What I Learned About Dieting from Daytime TV … and Snooki?

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daytime TV, diet advice, diets, Dr. Oz, reality tv, Snooki, Snooki diet

When I’m in between consulting jobs, one of my most beloved indulgences is daytime TV. Even bad daytime TV.  And that’s where I found Snooki. And I was reminded of one of the most basic of diet truths, something I had forgotten amid a flurry of fad diet advice and sure-fire diet tricks.

Now as much as I love bad TV, daytime or anytime, I have never watched Snooki or anyone on Jersey Shore. Wasn’t even tempted. And I stoop as low as watching and totally enjoying The Bachelor!

So when I was channel surfing and saw that Snooki was going to be a guest on the Dr. Oz show (his show has good info, but one revelatory THIS is the answer moment after another can really grate on you after a while), I decided it was time to get myself out for a nice walk instead. But something – perhaps the fact that it was April Fool’s day – made me tune in. Or maybe it was just a thought that it’s cool sometimes to get past preconceived notions. Anyway, for whatever reason, I prepared to give her and my curiosity a few minutes.

Snooki on Dr. Oz

And there she was, being interviewed by Dr. Oz, who in a charmingly-annoying way seems to find the best in almost everyone. As for Snooki, she was natural; she was engaging; and she was coherent. All things I didn’t expect.

SNL and 30 Rock Take to the Stage to Support the Writers Strike!

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"30 Rock", "Writers Guild", SNL, strike, unions

Performers from striking Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock (both NBC) are putting their funny where their mouths are.

Although I’m sure they didn’t get the idea from my November 9th post Oh Ellen…You Could Find Another Way!, I am thrilled they coincidentally riffed on my idea suggesting Ellen do something similar.

Oh Ellen…You Could Find Another Way!

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"Ellen Degeneres", "Writers Guild", strike, union

From the headline on AOL, I can see I’m not the only blogger saying “Tsk tsk tsk!” to Ellen DeGeneres. Seems, after showing initial one-day solidarity with her writers and the current writers’ strike by not taping on Monday, she went back to doing the show sans writers, with her sole concession being no monologue.

According to the article Bloggers Blast Strike-Breaking ‘Ellen‘:

“I want to say I love my writers,” DeGeneres said on Tuesday’s show. “I love them. In honor of them today, I’m not going to do a monologue. I support them and hope that they get everything they’re asking for.” DeGeneres goes on to say that she’s continuing her show because “people have traveled across the country” to attend and be guests on her show, and she wants to “do everything I can to make your trip enjoyable and give you a show.”

Now I’m a huge fan of Ellen and know she is not the only one crossing the picket line.

Our New Ambassador to Iraq…Dr. Phil?

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Dr. Phil

I heard a fascinating thing on NPR this morning. People in Iraq listen to Dr. Phil. In fact, for Iraqis with satellite TV access (on those days when they have power) watching Dr. Phil’s show has become an oasis of comfort.

And one of the most amazing things Iraqis are learning is that they are not so different from U.S. citizens. Both have family problems as well as hopes and dreams. Although they can’t imagine actually putting their problems on TV the way they think all of us would – the shame would be too great – they find the real-life problems, along with Dr. Phil’s homespun delivery of his wisdom, mesmerizing.

One man, a journalist, admits he is sad when he misses the show. “I don’t cry,” he says. But he does feel better when he gets to watch. Looks like Dr. Phil is making more headway than our State Department!

One thing people wish Dr. Phil would talk about is how to help their families deal with the daily, unrelenting violence and the fear that forces so many people to keep confined to their homes. This war right outside their doors has been going on for years and the toll on the human psyche is unimaginable.

David Letterman loves to poke fun at Dr. Phil. OK…let’s be honest – many of us do. But I also love knowing that Dr. Phil McGraw and his show are bringing some much-needed moments of happiness and comfort to the Iraqi people.

I only hope one day soon the Iraqi people get to live in peace again. Clearly, Dr. Phil and his show cannot possibly undo the damage these poor people will have to live with the rest of their lives. But at least I’m glad he helps make their days a little better.

——

To listen to the report on NPR:

Dr. Phil Finds an Audience in Iraq

Paris Learns Prison is NOT the Hilton – But She Could Learn So Much More!

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Paris Hilton

She’s the talk of the airwaves and blogosphere. The girl-woman known mainly for her celebrity came up against a harsh reality all too many of our young people (and people of any age) have had to face: prison is terrifying. The thought of being locked up behind bars and unable to get out unless someone lets you out is enough to transform anyone’s legs to jelly.

I’m not here to chastise her or make fun of her. Lord knows there’s enough of that going around. Driving under the influence and speeding again and again as if the law doesn’t apply to her is no joke for sure. But all that’s between Paris and the law right now. And prison is far more effective wake-up call than anything a blogger like me could say.

So why am I writing about something that’s being blogged to death? Because I hope the irony of this will hit home with her. Paris Hilton is a woman who lives a life most people can only dream of – a lifestyle funded by real estate and the Hilton Hotel chain. So it is painfully ironic that her actions (and at times admittedly blatant disregard for authority) have caused her to wind up in a cell with only the barest of essentials. We can talk forever about the role society and her upbringing has played in all this, but in the end, she learns that she is being held responsible. As have so many before her.

And so, as she is subjected to the horrid conditions of prison and the realization of what it’s like to be without control over one’s freedom, I pray that she starts to think not only of her own suffering, but of the countless others who have had to go through what she’s going through – some even younger than she – many without hope in their lives – innocent and guilty alike left to beg for mercy and maybe a bit of understanding from the unyielding walls. And I also pray that she decides to do something to help young people stay out of prison in the first place and/or help them get a real chance in life after they get out. I pray that her compassion is touched by this potentially life-changing experience. And I pray that some good comes from something that at the moment is being treated as the joke of the minute.

Paris…with all your money and influence, you can actually save lives. I hope this experience helps you see that. Good luck turning your own life around – and maybe finding the compassion to help others too.

Vote for the Worst Gloats Over Melinda Doolittle’s Farewell on American Idol

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Melinda Doolittle, Vote for the Worst

On their website, Vote for the Worst takes full credit for pushing Blake Lewis into the final two on American Idol, leading to the hugely talented Melinda Doolittle going home. For me, this is a sad thing on many levels.

From the VFTW website:

“MELINDA WENT HOME!!!!!! VFTW VICTORY!!!! Holy crap… who saw this coming? Our votes made all the difference this week, and even the pimp spot didn’t save her. This is a glorious moment, let’s all celebrate! Blake is driving the VFTW bus to the finale, even if he hit a speedbump along the way. Go Emo-Skunk”

You know…I get that they think they have a big statement to make about American Idol just being commercial reality TV. But what the hell is Vote for the Worst now but another commercial entity, so selfishly heady in its own perverse “victory” it doesn’t care about the people who actually enjoy Idol as it is?

Television is entertainment. Idol is television. Ipso facto…Idol is just entertainment. The producers have a right to put together what they consider to be a good show. And fans have a right to enjoy their show and not be subjected to a spiteful lesson at the hands of self-congratulating buttinskies who claim to be waging some kind of righteous battle. Seriously… what is so cool about being the ones to take candy out of the mouths of smiling fans? VFTW is just a nasty spoiler with a message that stinks of self-satisfaction and a mean spirit.

Melinda knocked it out of the ballpark each week. She is no second-rate star. So their points are really lost when they celebrate the fact that they kept a rare talent from feeling the joy of winning. Melinda deserved the chance.

Shame on you, Vote for the Worst! Or should I call you Gloat for the Worst?

——-

Note: I decided not to provide a link to the VFTW website since each click means $$$ for them. Making money on being spiteful goes against everything I believe in.