Without a good hotel reservation new york is a nightmare. 47-million people visit that vibrant metropolis in an average year and the range of hotels and discounts would boggle the mind. If you’re not planning a trip soon, you should. But get it professionally done so you can truly relax.

The news came in from Reuters a few hours ago; “Actor Keanu Reeves was cleared on Monday of any liability for injuries a paparazzo claimed he suffered when he was struck by the actor’s car.”

Altogether, now – Yeeeessssssss!

It was blindingly clear from its very inception that this entire affair was a petulant shake-down. The ‘photographer’ saw the chance of a shot that could make him a great deal of money – and missed it. So he decided to gouge a profit by less challenging means – Fraud.

A celebrity’s life has numerous perks, but one major flaw is the legion of selfish, avaricious malfeasants who make it their aim to enrich their own lives by draining the life blood – and greater net worth – of those so benighted as to become their prey.

Here at least is one disingenuous leech who will need to reassess their plans for great wealth, and actually earn it themselves. Keanu must be greatly relieved. I wish him success in his now blameless life, and hope this case serves as an indelible warning to all those who harbor such pitiful dreams.

Politics is boring. American politics doubly so, as not being a Citizen means it’s purely a spectator sport. And one that, in this case has gone so far into extra innings someone should repay us with jail time at least.

But it seems even this endless snore-fest may boast a silver interior – If the Elephant wins, we lose all lose the Scarecrow.

Heidi Klum and her husband, Seal, have now joined an elite list of names who are ready to head for the ports if the GOP wins. Stephen Baldwin, Susan Sarandon [and presumably Tim?] and Michael Stipe of REM have already declared they’re set to depart. And Tina Fey has announced she’ll vacate the whole planet.

Sweet Lord, say it could be?? A sojourn by the rest could be endured with ease. But the absence of Heidi? Even the prospect should cause a parade. She spends ten years as an overpaid clothes-horse for the talents of others, and now thinks this bestows the right to hold court on the worth of contestants whose passion alone exceeds her IQ, to reach fame and success in a career she has never dared to attempt.

Four years without her. What did we do to deserve such largess? And she’d be gone before we all go Hi-Def. 1400+ days without that Teutonic nose scarring grooves in my plasma…It’s right about now I wake up and find it’s a dream.

The return of the GOP would be a disaster. But the truth of her absence would sweeten the pill.

Photo by Exfordy

As I reported recently, GM has abandoned plans to be part of the Oscars next year. Today, AdAge has the news that the Korean car maker, Hyundai, has taken all of their spots.

This, dear reader, is no less than tragic. GM and Oscar have a place in the world that is shared by a very small group – They are universal icons for the American dream. Show their logos to any being on Earth and you’re assured of instant connection. They will know the brand and fervently admire that place it calls home. Today, that caché was diminished.

GM has been a friend of the Awards for over ten years, and to have one American icon replaced at the event of another by a firm that embodies the very source of its troubles is almost akin to a death. This is a magnificent country and in these troubled times we need to celebrate that as much as we can, but the forced retirement of an American classic is cause for concern, not rejoicing.

In time, GM’s board will turn things around. Until then, the Awards are undeniably weaker.

Photo by Mika Hiironniemi

As both of my regular readers know, I hate ‘reality’ television with a passion that could crush a planet. And the creatively vacant people at Lifetime are about to prove why even that depth of revulsion is barely enough.

On November 11 they will debut a six-part series called, “Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist.” Contestants will fight for $100,000, a contract with Max Factor and a shoot for ‘InStyle.’ magazine. Lifetime’s press release says Max Factor’s name and logo will be integrated into “every element of the show, from product use to a branded studio.”

The show is produced by MediaVest, the ad agency for Procter and Gamble…who own Max Factor.

So Lifetime intend to create six obsequious, undiluted infomercials then present them to the audience as a serious contest, without a trace of regard for those viewers’ intelligence. And each one will be stuffed with honest commercials to really drive up the profits.

As with all reality shows, everyone on the set will be non-union. So despite Lifetime’s vast potential profit from this disingenuous insult, not one Actor will get a single day’s work. And this is the kind of programming we’re supposed to get excited about seeing in Hi-Def.

I’m glad it’s the weekend. I think we all need ten-pounds of Hershey’s and at least two days to get over such a shameless assault.

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When you’re sixty you’re expected to be a little slow and forgetful. After fifty-nine years of unfettered practice, aided by the cream of this glorious nation’s performing community, the Emmy’s are entitled to no such concession.

Some TV critics are giving this ghastly spectacle overly-kind and upbeat reviews. I would be guilty of fraud and intellectual rape if I even considered it right to concur. The entire, skillfully-coutured charade was 15-minutes of worthwhile viewing squeezed into 3-hours of mind-crushing banality, then smothered in lip gloss and hosed with cheap perfume. All it lacked was a street lamp to lean on.

According to Neilsen, 12.2 million people watched the show – one of its lowest ratings in 15-years. And I couldn’t act surprised if you paid me! Everyone on that stage was there because the Emmys consider them the best of their kind…And that was the best they could do.

If this was their report card, they should deem themselves lucky to get more than an “F”.
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This is a well-deserved win, both for them and the thousands of Actors who might finally achieve peace of mind and more job security once the U4S members resolve the festering stalemate between SAG and the major producers. Wheels, we are assured, are already in motion.

Raise a glass to them, folks: An Actor’s life is a herculean challenge, valiantly striving for success and validation against seemingly countless and insurmountable enemies who deploy all manner of nefarious acts to halt their ascent. No Actor deserves to meet added resistance from those who are meant to guard their best interests.

The outdated thinking and disrespect of the members displayed by the ‘Membership First’ coalition induced widespread uncertainty that was as doubtlessly stressful as it was undeserved. This is a new start – in more ways than one.
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