Hello everybody, as I'm sure you're setting up the dinner tables for Thanksgiving.

We begin my feast first up with the one weather story that's been heavily ignored in the news (thanks a lot, TSA airport pat-downs!), unless if you happen to be in a certain part of the country: The Great Alaska Ice Storm of 2010!

This week, unexpected temperatures in the 30s combined with freezing rain has wreaked havoc in both Anchorage and Fairbanks, leaving roads deserted with little to no traffic and closing down schools. Now we have been used to the other way around every winter (i.e., sub-zero temperatures), but this has been ridiculous.

But the worst is far from over, as temps will be dropping to the single digits by this weekend. If I were you, I would be better off avoiding the stores at the crack of dawn Friday morning.

Now...the countdown to what could be the wedding of the century. Prince William, after two decades of living the single life, popped the question to Kate Middleton...but not before the couple went public on it in a televised interview. And now we've learned that the date and place are now set: April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey.

So...who is Kate Middleton? She's 28 years old, her parents were in the airline industry before they started a mail-order party supply business, and is a fashionista. She met William while they were both attending the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and the two have been on-again, off-again, and then on-again in the years since.

This is shaping up to be the one royal wedding that is estimated to be viewed by close to 3 billion people worldwide, as opposed to the 750 million that tuned in to the Prince Charles/Lady Diana Spencer wedding in 1981...which, ironically, also happened on the 29th (July 29, 1981). In three months prior to the 30th anniversary of those fractured nuptials, this royal wedding will not only be bittersweet for Prince William at the very same site for his mother's funeral, but a celebration and tribute as he and future Duchess Kate Middleton continue to upgrade the Royal Family for a new generation. The Queen now on Facebook was just the beginning.

Well, one thing we should all be thankful for is that the coveted mirror ball trophy on "Dancing With The Stars" this time ended up in the hands of Jennifer Grey and -- in a three-peat -- Derek Hough rather than Bristol Palin; she and Mark Ballas finished third behind Kyle Massey and Lacey Schwimmer. Of course the show was pretty much "Everybody Hates Bristol" because thanks to her, underdogs like Rick Fox, Florence Henderson, David Hasselhoff and others were shown the door.

But I tell you, folks: When Brandy was unceremoniously booted off last week putting Bristol in the finals along with Jennifer and Kyle, millions of viewers especially loyal "Dancing" fans were pissed off like never before. They bitched and moaned on the show's message boards, on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube; even ABC's switchboard was flooded with complaints. Can you say "conspiracy theory"?

And then we finally pinpointed the mastermind behind all this: Kevin DuJan, conservative blogger for HillBuzz.org. He was 100% responsible for Bristol staying alive throughout the season, urging us to keep voting for her multiple times by creating as many phony e-mail addresses as possible. So in the case of the finals, the time was come to fight fire with fire to ensure that Jennifer and Kyle would keep Bristol at bay...and in the end, it worked.

The controversy surrounding Bristol proved to be a ratings bonanza, as 24 million viewers watched the finale and the show pulling in monster ratings for ABC, which will continue when "Dancing" returns in the spring as they hope to finally unseat the ailing "American Idol" as the year's #1 show. By the way, Sarah Palin was in the middle of her book tour when she learned that her daughter wouldn't be bringing the mirror ball trophy home to Wasilla, though she tweeted her congratulations to everybody saying that "competition is good."

So...what does the future hold for Bristol now? Like I said before, win or lose "Dancing With The Stars" has already set you for life...well, except for Season 9 contestant and former embattled Congressman Tom DeLay, who was convicted on Wednesday for money laundering and may be part of a new show: "Dancing With The Inmates"! By the way, foot injuries forced Tom to pull himself out.

One other footnote: Ratings for Sarah's TLC show "Sarah Palin's Alaska" dropped 40% from last week's debut. Guess the only thing we'll be seeing from the Palin house will be a cancellation notice!

And last but not least...as part of her farewell season, Oprah Winfrey pulled out all the stops for her last "Favorite Things" extravaganza. Among the items in the gift list of all gift lists: The Apple iPad, Andre Walker Haircare Products (Andre Walker being Oprah's longtime hairdresser), UGG boots, the Herb Savor, a five-year Netflix membership, Baker's Edge baking pans and Ghiradelli brownie mix, the Nikon D3100 digital camera, a Sony 3-D TV, even a seven-day cruise to the Caribbean aboard Royal Caribbean's mammoth "Allure Of The Seas", and perhaps the biggest kicker of them all...the keys to a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle...which will be out in May!! The total value for all of these: $36,837!!!

For years, "Oprah's Favorite Things" has been called "the hottest ticket in television", but next week Ellen DeGeneres will try to do one better with her "12 Days of Giveaways." And let me tell you: The neat swag this year will cause Santa's elves to work overtime making sure your Christmas tree will be fuller than ever with your stocking stuffed to the brim! So long, stay strong, and happy Thanksgiving!

Can Bristol Palin be stopped?????

Hello, everybody.

Three years ago on this very blog, I finally had something to get off my chest when I took John Dean's famous quote from the Watergate hearings about a cancer growing on the presidency of Richard Nixon and substituted "Sanjaya Malakar" and "American Idol" for Nixon. Well, some weeks later, that cancer was finally removed.

But now in 2010, we have a brand new kind of cancer that's been spreading for some time on "Dancing With The Stars"...and that cancer, of course, is BRISTOL PALIN!!!!!! For weeks, you have all been wondering to yourselves, "When will Jonathan finally offer his own two cents on this???!!!", Well, the time has arrived.

For those of you just back from a long trip to the moon, Bristol is Sarah Palin's older daughter who has been on a reign of terror as of late. Thanks to her, a lot of names have been dropping like flies: Florence Henderson, Audrina Patridge, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, Rick Fox, Michael Bolton, and Kurt Warner to name a few. Now she along with Kyle Massey and heavy favorites Brandy and Jennifer Grey are in the semi-finals, which has either delighted or angered millions of viewers tuning in to the hit ABC show.

So now we cue up the "Unsolved Mysteries" theme music and ask the question: Who is behind all this???? Well, it can be summed up in three simple words: Tea Party Movement! It helped the Republicans win back the House from the Democrats in the mid-term elections (leaving President Obama bloodied, but not physically), and it is already helping Bristol. Closer to home, Anchorage radio DJs Bob and Mark are leading the charge as well, though they have been kissing the Palins' asses for several years they need a lifetime supply of Chap Stick to keep their lips moist.

Okay, here comes the part you've been whetting your appetite for for so long:

Well, some show called "American Idol" has been ruling the TV ratings, even if portion of Season 5 was briefly called "The Sanjaya Malakar Show" before he got the boot. And after so many years, with Paula Abdul and later Simon Cowell out, we have finally had enough of the craze and wanted out.

Last season's "Dancing With The Stars" was headlined by the likes of Pamela Anderson, Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and Kate Gosselin. They finally beat "Idol" in the ratings thanks to that lineup; but in the end, "Idol" held on to become the #1 show for the sixth straight year, surpassing "All In The Family" and "The Cosby Show."

This season, it's all about expecting the unexpected. One side tells me America has had enough of Bristol and really wants her out, but there's another side that says something worth repeating again: "Dancing With The Stars" is doing anything it takes to be the one show that will finally end "American Idol's" long reign, and Bristol Palin may be one of their secret weapons. Of course she won't win (I'm pulling for either Brandy or Jennifer), but it'll sure help.

Let's face it, folks: ABC hasn't had a #1 show since "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?" was red-hot. I think ten years is good enough. But then again, the Tea Party supporters rooting for Bristol Palin have already drunk way too much Kool-Aid. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody.

By the time this blog is put to bed, America will be going to the polls in this mid-term election. For the Republicans, this could be their chance to be like 1994 all over again in an attempt to gain full control of Capitol Hill; for the Democrats, it's all or nothing in a fight for survival with the slumping economy once again high priority among voters.

Here in Alaska, we've got a three-way showdown for Senate, with Democrat Scott McAdams, Republican Joe Miller, and incumbent/write-in candidate Lisa Murkowski.

Murkowski lost to Miller in the August primaries, but for the last month or so, Lisa has been on the move showing the true meaning of perseverance as her seat is still on the line. McAdams is suddenly becoming the underdog, while Miller? Hate to say it, but his supporters are already turning their backs on him and going either way to ensure the Tea Party-backed candidate won't reach Washington.

In the gubernatorial race, it's incumbent Sean Parnell (who inherited the reins from Sarah Palin last year) vying for a full term vs. Ethan Berkowitz. The forecast may call for a Parnell victory, but like all other elections, there are no guarantees.

All 435 House seats are up for grabs today as well as 37 Senate seats, 38 gubernatorial races, and hundreds of state and city mayoral races to be decided. For Palin, she may be the one person crossing her fingers hoping Miller or Christine O'Donnell (no relation of course to Charlie O'Donnell, the longtime announcer of "Wheel Of Fortune" and other shows who died on Monday at 78; I tweeted that sad news) may pull off a last-minute miracle.

But whichever way you do it, do your duty as a citizen and vote. And when the polls start closing across the country at 8:00 in all time zones...let 'er rip, 'cause that's when the waiting begins! Because after all...it's your choice. So long, stay strong, and get out and vote!!!

(By the way...I'll be posting updates throughout the night on both Twitter and Facebook, so make sure you follow me)

Hello, everybody.

Bristol Palin may have survived another week on "Dancing With The Stars" with Florence Henderson in a shocker being the latest to hang up her dancing shoes, but that has already taken a back seat to this week's big entertainment story: The latest celebrity photoshoot that had us singing a bad tune.

Yes, we're talking about the cast of Fox's hit show "Glee" going wild for the pages of "GQ" magazine featuring Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, and Dianna Agron. In one photo that really raised eyebrows, Michele spread her legs while sitting vertically on a bench in her underwear and knee-high socks.

It didn't take long when the outrage started to pour all over the pics, especially this from the Parents Television Council: "It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on 'Glee' in this way. It borders on pedophilia. By authorizing this kind of near-pornographic display, the creators of the program have established their intentions on the show's direction. And it isn't good for families." GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson fought back: "The Parents Television Council must not be watching much TV these days and should learn to divide reality from fantasy. As often happens in Hollywood, these 'kids' are in their twenties. Cory Montieth's almost 30! I think they're old enough to do what they want."

As far as the participants are concerned, Agron on her blog now regretted her part, saying: "In the land of Madonna, Britney, Miley, Gossip Girl, other public figures and shows that have pushed the envelope and challenged the levels of comfort in their viewers and fans…we are not the first. Now, in perpetuating the type of images that evoke these kind of emotions, I am sorry. If you are hurt or these photos make you uncomfortable, it was never our intention. And if your eight-year-old has a copy of our GQ cover in hand, again I am sorry. But I would have to ask, how on earth did it get there?

I’m moving forward from this one, and after today, putting it to rest. I am only myself, I can only be me. These aren’t photos I am going to frame and put on my desk, but hey, nor are any of the photos I take for magazines. "

The general public, including yours truly in a brief comment that landed on "Entertainment Tonight", have their own two cents on the controversy. Personally, I absolutely don't see anything wrong with these pictures whatsoever. Even though Monteith, Agron, and Michele all play high school students on "Glee", in actuality, they're 28 and 24 respectively with years and years of experience; Michele, for example, starred in "Les Miserables" and "Spring Awakening" on Broadway.

But the racy GQ pictorial starring "Glee" is the latest in a long line of photoshoots that have crossed the line over the last 20 years.

Flash back to 1991, when a very pregnant Demi Moore posed naked for the cover of GQ's sister publication, "Vanity Fair." Shot by Annie Leibowitz, that started the trend of nude pregnancy photos done in a good fashion; case in point: Christina Aguilera for "Marie Claire", who was pregnant with her son Max. By the way, the following year came the sequel, "Demi's Birthday Suit." I'm sure a young Ashton Kutcher must've spent good times pleasuring himself to that cover.

In 1997, it was Toni Braxton's turn to push the envelope in more ways than one when "Vibe" had her wearing nothing but a blanket on the cover, while inside the pages, black panties and a very see-through top exposing her breasts. It was her way to sex up and enhance her image with a Las Vegas gig and "Dancing With The Stars" to follow, though just recently, she filed for her second bankruptcy. And with "Baby One More Time" already making her a household name, Britney Spears's 1999 "Rolling Stone" cover got a lot of flak from another family values group, though Britney (17 at the time) defended it. I remember offering my own take on the matter when my commentary piece on the former "Allen Report" was called "The Bottom Line."

In 2008, "Vanity Fair" and Annie Leibowitz made headlines once again when she infamously snapped then-15-year-old Miley Cyrus backless. Like I said recently, that would eventually sprout to Miley shedding her wholesome "Hannah Montana" image as she toured the world performing in eye-popping wardrobe to the delight of older fans. Boy, I can't wait till what she has in store come November 23; that's when she turns the big 1-8!

Earlier that same year came Bert Stern's re-creation of "The Last Sitting" for "New York" magazine this time starring Lindsay Lohan (who has been sentenced to rehab once again in lieu of jail), while Jennifer Aniston a couple months before she hit 40 had on nothing but a necktie for GQ. In between those, a Calvin Klein perfume commercial was banned for television because a little bit more of Eva Mendes was shown.

Now, it's "Glee Gone Wild", though we have seen those words before when "Rolling Stone" did a cover piece on them. I am not one of those "Gleeks" myself, but the only way that could get me tuned to the show is if Jane Lynch dons a dominatrix outfit.

And last but not least, a clarification: Last time, I mentioned that the two Burger Kings we have at Fort Wainwright and Eielson are off limits to us civilians and that we have to drive all the way to Wasilla for the nearest one. Well, I've come to realize all along that if you have proof of vehicle insurance and some form of identification like a driver's license or state ID, you can get a day pass to the military bases and still get your Whopper fix. On that note, so long and stay strong.

(Oh yeah...after teasing you for so long, the starting field of 30 for Sexiest Man of 2010 is finally out and voting in Round 1 begins November 1. To find out who they are, go to my Twitter page.)

Hello, everybody. There has been so much happening this week, and you know where we start with: the Chilean miners' rescue.

The attention of the entire world was focused on that one country and the San Jose Mine in Copiapo as a billion television viewers held their breath watching, in 15- to 30-minute intervals, all 33 miners seeing the light for the first time after 69 days in the dark. It began shortly after 7:00 pm Alaska Time with Florencio Avalos being the first one out, and ended 22 hours later with Manuel Gonzalez.

Not since Baby Jessica (which I'll get to in a bit) has there ever been worldwide jubilation over all the miners coming out alive and well, though one of them, Yonni Barrios, claims to have had a mistress. But nonetheless, they're already instant celebrities, and from magazines to "60 Minutes" to Oprah Winfrey, everybody wants a piece of all this so we can learn more about the ordeal in their own words.

Now I tweeted that the rescue is reminiscent of Jessica McClure's in 1987, when she was trapped inside an abandoned well in Midland, Texas and we were on pins and needles right in front of our TVs hoping and praying they would get her out alive. Now Jessica Morales, she's married with a kid and they still live in Midland.

However, the same thing couldn't be said for Kathy Fiscus 38 years prior to that. Fiscus fell down a 14-inch-wide well outside of Los Angeles and reporter Stan Chambers covered every moment of the ordeal round-the-clock for KTLA. Sadly, Fiscus died before rescuers would reach her, and grief was spread not throughout Southern California, but around the country as well.

Chambers recently retired from KTLA after spending almost a lifetime there, but his non-stop reporting of the Fiscus tragedy was the watershed event for the fledgling medium even though radio was still king in the late '40s.

A lot of lessons have learned from Kathy Fiscus, Baby Jessica, and now the Chilean miners over the course of the last 60 years.

Well, it didn't take long to shift subjects from that to another war of words on "The View" as Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar briefly stormed off the show over guest Bill O'Reilly's take about a mosque being placed near Ground Zero. Now CBS's "View" clone "The Talk", premieres on Monday, and here's hoping we won't be seeing any walk-offs right at the start.

It was a week of two unexpected celebrity breakups: First, Courteney Cox and David Arquette followed by Christina Aguilera and Jordan Bratman with Aguilera filing divorce papers just a short while later.

For Aguilera, she knew how to handle it very quickly, as she and son Max were out and about at a pumpkin patch with Christina later in Hawaii. But what led to the couple being no more?

Poor sales for her recent album "Bionic" plus the cancellation of her summer tour are likely to blame, but remember: she did shoot "Burlesque" with Cher which comes out next month, and like I said in the "2009 Year in Review", this could be Christina's chance to come back on top this time without Jordan's help.

And last but not least: When I moved back to Fairbanks for the second time in 1985 after 1 1/2 years in Phoenix, we felt it had it all: an Arby's, a Baskin-Robbins, a Nordstrom's, JCPenney, two Burger Kings, a Sizzler, even a Dairy Queen. Well, flash forward to 2010...we have none of these anymore!

Okay, we still have Burger Kings in Fort Wainwright and Eielson, but they're off limits to us civilians. The remaining Fairbanks BK closed down in 2007 and if you still want a Whopper, the nearest one is in Wasilla -- 350 miles down the Parks Highway! And except for Sizzler (which left Fairbanks by the time I returned in '92), the same can be said for all the other eateries an additional 50 miles in -- you guessed it -- my hometown, ANCHORAGE!!!!

Recently, Carl's Jr. opened up their second Fairbanks location on my side of town across the street from Taco Bell, but let's face it: Burger King and Arby's are still missed here. Of those two, Burger King may come crawling back here sometime soon; my best bet is between 2011 and 2012.

As for breakfast? Even though IHOP is also eight hours away in Anchorage, our best bets here are Sam's Sourdough Cafe and The Cookie Jar. Applebees? I ate there for lunch while in Mississippi a decade ago, but if I want to do it again, there's two of them in Anchorage for my disposal. And the next time I want to go on another DVD shopping spree at Best Buy...ah, you know.

With all of us already spending our PFD money to go along with whatever else we have in our bank accounts, Anchorage has always been the one place to blow it on. Like I said on this blog before, we're doing most of our upscale shopping there even if we have two Fred Meyers and a Walmart. But don't worry, folks: Fairbanks is hosting their second Alaska Federation of Natives convention next week, and for businesses large and small, this is their moment to shine. But if they want to "Have It Their Way"...forget it! So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. There's a whole lot of ground to cover, so consider this blog to be my 32nd birthday gift to you. First up...

As I broke it to you on Tuesday, $1,281 was announced by Gov. Sean Parnell as the amount for this year's Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend, down only $24 from last year's $1,305 payout. And for the first time, both direct deposits and checks will be distributed on October 7, but with our economy once again in the dumps with the elections near, some of us might put our spending plans on hold.

While we're on the subject of elections, Sen. Lisa Murkowski is continuing her do-or-die quest to keep Joe Miller and Scott McAdams at bay in her write-in bid. Since launching it last weekend, Murkowski has regained support from those who had mistakenly voted for Miller in last month's primaries. Okay, we'll admit it: we did that just to test Lisa's nerve temporarily. And in other good news: Murkowski has regained her post on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

But next week, the Tea Party Express will be on the prowl here to ensure Miller will take over Murkowski's seat for good as they'll be launching a new campaign. In other words, they are out to destroy everything in their path, and we don't want that to happen. As for McAdams? He's pretty much the only person sitting back and enjoying all this...for now.

Former Gov. Sarah Palin, who's leading the charge for Joe Miller, is these days leading a different charge for daughter Bristol as far as "Dancing With The Stars" is concerned with David Hasselhoff suddenly being the first to pack his shoes and go. With the rest of this season's lineup including "Brady" Mom Florence Henderson, basketball player turned actor Rick Fox, reality sexpot Audrina Patridge, former NFL star Kurt Warner, Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino from "Jersey Shore", and R&B singer Brandy among others, they're doing whatever it takes to be the one show that will finally dethrone "American Idol" (even with new judges Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler joining Randy Jackson) as the season's #1 show. But now that the Hoff is off, I'm now pulling for the Fox.

Meanwhile, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore are trying to pull their marriage together as "Star" magazine published a bombshell report about Ashton and alleged mistress Brittney Jones exchanging some sexy text messages and even having a one-night stand with the actor. On Thursday, the couple put those rumors to rest as they appeared at the Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York on a very serious front: jumpstarting their "Real Men" campaign against child sex slavery.

Before they married each other, Ashton and Demi had a slew of lovers before: Ashton, January Jones and the late Brittany Murphy; Demi, marriages to Freddy Moore and later Bruce Willis. As for Jones? We have learned a few details about the 21-year-old, that she's a gold digger who has fallen out with the mother and sister and likes to party hard.

In other words, she was out there to break up a now five-year marriage. To borrow a title from one of Demi's films, it was an indecent proposal that may have been backfired.

And last but not least: Once upon a time, it was "C Is For Cookie". But now in the case of Katy Perry, Cookie Monster's famous anthem should be "C Is For Cleavage!"

A remix of "Hot & Cold" featuring Elmo that Katy did some time ago has been pulled from an upcoming broadcast of "Sesame Street" because parents have complained about Katy showing a little too much on the chestal area. However, the video is already a worldwide hit on YouTube, and it was quite a way to cap off an incredible summer for Perry with her new album "Teenage Dream" topping the charts and her impending nuptials to Russell Brand.

Personally, I don't see anything wrong with the video, as "Sesame Street" over the last 40 years has had celebrity guests interacting with their Muppet characters. And after all...except for Bert and Ernie, aren't Elmo, Big Bird, and others totally nude?

By the time this blog is put to bed, Katy will have appeared on "Saturday Night Live." But as far as this latest controversy is concerned? I guess "Sesame Street" will no longer be brought to us by the letters T and A! So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. Four weeks after losing in the primaries to Sarah Palin-backed "Tea Party" candidate Joe Miller, Sen. Lisa Murkowski showed the true meaning of perseverance as on Friday night, she has launched a second chance write-in campaign in the hopes of preventing Miller and Democratic candidate Scott McAdams from taking her seat.

With "Let's Make History" as her battle cry, Murkowski spoke to the crowd at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage and with $1 million left in campaign funds, it ain't going to be easy as Miller and now Christine O'Donnell are riding in a wave fueled by Palin following Tuesday's primaries.

But even though the endorsements for Miller have been locked in, does Murkowski still have what it takes to pull it off? In 1954, Strom Thurmond's write-in campaign won him the U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina; but Robin Taylor's didn't get him the Alaska governor job in 1998, losing to incumbent Tony Knowles.

It was also that year we started filling in the ovals as our voting system went from punch cards to Accu-Vote, meaning the fastest results possible. In the case of Murkowski, it'll be all about writing in her name (spell it M-U-R-K-O-W-S-K-I) and filling in the oval.

We Alaskans made a mistake in voting for Joe Miller a few weeks ago and I think it should be rectified. I hope on November 2, it won't be deja vu as it'll be Miller vs. Murkowski: Round 2. If only Lisa could afford Michael Buffer to get us pumped for it...

The NFL season is already underway, but there was one story away from the field that has made more headlines than the games themselves: A sexy female sportscaster in the center of a sexual harassment scandal.

Ines Sainz, a reporter for Mexico's TV Azteca and former beauty pageant contestant, claimed that while interviewing quarterback Mark Sanchez, she was subjected to catcalls and verbal harassment by several New York Jets players because of the way she dressed as well as a coach throwing footballs in her direction. Team owner Woody Johnson issued an apology to Sainz, while the Jets in their season opener were walloped by the Balitmore Ravens 10-9 on Monday.

You know, looking at some of the pics of Sainz, she has a backside that could rival Kim Kardashian. But as far as her recent drama is concerned...well, I guess she has or hasn't heard of a certain person named Erin Andrews. Maybe Ines could take a few pointers from her next time when she's on the field.

As I said on Monday, Oprah Winfrey kicked off the farewell season of her show by taking her entire audience of 300 to Australia in December where she'll tape a couple of shows from the famed Sydney Opera House. Now we've learned more details as the Australian government is footing the $2.8 million bill.

Oprah coming Down Under was the shot in the arm, as slumping global economies have crippled tourism industries around the world including Australia. But you know...since the 1980's with Men At Work and later "Crocodile Dundee", America has had a fascination with Aussie pop culture, with words like "G'Day" and "vegemite" becoming part of our lexicon. Australia has also bred some hot lookers like Nicole Kidman (who was actually born in Hawaii to Australian parents), Russell Crowe, Kylie Minogue, and Hugh Jackman; Kidman and Jackman co-starred in 2008's "Australia" which was a box office success. Oh, by the way, Kidman was also the Sexiest Woman of 2001 winner.

Anyway, Oprah will have plenty of company when she comes to Australia near the end of the year, and with John Travolta in the Qantas cockpit while spending almost a day in the air, you can't go wrong. Get the vegemite and didgeridoo ready!

And last but not least: The new season of "Dancing With The Stars" begins Monday, and since taking part last season, Kate Gosselin has continued to keep busy with raising her eight kids solo...while bettering her body at the same time!

In the latest "People" magazine out now, Kate showed off her new figure, all thanks to staying away from any plastic surgery possible. As far as her love life is concerned? She's still 100% single, but my younger brother Lawrence is already taken. But like it or not, her 15 minutes of fame has already been extended, and even though Oprah offered the ultimate Australian adventure of a lifetime, Kate Gossein is already the ultimate MILF. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. In a span of two weeks, the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles has played host to the Primetime Emmy Awards and Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, aka The Night Everybody Went Gaga for Lady Gaga as she collected eight Moonmen including Video of the Year for "Bad Romance"...all while changing outfits three times including the now infamous "meat dress" that had PETA going gaga themselves...with envy!

Justin Bieber got Best New Artist, while Rihanna took time out from shooting her first movie "Battlefield" in Hawaii to return to the mainland to open the show with Eminem. Bieber and Taylor Swift also performed in their first VMAs; Swift, a year after Kanye West almost made her night sour. And speaking of Kanye...nah, I won't go there.

I will go there on the white carpet fashions, especially by Katy Perry, Audrina Patridge, and Ciara. And what about Cher? At 64 years old (yes, 64!!!!), you talk about early promotion for "Burlesque" as she dusted off that bodysuit from the "Turn Back Time" video. I was hoping it would look good on Betty White, but that would be a major turn-off.

Monday was the 25th and final season premiere of "The Oprah Winfrey Show", as Oprah pulled out the biggest surprise since that Pontiac G6 giveaway: by sending her entire audience of 300 to Australia on an eight day, seven-night trip in December! As always, the audience went nuts like if it was the end of the world.

Of course, when Oprah signs off for the final time after this season, it'll no doubt be the daytime equivalent of Johnny Carson's last "Tonight Show." At least unlike Johnny, Oprah will still be in the spotlight.

And last but not least...It is definitely no surprise itself, but next Tuesday, the year-long wait will be over as Gov. Sean Parnell will announce the amount of the 2010 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. Last year's payout was $1,305, and projections show this year's check may be a bit lower. I as always will have it within seconds on Twitter and Facebook, and speaking of which...I want to know what do you think the PFD will be? Hit me up on my Facebook page and I'll have some of your best guesses next time. Till then, so long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. The theme song for Sunday's 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards should've been Ray Stevens's "The Streak", as "Mad Men" continued theirs with three Best Dramas in a row while "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" is now 7-0 on the Variety, Music, or Comedy Series side.

But for "The Amazing Race" and "30 Rock", it was over thanks to "Top Chef" and "Modern Family" claiming Reality-Competition and Best Comedy respectively. The Lead Acting honors went to:

• COMEDY: Edie Falco ("Nurse Jackie") and Jim Parsons ("The Big Bang Theory")
• DRAMA: Bryan Cranston ("Breaking Bad") and Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer)"
• MINISERIES/MOVIE: Al Pacino ("You Don't Know Jack") and Claire Danes ("Temple Grandin")

"Glee" didn't go home empty handed; Jane Lynch collected Supporting Actress-Comedy while Guest Actor-Comedy went to Neil Patrick Harris at last week's Creative Arts awards.

Also at that aforementioned ceremony, Betty White as expected added another Emmy for "Saturday Night Live" while Jeff Probst picked up his fourth straight Reality Program Host for "Survivor."

Now this year's awards were broadcast live from coast-to-coast for the first time including Alaska and Hawaii, but in the case of the lively red carpet, it was awashed in blue. That color looked good on January Jones (Versace) and birthday girl Lea Michele (Oscar de la Renta) though there were other colors on the rainbow including Glenn Close in green, Kim Kardashian and leggy Brooke Burke in white, Kate Gosselin in simple black, and Sofia Vergara in yummy yellow.

So...who was the most colorful of them all? Their show may have lost to "Modern Family", but "Glee's" dynamic duo of Michele and Dianna Agron (the latter in Carolina Herrera) sang my praises as best-dressed. And January Jones and Christina Hendricks...if you're reading this blog, I have a spinoff show for you: "Drab Women"!

Like I said, it was all about the streak as a couple shows kept theirs while two others came to an end. All in all, it was a "Mad"-ly "Modern" night at the Emmys.

Now of course, everybody has been Tweeting while watching all this transpire, and some of this year's nominees like Vergara and Michele as well as Agron have Twitter handles. Of course this year's Emmy host Jimmy Fallon infused some tweets into the show. But they all do not have millions of followers unlike Lady Gaga, who recently surpassed Britney Spears among celebrities with 5.9 million compared to Britney's 5.78 million. And to celebrate that milestone, she put out a thank-you video to her "little monsters".

This was going to be my third Celebrity Twitter/Facebook Wish List, but I couldn't think up of any who are without those two. Maybe next time though.

Five summers ago, I vacationed in North Carolina (for what would be my last visit with grandmother Mildred and later the Mississippi Coast. For the latter, it would also be the last time I would see the coast as we know it.

This weekend was the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which left parts of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast into ruins. Over those years, the area was rebuilt both financially and emotionally, and it all culminated with the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl XLIV victory which resulted in being the most-watched television broadcast of all time.

The entertainment industry helped out in a big way, with movies and shows like "True Blood" and "Treme" being shot in Louisiana thanks to the state's tax credits.

So, what have we learned in the last half-decade. Just like New York City when they fully recovered from their wounds suffered by the September 11 attacks, Louisiana and Mississippi knew how to heal from Katrina with as much resources possible even if George W. Bush's administration dropped the ball on federal aid with several humanitarian organizations stepping in. I remember reading a picture book showing the Mississippi coast post-Katrina with the words "The Coast will be back!" at the end, and yes, the Coast is back...though they have dodged a bullet this year with the BP oil spill.

And last but not least...last Tuesday we had the primary elections, where the attention was focused on Lisa Murkowski's job security in the Senate, with Joe Miller about to take it. At last count, Miller was leading over Murkowski by 2,000 or so votes. By the way, it'll be incumbent Sean Parnell vs. Hollis French battling it out on November 2 for the big job, and early polls show that if the election was held now, Parnell would still be earning an additional four years as our governor.

The absentee and question ballots will now decide if Sarah Palin's gambit will either pay off or backfire, and we'd have 100% of the votes in this week. If I was Murkowski, I better start praying for a miracle right now; otherwise, those prayers will go Joe's way. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. I'm back in business after two weeks with a brand new computer (and with Windows 7!), so let's get right to it.

We begin first up with, of course, the investigation into the fatal plane crash in Dillingham late Monday night that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens and four others with former NASA head Sean O'Keefe among the survivors. The NTSB have finished their investigation at the crash site and are now turning their attention to eyewitnesses, hoping to create a concise timeline.

The plane, a 1957 De Havilland DHC-3T, was owned by GCI; one of its executives, Dana Tindall, was among the five perished in the crash. The site was being 800 to 850 feet up a hillside and had slid uphill about 100 feet before stopping. The pilot also didn't file a flight plan with the Federal Aviation Administration before takeoff, and the plane was reported overdue by GCI early Monday evening.

Because of its age, the De Havilland was missing a technology which allowed pilots to to see cockpit displays and weather information, though there were upgrades to the plane. But unlike most planes, it wasn't equipped with a black box.

Stevens of course was the biggest loss of them all, and a funeral is set for Wednesday at Anchorage Baptist Temple followed by a separate memorial the following Tuesday at All Saints Episcopal Church also in Anchorage. Both events will be open to the public and I'm sure a lot of dignitaries will be in attendance to help say their final goodbyes to a senator who knew how to walk the walk and talk the talk representing this very state he loved.

By the way...the last plane crash Ted was involved in, he survived that but his first wife didn't. That was at Anchorage International Airport in 1978.

Now Ted Stevens, like all other high-profile politicans, has always flown first class. I should know because Sen. Lisa Murkowski and I were on the same flight one time while heading to North Carolina for Grandma Mildred's funeral, though a curtain separated us between first class and coach.

And thankfully, it was on Northwest, where their flight attendants have always been cordial. Now why am I bringing this up? Two words: Steven Slater!

Yes, we're talking about the JetBlue flight attendant who literally went gung ho following a flight from Pittsburgh to New York earlier this week by spewing a series of expletives over the loudspeaker, announcing "I quit!", snatched a couple of beers, and slid down the rescue chute at JFK Airport. From there, he headed to his car and went home where he was arrested for criminal mischief, reckless endangerment, and criminal trespassing in various degrees. And there have been other accounts according to passengers that Slater may have one too many before the flight.

So, who is this guy? From what we've learned, his career started in 1994 working for three different airlines including TWA and Delta before joining JetBlue. Since the little incident, Slater has gained a cult following on Facebook with over 160,000 likes and counting. Most of them have applauded Steven for going Peter Finch (well, his character in "Network") on us.

The only times I hear the words "I quit!" are in wrestling matches. But in the case of Steven Slater, this one wasn't fake.

And last but not least...once upon a time, Sonny Bono after years of making music --while making love with Cher -- put all that aside and headed to politics, first as mayor of Palm Springs and later in Washington on the House floor. At the same time, actor Clint Eastwood pulled double duty running things as Carmel, California mayor. Oh, yeah...let's not forget Jesse Ventura and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Well, guess who's the next celebrity to follow their lead now? Levi Johnston!! That's right; the father of Bristol Palin's baby is back on the market again wants to run for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska -- yes, Sarah Palin's pre-gubernatorial job -- in 2012. But there is one problem: He's 32, and doesn't have a high school diploma!

Levi's also shooting a reality show, "Loving Levi", which so far doesn't have a buyer. As far as wanting to be Wasilla mayor is concerned, you have to start your political career from the ground up; starting with a city council or borough seat, THEN mayor. But if you really want to go all the way, continue with a state house or senate position, followed by the same thing in Washington; and if you think you're qualified enough...THE WHITE HOUSE!!!!!!

It would be the ultimate nightmare if Levi Johnston takes the Oath of Office on the steps of Capitol Hill, and if he does...well, I'm staying right here in Fairbanks; forget about moving to another country! So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. I haven't updated this blog in quite a while, but I have to because of this breaking story:

Former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens and former NASA chief Sean O'Keefe were among the nine passengers on board a plane that crashed late Monday night in Dillingham. Sadly, we have learned moments ago that according to former aide and family friend Dave Dittman, Stevens was in fact killed in that crash.

Stevens was one of the longest-serving senators representing Alaska from 1968 until losing to Mark Begich in 2008 in light of the indictments that put a serious crimp on his career. This is truly a sad day for Alaska, but Ted Stevens din indeed leave behind a legacy shared by all.

I'll have more on this later this week; so long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. It has been scorching, but here I am to cool things off.

First up...Betty White may be back on the beat with "Hot In Cleveland" and an Emmy nomination for hosting "Saturday Night Live" (which I'll get to in a bit), but in the case of one person, the title should be "Banned In Cleveland." Why is that? Because on Thursday, LeBron James in an ESPN special not only ended the speculation, but crushed the hearts of an entire city as well as he announced he's leaving his beloved Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat, joining Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

For Miami, this will prove to be quite a boon to the team and its city's economy; but for Cleveland, it was a whole different story. Within moments after the announcement, Cavs fans took to the streets burning their LeBron jerseys. Even owner Dan Gilbert in an open letter to his team's fans says it was "bitterly disappointing" and that he guarantees that his Cavaliers will win an NBA title before LeBron wins one for the Heat.

But don't feel bad for Cleveland. They still have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, hometown boy/soccer nut Drew Carey yelling "Come on down!", and now a hit cable show starring the world's most popular octogenerian being set there (though they actually film it in Los Angeles), but in the end, Will Smith and Glenn Frey sure are ecstatic as LeBron James is bringing his act to Miami. The Heat will really be on alright!

The heat is also on for Mel Gibson, as an expletive-laden outburst directed at ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva has hit the Internet, costing the actor his representation with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. In the 30-minute audio posted by RadarOnline, Mel streamed a river of serious death threats against Oksana; he even went as far as telling her, "I will bury you in the rose garden." And now comes the news that the Los Angeles Sherriff's Department is investigating a domestic violence incident between Mel and Oksana; if convicted, he may face up to four years in prison.

Now this is not the first time we've experienced this from the Oscar winner. In 2006, Mel was arrested for DUI and made anti-Semitic remarks to the officer; the mug shot plus my take on all of it was on this blog. And now comes the latest chapter as Mel Gibson's reputation may be tarnished forever. We'll see what happens next.

But for both Mel and LeBron, it's too late for Emmy consideration as the nominations for the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards were out with "Glee's" 19 nods leading the charge. What is surprising though is that Conan O'Brien's short-lived "Tonight Show" is also up, but not "The Jay Leno Show." It doesn't matter anyway, even though the last time "The Tonight Show" won was in 1995.

Also up: "True Blood" (its only nomination for Outstanding Drama), Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife"), Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("The New Adventures of Old Christine"), Oscar winner Jeff Bridges ("A Dog Year"), Martin Short ("Damages"), and "Saturday Night Live" (Variety, Music, or Comedy Series and no surprise at all...Betty White for Guest Actress/Comedy; at 88 she would be the oldest Emmy winner).

The 62nd Primetime Awards will be handed out August 29 on NBC, and just like the Golden Globes, it will be live all over the country including here in Alaska at 4:00 pm! Maybe CBS should think about airing the Grammy Awards live from coast-to-coast next year as well, with "60 Minutes" to follow on the West Coast. That way, we in the West won't have to worry about any Twitter spoilers.

And last but not least...it's starting to become the norm every two years: Big-name celebrities ascending here to Fairbanks.

First, it was John Leguizamo and the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" crew in 2006; Elton John in 2008; and now in 2010...it'll be Snoop Dogg's turn to take over the Golden Heart City with a show at the Blue Loon (guess the Carlson Center was already booked) on August 13! Owner Adam Wool told the Daily News-Miner that for years he tried to get Sheryl Crow and even the B-52s to play his place, but brick walls came in the way.

Since the Carlson Center opened 20 years ago, it has played host to numerous acts including WWE, the Harlem Globetrotters, David Copperfield, B.B. King, Ozzy Osbourne, Megadeth, 98 Degrees, The Judds, Toby Keith, the aforementioned Elton John, and the swearing-in ceremony of Sarah Palin. The Sullivan Arena in Anchorage, on the other hand, has always brought out even bigger names; I won't even go into their rap sheet although comedian Dane Cook sold out the place last fall. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they get Kathy Griffin!

But fo' shizzle, you will better believe that the Dogg Pound will be out in full force next month. And in case you're wondering whether or not I'm going...up to $120 for tickets??? Forget it! So long, stay strong, and stay cool!

(By the way...as for Lindsay Lohan? I'll save her for a special commentary next week called "The Self-Destruction of Lindsay Lohan" to go along with the regular blog)

Hello everybody, as we're about to light up and blow out 234 candles on America's birthday cake this Fourth of July weekend!

First up...with the Elena Kagan confirmation hearings making news here, there was already one heavily ignored political story that happened last week on the other side of the hemisphere, as Kevin Rudd was forced out and Julia Gillard stepping in to history as Australia's first female Prime Minister.

So it's time to play...What Do We Know about Julia Gillard? Well, she's 48 years old, unmarried without children, and until the change in power she served as Deputy Prime Minister (equivalent to Vice President of the United States) under Rudd. And by watching her first Question Time as prime minister, Gillard looks to be a cross between Julianne Moore and Gillian Anderson.

But...will she hold on to that job for long? Gillard may be calling for an election to be held between this fall and spring 2011, and she might join Kim Campbell as not only their countries' first female prime ministers, but the short-lived as well. Most of you don't remember Campbell, who served as Canadian Prime Minister for 132 days in 1993, which is longer than Chevy Chase's disastrous late night talk show that year (or the one and only XFL season in 2001).

Australia is not a soccer-crazed country, but the big-name countries have been dropping like flies in the World Cup lately as we near the homestretch. First, the United States; then, England, Mexico, Ghana (who eliminated the U.S.), Portugal (yes, no more of the Taylor Lautner of soccer, Cristiano Ronaldo); and now, powerhouse Brazil is back home thanks to the Netherlands. By the way, defending champions Italy were gone last week.

It's clear to us that the country to watch for now is Germany, and I have a strong hunch they may still take this.

Larry King announced this week that after 25 years, it'll be the end for his CNN show this fall. But he made himself clear that he's not done entirely. Larry will still be at the cable network doing occasional specials and documentaries, proving why he's the King.

But who will take the reins of saying "(insert city), HELLO!" One name that pops in my mind is Pat O'Brien, who will be penning his memoirs set to be published next fall. I know he hasn't done any television work in a couple of years, and I'm sure taking Larry's suspenders (okay, so he wears a belt) would be a great chapter to add in his book.

And last but not least...other than the World Cup and Wimbledon, the biggest sports story back here Stateside is going on at this moment: where will LeBron James land next?

The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar is officially a free agent and available for the taking...but by who??? Like "The Bachelor(ette)", NBA team owners from the New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, to even the always lowly Los Angeles Clippers are lining up, though there have been reports that the Miami Heat executives have been making their move at him.

It won't be long till one of them asks the question, "LeBron, will you accept this jersey?", only that he'll say yes. So long, stay strong, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!

Hello, everybody, on the one-year anniversary this weekend of the deaths of two iconic entertainers: Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. More on that in a bit, but first up...

Call it the goal seen 'round the world! Facing premature elimination, Landon Donovan's last minute goal against Algeria has kept the U.S. team's hopes alive in the 2010 World Cup so far; next up for them is Ghana as they have advanced to the next round.

Now we're not a soccer-crazed country compared to say, Brazil or those in Europe, but as we've seen all over YouTube, there has been reaction left and right to the one goal that saved our butts from being out (Brian Rowe and him going apeshit over Sandra Bullock's Oscar win, eat your heart out). There's a good chance we may beat Ghana, but could we go all the way? I think so...or maybe not; we'll see what transpires as the World Cup rolls on.

(UPDATE: The U.S. will have to wait till 2014; Ghana eliminated them 2-1 on Saturday in extra time)

One year ago Friday, the world said goodbye to two pop culture icons: Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. Jackson's sudden death -- which I broke it to you on this blog -- was of course the biggie, and knocked Farrah's off the headlines after only a few hours. Shortly thereafter, I chronicled the lives and careers of those two in a special blog.

And now a year later come the commemorations. At Forest Lawn Mortuary outside Los Angeles, the rest of the Jackson family including sister Janet joined Michael's fans as they paid homage in his mausoleum, while Fawcett's friend Alana Stewart along with his longtime love Ryan O'Neal and sister Tatum opened the Farrah Fawcett Foundation designed to aid cancer research.

Farrah passed away after a long bout with anal cancer, but there have been some unanswered questions as to how Michael was killed. Dr. Conrad Murray, who may have supplied the sedatives that took his life, is free on bail pending trial on a felony and involuntary manslaughter charge though he has pled not guilty. But Jackson is still a moneymaker even after his death; his estate has raked in over $1 billion.

In 2008, Lindsay Lohan gave us the surprise of our lives when with the help of photographer Bert Stern, she re-created Marilyn Monroe's "Last Sitting" shoot for "New York" magazine. Now flash forward two years later to 65-year-old Helen Mirren naked in a bathtub for that very same magazine! I'm probably thinking every senior's masturbatory fantasy right now is Mirren and Betty White spending New Year's Eve in Miami Beach (which will never happen because they would overshadow Stacy Keibler). Boy, if only my grandmother Mildred lived a few more years to make it a threesome!

And last but not least: Except for here in Alaska, there have been long lines forming throughout many parts of the world on Thursday for Apple's new iPhone 4 which is out now. CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the current version a few weeks ago, with brand-new features such as retina display, front and rear cameras with LED flash on the latter, multitasking, HD video recording/editing, and something called FaceTime. On its first day of sale, 1.5 million of those new phones were sold.

Earlier this week, the iOS 4 operating system came out with almost the same features as well (except for the background on second-generation iPod Touches). Like I tweeted before on Tuesday, I spent a total of 3 1/2 to four hours downloading the software and then installing it to my iPod, which was worth it.

But yes, the new iPhone 4 comes at a time when the rival competitors already have smartphones of their own that are out for Apple's blood. And you've gotta hand it to Steve Jobs and his gang for making sure his creation has always been originated, not duplicated. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody, on this Father's Day weekend (which is always boring compared to Mother's Day weekend).

First up...in his first primetime address to the nation from the Oval Office, President Obama on Tuesday night literally went toe-to-toe with BP, vowing to make them pay for the continuing oil spill that has left the Gulf Coast waters in ruins on the 57th day.

Obama said, "We will fight this spill with everything we've got for as long as it takes", and called for the formation of a Gulf Coast Restoration Plan to be led by former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus and funded by BP. According to a group of scientists, about 2.5 million gallons a day have been leaking; if you do the math, that's over 116 million gallons so far.

On Wednesday, the president met with BP executives in person, and they will establish a $100 million fund to compensate the unemployed oil rig workers who were affected by the rig's closure. By the way, the seafood from the gulf is still safe and so are the waters...for now.

Call it the Sweet 16 as the Los Angeles Lakers in a winner-take-all Game 7 narrowly took down the Boston Celtics on Thursday to clinch back-to-back NBA titles -- and for coach Phil Jackson, his 11th -- with Kobe Bryant once again series MVP. With that win, the three largest U.S. cities now claim sports championships: New York (Yankees, World Series), Chicago last week (Blackhawks, their first Stanley Cup since 1961), and now L.A. New Orleans doesn't count, even if their Saints won the Super Bowl.

But of course, the one big sporting event the whole world is paying attention to right now is the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The U.S. appears to be in good shape at the moment, but that could change as the tournament goes on.

However...is it just me or have the venues become the world's largest beehives? I'm saying this because unless if you've been watching with the mute button and closed-captioning on, plastic horns known as vuvuzelas are being blown all throughout the World Cup. And if you ask me, they have been nothing but a nuisance.

Now while we're sticking to the subject, Africanized bees are known for its aggressiveness and its stings can be fatal. European bees, on the other hand, are more kinder and gentle. At one time, there was a spread of African bees blanketing portions of the southwest United States including all of Arizona and even past Southern California including Los Angeles.

Okay, back to the World Cup: For a summer quadrennial sporting event happening in a Southern Hemisphere country like South Africa where it's winter, you can be sure the action will be both hot and cold; hot because of the high kicks and low scoring that make soccer famous, and cold because of those damn vuvuzelas drowning all the excitement and atmosphere away! Now that's not as sweet as honey!

And last but not least...two years ago, that one photo Annie Leibowitz took of a backless Miley Cyrus in "Vanity Fair" both made headlines and caused firestorms around the world because Miley was only 15 at the time. I of course had something to say about it on this blog.

But now looking back in retrospect, the infamous photo proved to be a sign of things to come for the "Hannah Montana" star, as Miley lately has been going Britney Spears on us...and in a good way!

Why is that, you ask? Because at 17 going on 18, she's been sexing up her image prematurely thanks to her new album "Can't Be Tamed" out right now. Prior to that, Miley's "Wonder World Tour" last fall sold out venues across the U.S. and Europe, and as lots of video proof on YouTube shows, she has never been afraid to push the envelope a bit, performing in the most provocative outfits we've ever seen.

Now this came after her so-called "lap dance" performance at the Teen Choice Awards which sparked more controversy. And despite poor reviews of her movie "The Last Song" (where she met her current boyfriend Liam Hensworth), it was a success, though a video was surfaced of Cyrus giving the film's producer Adam Shankman a lap dance at the wrap party. However, while performing on "Britain's Got Talent" earlier this month, Miley simulated a girl-on-girl kiss with one of her female dancers. Since it was the same show that suddenly shot her to stardom last year, I wish it was Susan Boyle instead of a dancer!

And while in Europe, she gave us quite a show at two Rock in Rio concerts showing off lots of leg in even hotter outfits. If only dad Billy Ray accompanied Miley, but you know he's been defending her superstar daughter as only she could.

It's no secret that Miley is attracting more older fans than ever before, and thanks to that "Vanity Fair" pic, she's never been afraid to cross the line. But of course, off stage it's just typical, regular Miley we see out and about. To paraphrase what I've said about Britney Spears almost a decade ago while publicly defending her MTV VMA performance...let Miley Cyrus be Miley Cyrus! So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. A lot to get to this Memorial Day weekend, so first up...

On Friday, the sudden death of former child star Gary Coleman at 42, who was best known as Arnold on "Diff'rent Strokes" where he coined the show's catchphrase "Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?" Coleman died after suffering from a brain hemorrhage for a couple days at his home outside Salt Lake City and was taken off life support at a nearby hospital.

Besides "Diff'rent Strokes", which lasted a total of eight seasons on NBC and later ABC, Coleman also had his own Saturday morning cartoon show that ran for one season. But after his hit show left the air, Gary fell into the same doldrums of other child stars: going from the A-list to D-list with guest roles on other shows while attempting to reclaim the luster he lost. He even worked as a security guard and in 2003, he tried to follow in the footsteps of Jesse Ventura by running for California governor; that didn't work.

And just like his fellow co-stars Todd Bridges and Dana Plato (the latter died in 1999), Coleman was also plagued with a series of other problems including filing for bankruptcy in 1999 and even suicide attempts. He wed Shannon Price in 2007, but that marriage was kept a secret until the two went on "Divorce Court" the following year.

Now I definitely remember "Diff'rent Strokes", and let me tell you...that show had "troubled youth" written all over it. But if it wasn't for Gary Coleman's character, we wouldn't have had Jaleel White's Steve Urkel cementing its place in pop culture lore. At least the two will live on as long as we're still living.

And on Saturday, we've also learned that actor Dennis Hopper ("Easy Rider", "Hoosiers", "Colors", "Speed") has died from complications of prostate cancer; he was 74.

By the way...hours after the sad news of Coleman's passing came the happy news that Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag splitting up. But let's move on to more serious news, like...

The latest on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill as President Obama made his second visit to the Louisiana coast on Friday; it has now eclipsed the Exxon Valdez in 1989 as the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

For over 40 days now, BP has been doing everything in their power to end the spill as hurricane season is about to be underway. But the aftereffects are already being felt, with the seafood industry the hardest hit as costs are expected to be its highest ever and fishing season up and down the coasts canceled.

This week was finale week for two of television's top-rated shows: "Dancing With The Stars" and "American Idol." First, "Idol" as 24 million viewers cared less about Lee DeWyze taking the crown (in an upset over favorite Crystal Bowersox, who broke up with her boyfriend before the finale) and more about saying farewell to Simon Cowell after being part of the show since day one. Among those who helped in the goodbye: Paula Abdul -- who's returning to television this fall fronting a new dance competition show for CBS -- and almost all the past "Idol" winners including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Kris Allen; David Cook was doing a charity event in Kansas City. By the way, 24 million viewers was the lowest-rated finale in the show's history, a tell-tale sign that we don't care anymore. Despite that, "American Idol" for the sixth season in a row now remains television's #1 program.

Meanwhile, it was Doll domination as Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough took the mirror ball trophy on "Dancing With The Stars." That finale also brought back all of this season's contestants including the most talked about of all, Kate Gosselin. Around 18 million viewers tuned in for all that, and next season, it and "NCIS" may be one of the two shows out for "Idol's" blood now that Simon's gone.

And last but not least: The two hosts of those shows, Ryan Seacrest and Tom Bergeron, have been watched by more viewers than ever before, though they are already broadcasting veterans. But there are times we hate one show and prefer the other, so who's really the host with the most? Let's settle the score right now with my fourth...

Yes, after doing the ladies three times before (Kirsten Dunst vs. Natalie Portman in 2002, Amanda Bynes vs. Hilary Duff in 2004, and Megan Fox vs. Angelina Jolie last year) it's the guys' turn now!

Where they got their starts:
Tom Bergeron: WHAV in Haverhill, Mass.
Ryan Seacrest: WSTR in Atlanta, Ga.
Advantage: Draw; it all began for them at their hometowns

First television gigs:
Bergeron: WBZ-TV in Boston where he hosted "Lottery Live" and "People Are Talking"
Seacrest: "Radical Outdoor Challenge" on ESPN and the syndicated "Gladiators 2000"
Advantage: Bergeron

Biggest national break:
Bergeron: The FX cable channel with "Breakfast Time" (it later moved to the main Fox network and became "Fox After Breakfast")
Seacrest: The game show "Click" created and produced by the late Merv Griffin
Advantage: Bergeron, because he had a show on Fox before Seacrest!

Accolades:
Bergeron: An Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy for "Hollywood Squares" in 2000 (tying with Bob Barker), though he was nominated five times
Seacrest: None, though he hosted the 2007 Primetime Emmys (which became a fast-forward fest)
Advantage: Bergeron

When they're not doing their prime jobs:
Bergeron: "America's Funniest Home Videos" (now on five times a week), the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, and kicking back at his East Coast home in Connecticut
Seacrest: "American Top 40", "E! News", "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest", and "On Air with Ryan Seacrest" on the radio (the television version was short-lived. Oh, he's also a television producer.
Advantage: Seacrest, though he has yet to pen a book like Bergeron did

Sign-off phrases:
Bergeron: None, though he always begins "Dancing With The Stars" with "LIIIIIIVVVEE!!! This is Dancing...With The STARS!!!!"
Seacrest: "Seacrest...out!"
Advantage: Draw

Shameless self-promotion:
Bergeron: None
Seacrest: Scope mouthwash commercials
Advantage: Bergeron, he would never stoop low to pushing dental hygiene products!

In the end, I have my score: Tom Bergeron 6, Ryan Seacrest 1.

It's the decades of experience that makes you the true king of all media (sorry, Howard Stern), and Tom Bergeron has triumphed Ryan Seacrest over that. I am too old for "American Idol", and I have a feeling that with Simon Cowell now gone, it won't be the #1 TV show for long. And besides, Bergeron's suaveness is more tolerable and camera-friendly than Seacrest's smugness, which explains why he's been at the game longer than him. But then again, Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli are "Dancing With The Stars'" answer to Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson respectively, and as they remain one of the top-rated shows, it will prove to a point that judging always comes in threes...though Carrie Ann is quite a looker, and I would give her a "10!" And yes, guys, she's single.

So long, stay strong, and enjoy the rest of your Memorial Day Weekend.

Hello, everybody.

We begin first up with a change in power, as Gordon Brown's resignation as British Prime Minister has led to David Cameron taking the top job as of Tuesday. This comes in the wake of last Thursday's general elections that resulted in a hung parliament, meaning neither of the three main parties (Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats) received 326 seats for a majority government. 326 seats is sort of like Canada's equivalent to 155 seats for a party to claim majority in a federal election, or here in the States, 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency. By the way, the Conservatives won 306 seats; Labour, 258; Liberal Democrats, 57.

What we experienced across the waters is reminiscent of 2000 and Florida right here. Remember that? The drama lingered for weeks until it was in the hands of the Supreme Court, and speaking of which...also on Monday, President Obama named solicitor general Elena Kagan as nominee. If confirmed by the Senate, she would succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens; that would be sometime later this summer.

Over the weekend, we've lost two political and entertainment icons; first, Walter Hickel. The former Alaska governor and Interior Secretary died Friday night from natural causes; he was 90.

As one of the architects for statehood, Hickel served as our governor from 1966 to 1969 when he became Secretary of the Interior under President Richard Nixon, before a showdown over his Vietnam War policy stemming from the Kent State shootings had him fired 22 months later. In 1990, he switched party affiliations from Republican to the Alaskan Independence Party and ran for governor one more time in hopes of picking up where he left off 20 years earlier; he won, defeating Democrat Tony Knowles with 39% of the vote to Knowles's 31%.

However, Wally switched back to Republican in April 1994, and decided not to run for re-election. Last year, he had some harsh words to say about then-governor Sarah Palin; a year prior to that, he called for Sen. Ted Stevens's resignation over the VECO scandal.

On a personal note...I remember meeting Hickel in Juneau in 1994; he was my second acting governor following Bill Sheffield, who I shook his hand with when he visited what is now Barnette Magnet School in 1986. Tony Knowles, Frank Murkowski, and of course Sarah Palin would all come over the last 20 years, but no Steve Cowper. Counting former governors, the late Jay Hammond has to be included.

Wally Hickel will now be joining Hammond in heaven, as he was the last of the old-school Alaska politicians who knew how to run this state with class.

Another legend who passed away was entertainer Lena Horne on Sunday at 92. During the 1940's, it was Horne who set the standards for African-American entertainment, breaking racial barriers during segregation thanks to her signature role in "Stormy Weather." She even received the ultimate shout-out from Halle Berry when she claimed her Oscar in 2002 while mentioning Diahann Carroll and Dorothy Dandridge as well in her acceptance speech.

Even till the end, she and Hickel were true trailblazers in their fields, and their legacies will continue for generations to come.

And last but not least: Live from New York, it's Betty White! In what was the most anticipated television event of the year, the TV legend hosted "Saturday Night Live" on Saturday to the show's highest ratings in 18 months.

Now it was revealed that "SNL" tried to get Betty to host for years but she said no, until a Facebook campaign that was launched thanks to her Snickers commercial proved otherwise. But at the age of 88, Betty has been in hot demand these days. Last year, she starred in "The Proposal" opposite Sandra Bullock last year; this fall, it's "You Again" with Kristen Bell. And earlier this summer, she returns to television in TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland."

While Milton Berle will forever be known as "Mr. Television", Betty is Mrs. Television, being in the game for over 70 years. It's true; she got her start in 1939 in Los Angeles doing an experimental broadcast in an automobile showroom before the New York World's Fair a few months would introduce the medium to the world. Over the decades, her resume has included "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Life With Elizabeth", "Mama's Family", and "The Golden Girls" among others.

Betty has had years of game show experience both professionally and personally; her one and only husband was "Password" host Allen Ludden. White even hosted her own game show, the short-lived "Just Men!", in 1983 (two years after Ludden's death) and became the first female to win an Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host.

Let's face it, folks: Even if she's just 12 years away from hitting 100, Betty White isn't slowing down anytime soon depending on her health (which I think is very good for her age). She's not really red hot again these days; White hot is more like it! So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. As always, there's so much to get to on this Cinco de Mayo, so first up...

We have been learning new developments into the Times Square bomb plot from last weekend as Faisal Shahzad, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, was arrested on charges of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction for rigging an SUV with explosives and trying to blow it up at the famed New York tourist attraction.

Shahzad was in custody after being taken off a plane bound for Dubai at John F. Kennedy Airport Monday night despite being on the "no-fly" list. Shazad had been in constant watch for some time at his Connecticut home, but authorities lost track of him. The criminal complaint recorded that Shazad confessed to buying the SUV, a 1993 Nissan Pathfinder, and rigged it with bombs before driving it to Times Square. President Obama said that "hundreds of lives" may have been saved thanks to the quick action of citizens and law enforcement who X-rayed the parked vehicle.

Now in an ironic twist of fate, "The Simpsons'" newest episode last Sunday was about hundreds of surveillance cameras rigged up all over Springfield in light of a bomb scare. Cameras on every block sound like an invasion of privacy to me (except for that "Big Brother" show), but most high-end homes have beefed-up home security which includes cameras. Me? I'm fine with the original home security device there is: my dog.

Another huge story we're following is the oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico that is threatening the Mississippi and Alabama coastlines, as they've been trying to do everything it takes to not become another Prince William Sound.

Yes, Prince William Sound...ground zero for until now, what was the most costliest oil spill in U.S. history with the Exxon Valdez in 1989. The current one is bringing back to us memories of over 20 years ago, and I remember it being on the front pages of all our papers for weeks.

This time, BP is responsible for the almost one million gallons that have exploded off an oil rig outside Louisiana so far, and that's more than the Exxon Valdez. I hope all this gets cleaned up in time for summer to begin.

Now two stories have been making news for the last few days here in the United States...but 24 hours from now, the attention will shift across the waters to Britain as we find out who'll gain tenancy at 10 Downing Street in their general election. Gordon Brown as Labour Party leader may be in his last few moments as incumbent Prime Minister, while David Cameron (Conservatives) and Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats) have been making their moves since the election was called a few weeks ago. With all 650 seats up for grabs, all bets are off as the forecast may call for the same kind of change we experienced in 2008: a Conservative majority with Cameron in charge.

This campaign was unique in more ways than one, as for the first time ever, the party leaders debated each other in primetime in U.S. style debates for three weeks; first on ITV, then Sky News, and finally the BBC. But unlike us, there are no 30-second "(insert party) approves this message" ads aired on the main networks. Instead, five-minute paid political broadcasts by each of the three parties are aired nightly before the news.

Also, the polls on Thursday close at 10:00pm British Time (all other time zones, you do the math) and the counting by hand lasts into the middle of the night, meaning it would be the crack of dawn before 100% of the numbers are in. In most U.S. elections, most polls close at 8:00pm their time; and with today's modern voting methods like Accu-Vote here in Alaska, we'd have 100% of the count within three to four hours! In other words, by the time we hit to bed we'd know who won, and that will be the very same case in the gubernatorial primaries this summer followed by the big general election (and the mid-terms) on November 2 when we find out whether or not Sean Parnell will be given an additional four years of residency at the Governor's Mansion in Juneau!

But no matter what the outcome will be on Thursday night, it could mean an advantage to either the Democrats or Republicans on this side of the Atlantic in November. May the best party win. So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. We've got tons of territory to cover, so enough with the bull and let's get on with it!

First up...For the eighth time, Larry King is headed to divorce court. On Wednesday, the 76-year-old CNN talk show host has filed for divorce from his seventh wife Shawn after 13 years citing, of course, irreconcilable differences. At the same time, Shawn filed her divorce papers as well and she's seeking sole custody of their two children, Chance and Cannon.

Like I just said, this is King's eighth divorce, and he has had more marriages than Elizabeth Taylor! Now with the current one, this has the makings of one of Hollywood's nastiest divorces to go along with Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, and of course (even though they're far away from Hollywood), Jon and Kate Gosselin. Sandra Bullock and Jesse James may not be far behind, but we're keeping a watch on that.

Now Larry King has been a proud member of the Turner networks family for almost 25 years, but this fall there'll be a brand-new addition: Conan O'Brien! That's right, it was announced this week that he'll be taking his late night act to TBS in November, bumping George Lopez's show to midnight. Dunno if Andy Richter and Max Weinberg will join him, but I'm sure the popular comedy bits like "In The Year 3000" will return under new names (NBC owns the intellectual properties). We'll see what happens.

And speaking of Kate Gosselin...she is perhaps one of the reasons why "Dancing With The Stars" has become the weekly television event this season. It is so hot that for the second time, it has beaten the once-powerful juggernaut known as "American Idol" in the ratings! Kate does get to dance for another week, but despite juggling between rehearsals and his "Stars On Ice" tour, favorite Evan Lysacek is still coming on strong.

But of course, we're watching to see if Pamela Anderson really is wardrobe malfunction-proof, while Chad Ochocinco is doing all it takes to make his partner Cheryl Burke a three-time winner. So far, we've seen Shannen Doherty, Buzz Aldrin, and now Aiden Turner being kicked out of the dance floor; who will be next? Kate???

Now I'm old school when it comes to watching TV shows right on my television as it's airing, but of course watching it anywhere, anytime has become the way of life these days. There is now an ABC Player app for the iPad where you can watch its shows such as "Dancing With The Stars" anywhere there's a WiFi connection available.

Yes, Apple's new iPad is out and starting at $500, it's slowly but surely starting to sell like hotcakes...at least here in North America. In Britain, the launch date there has been delayed for some time. Maybe it's because of high demand here, or that some general election coming up on May 6 -- to see whether or not Gordon Brown will live a few more years at No. 10 Downing Street -- is more important than the iPad.

I've said last summer that the whole world's gone app crazy. There is already a growing number of apps that are made only for the iPad while most of them are compatible for that and the iPhone/iPod Touch. While some of those paid apps start at 99 cents, the iPad apps ain't cheap: they start at $10 a pop.

Of course, I'd love to get my hands on one of those iPads myself, but I better wait till a) my 32nd birthday, b) Christmas, or c) when I feel I have enough money to shell out for one.

And last but not least: Dove skin care products aren't for women anymore, as recently they've rolled out a men's line.

For the last few months now, we've seen the skin care aisles beefed up with Dove Men+Care, Nivea for Men, Neutrogena for Men, and Suave Men. With those products, the days of Old Spice are already long gone.

But what is it with those once only women's brands catering to men as well? Then again, one section at most stores is set aside to black hair care/skin care products that I buy on occasion.

I'm hunching that within a year or two, we'll be seeing Pantene for Men, Olay for Men, and god forbid, Crest for Men (Procter and Gamble, are you listening?). And in the case of Crest for Men...how are they going to promote it? So long and stay strong.

Hello, everybody. Of course a lot of things have happened this week including the aftermath of the health care reform bill now into law; but as promised, this is a very special blog as when it's springtime, it could mean only one thing: Sexiest Woman of 2010!!!

That's right! For the last few days, I've been creating the modifying the starting field of 90 for this year's tournament. In light of last year when Lisa Edelstein upset everybody in the final round that lasted only a couple days, this year I've decided to pull out all the stops to make sure we play things fair and square. Therefore, the field this year will be like no other, with dozens of brand new faces to go along with the old favorites we've known and loved for years.

Enough chitchat; on to the field starting with the Juniors:

Group A
Kristin Cavallari
Miley Cyrus
Dakota Fanning
Selena Gomez
Blake Lively (last year's top co-Junior)
Audrina Patridge
Rihanna
Kristen Stewart
Ashley Tisdale

Group B
Amanda Bynes
Kaley Cuoco
Ashley Greene
Vanessa Hudgens
Victoria Justice
AnnaLynne McCord
Lea Michele
Taylor Momsen
Hayden Panettiere
Emmy Rossum

Group C
Lauren Conrad
Miranda Cosgrove
Hilary Duff
Julianne Hough
Demi Lovato
Leighton Meester
Emma Roberts
Amanda Seyfried
Jessica Stroup
Taylor Swift (last year's top co-Junior)

And now, the Seniors...

Group D
Kristen Bell (2007 runner-up and 2008 winner)
Courteney Cox
Dana Delany
Stacy "Fergie" Ferguson
Lauren Graham (2005 winner)
Anne Hathaway
Stacy Keibler (2003 third-place finisher)
Mila Kunis
Jennifer Lopez (2001 runner-up)
Reese Witherspoon

Group E
Paula Abdul
Christina Aguilera (1999 runner-up)
Jessica Alba (2000 and 2003 winner)
Sandra Bullock (who has been in the news as of late as far as Jesse James is concerned)
Shannen Doherty
Mariska Hargitay
Jennifer Love Hewitt (2002 third-place finisher)
Beyonce Knowles
Eva Longoria Parker
Shakira

Group F
Christina Applegate
Jessica Biel
Mariah Carey
Jennifer Garner (2005 runner-up)
Teri Hatcher
Alicia Keys
Demi Moore
Britney Spears (1999 winner and 2000-2001 third-place finisher)
Olivia Wilde
Kate Winslet

And finally, the Underdogs...

Group G
Cheryl Burke
Marion Cotillard
Kim Kardashian
Diane Kruger
Olivia Munn
Nancy O'Dell
Stephanie Pratt
Zoe Saldana
Lindsey Vonn
Emma Watson

Group H
Cheryl Cole
Cat Deeley
Kara DioGuardi
Christina Hendricks
Samantha Harris
Stana Katic
Avril Lavigne
Sarah Jessica Parker
Karina Smirnoff
Alison Sweeney

Group I
Dianna Agron
Erin Andrews
Brooke Burke
Kristin Chenoweth
Tina Fey
Katharine McPhee
Marisa Miller
Katy Perry
Nicole Scherzinger
Kate Walsh (last year's top Underdog and third-place finisher)

(NOTE: The field may change at any time)

Now a lot of you are wondering, "Where is Jennifer Aniston?!" Well, as runner-up both last year and in 2006 (as well as finishing third in 2005 and 2008), she gets an automatic bye for the first two rounds.

Okay, here's how the whole show will go...

Top 60 ladies after Round 1 (20 Juniors, 20 Seniors, 20 Underdogs) advance to Round 2 where only 30 will remain (ten from each category). But when we get to Round 3 with Aniston joining the party, the categories are removed and it's anything goes from here on out as the field decreases to 20 for Round 4.

The top ten ladies after Round 4 will go on to face last year's winner Lisa Edelstein in the fifth and final round; if everything goes according to plan, that will be around mid-November!!!!

It's going to be very exciting with every vote, so mark your calendars for April 8 when the Sexiest Woman of 2010 tournament kicks off with the first round preliminaries! And oh yeah...unlike last year, there's no accompanying video on YouTube for this. So long and stay strong!