Monday Morning Roundup

Went to Shea Stadium Saturday for the first time to see the Mets play. It was OK but definitely not the same as going to Yankee Stadium. Not to seem too biased but just about everything is better in the Bronx. The Stadium is nicer, you are closer to the field. The fans are better - Tom Glavine was throwing a perfect game for 6 innings but you would have never known from the fan response. Those who bothered to show up (although the Mets are doing great this year, the stands were at least 1/3 empty) they were not really that much into the game! The concessions - while a little cheaper were harder to find and almost non existent in the stands (Although the personalized "Mets Budweiser" bottles were pretty cool). Basically visiting Shea was like going to a big park to watch a baseball game being played verses going to "The Stadium" where you really become part of the Yankee experience. I'm glad I went but it really just made me appreciate the Yankees so much more.

I tried to watch the MTV awards last night but it was a mess. I have been reading about how they were going to revolutionize the show - but it fell flat. Britney Spears opened the show and was just horrible. Everything else I saw over the next hour or so was almost equally as bad. Back to the drawing board MTV.

We decided to just stay in yesterday and order dinner in. We got the Dominoes "Brooklyn style" pizza. It was great actually and I recommend it.

Big Brother 8 (USA) is winding down and another year of being addicted to the show is finally coming to a close. What's made it more of a nuisance is the fact that they have, for the first time, a live show every night from midnight to 3am on the network Showtime Too. It is simultaneously memorizing and boring ... if that makes any sense. Anyway there is a guy from FSU still left in the house and apparently it's someone I somewhat know. He looks familiar and people back in Tallahassee tell me that he has hung out with us many times. Even though I only barely remember him I'm still rooting for Zach.

The Dolphins lost their first game yesterday. The lack of coverage up here is frustrating but if they have another poor season I may be thankful that they are almost never on TV here in New York. The Yankees are doing well right now and lead the Wild Card race. Keep it up guys!

Summer is hanging on here. It was blazing hot at the Mets game on Saturday and the 80+ degree temps continue. I'm guessing only for another couple weeks though. My sweaters, jackets and hoodies are ready to go.

Have a great week everybody!!!!

Bollywood actress wins UK "Big Brother"

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, at the centre of a raging race row, has been crowned the winner of British reality television show Celebrity Big Brother.

The 31-year-old Indian actress burst into tears on hearing she had won the public vote.

The experience on the Channel 4 show had been "incredible and overwhelming", she said after winning the show last night.

story

Big Brother Bully Booted

Jade Goody (L) and Shilpa Shetty are seen in a composite handout photo. Britain's media on Saturday welcomed the eviction of a reality TV show contestant accused of racism and bullying, but criticized the television channel over a show that has whipped up an international storm. (Channel 4/Handout/Reuters)

UPDATE! The chairman of Channel 4 (UK)ordered an inquiry last night into whether underhand tactics had been used by the producers of Celebrity Big Brother to stoke up the race row between Jade Goody and the Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.

Big Brother UK Controversy

As many of you know I have been a long time fan of the TV show Big Brother. As far as reality shows go, BB has the most interesting concept: Lock people in a house and watch them 24/7 - pretty much slowly going nuts for 100 days. Big Brother 1 in the USA was great and the contestants nearly revolted against the producers because of the harsh treatment. Unfortunately since that time, Big Brother in the USA has been becoming less of a social experiment and more of a beauty pageant for attractive back stabbers. Each year of BB USA has been less interesting and less entertaining than the last.

You may also know that Big Brother did not start here and is on all over the world. It is a Dutch production that is wildly popular everywhere. In fact, I think BB USA is the least popular of the shows. Anyway, there has been a huge controversy in this years Big Brother in the UK. Controversy is no stranger to this show and every country seems to have their share but this time, the ripples are being felt in broad areas of international relations.

You can read this link to get all the details but a quick summary is that a Bollywood Star (Bollywood is the Hollywood equivalent in India and the surrounding area. It is massive and Bollywood stars are almost as well know as our own top matinee Idols) is in the house and has been the subject of racist taunts. Read up on how much of an international furor this has caused.

Last night she and her Nemesis Jade were up for eviction. With a record 38,000 complaints - security was such an issue that there was no live audience allowed near the booted contestant (Jade) and the police are needed extra security and a safe house to evacuate the evicted house guest.

Now, I don't support racists taunts but I do like good TV. If a show is going to call itself a REALITY programs then, dammit, it should actually reflect reality! Here, BB USA is full of beautiful people scheming to win the money. It has been sanitized beyond any recognition of reality. It seems that overseas, there is still an edge to the show with the producer not fearing controversy but dealing with it head on. That's reality my friends!