TresSugar

Art Imitates Life: Will You Watch Show About a Sex Scandal?

TresSugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:00:00 -0700

When CBS announced The Good Wife, an upcoming show about a politician's wife shamed by her husband's public sex scandal, there's no way the network could have predicted that cheating governor Mark Sanford would give the show an awesome tie-in to current events. Or maybe it could have - politicians seem to be having affairs at a rapid pace these days!

Refreshingly, the philandering politician (played by Chris Noth) is not the star of the show's plot. Rather, it's his scorned wife Alicia, who decides to put her long-deserted career as a lawyer back on track by taking a job as a junior associate at a prestigious law firm. From there, I'm guessing the plot takes a turn toward Law and Order.

Are you interested in watching this when it airs in the Fall?

Do You Tune Into Katie Couric's Evening News?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:00:33 -0800

While the nightly headlines might not be so optimistic, things are looking up for Katie Couric and CBS. On the tails of her Sarah Palin interview this Summer, Katie has secured a Grammy special, and the first interview with US Airways pilot Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger. Meanwhile, ratings for the CBS Evening News are on the rise. Last year, it was almost impossible to find pro-Katie news out there. But now, experts speculate that Katie's warm presence makes her the perfect anchor for these tough times.

So tell me, are you one of those viewers helping Katie rise to the top?

Photos courtesy of CBS

Is it Possible to Be President and Not Lie to Americans?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:00:39 -0700

Who's a liar, liar pants-on-fire? Neither candidate apparently, according to answers given to Katie Couric as part of her "Presidential Questions" series. Couric asked last night, "Describe a situation when you think it's appropriate to lie to the American people." Here's what the candidates had to say:

Obama said of his truthiness policy, "You can put together a hypothetical where there is a national security emergency that is imminent, and you don't want to provide, for example, the location of our troops. You don't have to lie in those situations, you simply say, 'we're not answering questions.' I don't think it's appropriate to lie." He goes on to say he wants to change the "fudging" and the soft lies culture in Washington. Do you think the above description counts in this category?

McCain says he can't think of any real or logical scenario where he would feel compelled to lie to the American people, and when probed on the national security hypothetical, he says, "But if you deceive the American people and you want their support and you want them to beat back this national security challenge and you don't tell them the truth about it, then I think they become disillusioned. That's happened in the past." Hmm. I wonder how far "past?" It sounds so familiar. . .

The segment did reveal one critical detail - to see what it is, read more.

The follow up question is about movies, and the candidates do have one crucial thing in common: their favorite movies both star Marlon Brando. Want to see Obama do a Marlon Brando impersonation? Check out 4:24.

Both candidates seemed firm on their respective "no fibbing" policies - but do you buy it? Do you think it's possible to be president and not stretch the truth?

Why Are People So Anti-Katie Couric?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:45:42 -0700

It's almost impossible to find pro-Katie news out there recently - now it seems she might be in a couple of pots of hot water. Civil rights groups are on the anchor's case after the news program she helms ran what they're calling a report that was inaccurate and crass - and much like something they say Lou Dobbs would run.

Politico says this of the controversy:

The CBS newscast that carries her name recently aired a one sided and inaccurate report about illegal immigrant women who give birth to their children in the United States. The news story challenged the broader constitutional law of birthright citizenship and stated - without providing the correct context - that the births cost US taxpayers millions of dollars annually.

View 5 Photos ›

The original report makes this claim though a series of questions and answers from two different people that suspiciously arranges the information to prove the argument. Take a peek and see if you think it's one sided and innaccurate.

Given new reports out that show CBS Evening News's ratings are the lowest they've been in the history of ratings, is reporting like this to blame? How did the Today show darling tank the news? Are people just inexplicably anti-Katie?

Source

CBS News Edits Out McCain's Misunderstanding of Iraq

LibertySugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:30:40 -0700

John McCain may mock the media's love affair with Barack Obama, but CBS attempted to give him a generous pass by editing out McCain's incorrect account of crucial events in Iraq. Last night CBS replaced the plainly wrong assertion that the "surge" prompted the Sunni (Anbar) Awakening, which happened before the idea of a surge even existed, with a completely different answer.

Here's how it actually went down:

Katie Couric: Senator Obama says, while the increased number of US troops contributed to increased security in Iraq, he also credits the Sunni awakening and the Shiite government going after militias. And says that there might have been improved security even without the surge. What's your response to that?

McCain: I don't know how you respond to something that is as - such a false depiction of what actually happened. Colonel MacFarland was contacted by one of the major Sunni sheiks. Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar Awakening. I mean, that's just a matter of history.

The record overwhelmingly shows that McCain was wrong. For example, the military official cited by McCain actually discussed the Anbar Awakening four months before the surge was even announced. To see how McCain's camp responded, read more.

McCain's spokesman issued a quick response: "Democrats can debate whether the awakening would have survived without the surge . . . but that is nothing more than a transparent effort to minimize the role of our commanders and our troops in defeating the enemy, because to credit them would be to disparage the judgment of Barack Obama and praise the leadership of John McCain."

Despite the fact that McCain demonstrated a lack of basic understanding of Iraq, an issue considered to be his strength, the mainstream media (not counting Keith Olbermann) has yet to pick up this story. Was CBS wrong to hide this mistake from the American people?

Source

Briefing Book! CBS: "Yes We Can" Use Obama Brand For Ad

CitizenSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:59 -0800

TV: Attempting to avoid inauguration coverage? CBS will haunt you with "Yes We Can" promo. - Townhall
Civil Rights: Georgia congressman and civil rights figure John Lewis says Obama's inauguration is a "down payment on the dream" not the end of the struggle. - Politico
Kissing Babies: Will your baby's name be influenced by the new president? - lilsugar
MLK: Watch video of MLK predicting a black president in less than 40 years, in 1964. - BBC News
Iraq: Black Iraqis, a marginalized minority, hope Obama will mark a turning point for their demographic which is routinely called "slave." -Huffington Post
Workplace: Would you show some skin to get ahead at work? - SavvySugar

Do You Like to Double Date?

TresSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Last night's How I Met Your Mother was all about double dates and the couples who love them - and the couples who hate them.

In the episode, married couple Marshall and Lilly get so excited that their friends Barney and Robin are together because finally have another couple in their group of friends.

Unfortunately, Marshall and Lilly's previous attempts at double dating haven't gone too well. The eager pair comes on really strong and ends up scaring couples away. The same thing happens when they invite longtime friends Barney and Robin over for a couples night of cheese, charades, and margaritas. While they're enjoyable under normal circumstances, the fact that it's an official double date turns Marshall and Lilly into an overbearing and annoying duo. Barney and Robin have an awful time and end up trying to avoid any future double dates!

When you're in a relationship, do you avoid the classic double date, or are you eager to hang out with other couples?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Say What? National Organization For Women on Letterman

TresSugar — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

"As 'the boss,' he is responsible for setting the tone for his entire workplace - and he did that with sex. In any work environment, this places all employees -including employees who happen to be women - in an awkward, confusing and demoralizing situation."

- Terry O'Neill for the National Organization for Women reminding people that David Letterman's admitted affairs with female staffers over the years, although described as consensual, occurred in the workplace and constitute what many people would consider an abuse of power by an employer toward his employees. Because men who are bosses decide who to hire, fire, advance, and give raises to, "consent" is made between two people who are not equals. Letterman has since apologized to viewers, to his entire staff over the years, and to his wife, Regina Lasko, but O'Neill wants people to remember this happens every day in workplaces all over the country. If you'd like to hear what she thinks CBS should do to fix this "toxic" situation, read more.

Have You Ever Dated the Same Person as Your Friend?

TresSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Last night on How I Met Your Mother, we saw the rare benefits that can come from dating a friend's ex. On the episode, Barney (played by Neil Patrick Harris) looks to his best friend Ted for tips on how to date his new girlfriend Robin. If you don't follow the show, I'll fill you in. Robin and Ted dated for a while, broke up, and remained friends. Now, Robin is dating Barney.

To help out his friend, Ted gives Barney a lesson in Robin 101. Conveniently, Ted is a college professor, so he and Barney meet in his classroom where Ted spills the beans on everything, from Robin's surprising erogenous zones to a crucial list of five things never to do in front of Robin. Needless to say, Robin is not thrilled when she finds out about these lessons.

While watching the episode I couldn't help but think that the characters make the potentially awkward situation of dating your friend's ex seem pretty fun and easy. Have you ever had a lover in common with your friend?

Photo courtesy of CBS

Rent-a-Friend Business Booming in Japan

TresSugar — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:00:00 -0700

One of my favorite episodes of How I Met Your Mother involves Barney and his hired "family." The eternal playboy (played by Neil Patrick Harris) wants his mother to think he has settled down, so he pays actors to play his wife and son, concocts an elaborate backstory with details including his son's "catch phrase," and plays along for years every time he visits his mother with his fake family in tow.

Well apparently, Japan has turned this sitcom plot into a reality. Japanese rent-a-friend companies allow people to pay for pretend friends, relatives, work colleagues, or even best men! Sometimes single mothers hire fake husbands so kids stop bullying their children at school for having absent fathers!

Just like Barney's family, the "agents" are trained to know an extensive backstory. If rentees give any hint that they're aren't really the people they're pretending to be, it could mess up the clients' lives. Creepy! Apparently the need to look like everything is perfect in your life is so important in Japan that some people are willing to rent these actor-CIA-agent hybrids for about $250 per appearance.

While it might be tempting to hire a stand-in boyfriend for awkward situations, like when you're the only single girl invited to a dinner party filled with couples, this still seems strange to me. What do you think?

Photo courtesy of CBS