Mendte pleads guilty August 22, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Crime, Larry Mendte
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Larry Mendte has pleaded guilty to one felony count of hacking into Alycia Lane’s e-mail inbox.
CNN, again, has picked it up. And CBS3 led their noon news with the story.
Supported by a dozen family members inside court, including his wife, Fox29 anchor Dawn Stensland, Mendte was quiet as he left the courthouse. Stensland did have one thing to say:
I love my husband, and he’s a good man.
Though Mendte could face up to six months in jail, federal prosecutors agreed not to discuss sentencing at today’s brief hearing.
After hearing an assistant U.S. attorney recount the government evidence of his hacking into Lane’s account more than 500 times, Mendte verbally acknowledged the evidence.
From the Inqy:
Mendte told the judge that he was “a little nervous, your honor, but I feel okay” as she sought to make sure that Mendte wanted to plead guilty and was legally competent to do so.
Apparently, he also acknowledged he’s been seeing a therapist since the entire scandal erupted.
Sentencing is scheduled to take place in November. A press conference by Mendte’s attorney is scheduled for later this afternoon. CBS3.com is your place for the up-to-the minute details…and of course, I’ll blog about them later.
John Edwards and the Beverly Hilton August 14, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Random Rubbish.Tags: Beverly Hilton, John Edwards
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I’m staying in the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. Of course, the hotel is known for many things, perhaps most prominently (until recently) as host of the Golden Globes in the International Ballroom.
And then, it was the hotel where Sen. John Edwards carried out his affair in room 252.
Upon check-in at the hotel, we learned we were in room 254. Go figure.
To verify, my mom asked the bellman if 252 was, in fact, the room where the biggest news since O.J. Simpson actually took place. Our bellman, after an embarrassed laugh, verified our thoughts.
So, in this first and only reference to the National Enquirer, which first reported the affair taking place in room 252, you can see that this, indeed, is true (except for that whole “love child” part). Read after the jump for some pics.
Bernie Mac makes ‘heaven funnier’ August 9, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase.Tags: Bernie Mac, Obituary
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Bernie Mac passed away Saturday at the age of 50, one day after his publicist said his condition was “stable.”
He had been in a Chicago hospital being treated for pneumonia.
Mac’s sudden death can only make you think. Think of how short life can be. Think of how your body can play tricks on you. Think of how many other people are personally affected by something like this.
I think that last point is what gets lost in a celebrity death. Why should this one person get all the attention when thousands of other people in the U.S. — and even more in the world — don’t get the attention deserved?
Mac was one of those celebrities you could feel good about because he made you feel good — someone who could make you smile just based on his presence alone. As co-star Don Cheadle said, “heaven just got a little funnier.”
The tributes of Mac aren’t excessive. They’re probably just right. And probably what many other people deserve but never get.
Philly dominates Food Network August 5, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase.Tags: Adam Gertler, Food Network
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Maybe ‘dominates’ is a strong word. Regardless, rumors from last week appear to be true.
According to Google News at 11:04 a.m., the Inquirer is the only one to report that Next Food Network Star runner-up (and South Philly native) Adam Gertler will be getting his own show on the net.
The show’s in full force. It’s got a name (Will Work for Food), it’s got a premier date (Sept. 30 at 9:30 p.m.) and its got a sole comedic host (Gertler).
This announcement comes one day after Camden’s Aaron McCargo, Jr. premiered Big Daddy’s House, a show that just makes you feel good about family.
All this means that Food Network got two new stars from its reality competition show, and that the third finalist, Lisa Garza of Dallas, has been overlooked by the network.
Some (like my dear cousin Anna) have sarcastically argued that the Food Network stole Gertler’s interactive idea of a show (Hungry in Philadelphia) and gave it to another foodie (Aida Mullencamp) with a new show that premiered Saturday, Ask Aida. But it seems everything works out for everyone in the end, right Anna?
Big Daddy’s in the kitchen July 28, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase.Tags: Aaron McCargo, Food Network
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Aaron McCargo, Jr. is bold.
That’s likely why the selection committee chose him last night as winner of The Next Food Network Star.
McCargo, a 37-year-old former cafeteria chef from Camden, beat out nine other competitors for a chance at a “dream job,” the host of his own Food Network show.
Bobby Flay announced in last night’s pre-recorded season finale that McCargo’s show, called Big Daddy’s Kitchen, will premiere Sunday, Aug. 3 at 1:30 p.m.
McCargo, who recently resigned from his job as chef at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital’s catering service, beat out Lisa Garza from Dallas and Philly native Adam Gertler, whose pilot demo was called Hungry in Philadelphia.
What’s interesting about this season of TNFNS is it’s the first time in the show’s four seasons that home viewers didn’t vote for the winner. Rather, the selection committee consisting of two network execs and Flay chose without viewer input.
Maybe there’s a reason for that. Out of the three current winners of , only one — Guy Fieri — has found success on the network.
A ‘Golden’ goodbye for Sophia July 25, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase.Tags: Estelle Getty, Lifetime, Obituary, The Golden Girls
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Estelle Getty passed away Tuesday at the age of 84.
To celebrate the life of Getty, Lifetime is airing 10 episodes of The Golden Girls Friday beginning at noon. That’s five full hours of all the menopausal menacing you could possibly ask for.
I only know that because I watch Lifetime nightly for Frasier between midnight and 1 a.m. And, if I’m lucky, I’m occasionally awake for a double dose of The Golden Girls at 1.
So call in sick from work. Take a half day. Get home and enjoy an afternoon filled with all the Sophia one could want.
A whole new meaning to ‘Come on down’ July 24, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase.Tags: Bob Barker, Tattoos
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This is true dedication.
It’s amazing what tattoo artists can do nowadays. Granted, this version of Bob Barker makes him look a bit like a vampire, but it’s still a pretty nice representation.
A representation I would never want permanently etched into my skin cells.
I originally thought of saying, “If 100 people get this tattoo, I’ll get one, too.” But then I realized, there are probably 100 people out there who would pay Kat Von D a visit.
NOTE: The above image is not Kat Von D’s work. I was trying to be fancy with words and failed.
CBS can stay clothed July 21, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Journalism.Tags: CBS, FCC, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Super Bowl
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The “wardrobe malfunction” has finally been resolved.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (yes, the one right here in Philadelphia) overruled the FCC’s fine of $550,000 on CBS for the exposing of Janet Jackson’s breast for “nine-sixteenths” of a second during the Super Bowl XXXVIII Halftime Show.
Good riddance.
The court said the FCC could not prove that CBS “willfully and knowingly” allowed the act to take place, as Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake acted as independent agents.
Take that, FCC.
I must give myself a pat on the back — in my term paper last fall, I argued, based on many legal precedents, that there was no way the FCC could win this battle. If you want proof, you can read my paper.
Chester: the new Hollywood? July 21, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase.Tags: Celebrities, Chester, Daily News, Movies
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Don’t be surprised if you see Jessica Alba or Brad Pitt walking the streets of Chester. They’re probably working.
The reality of a movie studio in the Delaware Valley is quickly becoming reality. Sun Center Studios is coming to Chester Township, Delaware County, on a 33-acre site.
Local director M. Night Shyamalan apparently already wants a piece of the studio, planning to film his next feature there.
The studio will create 1,000 permanent jobs in Chester in addition to 300 temporary construction jobs. It’s projected that the studio will generate $400 million of local economic activity annually.
But…why Chester?
“One thing about [the Delaware Valley] is it’s not a homogeneous look. We can look like an old city, we can look like a brand-new city. Then you can be in the post-war American suburbs, or have the look of the Main Line, the rolling hills of Chester County or old industrial towns.”
- Sharon Pinkenson, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office
A similar project is planned for the Norristown area. Already, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. have expressed interest in using Sun Center.
Next thing we need is a Lamborghini dealership and a visit from Lindsay Lohan, and we’re right on Hollywood’s heels.
Map courtesy of Philadelphia Daily News.
Still eating actions and burgers July 18, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Philadelphia.Tags: Gossip, NBC10, Vince DeMentri, Dan Gross, Ryan Howard
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Vince DeMentri is in high demand. At least in the Internet world. Probably not the real world, I’d imagine.
So…here’s an update: there is none. NBC10 still hasn’t released anything about the future of its temperamental anchor as his bio remains on nbc10.com.
In keeping with an old post on a similar topic…
Ryan Howard must have taken buddy Pat Burrell’s advice. With an unknown female companion, Mr. MVP 2006 was seen at Rouge on Rittenhouse Square partaking in a hamburger (allegedly, no cheese like the left fielder). He also consumed a cheese platter and a key lime martini. Mmm.
