Evans Above

Todd Dominey’s whatdoiknow blog comments on a piece done by CNN’s Howard Kurtz. Kurtz points out that the death of Elvis Presley was not the lead story on the three major networks back in ’77.

Flash forward to the present. Despite all that’s happening in the world around us, look at how the news frequently leads with celebrity stories. I was perturbed back in April when the Robert Blake arrest led the news over the death of four Canadian soldiers killed by a US bomb in Afghanistan.

Look, I’ll lead off with Blake, Aaliyah, who won what and who married who. But that’s my beat. The real newscasts shouldn’t morph into Access Hollywood.

We’ve had a lot of traffic recently looking for American Idol results. It appears at the moment (these things change) that DigitalHit.com has spots 1 and 2 when you search for “American Idol results” on Google.

I have to admit I’ve had to watch this show — I’m an entertainment writer after all — and I can’t believe the response it’s getting. The producers have done a good job of creating fake drama on the show that seems to have fooled the predominantly squealing teens that watch it.

The hosts and other judges all pick on Simon. First off, they all pick on Simon because he’s British (nothing like picking on your wartime allies). Even the two talentless hosts make comment after comment about the guy. The kids on the message boards think this is real, honest emotion. I guess they forget the fact that Simon is best buddies with show producer Simon Fowler and that this is all manufactured drama.

Still, I hope that Sideshow Bob (Justin) doesn’t win. Not that I’m watching that closely. Really.

It’s hot and humid in Toronto and I have to go find a cool place to write two reviews: Signs and Master of Disguise.

The two films couldn’t be further apart. Signs is a great film with wonderful performances. Master of Disguise is an awful, awful film.

I’ll have the reviews up shortly.

The Oscars® are planning to move to late February in 2004. This is causing mayhem for other award shows like SAG, DGA and BAFTA as they try to move even earlier to try and keep the influence over the Oscar® voters that they think they have.

This is causing havoc for the networks, the venues, and of course, LA hookers, as schedules have to be rearranged and rearranged again to try and keep up.

The big joke too is that the Academy may decide to keep their 2004 shindig in March after all.

So if you’re a major awards show producer and you’re stuck for a venue in 2004, perhaps you can hold your show at my place. Just let me know early enough so I can get some sandwich fixings in.

And remember it’s BYOB.

Trista Rehn, the lucky runner-up who avoided the doofus on The Bachelor, has just been announced as the star of The Bachelorette.

Why? Wasn’t the public humiliation of the first one enough? Sure she gets to pick this time, but c’mon, why does she have to do this in the first place?

Let’s examine the facts:

• she’s darn attractive
• she’s a Miami heat dancer
• she’s not as loose as the winner, but they did discuss “compromising positions” before they turned off the camera on the last night

So, she can’t find a man in the real world? Or does she just want a second 15 minutes?

I see Darva Conger’s going to make an appearance on Dog Eat Dog.

I’m so glad she has her privacy back. The question is, can network television get a restraining order against her?

The other day I was undercharged at a coffee shop. Being honest (my momma done raise me right) I pointed out the error.

How is it that I didn’t walk away from a coffee blunder that could have save me a dollar, yet executives of WorldCom and Enron can do billions worth of fiddling and not feel a thing?

We get film press kits all the time. Sometimes one a day. Sometimes ten.

To make our life easier, and deal with our crazy schedules, our press kits are sent to a Mail Boxes Etc. location.

Notice the name: Mail Boxes Etc.

Say it with me: Mail Boxes Etc.

What an efficiently named company. Let’s examine it a second. The first part, “Mail Boxes”, tells you right off that this business deals with the mail. Probably by putting it in boxes. The “Etc.” tells you that they do a whole bunch of other things like shipping and photocopying and whatever else the franchise can think of. It all falls under the “Etc.” umbrella.

Every month or so we get a call from a studio trying to send us a press kit. They ask us to confirm our address. The address is always right, so I ask what the problem is.

“The courier said they went to that place and couldn’t find you.”

Call me crazy…but when a courier (who deals with mail day in and day out) arrives at a place called Mail Boxes Etc. don’t you think the cluetrain would stop at his station?

I’m too confused by this. This shouldn’t happen before my morning coffee.

I was kidnapped and forced to watch some of American Idol tonight. Could they have picked two bigger idiots than Brian Dunkleman and Ryan Seacrest to host this show?

I love how they both cut up the choices and comments made by the judges. Hmmm, let’s compare the careers of the two hosts versus those of the judges.

And how about the blatant in show product placement? Anyone want a Coke?

An eight-seat plane returning from a fishing trip crash lands in a busy Winnipeg intersection. The manager of a donut shop runs out with fire extinguishers. Workers at the nearby gas station helped fight the fire too.

They could have just watched and waited until emergency crews arrived. But they took action and helped.

Everyday hereoes.

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