In this corner, formerly successful television personality who, for reasons I cannot explain, has quite an effect on me, Katie Couric.

And in this corner, obnoxious host of a second rate evening political news show, Keith Olbermann.

First Couric hinted at Olbermann’s ridiculous rants in the past few months against Hillary Clinton, and the uncalled for and little recognized sexism that he and others in the media pushed against Clinton.

Now Olbermann is on the attack.

Let’s be honest folks, it’s pretty obvious that Clinton suffered from pronounced sexism from the media. From nutcrackers being sold in her image at airports, to men with signs saying, “Iron My Shirt,” at her events, all of these things went unnoticed by the media. If somebody were selling Barack Obama watermelon’s or holding racist signs at his rallies, do you really think that wouldn’t make the front page of the New York Times?

I like Couric, even though I do not consider her a great journalist. She’s a personality, and a fun one. Olbermann is a great journalist as well, but is shrill and obnoxious and works in dramatics rather then in rational arguments.

But I do enjoy a good feud. I hope Couric does a special YouTube video mocking him. Possibly a “Countdown” of sorts, highlighting the many ways Olbermann sucks.

Read more here.

I feel duped.  Last night the gaggle of weather people on the local stations kept acting as if we were going to have this massive snow storm.  Even though I needed to run this morning, I decided it not to be safe to run through slidy snow. 

 Fast forward to 7AM, my obnoxious alarm clock tick ticks away, I look outside to gray skies and TOTALLY CLEAR SIDEWALKS!  Ugh.

I understand that people north of me got snow, Al Roker was standing in it (that man certainly loves a good snow storm).  But it’s 2008, has technology not advanced to the point where we can accurately predict the weather?

 Whatever!

… life got in the way. I suppose I should offer an update. Ready? Set. GO!

1) Saw November on Broadway the other night starring the fantastic Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf (Jackie from “Roseanne”!!!). Love it. It’s about a hated incumbent President the day before election day. He comes up with a wacky plan to make some money, and possibly get re-elected, using the turkey industry, the issue of gay marriage and adopted Chinese baby girls. See it if you can.

2) I apologize about the comments section of the blog. I can’t figure out why it won’t let readers leave a comment! If anybody can help me out with this, please send me an e-mail. Do the same if you would like to leave a comment on a post. I promise I will respond! HAlanScott@gmail.com

3) Going to see Come Back, Little Sheba tonight. God I love being back in New York.

4) Performing at the Laugh Lounge in ONE WEEK. Nervous doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling. It should be a great night, come out if you can. I promise that you’ll smile at least once. even if it’s just a sympathy smile.

5) I’m dyslexic this week. Days are getting mixed up. Yesterday I freaked cause I forgot to take out the trash to the recycle - thinking it was Thursday (the day it’s picked up). No harm done there, I put it out today. But then last night I went with Bryan to see Archers of Ha. We got there and some James Blunt wannabe was playing. The bartender informed us that Ha is on Tuesday’s. Ugh.

I want a donut.

Send me an email at HAlanScott@gmail.com

What do you think is going to happen once the novelty of Barack Obama wears off?

Edwards or Clinton, just don’t know what to think.

My money is on the gecco from the Geico commericals. Once he endorses, I’m all in!

OMG you guys. Amy Sedaris + Dolly Parton = perfection. Big time WOW!

Currently watching the series finale of “Extras.” Have you seen this show? Ricky Gervais, the mastermind behind the original “The Office,” is the creator and star. Check it out, I love it.

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com

I don’t feel like writing today. So what do I do when I’m in front of the computer and don’t feel like writing? I watch endless YouTube clips. Figured I would share some of what I’m watching with y’all.

Here’s a little Lucy. How could you not love Lucy? Enjoy!

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com

My television debut was last night. I was on for 3 seconds. You know what that means? I still have 14 minutes and 57 seconds left of fame! I’m trying to stretch it out, who knows, I could get a whole 5 minutes when I’m 52.

“What’s up with Jennie?” I said on last night’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Immediately after the appearance my phone rang. My fans are calling!

“Hello,” I said, in anticipation of praise.

“Hello, I am calling to inform you that you have an outstanding balance…”, WTF?!?! Are they not watching America’s favorite television program? The audacity of some people, I swear.
***
I picked up the DVD copy of my stand-up last night. now I’ve just got to figure out how to get it on YouTube. Anybody got a clue?

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com

So yesterday I was in the audience for “Dancing with the Stars.” Because of my fierce support of Marie Osmond (don’t fight me on this, I’ll cut you), they interviewed me with a couple of other people about my thoughts on who I like, whom I hate and who I would like to lick.

1) I love Marie Osmond (duh!!)
2) I hate Jennie Garth (well, I love her, but I hate her on the show)
3) I want to be Cameron’s pants

They interviewed me with a couple of other people, which I so was not about. I told them, “I work solo,” but they laughed. I wasn’t joking. Bastards!Anywho, check me out tonight. It’s on ABC at 8:00/9:00 central time. Check local listings and the ABC website.

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com

What happened to manners? How did we, as a society, lose the awareness of what’s appropriate and what isn’t?

I have Mount Rushmore growing on my chin. Sure, I could have called in sick, but to me it’s silly to stay home because of a pimple. We all get them, it’s a fact of life. And it’s actually gone down from it’s peak puffiness. I did stay home from a party on Saturday night because of it. Nobody would have given me a little tickle tickle out of fear that a volcano might erupt all over them.

But this morning I was chatting it up with a co-worker.

“How was your weekend,” I asked.

“It was fine. What do you have on your chin?”

WTF? Who does that? Who calls out the obvious? That’s like telling a burn victim, “Um, I think you missed a spot with your blush this morning.”

Small imperfections like a pimple, or a little redness, even a tiny bit of swelling, are things you just don’t call out on people. You acknowledge them to yourself, even talk to someone about them behind the victim’s back, but never call them out to the poor victim of the imperfection.

Manners have gone the way of the dogs, my friends. I encourage everyone that reads this to open the door for somebody today, say something nice to someone ugly, help an old lady across the street. You’ll feel better for it.
***
I’m going to a taping of “Dancing with the Stars” tonight. Watch the show, you might see me in the audience!

I must confess, I’ve never actually seen the show. Well, at least not a full episode. I do enjoy Marie Osmond though (as previously mentioned in a past blog entry). She’s sort of the Queen Mormon, you know. Almost every religion has their celebrity. The Catholics got Mel Gibson, Scientologists have Tom Cruise, the Baptists got Whitney Houston. But the best religious celebrity connection, Richard Gere and the Buddhists! They really lucked out, didn’t they? Gere might be 40 years older than me, but I would totally shave my head and wear a blanket just in the off chance that Gere might actually touch me.

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com

I survived y’all. The tooth is gone and so is the pain. I’m a new man. Well, not really new, just improved. Whatever.
***
I must fess up, I’m as excited as a school girl who just discovered the secret powers of the faucet in the bathtub.

Today “My So Called Life” comes out on DVD. I have been waiting for this day for years. Seriously. Years! I would check Amazon.com from time to time, look for used copies, etc. I could never find a copy of the show for under $100 (a little more than I could afford).

What was so special about the show? Many things: the writing was stellar, the performances top notch, the look was classic mid-90’s. But for me the show marked a pivotal time in my life when I listened closely and realized, holy hell, I just might be gay.

It was the Christmas episode. Ricky, the gay character (played beautifully Wilson Cruz), was staying with the Chase family until the mother decided it was time for him to leave. He ran away instead of being kicked out, lived in a half-way house, hid his agony. Towards the end of the episode Patty Chase (the mother), realized what she had done to Ricky, found him and accepted him for who he was - even if nobody else would.

Okay, I’ll admit, for 2007 standards that sounds awfully cheesy and oh so after-school-special like. But for 1995 (two years before Ellen), it was huge. Huge, I say! And for little 13 year old Scotty, it was bigger than huge. Life-altering.
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Downside to having a tooth pulled: not being able to eat solids for 48 hours after. Ugh, all I want is a nice cracker. Just one. Even a saltine, it doesn’t have to be a tasty cracker like a Wheat Thin or a Cheez-It. Bah!

Send me an email at TheScottBlog@gmail.com