Hello, everybody.

On Thursday, June 25, 2009, the world said goodbye to not one, but two entertainment and pop culture icons within hours of each other: Farrah Fawcett and later Michael Jackson. Fawcett was the first to go, but the news of her death would be suddenly overshadowed by Jackson's, and his made much more news worldwide than Farrah's.

Jackson suffered cardiac arrest early Thursday afternoon; paramedics performed CPR at his Encino estate and later rushed him to UCLA Medical Center. We all held their breath on whether or not he would survive, but then came the first news that the King of Pop slipped into a coma. That would be followed minutes later by the news nobody wanted to hear: Michael Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 pm Pacific Time (1:26 pm Alaska Time) at 50 years old.

An ever-increasing number of fans were outside the hospital to help say goodbye to Jackson by belting out his songs, and tributes from the entire entertainment universe began to filter in. Here are some of them:

• Quincy Jones: "I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news…He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
• Mariah Carey: "No artist will ever take his place. His star will shine forever. millions of devoted fans throughout the world. I feel blessed to have performed with him several times & to call him my friend."
• Britney Spears, who performed a duet with Michael at his 30th anniversay concert in 2001: "I was so excited to see his show in London. We were going to be on tour in Europe at the same time and I was going to fly in to see him. He has been an inspiration throughout my entire life and I’m devastated he’s gone!"
• Liza Minnelli: "He was a kind, genuine, and wonderful man. He was also one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived. I loved him very much and I will miss him every remaining day of my life."
• Lisa Marie Presley, one of Michael's two ex-wives: "I am so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. I am heartbroken for his children, who I know were everything to him, and for his family. This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me."
• Brooke Shields, who once dated Michael: "My heart is overcome with sadness for the devastating loss of my true friend Michael. He was an extraordinary friend, artist and contributor to the world. I join his family and his fans in celebrating his incredible life and mourning his untimely passing."
• Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie's daughter: "I’m in shock, as I know everyone must be. What a tragic loss. My heartfelt thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time."
• Beyonce: "The incomparable Michael Jackson has made a bigger impact on music than any other artist in the history of music. He was magic. He was what we all strive to be. … I love you Michael."
• Justin Timberlake: "I can’t find the words right now to express how deeply saddened I am by Michael’s passing. We have lost a genius and a true ambassador of not only Pop music but of all music. He has been an inspiration to multiple generations and I will always cherish the moments I shared with him on stage and all of the things I learned about music from him and the time we spent together. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones."

The online community also reacted to Jackson's death with continuous crashes by Google, Twitter, and YouTube. They were all not around in 1994 when Kurt Cobain died and definitely not in 1977 and 1980 after Elvis Presley's and John Lennon's respective passings.

Of course there are a million things to be said about Michael, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958, Michael started performing with his brothers at the age of five; Motown Records signed them in 1968 and the Jackson Five was born. Almost immediately, they were the Jonas Brothers of their day, with songs like "A-B-C", "I Want You Back", and "I'll Be There" dominating the charts.

They continued to churn out hits well into the disco era and by 1979, Michael decided to make a name for himself. His first solo album, "Off The Wall", earned him his first Grammy nominations, but that was just the beginning. It wouldn't be until 1983 with the help of producer Quincy Jones that "Thriller" would make him a household name. The album sold a staggering 100 million copies worldwide, a record that still stands to this day. And his music videos, including the 13 1/2 minute masterpiece "Thriller", was must-see TV for a fledging cable channel called MTV. Also, his performance of "Billie Jean" on Motown's 25th anniversary special not only introduced the "moonwalk" to the world, but would become one of the greatest televised music moments of all-time.

That would be followed up by "Bad" (1988), "Dangerous" (1991), and "HIStory" (1995); they all sold big but couldn't equal the success of "Thriller."

After the boring "Winter Magic" halftime show had viewers flipping their remotes in droves to Fox and their live "In Living Color" opposite it, the NFL in 1993 faced reality and decided to go for big-name acts to headline Super Bowl halftime, starting with Michael. But 1993 would also mark the darkest chapter in his life, as he would be accused of child molestation at his Neverland ranch. The case would be settled out of court, and in attempt to revive his tarnished image, Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley in 1994. The couple made their only public appearance together at the MTV Video Music Awards, but the marriage wasn't sealed with a kiss and by 1996, it was over.

Jackson later married Debbie Rowe; that too didn't last long. Michael was still going strong at the turn of century with "Invincible", but it didn't sell well unlike his previous efforts. However, he did redeem himself with an all-star 30th Anniversary concert in New York which included a reunion with all five Jackson brothers.

And then came what was the whistleblower: A 2003 British TV documentary going deeper into Jackson's life with the man himself. That year, charges against child molestation were filed and Michael would be sucked in to the biggest trial of his life with celebrity friends like Jay Leno, Larry King, and Macaulay Culkin taking the stand. In the end, Jackson would be acquitted on all counts, but the damage was far from done.

In the final months of his life, and with over a reported $400 million in debt, Michael was all set to do a series of shows in London in July. It won't happen now even if they were all sold out, and those tickets will be refunded.

Over the years, Michael has went into a transformation like no other, although he was still recognizable. It started in 1984 when while filming a Pepsi commercial, Jackson suffered second-degree burns to his scalp. He was diagnosed with vitiligo and lupus, which led to cosmetic surgery and undergoing ten procedures.

On Friday, an autopsy on Jackson was performed, and it would be about a month or so till we find out the real cause of death. But while we wait, there are many questions to be answered; one of them: Were drugs to blame?

Jackson admitted that he used a series of painkillers before including Xanax, and now there's word that Demerol may have been the key to his sudden death. This is not new, as Marilyn Monroe, John Belushi, and Anna Nicole Smith all succumbed to fatal drug overdoses.

But love him or hate him, he will leave behind generations of songs that had us jamming to every beat, and he was the person who became the backbone to today's artists. Elvis may be the King of Rock 'n Roll; James Brown, the Godfather of Soul, but even in death, Michael Jackson will forever be known as the King of Pop.

Like I said before, Jackson's untimely demise came just a short few hours after Farrah Fawcett's at age 62 from anal cancer. With the help of "Charlie's Angels" (and that poster which ignited many mens' masturbatory fantasies), Farrah was the pre-Jennifer Aniston: bright, bubbly, and full of life and spirit that charmed us every time she graced the screen. In my special commentary on Sarah Michelle Gellar in the early days of "The Allen Report", I said that she is just like Farrah with the same kind of sex appeal.

Fawcett flexed her serious acting chops in the '80s, with her Emmy-nominated role in "The Burning Bed" as well as "Extremities" and "Small Sacrifices." Her only marriage was to Lee Majors, and her companion after that was Ryan O'Neal; they were together till the end. She did two "Playboy" pictorials in the mid-'90s, followed by her infamous "Late Show with David Letterman" appearance.

But in 2006 came the shocking news: Farrah was diagnosed with anal cancer. Her last public appearance would be at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards where she reunited with her "Charlie's Angels" co-stars Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson to pay tribute to show creator Aaron Spelling. But the cancer would come back with a vengenace, and it would be chronicled in the NBC special "Farrah's Story." At 9:28 am Pacific Time (8:28 am Alaska Time) on Thursday morning, the cancer won and Farrah Fawcett would get her wings.

With those two showbiz greats now joining together in heaven, June 25, 2009 will definitely be known as "Black Thursday" in the world of entertainment.

And last but not least (for now, because after this will be my regular blog)...we began the week with our goodbye to the sidekick of all sidekicks, Ed McMahon. He was not only known as Johnny Carson's other half on "The Tonight Show", but his resume also included the game show "Snap Judgement", Jerry Lewis' MDA telethon, the ultimate talent showcase "Star Search" (which introduced the world to Rosie O'Donnell, Sam Harris, Britney Spears, Dennis Miller, and Usher among others), "Bloopers and Practical Jokes" with Dick Clark (the practical jokes part being the precursor to "Punk'd"), and being a one-man Prize Patrol by giving away $10 million. Of course failing health and near foreclosure on his house will take a toll on him in recent years, with his last TV appearance being a Cash 4 Gold commercial with MC Hammer.

He will be missed, so Ed McMahon....HEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEE's to you! So long and stay strong.

BULLETIN:
Michael Jackson dies at age 50

The Associated Press according to a source has confirmed the sad news that Michael Jackson, who has been known the world over as the King Of Pop, has died this afternoon at the age of 50 at UCLA Medical Center after suffering cardiac arrest.

Jackson was rushed to the hospital at around 12:30 pm Pacific Time (11:30 am Alaska Time) after paramedics performed CPR on the pop icon. Earlier reports stated that Jackson slipped into a coma; others like the "Los Angeles Times" reported the death story.

News of Jackson's apparent death came just a few hours after we learned of Farrah Fawcett's passing at 62. Along with Ed McMahon, it is already a very, very sad week in the world of entertainment with the losses of those three greats, and I'll have much more on them in a special blog tomorrow. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody.

First up...The eyes of the world this week were focused on Iran, where alleged discrepancies following its elections that apparently led to a landslide victory for incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have caused turmoil throughout the country. His opponent, Mirhossein Mousavi, smelled something rotten and may have claimed victory thanks largely in part to rigging of the ballots tilted in Ahmadinejad's favor.

Protests were covered by the world's media for the first couple of days before the Iranian government ordered a cease and desist on them. That's where the Twitter and YouTube universe springed into action, providing us the true images of a post-election drama that blows 2000 and Florida out of the water.

I have never seen this much uprising since what happened in Tiananmen Square 20 years ago. Broadcasts of the protests were played out all over the world on live television, until the Chinese government pulled the plug. And that of course was followed by the money shot: an unidentified man versus four tanks face-to-vehicles at a street near the Square.

If all this appears to be true, then a wind of change will finally be blowing in Iran 30 years after the revolution.

Meanwhile, on this side of the world, there were some jubilation over in Los Angeles as their Lakers made the Orlando Magic disappear to claim their 15th NBA Championship with Kobe Bryant as Finals MVP and coach Phil Jackson earning an unprecendented 10th career title. And Detroit's continuing woes never end with the Red Wings' Stanley Cup loss to Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins.

Now I didn't care one bit, but it seems that David Letterman's apology for an off-color joke he made on his "Late Show" on Bristol Palin (our governor's daughter, of course) have helped him surge ahead of Conan O'Brien in the ratings. At one point earlier this week, there were only a handful of protestors outside the Ed Sullivan Theater who want Dave canned. The end result? One sponsor dropped, which was the Olive Garden restaurant chain owned by Darden Restaurants (who also owns Red Lobster, which I finally dined at almost four summers ago while in North Carolina visiting my grandma Mildred for what would be the final time).

But expect Dave's ratings to hang around temporarily, as we're hoping Conan would get them back thanks to Jay Leno's 10:00 show this fall. And I agree with one person on Twitter: Palin should be Jay's first guest on his new time slot.

And last but not least...one of the most-watched shows on cable right now is TLC's "Jon & Kate Plus 8", and for good reason: There is all sorts of infidelity troubles brewing between Jon and Kate Gosselin.

To refresh your memory: The couple have been cheating on each other; Jon with a 23-year-old schoolteacher and Kate with her bodyguard. Coverage of this has been all over the tabloids and just recently, one of them ran photos of Kate spanking one of the children. The season premiere a few weeks ago set ratings records for TLC, even beating out the NBA playoffs and "WWE Raw", and now comes what will be a major decision by the couple on Monday's episode.

Have we had enough of them? Probably not, as this is summer and we need a hit like "Jon & Kate" to tide us over until the fall season starts. But I can agree with you on this: Based on the bikini shots taken of her the other week, Kate does look great for a mother of eight! So long and stay strong!

Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen...to analog television!

Hello, everybody. The day has arrived and it's the end of an era as after over 80 years, analog television broadcasting in the United States will be just a faded memory and digital broadcasting will be here to stay forever. So far already, many stations have already shut off their analog transmitters for the last time with little or no fanfare, and bunches more will follow all day.

Here in Fairbanks, KUAC and ABC Alaska's Superstation (KATN) have already flipped their switches just a short while ago. Along with KFXF and KJNP now in digital, KTVF and KXD are right now breathing their final breaths before 54 years of analog television in the Golden Heart City will be no more at 11:59 pm. And of course, I'll have my digital camera capturing those final moments and immediately putting it on YouTube for all the world to see.

The best things about the transition from analog to digital TV is 1) you get a better picture and sound as well as sub-channels via "multicasting" plus free high-definition programming, and 2) no more frustrations of abusing your TV and/or playing with your antenna trying to get a good reception. Of course, if you subscribe to a cable or satellite service, have a TV with a built-in digital tuner, or have a digital converter box connected to your existing TV, you're already set. If not, don't fret. Just purchase a digital converter box for your existing set, follow the instructions on hooking it together, and you and all your channels will be together again.

Now I could've said all this on February 17 (the original shutoff date), but at the eleventh hour, the federal government extended it to June 12 though a handful of stations have already signed off on analog for good. The reason? We thought February 17 was too early, and doing it in the middle of sweeps would be a nightmare.

But like most of you, I'm all set to say goodbye myself. The journey began in 1928, made its grand debut at the 1939 World's Fair, and the show began in 1948 with the transition to color, stereo, and HDTV over those last 60 years. And now, it'll be just like the countdown to New Year's minus Dick Clark, as we'll be counting down the final seconds to the end of an era in this country. Because after midnight tonight, the only thing left on the analog television airwaves will be nothing but a snowy, static picture. So long, stay strong, and goodbye analog television!

Hello, everybody. As always, a lot to get to, so let's get cracking!

First up...HEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRREEEEEE'S CONAN!!! With Jay Leno now spending his summer vacation doing shows across the country, Conan O'Brien was officially being handed "The Tonight Show" baton this week and at its new home at Universal Studios. Ratings for his first night were astounding: 7.1, winning the night overall (Letterman got a 2.8, Nightline 2.7). But Leno had an 8.8 for his "Tonight Show" goodbye.

But like most of us, we are going through a temporary Leno withdrawal and have been scouring through YouTube for any clips. I'm sure that come September 14 (when he returns to the air at 10:00), Jay will definitely play catch-up, especially with the "economy is so bad" jokes.

Speaking of the economy...as you know, General Motors is bankrupt. That doesn't mean it's the end of the once-powerful auto giant, but a rebirth. And to go along with the bankruptcy, GM also sold off their Hummer brand to a Chinese company. This comes as fellow troubled rival Chrysler is emerging from bankruptcy themselves, but still nothing from Ford.

This week, President Obama delivered a special address to the Muslim community at Cairo University in Egypt. Here at home, in his weekly address, Obama is now trying to do something Hillary Clinton couldn't succeed with when she was First Lady: Reform health care in America.

When I commented on the Michael Moore documentary "Sicko" on this very blog almost a couple of years ago, I said that our health care system has been down the tubes for decades, going back to 1971. By the way, my cholesterol count as of 2007 has increased a tad bit, from 79 to now 93. Yes, 93!!! I wonder if staying away from too much fatty foods may have been my secret...well, that or avoiding too much sunlight.

And last but not least...while things are slowly starting to look up again here, on the other side of the Atlantic in Britain, it's starting to get even messy.

The Labour party lost big time in a series of local elections this past week, and Prime Minister Gordon Brown is trying to shrug that off. But the rival parties, including the Conservatives led by David Cameron, aren't buying it, and with the resignation of one of their top politicians, Brown is already feeling the heat. And now it appears that the only way to end all the hurt and turmoil is one of two options: Pressure Brown to resign to keep Labour rule, or better yet...call for a general election!!!

If I was him, I would go with the latter and schedule it for late September. The Labours are like our Republicans: the colors of both parties are red; they have been corrupt for years; and they have politicians that are better off as movie stars (California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger) or baby mamas (Alaska Governor Sarah Palin) rather than representing our country. And if Gordon Brown does call an election sometime next week, you can forget about "Up" or the "Transformers" sequel as the campaigning all throughout Britain will be the real big summer blockbuster of 2009! So long and stay strong.

(And if you have something to say about this week's blog, reply to me on Twitter)

Hello, everybody. Lots of stuff to get out of the way, so on with it!

First up...as you saw on Friday, Jay Leno has wrapped up his 17-year reign as host of "The Tonight Show." But unlike Johnny Carson's last hurrah, it was be more like a hearty "see you this fall at 10:00!" than a "very heartfelt good night", because Jay will be spending his summer on the road before settling down at his new home weeknights at 10:00 in September.

But the big question is: With Conan O'Brien taking possession of the desk and couch on Monday, will the racier stuff he used to do one hour later carry over to 11:35? We don't know. What we do know is while Conan's guests for his inaugural week in that time slot include Will Ferrell, Tom Hanks, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ryan Seacrest, Letterman when he returns to work next week will have Bill Cosby, Jack Hanna, Elvis Costello, and Paris Hilton.

Some loyal "Tonight Show" fans who think Conan's brand of humor won't fly at 11:35 might be switching over to Letterman to tide themselves over until Leno at 10:00. Speaking of which, it will almost be like his late night show, with the usual stuff like "Headlines" and "Jaywalking" all being there; Kevin Eubanks and announcer John Melendez will still be on board and it'll still originate from the same Studio 3 at NBC in Burbank (which was formerly used for "Laugh-In" and "CPO Sharkey"; the latter famously invaded by Carson when he confronted Don Rickles for accidentally breaking his cigarette box).

Now "The Jay Leno Show's" doubts came into question one time, when Boston NBC affiliate WHDH originally thought about airing a 10:00 news in lieu of Leno, thinking he wouldn't work. They said it would be an hour, though many were thinking a half-hour with Leno airing on a delay at 10:35 followed by Conan (both happen to hail from Boston, by the way). NBC threatened to strip WHDH of their affiliation if they went ahead, but in the end, the station thankfully backtracked and said they're going to air Leno after all.

And when Leno returns at 10:00...boy, he's gonna have some competition every night over on ABC and CBS (local news or programming on Fox and CW)! Take a look:

• Monday: Castle (ABC), CSI: Miami (CBS)
• Tuesday: The Forgotten (ABC), The Good Wife (CBS)
• Wednesday: Eastwick (ABC), CSI: New York (CBS)
• Thursday: Private Practice (ABC), The Mentalist (CBS)
• Friday: 20/20 (ABC), Numb3rs (CBS)

NBC, being buried in fourth place longer than the last time they were in dead last 30 years ago, is relying on Leno for their survival. Besides, "Sunday Night Football" was the only show that cracked the season's Top 10, and I have faith that Leno will make it as well. We'll find out in September.

The week's other big story was President Obama's historic nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday, replacing David Souter; historic because if confirmed, she would be the first ever Hispanic justice to serve.

We never thought it would happen, but it did: the H1NI outbreak, known as swine flu, has made our way to Alaska...and here in Fairbanks. On Wednesday, an unidentified woman who has never made any contact nor has traveled to Mexico -- the virus' birthplace -- became the first confirmed case. I remember spending some time in Nogales, Arizona, which was a border city; but that was in the early '80s and even in my young age, seeing Spanish text especially on a tube of Crest toothpaste was very new to me. In fact, I never even set foot on Mexican soil!

A few weeks after photos and videos of him with another woman blew the whistle on his celibacy, Father Alberto Cutie has switched denominations from the Catholic Church to the Episcopal Church. This latest religion scandal comes over 20 years after Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart, but both have already learned their lesson and I'm sure Cutie will learn his.

And last but not least...a few weeks ago, Miley Cyrus soaked up the sun in the Bahamas, and we were treated to an eyeful with some hot bikini shots of the "Hannah Montana" star.

Now this is the first time she's showed some skin since the infamous backless photo Annie Leibowitz took of Miley in "Vanity Fair" just last year, proving that at the age of 16, Miley is well on her way to leave her Disney persona behind...that is, if she finishes one more season of her show.

Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, and Ashley Tisdale -- the backbone of the "High School Musical" franchise -- have already left, though Hudgens herself was embroiled in scandal in 2007 over nude photos of her leaked onto the Internet. And this week, I've read some tabloid report that Efron now wants Hudgens to take it all off. I don't know, but it's somewhat risky. Tisdale meanwhile, was caught by paparazzi in bikinis in Hawaii last summer; that was when she had blonde hair and it's back to natural brunette.

I think it's no secret that Hudgens, Tisdale, and Cyrus all have great bodies that would make Uncle Walt wish he lived longer enough to experience the joys of Viagra. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. It's the weekend, and it's time to get my blog on!

First up...the U.S. automakers' woes never end. This week, General Motors and Chrysler announced they're closing down a total of 1,900 dealerships by late next year. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, those combined cuts will put 100,000 more out of a job; and now GM is preparing to file for bankruptcy themselves in June.

Thankfully, Gene's Chrysler Dodge Jeep of Fairbanks won't be among those cut, as well as Aurora Motors and Chevrolet Cadillac of Fairbanks (the latter formerly Tip Top Chevrolet, run by Robbie Giinther and whose commercials have graced our TV screens for years). And Seekins Ford Lincoln Mercury is located far away from Cushman Street, on Old Steese Highway with their next door neighbors being Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Fred Meyer, Lowe's, Old Navy, Barnes & Noble, and now Sports Authority. So they're pretty much in very good company there.

We don't know what's her annual salary as Governor of Alaska, but Sarah Palin's bank account will soon be fatter...how about $7 million fatter! That's what she'll get as she's signed a book deal with HarperCollins to pen an autobiography that would be coming our way in 2010, when she's up for re-election.

But wait a minute...isn't HarperCollins owned by Rupert Murdoch? And doesn't Murdoch also happens to own Fox News?!?!? Something tells me that Palin's book ain't going to sell like hotcakes like Bill Clinton's "My Life" (published by Random House, who's owned by Bertelsmann), but we'll see what happens. Maybe we could be seeing a chapter lashing out at Tina Fey and Katie Couric making a mockery out of her.

Now Sarah was busy back here dealing with the flood victims in Eagle, leaving husband Todd to be at the White House Correspondents Association's annual dinner in Washington last weekend. If you think the Golden Globes are billed as being "the party of the year", we are proved wrong as the likes of Sting, Natalie Portman, Al Sharpton, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kate Walsh, Lauren Conrad, Jon Bon Jovi, Mariska Hargitay, Stevie Wonder, Kevin Bacon, Dwayne Johnson, Chris Tucker, and many more showbiz superstars get to dine with President Obama and the rest of Washington's power players while being entertained with the comedy stylings of Wanda Sykes.

And last but not least...on June 1, there'll be a transition in late night as Jay Leno hands over the "Tonight Show" reins to Conan O'Brien. Over the last 17 years, there have been some great moments from the Leno era; not as great as Johnny Carson's, but those that still had everybody talking the next morning. As the torch will be passed in a few weeks, it's time to count down...

My Top Five Favorite Moments from Jay Leno's "Tonight Show"
(five because I couldn't think of ten)

5. "The Tonight Show Unplugged" episode (2002)/Jaywalking

4. The Dancing Itos making a mockery out of the O.J. Simpson trial (1995)

3. Arnold Schwarzenegger announcing his candidacy for California governor (2003)

2. Barack Obama as a guest, becoming the first sitting U.S. President to appear on a late night show (just recently on March 19)

And my #1 favorite moment from Leno's "Tonight Show" over the last 17 years is the one that cemented him to the top of the late night ratings...

1. Hugh Grant's appearance following his brief stint with a hooker and Jay asking him "What the hell were you thinking?" (1995)

Of course, Jay will have plenty of time to wind down between June and this fall, when he returns with a new show at 10:00 pm. So long and stay strong!

(By the way...if you want to comment on this blog, reply to me on Twitter)

Hello, everybody. Lots of ground to cover tonight as always, so on to it!

First up...the U.S. auto industry may be down for the count, but not out. Today, Chrysler announced they are filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as the government are still trying to be their savior. This comes almost a week after General Motors' bombshell news that after 83 years, they are discontinuing the Pontiac brand.

Now why would they get rid of the brand that was famous for the GTO and Trans Am, and infamous for Oprah Winfrey giving away a parking lot full of G6s on her show one time. Their slogan used to be "We Build Excitement", but the recent models Pontiac have been churning out weren't all that exciting. After this model year, GM will have only Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC as their flagship brands left, while Saturn, Hummer, and Saab are still, to quote a term from the recent NFL Draft, "on the clock."

And what about Ford? Despite their $1.4 billion loss in the first quarter, they continue to be bailout-proof. But if they were to sacrifice a brand in order to stay alive, it would have to be Mercury.

The other big story dominating the news along with Chrysler's bankruptcy and President Obama now past his first 100 days in office with his third primetime news conference (and three is starting to be a tad too much, but what can you do?), but the pandemic known as H1N1, otherwise known as the Swine Flu outbreak. Originally started in Mexico and spread to several other parts of North America with the first U.S. death in Texas, it's now a worldwide problem as it has affected Europe, New Zealand, and Asia. And everywhere you look, face masks have been the hottest spring fashion being sported.

Is there an end to this? We don't know, but one thing's for sure: Cinco de Mayo's going to be extremely tough this year, and pork products are still safe to eat.

And last but not least...the one entertainment story I've been following is not that question Perez Hilton posed to Miss California at the Miss USA pageant about same-sex marriages that cost her the crown, but the saga of Susan Boyle.

For those of you not in the know, Susan Boyle is this 48-year-old woman from Scotland whose rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream" on "Britain's Got Talent" has been burning up YouTube and making us forget all about the remaining finalists on "American Idol." And now, the whole world wants a piece of her, from Simon Cowell (who happens to judge both shows, by the way) to Donny Osmond.

But have we had enough of her already? Probably not, as Boyle immediately caught attention of the worldwide media, with "South Park" quickly jumping on the bandwagon. I have a feeling that with all the Lady Gagas and Taylor Swifts of the world, Susan Boyle is well on her way to becoming the biggest sensation of 2009...and were only 1/3 into the year! So long and stay strong!

(By the way...tell me what you think! If you have something to say about whatever I've covered on this blog, don't be afraid to hit me up on Twitter)

Hello, everybody. Lots of stuff to get out of the way, so let's get cracking.

First up...the Justice Department today reversed the conviction of former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens. As you know, Stevens was indicted and later found guilty for lying about receiving gifts and home renovations, and he lost his bid for re-election last fall to Mark Begich.

In a statement, Stevens said "I always knew that there would be a day when the cloud that surrounded me would be removed. That day has finally come. It is unfortunate that an election was affected by proceedings now recognized as unfair."

And from Gov. Sarah Palin: "Senator Stevens deserves to be very happy today. What a horrible thing he has endured. The blatant attempts by adversaries to destroy one's reputation, career and finances are an abuse of our well-guarded process and violate our God-given rights afforded in the Constitution."

Even though it's way too late, I think the feds did the right thing in turning the original conviction around. Last summer, it was a federal appeals court that threw out the original FCC fine imposed to CBS over the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake "wardrobe malfunction" incident at Super Bowl XXXVIII. But then again, we've had a slew of political corruption scandals with Rod Blagojevich being the most recent.

The slumping economy has now claimed another victim, as department store Gottschalks will be going out of business later this year. The chain, which has 55 stores in the Western U.S. (five here in Alaska), filed for bankruptcy in January and liquidation sales will begin this week.

For many of us who've bought our wardrobe there over the years it will be the end. But...who will pick up where Gottschalks will leave off? Rumors are flying that as far as our Fairbanks store is concerned, we may be seeing Nordstrom taking over. Besides, they had a store here from the '70s to around the time I moved back here in 1985.

And the Sears store on Airport Way? Once upon a time, it was The Center for Entertainment, with a bowling alley, movie theater, nightclub, a few restaurants, and a skating rink; I used to hang out there on occasion. Unfortunately, it opened at a very bad time: 1986, when oil prices dropped and Alaskans moved out. It closed its doors in 1991, only to see Sears take it over. It caught me by surprise when I returned the following year for the long haul. Don't forget JCPenney; its downtown location stood vacant from 1998 till Sadler's furniture occupied it in the early 2000's.

Now, it'll be Gottschalks who's biting the dust. If this keeps up, even with Fred Meyer, Sears, and Wal-Mart still around, the only place we'll be doing our upscale shopping will be Anchorage!

And last but not least...President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle are taking over Europe by storm, starting off with the G20 summit tomorrow in London. But before that, the First Couple had some photo-ops with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Queen Elizabeth II.

Unlike the Bushes, Europe welcomed them with open arms; it was like that last year during the campaign when Obama spoke in front of 200,000 in Berlin. The president will be in Europe for a few days before returning home to Washington. But in a couple of weeks, they'll be dining in style along with other celebrities in their first White House Correspondents dinner. I wonder who'll show up in attendance...anyway, so long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. After spending 9 days, 21 hours, 38 minutes, and 46 seconds on the trail with an average speed of 4.76 miles per hour, Lance Mackey has officially settled in Nome for the third straight time as Iditarod champion, crossing the Burled Arch earlier today at 11:38 am Alaska Time. And just like last year and the year before, he gets $69,000 and the keys to a new Dodge truck.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Schnuelle and John Baker are expected to finish second and third as they have left White Mountain. And last year's runner-up Jeff King is right now in 12th place. But for now, it's all about Lance Mackey.

However, while Lance is basking in the glow of his Iditarod three-peat, there is some very sad news to report: Actress Natasha Richardson has died earlier tonight in New York from her injuries stemming from a skiing accident; she was 45. I'll have more about this tomorrow, so so long.

Hello, everybody. As I said on my Twitter preview, there are two major stories I'm following on this St. Patrick's Day: Natasha Richardson clinging to life and Lance Mackey clinging to his Iditarod lead as he's still miles away from Nome.

First, Richardson. The Tony-winning actress, daughter of Vanessa Redgrave and wife of actor Liam Neeson is in a New York hospital after suffering from a near-fatal skiing accident in Canada. She was first treated at a Montreal area hospital on Monday before being transferred to New York. There have been conflicting reports about Richardson's condition, from "brain dead" to "critical condition", but the latter appears to be the latest for now.

A couple weeks ago, it was the Rocky Mountain News; now, another paper has bit the dust: The "Seattle Post-Intelligencer" printed its final ever edition today after 145 years and will continue only online. That leaves the "Seattle Times" as the only major paper in Seattle and based on its circulation (not to mention also being at Alaskan libraries), it ain't going anywhere anytime soon.

Finally, the Iditarod as Lance Mackey's final push to Nome continues. He checked into White Mountain earlier tonight at 6:05 Alaska Time and it appears that the big finish will be between 10:00 am-3:00 pm tomorrow (that's 2:00 pm-7:00 pm Eastern Time, 11:00 am-4:00 pm Pacific).

Because I work around that time frame, I won't be able to watch the live finish online, but I will try to have a Twitter update moments after; if not, the full details here tomorrow. So long and stay strong.

Can Lance Mackey be stopped?

Hello, everybody. I Twittered this morning with news that Lance Mackey left Shaktoolik and was on to Koyuk as the 2009 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is in its second week. Well right now, he is in Koyuk with 123 miles to go. But watch out for Sebastian Schnuelle; he's on Mackey's tail, exiting Shaktoolik at 10:00 am Alaska Time.

Lance is well on his way to becoming the second musher to three-peat since the last one from Doug Swingley in 1999-2001. The late Susan Butcher first won three years in a row from 1986-88; it came a year after Libby Riddles' only title and those two have been the only females so far to win the Iditarod (Aliy Zirkle, DeeDee Jonrowe, and Jessie Royer are now 13th, 14th, and 15th respectively).

Will it happen? The famous Burled Arch is in place on Front Street in Nome right now waiting for Mackey's arrival, and if the weather holds up, we may be expecting him between tomorrow night (yes, on St. Patrick's Day!) and early Wednesday morning (around the time the East Coast starts to wake up). We'll see what happens, so so long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody; we've got a very filled-to-the-brim blog tonight, so here we go!

First up...For stealing millions of dollars that led to hardships for many who've invested their money to him, Bernie Madoff on Thursday got his just desserts: 150 years behind bars!

He has lived the good life in a penthouse overlooking the New York skyline, but his new home for the rest of his life will be anything but swanky: The Manhattan Correctional Center for a few months followed by a permanent home at a medium security prison far away from the Big Apple. And here's how his new daily schedule will go:

Lights on--6:00 am
Breakfast--6:30 am
Lunch--11:00 am
Dinner--5:00 pm
Lights out--11:00 pm

Yep, 11:00 pm means no more staying up late for any more bombardment of Madoff jokes from Leno, Kimmel, Ferguson, Letterman, and now Jimmy Fallon.

With the way our economy is going, I think Bernard Madoff got what he deserved on the eve of Friday the 13th, only that it's 1 1/2 centuries of bad luck instead of seven years. May he rot in hell for all eternity.

By the way, the news of Madoff being hauled to jail immediately knocked the Chris Brown/Rihanna/Octo-mom trifecta off the headlines, and yes, I've had enough of them.

Now, we don't know how much the 2009 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend will be until this fall, but in 2013 thanks to the recession, the pay is going to be low...very low...how about $68 low!

That's the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp.'s projection, as we could be receiving around $1,500 this year before plunging back to three figures for the next three years ($845 in 2010, $244 in 2011, $345 in 2012) and then $593 in 2014 and finally back to four figures in 2018 with $1,771.

I don't know if I'm still going to be in Alaska by the time we get that $68 check, but can you imagine the commercials they'll be running? Hell, the only thing that $68 is good on is groceries!

The first full week of the 2009 Iditarod was capped off with Lance Mackey's arrival in Anvik Friday afternoon, making him the first musher to reach the Yukon River. His reward? A nice, nourshing eight-course meal compliments of the Anchorage Millennium Hotel; the menu consists of:

• Braised Pork Belly
• Heirloom Beets Salad
• Crab Agnolotti
• Alaskan Bouillibasse
• Breast of Duck
• Artisan Cheese Plate
• Flamed Strawberries Romanoff
• After-dinner mint of $3,500 (not edible, but...)

Meanwhile, Jeff King is in second place followed by Sebastian Schnuelle, Aaron Burmeister, and Cim Smyth rounding out the top five so far.

And last but not least...awards season already ended weeks ago with the Oscars and now spelling bee season has begun. Spelling bees for years have been the only way for kids across the country to gain instant fame and fortune without going on any of those stupid reality shows by doing one thing they love best (or dread most): spell the toughest words known to mankind. The road starts at local schools, followed by the citywide or statewide bees, and then on to the big one being the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Mississippi, one of my old stomping grounds, had their statewide bee this week televised on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (the same people who brought Clyde Frog into America's classrooms over 30 years ago); and watching it on YouTube, it was a cakewalk.

We all remember this scene from "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" in which Charlie went all the way to the spelling bee and was one of the only two contestants remaing. His misspelling of the word "beagle" as B-E-A-G-E-L cost him the championship.

I had my own "beagle" moment, albeit prematurely. It was 1993, and seeing that movie years prior made me want to take part in a spelling bee and hopefully claim my fame. A few days before the school bee, I was given a booklet of words that may be featured in the bee for me to study on; I concentrated on the tough words and I would spell each of them with my eyes closed.

So now we move on to the school spelling bee; I was attending Tanana Middle School at the time and there were a handful of other contestants besides me. Everything turned out smooth...until I hit a brick wall with "bosky", some Russian word. I spelled it B-O-S-K-E-Y...ding! It was all over immediately. My one and only shot at making the big time melted away for good because I didn't know there was no "e" in "bosky"! At least I tried my best.

This year's national bee is early this summer; who knows what words will be in their vocabulary. And you don't have to be a "numbnut" to find out. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. As always, a whole lot to cover, so here we go!

First up...the unemployment rate for February released Friday rose to its highest in over a quarter-century: 8.1% as 650,000 jobs during that month were lost. And since the recession began in 2007, over 4.4 million Americans have been out of a job.

Now this comes as job fairs all over America are happening, and like I said before, with summer about to creep in on us it's going to be a tough time filling those jobs even if most of them are temporary. President Obama in his weekly address over the weekend may have said that we will get through this, but he doesn't have a magic wand to wave around and end this overnight. It's going to take a few years before most of us will be back on our feet.

A couple weeks ago, we've seen another newspaper roll the presses for the last time, as the "Rocky Mountain News" after 150 years published its last ever edition. We here in Alaska experienced something similar, as the "Anchorage Times" (famous for screaming out the "WE'RE IN!" banner headline in 1958 when the Statehood Act passed) stopped their presses for good in 1992.

But come June 12, though some already signed off forever on the original February 17 date, all other TV stations across America will be shutting off their analog transmitters for the final time as they'll be broadcasting only in digital. For them, it'll be the end of an era; and for us? Six decades of smacking the tops of our TVs and fiddling with our antennas struggling for a better picture will be done away with once and for all.

Since this is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, I think there should be analog TV shut-off parties being thrown on June 12 to celebrate and witness this historic transition. If you have old TVs stashed in the storage shed that still work after countless years (black-and-white or color, portable or console), hook those "rabbit ears" antennas and tune each of them them to whatever stations who'll still intend to sign-off. Also, I should consider livening up the atmosphere with decorations and illustrations proclaiming the end of analog TV and the beginning of digital TV; one example is a tombstone reading "R.I.P. Analog TV: (insert date and year the first station signed on in your area)-June 12, 2009".

We don't know when each station will press the "OFF" buttons for the final time, but they should have a final countdown to the big moment. And yes, we'll be counting down along with them, and I'm certain those videos will be hitting YouTube almost immediately, just like those Britney Spears concerts so far!

Speaking of which...Britney's first concert tour in five years, "The Circus Starring Britney Spears", kicked off last week in her home base in New Orleans where I first saw her back in 2000 during her second tour. And looking back at that (covering it of course as an "Allen Report Special Report"), I thought it was a bit cheesy and paltry.

The marquee outside the New Orleans Arena on the first night of the "Circus" tour still said "Tickets on sale now", but shouldn't it have said something different, like "SOLD OUT!"? Also, I remember most of the crowd at the 2000 show being tweens and younger teens (and handfuls of horny adults like myself); now of course, it's teens and older adults; the latter who've followed Britney's adventures every step of the way over the years. Even though I'll be following it thanks to the magic of YouTube, I'm sure Britney Spears' tour will be one of the most-talked entertainment stories of 2009 so far...that and Octo-mom, Chris Brown/Rihanna, and "The Bachelor" scandal.

Last but not least...Britney may be scorching up venues all over the Lower 48, but here in Alaska, we're cooling things off with the 37th running of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race already underway. And this year's field is a bit paltry as well: 67 of the world's finest mushers including familiar faces like back-to-back winner Lance Mackey as they challenge 1,150 miles of the most treacherous terrain known to mankind, facing bone-chilling weather and whatever else comes their way. Also, after a successful trial last year, all mushers have GPS tracking devices so we could follow their every move in real-time.

Even though the recession has hit them with a smaller purse, $69,000 and the keys to a new Dodge pickup truck awaits whoever musher's lead dog marks the first pawprint under the Burled Arch in Nome. Will it be Mackey in a three-peat? Will it be Dee Dee Jonrowe, after coming so close so many times before. Or will it be someone from out of the blue, like a rookie? We'll find out in the next 1 1/2 weeks, so so long and stay strong.

Bollywood meets Hollywood at the Oscars!

Hello, everybody. With an official running time of 30 minutes past the promised three-hour mark, the 81st Annual Academy Awards on Sunday under the direction of producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon and host Hugh Jackman was given a whole new life.

And life was very good for "Slumdog Millionaire", the big winners of the night with eight Oscars including Original Score and Song ("Jai Ho", and how about their performance?), Director (Danny Boyle), and Best Picture of 2008. The late Heath Ledger as expected picks up Supporting Actor for "The Dark Knight" with his family accepting on his behalf; Penelope Cruz claims Supporting Actor ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona"); Sean Penn beats out Mickey Rourke for his second Best Actor prize ("Milk"); and after six tries without a win...Kate Winslet finally comes up to the Oscar stage to grab possession of Best Actress ("The Reader"). And me? For the second time, I was SIX FOR SIX in my picks!!!!

Other winners include "WALL-E" (Animated Feature Film), "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Art Direction, Makeup, and Visual Effects), and Japan's "Departures" (Foreign Language Film).

Like I said, in an attempt to boost sagging ratings from years past, the show got a whole new attitude with us staying tuned as to who the presenters will be to over five decades of past acting winners helping to pass the torch. And as for Jackman as host? I thought he made things work his way.

The stars worked their way on the red carpet as well prior to all this. We saw Angelina Jolie baring her shoulders in beautiful black Elie Saab, Sarah Jessica Parker looking like Cinderella in Dior, Freida Pinto in John Galliano, and Alicia Keys and Heidi Klum not afraid to show a little leg in Armani and Rouland Mouret respectively.

So, who do I give my Best Dressed props to? She may have lost graciously to Winslet, but Anne Hathaway in her Armani Prive was always a winner to me. And for Worst Dressed? In a tie, has to be Jessica Biel (she looked way better two Oscars ago, but this is what she gets for sleeping with Justin Timberlake!) and for the first time, a guy: that being Mickey Rourke!

As always, there are stories behind the big wins. She has come a long way from starting her career on the BBC in the early '90s; a few films and her first Oscar nod later, it would be "Titanic" that made her a household name worldwide. With several others to follow such as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", "Finding Neverland", "Flushed Away", "The Holiday", and recently "Revolutionary Road" (reuniting her and "Titanic" co-star Leonardo DiCaprio), her grace and beauty has lit up the silver screen every time. And now comes the icing on her career cake, as 33-year-old Kate Elizabeth Winslet's 18-year journey is topped and sprinkled with Oscar gold!

Meanwhile, "Slumdog Millionaire's" huge haul is a huge make-up for "Quiz Show" losing Best Picture to "Forrest Gump" for game show fans. And all of India is celebrating as well, as the 81st Annual Academy Awards was indeed the night when Bollywood met Hollywood. So long and stay strong!

Oscar, Oscar...Who will win?

Hello, everybody. I'll get to my Oscar preview in a bit, but first...

Last week, the stimulus bill passed the Senate by a hair, and President Obama signed it into law on Tuesday. But now come the aftereffects, as the president launched an anti-foreclosure plan...and one person wasn't buying a single thing.

CNBC reporter Rick Santelli went full blast on Thursday lashing out against the new scheme, even lecturing the traders behind him in Chicago about organizing a new tea party in July. That video is already a major hit on YouTube, and I think it was a nice change of pace from all the Chris Brown/Rihanna/Octuplets mother mess we've been fed down our throats for over a week.

Now even though our economy remains in the shitter (sorry for the language), one thing that has survived all this for so long comes our way Sunday: The 81st Annual Academy Awards! For years on the former "Allen Report" site and on this blog, I have spent a week previewing the awards; but now, I've decided to cram all this into a few paragraphs.

The producers of this year's show, Bill Condon and Laurence Mark (the duo behind the feature film version of "Dreamgirls") have pulled no punches in an attempt to boost the awards' sagging ratings in recent year, even keeping the list of presenters under wraps until showtime...or so we thought. Tabloids have leaked out some names, including Jennifer Aniston and "Twilight's" Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart to take the stage. And John Travolta is rumored to make his first public appearance there since the tragic death of his son. We'll all find out for ourselves.

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Slumdog Millionaire" are coming into the awards with 13 and 10 nominations respectively; both along with "Frost/Nixon", "Milk", and "The Reader" are battling it out for the Best Picture prize.

One notable name expected to posthumously claim Supporting Actor is Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight", but we also got Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr., 2006 Best Actor winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Michael Shannon in that. Meanwhile, Mickey Rourke may be bodyslamming his way to a Best Actor win following his Golden Globe and BAFTA victories, but don't count out Sean Penn; he got a SAG Award for "Milk" and he wants to add Oscar #2 to his mantle (Oscar #1 was for "Mystic River" five years ago). Richard Jenkins, Frank Langella, and Brad Pitt round out the All-American field

On the Best Actress side, it's all about Meryl Streep vs. Kate Winslet in a rivalry similar to the Yankees/Red Sox. Streep is up for "Doubt" and her 16th overall nomination while Winslet has been up so many times before without a single win. Whose name will Daniel-Day Lewis read when he opens the envelope? If not those two, then Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, or Melissa Leo; they want to put a stop to this.

And the one other question we'll all be asking is: How long will the show go? It is promised to be timed at three hours tops, but will it be kept?

Now that you're all set, here's who I think will walk out of the Kodak Theatre Sunday night with the richest prize in all of entertainment:

Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger
Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke thinks he may have had it in the bag, but the Academy voters have given Best Actor to those who've played gay characters before; Tom Hanks in "Philadelphia" one of them. I think Sean Penn will continue that tradition this year.
Best Actress: Angelina Jolie's chances for a second Oscar (she last won in 2000 for "Girl, Interrupted") are now anything but diminished, and Anne Hathaway and Melissa Leo are praying for an upset. Streep and Winslet are great actresses, but I feel that it's time to pass the torch to Kate Winslet.
Best Director: Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire")
Best Picture: "Slumdog Millionaire"

We'll see what transpires when the 81st Annual Academy Awards with Hugh Jackman keeping things under control (and keeping an eye on his watch) comes at us Sunday night. And of course, I'll continue my ten-year tradition of sharing you my take on all this on Monday. So long and stay strong!

Hello, everybody. Earlier tonight in his first primetime news conference, President Obama pulled no punches when he pressured Capitol Hill to give the okay on that life-or-death stimulus bill.

This comes as over 11 million Americans are now out of a job (600,000 of them in January alone), and the president started his day with a town hall meeting in Elkhart, Indiana, where the unemployment rate is triple the national average. And here in Alaska, legislators are debating on whether or not to up the minimum wage here from $7.15/hour to $8.75. I don't know how much I made when I started working in 1995, but it's $8.50/hour for me now.

Alaska is somewhat recession-proof for now, but when tourist season gets underway in spring, it's going to be an even tough time hiring people. At least we in Fairbanks don't have any dead neighborhoods; if you saw Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" when the cameras panned to a decrepit area of Flint, Michigan with abandoned houses and overgrown sidewalks while talking about joining the Marines or Army as the only major jobs available, you know what I'm talking about.

At least I am recession-proof myself...but, for how long?

Now...the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, when Robert Plant and Alison Krauss dominated the night with five awards including Album of the Year ("Raising Sand") and Record of the Year ("Please Read The Letter") while Adele beat out Duffy and the Jonas Brothers for Best New Artist. Coldplay also won big for Song of the Year ("Viva La Vida"), and Jennifer Hudson, still high from her memorable rendition of the national anthem at last weekend's Super Bowl, picked up Best R&B Album honors for her self-titled "Jennifer Hudson."

Other winners included Carrie Underwood (Female Country Vocal Performance, "Last Name"; and boy, was she a knockout during her performance!), the late George Carlin (Comedy Album, "It's Bad For Ya"), and Al Gore (Spoken Word Album, "An Inconvenient Truth").

But of course the big story happened away from the show, when Chris Brown was arrested for alleged domestic violence. It is believed to be that his rumored girlfriend, Rihanna, may have been involved in the incident and canceled her performance at the awards with Justin Timberlake in his place.

The fashions? I thought Kate Beckinsale, Katy Perry, and Underwood hit the high notes, while Bai Ling and the very pregnant M.I.A. hit flat.

Now back to Brown before I close things up: I have nothing else to say except for the fact that his career may be toast if he did beat up Rihanna. What a shame. So long and stay strong.

Call them the Sixburgh Steelers!

Hello, everybody. In what was quite an epic clash till the end, the heavily-favored Pittsburgh Steelers deflated Kurt Warner's Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII earning them their sixth unprecedented Vince Lombardi Trophy, all thanks to Most Valuable Player Santonio Holmes' last-minute touchdown with less than 45 seconds left.

The game was viewed by 95.4 million people, making it not only the second most-watched game behind Super Bowl XLII last year (when the New England Patriots' chances for perfection weren't to be), but is now the third most-watched program in televison history, sending the "Who Shot J.R.?" episode of "Dallas" to #4!

Before and during the game, our entertainment was provided by Journey, Faith Hill with "America The Beautiful", Jennifer Hudson's first performance since the family murders with the national anthem, Bruce Springsteen rocking us at halftime...and of course, minutes of commercials. There are so many to look back to, so for the second time I'm counting down...

My Top Ten Favorite Commercials from Super Bowl XLIII

10. MacGruber featuring Richard Dean "MacGyver" Anderson for Pepsi (Will Arnett doesn't impress me)

9. Careerbuilder.com (I would've ranked it higher if it was just a five-second ad of just the koala being punched)

8. GoDaddy (DAMN YOU, DANICA PATRICK!!!!!!!! They should dump her and get Jamie-Lynn Sigler or Anna Kournikova!)

7. The return of the E*Trade babies (a bit more cuter than last year)

6. "Vroom Vroom Party Starter", aka Conan O'Brien pitching for Bud Light in Sweden (next year, it'll be Craig Ferguson hawking Miller Lite in Japan)

5. Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head for Bridgestone (would've been funnier if the sheep were replaced by either Richard Simmons (from last year) or Vince, the ShamWow guy)

4. TIE: Pepsi Max "I'm Good" (more like "I'm really, really hurt and need to go to the hospital!"/Coke Zero's remake of the Mean Joe Greene Coca-Cola ad (I guess this is why the Steelers won)

3. ANOTHER TIE: Budweiser Clydesdale fetching the stick/Pedigree (for the latter, they tried to get a lion, but one of them were too busy mauling the Detroit Lions)

2. The two Doritos ads, including the "Free Doritos" one (By the way...the lady who got stripped to her lingerie in the "Power Of The Crunch" ad is Christina Wildes; keep an eye on her and take note of that name, 'cause just like Ali Landry, she's going to be very, very big!)

The "Free Doritos" commercial may have been tops in "USA Today's" annual AdMeter poll, but this is my #1 favorite from Super Bowl XLIII:

1. Budweiser Clydesdale Circus
(Just like the Clydesdale Team from last year, purely tender)

The other big sports story of the weekend belonged to Olympian Michael Phelps, whose photo of him being caught smoking marijuana published in a British tabloid had him in hot water. In a statement, he said "I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment. I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again." The International Olympic Committee ultimately accepted his apology.

I think Phelps took his new-found fame a bit too far, and I'm sure he's already learned from his mistake.

And last but not least...public radio listeners here in Fairbanks got some very super news when the cancellation of three shows led to the pickups of three new shows; one of them was worth the, uh..."wait, wait" after quite a while.

KUAC informed listeners on that "Calling All Pets", "AK", and "St. Paul Sunday", all airing on Sunday mornings, have been canceled. Starting next Sunday, "Pets" will be replaced by "On The Media", "St. Paul Sunday" by National Public Radio's "From The Top", and perhaps the most joyous news of them all...the extremely popular "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!" also from NPR, which I have been enjoying online and/or on my iPod for a couple of years, replaces "AK"!!!!

I think KUAC made a right move in revising their Sunday morning lineup, because after all...Ryan Seacrest with his "American Top 40" isn't all that entertaining but "Wait, Wait" is. So long and stay strong.

New America, New Regime

Note: This portion of this blog was done on a WordPad late Tuesday night because my modem has lost connection to the network. The extended version will follow.

On Wednesday, January 20, 2009, a whole new America was born as 47- year-old Barack Hussein Obama raised his right hand and took the Oath of Office to officially become the 44th President of the United States and the first ever African-American to take that job. Along with being the most powerful CEO in the world, he is awarded the keys to the White House, possession of Air Force One, and a brand new presidential limousine.

Upwards of 2 million people right at Washington D.C. witnessed every historic moment, and if estimations are correct, the inauguration may be watched by close to 3 billion television viewers around the world (yes, 3 BILLION)...which could be more than the funerals of Pope John Paul II and Princess Diana, the Prince Charles/Lady Diana wedding, and even the Apollo 11 mission; it could even surpass the "M*A*S*H" series finale, Super Bowl XLII, and the "Who Shot J.R.?" episode of "Dallas" to become most-watched television event of all time!

But of course, the atmosphere surrounding the Nation's Capital even right up to the big moment was already at a high. Millions braved the 30-degree temperatures all day throughout every corner of Washington, from the National Mall where they watched the inauguration on giant Jumbotrons to Pennsylvania Avenue where they would get their first public glimpses of the new First Couple.

The ceremony had Aretha Franklin singing "America" (what the hell was that on her hat, by the way?), while Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren (who was criticized for being one of the masterminds behind the passing of Proposition 8 in California) delivered the invocation. That was followed by Joe Biden being sworn in as Vice President moments later.

Then, at a few minutes past noon, the moment generations have been waiting for finally arrived when Obama, despite the slip-up by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, took the oath of office. And I tell you, it was quite a sight to behold with the sea of flags waving immediately after he said "So help me God."

From there came the speech and whatever choice quote from it that would follow the lead of FDR's "Only thing we have to fear is fear itself" and John F. Kennedy's "Ask not what your country can do you." After his first paragraphs as President came the luncheon inside the Capitol, where the mood changed as Senators Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd experienced health problems and were rushed to the hospital; they were both doing fine.

After a fond farewell to now former President George W. Bush as he made his final trip aboard Marine One to Andrews Air Force Base, the Obamas would later make their trip down Pennsylvania Avenue where a throngs of people would await them as they stepped out of the limo for their traditional walk down a few blocks.

Meanwhile, the Bushes returned to Midland, Texas for a homecoming rally. No longer in power after eight tumultuous years and back to civilian life, George can now have all the vacation time he wants without being scrutinized about his job. But the only bright spots from his term were the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the capture of Saddam Hussein. Everything else? Who cares!

Now that all the inauguration balls are over and the majority of celebrities (too many to name, but they were all over Washington these last few days) about to head back to work, it's now on to the first 100 days of the Obama administration and solving a series of crises that faced us under Bush. The economy is of course the prime issue, and we could be seeing the founding of a 21st Century New Deal that would put America back to work and make our country much love livable.

In 1963, Martin Luther King gave his milestone "I Have A Dream" speech that was the turning point of the Civil Rights Movement. And now, over 40 years after his death, that dream is now a reality as the world's top job belongs to an African-American. Here's hoping that Barack H. Obama maintains that dream for the next four to eight years in office, and to paraphrase his motto: Yes, he will!

And now, the extended version...

All night long Tuesday, the Obamas and Bidens hit all eight inaugural balls, but the highlight of them all was Beyonce belting out "At Last" during Barack and Michelle's first dance at the Neighborhood Ball. It was a moment she'll never forget.

The following day of course, newspapers all over the world put out banner headlines that would become collector's items. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner screamed "A day of change" while the Anchorage Daily News had "The 44th President: Barack Obama"; both filled out their front pages with the ultimate money shot of President Obama being given the Oath of Office.

And speaking of which...also on the first full day of his presidency yesterday, it was take two for Chief Justice John Roberts, this time without any flubs and it was privately in the Map Room.

By the way, concerned about father Ted's health after being released from the hospital, Caroline Kennedy decided to withdraw her bid for the New York Senate seat left behind by Hillary Clinton, who is now the new Secretary of State.

Now...among the countless number of celebrities that hit the balls all throughout Washington on Tuesday was Anne Hathaway, and come next month, she might become the belle of the biggest ball of them all!

Nominations for the 81st Annual Academy Awards were out this morning, and leading the pack is "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" with 13 nods including Best Actor (Brad Pitt), Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), and Best Picture of 2008. The four other films battling it out for the latter prize include "Frost/Nixon", "Milk", "The Reader", and the surprise Golden Globe winner, "Slumdog Millionaire".

Up for Best Actor besides Pitt are Richard Jenkins ("The Visitor"), Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon"), Sean Penn ("Milk"), and some guy named Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler"). Hathaway ("Rachel Getting Married") has plenty of company on the Best Actress side, with Angelina Jolie ("Changeling"), Melissa Leo ("Frozen River"), Meryl Streep in her 15th general nomination ("Doubt"), and Kate Winslet ("The Reader"). And of course, the late Heath Ledger is up for Supporting Actor ("The Dark Knight").

Meanwhile, "Bolt", "Kung Fu Panda" and "Wall-E" go for the Animated Feature Film prize; but there's some good news for one Kevin O'Connell: No 21st nomination for him!!!

Last year's show got the lowest ratings ever, all thanks to the acting Euro-sweep. But you can sure bet that with this field and with Hugh Jackman as host, there's a good chance that Brangelina, Meryl, Anne, maybe Sean, maybe Mickey will bring Hollywood's biggest prize back to American soil when the 81st Annual Academy Awards will be handed out on February 22.

With all that including my belated take on the inauguration, so long and stay strong!

The final countdown to an inauguration for the ages

Hello, everybody. The eyes of the entire world right now are focused on Washington, D.C., where tomorrow morning, a new America and new world will be born as Barack Hussein Obama raises his right hand and takes the Oath of Office to officially be christened as the 44th President of the United States.

And over the weekend, the festivities have been underway, kicking off with a star-studded concert at the Lincoln Memorial broadcast on HBO that featured the likes of Beyonce, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen (who has another big afterwards, I'll explain later), Oscar winners Jamie Foxx, Tom Hanks, and Forrest Whitaker, Shakira, and others. Ben Affleck (who is now the proud father of a second baby girl he and Jennifer Garner gave birth to recently), Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Rosario Dawson, Hayden Panettiere, Jessica Alba, Samuel L. Jackson, Queen Latifah, and of course, Oprah Winfrey have also descended to the Nation's Capital to not only witness history in the making, but to also have even livelier parties than last week's Golden Globes!

But not everybody will make the red-eye flight to Washington...unless if they're flying US Airways! The Sundance Film Festival is going on in Utah, while some of the big names are premiering their films in Europe; among them, Tom Cruise ("Valkyrie"), Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet ("Revolutionary Road"), and Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway ("Bride Wars"). Of course, they will be watching the inauguration on TV.

Meanwhile, security all over Washington is at its tighest ever, and police estimates say that upwards of over 3 to even 4 million people from all over the world are there. And unlike George W. Bush's inaugurations in 2001 and 2005, there will be tolerance and civility, especially when Obama and his family make their traditional walk down Pennsylvania Avenue.

One of the attendees who'll be at tomorrow's inauguration is Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger, the heroic US Airways pilot who landed his plane to safety down the Hudson River last week without a single life lost.

Anyway, this will be a 56th Presidential Inauguration that'll be remembered for generations to come, all with a hefty price tag: Over $150 million! Now that is disputed, but it'll still be the most expensive ever at around $50 million. That's a sharp contrast to the two $40 million inaugurations for Bush, $33 million for Bill Clinton's first in 1993, and $30 million for the senior George Bush. We're not sure how much Ronald Reagan's were, but I think the government footed the bills.

We have come a long way from Martin Luther King's dream, and tomorrow afternoon, that dream will become a reality as the old regime under George W. Bush will be out and a new regime under Barack H. Obama will begin. And like I said when I commented on the election, I wished my grandmother Mildred lived a few months longer to witness what will sure be every historic moment of the inauguration.

Now as I stated a few paragraphs ago, Springsteen's next big gig will be halftime during Super Bowl XLIII...and speaking of which, it's on as only the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers remain for sole possession of the Vince Lombardi Trophy on February 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa!

"The Boss" is not alone; Journey will kick things off with their pre-game performance while in her first public appearance since the tragic family murders last fall, Jennifer Hudson will do the national anthem. And of course, there are the million dollar commercials, especially from the old standbys Anheuser-Busch and Pepsi.

Since the Steelers prevented the Seahawks' chances at a Super Bowl title three years ago, I'm now leaning towards the Cardinals to pull it off, and for good reason: I grew up living in the Phoenix area in the early '80s, back when I...oh, who the hell cares how I looked!

Till tomorrow and my inaugration recap, so long and stay strong!

Hello, everybody, as we begin our first blog of 2009 with what else--the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards!

After last year's show which was reduced to a 30-minute news conference thanks to the writers' strike, the awards were back in full force last night picking up where they left off. And in the case of underdogs, it was "Slumdog Millionaire" who ruled the show with three awards including Motion Picture-Drama, Director (Danny Boyle), and Screenplay. Kate Winslet picked up two honors for Drama ("Reservation Road") and Supporting Actress ("The Reader"), while in a surprise, it was Mickey Rourke who upset everyone for Motion Picture-Drama Actor. And of course, the late Heath Ledger received Supporting Actor for "The Dark Knight."

Meanwhile, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" got Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy, Foreign Language Film went to Israel's "Waltz With Bashir", and Motion Picture-Animated went to "WALL-E." Musical or Comedy acting prizes went to Colin Farrell ("In Bruges") and Sally Hawkins ("Happy-Go-Lucky")

On the television side, "30 Rock" and "Mad Men" continued their winning ways with Drama and Comedy/Musical honors respectively, while Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin ("30 Rock"), Anna Paquin ("True Blood"), and Gabriel Byrne ("In Treatment") took home acting Globes themselves.

Now of course, we in Fairbanks ended the old year and started the new with two weeks of super-cold temperatures that dipped way past 40 below zero; it was reminiscent of 1989 when we suffered through hellish colds that went from 50 to even 60 below zero!! So what we saw on the red carpet definitely warmed us up thanks to hot fashions by Eva Mendes, Beyonce, Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, and Cameron Diaz. But the hottest of them all belonged to Anne Hathaway and Eva Longoria Parker as my best-dressed picks, while Miley Cyrus and Renee Zellweger? We love you both, but please...fire your stylists!!

The Golden Globe Awards may long be billed as "the party of the year" when the biggest names in entertainment mingle with each other, but let's face it, folks...they're nothing but a warmup to the REAL party of the year that's going to happen in Washington D.C. next week when Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States! Planners for the several of inauguration parties that'll be scattered throughout the nation's capital are right now in the middle of finalizing their guest lists, and you can bet that some of the same celebrities who were at the Globes last night will have a second encounter with paparazzi and fans when they land at Dulles International Airport outside Washington this coming weekend for what is definitely a couple of days and nights to remember. And oh yeah...I'd love to see our new Senator Mark Begich hobnob with Anne Hathaway; maybe he could use his political power to give me her contact info! So long and stay strong!

It's the 11th time (18th in general since 1991) I rank what was on the minds of the world throughout this past year. I call it...

The Top 15 Things That Had the Whole World Talking in 2008

15. Detroit's woes (Mayor Kwame Kirkpatrick behind bars, the Big Three automakers pleading for a government bailout, the Detroit Lions win-less season...the only two bright spots were the Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup and hometown girl Kristen Bell being voted Sexiest Woman of 2008!)

14. O.J. Simpson finally going to jail (no comment, but I'm glad he got his just desserts)

13. Tricia Walsh-Smith's YouTube rants about her ex-husband (great, but not as exciting as...)

12. The old video of Bill O'Reilly mouthing off being leaked onto YouTube (sure beats Casey Kasem!)

11. The Jonas Brothers (nothing on them, it's just that their bodyguard Big Rob used to be Britney Spears' main protector back in the day. But does he suck at rapping or what?!)

10. Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love" being the #1 song worldwide (eat that, Mariah!)

9. The Eliot Spitzer/Rod Blagojevich/Ted Stevens scandals (nothing, but at least we voted Stevens out of office)

8. Miley Cyrus (the "Vanity Fair" scandal didn't faze her, but being 16 never looked so good)

7. TIE: Lindsay Lohan getting naked for "New York" magazine (about damn time!)/"The Dark Knight" making box office history

6. Blu-Ray triumphs over HD-DVD (watch out, LaserDisc...oh, wait)

5. The New York Giants' upset win over New England in Super Bowl XLII (the Detroit Lions should take notes)

4 (in her TENTH STRAIGHT APPEARANCE!!!!!). Britney Spears (did I mention it was the biggest comeback of the decade so far?)

3. TIE: Michael Phelps (out-swam anybody else than any swimmer around)/The recession (how much do I have in my bank account...in the case hell freezes over?)

2. Sarah Palin (she may be our governor, she may have co-lost the election, but does she play a mean flute or what?)

And it comes to no surprise as to who #1 is...

1. Barack Obama (who re-wrote history on November 4, and will so again on January 20 as the 44th President of the United States!)

That's our look at 2008 through the eyes of the AllenBlog; till we meet in 2009, so long, stay strong, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

The Year in Entertainment and Celebrities

A record-breaking box office...the Jonas Brothers packing venues worldwide...Hollywood taking part in the presidential election...celebrities unexpectedly going au naturel and raising eyebrows...scandals involving two governors...and the comeback of all comebacks after last year's false start...we kissed it all in 2008 and we liked it!

The 80th Annual Academy Awards drew the lowest ratings ever, not because of the aftermath of the writer's strike, but because of all four acting awards going to Europe: Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis, Ireland), Best Actress (Marion Cotillard, France), Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem, Spain), and Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton, United Kingdom). Despite all that, "No Country for Old Men" did pick up three more Oscars including Best Picture of 2007. In response to the European sweep, the Americans have been fighting back hard this year with stellar performances by Anne Hathaway ("Rachel Getting Married"), Angelina Jolie ("Changeling"), Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"), and Amy Adams ("Doubt").

2008 was Tina Fey's year to shine, largely thanks to her dead-on Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live" as well as her "30 Rock" claiming Comedy Series and Comedy Actress at the 60th Primetime Emmys. AMC's "Mad Men" became the first basic cable program to receive a top honor (Drama Series), while their winning streaks at 6-0 continued for "The Daily Show" and "The Amazing Race."

Also on the TV front this year: The "Battle of the Davids" on "American Idol" between Cook and Archuleta in which the former won it all; Kristy Yamaguchi, Kim Kardashian, and Brooke Burke displaying their fancy footwork on "Dancing With The Stars"; Showtime gaining some ground thanks in part to the theft of "Inside The NFL" from HBO...which, on the other hand, had a new hit in "True Blood; "Gossip Girl" and the new "90210" providing glimmers of hope for the ailing CW; and of course...NBC still buried in fourth place dropping shows left and right, but that could change next year when Jay Leno moves his gig to primetime.

Not even a dying economy couldn't slow down the box office, with "The Dark Knight" and the late Heath Ledger's last performance earned a record-breaking $158 million in its opening weekend. "Twilight", "High School Musical 3", and "Mamma Mia!" all had great moments worth seeing over and over again on DVD (or Blu-Ray), while "Meet Dave", "The Love Guru", "Leatherheads", and "Bangkok Dangerous" had moments worth seeing only once.

In music, we've had catchy tunes from newcomers Leona Lewis ("Bleeding Love") and Katy Perry ("I Kissed A Girl") to go along with the newest from Alicia Keys, Rihanna, and Coldplay, while Taylor Swift started climbing up the charts after getting a little publicity from the Jonas Brothers...who sold out venues all over and had us whipping out our earplugs because of the non-stop screams from fans.

Unexpected celebrities got naked or almost naked this year, and we haven't seen those coming. Lindsay Lohan did a titillating re-creation of Marilyn Monroe's "Last Sitting" photoshoot for "New York" magazine, which had many men blowing their loads like there was no tomorrow. There was also Eva Mendes, whose Calvin Klein commercial was banned in the United States (and a few other countries) because she showed a little extra. And in between those, we've got Miley Cyrus backless in "Vanity Fair." That photo got her in hot water for a while, but it as well as racy photos of her in a bra leaked onto the Internet didn't diminish her fanbase one bit as she was about to hit the Sweet 16.

Scandals aplenty also dominated the headlines in '08. The first big one was New York governor Eliot Spitzer, who was caught on a wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute. He was forced to step down, handing the reins to David Paterson, while Ashley Alexandra Dupre (the woman at the epicenter) became a household name. We also had TV legend Barbara Walters admitting in her memoirs that she had an affair with a Congressman decades ago, Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's public service ended with a text-message affair, and ex-presidential candidate John Edwards also admitting to -- yep! -- having an affair.

In celebrity couples, John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston had everyone talking this year. Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds were one of the few who tied the knot, while Madonna and Guy Ritchie headed to divorce court...not before rumors of a fling between her and Alex Rodriguez began to surface.

Other entertainment newsworthy events include: The writer's strike ending but fears that the actors' may be next; Christina Applegate's breast cancer ordeal; videos of Bill O'Reilly during his "Inside Edition" days and New York newscaster Sue Simmons cussing up a storm making the YouTube rounds; a Paula Abdul fan bitter for not making "American Idol" taking her own life nearby Paula's house; O.J. Simpson being sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for his involvement in a robbery attempt in Las Vegas; and a very happy ending for "America's Most Wanted's" John Walsh when the case was finally closed as to who killed Adam Walsh: It was Otis Toole all along.

2008's instant celebrity was Alaska governor Sarah Palin, who was in the worldwide spotlight as John McCain's running mate in the election. Even though they lost to Barack Obama and Joe Biden, we have never seen this kind of craze since Geraldine Ferraro when she ran alongside Walter Mondale in 1984. But of course, she got skewered along the way, not just by Fey, but Katie Couric when she grilled her about reading any newspapers. Also, Palin decided to make Anchorage her home base for her gubernatorial duties instead of the usual Juneau because of her home in nearby Wasilla. And just a couple weeks after the election, while Palin was interviewed at a turkey farm, a turkey behind her...well, let's just say it was Butterball-bound.

And thanks to the almighty YouTube, Tricia Walsh Smith also became an instant celebrity this year when she used the site to lash out against her soon-to-be ex-husband.

Without any doubt, the biggest entertainment story of 2008 belonged to a person who has always delighted and surprised us with every move she's made over the last decade: Britney Spears!

After a botched start last year, she was indeed back in a big way with winning her first MTV Video Music Awards in September, followed by her new album "Circus" immediately reaching #1 all over the world. And coming in 2009, she'll be coming to a city near you during her latest tour starting in New Orleans (where I saw her back in 2000; I had a special report on it) and ending in London, where six shows at the O2 Arena have been booked.

Also in 2009: Will the Americans bring Oscar back to the homeland? Who will be the next celebrity couple that'll be the talk of the world? And will NBC's gamble finally pay off with Leno every night at 10:00? We'll find out then.

Next time when the Year in Review continues: My annual list of the Top 20 Things That Had the Whole World Talking in 2008!