Robert Dougherty

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Living in Philadelphia, PA
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Author of "Lost Episode Guide For Others" and "Lost: The Island's Greatest Hits" now available at Amazon.

Expertise: News, television, movies, pop culture, Lost

Listen to me on The Situation Room at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GStMLFMdRcQ
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Since the Saints won the Super Bowl, there have been countless jokes about how much New Orleans will party, especially with Mardi Gras next week. Now they get to put it in practice, with the victory parade now under way tonight.
The Oscar experiment to have 10 Best Picture slots worked out well for the show, since several blockbusters and the biggest movie ever made the cut. But aside from that, how well did the new format work- and did it change things as much as people think?
Brooklyn Decker was revealed as the Sports Illustrated 2010 swimsuit issue cover girl last night. Decker had the edge in being married to tennis star Andy Roddick and having appeared in the issue for the last four years.
Drew Brees is going to be a very busy MVP this week and for much of the offseason. His new round of honors continued by going on David Letterman last night to help console the disappointed Colts fan before his victory parade.
After only a year under President Obama, a new billboard in Minnesota is asking if we miss President Bush yet. Of course, conservatives and liberals have different answers. But it seems the right is starting to get louder in suggesting Bush was better.
Heroes used to be assured of a new volume, yet after Volume 5 ended with the gang taking down Samuel, no one knows if it will be renewed for Volume 6 in the fall. Yet the traditional new volume teaser hinted at a "Brave New World" if they are renewed.
Two years ago, I had no idea where I was going to go after college, with no jobs available. I still don't have an official job, but thanks to Associated Content, I have a big resume and a starring role in a rising company- and it can do the same for you.
Most pundits penciled in Peyton Manning as the Super Bowl MVP, especially after the first quarter. But it was Drew Brees that blew out the competition in that race instead, as he went 29-for-32 in the last three quarters to lead the comeback.
For all but one quarter, the Saints outscored the Colts last night. But since the Colts looked so far ahead in the first quarter, no one saw the last three coming. Yet the Saints won every quarter since, especially the one that really counted.
The actual Super Bowl competition barely garners more attention than the race for best commercial. This year, despite lots of ads from Doritos and Budweiser, it was Betty White and Snickers that won the night, according to USA TODAY's Ad Meter.
After over four decades of largely infamous football, the Saints erased it by winning the Super Bowl. Of course, they had to rally back from an early deficit to prevail 31-17, thanks to Drew Brees' perfection and Peyton Manning's one big mistake.
It used to be that the Super Bowl commercials were better than the game itself, but the game has won out the last two years. Just in case, this year's crop of ads will go all out again, and also try to emerge from Tim Tebow's shadow.
Though the Colts and Saints have 53 players, only one for each team seems to matter to most. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are expected to light up the scoreboard tonight, with both playing for a slice of immortality- and Manning playing for history.
It's been eight years since Mel Gibson brought his on-screen "Edge of Darkness" in front of the camera. Now after going to the edge off-screen, he's back to doing it as an action star, this time as a Boston detective after his daughter's killers.
The last few years have brought Super Bowl highlights and heroes that no one could have guessed. For this year's game, conventional wisdom has very high scoring, the usual heroes and a Colts win, but will it really turn out that way?
Sarah Palin's much anticipated tea party speech had the usual digs at Obama, and proclaimations of a new American revolution. But whether Palin, and the tea party itself, can lead that revolution will be big questions for 2010 and 2012.
In just hours, Super Bowl 44 will finally get started. For two weeks, fans have waited for football- and for two weeks, the Saints have been the sentimental choice, even though most are actually predicting the Colts and Peyton Manning.
Ashton Kutcher has become an SNL regular, as he hosted for the fourth time on his 32'nd birthday. But Kutcher's efforts to prove himself more mature met some setbacks. Meanwhile, Rahm Emanuel, Eliot Spitzer and "Burn Notice" were among other targets.
Today's NFL Hall of Fame vote was a foregone conclusion for Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice. But they will not go to Canton alone, as Dick LeBeau, Floyd Little, John Randle, Ricky Jackson and Russ Grimm also found room to get enshrined.
There used to be a time when Super Bowls were blow outs, and over by halftime. But recent fans have been spoiled with two consecutive classic finishes, with hopes that the Colts and Saints can deliver a third.
The snow totals in the East Coast so far vary, but the worst of it is quite high. Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania have as much as 2 feet in some areas already, with totals at the end of the day estimated as high as 30 inches, if not more.
Back in December, Washington got hit with over a foot of snow, but it didn't reach any records. Today, the city could get up to 30 inches of snow by the end of this new storm, which would reach a record- and has already paralyzed the region.
The celebrity death mill isn't taking a break, even during a winter storm. This time, they've claimed that Bill Cosby died of a heart attack, though he is likely alive. However, some still believe that he at least got taken to the hospital.
"From Paris With Love" has the team from "Taken" blowing up Paris again. But the real star of the show is a wild, bald, deranged John Travolta as a deadly spy. While reviews pan the film, they are divided on whether Travolta's antics help or hurt it.
The search for the next "Notebook" continues, as the latest movie based on a Nicholas Sparks book has Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried as torn apart lovers. "Dear John" hasn't moved many critics, but can it move audiences to finally overthrow Avatar?
Two high-profile young births have taken place in America and in China. An 11 year old gave birth in the Northeast days ago, right around the time that the youngest living mother was discovered in China, where a nine year old had a baby boy.
Lane Kiffin is already making his mark on USC and looking ahead to the future. In fact, he already has his starting quarterback for 2015, as seventh grade QB David Sills has already committed to the program.
Philadelphia sports fans usually don't have much to celebrate during Super Bowl weekend- except the Wing Bowl. The 18th annual celebration of wings, and eating hundreds of them, was held today, as the defending champion had a near record-setting meal.
Although Giants Stadium was in New Jersey, it was one of New York's biggest sports venues, thanks to the Giants and Jets. But now the 34-year-old stadium is finished, as demolition began today while the football teams prepare for their new home.
Jon Stewart and Bill O'Reilly set off sparks and hype whenever they square off. With Stewart going to FOX to face O'Reilly on the Factor, anticipations were high. The two cable icons sparred over FOX and their biases on Day 1 of their interview.
Taylor Swift had a very big night at the Grammys- although the good parts of it are being overshadowed. Her four awards aren't being talked out, as much as her duet with Stevie Nicks, which has gotten such criticism that her record label had to step in.
Powerball is rolling up its first big jackpot of 2010 and is now the biggest around after Mega Millions gave out $144 million last week. After last night's drawing, the Powerball jackpot is now up to $140 million itself.
The original "We Are The World" was one of the biggest songs of all time, as most of the music industry sang to help starving Africans. On Monday, over 100 of today's biggest singers united for an updated "We Are The World" on behalf of Haiti this time.
51 years ago today, music died with the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper on the same plane crash. Yet music has managed to linger five decades later with help from Don McLean's famous tribute to the tragedy.
Practically every Lost theory ever has been wrong- perhaps except for those about parallel realities. Since there will be two worlds this year, central theories are sure to revolve around the monster, Desmond, Juliet's final words, and much more.
The big question before Lost Season 6 was whether time changed, or if the future stayed the same. As it turned out, both things happened, as Oceanic 815 landed in one timeline, while the survivors returned to the island in another.
For those who wanted a changed future, and for those who wanted an intact time line, the Lost season premiere gave both groups what they wanted. The new format somehow worked in the premiere- though it may have only been the second most revealing twist.
The final season of Lost is just moments away, as fans nervously clutch their DHARMA belongings while 9 pm approaches. For this fan and Lost author, the same type of anxiety is at hand- as well as fears over how an alternate future will work.
In hours, the answers to Lost's final season will finally start to arrive- after they decide if time changed or not. No matter what reality the action is in, fans want answers, or at least some major clues, to start this all important final year.
Phil the Groundhog delivered his annual winter prediction today and let everyone down by seeing the shadow that means six weeks of winter. Of course some nitpick that Phil isn't the expert he claims to be.
For all the movies picked as Oscar nominees, only two seem to matter in the big races. Avatar and The Hurt Locker have been on a collision course for weeks. Now that they have 9 noms each, Best Picture and Director, it will be a photo finish between them.
This year's Oscar nominees are a true mix of overdue choices, newcomers that came from nowhere, and old and new favorites. Real history could be made, while some could finally get their overdue recognition, and others could complete an unlikely journey.
The Oscar nominees have finally been selected, although they seemed to lock up their noms weeks ago. "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker" are set for the final leg with nine noms each, and Best Picture also includes "District 9" and "The Blind Side."
The Razzies have been an alternative to the Oscars for 30 years, as they dishonor the year's worst movies and performances. This year, the likes of Transformers, Land of the Lost and G.I. Joe got Razzied- and so did certain Oscar nominee Sandra Bullock.
For months, the promos for the final season of "Lost" have contained zero seconds of new footage. But with the premiere coming tomorrow, new Season Six clips are coming fast and furious- with conflicting info on whether the future changed.
The two-week wait for the Super Bowl is halfway over, which means the real hype can begin. Super Bowl week, with all the media coverage, media-friendly storylines, and actual football at some point, has now begun in Miami.
Tomorrow, the world's most famous groundhog will get to predict the weather once again. However, animal rights groups would like Phil the Groundhog to be left alone- with PETA suggesting that his duties be fulfilled by a robot.
The Pro Bowl got a lot of press this year but often for the wrong reasons. Yet they actually played a game last night in which 31 alternates helped contribute to a 41-34 AFC win. Now the hype can truly begin for the next bowl in Miami.
The Grammys gave out a ton of awards to the biggest names in music. However, as has been the case lately, most of the big ones went to Beyonce and Taylor Swift. Beyonce got a record six Grammys overall, while Swift got four and the Album of the Year.
The controversy over the date of the 2010 Pro Bowl has largely brought negative backlash to the NFL. But after tonight's game, the Pro Bowl returns to Hawaii- though Roger Goodell may choose to hold it a week before Super Sunday again.
The NFL hoped that the 2010 Pro Bowl would make the game important again. Instead, moving it to the Super Bowl site, a week before the big game, has backfired badly, and now the 2010 game will finally be put out of its misery tonight.
Jon Hamm was one of SNL's most popular guest hosts last season, and proved it again by returning last night- without his recent beard. His female fans had a lot to see in a few sketches, while the State of the Union and Jersey Shore also got spoofed.
Roger Federer and Andy Murray had dominated the field on the way to the Australian Open final. But as it almost always is, Federer was the last dominant player standing, as a straight set win gave him yet another Grand Slam title.
The Red Sox are set for another season, and another run at a title. Their die hard fans will now get to buy individual tickets for 69 home games- but they must wait for a drawing to get tickets for Yankees games, and for a visit from Manny Ramirez.
Greg Oden is still living down searches for his leaked nude photos. However, this is the most buzz he's had since he entered the NBA, after three injury plagued seasons, and fears that he might be another draft bust for Portland.
The final singles match of the 2010 Australian Open has an old and new face. Roger Federer is used to being here, while Andy Murray can bring England to the Grand Slam winners circle for the first time since the 1930's.
Serena Williams was able to beat a former champion who came out of retirement this time. Justine Henin took Williams to a third set, but Williams got a key break to win 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, for her record fifth Australian Open title.
Kurt Warner has inspired many stories about his unlikely rise to fame and how he made the Rams and Cardinals into champions. Even before today's press conference, everyone is crafting tributes, since they expect him to announce his retirement shortly.
This Oscar season has been quite easy to predict, in terms of nominations and even winners. With the nominations in four days, a consensus has been reached in almost every major category, leaving little room for surprising snubs and nominees.
It's been eight year since Mel Gibson was better known for being an action hero, rather than a laughing joke and lightning rod for controversy. "Edge of Darkness" may show that Gibson can still shoot 'em up, but reviews are otherwise mixed.
The iPad is finally out, and many are mixed about whether Steve Jobs' new invention is a success. A highly anticipated review on CNET is similiarly mixed, as the product's size, name, and originality are called into question.
For the second time in several months, Blackhawks star Patrick Kane has earned a bit of infamy off the ice. Last time, it was for allegedly assaulting a cab driver, and this time, it is for being shirtless in a limo with teammates and women.
The final Australian Open semifinal had Roger Federer breeze through Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, setting up a highly anticipated showdown with Andy Murray. But first, another highly anticipated final is ahead between Serena Williams and Justine Henin.
The State of the Union may have won back some Obama supporters. In fact, Hardball's Chris Matthews was so captivated, he forgot the President was black. But once the blogs and the right got a hold of his comment, they were sure to remind him.
The singles finals in the Australian Open 2010 are now almost set. For the women, Serena Williams will again face a retired champion on a big comeback - this time Justine Henin. Andy Murray is in for the men's final, with Roger Federer trying to meet him.
President Obama needed a successful State of the Union, with bold new promises, to get back on his feet. Early reaction suggests that he may have done it, but given how the last year has went, delivering in the long-term may be more important.
Most nude photo scandals involve young female stars, but this time, a young male sports star is being exposed. A nude shot of injured Trail Blazers center Greg Oden has hit the Net- and although the content has been deemed impressive, he had to apologize.
At 9 pm, the President will report on the State of the Union, at a time where his base is convinced that the state is worse than ever. Tonight, President Obama will try to get back on track, by focusing on the economy rather than health care.
The upsets are piling up in the Australian Open 2010, and nearly claimed both Williams sisters. Venus went down, while Serena needed a miracle comeback to advance. Even Roger Federer lost his first set before breezing back to the semis.
College basketball only had an undisputed, perfect No. 1 team for less than two days this week. Kentucky celebrated their new ranking by getting upset by unheralded South Carolina, and their star senior Devan Downey.
Progressive and devoted liberals are already worried that President Obama isn't really one of them. His new plan to freeze non-military discretionary spending, in order to stem the deficit, may make them panic even more as the State of the Union nears.
Tim Tebow's NFL future is uncertain, though he is already making a big splash at the Super Bowl. Tebow, his mother, and Focus on the Family have made a pro-life commercial for the big game, which is scheduled to air despite various protests.
Rafael Nadal's defense of his Australian Open title ended very badly against Andy Murray. Not only did Nadal lose the first two sets and go down 3-0 in the third, he had to leave the match with his latest knee injury, as Murray marched to the semis.
The Australian Open 2010 is now closer to its championship stages. Justine Henin has shocked everyone by getting to the semis, while Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick were both knocked out. But Roger Federer and the Williams sisters are still in control.
Nowadays, the way to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar is with a terrifying movie villain that redefines movie evil. Anton Chigurh and the Joker were such Oscar winning characters, and Christoph Waltz's Hans Landa is set to carry on the tradition.
The Colts and Saints have been powerhouse teams all year. But due to the Colts' experience and impressive comeback over the Jets, and the Saints luck against the Vikings, Indy is the early 4-5 point favorite on the betting lines.
The Colts were always expected to get to the Super Bowl, but the Saints needed a 13-0 start to create some believers. Yet for the first time in 16 years, the two top seeds are in the Super Bowl, in a showcase for offenses and the Manning family.
The Vikings and Saints lived up to their NFC title game hype and more- with clutch plays, Brett Favre heroics, and fumbles galore. Yet a last second Favre pick cost Minnesota in regulation, and then New Orleans finally won with an OT field goal.
The New York Jets looked set to continue their miracle run, as they went up 17-6 over the Colts. But Peyton Manning, Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie and the Colts defense took over from then on in, en route to a 30-17 win and a second AFC title.
All but two NFL playoff games have been blowouts, making neutral fans tune out by the fourth quarter. Today, that can be redeemed if the conference championship games live up to expectations, as the Colts, Jets, Saints and Vikings do battle.
The fake celebrity death circuit got off to a slow start in 2010, but has made up for it by alleging Johnny Depp died in a car crash. Of course, the fake CNN report about it was easy to prove false, as Depp is likely still alive in France.
For months, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been rumored to be on the verge of a breakup. Britain's News of the World now alleges that it has happened, and that they've already worked out deals on custody and dividing assets.
For those who watched the SAG awards 2010, they could be mistaken if they thought it was a rerun of the Golden Globes. Virtually every single winner also won at the Globes, though the main difference was "Inglourious Basterds" winning Best Ensemble.
The Jets and Colts have a rather important history together, dating back to 1969. But more recent history binds them, like the Week 16 game that controversially started New York's recent run. Can the Colts overcome past and present history?
The Vikings and Saints have been on a collision course all year, and they finally come together in just a few hours. The NFC championship game is widely expected to be very loud, both from the Saints' rabid fans and the offensive fireworks.
With just over a week left until Oscar nominations come out, the Screen Actors Guild now gets to honor some of their own. The best ensemble casts, and the favorites in the Oscar race, get to add to their accalades before the Academy has their say,
The long list of performances at 'Hope for Haiti' included a particularly notable routine by Justin Timberlake, as he chose to do Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' This chance of pace was well received by some, but not by others.
The Vikings and Saints will both be in unfamiliar territory tomorrow, playing for the Super Bowl. Everyone knows how the Saints have never gotten there, but Minnesota has been waiting over 30 years to return, and waited even longer to win a title.
Hope for Haiti brought the most famous entertainers in the world together, to raise funds for Haitian relief. Over a hundred million is likely to have been raised - yet the problem isn't raising the funds, as it is getting them to the people.
Though the future of late night is uncertain, it can move on to a new stage, now that Conan O'Brien's 'Tonight Show' stint is officially over. For his final show, Tom Hanks, Steve Carell, Neil Young and Will Ferrell sent him off with jokes and music.
CBS may to have brought a Sunday night Hallmark movie to the big screen, with special guest stars Harrison "I already work around the clock!" Ford and Brendan Fraser. "Extraordinary Measures" is being panned as just another Hallmark movie by critics.
After every major disaster, the elite of Hollywood and the music industry come together to ask for aid in a major special. Tonight, "Hope for Haiti" continues that tradition, as a telethon/concert will be held on every network from 8-10 p.m.
Keith Olbermann usually rants and raves about the right wing and certain politicians. But he went so overboard to take down Scott Brown, even fellow liberal media icon Jon Stewart had to do an extended parody of Olbermann's name-calling.
Action movies usually blow things up in summer, instead of contending for Oscars. But in this crazy Oscar season, the two favorites are bona fide action films- although Avatar and The Hurt Locker aren't the usual action fare.
Minnesota native Prince was blown away by the Vikings win over Dallas - so much so that he 'saw the future' and put together a new theme song for the Vikings. 'Purple and Gold' is out now, but can it bring the luck of 'Pants on the Ground"?
The gang on the "Jersey Shore" got together one last time this season, after a summer of instant stardom. Of course, Sammi and Ronnie found another reason to argue and possibly break up, while Snooki and The Situation had their usual antics.
Democrats are already angry at recent political shifts, and now they are outraged at a brand new one. The Supreme Court has suddenly overturned limits on corporate spending for political ads, which could be a boom for pro-Republican business.
The causes of the Haiti earthquake have a simple geographic explanation. But blame for the actual earthquake isn't enough. Thus far, people have blamed the likes of poverty, corruption, God, the Devil, America, France, and Haitian culture itself.
The last night wars are legally over, as NBC will give Conan O'Brien a $45M buyout to leave the Tonight Show after Friday. Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell will send him off tomorrow, then he must leave behind his famous characters and anti-NBC gags.
John Edwards denied he had a love child for months. But soon after 'Game Change' came out with more details of his affair, Edwards admitted that Rielle Hunter's daughter was his. However, the admission comes after the damage was done.
The Australian Open is just starting to heat up, as Juan Martin Del Potro and James Blake proved in their second round match. Del Potro took four hours, and 18 games in the fifth set, to finally put Blake away.
Just a week ago, few outside of Massachusetts may have heard of Scott Brown - except those who read his Cosmo centerfold in 1982, or heard his daughter on American Idol. But Brown's win last night makes him the new hero of the right, and its new star.
The Haiti earthquake happened over a week ago, but tremors and aftershocks are still being felt. Today, a 6.1 aftershock spread even more panic, set back the recovery efforts, and further showed the long odds for Haiti's recovery.
It didn't take Democrats long to concede Martha Coakley's loss in the Massachusetts senate race, which they did before the polls closed. Coakley officially gave up an hour later as the scrambling to save health care begins.
Virtually everyone has abandoned Martha Coakley in the Massachusetts special election, as blogs and pundits are writing her obit now. Yet pollster John Zogby is one of the few to believe she can win, as he predicted a one point victory on Sean Hannity.
Tonight's special election between Scott Brown and Martha Coakley won't have exit polls until much later. But the dominant narrative is that Coakley has already lost due to ominous early polls and constant chatter that the Democrats are now finished.
The Massachusetts senate race is framed as the death blow against Democrats and Obama, if Scott Brown pulls the upset. Even if it isn' t- and actually makes Democrats pass the health care bill faster - the narrative may be too ingrained to overcome.
For the first time in decades, there is suspense around an election in Massachusetts. With Republican Scott Brown now favored to take Ted Kennedy's old seat - and provide the key vote against health care - Democrats are starting to panic.
This week is supposed to be the end of the late night battles, as Conan O'Brien will leave the Tonight Show after Friday. But his fans still have a lot of outrage, as they hold a rally in the rain outside his studio, and outside other NBC buildings.
With the final four set for the NFL playoffs, fans can now choose which possible Super Bowl matchup would be best. There are already juicy prospects- like Brett Favre facing the Jets, and Peyton Manning facing his father's old team.
With the Golden Globes finished, there's not much left that the Oscar contenders can do before the big night. "Avatar," James Cameron and Sandra Bullock got the biggest boosts, while Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep and more remained solid favorites.
The Pants On The Ground sensation is naturally sweeping YouTube, with countless videos and parodies devoted to Larry Platt's hit. But it has gone beyond that, as even Brett Favre and the Vikings found time to pay homage yesterday.
One of the main stories of the Oscar season is how Jeff Bridges doesn't have one yet. He took a big step towards getting one by winning his first Golden Globe for "Crazy Heart" to the delight of all his Hollywood friends.
The Jets had gotten a lot of breaks to get to the divisional playoffs, but everyone figured it would end against the scorching Chargers. Yet the skeptics were silenced once and for all, as the Jets' 17-14 upset gives them a rematch with the Colts.
The Golden Globes red carpet is being hampered by rain, but in less than an hour, everyone will be dry and ready to pick up some more awards. The Oscar favorites try to increase their lead, while TV's favorites battle some new upstarts.
The eighth season premiere of 24 is a big one, with Jack saving the world in New York, and with uncertainty about the show's future. The buzz for day eight suggests the usual thrills and surprises, though there are some mixed reviews and outright pans.
Dallas was the annoited NFC champion by some, while Minnesota was a forgotten powerhouse. Three hours later, the Vikings pounded the Cowboys into submission - even at the end - for a 34-3 blowout that sends them to New Orleans.
The Jets have surprised everyone by getting to the divisional playoffs, while the Chargers are used to being there- and not getting much further. Now New York can prove that they really belong, and San Diego can start proving this is their year.
Minnesota is hosting Dallas today, with Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson and the Vikings Nation on their side. Yet thanks to the Cowboys's hot streak and star power, and the Vikings' December troubles, Dallas may be the favorite to many today.
The first clip of the Haiti earthquake, as it happened, was captured by the CBS Evening News. It shows the quake from a distance, though that isn't enough for some, as searches for death pictures from the area have predictably risen.
After 23 years, Sigourney Weaver hosted SNL for the second time, as if Avatar needed any more publicity. Of course, there were plenty of Avatar spoofs- most notably with Cameron's version of Laser Cats- along with more late night jabs.
For almost a month, the Colts have faced backlash, criticism and fear over preferring rest more than a perfect season. But against the Ravens, Jim Caldwell was vindicated, as their 20-3 win put the Colts two steps from their real goal.
Kurt Warner hardly had a good day today, as he suffered a chest injury after throwing a costly second-quarter interception. But if he now retires, that injury and the Cardinals' 45-14 loss will be the final act of his career.
After a hard month, New Orleans and Drew Brees got back to business against Arizona. The Cardinals once again gave up 45 points, but this time, they only answered with 14 of their own. The blowout win sends the Saints a step from their first Super Bowl.
At last, Jim Caldwell and the Colts management will see if benching their starters for a month ruined their Super Bowl hopes, along with their perfect season. The Ravens already blew out Indy's arch-rivals, and now look to get back to the AFC title game.
All week, everyone has expected the Saints and Cardinals to score 100 points in today's opening divisional playoff game. But even if they don't, it will finally answer if the Saints are back on track, and if the Cardinals can really make another run.
Today, the NFL playoffs begin for the Saints and Colts, while the Vikings and Chargers make their debut tomorrow. All four of them should be favorites, but three of them come in with recent struggles, while the other hasn't gotten over the hump.
The official Haiti death tolls are at around 50,000 so far. However, the highest estimates were at around 500,000, though officials guessed it could really be 200,000. Yet the true total may never be known- especially considering the aftermath.
Like most pre-Oscar shows, the Critics Choice Awards chose The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique as winners - although Streep had to share with Sandra Bullock this time.
Nowadays, late night is all about the Leno/Conan/NBC wars, and talking about them. But Jimmy Fallon, who seems to be safe from NBC's tinkering, actually did something else - by performing the 'Pants on the Ground' song as Neil Young.
The first big action film of 2010 is yet another post apocalyptic thriller. This time, Denzel Washington slaughters villains in the name of the Lord, or at least his last remaining Book. But even God may not overcome mixed reviews or Avatar.
Both Rush Limbaugh and Pat Robertson have injected themselves into the Haiti earthquake aftermath, in controversial ways. Like Robertson, Limbaugh didn't back away from his wildest statements, as he still argues about President Obama's motives for aid.
In the aftermath of a earthquake like the one in Haiti, the news can't be expected to be any good. Three days after the quake, the news gets worse and worse as thousands still haven't received aid, while the likes of Pat Robertson are upstaging things.
Jimmy Kimmel has now provided the two biggest takedowns of Jay Leno in this controversial week. First he impersonated Leno for his whole show on Tuesday - and then he continued to slam him on the Jay Leno show, during a "10@10" bit that got out of hand.
The infamous Doomsday Clock measures how close the human race is to extinction. But mass genocide is a bit farther away, as the clock was moved back from 11:55 p.m. to 11:54 p.m. today, thanks to slight improvements on various doomsday causes.
There is no way to get an accurate picture of how many died in the Haiti earthquake. However, politicians and officials are inflating their predictions to as many as 500,000 deaths- which would be the second most in recorded history.
This week was supposed to be dominated by American Idol's return, but Simon Cowell, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and NBC actually upstaged the first few episodes. That is, until a 62-year-old civil rights activist sung about his pants on the ground.
While everyone else sends support and money to the people of Haiti, Pat Robertson blames their misfortune on an alleged deal with Satan centuries ago. But given Robertson's past history of blaming victims, it can't be that shocking.
After the 7.0 Haiti earthquake, thousands are feared dead, and scenes of the damage are all over the Internet. As such, citizens and charities are on overdrive trying to jump start relief efforts, with the Internet and other tools used to raise funds.
In the battle for NBC late night, many more fans are supporting Conan O'Brien than Jay Leno - especially fellow talk show hosts. Team Conan is clearly winning big over Team Leno and NBC in public opinion - but that may be all they're winning at.
Google had agreed for four years to censor their search engine results in China. However, after a cyber attack was launched on Google from China, to hack into protesters' accounts, the company drew the line and is threatening to end the policy.
Lost's characters mean more than its mysteries, but it didn't seem like it at some points last year. As the final season arrives, Jack and a lot of his friends have to redeem their iffy actions last year- no matter what universe they're in.
The Haiti earthquake is already noteworthy as it was a 7.0 strike that caused much devastation. But Twitter is bringing much of it to light as users are Twittering a first hand look at the damage- while Wyclef Jean is using it to raise relief.
USC's search for Pete Carroll's replacement ended with Lane Kiffin, of all people. The former Trojan coordinator left the Tennessee after just one year to come back. But the hire leaves many doubts as to whether he's the man to put USC back on top.
NBC's plan to move Jay Leno back to 11:30, and the Tonight Show to after midnight, won't happen with Conan O'Brien. He made that clear in a statement where he threatened to leave if NBC's plan was carried out- and 'Team Conan' on Twitter has his back.
The American Idol judges lineup has already been shaken up lately with no more Paula and with Ellen coming by soon. But in 2011, Simon Cowell and his insults will no longer be around either, leaving American Idol with its biggest identity crisis ever.
Sam Raimi couldn't get a Spider Man 4 off the ground, so he and Tobey Maguire are both being let go while Sony completely reboots the franchise around a 'tween' Spider Man. This will either be 'gritty and contemporary' or a Twilight knockoff.
Mark McGwire confessed to steroid use, which didn't shock anyone. Since the outrage over his actions has subsided, thanks to the other steroid tainted sluggers, he may have caught a break. But it may be too late to redeem his legacy, nonetheless.
The Trojans are trying to find the next Pete Carroll, and Jack Del Rio - an NFL coach with a .500 overall record - might fit that exact bill. But the former USC linebacker would forfeit a $15 million buyout if he resigned from the Jaguars.
Sade is making an already noteworthy comeback with her upcoming album "Soldier of Love." The title track has already been heard over and over in a new "Lost" promo, and the official music video is to be released today.
The NFL's elite eight is set as the Saints and Colts host their first playoff games on Saturday, and the Vikings and Chargers host red-hot opponents on Sunday. Expectations are high for better games than this past weekend.
As Avatar makes history at the box office, it continues to spark heated debate over its actual story. Arguments that the movie is racist are starting to heat up, due to its treatment of the Na'vi people and how a white hero saves them.
Since Harry Reid's racially tinged comments about President Obama leaked, the usual debate about racism has ensued. Both the left and right are accusing each other of racism in some way, while some say that Reid exposed American voters as racist.
The Cardinals and Packers lit up the scoreboard, and with their last point, set the all time record for the highest scoring playoff game. The shootout provided the only real thrills on Wild Card weekend- but will Arizona have enough left for round 2?
The Cardinals looked set for an easy win over the Packers, going up 31-10 in the third quarter. Then all heck broke loose until a defensive play, of all things, gave the Cardinals a 51-45 overtime win to send them to New Orleans next week.
The Patriots of old would never be down 24-0 after one quarter to the Ravens at home, then go on to lose 33-14. But the '09 Patriots were clearly not the Pats of old, as Ray Rice and the Ravens defense steamrolled to the next round against the Colts.
The Patriots and Ravens, unlike the other wild card pairings, haven't met in over a few months. The Ravens are out for blood as they try to start another unlikely Super Bowl run, while the Patriots try to return to power without Wes Welker.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is becoming an enemy of progressives, due to the health care debate and other issues. So when a new book came out in which Reid said President Obama had "no Negro dialect" in 2008, it couldn't have been worse timing.
Charles Barkley returned to the SNL stage, 17 years after his first hosting gig. So of course, he had to wait another half hour until NBC finished with football. When they did, Barkley could spoof his awful golf game and get maced by MacGruber.
The Cowboys don't have to hear about their playoff drought, and neither do Wade Phillips and Tony Romo. In fact, their latest 34-14 drubbing of the Eagles may have fans penciling them for the Super Bowl -- but Brett Favre and the Vikings are next.
The Jets didn't shut out the Bengals again, but they did even worse by knocking them out of the playoffs, 24-14. As usual, the Jets running game and defense dominated, while the Bengals couldn't get anyone but Cedric Benson going.
The Jets and Bengals are the first two playoff teams in action. Both carry a lot of doubts about how their seasons ended, how well they can play in January, and whether they can make Super Bowl runs. But only one team will give the right answers today.
Wild cards used to rarely get to the Super Bowl, but it is much more common now. This weekend, several wild card teams have real shots to start a Super Bowl run. By recent history, at least one Super Bowl team will be playing today or tomorrow.
At last, the NFL playoffs begin again today. The first two wild card games are two rematches of blowout games on Sunday. The Bengals and Jets try to answer their critics, and then the Eagles will try to rise from the dead against the Cowboys.
The NFL MVP race was dominated by quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Brett Favre. In today's final decision, they were the only ones to get votes- and Manning blew them all out for his record fourth trophy.
KFC is getting bad press for some overseas ads with racist overtones. In Australia, a bit where a white cricket fan appeases black fans with fired chicken was accused of racism- though an even more racist KFC ad was aired in Korea.
The Seahawks fired coach Jim Mora after one season, because they want to begin the Pete Carroll era as soon as possible. Throughout the day, rumors have spread about Carroll being interested in Seattle, and leaving his USC dynasty.
Now that all the games have been played, the final standings are out to officially close the year. Alabama is on top, of course, with Texas and Florida at 2-3. 14-0 Boise State finished fourth, behind two one-loss teams.
For the third time in recent week, a college coach is fired for allegedly mistreating a player- in this case, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt. Even though the actual player didn't want Leavitt fired, he has been let go like Mike Leach and Mark Mangino.
The New York Post reported yesterday that Artie Lange tried to kill himself, and police confirmed it- although Howard Stern was furious that it was made public. But now that the story is official,
Alabama beat Texas to win the national title, 37-21. But no one could have predicted how they'd do it. They did it despite two early mistakes, did it with Colt McCoy knocked out early, then did it after backup Garrett Gilbert almost led Texas back.
Alabama and Texas are finally ready to play for the national title tonight. For the Tide, they must avoid a letdown after destroying Florida, and getting their first Heisman Trophy. For the Longhorns, they have a lot of critics to shut up.
Mariah Carey has made bizarre speeches before, and did it again with a weird, drunken speech at a Palm Springs Film Festival on Tuesday. So when she accepted a People's Choice Award last night, some wondered if she was drunk again.
The supposed two best college teams in the land are playing for the national title tonight. Such a game should have high expectations- but in the history of the BCS, the championship game is usually a blowout, or an anti-climactic disappointment.
Artie Lange has been in the hospital for days, but no one knew for that. The New York Post Page 6 column shed some light, claiming that Lange stabbed himself nine times on Saturday. Howard Stern seemed to confirm it on his show today.
The Twilight fanbase has been searching for a reported .pdf file of the "Eclipse" movie script, which originally belonged to star Jackson Rathbone. But reports are that it is only an early draft, and the script isn't the main attraction anyway.
Paul Watson and the crew of "Whale Wars," a television show on Animal Planet, are back on the hunt against Japanese whalers. Their latest battle nearly brought them down, after a whaling boat allegedly rammed into their new ship.
In the second departure of a Democratic Senator in two days, embattled Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut announced he will not seek re-election. With these recent announcements, the Democrats' 2010 election chances are said to be reeling.
Iowa and Georgia Tech faced off in the last BCS game before the national championship. The Orange Bowl was dominated by the Hawkeyes' defense, which kept the Yellow Jackets stymied all night, while Ricky Stanzi's return finished off a 24-14 win.
Lost laid on a lot of religious parallels last season, a trend that continued with their latest cast photo. Though many other shows have parodied "The Last Supper" picture, it was something else altogether when Lost did it this weekend.
Tiger Woods is back in the headlines by accident, thanks to Brit Hume, of all people, giving him advice. Hume advised on Sunday that Woods could redeem his image by converting from Buddhism to Christianity -- advice he still stands by.
3D is now the biggest thing in movies, thanks to Avatar. So the third dimension's next conquest has to be television, and ESPN is helping them along. ESPN 3D will immerse sports fans into their favorite games, starting with the World Cup.
Despite some complaints, the Fiesta Bowl pit the two best mid-major programs against each other. Though TCU was the new hot mid-major power, the old king, Boise State, came through with more trickery to seal up a 17-10 win.
The big story in the NFL is the playoffs, but after that, the NFL draft will take over. The Rams are on the clock at No. 1, as they ponder whether to get Ndamukong Suh or another potential savior. The Lions, Bucs, Redskins and Chiefs will take who's left.
Now that the playoffs are here, there's no need to do NFL power rankings after today. As fans scramble to rank the best teams going in, they think highly of the Chargers and Cowboys, while the Colts, Saints and Eagles inspire more doubts.
The NFL playoff bracket is now set, and everyone is talking about how it's a rerun. Three wild card games are rematches of week 17 games, and the other one is a rematch of an early season showdown. Even in the second round, some familiar foes may meet.
The Washington Redskins have been expected to fire Jim Zorn pretty much all season, so they finally did it the second after the season ended. Now the stage is set for Mike Shanahan to replace him, if owner Daniel Snyder has his way.
The Jets didn't get credit for beating the Colts' backups, and getting to the brink of the playoffs. Their 37-0 blowout of the Bengals -- even while their starters were there -- looked better. But they will meet again in Cincy to start the playoffs.
After all the anxiety and scoreboard watching, the wild card playoff matchups are almost set. The NFC picture was finished when the Cowboys throttled the Eagles. Tonight, the Jets can clinch the last AFC birth, or give it to the Texans.
The Cowboys spent the last year living down a blowout loss to the Eagles to end last year. The shoe is now on the other foot, as the Cowboys got revenge with a 24-0 win that gave them the NFC East. But the Eagles get another shot at Dallas next week.
The first slate of NFL games weren't expected to settle the playoff picture. But some things are clearer now, however. The Vikings set themselves up for a bye, while the Steelers stayed alive- but the Texans comeback win may have knocked them out.
The Patriots were only playing for the AFC three seed against the Texans, but they sent all of their big guns. But now they may have lost one of their biggest, as Wes Welker came down with a bad knee injury, making his playoff status questionable.
Today's Eagles vs Cowboys game has almost everything possible at stake. The winner gets the division title and possibly a bye, while the loser has a much longer road to the Super Bowl. The winner may also become the new NFC favorite for Miami.
NFL fans have been trying to make sense of their team's playoff scenarios for weeks. Today, everything is settled on the field, as each contending team has one more game to make their mark, mixed in with hours of scoreboard watching and math.
Lottery players have a unique chance in each state to start 2010 as millionaires. Last night, Pennsylvania and many other states held a special raffle, in which four chosen raffle tickets would be worth 1 million dollars each.
Both Texas Tech and Michigan State needed to win the Alamo Bowl, if only to overshadow their scandals for a little while. The game was a shootout, but the Red Raiders- with or without Mike Leach- had enough offensive tricks to pull out a 41-31 win.
Ireland is cracking down on blasphemy and atheism, with new laws that fine people for offending religion. A group called Atheist Ireland is undeterred, posting 25 so-called blasphemous quotes on their website- from figures like Jesus and the Pope.
It's been over three years since Kurt Westergaard drew the infamous Propher Mohammed cartoon, which sparked massive riots and death threats. The outrage is still there, as police had to stop an intruder who broke into Westegaard's home with an ax.
For all of the drama surrounding Florida, there was still a Sugar Bowl to play, against an overshadowed and abandoned Cincinnati team. But the Bearcats wound up being run over after all, as Tebow exited with a 51-24 blowout triumph.
Tim Tebow was the center of attention in the Sugar Bowl, in spite of Urban Meyer's recent actions. FOX Sports even set up a 'Tebow cam' for online users to follow him everywhere in his last game. But his Sugar Bowl work was perfect on every camera.
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