Cut to the Chase Utley June 11, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Chase Utley, Cut to the Chase, Philadelphia Phillies
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Browsing the Phillies Web site yesterday, I was surprised to see a familiar headline.
“Gee, that looks familiar,” I thought to myself. A few words, followed by a colon, followed by more words.
“Hmm…interesting setup.”
And then I read.
It seems the Phillies have plagiarized off my column. That’s right. As in the picture above, the Phillies stole the soon-to-be trademarked Cut to the Chase name for promoting second baseman Chase Utley’s All-Star lead.
OK, so it’s not trademarked. And the Phillies didn’t plagiarize. But I’m on a plagiarizing fix these days.
Regardless, I’m flattered that the Phillies have chosen to use the name of a prestigious, thoughtful column to advertise their truly unstoppable second baseman.
Next thing I know, Wheel of Fortune will be stealing the name of this blog post for a Before & After puzzle.
SATC + Movie = Media Meltdown May 30, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Journalism.Tags: Cut to the Chase, CBS3, Sex and the City
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For some unknown reason, the media seem to be obsessed with Sex and the City. It seems that every night on the news, you find yet another package on the women’s return.
But the latest package I saw, which just aired on CBS3 tonight, takes a different look.
Tonight, Robin Mackintosh (of all reporters) introduced us to the Men’s Guide to Sex and the City.
His interviews consisted of fans who informed us of all the characters, from Carrie to… OK, so I wasn’t paying so much attention that I learned their names, but give me some credit.
It’s a funny, unusual take what you may have seen before. For the diehard fans, it’s nothing new. In fact, it may be repetitive. But odds are, if you’re a diehard fan, you’re a woman. So this report isn’t really for you in the first place, is it?
Well, unless, of course, you’re not a fan.
But in any case, enjoy this report. And if you don’t, enjoy the fact that Robin Mackintosh is the one with the assignment.
The most surprising baby daddy May 29, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase.Tags: Clay Aiken, Cut to the Chase, Pregnant Man
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So apparently, Clay Aiken will soon be a proud father.
Seriously, who’d a thought?!
No, the former almost-American Idol isn’t married. Nor does he have a girlfriend. And no, he’s not a pregnant man.
Instead, through artificial insemination, Aiken knocked up his 40-something producer friend who he lives with when he’s in the Los Angeles area.
Any thoughts on names yet? Or how about thoughts on an outcome better or worse than Sean Preston Federline?
American Idol inside sabotage? May 13, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Random Rubbish.Tags: American Idol, Cut to the Chase, David Archuleta
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It may just be me, but the folks at American Idol seem to be pulling something behind America’s backs. And I’m not talking David Archuleta’s dad.
In tonight’s show, each contestant sang three songs. The first was chosen by the judges, the second chosen by the contestant and the third chosen by the producers.
Yes, the producers.
The producers, who should have no impact on the results of the show. The producers, who allow America to vote on their favorite song of the night. The producers, who have oh-so-much power in their hands.
It seems to me that the producers attempted sabotage - I said it - sabotage on tonight’s show. After an “OK middle round,” as Simon called it (side note - AI quote of the week - Simon compared David Archuleta’s second song as “a chihuahua trying to be a lion”), the producers chose the third song.
David A.’s - forgettable. Some mushy ballad with little room for variation.
Syesha’s - some pop song I’ve heard but have no interest in hearing again.
David Cook’s - Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” - the most recognizable, most appropriate song in the competition.
By giving D.C. a pop ballad by Aerosmith - perhaps the most well known modern pop ballad possible - the producers give him an edge in the competition. As he performed on stage, literally surrounded by the entire string section of the orchestra, the entire studio emitted an aura of This is the David Cook Show.
And the other two? Eh. Let’s just put them on a stool and see what they can do with this song.
The purpose of AI is to have the people choose the winner based on what the artists choose as their song. Sure, a pick by the judges is OK as long as it’s counterbalanced by a pick from the contestant. But the contestants batted 1 for 3 tonight. Even the judges criticized the song selection.
If that’s not telling you something, I don’t know what is.
The producers gave an advantage to a contestant who probably would need no advantage anyway to get in the finals. They took away a shot at an up-and-coming Idol - Syesha - for making it to the finale. And they made Americans cringe at favorite David A.
Way to ruin the credibility of your show, producers. Let’s just see about a 2009 season.
Jimmy Fallon as Conan O’Brien? May 12, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase.Tags: Conan O'Brien, Cut to the Chase
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Apparently, the “most kept secret in TV” was released recently - that Jimmy Fallon (of all people) will be replacing Conan O’Brien as host of Late Night.
This seems like an awkward choice. What has Mr. Fallon been doing with himself since SNL? Yeah, there was that whole Fever Pitch thing, but that’s it, right?
Of all potential comedians out there, Fallon doesn’t seem like the funniest choice. Yeah, there were some good “Weekend Update” moments. But what else is there?
NBC seemed so anxious to replace Jay Leno a few years ago when he announced his retirement in 2009 to prevent another Leno-Letterman debacle (not that there was much competition this time), but this response is coming a little early in NBC time.
Only time (in 2009) will tell.
Dick Standish is A-OK May 5, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Clips & Videos, Cut to the Chase, Journalism.Tags: CBS3, Cut to the Chase, Dick Standish
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Original post from Broad & Cecil.
Former CBS3 reporter Dick Standish is doing fine after fainting at his retirement party Wednesday.
Standish’s last day on the air was Wednesday at 4 p.m. Afterwards, after having a Coors Light at Finnigan’s Wake, he fainted for drinking on a light stomach, according to an article by Inquirer Daily News local news guru Dan Gross.
The above photo was taken by CBS3 reporter Jamie Smith, who visited Standish at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on Thursday. The trooper that he is, Standish let Smith take a photo of him in his hospital gown.
Standish retired from CBS3 after more than 29 years at the station.
On a personal note, I worked closely with Standish while interning at CBS3 last summer, and I couldn’t have worked with a better person. He’s a good citizen, an excellent reporter and an overall great guy. He’ll be missed at CBS3.
Events of today too current for Hollywood flicks April 28, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Clips & Videos, Cut to the Chase, The Temple News.Tags: Cut to the Chase, Humor, Alycia Lane, John McCain
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Original version from The Temple News.
CHRIS STOVER
The Temple News
Remember when the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League debuted in 1943?
Regardless if you were born or not, you probably know little about it. Unless you’ve seen A League of Their Own.
But how much do you, in fact, know based on the flick? Former leaguer Doris Sams said the movie was “about 30 percent truth and 70 percent Hollywood.”
If you’re going to fabricate info, let’s just lie like God’s not watching.
Cut to the Chase Blooper: Freud would be proud. April 25, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase.Tags: Cut to the Chase, News Bloopers
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The Freudian slip is one of the most feared things by all broadcast journalists - particularly because they usually happen when they’re LIVE! Here are two of YouTube’s favorites.
I feel bad for this woman. She seems like such a composed, conservative lady.
You can tell this guy’s heart sank as soon as he said it…
Cut to the Chase Blooper: Teleprompters are hard to read April 22, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, The Temple News.Tags: Cut to the Chase, News Bloopers
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Cut to the Chase is the name of my column for the Temple Living section of The Temple News from September 2007 to May 2008. It’s a pop culture/entertainment discussion. On broadandcecil.com, I began posting news bloopers I found on YouTube… because really, what’s more fun than news bloopers?
Here’s the latest involving a Fox News anchor. We’ll see Shepard Smith at the end, who had his own issues on air.
