Not wishing to inflame the passions or offend the sensibilities of its delicate viewers, the censors at Channel 10 News have taken a page from the John Ashcroft playbook. In a story on the recent rash of copper thefts, they reference the theft of an antique, nymph-and-satyr statue (seen here) from the yard of the Edgewood Manor B & B. In the first minute of the accompanying video there are two shots of the statue in question, and they have pixilated out the nymph’s naked breast. Wouldn’t want to pander to all the copper-nipple fetishists out there (you know who you are).

‘The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman’

Tuesdays 8 - 8:30/ on the IFC/in reruns for now

This show stars, and is written by, the most excellent Laura Kightlinger, co-starring the scrumptious Nicholle Tom. I love these gals and I love this show. Often compared to that other show but in a whole different league.

NSFW prolly.

Tonight is the 50th anniversary of the Grammy Awards. On the schedule is a special tribute to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band which I’m sure will be ghastly. All hope of a spontaneous unscripted moment was abandoned years ago… but wait… there’s hope. CBS is teasing a live feed from London featuring Amy Winehouse! Keep in mind that there is a 5 hour time difference. At the start of the show it will already be 1:30AM Amy-time. What could possibly go wrong?

Meanwhile enjoy the famous Bob Dylan/ Soy Bomb incident.

Including an interview with Young Voices, the youth activist non-profit:

It has been confirmed that the Young Voices segment will be shown at 8:49AM tomorrow!! They say the timing is approximate and suggest that people watch from 8AM-9AM just in case. The Today Show is on NBC (Channel 10 in Rhode Island).

“Hop on the Wiggum Wagon”

Last Sunday’s episode of ‘The Simpsons’ pretty much nailed everything that’s wrong with the political process in America today. And at those times when I bemoan the fact that Rhode Island is always ignored and doesn’t really count, I try to imagine what a living hell it would actually be to live in Iowa or New Hampshire — especially in an election year (rimshot here). And ‘The Simpsons’ is still awesome.

As we ponder the carnage and tragedy that can come from encounters between humans and our erstwhile predators, let’s not forget those animal friends who, while enormous, are cuddly and playful. Take this cable-TV star hippo here:

If only this would happen with a manatee in Rhode Island. This domesticated hippo’s South African “proprietors” (I know its free to go at any time but whatever) are charging $35 a year to become a member of jessicahippo.com. Actually maybe that’s not so much given what it must cost to feed and caffeinate Jessica on the daily. And ooh there are pictures! (more…)

Verizon’s going to be going head-to-head with Cox in more communities, which is good news for RI’s TV watchers, among which I count myself too frequently:

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Dec 21, 2007 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Residents of 12 more Rhode Island communities are a major step closer to having a real choice for their cable television services, thanks to newly approved licenses authorizing Verizon to offer its FiOS TV service via the most advanced all-digital, fiber-optic network straight to customers’ homes.

Carson Daly — likely the late-night host who’s least-able to wing it without his writers — is breaking ranks and crossing the picket line:

NEW YORK (AP) - NBC’s “Last Call with Carson Daly” is about to become the first late- night talk show to defy the writers strike and resume production. Daly, who is not a member of the Writers Guild, will begin taping new episodes of his Burbank-based show this week for airing next week, an NBC spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.

(more…)