Hello, everybody; let's get on with the show!

First up...on Wednesday shortly after the House and Senate returned to work after the August recess, President Obama in another joint session address laid out the blueprint for health care reform. This comes after a month of turmoil at various health care town hall meetings all over the country.

However, one person really had something to say during the address, when Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina heckled the president saying "You lie!" Hey, this ain't the House of Commons in London; this is Capitol Hill; and Wilson had no right to interrupt the boss of bosses! Anyway, Wilson realized his mistake, and apologized to Obama.

But what is up with South Carolina politics? First their governor had a secret rendezvous with some gal in Argentina; now one of their Congressmen has mouthed out. Perhaps at Obama's first State of the Union address next year, we'll have the duct tape ready to shut up Wilson's mouth with.

Friday was of course the eighth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and of course I covered it on the old "Allen Report" site. But where was I on that day?

I was working as a dishwasher at the (now-defunct) Captain Bartlett Inn here in Fairbanks, and hours earlier, nobody called me very early in the morning to turn on the TV to CNN or someplace about what was going on in New York. When I woke up at the usual time of 6:00 am, one of the towers in the World Trade Center was already gone. By the time I came to work at close to 8:00, the radio in the kitchen was already tuned to coverage of the attacks and then I gave a brief word of commentary of what just transpired. Then, things started to get really hectic when the kitchen and hotel staffs banded together on the fly to accommodate the passengers whose planes were grounded (e.g., cooks vacuuming the restaurant carpet, bell hoppers setting up tables, etc.). That was pretty much the same case at other hotels all over town. Back in my work area, I teared up knowing that over 2,000 lives were lost on one single day, all made possible by Osama Bin Laden. And no need to argue: it was an outside job. What happened in Oklahoma City six years earlier thanks to Timothy McVeigh was made in the USA.

Except for breaks for local news and minimal programming, television coverage of the attacks and its aftermath ran non-stop on all four networks for almost a week, delaying the start of the fall season. Even the Primetime Emmy Awards felt the effect, delaying it to October and then finally November opposite the seventh and deciding game of the World Series, won by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The new World Trade Center is set to be finished in time for the tenth anniversary of the attacks in 2011. It won't be exactly the same as the old WTC, but will be a lasting reminder of the unforgettable heinous attack ever had on American soil.

Out with Paula Abdul...in with Ellen DeGeneres! That's right; Ellen replaces Paula as the fourth permanent judge on "American Idol." If it's not a way to boost "Idol's" sagging ratings, I don't know what is.

And last but not least... Sunday night was the MTV Video Music Awards, back at Radio City Music Hall in New York after stops in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The show began with a memorable tribute to Michael Jackson, preceded by a surprise appearance by Madonna and capped off by sister Janet's own farewell with "Scream."

In between performances by Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Green Day, there were moonmen to be handed out as always. Swift took Best Female Video, only to be upstaged by Kanye West who stormed the stage saying that Beyonce Knowles had the best video. Well apparently, Beyonce did win Video of the Year for "Single Ladies", and invited Swift back on stage in a show of gratitude. Other winners include Green Day (Rock Video, "21 Guns"), Britney Spears (Pop Video, "Womanizer"), Eminem (Hip-Hop Video, "We Made You"), T.I. featuring Rihanna (Male Video, "Live Your Life"), and Lady Gaga (Best New Artist).

Kanye on the other hand? Just like last year and the year before, a sore loser. Another sore loser -- okay, not that sore, but she'll get her due next year -- was Katy Perry. But hey, at least she got nominated and I thought she was a leggy treat. Lady Gaga? Even with Kermit the Frog -- that's right, Kermit the Frog! -- as her date for the night, she's always a trick.

But the VMAs were only a warm-up to the 61st Annual Primetime Emmy Awards happening next Sunday. And at the Creative Arts ceremonies on Saturday, Tina Fey's dead-on Sarah Palin on "Saturday Night Live" earned her Emmy gold for Guest Actress in a Comedy. Will she make it two for two with another win for "30 Rock?" We'll find out; so long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. A lot has happened as we're into Labor Day weekend, so let's get to it!

First up...California is in flames once again as a wildfire has threatened Los Angeles, especially Mount Wilson where all the broadcasting transmitters reside. At last report, over 150 fire crews were dispatched to that area to keep the fire at bay. And Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger even helped out the firefighters by feeding them bowls of Cream of Wheat so that they can be "pumped up" by fighting those flames. Also, it is been believed that arson may have played a key role in igniting the blaze which have claimed two firefighters and burned nearly 242 square miles (154,655 acres). Schwarzenegger offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension of who was responsible.

Right now, it is nearly halfway contained at 49 percent and the fires are no longer a threat to L.A. Full containment is expected to be after Labor Day.

Well...are you ready for "The Fantastic Four meets the Jonas Brothers?" That's one of the many possibilities as Marvel Comics was acquired by Disney for $4 billion. With that, they'll be the second comic book company owned by a media conglomerate; Time Warner already owns Marvel's longtime rival DC Comics.

Jokes about that deal were all over Twitter, including some about Wolverine from X-Men singing, Wonder Woman teaming up with Hannah Montana, Huey, Louie, and Dewey cast in the upcoming "High School Musical" movie, Donald Duck vs. Howard The Duck (and who remembers that shitty movie?), and Captain America joining "Dancing With The Stars."

And since they're another Disney property, I'm now looking forward to when ESPN's Chris Berman gets real angry during NFL highlights and turns into the Incredible Hulk.

And last but not least...2 1/2 months after his death, Michael Jackson was finally laid to rest Thursday night at Forest Lawn Mortuary in Glendale; the final official farewell was attended by Rev. Al Sharpton, Jackson's friends Elizabeth Taylor and Macaulay Culkin (with girlfriend Mila Kunis, whose latest movie "Extract" is now out), ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley, and others. Unlike the public memorial held in July, it was a very private affair that started and ended late instead of on schedule.

Nonetheless, and one year now after the passing of my grandmother Mildred, it was a fitting goodbye to the King of Pop. That's all I have to say; enjoy the rest of your Labor Day weekend and so long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. On Thursday as I broke it to you on Twitter, we've lost the last of the Kennedy brothers as Edward "Ted" Kennedy, the third longest-serving senator in U.S. history who represented Massachusetts for 46 years, died at age 77 after a year-long bout with brain cancer. A funeral mass for him was held in Boston this morning with President Obama and the other living presidents except for George H.W. Bush in attendance. His flag-draped casket laid in repose at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston on Thursday; the lines were so long that they even extended the closing time to 2:00 am. That would be followed by a memorial service at the library on Friday, with "Irish Eyes Are Smiling" as the closer to a hearty goodbye.

Ted is now laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery next to brother Robert, but hundreds of yards away from JFK's graves.

Kennedy leaves behind of course a great legacy, though it hasn't come without notoriety. Ted was elected to the Senate in 1962 to fill the void left behind by brother Robert, who became Attorney General under JFK. Both would be hit by assassins' bullets within five years of each other, and Ted decided to set his sights on the biggest prize of all, the White House. But it was Chappaquiddick that would put a permanent crimp on his fledgling political career in 1969, when his Oldsmobile crashed off a bridge into the water with him escaping the scene and former Robert Kennedy campaign worker Mary Jo Kopechne drowning to her death. Ted went on national television to explain his side of the story in an attempt to save his bacon, but the damage was already done.

That didn't stop his hopes on becoming President, and he would get his one and only chance in 1980 in the Democratic primary, losing to incumbent Jimmy Carter (who of course would later lose to Ronald Reagan). After that, he realized that the Senate was the place to be.

During his time on Capitol Hill, Kennedy helped pass numerous bills including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act, No Child Left Behind, the National Cancer Act, and others. And with health care reform still being the prime issue, with Ted gone it will now be a struggle to get that passed.

In May 2008, Ted was diagnosed with brain cancer, and he made a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Though the cancer would spread to his body, his mind was still sharp till the end.

Now that Sen. Edward Kennedy is reunited with his brothers in heaven, the days of Camelot are now long gone. And the lion that roared throughout the Senate chamber for decades like a Kennedy would is roaring no more.

With that out of the way, on to a lighter change of pace...

Once upon a time, there was Twitter. It pretty much had no use whatsoever except for rapid blogging within a 140-character limit. But then from out of the blue came some guy named Ashton Kutcher who, along with his wife Demi Moore, were looking for a way to inform the world in real-time about their latest happenings without the aid of PR people. They turned to Twitter, and the rest as they say was history. The two pages combined now have a total of over 5.2 million followers and growing every day!

Now more than ever, even with Facebook and MySpace around (I have pages on those, by the way), the entire world is jumping on the Twitter bandwagon...even the growing number of celebrities who are following Ashton and Demi's lead. Some of our politicians are getting into it as well, including the White House.

However, not all celebrity Twitter pages are created equal. There are handfuls of them that claim to be real, and the only way to find out is to check the "Verified account" symbol at the top. When I found what appeared to be Sarah Michelle Gellar's Twitter as sarahMGprinze, I alerted it to the world right away...only to realize that it wasn't her. The official one, SarahMGellar, proves to be legitimate; she's actually had it since late spring and has over 2,200 followers. And I'm sure that when she gives birth to her first baby in a matter of weeks, the number will double upon that news. No need waiting for the entertainment news shows; with the power of Twitter, we would get the official word from Sarah Michelle herself!

Besides, with constant photographic coverage of her growing baby bump in the last few weeks, this is one Sarah worth following right now. Sarah Palin? Who cares!!! So long and stay strong.

Edward Kennedy dies at age 77

Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, the third longest-serving senator in U.S. history, died late tonight at age 77 at his home in Hyannis Port after a year-long bout with brain cancer.

Kennedy represented his state in the Senate for 43 years, and he came from the prominent Kennedy family which included his brothers John F., Robert, (both gunned down by assassins' bullets) and Joe (a pilot killed during World War II). In a statement, the family said, "We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever."

Once again: Senator Edward Kennedy, dead at age 77. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. We begin this week's blog with the latest on the health care reform crisis and President Obama taking a page out of Joe Namath's Super Bowl III playbook guaranteeing us the bill will pass.

But...will anyone buy it? Unlike the Clintons' attempt in the early '90s, this time around it's a very serious matter as most of the world's finest health care has belonged to Europe and Canada. And over a week ago, Sen. Lisa Murkowski held a town hall here in Fairbanks, but things went in an orderly fashion that there were no videos of it on YouTube. Maybe they're saving for Sen. Mark Begich's town hall meeting next month on September 26 (yes, after my 31st birthday), which I'll be at.

Now Obama in his latest weekly address debunked once and for all all the myths and scare tactics about the health care issue, especially those "death panels" and possible socialized medicine: There are no such things as those happening. And I'm not buying those myself. But I'm hoping and praying that when Congress and Senate return to action this fall, no punches will be pulled when it comes to getting the health care bill passed so that America will no longer be far behind.

This week, the cast of the new season of "Dancing With The Stars" was revealed to the world, and surprise, surprise...Donny Osmond will be among those who'll put his fancy footwork to use! Others joining him include mixed martial arts fighter Chuck Liddell, new mom and "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch" star Melissa Joan Hart, R&B singers Mya and Macy Gray, former NFL star Michael Irvin, Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin, Kelly Osbourne, Aaron Carter (son of Backstreet Boy Nick), former supermodel Kathy Ireland, model/actress Joanna Krupa, and disgraced former politician Tom DeLay.

For Mya, this is her second chance at a reality show after the last one she did, "Secret Talents of the Stars", got the cancellation notice after only one episode last summer. As for who'll be the first to go? I think DeLay or Osbourne. And already, Donny O appears to be the heavy favorite to win it all; if not, then Hart or Irvin. We'll see what happens in September.

The week's other big entertainment story was...yes, another tape scandal just weeks after Erin Andrews'. But this time, it involves McSteamy, his wife, and a beauty queen.

It's not called a "sex tape" according to the lawyers, but a video featuring "Grey's Anatomy" star Eric Dane, wife Rebecca Gayheart, and former Miss Teen USA contestant Kari Ann Peniche all frolicking naked and doing drugs made the Internet rounds. Now over the years we've been treated to celebrity sex videos that were of interest to men, but in the case of this threesome this time around, it has finally appealed to women because...well, it's McSteamy! And "Grey's'" majority audience is females (and some males just for the Katherine Heigl parts).

Is it going to help the show this upcoming season? Absolutely, though spin-off "Private Practice" will have some trouble competing with CBS' "The Mentalist" and NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" at 10:00 on Thursdays. Okay, I'm seeing things this way: The women watch "Grey's Anatomy" for McDreamy and McSteamy; us men tune in to "Private Practice" just for our Kate Walsh fix. Now if only a sex tape of her gets leaked out...

And last but not least...the latest iPhone commercial have graced our screens, showcasing us the latest (and useless) apps out there. Ever since the iPhone and the iPod Touch have debuted last year, the whole world has gone app crazy.

I bought an iPod Touch recently because for some reason or another, I didn't get an iPhone (by the way, my mobile phone provider is AT&T). But one of the reasons for the iPod Touch is that I wanted to play around with those apps myself. So far I have 36 of them, ranging from the Associated Press to Twitteriffic to Facebook and MySpace to games like Scrabble and UNO.

And then there are those useless apps that I have no intention of adding them in anytime soon, like iBeer. What the hell is that?!

But of all those thousands of apps out there, I want to see one in which you can lose weight while reading news stories, Twittering, updating your Facebook status, checking your e-mail, watching YouTube videos, playing Tetris, and drinking imaginary beer all at the same time. Yeah, there'll be an app for that. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. There's been a lot happening, so let's get right with it!

First up...the week's biggest story was former President Bill Clinton's successful plan to release journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling from North Korea. The two were sentenced to 15 years of hard labor in the communist country, but Clinton knew the circumstances and decided to fly out to North Korea in an attempt to work things out with Kim Jong-Il and grant them a full pardon.

All over the country, the other big story was turmoil at community health care reform town hall meetings. One of them in Tampa, Florida got way out of hand, police were dispatched to restore civility. It's the Republicans to blame for all this, saying that President Obama's plan would crash and burn like Clinton's 15 years ago as his approval ratings have slid a bit. The Democrats need to step in and defend this like never before; otherwise, the United States will never have universal health care.

Paula Abdul...OUT! On her Twitter page Wednesday, Paula Abdul announced to the world that after seven years, she won't be returning to "American Idol." Now this comes weeks after Ryan Seacrest got a hefty pay raise though ratings and viewership for the show have slipped in the last couple of years (CBS' "NCIS" has posed a serious threat).

What does it mean? I think "Idol" should remain a three-judge show with Kara DioGuardi recently on board. But I don't even care about nor even watch the show, so let's just leave it at that; whatever Paula's next move is, we'll be following it.

And last but not least...Vanessa Hudgens' new movie "Bandslam" comes out next week, but the "High School Musical" alum is back in the news once again. No, she's not calling it quits with Zac Efron, but she's been caught naked yet again!

This week, a new batch of cell phone pics of a nude Hudgens were all over the Internet, and the legal eagles have cracked down on them because they were taken a few years ago when she was underage. And we thought we were done with the Erin Andrews peephole video/911 call on the paparazzi mess!

But like I said a while back, Hudgens is one of the people who wants to move beyone Disney as they're getting older, and I don't blame her. I can't think of anything witty to end this blog with, so so long and stay strong!

Hello, everybody.

Well, Alaska under the Sean Parnell regime is now almost a week old, as he was appointed our 12th governor last Sunday afternoon during the annual Governor's Picnic at Pioneer Park here in Fairbanks. The turnout of course was immense: over 5,000 including countless media documenting the change in power.

The transition was seamless starting with Sarah Palin giving the crowd and millions more watching around the world her last words as governor. That would be be followed by Parnell being sworn in with Craig Campbell becoming Lieutenant Governor. And just like his speech as Lt. Governor in 2006 under Palin, Parnell's first one as Governor was very straightforward. And unlike Palin, he'll be taking his job very seriously...unless if he can find a way to see Russia from the Governor's Mansion in Juneau.

So...what's next for Palin? Back to private life (for now), she'll be making her first post-gubernatorial appearance next week when she speaks at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California...or so we thought. Politico has now reported that Palin won't be attending the event. Also, rumors have spread that she may become the female Rush Limbaugh and do her own radio talk show based in Anchorage. Or maybe she could be at this year's Primetime Emmy Awards meeting face-to-face (or make that glasses-to-glasses) with her doppleganger Tina Fey. We're all waiting on pins and needles to see what her next move is.

On Wednesday, the White House became the place where everybody knows your name...well, minus the gang from "Cheers". President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden invited Henry Gates and James Crowley for the first ever "beer summit" in hopes to wither down the racial tensions between the two when Crowley arrested Gates outside his home in Massachusetts for disorderly conduct.

The brewskis of choice: Obama, Bud Light; Biden, Buckler (non-alcholic); Gates, Samuel Adams Light; and Crowley, Blue Moon. Now I've been "pouring" into this brew-haha, and noticed that Samuel Adams is the only American-owned main brewery left. Anheuser-Busch (which makes Bud Light) is now owned by InBev, a Belgian company; while Blue Moon is a Molson Coors product, and half of their owners are Canadian! By the way, rival Miller is owned by a South African company.

The next time the White House hosts another beer summit, they should try going for home-grown microbreweries. Silver Gulch is one of them, and I'm sure Senators Begich or Murkowski will try to FedEx those beers to Washington.

And last but not least...The fallout over those nude peephole videos of ESPN's Erin Andrews has slopped into its second week when the lovely sportscaster recently called 911 over paparazzi staking outside her house in Georgia. In her call, she also said she's been "treated like (expletive) Britney Spears."

The investigation continues as to who in their horny minds did this, and I said that the videos appear to be an inside job, that maybe an ESPN employee knew of Andrews' hotel room nearby and may have drilled a hole in it. I also said that Chris Berman's and Stuart Scott's hands are squeaky clean on this, so it may have been somebody off-talent like a crew member.

But to put it in perspective...this happens to be the biggest non-Michael Jackson celebrity scandal so far in 2009, and as far as those videos are concerned? I've been getting more pleasure from them than all of the other celebrity sex videos that have been making the Internet rounds for years (I'm talking to you, Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, and Kim Kardashian). To that I say, BOO-YA! So long and stay strong.

From Palin to Parnell

Hello, everybody. In just a matter of hours, a changing of the guard will transpire as Sarah Palin hands over the reins to Sean Parnell as he'll be officially anointed Alaska's 12th Governor.

Now this will happen at the annual Governor's Picnic here in Fairbanks tomorrow afternoon (Sunday), and Pioneer Park will no doubt be packed to the max as over 5,000 people are estimated to be there as well as media from all over the world covering the historic transition of power. By the way, Parnell will be sworn in on board the Nenana steamship around 3:00 p.m. (7:00 Eastern/4:00 Pacific), and security up and down the park will be tighter than...well, when Pope John Paul II and President Reagan dropped by here 25 years ago.

Of course, it will be quite a day, and I'll try to have a recap on Monday.

One of the week's other big stories falls on the topic of invasion of privacy, as peephole videos of ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews naked were splashed onto the Internet.

The backstory was that the videos have been online since February, but they were not known until this week when Andrews's legal eagles ordered them to be removed. A very interesting development came when they happened to be an inside job, filmed by somebody in the know at ESPN. Thankfully, that "somebody in the know" is not either Chris Berman or Stuart Scott; they wouldn't do such a thing! Erin won't be returning to work till September, when the whole scandal already dies down.

Seriously though, I think the creep behind those videos may have both went a little too far violating Andrews's private space as well as treating us to some real summer sporting action. I'm no pervert myself, but he did...go...all...the...way into showing the world that Erin Andrews does have a gorgeous body. So long and stay strong!

Hello, everybody, on the 40th anniversary today of what was one of the proudest achievements in all mankind: Man on the moon.

On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong made a footprint into history while saying, "That's one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind." A few days earlier, the rocket carrying Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins lifted off from Kennedy Space Center with the entire world stopping to watch and listen their every move, from military bases in Vietnam to even Disneyland in California.

The Apollo 11 mission also had some historic significance here as it would introduce Alaskans to live network television for the first time...well, at least in Anchorage. For some reason or another, it would be seen in the afternoon; but a very privileged few did manage to take up on a group rate to fly to Anchorage for $40 to see the moon landing live. Thanks to Alaskan broadcasting pioneer Augie Hiebert and with a little help from Washington, a ground station was set up in Anchorage to receive the live pictures.

Fairbanks would get their first ever live network broadcast with Super Bowl V in 1971. Network newscasts and big events like the Academy Awards would later follow on same-day satellite delay in the early '80s; a few years later, the networks and stations would all transition to satellite delivery, ending the "bad old days" of watching our favorite shows on a one- to two-week delay.

Anyway...President Obama at the White House on Monday met with the three Apollo 11 astronauts, and with the moon already been targeted...could Mars be next?

That's what they're pushing the government to do, as Buzz Aldrin wants man to set foot on that planet by 2035. In 1961, at the height of the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union, President Kennedy wanted a man on the moon by the end of the '60s. He of course didn't live long enough to see his wish granted.

But over the last decade of so, NASA have sent a series of rovers to Mars, bringing us back to Earth astonishing images and samples. The senior members of my family back in North Carolina (especially my deceased grandmother Mildred) do remember sitting glued to their TVs watching the moonwalk 40 years ago; who knows if the current generation will be tuning in for the Marswalk?

Now, Apollo 11 was one of the many events of the 20th Century covered by Walter Cronkite, and as you already know by now, Cronkite passed away Friday night at the age of 92 after a long illness.

Over the weekend, we've been sharing our memories of the legendary newsman, whether in person or watching him on TV over the decades. But Cronkite has a place in pop culture as well.

When Walter signed off for the final time as "CBS Evening News" anchor in 1981, Johnny Carson in an hilarious skit paid sort of a tribute to him in his own way. And "The Simpsons" at one time poked fun of Cronkite's reporting of the Kennedy assassination with the "Mr. Plow" episode. Cronkite even paid a visit to Fairbanks in 1982.

But the love of his life till her end in 2005 was wife Betsy, though in his last remaining years, Walter's companion was Joanna Simon, an opera singer and the older sister of pop legend Carly Simon. A public memorial service will be at New York's Lincoln Center sometime next month, and just like the one for Michael Jackson, I'm sure all of journalism's biggest names as well as many of Uncle Walter's celebrity friends will be on hand for the final goodbye.

Of course, the epitath on his grave next to his wife's when he is buried in his home state in Missouri will read, "And that's the way it is." So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. We have some very sad news to report, and one that we've been expecting for quite some time.

Four weeks after we unexpectedly lost Michael Jackson comes the loss of a great television icon who was once known as "The Most Trusted Man in America." Walter Cronkite, the longtime anchor of the "CBS Evening News" who for 19 years (1962-81) gave America a front row seat to the most significant events in our history, died early Friday night at age 92 after suffering from cerebovascular disease.

For most of the 20th Century, it was Cronkite who we turned to whenever something big in the world was happening. From World War II to Vietnam, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II to the assassination of President Kennedy, the Space Age culminating with the Apollo 11 moon landing (which is 40 years ago this week), the Watergate scandal that cost Richard Nixon the presidency, all the way to the hostage crisis in Iran, Cronkite was either at the anchor desk or right there where the action was. And this was all before 24-hour cable news channels and the Internet!

Walter was of course a journalist who was never afraid to let his feelings show on camera. We shared our tears with his when he reported to the world of Kennedy's death in 1963, and we cheered along with him over his reaction to Neil Armstrong making his footprint on the moon. In between that, he really had something to say about the Vietnam War, with President Johnson quoting thereafter, "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost middle America."

And Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. did come from middle America...St. Joseph, Missouri, to be exact, born November 4, 1916. His family moved to Houston when he was 10, and that was where he got his journalism chops working for the "Houston Post" (where he would later do full-time) and later correspondent for the University of Texas. He joined the Associated Press's rival United Press in 1937 after a brief time at a Kansas City radio station and with the help of World War II, that was where he really shined, making his first on-camera appearance in a Paramount newsreel. After the war, his next big assignment was the Nuremberg trials before returning to the United States in 1948, quitting the United Press to cover the Washington beat for a group of Midwest radio stations.

Then in 1950, after turning him down before, Edward R. Murrow invited Walter to join CBS; this time, he said "Yes." In his early years, he had a hand in hosting the panelist show "It's News To Me" as well as "You Are There", which re-enacted historical events like the assassination of Julius Caesar and the takedown of crime king John Dillinger. The program was revived briefly in the 1970's. Walter also briefly hosted a morning show, joined alongside by a sidekick being a puppet.

Cronkite returned across the Atlantic to cover the Queen Elizabeth coronation in 1953, and to ensure same-day viewing back in the States, Canberra jet bomber planes flew the films from London to Goose Bay, Labrador in Canada before another plane immediately transferred them to Boston. Now this was in 1953...decades before today's satellite equipment would bring events like these live to the world. A year earlier, he brought the Democratic and Republican national conventions to our living rooms for the first time.

Then in 1962 came the ultimate job opening as Cronkite succeeded Douglas Edwards to take the anchor chair at the "CBS Evening News." At the time, Chet Huntley and David Brinkley with the "Huntley-Brinkley Report" on NBC was the most popular network newscast on the air, but it would be one event on November 22, 1963 that Walter would finally make a name for himself.

President John F. Kennedy was visiting Dallas, Texas that day where was he going to give a luncheon speech at the Dallas Trade Mart. Moments later, the limousine carrying the president, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and Texas Governor John Connally and wife Nellie approached the Texas School Book Depository building where inside, Lee Harvey Oswald would fire three shots into the limo.

Meanwhile, CBS was cutting away from "As The World Turns" which aired live to the East Coast. Over a "CBS NEWS BULLETIN" slide, Cronkite broke the news from an audio booth because the cameras inside the studio had to be turned on, warmed up, and be in place:

"Here is a bulletin from CBS News. In Dallas, Texas, three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade in downtown Dallas. The first reports say that President Kennedy has been seriously wounded by this shooting. More details just arrived. These details about the same as previously: President Kennedy shot today just as his motorcade left downtown Dallas. Mrs. Kennedy jumped up and grabbed Mr. Kennedy, she called "Oh, no!"; the motorcade sped on. United Press says that the wounds for President Kennedy perhaps could be fatal."

40 to 45 minutes later came this: "From Dallas, Texas, this flash apparently official: President Kennedy died at 1:00 p.m., Central Standard Time." For four days straight, the coverage of the assassination and aftermath was the only thing on television. He also did the Civil Rights movement of the '60s, culminated with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968...a very heavy year which also saw Robert F. Kennedy being gunned down followed by the turmoil at the Democratic convention in Chicago.

Cronkite was also right there when the U.S. and the Soviet Union were battling it out in the race for space with Alan Shepard, John Glenn, and of course, Apollo 11. That mission would also introduce Alaska to live network television for the first time, made possible by his friend and fellow broadcasting pioneer, the late Augie Hiebert.

Watergate, legalization of abortion, gas shortages, the end of the Vietnam War, and the 444-day-long hostage crisis in Iran would all follow in the 1970's. And on March 6, 1981, he would say his familiar closing line "That's the way it is" for the final time as anchor though he would continue to do other television work in the years since.

However, his rise to the top was not that easy. Cronkite in the '60s was a straightforward anchor compared to the rugged Huntley and the witty Brinkley; but poor ratings for the 1964 Republican convention led CBS executives to drop him for the Democratic convention, replaced by Robert Trout and Roger Mudd. That too was a disaster, and CBS realized their mistake. And at one time in 1967, a union strike forced Walter off the air temporarily, with some unknown named Arnold Zenker taking his chair. I touched on that while going through other television strikes in 2007 with the writers' strike imminent.

Walter was married to his wife Betsy from 1940 until her death in 2005 and raised three children. Along with countless Emmys and an induction to the Television Academy Hall of Fame, his honors also included a 1974 George Polk Award and a William Allen White Award in 1969.

Upon news of Cronkite's death, tributes from all over began pouring in:

• President Barack Obama: "For decades, Walter Cronkite was the most trusted voice in America. His rich baritone reached millions of living rooms every night, and in an industry of icons, Walter set the standard by which all others have been judged. He was there through wars and riots, marches and milestones, calmly telling us what we needed to know. And through it all, he never lost the integrity he gained growing up in the heartland. But Walter was always more than just an anchor. He was someone we could trust to guide us through the most important issues of the day; a voice of certainty in an uncertain world. He was family. He invited us to believe in him, and he never let us down. This country has lost an icon and a dear friend, and he will be truly missed."
• Barbara Walters: "He was a jolly and supportive friend. He will be missed by each of us individually who knew him and by the whole country who loved him."
• Astronaut Neil Armstrong: "For a news analyst and reporter of the happenings of the day to be successful, he or she needs three things: accuracy, timeliness, and the trust of the audience. Many are fortunate to have the first two. The trust of the audience must be earned. Walter Cronkite seemed to enjoy the highest of ratings. He had a passion for human space exploration, an enthusiasm that was contagious, and the trust of his audience. He will be missed."
• Senator John McCain: "I'm saddened to learn of the passing of Walter Cronkite - one of the most influential newsmen of our time. I will never forget our memorable visit together to Hanoi on the 10th anniversary of the fall of Saigon."
• Former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw: "What was so remarkable about it was that he was not only in the midst of so many great stories, he was also the managing editor of CBS News and the managing editor for America. Walter always made us better. He set the bar so high."
• California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: "For decades, Walter Cronkite was the fixture in American living rooms whose reassuring voice reported on some of the most important moments in our nation’s history. He was the most trusted man in America who calmly explained monumental events such as the Vietnam War, Watergate, and the moon landing - events that shaped and defined a generation. Walter remains the benchmark for what it means to be a television journalist and he will be missed. Maria and I join all Californians in expressing our sadness over his passing and we send our thoughts and prayers to Walter’s family and friends."
• Larry King (via Twitter): "I'll miss Walter Cronkite. There will never be a newsman again, ever, who will have that clout."

For generations young and old, we will all miss Walter Cronkite, a man who was a pure example of what television news was really all about: To the point with no flashy graphics, elaborate sets, or eye candy ruining the atmosphere. A man who brought the world into our living rooms night after night telling it like it is with a style and manner all his own. And without question, a man who would set the standard for today's aspiring journalists who want to continue a legacy he left behind.

And that's the way it was for Uncle Walter. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody.

The Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday transformed from just your ordinary venue that served as home to the Lakers, Kings, the Grammy Awards, the 2000 Democratic National Convention, and WrestleMania 21, into the ultimate and final performance home for Michael Jackson as his public memorial service took center stage.

Over 19,000 fans filled the venue to near capacity while 500 million more around the world tuned in to help say their final goodbyes to the King of Pop. The memorial was without a doubt a star-studded affair, starting with Smokey Robinson reading statements from Diana Ross and Nelson Mandela, who both couldn't attend. That would followed minutes later by the arrival of Jackson's gold casket set to "Soon and Very Soon" performed by a gospel choir.

Mariah Carey and Trey Lorenz took the stage next with "I'll Be There"; after Queen Latifah, it would be Lionel Richie singing "Jesus Is Love". Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, who helped set Jackson for life when he signed the Jackson 5, called Michael "the greatest entertainer that ever lived." After a video tribute came Stevie Wonder with two songs, remarks by Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson, John Mayer's acoustical version of "Human Nature", and then Brooke Shields stating that Michael's favorite song was "Smile" by Charlie Chaplin...in which brother Jermaine would perform.

But perhaps the one moment that will be embedded into our memories for years to come came from daughter Paris Katherine, who while trying to hold back tears said, "Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine ... I just wanted to say I love him so much." This I think was pretty much the 21st Century version of John F. Kennedy Jr. saluting his father's flag-draped casket.

Like I said before, it was an all-star service, attended by Rev. Al Sharpton, Dionne Warwick, a pregnant Jennifer Hudson, Usher (who walked to Michael's casket singing "Gone Too Soon"), Larry King, Barbara Walters, and even Mickey Rooney. There were reports that fellow friends Elizabeth Taylor and Macaulay Culkin would also be there, but they were no-shows as well as ex-wives Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe.

Security up and down the area were at its tightest ever; so were the police force: an additional 1,400 officers were on duty, larger then when L.A. hosted the Olympics in 1984. But before the public service, a private family service was held at Forest Lawn Morturary, the final resting place for John Ritter, Bette Davis, and just recently, Ed McMahon among others. After that, the motorcade then went to Staples Center for the public memorial which started a few minutes after 9:30 am (Alaska Time). As for getting the tickets? The lucky recipients were chosen by an online lottery that had 1.2 million applicants in the first 24 hours; only 17,500 had to get in line.

For those who witnessed it in person or watching it on television somewhere in the world, it was indeed a grand and fond farewell to Michael Jospeh Jackson, the man who was, is, and forever will be known as the King of Pop. And I'm sure my grandmother Mildred will definitely be awaiting his arrival in heaven. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. We may be firing up the grill and lighting 233 candles on our birthday cake this Fourth of July weekend, but the fireworks have already started prematurely!

First up...as I broke it to you on my Twitter page, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will be throwing in the towel after only 2 1/2 years in office. The stunning announcement came late Friday morning during an impromptu news conference at her Wasilla home and it took everybody by surprise.

Palin's people are tight-lipped as to what happens next for her, but there are early rumors spreading about a possible 2012 presidential bid; otherwise, it's back to private life for the Republican darling and 2008 vice presidential nominee who provided fodder for the late night hosts and some lady named Tina Fey.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell will be taking in the reins as governor during the annual Governor's community picnic at Pioneer Park here in Fairbanks on July 26. But who is Sean Parnell?

Well, he's 46 years old, an attorney who attended Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound School of Law, and was elected to the State House in 1992 followed by a stint at the State Senate in 1996. Palin made him her running mate in 2006 and last summer, he failed to unseat Congressman Don Young in the Republican primaries.

I'm pretty sure Parnell will have some mighty big heels...er, shoes to fill in a few weeks. As for Palin? The chances for 2012 now are not so good, but at least she'll have plenty of free time on her hands to see Russia from her house.

It's been a week now, but we've been learning fresh details into the Michael Jackson death investigation as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has joined in. On Thursday, new video taken from a couple days before he died showed him rehearsing at L.A.'s Staples Center for his 50-date shows in London. And now comes another twist: A sedative called Diprivan, which puts you to sleep for surgeries, was discovered in Jackson's home. I've had my share of Diprivan twice; in 1991 when they removed a broken needle in my left foot I stepped on, and again three years later when I underwent dental surgery. After that latter one, my mouth would be wired shut and I had to eat all my food in a straw for about a month or so!

Anyway, Jackson filed a will in 2002 stating that custody of his three children would be assumed by his mother Katherine, but there was a bonus: If she is unable to take care of them, it would be awarded to Michael's good friend and fellow music icon, Diana Ross. The two both went back to when the Jackson Five were signed by Motown in the late '60s and they were co-stars in the 1979 movie musical "The Wiz" (aka "The Wizard of Oz Powered By Afro Sheen").

At the time of his death, Jackson was around $400 million in debt; the value of his estate is believe to be asseted at over $500 million, which would've gotten him out of debt by $100 million.

This Tuesday will be an extraordinary day like no other, because that's when a public memorial service for Michael Jackson at the Staples Center will be held. The venue, which since 2000 has also served as home to the Grammy Awards, seats around 20,000, and 17,500 free tickets have been distributed to the public. An additional 6,500 will be at the Nokia Theater right next door, where the event will be simulcast. Many dignitaries expected to attend include Michael's friends Whitney Houston, Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor, and Stevie Wonder, who'll be performing.

Whether if you're in L.A. attending it in person, or will be staying home somewhere in the world watching it on television, it will no doubt be a final official goodbye to the King of Pop. I wonder if it'll be open casket, just like James Brown's fond farewell to life...

Anyway, so long, stay strong, and Happy 4th of July.

Hello everybody...again. We're now zipping forward to my regular blog after the special one on the passings of Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Ed McMahon; and yes, there was other news to report!

First up...here we go again!!!! Last year it was Eliot Spitzer, now it's South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. We now know why he was missing from office for a while without any notice: He got quite freaky with an Argentine lady behind his wife's back, and he admitted it all in a press conference on Wednesday.

Sanford, along with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, is one of the rising stars of the Republican party; and now with his affair, it appears that the only way to save his bacon is to do what Spitzer and Rod Blagojevich did: Resign.

One couple that has resigned from each other: Jon and Kate Gosselin. On Monday, 10.6 million viewers tuned in to "Jon & Kate Plus 8" for the bombshell announcement that they're headed for divorce court. In response, TLC has put the show on hiatus, though rumors about the couple getting their own separate shows began to surface.

I have an idea: Have Jon join the "American Chopper" team and put Kate on "Mythbusters"; both happen to be TLC/Discovery shows and they too get good ratings!

And last but not least...One of the most anticipated films of the year, "Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen", is now playing, and one of the stars is the amazingly hot Megan Fox. However, with the tattoos and body, she has the similar looks to another stunner: Angelina Jolie.

Now there is a huge comparison between the two, and they're not mistaken for each other. But who is the ultimate transformer? There is only one way to settle this score, and that's the...

(By the way...some of you who remember the old site know that I've done this twice before with Kirsten Dunst/Natalie Portman (2002) and later Amanda Bynes/Hilary Duff (2003))

BREAKOUTS:

Megan Fox: "Transformers"
Angelina Jolie: "Gia"

Advantage: Jolie

AWARDS WON:

Fox: None
Jolie: Six (three Golden Globes, two Screen Actors Guild awards, and an Academy Award)

Advantage: Jolie

NUMBER OF TATTOOS:

Fox: Eight, including a picture of Marilyn Monroe's face on her right forearm and one on her right shoulder which reads "We will all laugh at gilded butterflies"
Jolie: 13, though she has lasered several of them off including ex-husband Billy Bob Thornton's name

Tattoos are definitely a turn-off for me, so even though she has less, it's advantage: Fox

HUMANITARIAN WORK:

Fox: None
Jolie: UN Refugee Agency Goodwill Ambassador

Advantage: Jolie

Ah, to hell with the rest; Angelina Jolie easily cleans out Megan Fox's clock 3-1! Jolie's got the accolades, Brad Pitt, and the kids to almost rival Jon and Kate's, as well as dethroning Oprah Winfrey to top the Forbes Celebrity 100 (though Oprah still makes more money). Fox on the other hand? Well, she is younger than Angelina, but when it comes to sex appeal, it won't be long till she passes the torch. It's just that I don't take her seriously...unless she strips like Jolie has done.

But personally, I'll have to go with Megan on this one. Then again, we all have our own choice of opinion, as those two are among the countless number of beauties are picking up where the late Farrah Fawcett has just left off. So long and stay strong!

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)