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CBS

"You get the opportunity to just pound and pound and pound somebody," says one player. "It's not powder puff. It's not flag. It's real, tackle football and people are surprised by the collisions and the hits," says another. "They're fundamentally much stronger than the guys are," says their coach. Click here to meet The Force, an undefeated, all-female football team in Chicago that is one game away from the Independent Women's Football League Superbowl. And don't forget to watch the video. [CBS News]

critical mass

Swingtown Promises Sex And Nostalgia, Mostly Delivers Clichés

Swingtown is a new nighttime soap that promises to fulfill our need for adult television in these dry summer months. The show makes big promises: It has extramarital sex! And cheesy '70s references! And drugs! And it's on, uh, CBS? Yes, the network for geriatric curmudgeons and the game show hosts that love them is getting hip. This series follows the Millers (Jack Davenport and Molly Parker) as they move into an upper-middle-class neighborhood in the suburbs of Chicago. They quickly come into contact with a swinging couple (Grant Show and Lana Parrilla) much to the chagrin of their conservative best friends from their old neighborhood (Josh Hopkins and Miriam Shor). It sounds like things could get saucy, but naked flesh and sex scenes are decidedly absent. Instead: '70s references and a soundtrack curated by Liz Phair. Is it worth tuning in? The reviews, after the jump. More »

Loose Lips Sources are saying that Jessica Simpson's "kidney infection" from earlier this month was actually "alcohol poisoning". • CBS head Les Moonves, Katie Couric, and CBS News president Sean McManus addressed the CBS newsroom to quash rumors that Katie was leaving before the end of her contract. TMZ claims to have sources who say Katie's reps are already in talks with CNN so that she can leave her CBS gig. Like Ashlee Simpson says, only "time will tell." [Dlisted, TMZ, Us]

hookers, victims, & doormats

Portman Muscles In On Knightley's Period-Piece Turf

Sometimes it isn't just the starlets who get stuck with the stereotypical parts in films. Serious Actresses can get stuck with stupid shit too, especially since most aren't getting lead roles anytime soon! In the latest round-up of new castings in Hollywood, Natalie Portman sets her sights on an adaptation of Wuthering Heights and Marcia Gay Harden is set to star in a sure-to-be-cancelled new drama series on CBS about journalists who help save the world. Also in the mix, two well-known Spanish actresses lower themselves to supporting roles in American films, but the good news is they are probably getting paid more than they did in any starring role in their Spanish films. More on the latest hookers, victims and doormats in Hollywood, after the jump. More »

not ready for primetime player

Yes, Katie Couric Is Probably Getting Fired From CBS

If you haven't heard already, all the major news organizations are buzzing about the Wall Street Journal's scoop about how Katie Couric is set to get canned from her anchor position at CBS News. Couric, 51, is being paid about $15 million a year, and, though almost two years have passed after her much-buzzed debut — she began in September 2006 — her ratings have remained consistently in third place (several million viewers behind her closest network competitor). The real question is not when Katie will leave or where she'll end up, it's why is her tenure at the CBS Evening News such a complete and unmitigated disaster. According to the Washington Post, "Network executives are unsure whether Couric's difficulties are based in part on viewers' discomfort with the first solo female anchor of such a broadcast, sentiment that her personality is better suited to morning television or some other explanation." More »

CBS President Les Moonves blames Katie Couric's ailing ratings on old men who are turned off by the idea of a female anchor. At the McGraw Hill Companies' Media Summit in New York today Moonves said: "Katie has lost mostly 55-plus-year-old men from [when she replaced] Bob Schieffer." He continued, "Are we thrilled with Katie's ratings? No. But are we thrilled with the product? Yes." CBS News continues to implement changes to its broadcasts in order to draw younger viewers, though relying on younger viewers to make up the bulk of your evening news viewership seems incredibly foolish. No one under 89 watches the evening news anymore! Get your head out of your ass and onto the internet, Mister! [MediaWeek]

clips

CBS News Curmudgeon Calls Bullshit On Harper's Bazaar, Vogue

"Do women who look at these ads think they'll look like her if they wear these clothes... what there is of them?" asked Andy Rooney on last night's 60 Minutes. Good question! Armed with a stack of women's magazines marked with Post-Its (September 2007 Vogue, November 2007 Harper's Bazaar) the legendary grump questioned the advertising seen in periodicals sitting around the 60 Minutes offices. "I often wonder whether the magazines are doing the right thing for themselves," he mused after critiquing ads and models shilling for Dior (Jessica Stam), Michael Kors (Carmen Kass), and Lord & Taylor (Carolyn Murphy). Interestingly — tellingly — Rooney made no distinction between paid advertising and fashion editorial, even though he was ostensibly talking about "ads". Too bad he was looking at last fall's issues; we'd love to know what he thinks of those ridiculous Balenciaga boots.


Earlier: Valentino In Vogue: Models With Ennui Playing Invisible Croquet
Why Don't I Love Shoes? An Exploration In Photos


catty couric

Katie Couric: "I'm Not That Vain...Just A Little."

Remember earlier this year when Dan Rather accused Katie Couric of "tarting up" CBS News? Um, apparently she's not over it. In the clip above, Katie mocks YouTube footage of Rather in which he spent 20 minutes deciding on whether or not to wear a jacket. Then when she's ready for her close up, she says, "Jeez, don't you think he deserves a little payback? This tart is ready to go!" Oh snap! Katie defends her Rather-esque primping by saying, "I'm not that vain...just a little vain." She also uses the words "bro" and "dude" and apparently wears Uggs. Her teenage daughters must be mortified. More »

critical mass

'Kid Nation' Might Be More Terrifying Than 'Lord Of The Flies'

You know how reality TV in general is condescending and exploitative, to its audiences and participants both? Well CBS' new reality show Kid Nation — think Lord of the Flies without Simon plotting to kill and without Piggy tumbling to his death — is all these things but worse. Because, naturally, it involves children. So while last night's episode had the kids in question crying about being homesick and yearning for a stinky-free bathroom, it had critics crying for America's children and yearning for a less banal hour of television. (Pretty bad when Gossip Girl starts to look like Masterpiece Theatre, eh?) The critics speak, after the jump. More »