Wednesday, April 21, 2010

our "view" on stupid programming choices...


cbs has announced that they are putting together a pilot to rival abc's "the view." who, you may ask, do they have lined up for their panel? host of big brother (and wife of cbs president - think that helped?) julie chen and star of "roseanne" and token lesbian-mom sara gilbert are on board and there is talk of other possible panelists like lisa rinna (think her lips get their own billing?) and pregnant "real housewives of nyc" cast member bethenny frankel (why would you pick someone who is marginally popular based on a show that is owned by nbc and will then be on maternity leave?).

now, it should be said that i do not think that creating a cookie cutter series based on a show on a competitor's network is smart programming. i personally think that networks should be counter-programming instead of copying (don't even get me started on how i think cbs should drop "the early show" and instead run "the price is right" in that slot - targeting older and college aged viewers...but i digress). this beyond to below average line up of "talent" that cbs has put together for their new show is so bad that my friend lance and i pondered we would select as our dream team to go up against the ladies of "the view." our point...and we do have one, is we think our list is better (take note networks)!

we started by identifying basic talk show-aimed-at-women casting criteria. you need a moderator who is opinionated but fair and seemingly liked by everyone, a republican to hold down the right side of the table or couch (the next time you watch "the view" notice that elizabeth is always on the right of your screen), people who can bring the funny, a healthy mix or races and wombs that have been used on the panel and a wacky matriarch who isn't on every episode, but comes on as needed and is all "been there, done that."

so who is on our list?
moderator:
connie chung (established news person people know and someone who has a sense of humor - her husband is the king of paternity tests!)
republican:
amy holmes (young, african-american conservative correspondent for cnn)
panelists:
kristin chenoweth (singer, musical theater, film and television actress, a self proclaimed liberal christian)
maria elena salinas (co-anchor of noticiero univision, the most watched newscast by american hispanics and considered one of the most recognized and influential female hispanic journalists in the united states)
matriarch:
joan rivers (legend, comedienne and out-spoken matriarchal figure, she won't be on all the time, but will add a special dose of energy when she is there)

what do you think of our picks? who would your picks be?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

20 Year "Roommates"

elderly_man.jpgClay and his partner of 20 years, Harold, lived in California. Clay and Harold made diligent efforts to protect their legal rights, and had their legal paperwork in place--wills, powers of attorney, and medical directives, all naming each other. Harold was 88 years old and in frail medical condition, but still living at home with Clay, 77, who was in good health.

One evening, Harold fell down the front steps of their home and was taken to the hospital. Based on their medical directives alone, Clay should have been consulted in Harold's care from the first moment. Tragically, county and health care workers instead refused to allow Clay to see Harold in the hospital. The county then ultimately went one step further by isolating the couple from each other, placing the men in separate nursing homes.

Ignoring Clay's significant role in Harold's life, the county continued to treat Harold like he had no family and went to court seeking the power to make financial decisions on his behalf. Outrageously, the county represented to the judge that Clay was merely Harold's "roommate." The court denied their efforts, but did grant the county limited access to one of Harold's bank accounts to pay for his care.

What happened next is even more chilling.

Without authority, without determining the value of Clay and Harold's possessions accumulated over the course of their 20 years together or making any effort to determine which items belonged to whom, the county took everything Harold and Clay owned and auctioned off all of their belongings. Adding further insult to grave injury, the county removed Clay from his home and confined him to a nursing home against his will. The county workers then terminated Clay and Harold's lease and surrendered the home they had shared for many years to the landlord.

Three months after he was hospitalized, Harold died in the nursing home. Because of the county's actions, Clay missed the final months he should have had with his partner of 20 years. Compounding this tragedy, Clay has literally nothing left of the home he had shared with Harold or the life he was living up until the day that Harold fell, because he has been unable to recover any of his property. The only memento Clay has is a photo album that Harold painstakingly put together for Clay during the last three months of his life.

With the help of a dedicated and persistent court-appointed attorney, Anne Dennis of Santa Rosa, Clay was finally released from the nursing home. Ms. Dennis, along with Stephen O'Neill and Margaret Flynn of Tarkington, O'Neill, Barrack & Chong, now represent Clay in a lawsuit against the county, the auction company, and the nursing home, with technical assistance from NCLR. A trial date has been set for July 16, 2010 in the Superior Court for the County of Sonoma.

My point and I do have one..as hard as it is to believe that this can even happen, it does all the time and is a reminder that we can't stop until we have equal rights to love and care for who we choose.

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