Thank goodness nothing important happened this weekend. Here’s your AIM Morning Briefing of the top 3 things you need to know:
- Breaking News: Iraqis Sign New Constitution
It seems that “Breaking” just means “really important.” Of course, this is a transitional constitution that doesn’t address several issues, and they don’t actually have a real government, and there’s still no specific agreement on a plan or timetable for elections … but it’s just a headline. - “Facts of Life” Star Returns to TV
I can’t tell you how long I’ve been waiting for Mindy Cohn to come back to television. Sure, The Facts of Life Reunion was nice, but a little bit of Natalie just doesn’t go far enough. Thankfully, she is a member of the new WB shitcom The Help, which is apparently a modern day, Americanized version of Upstairs, Downstairs. But it’s a sitcom … and The WB doesn’t know how to make sitcoms, so I’m not holding out hope. However, I’m trying to remember the last time one television show’s cast was domainated by such TV flotsam. Mindy Cohn is not the only major star of TV yesteryear in this show. She’s joined by Tori Spelling, David Faustino and Antonio Sabato Jr. And I feel it’s my duty to also mention (and make sure Uncle Grambo knows that this show has considerable hotness factor, and I’m not even talking about dear sweet Mindy. Rather, check-out Polish beauty Marika Dominczyk as “Nanny Anna,” Camille Guaty as “Maria the Maid,” and Keri Lynn Pratt (a former Miss Teen New Hampshire) as “Veronica Ridgeway.” - Opera Singer Fired for Being Fat
The Royal Opera House in London fires an American soprano because they decided she wouldn’t look as good in the black evening dress costume as a slimmer singer. Apparently, the casting director (Peter Katona) who made this decision said, “In making these kinds of decision, it is not just a question of how someone looks; it is also how they move on stage.” I’ve been to the opera, and I’m pretty sure I even stayed awake. “how they move”? Opera singers don’t really move that much. They stand and sing, then maybe walk a few steps and start singing again. Of course, when you’re going after the MTV audience like the Royal, it makes sense to find the person who looks best in the dress. In fact, it reminds me of that great episode of The Brady Bunch where Greg becomes Johnny Bravo because he “fit the suit.” I dig it, man. Of course, by the end of the episode, we had all learned that there are more important things in life than just fitting the suit. Thanks, Mike and Carol.
Out of Focus 