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Big Love, The New Season Sundays at 9PM on HBO

Sponsor — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:16:28 -0800

Everyone has something to hide. Big Love, the new season Sundays at 9pm. Only on HBO.

Big Love, The new season premieres Sunday at 9PM on HBO

Sponsor — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:26:51 -0800

Everyone has something to hide. Big Love, the new season, returns Sunday, Jan. 18, 9 p.m. Only on HBO.

HBO to Air Controversial Big Love Episode Despite LDS Outcry

CitizenSugar — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:30:12 -0700

Thank goodness the show will go on, because I could not take one less of the two Big Love episodes left this season. What's the problem? Sunday's episode will feature a ceremony sacred (and kind of secret) to the mainstream Mormon church.

In the episode, Jeanne Tripplehorn's character, notorious do-gooder and wishy-washy polygamist Barb, goes through an endowment ceremony when she's threatened with excommunication. I hesitate to describe what endowment is because I'll probably get it wrong. But it's like an adult baptism with the water and the oil, and unlike it in that participants are taught gospel laws, given key words they'll need in the afterlife, and tested afterward.

Probably the most accurate depiction you'll find outside a Mormon temple is Sunday's episode. An adviser who is familiar (yet nameless?) with temple ceremonies advised Big Love's producers so they could get every detail right. He even remained on set during filming. HBO has half-heartedly apologized, saying, "Obviously, it was not our intention to do anything disrespectful to the church but to those who may be offended, we offer our sincere apology."

From the church's point of view, HBO is breaking its earlier promise to focus on polygamy and stay away from mainstream Mormonism. But the only legal promise HBO ever made was a one-time disclaimer that aired in the series premiere, stating the modern-day church did not support polygamy.

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HBO Documentary About Obama - Too Soon or Bring It On?

CitizenSugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:00:01 -0700

President Obama is a big fan of HBO, and apparently the feeling's mutual.

Sony Pictures has acquired the rights to distribute HBO's documentary By the People: The Election of Barack Obama. The film will play in US theaters, while also being distributed internationally.

The documentary, which follows Obama from the announcement of his candidacy to his inauguration, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the campaign. It includes interviews with campaign staff and aides. I'm sure some 2012 presidential contenders will be watching!

I loved Journeys with George, which chronicled Bush's 2000 campaign, but I have a feeling this one will have less of a home video feel to it. Will you watch?

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In Case You Were Wondering What TV Obama Watches . . .

CitizenSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:02:43 -0700

Politico knows! And I approve, so let's discuss. Believe it or not, the president watches more than Hillary Clinton speeches. He loves HBO. His favorites? Entourage and the best drug drama ever to be set in Baltimore, The Wire.

It's hard to imagine our president of PC laughing at Entourage's agent-to-the-stars Ari Gold making racist and homophobic quips to his gay, Asian assistant Lloyd, but we're going to assume he does. After all, the duo's repartee - along with Ari's even-more-undermining apologies - are what elevate the show to a comedy and stop it (short) from drowning as a self-indulgent love letter written by and for the entertainment industry. Mostly, anyway.

Maybe the president loves the idea of a poor, good-looking guy making it big? Whatever it is, it surely couldn't hurt that Ari Gold's character was inspired by real-life agent Ari Emanuel, brother of Rahm Emanuel, Obama's chief of staff.

To see what else he watches, read more.

He loves The Wire, and anyone who's suffered valiantly through the first season (I recommend subtitles) knows a prize of a show awaits. His favorite character? Omar. Gay as the day is long, Omar is a Robin Hood figure who robs drug dealers. The words "Omar's coming" sends people hiding into apartments while he strolls through the projects, two-foot-long shotgun in hand, whistling "The Farmer in the Dell." President Obama made it clear that he doesn't approve of the character but finds him fascinating. Whatever, he has to say that; Omar is why you watch The Wire.

And then there's some mention about sports, sports, and more sports. Blah, blah, and more blah. He rarely watches the news and never watches his speeches, preferring to let friends and advisers tell him how he did.

Plus, Obama's so modern and savvy and what a Princeton history professor calls "cool" that he loves the Internet! Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, "Sometimes we’ll show him like a YouTube clip or something off a website itself, and he gets a kick out of that.” Us too, Robert, us too.

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Polygamist Leader Calls His Arrest Religious Prosecution

LibertySugar — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 09:30:06 -0800

The leader of a polygamous community in Canada says authorities are engaging in religious persecution by charging him with practicing polygamy.

Winston Blackmore claims there are tens of thousands of polygamists across Canada, but that his religious sect is being targeted and authorities are disregarding his right to religious freedom. He told the media: "This is not about polygamy, to us this is about religious persecution.

Authorities arrested both Blackmore, 52, and another man with polygamous factions in British Columbia. Blackmore is charged with marrying 20 women (that's a lot more than anyone on Big Love!) and Oler is accused of marrying two women. The case will be the first test of Canada's polygamy laws.

Photo courtesy of HBO

Is Monogamy For Everyone?

DearSugar — Sun, 23 Apr 2006 05:29:27 -0700

Dear Sugar
My ex-husband had an affair and we divorced due to his infidelities. I recognize that not all men are cheaters, but I can't help but have doubts about every man I meet and wonder if it will end up happening again. I'm with a guy right now who treats me well, but has made several disturbing comments about the attractiveness of my friends and recently mentioned that he thinks many of them who are married cheat because humans aren't meant to be in monogamous relationships. He claims that he's never cheated in a previous relationship, but this last comment in particular has really horrified me. I don't want to have my past dictate my future - are my fears well founded or am I just paranoid? Guarded Gabs

Dear Guarded Gabs
It's a hard one to call, so why don't you play into his game. Act cool about it and ask him straight up if he wants to be in a monogamous relationship. Don't do it in an angry way, just bring it up in a conversation as a theoretical argument. Position it as - the merits of monogamy and polygamy. You may not get the answer you want to hear, but at least it might allow a more honest discussion. If you are afraid to be that direct, you can always watch HBO's Big Love with him and see what he thinks about it.