Week Ender: September 24-30
Friday, September 29, 2006
QUICK HITS
- Flava Flav says he's not too interested in doing a third season of "Flavor of Love." The rapper/reality star says he'd rather do something else like host his own talk show.
- Tony Danza and his wife of 20 years, Tracy, are splitting up. It seems his talk show being cancelled took a toll on their relationship.
- Star Trek's George Takei stops by the Howard Stern show yet again, to announce the show for two days.
SAY WHAT?!
"And you've got that little smirk on your face and you think you're so clever. But I had responsibility for trying to protect this country. I tried and I failed to get bin Laden. I regret it. But I did try. And I did everything I thought I responsibly could." - former president Bill Clinton going after FOX News' Chris Wallace when he asked him why he didn't do more to catch Osama bin Laden
Labels: weekender
posted by jc @ 6:18 PM,
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Screech Sex Tape
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Dustin Diamond is at the top of the list of people you never want to see in a sex tape. Yet, Screech is the star of a new sex tape in which he gets it on with two women. The 29-year-old engages in a number of sexual acts with the women in the 40-minute tape called, "Saved By the Smell." The tape begins with Diamond in a bathtub, narrating what's to come. It ends with Diamond introducing one woman to a "Dirty Sanchez." File under: disgusting. Diamond's manager Roger Paul hopes the tape will raise his client's profile and help resurrect his acting career that collapsed when "Saved By the Bell" ended in 1997. Labels: star scandals
posted by jc @ 9:08 PM,
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The Day The Music Died
Further proof that Sirius is the most addictive thing ever to happen to radio. It was 9AM and I was leaving work after my exhausting overnight shift. I stepped into my car and tried to turn on my Sirius Satellite Radio to hear Howard Stern... and nothing! It just turned on and off. On and off. On and off. What the hell?! No service for the first time in 10 months! When I got home, I soon found that trying to talk to a live person at Sirius was impossible. After five calls, one of them being on hold for 20 minutes, I gave up. Such bullshit. It seems everyone else was having the same problem. Finally, at 8 o'clock, I turned on the radio fully expecting it not to work but I was surprised. Bruce Hornsby performing on Howard Stern! I never thought I'd be happy to hear Bruce Hornsby. I can now tell you from personal experience that going without Sirius must be similar to being a crack addict without a fix. Let's hope it never goes down again or else I'll have to check into radio rehab.
Labels: sirius satellite radio
posted by jc @ 8:46 PM,
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Terry Irwin Speaks
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Barbara Walters traveled all the way to Australia for the first interview with the Crocodile Hunter's widow. In "Tragedy in Australia: The Steve Irwin Story," Terri Irwin spoke about how she fell in love with Steve Irwin. She described him as a loving father who would do anything for his family and the animals he loved. When she got the phone call that he had died, Terri said she felt herself explode inside. "I've lost my prince," she said tearfully. Terri said that the Crocodile Hunter's legacy will live on in his absence, as she and everyone at the Australia Zoo will continue his work. "We will not be victims of this grief. We will be wildlife warriors like Steve Irwin." Their eight-year-old daughter, Bindi, is also carrying on her dad's legacy with a new television show, "Bindi The Jungle Girl." "I think his spirit and what he stood for needs to carry on forever," Terri said. "I'm Mrs. Steve Irwin. I've got a lot to live up to."
Labels: crocodile hunter
posted by jc @ 10:47 PM,
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Howard K. Stern: I'm The Father
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Anna Nicole Smith's lawyer, Howard K. Stern, dropped a bombshell on Larry King Live tonight. He claims he is the father of Anna Nicole's newborn daughter, Dannie Lynn Hope. The revalation sets the stage for a potentially nasty paternity battle. That's because Anna Nicole's friend Larry Birkhead has been appearing on ET and THE INSIDER every night, saying HE is the father of Anna Nicole's baby. Birkhead has asked for a paternity test. Stern also told King that Smith is planning to stay in the Bahamas. "She wanted to be here to get away from the media and to start a new life and to give her daughter, you know, a chance to live a normal life," said Stern, who described himself as a "proud father." Labels: star scandals
posted by jc @ 11:15 PM,
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Jackass Number Two
Johnny Knoxville and his gang of bruised and battered stuntmen are back for another painful ride in "Jackass: Number Two." The stunts are much more dangerous and x-rated the second time around. Take the first stunt: when a snake grabs on to Chris Pontius' penis. Or when Steve-O pierces a hook through his cheek and jumps in the ocean with some live sharks. Yes, there's plenty of animal action in this one. The guys jump into a ball pit with anacondas. Steve-O has a leech suck on his eyeball. The sickest moment comes when the guys milk a horse and Chris Pontius drinks its semen. The drinking is actually censored out. Just like this first "Jackass," you look forward to each segment, wondering what they could possibly do next to top themselves. It's that feeling of wanting more that makes this movie work. If you're tired of Hollywood's scripted stunts and forced laughs, then go for the real-life antics of "Jackass Number Two."
GRADE: B+
Labels: movies
posted by jc @ 12:37 AM,
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Oprah on the Radio
Monday, September 25, 2006
Howard Stern got it right on his show this morning: Oprah can't say no to anything. She wants it all. Which is probably why she's starting up her OPRAH AND FRIENDS radio network on XM Satellite Radio. Will anyone care? My guess is no. For $55 million, Oprah will only host a half-hour show for her new network each week. A half-hour! The rest of the time, listeners will hear from her "friends" like Gayle King and designer Nate Berkus. Snooze. All this, while Oprah's talk show is still on the air everyday. If you want Oprah, watch her show for free. Why pay to listen to her for a half-hour a week on satellite radio? Howard Stern was able to bring his fans over to satellite because his show is exclusively heard on satellite. My prediction: no one will listen to Oprah on the radio. She's a TV personality who should stick to what she's good at instead of providing fans with second-rate material for a quick buck.
Labels: radio
posted by jc @ 10:01 PM,
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Week Ender: September 17-23
Saturday, September 23, 2006
QUICK HITS
- A&E's Tuesday night special "Dog: The Family Speaks" broke a ratings record for the channel, as 4.5 million viewers tuned in.
- Barbara Walters will be interviewing the Crocodile Hunter's widow this Wednesday at 10pm/est on ABC.
- Howard Stern says continued rumors that'll he'll be returning to terrestrial radio are false.
- The new TMX Elmo doll got way too much press this week. The extreme Elmo laughs himself crazy when kids touch any of his "interactive tickle spots."
- Clay Aiken continues to deny rumors that he's gay. He does say he wants to adopt someday, which pretty much answers the question.
SAY WHAT?!
"Yesterday, the devil came here. It smells of sulphur still today," - Venezuelen president Hugo Chavez referring to President Bush in front of the United Nations
Labels: weekender
posted by jc @ 11:18 AM,
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The New Coke
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Thirsty? Then pour yourself a tall glass of Cocaine! It's the latest caffeine drink with a name that's pissing off all the old folks. The high-energy drink is being billed as a legal alternative to the illegal drug and is chuck full of caffeine. Its inventor says, "It's an energy drink, and it's a fun name. As soon as people look at the can, they smile." The drink is supposed to be 350 percent stronger than Red Bull, but will not give you the jitters like other energy drinks. So far, Cocaine is only being sold in New York and Los Angeles. Of course, anti-drug campaigners are going out of their minds, saying the standard, "but what about the children?!"Labels: pop culture
posted by jc @ 10:56 PM,
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Big Debut For Rachael Ray
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Rachael Ray is cooking up some good ratings. Yesterday, her show launched and got the highest debut ratings for a new talk show since Dr. Phil premiered back in 2002, with a 2.8 household rating. Ratings were up17 percent over its lead-in. In 2002, Dr. Phil debuted with a 5.3 rating. "Rachael" ranked either first or second in its time period in 28 of its 55 metered markets. The unwatchable Megan Mullally Show also began yesterday, but got a much lower 1.2 national rating.Labels: daytime tv
posted by jc @ 6:50 PM,
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WeekEnder: September 10-16
Saturday, September 16, 2006
ENOUGH OF ANNA NICOLE
When we found out that Anna Nicole 20-year-old son died, it was shocking news. But since the announcement, there has been little news about how he died. But there has been plenty of speculation. The nightly newsmagazines and cable talkers had a field day with this one, speculating how he died and if there would be a criminal investigation. Is there really a huge need to devote hours of TV time to this? Yes, it's a horrible celebrity story. But stop repeating the same stale details. It's no wonder the media gets a bad wrap.
MARK MCEWEN RECOVERING FROM A STROKEFormer EARLY SHOW weatherman Mark McEwen is in the battle of his life, recovering from a stroke. He spoke with Harry Smith this week, saying he's making progress from the near-fatal stroke he suffered last November. McEwen's speech has been affected, but he says he wants people to know that you can come back from a stroke. McEven says he wants to do what Lance Armstrong did for cancer, for stroke survivors.
OUT OF THE GATE AND STRUGGLING
Two new talk shows and two new court shows debuted this week. JUDGE MARIA LOPEZ and CRISTINA'S COURT are holding their lead-in audiences, but things are not looking good for DR. KEITH ABLOW and GREG BEHRENDT. With who-gives-a-shit topics like, "Tori Spelling's Ex Tells All," DR. KEITH averaged only a 1.0 rating for the week. Author Greg Behrendt would kill for a 1.0. His snooze-fest, pointless relationship talker averaged only a 0.7 for the week. He even dipped as low as 0.6 on Wednesday. With ratings like this, expect Behrendt to be canned by the new year and Ablow to only last one season.
QUICK HITS
- Katie Couric slips to third in the ratings for a few days, but rebounds back to number one by the end of the week.
- Meredith Viera debuted on the TODAY SHOW last Wednesday, giving the show an easy win in the ratings.
- The controversial segregated SURVIVOR got the lowest ratings of any opener since the show started.
- Nancy Grace is coming under fire for grilling a woman whose toddler son was kidnapped. A day after the interview, the woman killed himself. Nancy says her show is not to blame.
- Rachael Ray's much-anticipated how-to talker begins on Monday with first guest Diane Sawyer. The set is complete with a rotating audience that moves around as Rachael jumps from one segment to the next.
SAY WHAT?!
"I'm not anorexic. I'm not bulemic. I do not have an eating disorder." - Nicole Richie on the TYRA BANKS SHOW
Labels: weekender
posted by jc @ 1:14 PM,
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Dog the Bounty Hunter Arrested
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Duane "Dog" Chapman has found himself on the other side of the law. MSNBC reports that U.S. Marshals arrested Dog and family members Leland and Tim on kidnapping charges. Mexico issued a warrant for Chapman's arrest for his alleged kidnapping of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster three years ago. Chapman's capture of Luster, a serial rapist, in Mexico catapulted the bounty hunter to fame and led to his reality series on the A&E channel. Seems to me like the only person that should be under arrest is Luster.Labels: celebrity arrests
posted by jc @ 7:34 PM,
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Whitney and Bobby Divorce
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Years of drug binges and jail stays have finally caught up with Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown. Whitney's publicist tells the AP that she has filed for divorce from Brown. Houston and Brown, who married in 1992, have had a sometimes tumultuous marriage. Rumors of their breakup have surfaced often over the years. The couple have a daughter, 13-year-old Bobby Kristina. Maybe this will get the one-time singing sensation back on track.Labels: celebrity divorces
posted by jc @ 6:23 PM,
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Five Years Later
Monday, September 11, 2006
posted by jc @ 6:01 AM,
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Anna Nicole's Son Dead!
Heart-breaking news for Anna Nicole Smith. Her 20-year-old son, Daniel, has died. Smith just gave birth to a new baby girl in the Bahamas last Thursday and now she has to bury her only son. There is no word on how he died. Smith's attorney, Hwoard K. Stern, has said that it was not drug or alcohol related. In a statement he says, "Anna Nicole is absolutely devastated by the loss of her son. He was her pride and joy and an amazing human being." Daniel Smith often appeared on his mother's reality TV show on E!
Labels: obits
posted by jc @ 5:28 AM,
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WeekEnder: September 3-9
Saturday, September 09, 2006
MyNetworkTV DEBUTS QUIETLYThis week, many of the UPN stations became MyNetworkTV affiliates. The new FOX network with the not-so-catchy name offers six nights of English telenovelas, DESIRE and FASHION HOUSE. No surprises here, the network is off to a slow start. Both shows dipped to a tiny 1.0 rating by Thursday. What a surprise: eople don't want to watch the same thing every night. Especially when what's being offered up isn't all that good. I fully admit to watching DESIRE a few nights. It isn't terrible, but I doubt I'll be tuning in when David Letterman returns next week.
DAYTIME TV PREMIERE WEEK
It's daytime TV's premiere week. DR. KEITH ABLOW, CRISTINA'S COURT and JUDGE MARIA LOPEZ all premiering on Monday. GREG BEHRENDT starts his talker on Tuesday. DIVORCE COURT starts season 8 with new judge Lynn Toler and FAMILY FEUD celebrates 30 years with new host John O'Hurley and a new set on Monday. TYRA and MONTEL begin their new seasons on Monday, also with new sets. Paternity test-loving MAURY fans will have to wait until next week for his new season. It starts Monday, September 18.
QUICK HITS
- David Letterman is expected to sign a four-year contract with CBS to stay on as host of the LATE SHOW through the 2009-10 season.
- Nancy O'Dell has signed on for five more years with ACCESS HOLLYWOOD, taking her through the 2010-11 season.
- Nicole Richie admits to doing heroin during an interview with dad Lionel Richie on 20/20.
QUOTE
"My name is Meredith Viera and welcome to The View." - Rosie O'Donnell introducing herself as the new co-host of THE VIEW
Labels: weekender
posted by jc @ 10:54 AM,
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Paris Hilton Arrested!
Thursday, September 07, 2006
It was around six this morning when the following breaking headline crossed over the wires: "Paris Hilton Arrested." What a great way to start the day. Hilton was arrested early this morning for driving drunk. Police pulled the 25-year-old over and gave her a sobriety test after seeing her drive erratically. She failed the sobriety test and was arrested. Unfortunately, cops let her out on personal recognizance. In true Paris fashion, she wasted no time, calling in to Ryan Seacrest's radio show to tell her side of the story. Paris admitted to having a margarita and said she was speeding because she wanted a hamburger. She also said she thought she was being made an example of because the paparazzi were all around during her arrest and the cops wanted to show that they weren't giving her any special treatment. Congratulations to the cops for doing the right thing by not letting her side because she's a celebrity.
Labels: celebrity arrests
posted by jc @ 7:35 PM,
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Couric and O'Donnell Debut
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
It was a big day for former talk show host Rosie O'Donnell and former Today show host Katie Couric. Both women coming back to television after some time off. O'Donnell broke away from television after hosting THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW to focus on her family and some side projects. Today, she was back, replacing Meredith Viera on THE VIEW. Sitting down with a new set in the background, O'Donnell showed off some flowers sent to her by none other than her friend, Tom Cruise. O'Donnell joked around by referring to herself as Meredith before discussing the news of the day with the other ladies. Seems like she did try hard not to overpower her fellow hosts.The face of nightly news also changed today as Katie Couric took over the reigns of the CBS EVENING NEWS. Looking more like Entertainment Tonight, Katie scored an exclusive, showing Vanity Fair's cover featuring the first photo of Tom Cruise's baby. Hard news? She also introduced a new segment, "Free Speech," where celebrities get to voice their opinions on the state of the world. Again, not so hard news. Katie ended the show by saying she had not thought of a way to sign off the show. She then encouraged viewers to give her sign-off ideas on the CBS Website. Very cheesy. You mean to tell us you can't come up with something clever on your own, yet we're supposed to trust you deliver the news each night? For me, Couric certainly did not live up to all the hype.
Labels: daytime tv
posted by jc @ 8:25 PM,
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Telethon Record
Monday, September 04, 2006
The annual Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon raised a record $61 million dollars today. The previous record of $60 million dollars was set back in 2003. Earnings slumped last year because Hurricane Katrina hit right before the telethon and people were donating to disaster relief instead of Jerry's kids. In fact, Lewis donated some of the telethon's money to Katrina-related funds. The top contributor this year was the International Association of Fire Fighters, which donated a record 23-point-five million dollars. The show was broadcast from Las Vegas and featuredcelebrities like Ed McMahon, Celine Dion and the Backstreet Boys. Since the telethon began in 1966, it has raised one-point-four billion dollars to fight muscular dystrophy.Labels: television
posted by jc @ 10:11 PM,
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Crocodile Hunter Dead!
A Labor Day shocker. Steve Irwin, better known as the Crocodile Hunter, has died. He was killed today by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was only 44 years old.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAIRNS, Australia (AP) -- Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming
off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.
Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous bard on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said.
"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.
Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter.
Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said.
Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter."
First broadcast in Australia in 1992, the program was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting Irwin to international celebrity.
Labels: crocodile hunter, obits
posted by jc @ 12:18 PM,
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WeekEnder: Summer Rewind
Saturday, September 02, 2006
On this Labor Day weekend, the Daily Edition takes a look back at the summer that was.
TOP STORIES
> Star Jones announces she's leaving THE VIEW when she was supposed to keep quiet. She then trashes the show in PEOPLE magazine and loses her job.
> Major violence in the Middle East after Hezbollah militants kidnap two Israeli soldiers.
> A 19-year-old girl tells New York's FOX 5 news that she had an affair with Christie Brinkley's husband, Peter Cook.
> N'Sync's Lance Bass announces he's gay on the cover of People Magazine.
> AMERICA'S GOT TALENT scores big on NBC.
> Gas prices soar to more $3 a gallon throughout the country.
> John Mark Karr is arrested in Thailand for the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. Karr tells the media he was there when she died. A DNA test shows that Karr's DNA does not match DNA found on Ramsey and the case against him falls apart.
> Scientists demote Pluto, saying it is no longer a planet.
> Kevin Federline performs at the TEEN CHOICE AWARDS and gets terrible reviews for being a typical white-boy rapper.
> SNAKES ON A PLANE was supposed to be a cult classic in theaters, but did not live up to expectations.
> Paris Hilton releases an album and has a dance hit with "Stars Are Blind." The album sells poorly in record stores.
SONGS OF THE SUMMER
Cassie "Me & U"
Chamillionaire "Ridin Dirty"
Fergie "London Bridge"
Gnarls Barkley "Crazy"
Justin Timberlake "Sexy Back"
Lostphophets "Rooftops"
Nelly Furtado ft/ Timbaland "Promiscuous"
Panic! At the Disco "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Pussycat Dolls "Buttons"
Labels: weekender
posted by jc @ 12:44 PM,
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Howard Stern All-Request Weekend
Howard Stern is celebrating Labor Day with an all-request Labor Day Weekend. Listeners can call in to hear their favorite classic interviews and moments from the show. Stern recently got more than 23,ooo hours of tapes spanning 20 years back from his former bosses. They kept the tapes when Stern left for Sirius. Here's a look at some of the classic material that's been back on the air:Classic interviews with: Paul McCartney, Rodney Dangerfield, Anna Nicole Smith, Andrew Dice Clay, Ozzy Osbourne & kids
Outrageous moments: Grampa Al Lewis screams "Fuck the FCC" during Stern's live Freedom Rally, Bill Maher presides over Politically Incorrect with Wack Pack members, Fred buys his mom a Cookie Puss cake, Gary calls 911
Live music performances: Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Sheryl Crow, Train, Foo Fighters, Staind, Stone Temple Pilots, James Taylor, Beck, Willie Nelson
Labels: howard stern, sirius satellite radio
posted by jc @ 11:48 AM,
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MTV VMA'S 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
In a word, this year's MTV Video Music Awards were BLAH.
First, the high points. The show had a house band for the first time. The Raconteurs performed throughout the show, getting to sing many of the songs from their album. Enjoyed Lil Kim's first public appearance since she was released from jail. She wore an orange prison jumpsuit and was escorted out by two "police officers." Honoring video director Hype Williams was long overdue. Having Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott perform songs from two classic Hype videos was great. In fact, their old school hits were much better than most of the other performances of the night. Except The Killers. Their show closer brought down the house.
Now, the low points. Jack Black hosting anything is a terrible idea. He's about as funny as watching a grenade drop on a daycare center. What a shocker, another over-the-top Beyonce performance. Yawn. Also could have done without Al Gore's environmental lecture. The biggest problem: censorship. The show used to air relatively uncensored but since Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfuction, the show has been on a delay. Case in point: Panic At The Disco's performance. "I chimed in. Haven't you ever heard of Closing the aaaahhhh-damned door." Lose the bleeps and blurs, bring back Chris Rock and then you'll have a VMA's worth watching.
Labels: award shows, music
posted by jc @ 2:20 PM,
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WATCH THIS
CATFISHMTV, Mondays 10pm/ET
Based on a popular documentary film, this weekly series follows people who are in online relationships. They meet their longtime loves with the help of the show, but things aren't always what they seem.
FAST FOOD MANIA
DESTINATION AMERICA, Sundays 10pm/ET
If you listen to the Howard Stern show, the you already know that Jon Hein is the biggest fan of fast food around. Join Jon as he checks out the best places to chow down for cheap on this new show on the new network, Destination America. If you're not craving something greasing after watch this show, then something is wrong with you.
TRISHA
Syndicated, Weekdays/ET
Trisha Goddard hosted talk shows overseas for years. Now, she's the star of her own show, a spin-off of Maury, here in the states. Topics have included a man with 5 wives and women who eat strange objects like drywall and dirt.
About THE DAILY EDITION
The Daily Edition blog brings you the stories you'll be talking about at the water cooler. Follow The Daily Edition on Twitter: @JCers.
