HOT or NOT: The Ensemble of KINKY BOOTS

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Next Sunday, another anticipated Broadway musical, Kinky Boots, begins previews at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.  This splashy musical with a book by Harvey Fierstein and a score by Cyndi Lauper is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.  The cast is huge!  So there will be two weeks of polls - this week's poll is in two parts!  You'll be deciding on 2 Female Ensemble Members and 3 Male Ensemble Members  to send to the finals later this year, as we cast the HOTTEST MUSICAL STARS OF THE 2012 - 2013 SEASON!

Remember, that "HOT" isn't just about looks.  It's also about talent and that "it factor."  "HOT" is more than a pretty face!  When you vote this week, be sure to use the scroll bar to move down the poll, and click "DONE" after BOTH polls to make your vote count!  The polls follow the pictures of the cast, and will close on Thursday, February 28 at 7PM.


HOT or NOT: The Ensemble of 
KINKY BOOTS

Polls After Pictures: Male and Female Members: 
Vote "HOT" for as many or as few as YOU like.  
BE SURE YOU CLICK "DONE" AT THE BOTTOM OF BOTH POLLS.
NOTE: THERE ARE MALE ENSEMBLE MEMBERS IN BOTH PARTS, 
SO BE SURE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THEM!

Female Ensemble Members
Adinah Alexander and Caroline Bowman
Ellyn Marie Marsh
Jennifer Perry and Tory Ross
Male Ensemble Members
Eric Anderson and Eugene Barry-Hill
Stephen Berger and Paul Canaan
Andy Kelso and Kevin Smith Kirkwood
Eric Leviton and John Jeffrey Martin
Kyle Taylor Parker and Kyle Post
Charlie Sutton and Joey Taranto

POLL PART I - COMPLETE, CLICK "DONE"POLL PART II IS BELOW.  DO BOTH PARTS!
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

AFTER YOU HAVE CLICKED "DONE,"COMPLETE PART II, BELOW.  BE SURE YOU CLICK "DONE" AGAIN!


Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.
Jeff4.171

JKTS Chat: Chaotic Corey's College Journey Part 2

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A few weeks ago, one of my favorite, most loyal readers "Chaotic Corey," shared with us the first few of many steps in that, well, chaotic, rite of passage: getting into a college of our choice.  And, as if that isn't tough enough, he's also auditioning to get into a performing arts program AT one of those colleges!  Last time out (HERE), he shared all about how he came to want a career in the arts and how he's built up experience, education and preparation just to get ready for all this.

Now, he talks about his experience at Clemson University.


5More Quick Questions for Chaotic Corey
AMDA's New York City Campus
1. So, you just finished your first college audition!  Congratulations! Where was it?  Where does this school rank on your wish list ofschools?
Corey:  I did. This was technically my second collegeaudition since I previously auditioned for AMDA last summer, but it feels likemy first audition because that was so long ago! Hahaha! It went really well.This audition was for Clemson which is a pretty big school in upstate SouthCarolina (home of my favorite football team. Go Tigers!). This probably ranksabout 3rd on my list of 4 schools. This is because they do not have a MusicalTheatre program. They have an Acting BFA with an "emphasis" in MT. SoI wouldn't receive a MT degree from this school. 

2. Explain the audition process and audition itself.  How similar anddifferent was it from regular show auditions?  Who was there?  Didyou meet any fellow perspective students?
Corey:  Well, this audition was the shortest of all myauditions. I arrived at the school at 9 in the morning to check in at theirPerforming Arts Center, the Brooks Center. Here, I had my picture taken, gavethem my letters of recommendation and my headshot, and I took a seat. I tookthe waiting time to chat to some students at the school already and questionthem about their program and their experience and I also took the time to talkto the other auditioners. This was a great experience because I got to learn alot about other people, the program, and even a little bit about what my chanceswere of getting into this school. This audition process was similar to a showaudition, just longer waiting time. About 30 minutes before my audition, Iasked if there was a practice room where I could warm up and a student led meto a practice room where I warmed up for my audition. They came and got me andled me to the audition room where I auditioned for a room with 3 female judges.I did my two monologues, sang my song, and talked with them for about 10minutes and that was that!
3. They say hindsight is 20/20.  Now that you are done the first one,how do you feel you did?  What would you have done differently? What, if anything, about this experience did you learn that you can applyto future auditions?
Corey:  I feel like I did really well. I definitely wish Iwould have remembered to bring my water because I forgot it at the hotel andhad to keep running back to the water fountain to "wet my whistle". Ifeel like it went really well and I think the judges like me and enjoyed myperformance. As the student was taking me to my practice room, she asked whatprogram I was auditioning for and when I told her MT, she seemed enthusiastic.She claimed that their program only had 3 good Musical Theatre guys at the timeand they were in need of more, so that raises my chances of acceptance, Iguess! WOO!

One crucial decision: what song do I audition with?

Inside the Brooks Center: Drink a lot
STAY HYDRATED!

4. I know you did a lot of prep for this audition.  What was theapplication process like for this school?  Do you feel like you wereprepared enough?  Were there any surprises?
Corey:  Lots and lots of prep! It always feels like Iprepare TOO much for auditions. Hahaha! But, it really paid off in the end. Forthis audition, I worked every week with my voice coach on my song and on mymonologues. The application process for this school was simple. It was justlike any application process, I filled out my application online and have yetto be informed of my academic acceptance (I learn about that at the end of thisweek ahhh). After that I had to apply for an audition on one of the auditiondates that were open. When I did, I was informed when my audition would be andwhat to prepare for it. 

Brooks Center at Clemson University

5. Did you get to tour the campus?  The performing arts building(s)? Meet any faculty?  Now that you've actually been there, does theschool live up to your initial expectations?  If you are accepted, willthis school still be one of your choices? (I know it may be early for adefinitive answer to this...)
Corey:  Well, back in September I actually visited theschool and I have been on about 3 different campus tours because I live closeto the school. In September though, I met with the head of the Performing ArtsDepartment who took me on a tour around the PA Center and showed me all the insand outs of the program. At my audition though, I was able to meet some of theprofessors I would have if I were to go to the school and it was nice meetingthem and learning their goals for us and what they expect from students. Theaudition was a HUGE help and I can't wait for my next one this weekend in Elon,North Carolina!

Photos provided by Corey and Getty Images.
Jeff4. 172

JKTS CONTEST: WIN Tickets to HANDS ON A HARDBODY!

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Afteran acclaimed run at LaJolla Playhouse, Hands on a Hardbody has arrived onBroadway!   And now here’s your chance toget your hands on a pair of tickets!  But you have to act FAST!  Check out all the details below, then enterto win by Wednesday, February 27 at7PM!

ABOUT THE SHOW AND ITS CREATORS
TENContestants.  FOUR Days.  ONE Truck. A new musical about holding onto a dream…and not letting go.
Forten hard-luck Texans, a new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Undera scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor andambition, they’ll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand-new truck in orderto win it. In the hilarious, hard-fought contest that is Hands on a Hardbody,only one winner can drive away with the American Dream.
Inspiredby true events, this new musical features a book by Doug Wright (Pulitzer Prizewinner, I Am My Own Wife), lyrics by Amanda Green (Bring It On: The Musical),and music by Trey Anastasio (Phish) and Amanda Green. Directed by Neil Pepe(Speed-The-Plow) with musical staging by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys,Memphis), it is based on the acclaimed 1997 documentary of the same name byS.R. Bindler, produced by Kevin Morris and Bindler.
Formore information via online and social networks:

• Website:http://www.handsonahardbody.com/
• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/HardbodyMusical
• Twitter:https://twitter.com/HardbodyMusical
• Instagram:http://instagram.com/hardbodymusical
• YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/user/HardbodyMusical

THE PRIZE

• Twotickets to Hands on a Hardbody on Broadway at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
• Thewinner will receive a voucher redeemable for two tickets to any Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday or Thursday performance March 4 - 28, 2013. (Offer excludesThursday, March 21.)

THECONTEST

• Answerthe following 5 questions.  
• Putthe answers (Letter AND Answer, Ex. B. Angela Lansbury) in an email with HARDBODY CONTEST in the subject heading and send it to jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com. Include your name and location.  
• Entrieswill be accepted until 7PM on Wednesday, February 27.  One entry per emailaddress. Duplicates will be disqualified.

1. Oneof the stars of the show, Keith Carradine, played which real-life person in a1991 musical?a.      CharlieChaplinb.     FlorenzZiegfeldc.      WillRogersd.     JohnnyCash
      2.  LyricistAmanda Green provided lyrics for which other musical?a.      TheStory of My Lifeb.     HighFidelityc.      UrbanCowboyd.     Onthe Town
       3.  JayArmstrong Johnson understudied Aaron Tveit in which show?a.      Hairsprayb.     Wickedc.      CatchMe If You Cand.     Nextto Normal
       4.  Hardbody’smusical stager, Sergio Trujillo, won a Tony Award for his choreography forJersey Boys.a.      Trueb.     False
       5.  TreyAnastasio, who wrote the music for Hardbody, is a member of which band?a.      Phishb.     GreenDayc.      BonJovid.     U2
THE FINE PRINT

• One entryper email address.  Duplicates will be disqualified.
• Ifyou won a contest from this blog for tickets to any shows this season (Who'sAfraid of Virginia Woolf?, Old Jews Telling Jokes, The Heiress, Scandalous,Chaplin, Peter and the Starcatcher, Golden Boy, Dead Accounts, NiceWork If You Can Get It or Orphans) you are NOT eligible to win this contest.
• JK'sTheatreScene is not responsible for late or lost entries.
• JK'sTheatreScene is not responsible for changes in casting, seatsreceived by the winner, cancelled or missed performances.
• Followingthe complete rules for collecting the prize is the sole responsibility of thewinner.

GOODLUCK!
Jeff4.173 

64th Annual Primetime Emmy Nominations- BC's Final Picks

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Pandora Will Open Up Her Emmy Nomination Box Thursday Morning
Lots of TV Stars will have visions of Emmy Statuettes dancing in their head this summer.  (Photo by Bryan Curtiss)- Bryan Curtiss, Writer
On Thursday morning, Kerry Washington and Nick Offerman will announce the nominations for the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. One or both of them could be nominees this year. The Emmy Awards honor the best of television, but that is debatable. We each have our very own tastes in what we individually consider “The Best of Television” (please refer to The Bryan Awards as an example of this). But, year in, year out, there are more twists, shocks, and surprises than on Big Brother, and like with Big Brother, with the Emmy nominations, I have learned to “expect the unexpected.”

So, with that said, here are my final Emmy nomination predictions, starting with Comedy, then Drama, followed by Movie/Miniseries, and Variety/Reality.


Outstanding Comedy Series:
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Louie (F/X)
Modern Family (ABC)
Parks and Recreation (NBC)
30 Rock (NBC)

Upset Picks: Glee (Fox), New Girl (Fox), Veep (HBO)


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series:
Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory, CBS)
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO)
Don Cheadle (House of Lies, Showtime)
Louis C.K. (Louie, F/X)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock, NBC)

Upset Picks: Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation, NBC), Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men, CBS)


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series:
Laura Linney (The Big C, Showtime)
Laura Dern (Enlightened, HBO)
Zooey Deschanel (New Girl, Fox)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation, NBC)
Tina Fey (30 Rock, NBC)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep, HBO)

Upset Picks: Lena Dunham (Girls, HBO), Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly, CBS), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie, Showtime), Lisa Kudrow (Web Therapy, Showtime)


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series:
Ty Burrell (Modern Family, ABC)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family, ABC)
Ed O’Neill (Modern Family, ABC)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family, ABC)
Max Greenfield (New Girl, Fox)
Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation, NBC)

Upset Picks: Chris Colfer (Glee, Fox), Damon Wayans Jr. (Happy Endings, ABC), Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live, NBC)


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series:
Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives, ABC)
Betty White (Hot in Cleveland, TV Land)
Julie Bowen (Modern Family, ABC)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family, ABC)
Cloris Leachman (Raising Hope, Fox)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live, NBC)

Dark Horses: Jane Lynch (Glee, Fox), Casey Wilson (Happy Endings, ABC), Wendie Malick (Hot in Cleveland, TV Land), Jane Krakowski (30 Rock, NBC)


Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series:

Alan Alda (The Big C, Showtime)
Michael J. Fox (Curb Your Enthusiasm, HBO)
Matt Bomer (Glee, Fox)
Jimmy Fallon (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Will Arnett (30 Rock, NBC)
Kelsey Grammer (30 Rock, NBC)

Upset Picks: Sean Hayes (Hot in Cleveland, TV Land or Parks and Recreation, NBC), Bobby Cannavale (Modern Family, ABC), Greg Kinnear (Modern Family, ABC), Louis C.K. (Parks and Recreation, NBC), Carl Reiner (Parks and Recreation, NBC)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series:
Whoopi Goldberg (Glee, Fox)
Ellen Barkin (Modern Family, ABC)
Patricia Clarkson (Parks and Recreation, NBC)
Melissa McCarthy (Saturday Night Live, NBC)
Elaine Stritch (30 Rock, NBC)
Kathy Bates (Two and a Half Men, CBS)

Upset Picks: Susan Sarandon (The Big C, Showtime), Dot-Marie Jones (Glee, Fox), Doris Roberts, Rhea Perlman, and/or Kristin Chenoweth (Hot in Cleveland, TV Land), Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation, NBC), Zooey Deschanel (Saturday Night Live, NBC), Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock, NBC), Susan Sarandon (30 Rock, NBC), Blythe Danner (Up All Night, NBC), Megan Mullally (Parks and Recreation or Up All Night, NBC)

Outstanding Drama Series:
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Breaking Bad (AMC)
Downton Abbey – Masterpiece (PBS)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Homeland (Showtime)
Mad Men (AMC)

Upset Picks: Dexter (Showtime), The Good Wife (CBS), House (Fox), Smash (NBC)


Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire, HBO)
Kelsey Grammer (Boss, Starz)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad, AMC)
Damian Lewis (Homeland, Showtime)
Dustin Hoffman (Luck, HBO)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men, AMC)

Upset Picks: Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Showtime), Hugh Laurie (House, Fox), Timothy Olyphant (Justified, F/X), Patrick J. Adams (Suits, USA)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series:
Glenn Close (Damages, The 101)
Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey, PBS)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife, CBS)
Claire Danes (Homeland, Showtime)
Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU, NBC)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men, AMC)

Upset Picks: Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer, TNT), Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey, PBS), Jessica Paré (Mad Men, AMC), Kerry Washington (Scandal, ABC), Debra Messing (Smash, NBC)


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series:
Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad, AMC)
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad, AMC)
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones, HBO)
Josh Charles (The Good Wife, CBS)
Mandy Patinkin (Homeland, Showtime)
John Slattery (Mad Men, AMC)

Upset Picks: Dylan Baker (Damages, The 101), Alan Cumming (The Good Wife, CBS), Walton Goggins (Justified, F/X), Neal McDonough (Justified, F/X), Jared Harris (Mad Men, AMC), Vincent Kartheiser (Mad Men, AMC), Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age, TNT)


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series:
Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire, HBO)
Anna Gunn (Breaking Bad, AMC)
Dame Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey, PBS)
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife, CBS)
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife, CBS)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men, AMC)

Upset Picks: Morena Baccarin (Homeland, Showtime), January Jones (Mad Men, AMC), Megan Hilty (Smash, NBC), Anjelica Huston (Smash, NBC), Katharine McPhee (Smash, NBC)


Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series:
Fred Willard (The Closer, TNT)
Chris Messina (Damages, The 101)
Michael J. Fox (The Good Wife, CBS)
Matthew Perry (The Good Wife, CBS)
Edward Asner (Hawaii Five-0, CBS)
Robert Morse (Mad Men, CBS)

Upset Picks: Paul McCrane (Harry’s Law, NBC), Alfred Molina (Harry’s Law, NBC), Mykelti Williamson (Justified, F/X), T.R. Knight (Law & Order: SVU, NBC)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series:
Carrie Preston (The Good Wife, CBS)
Loretta Devine (Grey’s Anatomy, ABC)
Jean Smart (Harry’s Law, NBC)
Chloe Sevigny (Law & Order: SVU, NBC)
Joan Cusack (Shameless, Showtime)
Louise Fletcher (Shameless, Showtime)

Upset Picks: Debbie Allen (Grey’s Anatomy, ABC), Alexis Bledel (Mad Men, AMC), Julia Ormond (Mad Men, AMC), Bernadette Peters (Smash, NBC), Uma Thurman (Smash, NBC)



Outstanding Made for TV Movie or Miniseries:

American Horror Story (F/X)
Game Change (HBO)
Great Expectations – Masterpiece (PBS)
The Hatfields and McCoys (History)
Hemingway and Gellhorn (HBO)
Sherlock: Scandal in Belgravia (PBS)
Upset Picks: Five (Lifetime), Luther (BBC America), Page Eight – Masterpiece Contemporary (PBS), Treasure Island (SyFy)



Outstanding Lead Actor in a Made for TV Movie or Miniseries:
Woody Harrelson (Game Change, HBO)
Clive Owen (Hemingway and Gellhorn, HBO)
Idris Elba (Luther, BBC America)
Bill Nighy (Page Eight, PBS)
Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock: Scandal in Belgravia, PBS)

Upset Picks: Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story, F/X), Dominic West (Appropriate Adult or The Hour, BBC America)


Outstanding Lead Actress in a Made for TV Movie or Miniseries:
Connie Britton (American Horror Story, F/X)
Emily Watson (Appropriate Adult)
Julianne Moore (Game Change, HBO)
Nicole Kidman (Hemingway and Gellhorn, HBO)
Rachel Weisz (Page Eight, PBS)

Upset Picks: Patricia Clarkson (Five, Lifetime), Melissa Leo (The Space Between, USA)


Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Made for TV Movie or Miniseries:
Ed Harris (Game Change, HBO)
Powers Boothe (The Hatfields and McCoys, History)
David Strathairn (Hemingway and Gellhorn, HBO)
Ralph Fiennes (Page Eight, PBS)
Sir Michael Gambon (Page Eight, PBS)

Upset Picks: Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story, F/X), Jeffrey Tambor (Five, Lifetime), Peter MacNicol (Game Change, HBO), Tom Berenger (The Hatfields and McCoys, History), Tony Shalhoub (Five, Lifetime or Hemingway and Gellhorn, HBO), or Robert Duvall (Hemingway and Gellhorn, HBO)


Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Made for TV Movie or Miniseries:
Frances Conroy (American Horror Story, F/X)
Jessica Lange (American Horror Story, F/X)
Sarah Paulson (Game Change, HBO)
Mare Winningham (The Hatfields and McCoys, HBO)
Judy Davis (Page Eight, PBS)

Upset Picks: Gillian Anderson (Great Expectations, PBS or Moby Dick, Starz), Molly Parker (Hemingway and Gellhorn, HBO)



Variety Series:
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Upset Picks: Conan (TBS), Kathy (Bravo), The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (CBS)



Reality-Competition Program:
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Idol (Fox)
Project Runway (Lifetime)
So You Think You Can Dance (Fox)
Top Chef (Bravo)
The Voice (NBC)

Upset Picks: Dancing With the Stars (ABC), Survivor (CBS), The X Factor (Fox)


Reality Host:
Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race, CBS)
Ryan Seacrest (American Idol, Fox)
Tom Bergeron (Dancing With the Stars, ABC)
Cat Deeley (So You Think You Can Dance, Fox)
Jeff Probst (Survivor, CBS)

Upset Picks: Heidi Klum (Project Runway, Lifetime), Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef, Bravo), Carson Daly (The Voice, NBC)


Other Things To Watch Out For:
- South Park being snubbed for Animated Program ("Jackin' It"- if submitted for Music and Lyrics, could sneak in that category)
- Can any other freshman series besides Homeland break in?
- What program will get 20 nominations or more?
- Are The Daily Show, The Amazing Race, Modern Family, and Mad Men beatable?
- What surprise snubs could happen?

The DJBC Happy Hour radio program will recap Thursday's nominations on Monday (July 23).

Media Rants: On Elections--The Media's Ottinger Effect

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On Elections: The Media’s Ottinger Effect

by Tony Palmeri 
From the September 2012 issue of The SCENE 
Though not old enough to vote at the time, the first political campaign I followed closely was Jimmy “I've looked on a lot of women with lust” Carter v. Gerald “There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe” Ford in 1976. Subsequently I became a bona fide political communication junkie, almost obsessively keeping tabs on local, state, and national elections.
Like most voters I rely on mainstream mass media for information about issues and candidates. I peruse newspapers, magazines, television, radio, and a variety of electronic media sources. The experience is never pleasant, is often maddening, and requires sifting through tons of bull crap to get to anything beneficial. 
What’s frustrating is that before each election cycle, mainstream media always promise to feature reporting and punditry that will be high quality or at least better than the last time. Before the election season commences, the media create an image of themselves that they never quite live up to: the image of the crusading fourth estate debunking candidates’ false claims, forcing serious and wide ranging discussion of vital issues, and being responsive to the real concerns of the electorate.
In failing to live up to an image, mainstream media are much like some politicians. In TheCongress Dictionary, Paul Dickson and Paul Clancy refer to “the phenomenon of not living up to an image” as the “Ottinger effect.”
Representative Richard Ottinger was a liberal New York Democrat who ran for the US Senate in 1970. The Republican in the race, Charles Goodell, was appointed to complete Bobby Kennedy’s term. Soon after being seated, Goodell irked Republicans by speaking and acting much like Kennedy, especially in opposition to the Vietnam War. The New York Conservative Party nominated James Buckley, and with Goodell and Ottinger splitting the liberal vote Buckley won the seat. Ottinger could and should have won the election even with another liberal in the race, but in debates and other public appearances he could not live up to the statesmanlike image promised by his slick TV ads. Texas Governor Rick Perry’s dismal primary campaign for president this year is a good example of the Ottinger effect on the conservative side. 
(below: Watch Rick Perry's campaign ad on "Proven Leadership." Then watch his "Oops" moment at a Republican debate. A classic example of the Ottinger Effect.). 



Like Ottinger and Perry, mass media promise something edgy and different but when it comes time to deliver the goods they are essentially empty suits.  Below are three examples of the mass media election season Ottinger effect.
First, the failure to effectively debunk false claims. False claims are a fact of like in politics; a rigorous watchdog media is really the only way to hold liars accountable. Unfortunately, the mainstream media’s addiction to a mistaken understanding of “balance” creates a “they all do it” mentality that makes the fact check process almost pointless.Factcheck.org and Politifact.com once held great promise as guides to exposing BS in politics, but both sites are now like a  football referee who calls nothing but offsetting penalties justified via convoluted, rambling explanations. 
Second, the lack of wide ranging discussion. We’re in a presidential election year where the major parties and candidates disturbingly agree on a wide range of issues, from austerity to national security. Yet the mass media will not insist on the presence of third party candidates at debates, nor even question the legitimacy of the “Commission” that blocks third party participation. The Green Party’s Jill Stein, the Libertarian Party’s Gary Johnson, and the Constitution Party’s Virgil Goode, in spite of mainstream media’s only token mention of their names, will all be on the ballot in enough states to technically be able to get enough electoral votes to win the presidency. Additionally, the three of them are the only candidates saying anything substantive about issues. Yet the overwhelming majority of voters will hear nothing about them. More than anything else, mainstream media censorship of ballot qualified third party candidates exposes the incestuous relationship between the major parties and the press.
Third, the failure to be responsive to the real concerns of the electorate. National election coverage especially is now indistinguishable from Entertainment Tonight. In Time Magazine JamesPoniewozik calls 2012 the “Year of the Nontroversy.” He argues that “political news has become full of these trumped up, social media and cable news fanned brouhahas over quotes, anecdotes and associations. We're coming off a decade of war and financial ruin, yet our politics have gone from Israeli settlements to Irish setters, from 9/11 to 7 Eleven.” I’d have given Poniewozik’s column an “A” if he’d pointed out that Time itself long ago established the standard for shallow coverage of campaigns.
Media failure to respond to the real concerns of the electorate is not just a national phenomenon. Talk to anyone who’s ever run for city council or town board and they’ll tell you that voters consistently tell them they are concerned about cracked streets, crime, garbage pick up, removing bird droppings from the parks, snow and ice removal, and other less than sexy issues. But in order for the local media to call someone a “progressive” candidate, he or she has to sign on to some big ticket Chamber of Commerce demand like tax incremental financing or other questionable tax shifting schemes. 
Want to be better informed about elections? You took a great first step by reading this month’s SCENE!

Good TV Tonight: Monday, February 11

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Good TV Tonight

8:00 on CBS--How I Met Your Mother--Ted is frightened of breaking things off with his new girl.

9:00 on ABC Family--Bunheads--Milly marshals the troops as the new amphitheater is threatened.

9:00 on FOX--The Following--Loving all the women on this show, why do I fear they are all working for Carroll.

10:00 on ABC--Castle--Firefly Reunion Alert.  Gina Torres guest stars in this murderous spoof of the Real Housewives franchise.  

Also:

7:30--Adventure Time
8:00--Regular Show, Bones, The Carrie Diaries, The Bachelor, Switched at Birth, Biggest Loser, Love & Hip-Hop
8:30--MAD, Rules of Engagement

9:00--Being Human, 90210, 2 Broke Girls
9:30--Mike & Molly
10:00--Deception, Lost Girl, Hawaii 5-0, Monday Mornings

TV Notepad: Downton, Dead, Girls, Shameless

To contact us Click HERE

Downton Abbey

--Our last prison shot.  Thank God, indeed.
--Rosamund--the missing niece.
--This Ethel the former whore plot is trying my patience now that the prison is done.  PLay another beat.
--"Just scrape me down."
--Poor Edith, even when she wins, she loses. "Edith isn't getting any younger."
--Best upstairs, short dinner scene in a long while.
--Maybe if Thomas wasn't such an ass he'd be luckier in love.  Look how long it took Mary.
--"people say so"  Oh, Edith.
--I am anxious to see Mary and Matthew in something else.  I wanna see them cut loose.
--Branson is the player of the season.
--This is more Isis than ever before.
--You have been twisted by nature into something foul.  Oh, Carson, you prig.
--I'm not foul.
--A two hour episode?  Why didn't I know this?
--Gotta bail for now.  The Beloved must sleep.  We will finish tomorrow.

The Walking Dead

--Merle is the worst.  Or the best.
--This whole opening sequence is freaking great.  Setting the table; the loss of innocents.
--The scene with Merle being protected by Daryl and Rick was great too.  He won't fit into their world.
--I am loving Tyrese.  A great addition to the cast but a slightly repetitive voice to the ensemble.  Which means that Herschel may not be long for this show.
--Okay, Glen, try scraping that off your boot.
--My God the dead are everywhere.  There were at least four in the background of the red pickup scene.
--The panic of Woodbury.
--Carol is quickly becoming one of my favorites of the original flavor survivors--which means she's probably the next one dead.  The scene with Carl was great.
--Andrea as Governor.  That wasn't great.  I liked that she wasn't comfortable doing it, it wasn't second nature to her.  Eight months ago she had a death wish.  But the rhetoric was too "powerful" for her to be delivering and for it to have that effect on the community.  Where was the skepticism, the contempt.  Bad scripting, which is odd because everything else has been great.
--Herschel has adopted Glen.  Aw, he is a dead man.
--I love how the show allows there to be long periods with no music.  That scene between Herschel and Maggie was especially nice.
--Carol sidling up to the pervert Axel is a nice touch.  Any port in the storm.
--Lori playing Banquo is a nice touch, but I really don't want Tyrese's group to leave.
--The parallel structure of Rick and the Governor is still strongly established.  What is tyranny?  Who is right, and who is wrong?

Girls

--Hannah is dumping work trash in Patrick Wilson's cans because she lost her dumpster key.
--Hannah quits her "toxic work environment" at the coffee shop.
--The music for this episode is great.
--With Mindy and now Hannah, do all young women fear.want to be victimized by serial killer.
--The she liked the way it felt.  "The moment you drop it in.  The moment you run."
--Oddest meet cute ever.
--Joshua.  Not Josh.
--Hannah is diggin everything about this little home, yard, married doctor thang.
--Patrick Wilson is amazing.  I hate that he's so handsome.
--The sex scene was hot.  But I find myself conflicted and ashamed by that confliction.
--I want that shower.
"Please don't tell anybody this, but I want to be happy.  I didn't think that I did.  I made a promise such a long time ago that I was gonna take in experiences--all those that I could tell the people about, and then maybe save them but it gets so tiring,  Tried to take in all the experiences for everybody letting anyone say anything to me.  Then I came here and then I see you.  And you got the fruit in the bowl in the fridge with the stuff.  The robe and the touching me the way that--.  I realize I'm not different. You know?  And we're not that different.  I want what everyone want.  I want what they want.  I want all the things.  I just wanna be happy.
--If anything I think I am just too smart and too sensitive and too, like, not crazy.
--What a perfect episode.  Holy cow.

Shameless

--Frank's cancer diagnosis is the cruelest thing ever, but it gives Carl something to do.
--Hard to believe Jane Leeves once played Mandy.  I can't imagine the story would have developed in this direction if she had stayed.
--Organized labor Shameless style.
--Never been a fan of Jody or his sexual addiction.  These scenes do little to endear me to him.
--Would I be happy if the show didn't have Jody, sheila and frank?  probably.
--Loved everything that happened at the camp.
--Debbie meets her goal; the gang goes wild.  I love these moments.
--What a placeholder of an episode until the reveal of Jimmy's dad to him.  Nothing seemed to be move.  all just holding our breath underwater.
--Carl is hitting on the counselor after they have been sent home.