Pop Culture Civility.

CEO — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:32:43 -0700

Not to sound as though I just stepped off of the set of a Frank Capra-esque film wearing rose-colored glasses and humming “God Bless America,” but the ugly turn that this presidential election has taken in the recent week has been quite dispiriting to someone who wants to see genuine debate on important issues.

Desperate Housewives: No Longer Desperate Plotlines.

CEO — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:16:05 -0700

After a disappointing couple of seasons, the queen mother of suburban satires seems to have finally returned to form.

Show of (Aging) Hands.

CEO — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:29:53 -0700

Forget the presidential debates, the august, uber-serious civic affairs where candidates sit at polished tables or walk around on a red, white and blue stage answering questions from a journalist/moderator or from mere citizens whose questions have been screened to make sure dimwits don’t inquire about candidate underwear preferences.

Mixed Messages.

CEO — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:46:12 -0700

A casual observer of American popular culture in the past 10 days would find it awash in contradictions, more specifically, mired in mixed messages about what we want and expect from successful women.

Moms in Prime-Time This Fall.

CEO — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:54:50 -0700

As the real life drama about historic convention speeches and American political firsts plays out on news stations and draws millions of viewers, the new fall TV season has begun in earnest, leaving network execs crossing their fingers in hopes there will be a ratings boost for scripted programs, which were hobbled last spring by the writers’ strike.

Tempest in a Lipstick Tube.

CEO — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:35:12 -0700

I'm usually among the first to jump all over people who criticize women based on their gender or their motherhood. (In the past few weeks, I've slammed the critics who've nastily labeled Sarah Palin a "bad mom" for having the nerve to run for public office when she has a baby at home and a pregnant teenaged daughter, even though her husband is caring for the kids.)

90210 Redo: The Adult Storylines.

CEO — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:12:43 -0700

It would be too easy to use their own words against them: “This sucks.” Those were the first two words uttered on the newly-retooled, updated version of Beverly Hills 90210, now truncated to just the zip code, 90210. And many of the professional TV critics echoed that sentiment.

McCain & The Working Mom.

CEO — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:59:19 -0700

What drew my attention was not the first-term, 44-year-old Alaska governor who was standing at the podium proudly accepting the invitation to join a presidential ticket. My eyes were instead focused on a woman in the crowd.

Michelle As First Lady: General Election Edition

CEO — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:16:53 -0700

They both did well in fulfilling their ascribed duties. One was supposed to explain why her husband and the family they’ve made together are just like everybody else’s, as American as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a plate of mac-n-cheese. The other was supposed to explain why her party’s latest change agent is the guy who deserves your vote.

Tori & Dean.

CEO — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 17:46:19 -0700

When I received gentle nudging from my editor to write about one of her favorite shows, Oxygen network’s Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, I joked that in order to get through this mission -- watching 10, hour-long episodes of the show -- I’d need some major margarita action. At the very least.