
This was some bad shit. Hell-to-pay-city kind of stuff.
His Bad.
I believe that Alec is not alone in his feelings of helplessness as millions of divorced men around the country are hauled into court for similar asinine bouts of uncontrollable behavior that leave the rest of us men and women wondering: what prompts some men to behave this way and what can we as a society do to discourage it and promote civility and understanding in these difficult situations? A little background and consciousness raising awareness first is in order, as I propose the Alec Baldwin School of Anger Management.
Talented and versatile actor Alec Baldwin is currently enjoying the success of his starring role on the hit TV Show “Thirty Rock”, and is one of only a handful of leading men who can powerfully and successfully cross the divide between drama and comedy. Known for convincingly playing explosive characters, in particular mobsters and hucksters – the New Yorker never fails to disappoint when it comes to channeling a character’s inner core of truth --- which any actor will tell you is the Holy Grail of good acting. No one can accuse Baldwin of not delivering on getting to the core of truth in his characters, and Alec Baldwin’s got the goods here.
To this day, this is my favorite performance from Alec Baldwin in his 1992 Tony nominated role as Stanley Kowalski in Streetcar Named Desire. Bar none.
For anyone who didn’t have the chance to see Alec Baldwin and Jessica Lange star in the Broadway 1992 stage production of Streetcar Named Desire at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, you missed one hell of a live performance by Alec Baldwin playing Stanley Kowalski, who internalized the character so unbelievably well in an almost “funny, post-adolescent bowling buddy way.” Bellowing at Blanch Dubois (Jessica Lange) after she has taunted him one too many times for being a “Polack," Baldwin metamorphosed into Kowalski’s sweaty, blue collared “baffled beast”, where he later “deposits himself in a sobbing heap at the bottom of a tenement's towering stairs.”
Not unlike the now infamous cell phone message to his daughter, Alec Baldwin has found an unwelcome parallel with the fictional Kowalski’s anger management issues with his public apology for his inexcusable cell phone message. And yet, what all good dramas share in common is the pursuit of love: the catalyst of seeking love and affiliation at any and all costs, often without rhyme or reason.
But what kind of personal pressure prompts a man like Baldwin to uncontrollably rant like this? During the heat of what has been described as a “War of the Roses on steroids” style of a years long post divorce custody battle between Basinger and Baldwin, this private cell phone message leaked to TMZ reveals just how unbelievably frustrated, humiliated and truly helpless he had to feel (however inexcusable the wording and the tone) to have left such a disturbing message for his daughter.
Double standard? Do we as a society hold men to a tough guy, football hero, and grid-iron standard of never allowing them to melt down under pressure, like women so often do? One certainty is that for the millions of average, non celebrity divorced fathers across the country facing similar painful struggles with their former spouses who are trying to incorporate their kids into their lives while they are expected to be the “big breadwinners”, rants like Baldwin’s are not uncommon. Are men actually allowed to experience helpless and angry feelings and yet never, ever breakdown under personal pressures? I’m not talking about hitting someone over the head with a baseball bat here, but of pure and regrettable, childish out of control verbal ranting?
If the release of this phone message demonstrates anything positive, let it shine a light on the extent to which our society’s expectations of men’s expression of helplessness is taboo and that they too, like women, can say “it’s ok” to talk about it and to learn from mistaken outbursts. And like all divorced families across the country, any events leading up to such rants like these are private, nuanced affairs for these families to constructively work out with the help of professionals who can teach productive, non-hurtful communication skills.
This is why I implore Alec Baldwin to learn and grow from this lesson by partnering with Naomi Campbell to open up a chain of the ALEC BLADWIN SCHOOL OF ANGER MANAGEMENT franchises across the country, and let the healing begin.
-2Truthy
http://ww.tmz.com/2007/04/20/baldwin-can-you-hear-me-now/4#comments
http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9E0CE4DD1E38F930A25757C0A964958260
-2Truthy
Charles Simonyi’s Space Flight Covered by Quincy
THIS JUST IN: 2Truthy Relays Special Report from Quincy
BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan — Although Martha Stewart’s quail “tastes more like beef jerky” and that “the service leaves something to be desired,” Quincy’s report from Outer Space LESS THAN TWO HOURS AGO so far suggests that the trip has gotten off to a great start.
Selected over more than three hundred well known journalists from all around the world -- even Borat --- Quincy landed the exclusive position as special guest flight reporter to cover the monumental, historic mission to Space.
In particular, Quincy stated just minutes ago in a special transmission that he is pleased with landing the job. He clarified that so far, he doesn’t see Arianna Huffington or Esther Dyson around anywhere onboard the capsule but speculates that “if Charles and I and the crew make it back without any peculiar symptoms, they may be next in line for launch providing they can negotiate a slightly better rate."
Meanwhile, Quincy describes the flight thus far:
“This is the most fun I have had since riding on the teacups at Disneyland last month, only better since my pod is directly next to Charles and we are really bonding. Not only is he teaching me Hungarian, but you should hear all the things that NOBODY else knows so far about Martha Stewart’s time in the slammer and how she snuck Charles into her cell and…hold on, my diaper is loose…Oops, I am going to have to hang up now…Happy Easter, Everybody!!!!!!!!!!”
Quincy
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070407/russia-space
Not everyone likes art or appreciates it. But I do. And I like the Chocolate Jesus.
Not because it is made of chocolate per se and not because it is not wearing any boxer shorts. When I first saw the photo, I marveled over the animation, how the artist sculpted it -- attracted to the incredible life-like body texture and human image while hanging in suspension, arms outstretched as Jesus was described to have welcomed everyone, only to later be crucified for it.
May the message of the Chocolate Jesus enlighten the great many fundamentalist, sick puppies all around the world in this warring time of persecution under the banner of religion. As Donahue went on a rampage to shut down the exhibit, Matt Semler, the gallery’s director, even resigned in protest. Now, many are rallying ‘round Cosimo, displaying signs of the life affirming, redeeming qualities that religion is supposed to be all about.
The artist Cosimo Cavallaro is taking heat this week from the head of the Catholic League over the Chocolate Jesus. In an ironic twist, the sanctimonious Bill Donahue, leading the assault, showed no signs of any redeeming qualities as he bullied the artist and fired off insults and assaults to fellow Christian Cosimo during the Lenten Holy Week leading up to Easter. Crooks and Liars head honcho John Amato provides commentary and the Anderson Cooper video:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-amato/
a-catholic-priest-stands-_b_45121.html
The transcript of the Anderson Cooper interview with Cavallaro and Donahue is also available on C&L. The fact that Donahue is no artist is one thing, but it is yet another to call the artist a “loser” and to proclaim that his art be exhibited in a “New Jersey dump.”
What’s Rahm Got to Do With It?
Although Rahm Emanuel has expressed skittishness about his staff (and himself) appearing on the Colbert Show, he has been doing some tough talking on behalf of the Democrats troop withdrawal plan.
Bush now has the difficult task of trying to convince Americans to stick with him in a four-year-old war that has claimed the lives of more than 3,200 US troops.
While 57% of Americans support the Democrats’ plan to begin withdrawing troops and with 36% rejecting it, you could say that the Dems have a quorum. The House bill contains a mandatory September 1, 2008, deadline for pulling out combat troops and the Senate mandates the withdrawal to begin sooner, but sets next March 31 as a goal for them to be out.
“We can’t continue to pursue an Iraq policy based on fairy tales and rose-coloured glasses. A majority of both the House and Senate have voted to change it. The president should join us,” said Illinois Democratic Rep. Rahm Emanuel.
-2Truthy