Guest Post: To the Source of “Outsourced”/ The Importance of Being a Cultural Mom

Outsourced NBC

Admittedly, I’m a few years late on this one: the independent film Outsourced came out in 2006, long before NBC turned it into a TV series in October of last year. Still, of all the films I watched on Netflix last week while drifting in and out of the flu and consciousness, this one is most worthy of note. The day I watched Outsourced, I’d already had a bad experience with another West versus East movie. No offense to funny man Albert Brooks, but Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World was cheap, superficial, and without revelation or redemption … [Read more...]

Guest post: The Sassiness Of Kid’s TV

GoodLuckCharlie

I was raised without a television. We were a hippie, vegan family, living in Topanga, California. My parents had numerous complaints about TV, so it wasn’t part of our lives. Of course, as a child, I always vowed that when I had kids, they’d be allowed to watch TV. Now I’m a parent and, because of my upbringing without any TV, I do allow my kids to watch TV. They watch their favorite shows, but they tend to get bored after an hour or so and move on to doing something else. My kids have been watching Disney Channel shows for several years. I’m … [Read more...]

The Golden Globes Wrap-Up (in case you missed it)

Source: NYT.com

The 2011 Golden Globes were handed out tonight. The Social Network, Glee, Boardwalk Empire, The Fighter and The Kids Are All Right were among the night’s big winners.  I am proud to say that I have actually seen most of these films and shows, but I was clearly wrong about some of my projected winners.  I thought that Black Swan and The King's Speech would take more awards home (although they did both  generate best actor and actress nods) and that Mad Men would continue its award sweep after a blow-out season.  But I was happy for  most of the … [Read more...]

Television: Previewing OWN

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I don't know about you, but I have been curious about the launch of Oprah's new network, OWN, since the announcement a few years ago and have been following it's history and birth quite closely.  Having worked at two other networks for women, Lifetime Television and Oxygen Media, I was really curious to see how her vision would play out and what types of programming would be offered.  In my mind, The Oprah Winfrey Show has been an important part of my life, particularly since I had kids. Her show has inspired and educated me, and not only now, but when … [Read more...]

Oprah on Being a Lesbian

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Oprah is coming clean on a Barbara Walters special this week about being a lesbian.  She's not.  Of course, she's not.  I, for one, never thought she was, nor did I ever care.  Rumors about her relationship with her friend, Gayle King, have been flying around for years.  Let's put the rumors to rest.  I wouldn't care if she was, nor would she, for that matter, but she values her personal life. To Barbara Walters, she stated rather matter of factly, "I'm not even kind of a lesbian.  And the reason why [the rumor] irritates me is because it … [Read more...]

Can You Tell Me How to Get to the Land of Israel?

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I was so excited to receive both a copy of Shalom Sesame's Welcome to Israel and Chaunkah: The Missing Menorah.  My 5 and 7 year-old's quickly ran into the living room to watch them both.  Having just returned from a trip to Israel and also anticipating the upcoming holiday of Chanukah in our home, there was much excitement over these about to be released DVD's.  Both come from the creators of Sesame Street and feature well-known American and Israeli celebrities like Debra Messing, Achinoam Nini, Mira Awad, Jake Gyllenhaal, Christina Applegate, Greg … [Read more...]

Mad Men – Christmas Comes But Once a Year – Preview of Tomorrow’s Show

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http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/83327935001?isVid=1 … [Read more...]

Ellen DeGeneres’ Departure from “American Idol”

Ellen Degeneres

Hearing about Ellen DeGeneres' departure from "American Idol" is some of the best news I've heard in a long time.  Don't get me wrong, I adore her.  I have followed her career since it's humble beginnings.   … [Read more...]

Kid Culture: Yo Gabba Gabba!

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Yo Gabba Gabba! Live is kicking off their “There’s a Party In My City” tour on August 27th at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in the Catskills.  Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a $100 million outdoor performing arts center and museum located approximately 90 minutes from New York City at the site of the original 1969 Woodstock festival in Bethel, NY. The 15,000 seat outdoor performing arts venue and The Museum at Bethel Woods are set within nearly 2,000  acres.  The live touring show Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: There's a … [Read more...]

Culture Mom TV: Mad Men Premiere “Public Relations”

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Season 4 of "Mad Men" opens with a close up of a distracted Draper being asked, “Who is Don Draper?” The question, comes from an Ad Age reporter. The interview ends with the reporter tripping over his feet and he tells Don that he lost part of his leg in Korea.  This is the war in which Dick Whitman adopted the real Donald Draper’s identity. This is why "Mad Men" is just so good - as normal as moments may seem, we have constant reminders of the darkness that lies beneath.  Don's reluctance to talk about his new business is confusing at … [Read more...]