After seeing “Live Free or Die Hard” I had the immediate desire to speed down Jackson Street, one eye on my rearview mirror just in case terrorists were on my tail.
Why is that? Do action films really have some kind of hold over us? Or is it some subliminal message the director inserts between scenes?
After “Waitress” I had no yearning to bake a pie.
After “Ratatouille,” I hardly wanted to go to a rat-infested restaurant.
But after action films, I want to race like the leading men.
Watch and see if you don’t agree.
Good thing we don’t have fighter planes, helicopters and semis racing down the streets. Given the chance, I know I could outrun them.

Now that Paris Hilton has been sprung, we can turn our attention to more pressing matters. Like:
Lindsay Lohan and her “extended” stay in rehab.
Prince William’s revived relationship with Kate.
The Olsen twins’ 21st birthday.
Pamela Anderson’s new career.
Kevin Federline’s “relationship” with his former partner (and mother to two of his children).

Anna Nicole’s daughter.

Kinda makes you long for the days when Tara Reid was falling out of her dress on the red carpet.

There are dozens of new television shows on cable but nothing holds my attention better than an episode of “House Hunters.” Honestly, how can you not love this show? Couples waltz through over-priced homes, complain about the bad kitchen, then buy the house because it met all their needs — and, six months later, they haven’t done a thing to change it. I’ve watched so many episodes I’ve learned the key phrases they use when scouting homes: “It’s got a great view.” “This will need some work.” “We’re definitely going to have to make some changes.” What you discover — a crappy home can go for a lot of money in some cities. It almost makes you glad you live where you do — even with the bad kitchen.

You’ve whined to the relatives that you’re just as good as Sanjaya. You know you could out-beatbox Blake. Well, now’s your chance to prove it. Aug. 10, the “American Idol” auditions come to OMAHA! That’s right, just 90 minutes down the road. They’ll be held at the Qwest Center and, I’m almost positive, you’ll hear more about them before the big day arrives. Paula, Randy and Simon? Oh, I bet they’ll be there, too.
Start practicing “And I Am Telling You.”

Just when you thought “Celebrity Fit Club” was as low as a former celebrity could go, we get a new rung: Magician’s assistant.
Pamela Anderson, who has gone through more career transitions than just about anyone (including Borat foil), now says she’ll be appearing in Vegas as a magician’s assistant. Apparently the job is legit, since she has been on the talk shows doing her best “ta-da!” But what’s next? Prison? Oh, wait, that’s Paris Hilton’s career track.

Film historians have long believed 1939 was the greatest year for the movies — “Gone with the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” are among the offerings — but now, according to an American Film Institute survey, 1976 holds the honor.
Four films from that year made the list of Top 100 Movies. The four: “Taxi Driver,” “Network,” “All the President’s Men” and “Rocky.” Of the four, “Rocky” won the Best Picture Oscar and went on to spawn more sequels than “Jaws.”
“Network” has long been my favorite film of all time. In the ’70s, I loved it because it imagined a bizarre television network where execs aired just about anything to get ratings. Today, I think it’s great because it reminds me of the Fox network.
For the record, the top 10 films: 1. “Citizen Kane” 2. “The Godfather” 3. “Casablanca” 4. “Raging Bull” 5. “Singin’ in the Rain” 6. “Gone With the Wind” 7. “Lawrence of Arabia” 8. “Schindler’s List” 9. “Vertigo” 10. “The Wizard of Oz.”

Get ready for a rat invasion. In two weeks, “Ratatouille” hits theaters and, yup, it’s going to be a winner. I saw a sneak Saturday night and couldn’t help falling for Remy, the chef wannabe who has to get a human to make his dishes come true. The real surprise? A critic (voiced by Peter O’Toole) who will remind you of the Grinch — and all the goodness that came with that classic.
If lines aren’t long for the film, I’m convinced a certain Mouse has thwarted the Rat.

There was a brief, shining moment last week when it appeared “Entertainment Tonight” had run out of Anna Nicole/Paris Hilton moments.
Then, Paris went wacko and they were back in business.
I am convinced the show — which used to be good — would be out of business without those two, the anorexic and the fat woman who can’t leave her house.
What is this? The National Enquirer?
“Up next,” the breathless announcer says, “the story you’ve been hearing about all day.”
No. I haven’t been hearing about Paris Hilton all day. No. I don’t care that Anna Nicole is still dead. It’s something you’re drumming up to try and lure people in. Don’t be confused.
Once you do tune into the program, it’s filled with more breathless promos for stories that never seem to appear. “And later…” “Coming up tomorrow…” “After this…”
If you took out all the hype and the Anna Nicole stories, “Entertainment Tonight” would be two minutes long.
Which brings me to my point: Start boycotting this swill that passes for “news.” Let that poor Larry Birkhead raise his child in peace. Let the kid grow up out of the spotlight (it killed her mother) and let Paris Hilton make good on her promise to serve her time and emerge a better person. These aren’t celebrities. They’re just accessible … and easy to talk about.

Sunday night, TV viewers had a choice of Tonys — the Tony Awards or Tony Soprano’s final show. Both were pretty darn good.

First, the Tony Awards — “Spring Awakening” came away the big winner and could rouse a bunch of new theatergoers. Good, too. The show is wonderful, the young actors, great. I talked with most of them while I was in New York several weeks ago and they had no idea how their R-rated songs were going to be presented on the telecast. The solution: Self-bleeping. At several points, the actors put their hands over their mouths when they came to the dirty words. Clever. But, then, so is the show. Tony winner John Gallagher Jr. was super as the doomed Moritz and a great ambassador for Broadway. After the show I saw, he spent a good hour talking to fans outside the theater.

The one thing that bugged me about the telecast was the constant plug for Fantasia. Who cares? She’s a replacement in “The Color Purple” and she’s not exactly the biggest star to hit Broadway. Someone thought the “American Idol” connection was too good to miss. But it’s a bit embarrassing when some of the biggest names in the business are sitting in the audience and the announcer is raving about Fantasia.

Now, Tony Soprano.
While he didn’t get whacked in the final episode, the series did end surprisingly. Family problems were still mounting. Life was still out of control. Yet, at the end, Tony, Carmella and the kids were able to sit down, break bread and look forward to another day. Not bad. That even opens the door for a film — or another run at the series.

Ratings tell us what audiences like. But what about critics? A group I belong to, the Television Critics Association, announced its nominees for 2007 recognition and a pack of NBC shows led the herd. “30 Rock,” “Friday Night Lights” and “Heroes” were among the repeat nominees.

The categories … and the contenders:

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“American Idol” (Fox)
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
“Heroes” (NBC)
“Planet Earth” (Discovery)
“The Wire” (HBO)
“When the Levees Broke” (HBO)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“The Daily Show” (Comedy Central)
“Entourage” (HBO)
“The Office” (NBC)
“Ugly Betty” (ABC)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
“Heroes” (NBC)
“Lost” (ABC)
“The Sopranos” (HBO)
“The Wire” (HBO)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT MOVIES, MINI-SERIES AND SPECIALS
“Broken Trail” (AMC)
“Planet Earth” (Discovery)
“Prime Suspect” (PBS)
“The State Within” (BBC America)
“When the Levees Broke” (HBO)

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
“30 Rock” (NBC)
“Dexter” (Showtime)
“Friday Night Lights” (NBC)
“Heroes” (NBC)
“Ugly Betty” (ABC)

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
Alec Baldwin (”30 Rock”)
Stephen Colbert (”The Colbert Report”)
America Ferrera (”Ugly Betty”)
Tina Fey (”30 Rock”)
Jon Stewart (”The Daily Show”)

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Connie Britton (”Friday Night Lights”)
Kyle Chandler (”Friday Night Lights”)
Michael C. Hall (”Dexter”)
Hugh Laurie (”House”)
Helen Mirren (”Prime Suspect”)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING
“Dora the Explorer” (Nickelodeon)
“Johnny and the Sprites” (The Disney Channel)
“Kyle XY” (ABC Family)
“Lincoln Heights” (ABC Family)
“SpongeBob Squarepants” (Nickelodeon)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN NEWS & INFORMATION
“Baghdad ER” (HBO)
“Bill Moyers Journal” (PBS)
“Galapagos” (National Geographic)
“Planet Earth” (Discovery)
“When the Levees Broke” (HBO)

HERITAGE AWARD
“M*A*S*H” (CBS)
“Roots” (ABC)
“Sesame Street” (PBS)
“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (CBS)
“The Sopranos” (HBO)

The awards will be presented in July. We’ll keep you posted.