Hello, everybody, as we're getting closer and closer to Thanksgiving weekend.

First up...Washington is rocked by the latest scandal, and this time it isn't from the White House or Capitol Hill. CIA director David Petraeus resigned from his post last week in the wake of an extra-marital affair the FBI uncovered between him and his biographer Paula Broadwell, with salacious e-mail exchanges traced to June being the smoking gun. Marine Corps Gen. John Allen (absolutely no relation!) is also involved in this, as he has allegedly sent salacious e-mails to D.C. socialite and Petraeus family friend Jill Kelley, who has also received e-mails from Broadwell in May. And if things don't get interesting, we have a third man: Frederick Humphries, who according to sources, have sent shirtless photos of himself to Kelley.

On Friday, Petraeus in a closed-door hearing at the Capitol testified that al-Qaeda had something to do with the Benghazi, Libya attack in September. But back to the scandal for a moment: On a scale of Watergate to Lewinsky, I give it a Salahi (for those of you not in the know, they were the couple who were anonymously invited to a White House state dinner years ago behind security's back).

In about a week or so, we'll have the fifth and final round of Sexiest Woman of 2012. But in the meantime, "People" magazine this week named their Sexiest Man Alive for 2012: Channing Tatum, who drove female audiences wild  this year in "Magic Mike."

Now I know some of you ladies have mixed feelings about their decision, and there have been some worthy choices suggested like Gerard Butler, Chris Hemsworth, Justin Bieber, or even Robert Pattinson or Taylor Lautner. But there are also those from outside the box, like...

• Jimmy Kimmel (Adam Carolla told the Huffington Post that People should've looked at him because Adam looked at Kimmel naked some times)
• Justin Timberlake (who cares if he recently married Jessica Biel?)
• Austin Butler (Justin and Selena Gomez may be no more, but he still has Vanessa Hudgens!)
• Cristiano Ronaldo (he's like David Beckham minus the tattoos...and Victoria)
• CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley (He's more understandable and pleasing to watch than Brian Williams, even if he's #3 in the ratings)
• Any from "Dancing With The Stars" (with the exception of Len Goodman)
• Tom Bergeron (now there's a man who, unlike Mario Lopez on "The X Factor", knows how to ad-lib intelligently whenever things go wrong)
• Bruno Mars (okay, so he didn't make the cover spread, but his style and looks have won him some ardent gals)

So there you go. Oh, and by the way...the editors probably don't know who I am, which is why I got snubbed once again as well!

And last but not least...as we near the final month and a half of 2012, we have lost some greats that have held dear to our hearts; Dick Clark being the biggie. And right now, add Twinkie the Kid to the mix.

On Friday, Hostess Brands announced that they were ceasing operations effective immediately due to a Bakers Union strike and that they were going to sell off their assets, including their legendary snack cakes (Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho-Ho's, etc.) and Wonder Bread. As a result, 18,000 employees have already collected their last checks.

For generations like myself who gorged on these treats, this truly is the end of an era as supermarket shelves have been running dry of Hostess products, thinking this is it....or is it really? Since the news of Hostess' bankruptcy, some big companies have been named to pick up the remnants, including Kellogg's (which bought Pringle's from Procter & Gamble), Kraft Foods, ConAgra, Nestle, General Mills, and Unilever. So far...no takers.

I sure am going to miss the days of enjoying cream-filled bliss, though I wouldn't mind a Twinkie, Donette, or a Wonder Bread sandwich just one more time. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. Well, another presidential election has come and gone, and our choice for the next four years was President Barack Obama, as he has defeated Mitt Romney for a second term in what was one of the tightest and heart-stopping battles I've ever seen. And on Saturday, he has also won Florida, as all 100% of the votes there were in. The final score (in electoral votes): Obama 332, Romney 206.

It was quite a see-saw battle, with Romney having the advantage winning much of the South (including Texas), the Dakotas, and the battleground North Carolina. But after polls closed in the Northeast (including Romney's home state of Massachusetts), parts of the Midwest (Iowa, Minnesota, and Illinois), and in the West (including Colorado, New Mexico, and California with its big 55 electoral votes), they were all Obama. It was all over the moment Ohio went into the President's inventory, and McCormick Place in Chicago went crazy. Okay, so it was a sharp contrast to Grant Park four years ago, but the volume of jubilation was the same.

Meanwhile in Boston, Romney had only a victory speech prepared in case of a last-minute Hail Mary by the voters, but ad-libbed his concession speech thanking wife Ann, Paul Ryan, and his supporters for a feasible 5 1/2 minutes. Shortly after that, it was Obama's turn to address the world on his second victory.

The Senate will remain under Democrat control, thanks to wins by Claire McCaskill (Missouri), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts, defeating incumbent Scott Brown), and Chris Murphy (Connecticut, defeating former WWE CEO Linda McMahon in her second chance); Republicans will still own the House. And in Colorado, they don't call themselves the Mile High State for nothing, as marijuana use has been legalized there.

About 67 million viewers watched it all unfold across various networks, though NBC was tops on the broadcast side and CNN having the #1 cable coverage. NBC had their usual cast of characters (Brian Williams, David Gregory, Chuck Todd, Tom Brokaw), ditto for CNN (Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, John King), and CBS (which I watched mostly) was headlined by Scott Pelley -- his first election night -- and Bob Schieffer.

And then, there was ABC, which probably stood for "Absolutely Buzzed Coverage" and for good reason: Diane Sawyer appeared to have stolen Tom Brokaw's Ambien and infused it into her Jack Daniels (she is from Kentucky, after all)! I mean, she became the Lindsay Lohan/Amanda Bynes of election night, with her alleged drunkenness burning up Twitter and even mispronouncing Obama's last name as "Orama-bama" one time. It's like watching Jessica Savitch and Anna Nicole Smith at the 2004 American Music Awards reincarnated into one!

Now, Diane's Twitter bio says that she likes her drinks caffeinated. I guess she had to make two quick runs to Starbucks and then the liquor store before hitting the air. Okay, seriously...it was sleep deprivation that made her seem a little off, and ABC wasn't saying anything either. And now that he and Selena Gomez are (finally) no more, let's not hope next time, Diane pulls a Pat O'Brien by leaving X-rated voicemails to Justin Bieber behind husband Mike Nichols' back.

So in the end, it was an election that was out of the ordinary. Romney did everything he could to earn four years, but President Obama with the help of the same tactics (as well as a slew of celebrity support, fueled by Eva Longoria as one of the campaign's national co-chairs) earned four more, vowing to continue to shape America for the better even if unemployment rates are still up and down all over the board. As for Mitt Romney, he is moving forward alright...into obscurity.

We are also moving forward as well...to the holiday shopping season. And one person who's so ready is Oprah Winfrey, as her "Favorite Things" is back after a one-year hiatus with a special on OWN November 18 with military spouses having no idea they were in for the treat of their lives.

On this year's list: A Jetson E-Bike, Julep nail polish set, the new Microsoft Surface tablet (powered by the new Windows 8), the Dyson Pedestal Fan, the Bose VideoWave II (at $5,000, the Cadillac of home theater systems/HDTVs), Beats by Dr. Dre Powerbeats earphones, gourmet pigs in blankets from Brooklyn Piggies, blue velvet cakes from Carousel Cakes, a month's supply of Dark Secret chocolates, tequilas from Cara Dragones and Milago that will be the hit at a certain news anchor's holiday party, and...truffle butter, truffle sausage, truffle oils, truffle pastas, and goat cheese with -- you guessed it -- black truffle! Maybe this "60 Minutes" piece on truffles must've gave Oprah some gift ideas.

But before you start maxing out your cards in advance, we still have Ellen DeGeneres and her "12 Days of Giveaways", which will be in December. I expect to be the Microsoft Surface, the iPad Mini, and the new Nintendo Wii U to be featured.

And last but not least...George Lucas' Lucasfilm studio, the home of Star Wars and Indiana Jones, was recently acquired by The Walt Disney Company for $4.05 billion. Now in light of this news...the Angry Birds are at it again!

Yes, the Pac-Man of smartphone/tablet games has come out with a "Star Wars" edition, and if you're like me, we have had enough of the Angry Birds craze with merchandise (toys, calendars, clothing, the whole nine yards) and even the spinoff game Bad Piggies. And why is that? Unlike other popular games like Where's My Water? (also by Disney) and Infinity Blade, they're not universal apps (i.e., made for iPhone and iPad).

Another is that with the fifth generation iPhones/iPod Touches and the latest iPad out, TV-based apps like GetGlue, IntoNow, and Zeebox are becoming more popular; I'm sure they were all used a whole lot during election coverage.

There will be some time before Angry Birds-mania is fizzled out. For now though, we can still enjoy sling-shooting those birds to our hearts' content...unless if we see a knockoff called "Angry Diane Sawyers" (okay, I'll stop)! So long and stay strong.

It's all over but the voting!

Hello, everybody.

Tomorrow...it all ends.

In less than 24 hours and change, the 57th Presidential election between incumbent Barack Obama and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will be over but the celebration on either side, and both candidates have been in the final mad dashes of their lives. Obama wants to earn an additional four years' paid rent at the White House, but Romney has been doing his damnedest to give the president the eviction notice.

For the last month, Obama and Romney have been in a see-saw-battle in numerous polls, though Mitt got a much deserved boost after the first debate. The economy is once again the main factor, with rising energy costs that have cost Fairbanks two longtime family-owned businesses this year: Hope Hallmark and Somethin' Special, though Pier 1 Imports have recently returned after nearly 30 years.

In the first four years, Obama has accomplished a lot of things, including complete withdrawal of our troops from Iraq with Afghanistan next, signing the Affordable Health Care Act, saving the U.S. auto industry from extinction, and of course, the permanent end of Osama bin Laden's reign of terror. Romney, on the other hand? His Bain Capital put legendary typewriter maker Smith Corona out of a business, but we can give you this: He help bring the 2002 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City.

But there's more than just the highest office in the land that's at stake. The entire House (all 435 seats) is up for grabs, plus 33 Senate seats (including former WWE CEO Linda McMahon's second chance in Connecticut), 11 gubernatorial races, and hundreds of local and state races and issues to be decided all over the country. Among them are ballot measures ranging from marijuana legalization in battleground Colorado to even mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods in California.

In the end, it'll be either Obama or Romney with the X Factor. The forecast may call for Romney to win the popular vote, but the electoral vote is the only thing that matters. And with the help of early voting and grassroots campaigns in the crucial make-it-or-break-it states like Virginia, Ohio, and Florida, Obama may be reaching the 270 mark yet again, but not by much as compared to 2008.

So...after all the months of drama with Big Bird this and "Don't boo; vote!" that, the final chapter of this heated presidential election will be written in voting booths everywhere tomorrow. Because after all...it's your choice. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. It has become a "Week of Weeks", where everything has went by so much it's best to break them down one by one.

First up...the third and final presidential debate on Monday, where Bob Schieffer grilled President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney on foreign policy. And then after that, with two weeks to go came the all-out final campaign push as early voting has started in several more states including Alaska (our three electoral votes won't mean diddly squat as it'll go to Romney anyway). Obama campaigned for 48 hours straight in his America Forward! Tour targeting Colorado, Florida, Virginia, and Ohio; those four states will no doubt decide the presidency. In between, he made a pit stop at "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and then cast his early vote ballot in Chicago.

Romney also hit the key states himself, and several polls show him either trailing behind Obama or gaining above. And now comes what was Donald Trump's "bombshell" announcement that if the president releases his college transcripts and passport applications, Trump promises to give $5 million to Obama's charity of his choice.

Well...we don't buy it, and so isn't Barbara Walters, who said openly to Trump that he is making a fool of himself and urges him to, in the words of Mike Ditka, "Stop it!" Meanwhile, major newspapers such as the Washington Post and the New York Times have ramped up their endorsements for Obama; Romney has yet to get one. With the debates already over and not a single day to lose till November 6, it's all or nothing as we could be headed for a race that will be tighter than, to paraphrase Dan Rather one time, the rusted bolts on a 1969 Plymouth. There is the off chance that Romney will win the popular vote, but it's all about the electoral votes that really matter: 270, and Obama may be expected to reach that number once again. But you may never know, because in elections like these, there are no guarantees; someone will victor, and someone will be vanquished.

Halloween may be next Wednesday, but already, retailers have started running the first commercials for the upcoming holiday shopping season. And on Tuesday, we got a head start on what will be on gift lists everywhere as Apple introduced the iPad Mini. This compact-size version of the world's #1 tablet comes in light of heavy competition with Amazon's new Kindle Fire HD and Samsung's Galaxy Note, and it will have the exact same features as its big brother. Pricing starts at $329 and is expected to be quite the ultimate stocking stuffer this year.

And last but not least...there was also Taylor Swift's new album "Red" dropping on Tuesday as well, but we here in Fairbanks closed off the week with Jerry Seinfeld performing to a packed Carlson Center Friday night; I was right there on the front row. And he was not alone, as Mario Joyner (who some of you may know from MTV's "1/2 Hour Comedy Hour") preceded him.

The master of his own comedy domain  -- even if he sounded hoarse -- had us in hysterics for a good hour or so, much like his hit show which continues to play in reruns around the world. He riffed on almost everything including 5-Hour Energy, smartphones, OnStar (sorry, he didn't touch Siri), drug ads filtrating the airwaves, and even social media like Twitter and Facebook. One joke that was already embedded into my brain: "If you want five hours of energy, go to sleep!"

I told you before that Seinfeld was a huge make-up for missing out on Elton John, though unlike him, it wasn't literally a sell-out as tickets continued to be available right up until showtime, with an almost capacity crowd a few minutes after 7:30. As for notable figures in attendance? I spotted my good friend Glen "Glenner" Anderson; not sure if Jerry Evans was there as well.

All in all, 13 years after I was humorously traumatized, Jerry Seinfeld was the sure antidote even if he didn't resort to crude language. And now that we've finally got an A-list comedian here, all I got to say is...BRING ON RAY ROMANO (hey, he had a hit TV show, too)!!!! So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. Well, the first Presidential debate between incumbent Barack Obama and Mitt Romney was the only thing that headlined this week's news. And oh, man, did Romney give Obama a lynching or what?

Or...despite all of the congratulatory "Romney deserves this debate fair and square" babble from the lamestream media, was it really the other way around? Okay, so the president (and on the 20th anniversary of wedded bliss with Michelle, nonetheless) wasn't really at his best while Romney shook off the cobwebs stemming from that hidden camera video released the other week and his "47 percent" complaint.

Now I know a lot of you have been X-raying the facts during the debate, though Jim Lehrer's head should've been X-rayed as well. He has been moderating these debates since 1988 (when the just established Commission on Presidential Debates took over from the League of Women Voters) and you could tell he was getting sick and tired. Obama and Romney talked and talked while Lehrer did his best to do what those NFL replacement refs couldn't: Keep things under control. Wish they got Bernard Shaw out of retirement instead.

But who was the real winner? Has to be PBS, thanks to Romney saying that as President, he will eliminate funding for it. That remark has made one certain "Sesame Street" character flapping his wings in anger: Big Bird! 

Sesame Workshop in response said that as the non-profit organization also behind "The Electric Company", "3-2-1 Contact", "Square One TV", and "Ghostwriter", they receive very minimal funding from PBS and that"We are a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. We do not comment on campaigns, but we’re happy we can all agree that everyone likes Big Bird!"

PBS themselves went on the defensive: "The federal investment in public broadcasting equals about one one-hundredth of one percent of the federal budget. Elimination of funding would have virtually no impact on the nation’s debt." 

Like most of you, I grew up with PBS, even if their "Downton Abbey" won only one measly Emmy this year. How are we going to live without "Nova", "Antiques Roadshow", "Austin City Limits", "Arthur", "Nature", "PBS Newshour", or even Bob Ross (though he's been dead for dozens of years)? We don't want to be stuck with Honey Boo Boo as one of the new alternatives; the only ones that can help prevent Romney getting his grubby hands on PBS are, you guessed it...viewers like you! (Thank you.)

Anyway...Obama's wounds from debate #1 were quickly healed with his approval rating up to 54%, the highest in three years. That would be followed by the unemployment rate now at 7.8%, the lowest since he took office. Heh, so much for Romney's claims about 23 million out of a job when it's actually 12.5 million.

He may have had his butt handed to Romney on Wednesday, but come the second debate on October 16, Obama will come out swinging like never before. But before that, we have Joe Biden vs. Paul Ryan in the one and only Vice Presidential showdown this Thursday. With virtually one month to go now and early voting already underway in several states including the make-or-break Ohio, something's got to give. And in debates like these, the only thing that would aid you to either an additional four years' paid rent at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or an unfortunate upset by the man who vows to end PBS as we know it is not a teleprompter, but your brain. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. For four straight years, "Mad Men" always came out on top as the most-honored drama of all time; it proved to be unstoppable...that is, until now.

"Homeland" reigned supreme at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday night, claiming not only Outstanding Drama (Showtime's first), but Lead Acting honors for Damian Lewis and Claire Danes; "Mad Men", after all those four years, came up empty-handed. And though Bryan Cranston was denied another Emmy for "Breaking Bad", his co-star Aaron Paul received Supporting Actor while "Downton Abbey's" only main award went to Dame Maggie Smith.

On the comedy side, it was a three-peat for "Modern Family" as it also got Supporting Acting prizes for Eric Stonestreet and Julie Bowen; Jon Cryer ("Two And a Half Men") and Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep") copped Lead Acting and her third overall. Other winners include "Game Change" (Miniseries/Movie and Lead Actress for Julianne Moore), Kevin Costner (Lead Actor-Miniseries/Movie, "Hatfields & McCoys"), "The Amazing Race" (their ninth Reality Competition Program), Tom Bergeron (Reality Competition Host, "Dancing With The Stars"), Louis C.K., and at 10-0..."The Daily Show with Jon Stewart", who didn't realize that the Emmy Awards are on network television, not cable!

Jimmy Kimmel presided over the ceremonies, and knowing that they were on opposite the New England Patriots vs. Baltimore Ravens on "Sunday Night Football", he even asked Tracy Morgan to play dead onstage. The stunt worked, resulting in a Twitter/Facebook flood. There were also some skits including "Breaking Bad" done "Andy Griffith Show"-style and an In Memoriam tribute to Kimmel himself (the real In Memoriam featured Griffith, Don Cornelius, Steve Jobs, and other departed notables ending with Dick Clark). But according to AddThis, over 75% of Emmy viewers following the show on social media platforms disagreed about Kimmel's monologue.

One thing that was easily agreed on: The red carpet. Prior to the show, there was Sofia Vergara in Zuhair Murad, Heidi Klum pulling off an Angelina Jolie in her Alexandre Vauthier, Julianne Moore in Raf Simons for Christian Dior, and "2 Broke Girls'" Kat Dennings ramping up the va-va-voom in J. Mendel.

In the end, it was Hayden Panettiere's Marchesa that sizzled the most, while Julianna Margulies (Giambattista Valli)? She fizzled!

We're not sure what the ratings will be for this year's Emmycast, but I know there were millions of views galore for hidden camera video of Mitt Romney being released last week by Mother Jones that may have cost him the election. Speaking at a private fundraiser in Florida in May, Romney went on a jag about the voters who supported President Obama, saying that we pay no taxes and that he thinks the government should foot the bill. And then he said this: 

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what…These are people who pay no income tax."

47 percent? This is coming from the man who finally disclosed his tax returns and wants to boot Obama out? It turns out that the 47 percent happens to be...either a senior citizen (one-fifth), in college (most scholarships are not taxable), in a big corporation, in a combat zone, or even living in a Red State. Alaska is generally a red state when it comes to elections, but we are last among the non-filers.

In about a month or so, we'll see if those 47 percent will give Romney a taste of his own medicine...unless if he goes Joe the Plumber on us in the October debates. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. A lot of stuff to get to as always, so we begin first up with the slew of protests that have turned U.S. embassies throughout the Middle East into war zones.

It all started when a 14-minute trailer for the low-budget, anti-Islamic film "Innocence of Muslims", hit YouTube in July and garnered over 150 million views. But it wasn't until last weekend when an Egyptian television station broadcast excerpts of the Arabic-dubbed trailer, which sprouted into a series of attacks on U.S. embassies, including the one on Tuesday (on the 11th anniversary of 9/11, nonetheless) in Benghazi, Libya that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. Other attacks happened in Egypt, Tunisia on Friday with three people killed, Yemen, and even Lebanon where a KFC restaurant was set ablaze. The Libyan attack was condemned worldwide, with President Obama ordering tighter security at U.S. diplomatic facilities.

Protests against the film were spread as far as Britain, where 200 people gathered outside the embassy in London, though there were no violent incidents.

Now, to the film in question: Believe it or not, it was produced right here in the United States and directed by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula using the pseudonym "Sam Bacille." We've also learned that it was shot with a $50,000-$60,000 budget at the Blue Cloud Movie Ranch. Sitting on 100 acres in the Santa Clarita Valley north of Los Angeles, dozens of scenes for TV shows and movies like "Iron Man" and "NCIS Los Angeles" were shot there because of its military and Middle Eastern-like settings. Its one and only screening was in June under another title, "Innocence of Bin Laden", to an audience of ten at the Vine Theater in Hollywood; one attendee gave it a very poor review about the poor acting and anti-Islamic stance.

I can't believe that one, poorly-produced, American-made movie would trigger so much turmoil against our embassies. And I know my cousin Equilla in North Carolina like -- who is Muslim herself-- like most of us is appalled at what's been going on.

Moving on now...here we go again! A few weeks ago, it was Prince Harry frolicking naked in Las Vegas; now, it's his brother's wife's turn. 
Prince William and Kate Middleton may still be touring the South Pacific right now, but back in Britain (and everywhere else in the world), they don't care about that. 

The French magazine "Closer" ran pictures of William and a topless Kate relaxing during a private getaway in the Provence region of France, and St. James's Palace is up in arms. They said in a statement, "Their Royal Highnesses have been hugely saddened to learn that a French publication and a photographer have invaded their privacy in such a grotesque and totally unjustifiable manner. The incident is reminiscent of the worst excesses of the press and paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all the more upsetting to The Duke and Duchess for being so. Their Royal Highnesses had every expectation of privacy in the remote house. It is unthinkable that anyone should take such photographs, let alone publish them."  

The magazine has reportedly pulled the pictures from their website, while the royal couple is taking "Closer" to court; its editor and the photographers responsible for those snaps could be facing a year in prison and a maximum fine of 45,000 Euros ($58,100 U.S.). Can you say "breach of privacy"?

By the way, this comes about a week or so after 91-year-old Prince Philip accidentally exposed his royal jewels in a kilt while sitting alongside Queen Elizabeth II during an event in Scotland. With Princes Harry and Philip and now the Duchess of Cambridge, forget "Girls Gone Wild"; it's now..."Royals Gone Wild"!

In 1999, we've seen these two duke it out for teen pop diva supremacy on the charts. Smash cut to 13 years and many relationships and problems and other matters later, and now, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera are at it again...this time for control of our TVs!

New seasons of "The Voice" (with Aguilera) and "The X Factor" (with Spears and Demi Lovato now joining Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid) debuted this week, with the Emmy-nominated Voice already on a high after Season 2. NBC pulled no punches scheduling the third night opposite night one of X Factor's season premiere on Fox, which Cowell called it "mean-spirited." Well, Team Xtina triumphed over Team Britney, as The Voice won the ratings 7.1 to 6.3.

But despite the ratings loss (down 20% overall), some critics and fans are warming up to the presences of Spears and Lovato. "Entertainment Weekly's" Ken Tucker said that Britney rattled off "a variety of “No”s to the punching-bag mediocrities the producers let in for comic relief," while Lovato, according to "USA Today", "related well to the teenage contestants, complimenting them on their glitter, cuteness, lipstick and stage presence." One moment that made the night belonged to 19-year-old contestant Jillian Jensen, who was bullied in school and had the courage to sing it all away to the delight -- and tears, including Demi's -- of the audience.

"The Voice" may have drawn first blood, but wait till when "Dancing With The Stars" starts up again on September 24 with the All-Stars. As fox "X Factor"? Their competition once again will be "Survivor" when it returns next Wednesday.

As the season progresses, performances from both shows will be out on iTunes, and while we're at this...Apple this week announced the iPhone 5, which will be thinner than the iPhone 4S and with a brand spanking new design including larger display, lightning-fast wi-fi, and other features; it'll be out next weekend. At the same time, they also introduced the next generation iPod Touch, also with a new design but with colors, almost the same features as iPhone 5, and of course, Siri.

But you'll have to wait till October for that, which happens to be perfect timing because that's when a majority of Alaska Permanent Fund Dividends will be in our bank accounts. And speaking of which...this year's amount (expected to be lower yet again) will be announced this Tuesday at 11:00 am Alaska Time; I'll have it for you on my Twitter just seconds after.

And last but not least...six years ago on this very blog, I documented John Leguizamo's visit to Fairbanks, which the entire area turned out for. Two years later, Elton John came up here for those lucky enough (unlike myself) to snag a seat. And then two years after that, it was Snoop Dogg's turn to invade our turf.

Well, Jerry Seinfeld will be the fourth A-lister to carry on that tradition when he ascends to the Golden Heart City on October 26 at the Carlson Center; and making sure I wouldn't miss out just like I did with Sir Elton, I already got my tickets (which went on sale Friday morning)!

Okay, I originally said that after Bill Bellamy followed by the unexpected roasting I got from one of the BET comedians the one time, I would never see another comedian again...that is, until we heard that Seinfeld would be coming. And how could I not pass up on this golden opportunity? I could babble all I want about him having one of TV's #1 shows during the '90s and that afterwards, he returned to his roots performing stand-up -- this time at larger venues around the world -- as well as other projects including "The Marriage Ref" and the web series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee". 

To sum it up, Seinfeld will be my second big-name act here following B.B. King in 2001 (third if you count my double date with Britney Spears the previous year). I know that the man who had "the show about nothing" will always provide us more than something to laugh about next month. So long and stay strong and yadda, yadda, yadda.

Hello, everybody. They say that all good things must come to an end, and that was the case for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Sunday with plenty of company from the Spice Girls, One Direction, Madness, George Michael, Muse, Monty Python's Eric Idle, and Annie Lennox among others. With a $14 billion bill, those performers were each paid something that could be worth a small drink: $1.50!

Anyway, The Who closed the festivities off after the dousing of the Olympic cauldron, which followed the the 10,800 athletes all marching in as one plus remarks by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge declaring the games over.

The United States had their best ever showing during those two weeks, coming home with the most medals haul with 104; 46 of them gold including the men's basketball team holding off Spain 107-100 in the finals. The host country, Great Britain, did well themselves: 29 golds, 65 overall (their largest since 1908).

There were some unforgettable moments throughout the games, including Michael Phelps capping off his career as the most decorated Olympian ever...not to mention passing the swimming hotness torch to Ryan Lochte, who will probably follow his lead at Rio in 2016. Mo Farah swept the 5,000- and 10,000-meter races to not just the roar of the hometown crowd at Olympic Stadium, but to the ecstatic BBC commentators calling them!

Females dominated these games, headlined by Gabby Douglas's and Missy Franklin's golds, the U.S. soccer, gymnastics, and basketball teams, and women's boxing making its Olympics debut.

Oscar Pistorius, the double-amputee track athlete from South Africa, may not have a medal around his neck, but was a champion to everybody's hearts. And yes, there was Usain Bolt...winner and still king of the track.

With the Games of the XXX Olympiad over and the other athletes still departing from Heathrow Airport with the ultimate souvenirs, it's now on to Sochi, Russia and the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014. For the United States and Canada, they will finally compete at an Olympics in Russia 34 years after they and 60 other countries boycotted the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow. But during those last two weeks in London, this year's Olympics sure lived up to their theme: "Inspire a generation."

And last but not least: Stacy Keibler has followed the Olympics while in Italy with George Clooney, and pretty soon, she's returning to television as host of a new Lifetime show called "Supermarket Superstars." As for "The X Factor"? She's still in the running for that hosting job

It's already been a year since she and Clooney as an item became front-page news around the world; and in the months since, we saw them stealing the show at the biggest entertainment events including the granddaddy of them all, the Oscars. There were even rumors about Stacy sprouting a baby George, but an Instagram pic of her toned abs put those to bed.

With Miley Cyrus and now Jennifer Aniston engaged, and Natalie Portman recently wed, what are the odds that wedding bells will ring for George and Stacy? One in about never! But if the two happen to become over after one year, then Stacy's next guy? Fellow Baltimoreian Michael Phelps...unless if   she cheats on him in the backseat of a Porsche with Ryan Lochte! So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. Week 1 of the Games of the XXX Olympiad in London is coming to an end, and has the United States been owning the podium or what?

Most of the bounty belonged to Michael Phelps, as he wraps up his stellar career has cemented his place as the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 overall medals; 19 of them gold. Four of those 19 came over the course of the week: The 4x200m freestyle relay, the 200m individual medley; his last individual medal, the 100m butterfly on Friday; and to cap it all off: the 4x100m medley relay on Saturday. 

As a matter of fact, the men's swimming in these games should be called "The Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte Show", as the two have been a duel starting with Lochte claiming gold in the 400m individual medley on Saturday (Phelps didn't medal, finishing fourth); Michael would outswim him a few days later with the 100m butterfly.

The women have also dominated in the water, with Alison Schmitt, Missy Franklin, Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer, and Katie Ledecky claiming golds themselves.

In gymnastics, call it the Fab Five as the women raked their first team gold since the Magnificent Seven in 1996; that would be followed by Gabby Douglas' gold in the all-around. At 16, she was also the youngest gold medalist in these games...well, for at least one day, when 15-year old Ledecky took that honor.

And on Saturday, it was advantage: Serena Williams as she beat Maria Sharapova for gold in women's tennis. The other major U.S. gold medalist this week was Kayla Harrison in women's judo (78kg), a first for us.

Great Britain is also doing impressive medals-wise, with their first golds in men's cycling time trials and rowing on Wednesday; the former thanks to this year's Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins. 

The United States have not only taken the most golds so far with 26, but also the one-medal advantage overall over China (54-53) who has 25 golds; the host country is not far behind with 29 (14 golds) followed by Russia's 28. And Canada finally got their first gold in women's trampoline, but they have a lot of ground to make up with the nine others they already got.

The track and field events are already underway, and that's where Lolo Jones and Usain Bolt will shine. Other events to take center stage in week 2 of the Olympics: Wrestling, basketball, and indoor and beach volleyball.

Now...if infidelity was an Olympic sport, Kristen Stewart would easily get that gold. It's been a week since scandalous photos of Stewart and her "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders allegedly getting more than cozy shocked Twihards around the world, and here's the latest:

Stewart and Robert Pattinson have both went into exile, with Kristen at her parents' house while Pattinson retreated to his "Water for Elephants" co-star Reese Witherspoon's home just up the highway in Ojai. The two were scheduled to present together at next month's MTV Video Music Awards, but that appears to be up in the air...at least for now.

In the risk of editorializing, I think that Kristen Stewart has made a mistake which may have not only cost her her relationship, but her career as well. But I wouldn't be surprised if her next guy could be...well, Ryan Lochte or Michael Phelps! So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. After seven years of planning, the Games of the XXX Olympiad kicked off in grand fashion Friday night in London with a spectacular production. 

This is their third Olympics after the 1908 and 1948 games, and the opening ceremony (under the auspices of Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle) was a concoction of rock and royalty rather than pomp and pageantry. Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean provided comic relief, appearing in a dream that he was in "Chariots of Fire" after trying to play the keyboard with his left hand while texting and doing some other things with his right.

The stadium became one giant jukebox with modern British music becoming the soundtrack, with Paul McCartney's "Hey, Jude" as the closer after a group of teenage athletes had the once-in-a-lifetime honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron, which explain the theme being "Inspire a Generation." That became a secret right up to that moment, though there were rumors that Roger Bannister or even David Beckham was going to do the deed.

Before that, the parade of nations featuring 204 countries and 10,500 athletes taking part in these games featured, for the first time, women in each delegation; 45 percent are represented.

After her adventurous descent to the stadium by James Bond, Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the games open, and for the first time ever, all events -- including the marquee ones like swimming, track and field, and gymnastics -- will be live on various platforms besides television. NBC, among other broadcasters, allows you to watch the complete Olympics on your computer, smartphone, and/or tablet anywhere, anytime! It sure is a far cry from that Olympics Triplecast disaster 20 years ago in Barcelona (remember that?), only this time...it's FREE!!!

During the next two weeks, Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt will pick up where they left off in Beijing, while there will be some new legends being made in the blink of an eye. It all depends on which country's anthem will be played the most on the medals podium. Oh, and FYI: Wenlock and Mandeville are the games' mascots, though they reek Kang and Kodos from "The Simpsons".

By the way, NBC drew lots of flack for tape delaying their coverage of the opening ceremonies for primetime, and that led to loyal fans looking for an alternative way to watch them live via the BBC stream. I was among them despite the nine-hour time difference between London and Alaska, so in other words, we sodded off NBC because we preferred seeing them with very minimal commentary.

(UPDATE: Brazil and China picked up the first golds on Saturday with two apiece)

Now...Shawn Johnson picked up gold in Beijing, which was followed by a stint on "Dancing With The Stars." And speaking of which...she's returning this season as one of the All-Stars along with fellow medalist Apolo Ohno, Pamela Anderson, Emmitt Smith, Kirstie Alley, Pamela Anderson, Helio Castroneves, Bristol Palin, Melissa Rycroft, Joey Fatone, Drew Lachey, Gilles Marini, and inaugural winner Kelly Monaco. But where was Stacy Keibler, you ask? Well, she's still up for "The X Factor" hosting gig, which may be in jeopardy because names like Khloe Kardashian and Fox Sports' newest hire/DWTS alum Erin Andrews are also in contention. Stacy is definitely camera-friendly (read: WWE), but will that translate to seeing her once again on a weekly basis? We shall see in the weeks to come.

Even though the Olympics are in his home country, one person who doesn't care less about them right now is Robert Pattinson, and why? He's trying to buy out every issue of the latest "Us Weekly" because Kristen Stewart was caught getting freaky with married "Snow White and the Hunstman" director Rupert Sanders...and they have photographic evidence. Right away, Stewart issued this statement: "I'm deeply sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I've caused to those close to me and everyone this has affected. This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most, Rob. I love him, I love him, I'm so sorry." Sanders had this to say as well: "I am utterly distraught about the pain I have caused my family. My beautiful wife [Liberty Ross] and heavenly children are all I have in this world. I love them with all my heart. I am praying that we can get through this together."
 
This comes about a week or so after Katie Homes was finally free again after divorcing Tom Cruise, but as far as Robsten are concerned? Well, there are reports that the couple have moved out of the Los Angeles home they shared, which means they could be no more. That, or Fred Willard may be pleasuring himself to those scandalous photos right now.

And last but not least: With "Desperate Housewives" already over after eight years, one person you won't be catching dead at the unemployment line anytime soon is Eva Longoria, as she is keeping herself occupied with assorted ventures including executive producing "Ready For Love" this fall on NBC. But when "Housewives" began, she was labeled as a "media whore" for hogging the spotlight more than the other cast members.

Well, now we have who I think is America's latest media whore, and it's not Snooki, Kate Gosselin, or the Jacksons in the latest family feud. She's (drumroll please)...Maria Menounos, and let me explain:

Earlier this week, it was reported that Menounos will be the subject of her own reality show for Oxygen as cameras follow her every step of the way. Now let's face it: Everywhere you look, Maria's all over the place so far this year!

As a matter of fact, it started in New Year's Eve 2010 when, while frolicking in Miami Beach, Menounos exposed a little extra on her lower body. She loved being in bikinis so much, she returned to Miami for four more encore showings when 2011 ended and 2012 began; only this time, she came prepared. And after her New England Patriots lost to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, she had to woman up and do "Extra" -- which she joined from "Access Hollywood" last fall -- in a Giants bikini in Times Square.

That caught the attention of "Dancing With The Stars", who cast her last season pairing with Derek Hough. During her stint, she even competed at Wrestlemania 28 in a brief match. In addition to "Extra", Maria also created AfterBuzz TV, which specializes in in doing post-game podcasts for popular TV shows too many to list.

And now comes her Oxygen show. You know, this is probably too much Maria Menounos to handle for someone who's been in the business since her days at Channel One a dozen or so years ago, but I'll admit it: This Greek goddess all that...except for her laugh that would rival Fran Drescher's! So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. It was supposed to be a memorable night at the movies in screen #9 at the Century 16 Theaters in Aurora, Colorado outside Denver, but in a matter of moments, it would become a horrific nightmare.

At a midnight screening of the highly anticipated "The Dark Knight Rises", 24-year-old James Holmes dressed up at the Joker and opened fire inside the multiplex, claiming 12 lives and wounding 58 others; some of them are still in critical condition. His weapons of choice for what was one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history: An AR-15 assault rifle, a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, and a .40-caliber Glock with another one stashed in his car.

But before he set out to do his dastardly deed, Holmes booby-trapped a third-floor apartment, which is four miles from the theater. According to authorities, the four guns used in the massacre were bought in the last two months at Gander Mountain and Bass Pro Shops.

So...who is James Holmes? He was a 2010 University of California Riverside graduate with a degree in neuroscience who was about to go to graduate school before he withdrew. A clean-cut athlete who also excelled in cross-country running and soccer, this shy and intelligent person as we've just learned had a missing Facebook account.

Among the victims was aspiring sports journalist Jessica Ghawi, whose last tweet before her life would be taken was "movie doesn't start for 20 minutes."

As the country's (and the world's) hearts remain heavy over this horrendous turn of events, as far as the film is concerned? It was originally poised to set an opening weekend record currently held by "The Avengers", while the Paris premiere set for Friday has been canceled. Also, theaters have beefed up security in New York and other parts of the country in light of the shootings. Here in Alaska (where there also happens to be two Century 16 theaters in Anchorage), it was no big deal whatsoever. 

Meanwhile, Warner Bros. in light of Friday's tragedy delayed the weekend's box office figures for "Dark Knight Rises" from Sunday to Monday, and in a statement, said "Warner Bros. and the filmmakers are deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time."

Now Friday's shootings happened 13 years after the Columbine High School massacre in another Denver suburb, Littleton, except there is one comparison: The masterminds behind that, Dylan Harris and Eric Klebold, would later kill themselves. 

But this was not the first time movie theaters became unsuspecting killing fields. In 1988, a Stockton, California man was shot to death while waiting in line to see "Colors", which depicted gang life in South Central Los Angeles. Three years later in 1991, one man was killed at a New York theater showing "New Jack City", based on the real life of drug lord Nicky Barnes. And that same year during the opening weekend of "Boyz N the Hood", there were slews of actual violence happening at theaters nationwide; in Chicago, a 23-year-old man was killed.

And now over 20 years later, we have this surrounding "The Dark Knight Rises." I said in "Safe Route, Sleazy Route 2" (which was re-posted on this blog in 2008) that America, even in economic times, keep coming back for more and more violence, whether it's movies or video games. What happened early Friday morning in Aurora, Colorado is more than just a wake-up call, but a call to action. We go to the movies occasionally to draw ourselves into imaginary worlds, not draw ourselves into murder and mayhem. These days of course, I don't go often, but the shootings next time would think twice before I go out to the lobby and get myself some snacks. And of course, our hearts go out to the families of those 12 slain innocent souls while trying to be entertained by what was expected to be another box office blockbuster. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody.

On Mother's Day Sunday, me along with 500 others were presented the gift our significant others would be proud of: the gift of everlasting knowledge as University of Alaska Fairbanks graduates in the largest class ever; over 1,300 degrees being conferred throughout the 2 1/2 hour commencement ceremony. And believe me...it was one worth 15 years in the making.

The theme throughout was family, and for Jordan Culver and stepfather Bruce Bell (whom I've known well since the West Valley years), it was quite an affair as Culver earned her justice degree in just three years with Bell holder of a master's degree in education from the University of Alaska Anchorage; they had their graduation a couple weeks ago.

Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Jim Leach, was the keynote speaker and was also one of three honorary degree recipients along with artist Danny Pierce and H. Robin Samuelson Jr. A record 50 doctoral degrees were awarded, breaking last year's record of 46.

But let's get to everything from my own perspective: I was listed in the program as getting an associates' degree in Culinary Arts, but decided to graduate with a certificate instead. Things were a whole lot different from when I last took the walk in 1997 as a West Valley High graduate; for one thing: the march from the Carlson Center hallways, down the aisles, and to our seats with "Pomp and Circumstance" played throughout went by at a much smoother -- and more rehearsed -- pace then last time. It's a far cry from the West Valley gym and the near-sweltering indoor heat; thank God they would move those to the Carlson the following year.

Since the UAF graduation was a far bigger deal than West Valley's, another thing that went by fast and furious: The handout of diplomas with Andrew Cassel trying to take constant sips of water reading the 500-plus names. Cassel himself had to take a brief break from that to pick up his theater  bachelor's degree before continuing. By the way, there were a couple distant cheers from the audience when I went up on stage to receive my due. But you know what? Picking up a diploma -- whether it was high school or college -- is like picking up an oversized check from the lottery, except that this one is completely tax-free.

Under that black robe I had on a long-sleeved red and white striped shirt (with my initials "JA" monogrammed on the right sleeve) and dark blue jeans, but I also noticed some of the other graduates wore sneakers, shorts, even flip-flops! Well, at least during the rehearsal on Saturday we were being told to wear comfortable walking shoes; it was not like that in '97 when I had on dress shoes and dress pants. Even a couple graduates jammed on their iPods to help kill time before things got underway at 1:20 pm.

After moving our tassels from right to left and officially being anointed UAF alumni, blue and gold balloons descended from the ceiling followed by some of us throwing our caps in the air (compared to all of us 15 years ago) as well as playing with those balloons. Though I may have shed tears of joy emotionally last time, this time around, I mentally shed those tears while emotionally, I was overjoyed and relieved that it was all over.

It has been quite a journey that took me 15 years to get through, but in the end, I was truly the best of the class of 2012.

Now to another matter at hand: "The Avengers" was tops at the box office again with an additional $100 million to go along with the all-time opening weekend record $200.3 million. A couple weeks prior, "Think Like A Man" was #1.

I saw that in my first trip to the theater in nearly five years, and boy, have things changed...especially in the concession stand! For decades, popcorn, candy, hot dogs, and drinks have been the mainstay; but in the last couple of years (and I think I remember running a "NewsBeat Feature Story" about it several years back on the old Allen Report site), they've added not only pizza, pretzels, and nachos, but now...cheeseburgers with fries, corn dog nuggets, boneless chicken wings, even mozzarella sticks! All of them are made to order, with a counter reserved to pick up your meal.

Now thankfully, all of our multiplexes here in Alaska are with Regal, but rival AMC took things to the next level with what they call Dine-In Theaters. Here's how it works: Go online, find the movie you want to see, and reserve your seat. Simple, huh? Not yet.

The real interesting part comes next: When you get to the theater, actual waiters bring you real menus. Some of the entrees include Bistro Chicken Macaroni and Cheese, Buffalo Chicken Tenders, even Blackened Salmon with Snap Peas. There are also desserts including sundaes and cheesecakes, and even a bar to wash it all down!

Regal, being the #1 theater chain in the country, will probably not follow AMC's lead anytime soon. But with the summer blockbuster season already in full swing despite a fluctuating economy, the term "dinner and a movie" (or "lunch and a movie" if you prefer the matinee screenings) sure got a whole new meaning. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. We were stunned to learn on Wednesday the news no one saw coming: Dick Clark, the television icon who for generations brought the world of pop culture into our homes with "American Bandstand" and "New Year's Rockin' Eve" and whose youthful looks earned him the moniker as World's Oldest Teenager, died from a heart attack at age 82.

Born Richard Wagstaff Clark in upstate New York in 1929, Dick started his career in the mailroom of radio station WRUN. A Syracuse University graduate, Clark later worked at WKTV in Utica as staff announcer before moving to Philadelphia and WFIL-TV (now WPVI) in 1952. It was there where he did "Dick Clark's Caravan of Music" and in 1956, became the new host of a local dance show called "Bandstand" after original host Bob Horn was given the pink slip. The fledgling ABC network took notice, and the following year the program went national airing weekday afternoons and later Saturday afternoons. 

From 1957-89, "American Bandstand" ran for 20 years on ABC before moving to syndication and then the USA Network for its last two years. Decades before MTV, BET, "Soul Train" (with Don Cornelius, who passed a couple months ago), and YouTube, "Bandstand" was the premiere destination where music's hottest acts of the day ranging from Buddy Holly to Barry Manilow, the Beach Boys to the Beastie Boys, The Supremes to Madonna, the Jackson 5 (and Janet) to Bon Jovi, and countless others bursted into our living rooms in light of changing times and trends worldwide. Dances like the Twist, Mash Potato, and the formation of the letters "Y-M-C-A" were created on Bandstand, which led to them being huge hits at parties and dances. The show was also notable for "Rate-a-Record", in which audience members tried out and danced to the newest hits all while giving it a score from 35 to 98 and the phrase "It got a good beat and it's easier to dance to" became a part of our lexicon. Of course, that was long before CD and iTunes previews.

In the early 1960s, Clark moved his base to Los Angeles and started Dick Clark Productions with Bandstand as its flagship program. The company has produced dozens of television shows and specials including the American Music Awards, "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes" (aka Punk'd 1.0), "Will You Marry Me?", "American Dreams", "Challenge of the Child Geniuses", the Golden Globe Awards, "Greed", "Where The Action Is", "Let's Make A Deal" (1990 version), the Academy of Country Music Awards, "Celebrity Boxing", "Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction?", and "So You Think You Can Dance." They also did TV movies such as "The Man in the Santa Claus Suit", the Emmy and Peabody-winning "The Woman Who Willed A Miracle", and just recently, "The Bling Ring" for Lifetime (no relation to the one Emma Watson's currently shooting). DCP expanded beyond television production with other ventures including Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Missouri and American Bandstand Grill restaurants all over the country.


Speaking of movies, Dick even starred in "Because They're Young" in 1960, followed by an unfortunate cameo in Michael Moore's Oscar-winning documentary "Bowling For Columbine."

Clark was also a splendid game show host, most notably for the $20,000, $25,000, and $100,000 Pyramids. Besides those, he also did "The Object Is", "The Challengers" (which he also produced), "Scattergories", and "Winning Lines" (CBS' short-lived attempt to cash in on the million-dollar game show craze in 1999-2000). Other work from outside his production company included "The Other Half" (with Mario Lopez and Danny Bonaduce), the U.S. version of "The Krypton Factor" in 1981 and in the early '90s, host of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. At one point in the '80s, Dick had a show on each of the Big Three networks: Bandstand on ABC, Bloopers on NBC, and the $25,000 Pyramid on CBS.

But of course, there was one other thing that truly defined Dick Clark to the end, and it summed up in four simple words: New Year's Rockin' Eve! Except for 2004-05 when he was suffering a stroke (Regis Philbin did the honors), we counted down the final few seconds of the old year with Clark while celebrating the first few moments of the new. With his speech still slurred due to his stroke, the countdown to 2012 with successor Ryan Seacrest would be his last appearance, though the last news from him would be putting up his Bedrock-style home in Malibu for sale in March.

Upon news of his death, tributes immediately started to pour in from everybody young and old; here are some of them:

• Ryan Seacrest: "I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend Dick Clark. He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life. I idolized him from the start, and I was graced early on in my career with his generous advice and counsel. When I joined his show in 2006, it was a dream come true to work with him every New Year’s Eve for the last 6 years. He was smart, charming, funny and always a true gentleman. I learned a great deal from him, and I’ll always be indebted to him for his faith and support of me. He was a remarkable host and businessman and left a rich legacy to television audiences around the world. We will all miss him."
• Motown founder Berry Gordy: "I’m saddened and devastated over the loss of my dear friend, Dick Clark. We were friends for over 50 years. My thoughts and condolences go out to his family, especially his wonderful wife, Kari, who took such incredible care of him always. Dick was always there for me and Motown, even before there was a Motown. He was an entrepreneur, a visionary and a major force in changing pop culture and ultimately influencing integration. It happened first emotionally. Music can do that. He didn’t do it from a soap box, he just did it. That’s who he was. ‘American Bandstand’ was a platform for all artists. For me personally, he helped bring Motown into living rooms across America. Dick did everything with class, style and integrity. He was a true gentleman. His groundbreaking achievements in music and television ensure that his legacy will live on forever."
• Gladys Knight: "My heart and prayers go out to the Clark family… A true inspiration…"
• Larry King: "Dick Clark was a great friend, true legend, & a master journalist. Nobody did what he did better. It was a pleasure to be in his company."
• Smokey Robinson: "I loved Dick Clark. He was so instrumental in my career as well as all the other Motown acts and so many others in the recording business. Good bye my friend, rest in peace."
• Quincy Jones: “Rest in Peace my good friend Dick Clark. A pioneer who’s mark on American culture will be felt forever."
• President Barack Obama: "Michelle and I are saddened to hear about the passing of Dick Clark. With 'American Bandstand,' he introduced decades' worth of viewers to the music of our times. He reshaped the television landscape forever as a creative and innovative producer. And, of course, for 40 years, we welcomed him into our homes to ring in the New Year. But more important than his groundbreaking achievements was the way he made us feel - as young and vibrant and optimistic as he was. As we say a final 'so long' to Dick Clark, America's oldest teenager, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends - which number far more than he knew."
• Neil Patrick Harris: "For ever, Dick Clark... So long."

Just like Mike Wallace who was gone a couple weeks ago on Easter Sunday, we've grown up with Dick Clark throughout the last five decades. Whether it was rocking America, creating a game show Pyramid, laughing at other celebrities' mistakes, or toasting in the New Year in our jammies, he has always been a presence in our homes and lives. He said it best that "Music is the soundtrack of your life", and his, good and bad, provided us a whole lot of memories. Dick has left us a legacy that he once crafted, but never be equaled. 

And to that, we say...so long (and stay strong).

Hello, everybody. We're just a few paragraphs away from ending the suspense once and for all with the announcement of the starting field for Sexiest Woman of 2012, but first up...

"Dancing With The Stars" announced the Season 14 cast on Tuesday, and among those about to shake it (partners' names are in parentheses): Telenovela star William Levy (Cheryl Burke), tennis great Martina Navratilova (Tony Dovolani), soap opera's elder stateshunk Jack Wagner (Anna Trebunskaya), soul/R&B legend Gladys Knight (Tristan MacManus), infotainment sexpot Maria Menounos (Derek Hough), sexy soprano Katherine Jenkins (Mark Ballas), Melissa Gilbert (Maksim Chmerkovskiy), "The View's" Sherri Shepherd (Val Chmerkovskiy), Disney star Roshan Fegan (Chelsie Hightower), singer Gavin DeGraw (Karina Smirnoff), Donald Driver of the Green Bay Packers (Peta Murgatroyd), and Steve Urkel himself...Jaleel White (Kym Johnson)!

With "The Voice" already owning Monday nights so far and "American Idol" continuing to slip, this season's roster will do all it takes to not only win our votes, but the ratings as well. I can see Sherri as the first to go with Jaleel, Maria, and Gladys to possibly go all the way. We'll find out starting March 19.

And now...the other announcement you've all been waiting a year for:

All week, I've been thinking up the 120 names fit enough to take down the two names who currently own the Sexiest Woman of the Year title, revising them along the way. Well, the wait is over, so without further ado here they are starting with the Juniors:

Group A

Shailene Woodley

Vanessa Hudgens

Emma Stone

Dianna Agron

Hayden Panettiere

Nina Dobrev

Julianne Hough

Ashley Greene

Alexa Vega

Rihanna

Group B

Candice Accola

Selena Gomez

Kate Upton

Kristen Stewart

Jordin Sparks

AnnaLynne McCord

Ashley Benson

Maria Sharapova

Emma Watson

Lea Michele

Group C

Emma Roberts

Victoria Justice

Taylor Momsen

Demi Lovato

Jennette McCurdy

Lucy Hale

Miley Cyrus

Miranda Cosgrove

Nikki Reed

Naya Rivera

Group D

Taylor Swift

Lacey Schwimmer

Dakota Fanning

Jessica Lowndes

Heather Morris

Tulisa Contostavlos

Jennifer Lawrence

Aimee Teegarden

Blake Lively

Emmy Rossum

And now, the Seniors, with the fourteen Academy Award winners scattered throughout (numbered in parentheses):

Group A

Reese Witherspoon (1)

Kristen Bell (2007 runner-up/2008 winner)

Sandra Bullock (2)

Meryl Streep (3)

Katherine Heigl (2006 third-place finisher)

Cameron Diaz

Charlize Theron (4)

Anne Hathaway

Heidi Klum

Carrie Underwood

Group B

Kylie Minogue

Jennifer Aniston (2006 runner-up/2008 third-place finisher/2009 winner)

Jessica Biel

Rachel Bilson

Britney Spears (1999 winner/2000-01 third-place finisher)

Mila Kunis

Nicole Kidman (2001 winner) (5)

Helen Mirren (6)

Kate Winslet (7)

Kate Beckinsale

Group C

Halle Berry (8)

Madonna

Kaley Cuoco

Maria Menounos

Jessica Alba (2000 and 2003 winner)

Jennifer Lopez (2001 runner-up)

Anna Paquin (9)

Sofia Vergara

Eva Longoria

Gwyneth Paltrow (10)

Group D

Scarlett Johansson (2004 third-place finisher)

Stacy Keibler (2007 third-place finisher)

Natalie Portman (2002 runner-up) (11)

Penelope Cruz (12)

Jennifer Love Hewitt (2002 third-place finisher)

Christina Aguilera (1999 runner-up)

Olivia Wilde

Courteney Cox

Marisa Tomei (13)

Angelina Jolie (14)

Finally, we have the Underdogs:

Group A

Leighton Meester

Kristin Cavallari

Bar Refaeli

Olivia Munn

Sarah Hyland

Katy Perry

Jennifer Hudson

Nancy O'Dell

Rachel McAdams

Erin Andrews

Group B

Amanda Seyfried

Paula Patton

Adriana Lima

Kelly Brook

Laura Prepon

Michelle Williams (actress)

Karina Smirnoff

Lindsey Vonn

Elizabeth Hurley

Connie Britton

Group C

Jennifer Morrison

Nicole Scherzinger

Christina Milian

Kelly Clarkson

Brooke Burke-Charvet

Ashley Tisdale

LeAnn Rimes

Lacey Schwimmer

Zooey Deschanel

Minka Kelly

Group D

Amber Heard

Jane Lynch

Emily VanCamp

Kym Johnson

Sarah Shahi

Anna Faris

Miranda Kerr

Elizabeth Banks

Audrina Patridge

Cheryl Burke (2009-10 third-place finisher)

Coming off her surprise third Oscar win seen by 39.1 million viewers, the early favorite right now is Meryl Streep (she or Helen Mirren -- both in their 60s -- could be the oldest Sexiest Woman winner ever); but the ones to also watch for are Lucy Hale, Emma Stone, Emily VanCamp, Kate Upton, Sofia Vergara, Nina Dobrev, and Zooey Deschanel.

The process is the same as last year:  Top 90 ladies (30 Juniors, 30 Seniors, 30 Underdogs) after the preliminary round will go on to Round 1 where 60 will remain -- 20 from each category -- for Round 2 when it'll be down to only 30 (10 apiece).

Starting in Round 3 when we return in the fall, the real battle begins with the categories removed and last year's third-place finisher Kate Walsh plus a mystery entrant joining the remaining field. The top 20 ladies after that join last year's co-winner Hilary Duff in Round 4, and...

The top ten from Round 4 plus two more from the Second Chance Round will meet that other big winner, Sarah Michelle Gellar, in the final round (which, if everything goes according to plan, will be in mid-November)!!!

So yes, it's going to be an exciting spring and fall asking the question of questions: Who is the Sexiest Woman of 2012? It all begins on Monday, March 26, so so long and stay strong!