Top 5 Jon Stewart Moments

Jon Stewart will certainly be entertaining us for many more years to come but here is a list of the Top 5 Greatest Jon Stewart moments from the last few years:



I've watched the first episode of the Daily Show after September 11th a few times now and my eyes can't help but get a little teary every time I see it. Stewart's sarcasm and silliness are stripped away here (for the most part), and you can see just how much he loves his country.

"The view from my apartment was the World Trade Center, And now it's gone. And they attacked it. This symbol of American ingenuity and strength and labour and imagination and commerce and it is gone. But do you know what the view is now? The Statue of Liberty."

2) Jim Cramer accepts a challenge and probably wishes he hadn't

Jon Stewart can dismantle a jackass like no one else but he usually does it with video clips – not face-to-face. Jim Cramer obviously struck a nerve with Stewart after starting, what most people thought, was a good-natured feud.

Obviously Jon was more serious, telling Cramer, "I understand that you want to make finance entertaining, but it's not a f***ing game."

Cramer showed up to the Daily Show studios probably expecting a few quick jabs but the verbal lashing that Stewart gave Cramer was perhaps the toughest since he called Tucker Carlson & Paul Begala "partisan hacks."

There isn't a better talk show interviewer on television than whip-smart Stewart but the last thing you want is him coming after you.

3) Stewart takes aim on Crossfire

Crossfire hosts Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala never saw it coming. In October 2004 they invited Stewart to join them on their show but Stewart came out guns blazing and quickly turned the tables on the two hosts.

Stewart's suggestion that it was shows like Crossfire that were “hurting America” by encouraging divisiveness only got awkward responses from the two hosts.

The interesting part was that it seemed even the Crossfire audience was siding with Stewart.

Oh yeah, and what happened to Crossfire after Stewart's appearance?

It was cancelled shortly thereafter while the Daily Show is still reaching a huge audience every night.

4) The Oscars

Jon's self deprecation and charm are commonplace to most Daily Show fans but Comedy Central is hiding one of America's greatest comedians.

The Oscars gave Jon a chance to shine on the world's stage and we only wish he could stay there.

When hosting in 2008, Jon had this to say about one of the lesser films, "Even Norbit got a nomination, which I think is great. Too often the Academy ignores movies that aren't good."

5) Half Baked

On the Daily Show, Jon likes to talk about his failed acting career but his (very short) appearance in the 1998 comedy Half Baked is still a lot of fun.

He plays an “enhancement smoker” who thinks that everything is better when high. Most importantly though, it’s not Death to Smoochy!


This is a guest post by Donald Farber. He works for a life insurance website based in Canada and is a big Jon Stewart fan.

TV Series Parenthood Raises Autism Awareness

I wrote about the show Parenthood, when it first came on. Now, several shows into this new series, and I am still watching it. Adam (Peter Krause, "Six Feet Under"), the oldest Braverman sibling, and his wife Kristina (Monica Potter, "Trust Me") are adjusting well with their son Max (Max Burkholder, "Brother and Sisters"), who was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.

In last night’s episode, Adam’s father, Zeek (Craig T. Nelson, "Family Stone," "Coach"), moves in with the family. It was interesting to watch the dynamics between father/son, and grandfather/grandson. One very poignant scene was when Craig T. Nelson’s character describes what it s like living with his son’s family. He said that Max ruled the house.

It was obvious that he didn’t approve. Here is a man that was used to having everything revolve around him. He was in charge of the household when his kids were growing up. Now, he is in his son’s house, and their schedule and lives revolve around Max. Then he saw what happens when the schedule is disrupted. He realized how important predictability can be for a child on the spectrum.

For an outsider to come into a home with an autistic child, it could be like walking into another world. Face it, we do a lot of adjusting for our child. It gets to the point that it is easier for the family to do that. Then, over time, it becomes natural. Seeing things from the grandfather’s point of view, reminded me why my parents sometimes have a difficult time watching my son. Especially, since my son is nonverbal. When he is upset, he has an extremely difficult time communicating with his communication device. I try to make sure my parents know all of his triggers, but I always miss a few or they forget.

I think the writers are doing a great job with this show. I believe that the more people that watch it, the more they will understand what our lives are like. So, if you are not watching this show, DO SO.

Catching Up On Celebrity Apprentice

I am a huge fan of Celebrity Apprentice. This season has been the best. There are five remaining celebrities, and I think they are all great. Holly Robinson-Peete, Bret Michaels, Marie Kanellis, Sharon Osbourne and Curtis Stone have been great to watch. Sunday’s episode was fun to watch. I was hoping that Holly’s team would win. I’m partial to her, because she is playing for autism.

I think Bret Michaels has shown a great ability to take on tasks, work with others, and mediate well between two strong personalities. I was a little worried when Trump started talking about firing him. When you think about it, the reason Bret was most likely because he didn’t have much sleep. Between the concert and the assigned task, he was probably at the end of his endurance. A good night’s sleep is what he needed.

But, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. The show ended with Trump calling everyone back to the Board Room. I like Cyndi Lauper, but I am glad she was fired and not Holly or Bret. Next week, 3 more celebrities will be fired. I’ve been thinking about who they should be, and it’s a tough call. Curtis Stone will probably be first choice. He hasn’t demonstrated the leadership ability that the others have.

I’d like to see Marie Kanellis and Sharon go, too. No offense, they are both great, but I feel that Bret has been the strongest and Holly is playing for autism. Holly has been really strong, but I’m not sure if I would consider her better than Sharon. That’s a tough call. Who do I pick as the winner? I have to say Holly, because of her charity. If she goes up against Bret, I will be really torn. I do think that Bret has been better on the show.

Who do you want to see in the Season Finale?

Here is a Bonus Boardroom scene from their website.

What Qualifies As An Appropriate Child's TV Show

Appropriate children’s programming is a controversial topic these days. I feel that it is important that my children watch shows that model appropriate behavior, are non-violent, rated G for language and content. I have noticed that there are less available for my children to watch on television that are appropriate for them to view.

I’ve also noticed that the show that they are watching may be appropriate, but the commercials that are shown are not. I believe that it is unacceptable to put a commercial showing violence while running a children’s show.

I have collected some quotes from parents and professionals on this issue. I have also received some quotes from professionals involved in the selection of children’s shows for television. Some, I agree with and some I do not. I would love to read your comments on what you agree or disagree with.


“I am a mother of 6 year old triplet girls. My girls are not autistic but I do believe currently what is being offered to children on television is harmful. The options are Noggin (appropriate for 2-3 yrs) or ICarly, Fairy Odd parents and Hannah Montana. There is no appropriate options for 5-10 year olds. In addition the commercials are sometimes downright scary. Rudeness or doing disgusting things (like pretending to do a surgery ie: an episode of iCarly) is not appropriate for children to be watching. Are the concepts of sharing and learning to be a friend only developed with toddlers?? PBS is probably the best option, but does really focus on younger children. Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts.” - Nicki


“As a general pediatrician and pediatric hematologist-oncologist, I am very concerned about not only the explicit nature of shows on family hour--late afternoon--early evening, but also some of the commercials which are invading the world of early childhood and creating questions and situations which would be best left for later childhood or adolescence. Though it is easy enough to turn the TV off, you simply do not know what is going to be on the screen next. Topics of a sexual nature or violence, including some news stories, should be considered for editing before presentation. Children have one chance at childhood, and there is enough reality in their young lives already.” - Louis I. Cooper M.D.


“When DISNEY has a show with a teenage girl setting the mood for a
guy she likes by turning down the lights, lighting candles, and having
fake champaigne, it's pretty obvious that current television shows are
promoting the wrong message to kids under 18 years old.” - Melissa Perry Moraja
Consultant, Author, and Speaker, Melissa Productions, Inc.


“A good children's show combines both education and entertainment and the best show is one where the two are combined in such a way that the kids don't even know they are learning. Kids respond to energy so they love shows where the tone is over the top- like Disney or Nickelodeon. They love to laugh at loud and be the first to get the joke- before the character does!” - Susie Mains, TALENT MANAGER, CO-OWNER OF TRILOGY TALENT




“Thirty percent of children of school age watch more than 3 hours of television per night. Over half the school age children have televisions in their rooms. TV is a big deal and the quality of programming is more and more a concern for parents. It is hard enough regulating the amount of television watched by our children let alone the quality of programming that is aired on the 100 stations coming from our cable box. Parents need to understand and be aware of the programming out there and be able to help their child choose programming that is appropriate for them.
Things to look for are...
1.programs that fit the age and developmental readiness of your child
2.programs that promote the values of your family without lessening your own standards
3. programs that allow your child to think while he/she is watching rather than "zone out"
4.programs with messages that the child can embrace in their own life
5.remember, programs need to add value to your child’s experience and development rather than be something the just fills time or takes them into subject matters that are way beyond their readiness.” - Dr. Philip Dembo , Life Coach, Relationship Expert

Biggest Loser Winner Erik Chopin Gains Back Weight

Season three winner of Biggest Loser, Erik Chopin, started the show at 407 pounds. During the course of the show, he lost 214 pounds, and became the winner of that season’s Biggest Loser. At the end of the show, he weighed 197 pounds and has since put most of that back on.

This is not surprising to me. Rapid weight loss is not healthy. I have spent years going up and down in weight. Why? Stress and not watching what I eat. The best way to lose weight and keep it off is to do it slowly. It’s healthier and you stand a better chance of keeping the weight off.

What really caught my attention with this story is that it appears that his wife blames the show for her husband’s weight gain because, after the show was over, they just dropped him. Come on people, you can’t be serious. How do you go on a reality television show for weight loss and blame them for not checking in and making sure you are not gaining weight after the show is over? How is it their responsibility?

Grow up! It is Erik’s responsibility. He signed off to be on the show. He won that season of Biggest Loser. It was and is his responsibility to take care of his body. Unless, of course, they signed a contract saying the show will hold his hand after the season was finished. For some reason, I tend to think that the producers of Biggest Loser did not agree to act as parental figures in Erik Chopin’s life.

I am not the only one that feels this way. I came across this comment on another article ab Erik Chopin and his wife:

“I saw an interview with Eric and he said he liked the fame and his wife seemed to blame the show, saying that they treated him like a celebrity then dropped him.
What do you people want? They kept up their end of the deal. He lost weight and in addition he got half a million. And now they blame the show. Grow up!” - Roger Russell

Face it. There is only one person to blame for what happened. We all know who that is. Do I like Biggest Loser? No. I think it portrays unrealistic weight loss and promotes what will ultimately turn into the yo-yo weight loss and gain system for people that follow the show. What do I do about it? I don’t watch the show. I sympathize with Erik and his struggles. I face the same struggles everyday. The difference is that my husband and I know where the blame should be placed.

Three Stooges Marathon on AMC Now

Today, on AMC, you can watch the Three Stooges marathon. This marathon will end 6:00AM New Year’s Eve. If you are a love of Larry, Curly, and Moe, you can get your fill of them now. The Three Stooges is classic American comedy. Their movies are a part of our history, a part of our culture.

Today, you can share these characters with your children and start a new family tradition. You can start by watching the clip below.



Who are the Stooges? Can you name them all? There was Moe, Larry, Curly ,Shemp, Joe and Curly Joe. Can you match the pictures with the names? If not, then I think it is time you got your Three Stooges fix.

This Emotional Life on PBS

PBS is coming out with a special that focuses on relationships. It is THIS EMOTIONAL LIFE, a three part series, airing January 4-6, 2010. This series examines how relationships play an important part in our lives. The interesting thing about this series, for me, is that it includes the story of a 29 year old man with Aspergers. His story touched me.

Sam Fabens with VOXGLOBAL emailed me about this series. In the email, he included a Q & A from Dyllan McGee about it. Here it is:

Here’s a Q&A from Dyllan McGee, executive producer from Kunhardt McGee Productions and one of the show’s executive producers, about why the series is important, what’s in it, and how it can help people live more fulfilling lives. Here’s the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMshm6UpYVE

Q: Why did you think it was important to produce a series like this now?

A: This is the first time a TV experience has really probed deeply into the entire life cycle and range of complex emotional issues that impact all people. Research now shows us that the real key to happiness and resilience doesn’t lie in what we own or buy, but it is made up of so many social attachments and our perspectives on scenarios, among other things. That’s incredibly powerful information to know and to share with others – particularly during a time like this when so many people are really suffering from a lot of stress and anxiety due to the economy.

Q: Why did you want to include a story about someone who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome?

A: So much of our series is focused on the idea that happiness and emotional satisfaction are linked with the quality of our attachments and connections with other people. We wanted to showcase stories about interesting people – like Jason, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome – who experience challenges in making these kinds of connections. We wanted to explore and highlight the kind of social and family support that’s so important to people like Jason in our society. He shared some important things about his life and experiences – like his difficulty reading people’s emotions, and how that impacts his relationships. The whole point is to raise awareness and start conversations – and we’re grateful to Jason and his family for sharing their story.

Q: Do you think the show can help people?

A: Absolutely – our main goal in producing this project was to help people. We included a great cross-section of the latest science, interesting insight from well-known entertainers and writers, and a lot of inspiring and thought-provoking stories from real people in extraordinary situations.

I’ll be watching this and I hope you will too.

Is Simon Cowell Leaving American Idol

Simon Cowell Leaving iIdol/i? Say It Ain't So, Bro! (Someone needs to do something about this spelling)

E! Online reported this morning that this might be the last season that Simon Cowell will be on American Idol? It is rumored that he has another show in the works that will be aired on Fox in 2011. It will be the Aeican version of X Factor, a popular U.K. Show.

How will this affect American Idol? If he leaves, will he be replaced? Can anyone replace him? Simon makes the show fun and real. I tune in to watch the contestants and listen to him criticize them bluntly. He says things that leave our mouths dropping open. We are shocked by a lot of the things he says, yet I personally, find myself agreeing with the majority of it.

Fox and Cowell have not denied or confirmed this yet. If it is true, I think that the show should end. No one can compare to Cowell as a judge on the show. With Paula already gone, and Randy as the only original judge left, I don't think that the show can survive the loss of what I think makes the show what it is.

Ion's New Show Durham County

Ion Television's new show premiered on September 7th. I had seen some commercials for it, but did not reali,ze that it was on the air. The premise of the show is a that a Homicide Detective, Mike Sweeney (Hugh Dillon, CBS' "Flashpoint"), moves his family to a quiet suburbia for a fresh start when his partner is killed and his wife Audrey (Helene Joy) is diagnosed with breast cancer. It airs Monday nighte at 10:00PM. Below is a video of behind the scenes secrets. I really enjoyed watching it and am going to set my DVR to record this show on Monday nights. You can watch more videos about this show by going to there website.

Durham County - Behind The Secrets
Uploaded by IonTelevision2009. - Watch feature films and entire TV shows.