Jezebel: The today show

Spiderbaby Attacks Today Show With Killer Cuteness

Jessica — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 09:30:00 EDT

The Today Show had a Halloween costume contest this morning, and though we are generally opposed to Anne Geddes-style baby exploitation, this baby's spiderweb costume was sofa king cute we felt we had to share it with the world. Look at his widdle face! The apex of teh cuteness: when Ann Curry goes over and puts the baby's pacifier in his mouth. (We must note that the idea of Ann Curry's taint on any baby makes Dodai barf twice and die.) For Ann and the rest of the Today Show cast dressed up in fairy tale garb, check out the clip above.

Earlier: It's Official: The Today Show Is Making Me Crazy

LOL: At left, a screen grab from a Today ...

Anna — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:40:00 EDT

LOL: At left, a screen grab from a Today Show segment for the most clueless and unintuitive of American parents. Click to enlarge.

Janice Dickinson: "The Fashion Industry Is Not Plus-Size"

Tracie — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:30:00 EDT

The new season of The Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency premieres tomorrow night, and it seems that the behind-the-scenes people at Oxygen managed to squeeze some plus-size models into the cast this time around, despite the fact that Janice herself is vehemently anti-plus-size. (To her credit, this is probably one of the only things the normally arbitrary and/or all over the place Janice has been consistent on.) Above left, a clip of Janice on Today this morning discussing why she's against larger mannequins.

It's Official: The Today Show Is Making Me Crazy

Dodai — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Today was the last straw: I officially hate the Today show. I know it's in the category of "morning television," but I always tune in, hoping against hope, that I'll see, you know, the news. But after the missing women and harmed kids stories, they move right along to "When should I throw stuff in my fridge away?" and the earth-shattering suggestion that if you think your pet is sick, you should see a vet. Then there's a "concert" on the plaza. And for the last few months, a horrible feeling has been building and accumulating inside of me, and if I don't let it out, I'll burst: The absolute worst part of the show is the "reporter" known as Ann Curry.

Ann Curry is the worst. She hems, she haws, she giggles. Words come out of her mouth, but they are strung along in an order that make no sense. It's embarrassing. And on top of her incoherence, in spite of the fact that she is supposedly a journalist, she does not ask questions. Well, sometimes she asks stupid questions. Earlier this week, of Pierce Brosnan on his singing voice in Mamma Mia, she asked, "Where does it come from?" Um, out of his mouth? She asked Natasha Bedingfield the same question today: "Your music. Where does it come from?" Bedingfield was gracious enough to explain how she gets inspired to write songs (Ann was shocked: "You write your own songs?!" Did you do your research, Ann? Read the bio? Or maybe ASK?) If I'd been asked "Your music. Where does it come from?" I'd have said, "The speakers."

Today, Nelson Mandela's birthday, Curry "interviewed" Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer and filmmaker David Turnley, who spent 25 years documenting the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa. This is, verbatim, Curry's first question for Turnley:

"[Mandela] says in this last clip we just heard, 'It is in your hands now.' And this is the idea in your book the idea that we are now given the baton we now have this legacy."

Turnley barely knows how to respond, but basically just interviews himself and explains the point of his book. Ann follows up thusly:

And that's not all; that's not all. You took these iconic images that show us not just that courage but also… … a man who could despite what he gave up forgave. And I think that was the moment that made people around the world realize that something that we want to believe is possible in all of us."

Wait, what? As seen in the clip above, all the poor man can do is blink. Of all of the questions she could have asked him: "What was your most memorable moment of your quarter of a century in South Africa?" "Did you ever feel that Mandela's life was in danger?" "Did you ever feel that your life was in danger?" "Which, of all of the photographs you've taken, was the toughest to get?" She asks a question that is, in fact, a statement, filled with some kind of breathy faux-gravitas that we're supposed to interpret as sincerity. I wanted to throw my television out of the window. She makes journalism look bad. She makes women in journalism look bad.

And just when I was calming myself down, who should arrive but Kathie Lee and Hoda? Their cackle-filled, weight-loss centric last hour of the Today show veers between mind-numbing, inane and excruciating. And every Friday, they relive the week's exploits through a montage set to "Girls Just Want To Have Fun." These are full-grown women on a news program? Believe me, I want to stab myself (or SOMEONE) in the eyes.

Heather "Dooce" Armstrong Makes Kathie Lee Uncomfortable

Anna — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:30:00 EDT

Talk about ice queens on the Today show: This morning, Heather B. Armstrong met with Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford to talk about her award-winning, groundbreaking blog Dooce — is it just me or doesn't it seem a bit unfair to call it a "Mom Blog"? — and sat on the couch with her arms crossed the entire time, looking cold. (In temperature, not in spirit.) Maybe she was simply preparing herself for Kathie Lee's line of questioning. About three minutes into the interview, Kathie Lee admitted that she has "mixed emotions" about Armstrong's chosen line of work, then quickly changed the subject to tease the show's next segment about home decorating. Clip above.

Earlier: Dooce: Proof That Not All Our Pregnancies Need To End In Abortion?

Some Six-Year-Olds May Have More Makeup Than Their Moms

Anna — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT

The mainstream (morning) news is getting on the girls-getting-beauty-treatments bandwagon: This morning, Today's Janice Lieberman reported on the marketing of manicures, pedicures, cosmetics and hair treatments to little girls...and their mothers. (How long until Sephora opens a chain of "Sephora Jr." stores?) Lieberman visited a mani-pedi party at NYC's Dashing Diva salon and spoke to psychologist Dale Atkins, who cautioned that "when kids are exposed to these types of products and images...it affects their self-esteem body, image, future eating disorders and sense of who they are." Clip above.

Earlier: •Bikini Waxes, Highlights & 'Tramp Stamps': That's What Little Girls Are Made Of
•How Many 8-Year-Olds Have To Get Bikini Waxes Before We All Agree The Terrorists Have Won?

Sarah Jessica Parker's Son Is A Tool Of The Political Patriarchy

Anna — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT

"Smart And Sexy" Sarah Jessica Parker showed up on Today this morning to plug her new film Smart People, talk about being a onetime single-girl, and explain why her son James Wilke, is such an Obama fan. Turns out James is just loyal to people with penises! In the clip above, hear SJP relate the amusing anecdote, plug her perfume line, and respond to Meredith Vieira's predictions for the upcoming Sex and the City movie.

Related: Sarah Jessica Parker: Learn From Your Mistakes [NBC News]

Fat & Smart? Or Skinny & Stupid?

Anna — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:30:00 EDT

The Today show had a segment this morning ostensibly about "brains and beauty" that actually concerned some internet game "Would you rather be fat or [blank]", in which people go online and pick the "disability" they would prefer over suffering from obesity. In predictable fashion, Today show producers sent their cameras out on the street and interviewed a half-dozen people (all of them women, of course), asking "Would you rather be 40 pounds overweight and smart, or skinny and stupid?" Almost every one of the respondents picked poundage and brain cells over being svelte and stupid, except for one woman, who gave an amusing, politically-incorrect answer she will no doubt get shit for. Clip above. (A more in-depth, in-studio discussion can be seen here.)

Related: Would You Rather Be Fat Or Blank? [NBC News]

'Miss Bimbo' Creators: "Take Care Of Your Bimbo, Nurture Her, Love Her"

Jessica — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:30:00 EDT

Ann Curry and company over at the Today show were just as incredulous about the internet game for burgeoning skanks, Miss Bimbo, as we were. In the clip above from this morning's broadcast, two adorable English moppets named Jasmine and Poppy enjoy Miss Bimbo's "big jugs and facelifts," and the dudes behind the game defend Miss Bimbo with straight faces. The pair of floppy haired founders say things like, "It's a morally positive, fun game..."What about loving your bimbo, taking care of your bimbo, sending her to university?"

Earlier: New Game Encourages Young Girls To Embrace Their Inner "Bimbo"

Yeah, We Know: Dr. Laura Schlessinger Is Full Of Shit

Anna — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Today Show producers must have been in overdrive yesterday afternoon: The talk/news program was pretty much all Eliot Spitzer this morning, featuring an interview with former New Jersey first lady Dina Matos McGreevey (more on her later) and Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who sent Today Show viewers into fits of fury after she suggested that Eliot Spitzer's wife Silda — and other cheated-on ladies — was somehow responsible for her husband's transgressions. (Choice quote: "These days, women don't spend a lot of time thinking how they can give their men what they need."). Sure, it would be easy to rip Schlessinger a new one but honestly, does anyone really take this woman seriously? She's basically a humorless, post-menopausal Ann Coulter with a physiology degree. And she's been saying this sort of shit about women for a while now. Clip above.

Earlier: Dr. Laura Blames Whiny Women, "Defends" Her Soldier Son

Modern Brides Can Be Real Bulldozers

Anna — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:30:00 EST

Have you asked a man to marry you yet? Well so far, not very many of you say you'd do it. One woman who actually went through with it? Marina Maiuri, who appeared on the Today show this morning in post-proposal bliss with her intended, Sean Smith (Congrats, kids!). The segment was short but sweet, but the feature that followed — about the bevy of soon-to-be brides who line up for discounted wedding dresses at Filene's Basement — wasn't. Women (and a few men) stampeded over one another to get deals on gowns. One woman, unfortunately, fell on the way in. Clip above.

Related: Gal Who Proposed In Daily News Gets Big "Yes" From Her Guy [NY Daily News]

Drew Peterson Has Some Fucked Up Notions About Family

Anna — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST

Whether or not he's behind the disappearance (and probable murder) of his wife Stacy, there's one thing Drew Peterson is guilty of: Total and utter douchebaggery. The former cop (what is it about cops who murder their wives lately?) just can't get enough of the media's spotlight and, so, exactly one week after investigators deemed the death of his third wife a homicide, he turned up on the Today show (again!) to talk with Matt Lauer. The entire interview lasted some 10 minutes, but the most telling moment came about two-thirds of the way through, when Lauer quoted a note Stacy had sent to friends about the "controlling", "manipulative", and "somewhat abusive" nature of her marriage. See how Drew responded to that, above.

Drew Peterson: "I'm Prepared For Anything" [NBC News]

Candice Bergen Gives Faith Ford BitchFace During Murphy Brown Reunion

Dodai — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:20:00 EST

Murphy Brown, which aired from 1988-1998, was one of the most popular shows on TV. In 1992, the lead character (played by Candice Bergen) became a single mom. All hell broke loose when presidential candidate Dan Quayle said, in a speech, that Murphy was "mocking the importance of a father, by bearing a child alone, and calling it just another 'lifestyle choice.'" It's been ten years, and this morning the cast reunited on the Today show and talked about the incident. The best part? When Faith Ford insists, "None of us were very political!" Bergen — who attended the University of Pennsylvania in her youth and once, as a prank, threw dollar bills on the floor of the New York Stock exchange with political activist Abbie Hoffman — totally gives Ford the stink eye. Clip above.

The Cast Of One Day At A Time Discusses MacKenzie's Druggie Past

Anna — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:00:00 EST

The Today Show had the reunited cast of late 70s sitcom One Day At A Time on this morning, and Matt Lauer made sure to ask all the hard-hitting questions. About halfway in, Lauer began questioning Mackenzie Phillips about her coke-fueled dismissal from the show, and wrapped things up by asking Pat Harrington, Jr. (aka Schneider) about how he broke his Emmy. For those born after 1980, the show is about a divorced mom (Bonnie Franklin) taking care of her two teenage daughters (Mackenzie and Valerie Bertinelli) in Indianapolis. That might not seem like much now, but a divorced mom as a role model was a revolutionary concept when the show debuted in 1975. Look out for a surprise appearance by a "special" guest in the clip above.

Earlier: Tina Yothers Ate Carrot Sticks On The Set Of Family Ties

Heart Of Darkness?

Anna — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 09:45:00 EST

A note from a reader: "Saturday morning, the Today show did a fashion segment with an editor who I think was from Lucky magazine and she was pretty insulting in one of her "recommendations" for adhering to this season's styles. [The editor] was showing a new tribal look from Old Navy, and when the Today show anchor happened to say, "So you should only wear one piece of this?" the editor said, 'Oh you shouldn't wear FACE PAINT or CARRY A SPEAR." The March issue of Lucky does have a small "how to wear" item on tribal prints, but we're looking for a video clip for confirmation (and are coming up short). Anyone? Update: It wasn't an editor from Lucky but someone from People's "Style Watch". Watch the video: Offensive? Or innocent? [MSNBC]

Do Women Grieve For Their Pets Differently Than Men?

Anna — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:30:00 EST

A Today Show segment about dealing with the loss of a pet struck me as a bit curious, if only because all those interviewed were women. (Yeah, I know: morning show demographics.) I wouldn't go so far as to say that women feel the death of a companion animal more acutely than men, but I wondered: John Grogan of Marley & Me notwithstanding, are men able to let go more easily? Take one piece of news coming across the wires: Bernann McKunney, a 50-year-old California woman, is dealing with the loss of her beloved pit bull, Booger, by having him cloned.

Then there's my fiance's inability to understand why — a quarter-century later — my mother and I still burst into tears when recounting the lives (and deaths) of our four family dogs...and he's an animal lover. Of course, it is very probable that I am totally full of (dog) shit on this entire issue, but you know, it's Friday, and any excuse to write about animals &c. Clip above.

First Order For Pet Dog Cloning [BBC]

Waiting For My Cats To Die [Amazon]

Overheard on the Today show this morning: ...

Anna — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:45:00 EST

Overheard on the Today show this morning: Jane Fonda uttering the word "cunt". Apparently Meredith Vieira apologized for it later (maybe Meredith didn't get Slut Machine's memo!) but we'll have a clip up of the moment — and more importantly, the reason for her appearance, i.e. the 10th anniversary of The Vagina Monologues — up later this morning.

Tina Yothers Ate Carrot Sticks On The Set Of Family Ties

Anna — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST

The cast of Family Ties gathered on the Today Show this morning in honor of a new book — titled Sit, Ubu, Sit — written the show's producer, Gary David Goldberg. After an interview with Matt Lauer, the TV family returned for another sitdown with co-host Al Roker, who passed on viewers' questions, one of which was directed at the females in the cast and had to do with the stay-slim standards of beauty in Hollywood. Although none of the women seemed interested in delving into the issue, Tina Yothers let it slip that she considered herself "a big kid" and that carrot sticks were provided by producers... perhaps as a subtle suggestion that she lose weight. Clip above (and listen for Tina's TV dad's undermining comment about Clydesdales).

'Family Ties' Stars Hold Family Reunion [NBCNews]

Natalee Holloway's Mom On New Video: "Look What They've Done"

Anna — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:30:00 EST

There may finally be an "end" to the long, sad saga involving the disappearance and probable murder of Alabama high school student Natalee Holloway: A Dutch journalist, PeterR. de Vries, has handed over videotape that reportedly shows murder suspect Joran van der Sloot admitting to being witness to both Natalee's murder and the disposal of her body. This morning's Today Show featured a sitdown with John Q. Kelly, an attorney representing Natalee's family, as well as exclusive video of Natalee's mother Beth Twitty's thoughts after viewing the van der Sloot video. Clip above.

Journalist Claims To Crack Holloway Case [NBC News]

Self Defense For Women Comes In Many Shades Of Stupid

Anna — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:30:00 EST

The Today Show's Jenna Wolf started off the 8:30 hour this morning with a report about the new "ladies nights" for contemporary women living in a criminal world: Taser parties. The brainchild of Dana Shafman, the parties, formally known as "ShieldHer Taser Parties", are expanding into states like California, Nevada, and Texas and feature light snacks, no booze, and tasers in colors like hot pink for sale. Shafman explains that not only has she sold over 100 tasers since starting the business last October, she's been tased herself (on video no less). As for those ladies concerned over the devices' potential for deadly injury, just remember: Leopard-print tasers don't kill people; people do! Clip above.

ZZZap! Taser Parties Surging In Popularity [NBC News]

Teens Today Think Coats Are Tres Uncool

Anna — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:00:00 EST

We're always curious as to what's hot and what's not among American adolescents, and this morning, we learned something shocking: Midwestern teens don't much like coats! In a Today Show segment titled "Leonard's Look", Mike Leonard took to the streets of suburban Chicago (high temperature yesterday: 27 degrees) and found a flurry of kids walking around in the cold without benefit of coat or jacket. It was both amusing and inexplicable (says one kid: "I think [coats] are losin' it a little bit".) Clip above.

How Not To Look Old Author Doesn't Look Old, But She Does Look Stupid

Jessica — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:40:00 EST

Former Glamour and Shop, Etc. editor Charla Krupp was on the Today show this morning, shilling for her new book How Not To Look Old. In the above clip, Krupp encourages over 40-year-olds to look "young and hip" because otherwise, they'll get fired! "You have to look current to stay in your job today," Krupp says. "If you're wearing clothes that are dated, people are going to think your ideas are dated." But that's not all the knowledge Krupp's dropping. She also extols the virtues of Botox and other "injectibles" in a recent interview in Time. (Yes, Time. Her hubby works there!) In addition to getting botulism injected into your face, according to Krupp, "the other thing that [boomers] really need to do is color our hair." Man, someone should tell Meryl Streep she's looking like a real ancient fool in Devil Wears Prada with that hideous white hair! Horrors!

How Not To Look Old: Author Charla Krupp [Time]

Suspiciously "Straight" Guy Gives Suspiciously-Animated Advice On Getting Engaged

Anna — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

On the Today Show this morning: A segment about getting engaged over the holidays that quickly devolved into a fairly insulting discussion about marriage and how, for some women, an engagement is the culmination of their life's work. (Ugh.) On the show were psychologists Robi Ludwig and Jeff Gardere, who seemed suspiciously, shall we say, not straight, despite the presence of a wedding ring and complaints about being a henpecked husband. Our take: He's gay! But Gawker Media videographer Richard Blakeley has other ideas! "He's just a Midtown metrosexual," says Richard. But wait! "I just watched it again," he says. "He is pretty gay." Decide for yourselves, ladies, by viewing the clip above. (You can see the entire video here.)

The Rules Of Engagement [Today Show]

Girl Prodigy Gaby Wilson Returns To Today; Tickles Ivories

Anna — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST

Remember little Gaby Wilson, the 10-year old singer/musician who was pre-empted by George Bush when performing on the Today Show two weeks ago? She's back! Gaby, a straight-A student and Alicia Keys obsessive, got an entire six minutes on the program this morning (her proud parents were on hand as well) and gave a very self-possessed, adorable interview before launching into a rendition of Keys' "No One". Anyway, the entire clip is above; if you want to just hear Gaby sing, skip ahead to 3:40. Earlier: Boogie Oogie Oogie Girl Plucks A Beat

Marie Claire Editor Does Joan Rivers Drive-By On 'Today'

Anna — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:20:00 EST

This morning, plastic surgery aficionado Joan Rivers, Marie Claire editor Joanna Coles and a psychiatrist from iVillage turned up on the Today show to talk about the pros and cons of plastic surgery. (Is it just us or is Joan beginning to resemble Jocelyn Wildenstein? Joan: stop! Didn't you hear the news?) Other than Joan's fascinatingly strange-looking face, the best moment of the segment came when Joanna Coles — who was on to talk about "facial dysmorphia" — offhandedly insulted her overstretched seatmate by intimating that Joan had made an entire career out of having plastic surgery. (Note to Joanna: Joan started performing as a comedienne in the 60s. You know, right around the time you were born?) Clip above.

Meet Paul Janka! He Likes To Keep His Dates On The Liquid Diet...

Moe — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST

Today the Today Show crowned America's Next Top Douchebag, and he's a Harvard-educated SAT tutor. He wrote something called How To Get Laid In New York, and apparently his big secret is that he never takes girls out to dinner, because he doesn't like having to converse that much to attain that which he used Microsoft Excel to prove he has a much higher chance of getting if he just buys her a bunch of liquor. Can you tell I have zero rations from the day's outrage supply for this guy? He's just stating the obvious, while wearing some distractingly hiked-up khakis. Anyway, most of the dudes I know who employ his rules are guys I would actually have sex with. A few of them know how to use Excel, too, and some of them might even use it jokingly to prove a point about dating or the sexes or something.

But Paul's just sort of sad. Isn't he? Well, Meredith Vieira doesn't think so. And some doctor thinks he could be victimizing poor young girls! Dear young girls, if you are letting dudes like this victimize you, feel better bc it could be so much worse!

Brad Pitt's Pretty, Pink, Southern Hospitality

Anna — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST

As promised — and endlessly promoted — Brad Pitt turned up on the Today show this morning for an "exclusive" talk about his designs for low-income, environmentally-friendly housing for residents of hurricane-ravaged and federally-neglected city of New Orleans. (It's been almost 2 1/2 years, people!) The thing is, although viewers got a nice peek at Brad himself, the homes he helped design were hidden under pink, Christo-type shrouds in the background. WTF? Anyway, at least we got to see his adorably puffy morning face. Clip above.

Brad Pitt's Christmas Wish [The Today Show]

Teen Girls Shocked To Learn That Perfect Women Aren't So Perfect

dodai — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST

On this morning's Today show X Factor Hour (our phrase for the female-centric segments that dominate the programming between 10 and 11am), the show's producers and hosts took a break from cooing over calorie-laden holiday treats and sparkly doodads to discuss something far more interesting: teenage girls, self-esteem and society's unrealistic standards of beauty. We've written about Dove and their campaign for real beauty before. Now they're having teen-friendly stars like High School Musical's Monique Coleman and singer JoJo attend after-school workshops, where the celebs — and a self-esteem expert — talk to teenage girls about the difference between reality and "an image." A digitally-enhanced, unattainable image. Says 14-year-old Kasia, "It was very shocking." For us, too, Kasia! Check out the clip, above.

"When You Educate A Girl, You Educate A Community"

Anna — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:00:00 EST

In 1993, Greg Mortenson, an amateur mountain climber, was nursed back to health in a small Pakistani village after a disastrous climb of the Himalayan peak K2. In return, he promised to build the village's first school. Above, Mortenson talks to The Today Show's Ann Curry about his new book Three Cups Of Tea, a memoir of how he has worked to fight poverty, Islamic extremism and provide a better quality of life for Central Asian children through education... particularly young girls.

The Today Show [MSNBC]

Kathie Lee Gifford Talks Cougars, Doesn't Crack

Anna — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:30:00 EST

As you may know, Kathie Lee Gifford is guest-hosting on the Today Show; this morning, she helped moderate a segment about cougars — women who date younger men. The best parts of the segment are Kathie's close-ups: Is she just tired? A lot older than we're used to seeing her? Or is it just the chemical intervention in yet another middle-aged lady who refuses to grow old gracefully?

What's Next? Meredith Viera and Matt Lauer Showing Their Top Porn Picks?

Jennifer — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:45:00 EDT

We still aren't sure why, but we were totally wide-awake at 4 a.m. today. So we were starting to feel a little blurry by the time the Today show came on. Which is why we didn't believe our ears when we heard the words, "wedding-night lingerie fashion show." And we sure didn't believe our eyes until our roommate screamed, "Holy shit - I just saw that girl's fanny!". Oh yes. No way is this appropriate early morning programming! Where's the Christian Coalition when you really need it?

Matt Lauer Really, Really Wants To Know What's Up With Miss New Jersey

Anna — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:46:22 EDT

This morning, The Today Show's Matt Lauer interviewed Amy Polumbo, the current Miss New Jersey with the little girl voice who's been blackmailed by an anonymous person(s) threatening to make photographs with "fictitious captions" of her public. No one (well, besides Amy, her lawyer, the authorities, and the blackmailer!) really knows what the fuck is in these photos, a fact that seemed to be killing Matt (and, honestly, us!) throughout the interview. And Amy wasn't telling, alleging only that she is 1) not nude in them and 2) not engaging in underage drinking or doing "anything illegal." "They're not that bad, I'm a normal college girl," says Amy. Huh? A normal college girl who's not having sex on camera or doing shots of Cuervo? She must be going to racist parties!

Miss New Jersey On Alleged Blackmail Plot [NBC]

First Order Of Business After A Breakup? Facials!

Anna — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:09:37 EDT

Just broke up with your man? Postpone the five stages of loss (in fact, skip over denial altogether!) and pull a Cameron Diaz, says Lisa Steadman, the author of the new book It's A Breakup Not a Breakdown, and a self-professed "Relationship Journalist". (Note to selves: Check out her blog). Lisa turned up on The Today Show this morning and suggested that the first order of business after a split is to hightail it to a salon and get a makeover. But wait, doesn't that kind of go against the message on the cover of Lisa's book? Maybe it's just us, but stuffing our faces with fancy chocolates gives us cellulite and zits!

The Today Show
Related:It's A Breakup Not A Breakdown [Amazon]
Lisa Steadman
Earlier: If Breakups Beget Beauty, We'll Take Three Please

We Are Not Modern American Women

Anna — Wed, 30 May 2007 12:46:09 EDT

This morning, The Today Show celebrated its latest segment on "The Search For The Modern American Woman" with yet another visit from our favorite second-wave feminist, Marlo Thomas. Today Marlo explained that the rate of women-owned businesses is growing at twice the rate of that of other American businesses, bringing in $1.1 trillion dollars into the U.S. economy. And as for just who this modern American woman is, Marlo said she's a "very confident" type who is "willing to take the risk". Hmm: We'd describe ourselves as "very confident" too, but we're pretty sure it's just the meds and boob implants!

The Today Show
Related: We Are All Bad Feminists

Gender Equality: It's All About Sex With The Fix-It Guy

Anna — Tue, 15 May 2007 14:25:09 EDT

Whither the "Modern Woman"? The Today Show may have the answer! Earlier today, the morning show kicked off its new series, "In Search Of The Modern Woman", with a Meredith Vieria-moderated discussion about representations of single-women on TV over the decades, from the groundbreaking That Girl to, um, Friends. (No mention of Sex And The City. Funny that!) Although we were thrilled to see clips of Marlo Thomas from the old days ("Free To Be You And Me" even got a shout-out), what we really loved was the old white guy explaining how female TV characters over the years have not only taught us how to assemble our identities... but our plumbing!

The Today Show