Wow, you can tell daytime television is like sands through the hourglass. Sunday’s Emmy Awards show was so low-rent it was practically ghetto. Worse yet? Very few winners were there. The “Good Morning America” folks? Absent. “The View” women? Absent. Meredith Vieira? Gone.
Thankfully, the folks from “Sesame Street” showed up for a 40th anniversary tribute. And Rachael Ray was there to win Best Talk Show (over Ellen DeGeneres, who sat in the audience looking upset that she was going home with nothing). “Cash Cab” won Best Game Show (say what?) and “The Bold and the Beautiful” finally pulled out a Best Daytime Drama win. But, really, this show belonged on cable. Vanessa Williams hosted (badly) and sang so many numbers you kind of expected the audience to be holding drinks. In a couple of weeks the “real” Emmys will be dished out. We can only hope the show — and the winners — will be a little stronger.
This wasn’t even as good as the CableAce awards.

Bruce Miller previews “Halloween II,” “The Final Destination” and “Taking Woodstock” in this week’s Movies in a Minute.

When Ted Kennedy ran for president, I was assigned to write about politics. For some reason, I was on the “Teddy” beat. Every time he (or one of the relatives) came to town, I was sent to cover the event. Most times, I wrote about the crowd reaction, which infuriated his press secretary. “Why don’t you write about the issues?” the secretary asked. “Let me talk to the senator and I will.”

After several failed attempts to “make it happen,” the secretary arranged for an interview on the senator’s plane — on my birthday, Jan. 18, 1980. That day, Joan Kennedy announced she was fully behind her husband and would be with him in the White House. She said she believed everything he told her about the car accident at Chappaquiddick and didn’t need more proof. It was a pretty powerful show of support (this is “stand by your man” time in its early stages) and, by anyone’s standards, a significant news break.

Joan didn’t take followup questions, but because I got to go on the plane for that one-on-one interview, I was able to pursue the issue. It was easy to tell she had made the statement as a show of support, not a show of truth. The two sat together but couldn’t have been farther apart. He wanted to talk about things like health care and taxes. She wanted to stare out the plane window.

For me, the curtain had lifted and I got to see what “that” world was all about.  The campaign meant everything to the Kennedys. And it showed.

Years later — when he was out of the running for president — I interviewed him again and he was much more relaxed, much more comfortable in his guise as elder statesman. Although there was always hope he could follow his brother into the White House, it wasn’t meant to be. There was a greater role for him and he played it well.

If you just can’t stop the feelin’ (and after spring’s preview, who can?), you’ve gotta see the new comedy “Glee.”

It’s available on Hulu.com (check this out) http://www.hulu.com/watch/73740/glee-pilot

And, there’s a Web site filled with “Glee” stuff (check this one) http://www.fox.com/glee

Then, check A&E Friday for stories about the series. It’s one of the best of the fall.

Trust me. And get your Glee-k on.

Sioux City artist Brenda Thelen has created a jelly bean portrait of talk show host Nancy Grace. It’ll be featured on Grace’s show Aug. 25.
Thelen created it as part of a contest to find Grace’s biggest fan. (She was one of 5,000 entrants and a preliminary winner. The big prize? A trip for two to New York.)
I’m betting she’s in the running for the top prize. Nothing works better than food — and a flattering picture.

Take a look.

Are you ready for something pretty spectacular? Take a peek at this video by a group called Perpetuum Jazzile. Note how they’re able to make the sound of rain with just their fingers. Hang with it, too. The ending is spectacular.

The address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjbpwlqp5Qw

 

 Perpetuum Jazzile: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Stoney Creek Inn held its grand opening Thursday night and, wow, it’s a great addition to Sioux City.

Decorated in a North Woods theme (think: moose, logs and buffalo plaids), it’s like the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World.

While the rustic look is carried throughout, there are some special touches:

•In the public rest rooms, there are TV sets built into the mirrors.

•In a suite called The Admiral’s Retreat, there’s a nautical theme. (I’m thinking, though, it’s going to be known as the Michael Bolton suite, since the Grammy winner stayed there when he was in Sioux City.)

•In the swimming pool, there’s a pass through to the outside, so you can swim indoors or out.

•In some rooms, there are massage chairs.

•In others, you can find more flat screen TVs than you’d see in an electronics store.

•In Palmers Pub, there’s a huge Twin Bing candy bar.

At the grand opening, they even had a big moose walking around greeting people. Caterers who will be part of the Stoney Creek family served all kinds of goodies and the conference center was hopping with music, drinks and entertainment.

The event was great — but the hotel has the potential to be even greater. It has an incredible lobby and some fascinating decorating touches (I’ve gotta get one of those log cabin Kleenex boxes).

Take a peek and you’ll agree, it’s a fun place to visit.

And if you want something special, book the Michael Bolton. It’s awesome.

“Grey’s Anatomy” star Eric Dane has turned up on the Internet with a not-so-McSteamy nude tape that also features his wife (actress Rebecca Gayheart) and a former beauty queen (Kari Ann Peniche). Unlike the work of, say, Colin Farrell, it’s pretty bland stuff and it shows that Dane won’t be a director any time soon. (Gayheart won’t be winning any plumbing scholarships, either. She can’t figure out how to turn on a Jacuzzi.) The film is tame by celebrity sex scandal standards, but it’s out there.
Now the big question is — who leaked it? Could it be Peniche? Or does someone else need a little publicity boost?
Note to celebrities: Don’t make films you don’t want everyone to see. Eventually, they’ll make it to the Internet whether you want them to or not.

Bruce Miller previews new box office titles “Inglourious Basterds” and “Post Grad” in this week’s Movies in a Minute.

Just when you thought an Osmond wouldn’t faint, we get word that Donny is going to be on “Dancing with the Stars.”
Joining him are (not Paula Abdul): singers Mya, Macy Gray, Aaron Carter (that’s called “career revival”); former politician Tom DeLay (a/k/a The First One Booted), actors Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazer and Ashley Hamilton (Dad was also on the show); models Joanna Krupa and Kathy Ireland; athletes Chuck Liddell, Louie Vito, Michael Irvin and Natalie Coughlin and reality show folk Kelly Osbourne and Mark Dacascos.

Why so many? They’re having double eliminations, which is good. Half these folks don’t even register on the D-List radar. The dancing begins Sept. 21