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Oprah's 25 Best Pointing Moments

Annie Scudder — Wed, 25 May 2011 09:19:32 PDT

Oprah Winfrey is the undisputed queen of television, but she's yet to adopt the royal wave. Instead, she recognizes fans and photographers by giving them the finger - the pointer finger, of course! As she retires her groundbreaking show this week, let's take a look back at her 25 best pointing moments over the decades, one for each season of the show. Seriously though, Oprah really loves to point.

The Bachelorettes: Where Are They Now?

Tara Sharp — Fri, 20 May 2011 09:20:00 PDT

Monday is the premiere of The Bachelorette with Ashley Hebert as the lady with the roses. When I found out that Ashley was the next Bachelorette, I wasn't surprised. After all, she's just following in her predecessor Ali Fedotowsky's footsteps, choosing reality TV (or "love," if you don't want to be too cynical about it) over career. She claims she's just putting her dental school on hold, but isn't that what Ali said about her Facebook job? And now, for all intents and purposes, Ali's a "TV personality," with her last gig being an E! correspondent recapping The Bachelor.

Now I'm not saying there's anything wrong with changing your priorities once you find love and start a family (hello, Trista Sutter), I'm just questioning the specific ladies who made career a big priority and then turned it into an "either/or": either I have a job I love or I look for a man to love. You could say Jillian Harris found a way to mix both, since she stayed devoted to her interior design career after the show, but then again, she's also split with former fiancé Ed Swiderski. To investigate this phenomenon further, I thought I'd look into what the Bachelorettes were doing before the show and what they are doing now, in addition to their relationship status. Check it out and weigh in, what do you think about girls like Ali and Ashley who traded their jobs for reality TV love?

Photos copyright ABC, Inc.

3 Ideas For Tackling a Murphy Bed Mystery

Julia Walsh — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:05:00 PDT

YumSugar's Susannah Chen recently asked the Assisted Living group for decorating advice:

After five years at the same place, I'm just getting around to really decorating. One huge conundrum: what to do with the little nook that houses my TV/entertainment station. It used to house a Murphy bed, and just looks a little barren and empty. I'm not quite sure what to do with it.

I thought about putting a framed picture above it, but that would compete with the television screen for attention. I thought about curtains, but wondered if that was cheesy. On top of that, I've got to wrangle with the two ugly rail tracks that it's left behind.

Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Continue reading to see my ideas for Susannah!

Did Big Love Change Your Attitude Toward Polygamy?

Colleen Barrett — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:00:45 PDT

Last night we bid goodbye to the best-dressed polygamists on television. Big Love did not go gently into the celestial kingdom, making up - somewhat - for a lackluster fifth season. Like Buzz, I agree it ended on a beginning that could have held my interest through the entire last season. But I'll say no more - no spoilers here!

I didn't think polygamy still existed before Big Love. I know when police removed women and children from the Texas compound in 2008, I was shocked to see their resemblance to the residents of fictional Juniper Creek - or, really, vice-versa. Now there's no doubt Big Love has made its mark, influencing pop culture, politics, and countless Halloween costumes. Practicing polygamists have gone on Oprah and landed a reality show, seeking acceptance or at the very least tolerance.

Nobody's questioning underage marriage or forced polygamy, but all these women - it's usually women - are asking for is the alternative-lifestyle label we bestow on all other polyamorous relationships, including polyandry (when women take multiple spouses) or even open relationships.

So while you may have trouble believing enlightened polygamy exists, there's enough unenlightened monogamy to make it hard to pass judgment. Either way, Big Love let us into a secretive world, and see plural marriage at its best and worst. Was it enough to change your mind? Even a little?

Photos courtesy of HBO

Speed Read - Big Love Series Finale Comes With Big Surprises

TresSugar — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:45:20 PDT

What did you think of the Big Love finale? - BuzzSugar
Sean Penn and Scarlett Johnasson are getting close - PopSugar
Prince William hints at Australian honeymoon - People
Tony Blair's wife opens up about their sex life - Huffington Post
Rachel Uchitel now working as a private eye - NY Post
30 Rock, Anderson Cooper, and True Blood among GLAAD Media Awards winners - Forbes
CBS reportedly thinking about bringing Charlie Sheen back - Daily Beast
Sarah Palin is visiting Israel - Guardian

Cool Idea: Camouflage Your Small Screen

Julia Walsh — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:00:00 PDT

Black isn't my go-to paint color of choice, but the next time I decide to mount a glaring television on my wall, I'll reconsider the moody shade. In the March/April issue of Lonny, homeowner Jennifer Bandier's bedroom small screen was treated to a clever camouflage thanks to a coat of black paint. Surrounded by an array of photographs with white mats and black frames, the oft-inconspicuous flat screen blends right into the wall. Paired with classic moldings, bordered, hotel-style bedding, and a pop of rouge in the hallway, the room has a neoclassical style and not so much the rock 'n' roll vibe I associate it with.

Would you try this at home? Have you camouflaged your TV in any other way?

Katie Couric vs. Ricki Lake: Who Should Be the Next Queen of Daytime?

Colleen Barrett — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 01:00:50 PDT

There's a job opening for a noncertified therapist to the masses! Oprah may have mentored Tyra Banks, but Tyra's finished with talk shows. Gayle King, editor at large for O magazine, best friend to Oprah, and current talk show host on OWN seems like an apparent heir, but is not. At least not according to ABC, who's losing its daytime queen, and NBC, who's circling above to swoop in and fill the daytime void.

Nobody can replace Oprah, but networks hope to launch the next big talk show. Katie Couric's contract with CBS expires in June, and the word is she's met with NBC and ABC to discuss talk shows. After spending five years as the anchor of CBS Evening News, she seems like a serious choice, but Katie always shined best in the morning as cohost of Today.

Meanwhile, Ricki Lake remains a contender. She's been trying to get a talk show since 2005, the year after her first long-running one ended. After discussing it on Oprah and The View late last year, she's been getting serious interest from the three major networks.

Personally, I would like to see the two, among others, duke it out in a competitive reality show called America's Next Daytime Queen, but no network will take my tweets. So until then the choices are Katie and Ricki - who's yours?

Link Time - Meet the New Bachelorette

TresSugar — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:00:04 PDT

Ashley Hebert will star in the next Bachelorette - BuzzSugar
The narcissist in love - YourTango
10 fictional boyfriends - College Candy
When a FWB relationship becomes obsessive - The Frisky
Do you judge other couples' chemistry? - Glamour
Manage modern negativity with ancient wisdom - Huffington Post
Tales of postbreakup insanity - Nerve

Tour the American Idol Mansion

Elka Karl — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:00:00 PDT

This year, the 13 American Idol contestants are living in the lap of luxury in a gated Tuscan mansion in Beverly Hills. Located on almost two acres, this 15,000-square-foot compound features a pool, spa, professional kitchen, and granite, marble, and hardwood interiors. Nearly 30-foot-high ceilings provide a cavernous space for singers who may want to practice their vibratos, while the gorgeous canyon and lake views may inspire them to write their own songs. With a motor court that can accommodate up to 100 cars, it's also a perfect party spot. Or, for the more introverted contestants, a solitary walk next to the waterfall or koi pond may be just what the voice coach ordered. Take a full tour!

Source

3.14 Pi References in Pop Culture

Colleen Barrett — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:55:57 PDT

Other than some kind of push to get people interested in math, I don't know we need a National Π Day, but we have it. And, at least, the day is well chosen: March 14 (or 3/14) for the 3.14 the Greek letter represents in math. Though it may just be something we learn in prealgebra, fascination over the symbol is dotted throughout pop culture. Why pi though?

In its simplest sense, pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. For most of us, it never meant anything more than plugging 3.14 into math problems, but to mathematicians the number is mind-boggling because its decimal points extend to infinity. Since there are, mercifully, few unknowns in math, the sign has become synonymous with mystery, crossing over from math and science to pop culture. To see how, keep reading.