After the jump is the column I wrote for the Beacon Journal's Channels supplement, which does not appear to have made it to Ohio.com. (Since this often happens, I am probably neglecting some coding thing.) I can't say I am enthusiastic about the way the show is in its first two episodes, which are often downbeat. But neither am I pessimistic. At the end of the column, I called the start "fairly promising." I might also have admitted to "wary optimism." Anyway, the text is after the jump, and spoiler-free.

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Elizabeth Reaser in "The Ex List"

A bummer behind the scenes.

I have watched this new CBS show twice in recent days, once on my own and once with the bride (because I wanted to get her opinion of it), and was getting to like the pilot very much. While the show is based on an Israeli TV series, I expect that some of my fondness for it had to do with the writing by Diane Ruggiero, who was also a major scripter for "Veronica Mars." In addition to having an unaffected way that has endeared her to reporters going back to her breakthrough, "That's Life," she has a real knack with dialogue.

In fact, the show was better on second viewing, as I picked up on more of the little bits she likes to toss out. (That said, I would be a lot more comfortable if the show hadn't sent me looking up a Prince Albert. Let's just say it's a piercing.) But just as I was thinking that this was a show I would be watching more, and that I might want to talk to Ruggiero, she departed the series. You can see why, and observe how many bridges she is burning, in Alan Sepinwall's column.

Sounds like a classic case of interference messing up a show.

Since the revamp of the Beacon Journal last week, I have been hearing occasionally from readers who think my weekly mailbag column has ended. Not the case. The daily Pop Quiz question and answer is no more, but the mailbag is still part of Thursday's Beacon Journal. It has simply moved within the paper, so it is now in the Enjoy section. If you missed last week's column, you can find it here. Questions can still be sent to rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com or the Akron Beacon Journal, 44 E. Exchange St., Akron, OH 44309.

Watched great quantities of two football games this weekend: OSU-USC and Browns-Steelers. Each was, in its own special way, ugly ball. The college game was a blowout, the pro one a mishmash of poor play by both sides — although the Browns ended up on the short end of the score and management skills, with Al Michaels offering an increasing amount of astonishment and indignation over the Browns' decision-making as the game slipped away from them. And, in both cases, a lot of TV hours that now feel as if they were poorly spent.

Another kind of ugly over at "Mad Men" on Sunday, as you can see in this clip:

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"Burn After Reading" was tops, according to Media By Numbers, with "The Family That Preys" second. But "Family" had a better per-theater average and Nikki Finke argues that the competition between the two films was pretty even.

I haven't seen "Burn," although I want to. I did see "Family" and did not care for it. While it had good things, including great scenes between Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard, and I admire Tyler Perry's tenacity and his business success, overall it disappointed me.

"The Heiress," based on the novel "Washington Square"

I kept meaning to do something here on Friday — in fact, the last thing I did before bed was start another episode of "Beverly Hills, 90210." But by then I was a little beat, in part from preparing for a class (many notes about Henry James's "Washington Square") and from a somewhat hectic time at work. So the newest "90210" post will have to wait a bit.
The work, though, included a chat with the legendary Phil Donahue, who is as outspoken as ever. You can find the story I wrote for the Beacon Journal about him here.
And I have begun working through some new network series; last night, I watched "The Mentalist," which stars Simon Baker as a very observant guy who helps solve crimes. It was not bad. I'm not a big fan of Baker, since he always seems somewhat unlikable to me, but for this character — a smart, abrasive cynic with more than a passing connection to Gregory House — he is well cast. More about that when it gets closer to premiere time.
And now it's off to class.

… as in sexism. That's a word that has been used, wisely and unwisely, in recent months thanks to the political candidacies of Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. I don't propose to argue the merits of either here. But if you wonder if sexism is alive and well these days, I offer this note to me from a reader in Detroit:

Why oh why are there so many female newscasters? They are unnecessarily theatrical, have high pitched voices, speak too rapidly and thus are harder to hear than male speakers.
This is wrong.

The writer signed the note "an audiologist," so I cannot provide a direct, specific, personal reply, possibly including the suggestion that there's a better word starting with "a" for this correspondent. At the very least, let me offer a picture of someone the letter writer would probably consider an ideal newscaster. See after the jump.

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Henry Silver, king of charades, deliverer of wisdom

Known by two different titles, this episode first aired on Feb. 21, 1991. Brandon makes a new friend, David has a family epiphany, Dylan and Brenda have communication problems.

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Some of you may have taken note of this movie when it was shown at the Cleveland International Film Festival. Here's another chance at it:

Movie Experience of a Lifetime at the Historic Akron Civic Theatre. Friday 9/12 at 7pm FREE. Ticket required. A screening of the award-winning documentary "Darius Goes West" about a 15-year-old kid with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy whose friends drive him across the country in an RV in an attempt to get his wheelchair "pimped" on MTV's "Pimp My Ride". Along the way they have many adventures and raise awareness about wheelchair accessibility and DMD. Following the film there will be a discussion, reception, and raffle and you can meet Darius and the crew who will be traveling up from Atlanta. All raffle proceeds to benefit Charley's Fund. Sponsored by Summa Health System, Akron General Health System, Akron Children's Hospital, University of Akron, and NEOUCOM. For tickets, Contact Akron Civic Theatre www.akroncivic.com (330) 253-2488, 11am-5pm. Wheelchair seats contact Jamie at jhenry1@neoucom.edu . Event website: www.dariusatthecivic.com

Another link for information is here. The movie link, above, includes a list of other screenings.

(from TMZ.com)

Cleveland's own Eric Carmen (of Raspberries and "Hungry Eyes" fame) gave the folks at TMZ something to talk about — and video and mug shots to post — after a DUI bust.

Here's an EC photo from a better day, as seen on Ericcarmen.com:

Even if it's early to be talking holiday fare, I have gotten questions over the years about this '80s Jim Henson production coming to DVD. And now it will. The release date is Nov. 4, the retail price is $14.98. The announcement follows the jump.

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As you probably know, ABC's Charlie Gibson has scored the first big interview with vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Here's the announcement from ABC:

In her first interview since being tapped as John McCain’s running mate, Governor Sarah Palin will sit down with ABC News’ Charles Gibson on Thursday, September 11 and Friday, September 12. Gibson’s exclusive interviews with the Republican Vice Presidential candidate will take place in Fairbanks and Wasilla, Alaska.

The first excerpts will air on Thursday’s “World News with Charles Gibson” and “Nightline,” followed by “Good Morning America,” “World News, “20/20” and “Nightline” on Friday. Additional portions will air across ABC News’ platforms, including ABC News Radio, ABC News NOW, ABCNEWS.com, and ABC NewsOne beginning Thursday.

And when I heard that Gibson had gotten the interview, I thought back to this passage from his new blog, discussing his interview with John McCain:

The interview took some thought. And I fretted about it for hours. The major development in his campaign obviously is his surprise choice of Sarah Palin. It took some time in thinking about it, but I finally decided not to even bring up the issues with her family, for they are issues of family and should remain so. Once you know about her daughter's pregnancy, once you know about her husband's political interest in the Alaskan Independence Party, once you know about special nature of their latest child, I think that's enough.

The relevant questions about Governor Palin, the questions that go to her suitability to serve as vice president, all relate to her experience, or lack thereof, and her policy positions as a mayor and governor in Alaska. Once I decided to restrict the Palin questions to those areas, the interview kind of formed itself.

It's one thing to walk into a store in early September and see the Halloween candy for sale. It's another to open the office mail in early September and find Christmas DVDs, and then to get an NBC holiday-specials release in the e-mail. (For those of you who want that early news, I'm posting it after the jump.) Yesterday, I was out in the sun. Today, I was in shirtsleeves and saw the thermometer get near 80. And THE CALENDAR SAYS IT'S SEPTEMBER. Oh, well. Marketing is a year-round thing.

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Besides catching a lot of pieces of "Brothers & Sisters" while the bride plowed through the second-season DVD set (and let me see that the show improved a great deal after an unpromising start), this has been a weekend for watching sports.

Defying a threat of rain, we saw the University of Akron men's soccer team, above, beat Cincinnati 2-1 this afternoon; not only was it enjoyable, the UA team is ranked fifth in the nation. And it didn't rain.

Other sports-watching has involved the magic of television. Right now I have the Browns-Cowboys game on; it's not fun. Yesterday included large doses of Ohio State-Ohio football; even while doing chores I had the game on, checking the score from time to time. Also saw the end of the UA-Syracuse game. (I should note here that, not only is UA in Akron, the bride works there.) Caught a little bit of the Steelers-Texans, too. And a smidge of tennis.

Tonight I expect to be back to regular entertainment with "Mad Men," and maybe some of the VMAs. (I have a DVR set for it, at least.) I am also quite ready for the season premiere of "Brothers & Sisters."

Dude, even I wouldn't take 10 years to see this movie. …

Update: You can read more of my musings about "Lebowski," and about the new DVD set, in my Sunday DVD column.

Sepinwall threatened to stop speaking to me when he learned I had never seen "The Big Lebowski." And I admit that it's odd, given my fondness for a lot of Coen brothers movies ("Fargo," "Hudsucker Proxy," "Blood Simple," "No Country," "Intolerable Cruelty," "O Brother" …) that somehow I managed to miss "Lebowski." But a copy of a new DVD of it — due in stores next week — landed on my desk, and I took a look, and …

Golly, what a weird trip that is.

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