I often wondered what they talked about during the commercials, so to speak. Well, now we know.

By the time Gene Siskel died much too early, they really had bonded and loved each other, though maybe they didn’t say it, or recognize it until Gene was sick and the writing was on the wall. Roger Ebert has memorialized his partner and friend so beautifully since then, in a way we should all hope to be honored when we are gone.

Now Roger himself is ill, has lost his voice, but still writes and his real Voice rings pretty clear on issues beyond celluloid and art. He has stood strong to rant against the violations of our constitution, and the immorality of war. You can’t keep a spirit like that down.

That pair has brought me a lot of insight, pleasure and laughter over the years. These outtakes — biting, argumentative, silly, make me love those guys all the more.

I was a typical 60s teenybopper — I loved the Monkees and read Tiger Beat and 16. My favorite Monkee was Peter, and in Tiger Beat, I learned how intellectual and politically passionate he was — so different than his character on the show. In one TB article, he talked about liking folk music, and how much he admired Pete Seeger. Although at the time I probably lived within 100 miles of Pete Seeger, I’d never heard of him.

In other seemingly forgettable TB articles about Peter I remember him saying he drove a beat up foreign car, Saab I think, because it was safer and more environmental or something, which made me think he was just so cool — which in retrospect he was, since this was before the first Earth Day even.

Anyway, I wish I could say I immediately went and listened to Seeger, discovered Dylan, Patti Smith and Lou Reed and left the Monkees to the other sheltered suburban girls, but that was not the case. I didn’t go in that direction until several years later in college. But don’t knock the Monkees, I can’t be the only one whom they eventually led into subversive activity. (Or maybe it was just those of us who chose Peter as “our” Monkee! And, yes, we divvied them up; it’s not like you could have two girls in the same clique liking Micky!)

If you haven’t seen the brilliant and moving documentary about Pete Seeger, The Power of Song, I urge you to do so. I wrote about it previously and just can’t recommend it enough. Here’s a preview:

Back in 2002, I met the three still-touring Monkees (Peter, Davy and Micky for those who don’t follow these things) after a concert in Clearwater, FL. I have a photo somewhere. It would really be perfect for this post, but I have no idea where it is.

By the way, when Peter Tork was imprisoned in the 70s (for marijuana possession), he served his time at the penitentiary in El Reno, Oklahoma.

The usual caveat about History Channel broadcasts applies. I haven’t seen these yet, so can’t vouch for any of it. All times Central.

The Presidents – 8 part series
If you’re going to catch all 8 parts, you probably want to rev up the Tivo. The best time to record would be the commercial-free History in the Classroom airing at 5 AM (Jan 19-23, Feb. 17-19).

• Part 1, 1789-1825: Monday, January 19 5:00 AM, 12:00 PM & 06:00 PM,
• Part 2, 1825-1849: Monday, January 19 07:00 PM & 11 PM, Tuesday, January 20 5:00 AM
• Part 3, 1849-1865: Tuesday, January 20 12:00 PM & 6 PM, Wednesday, January 21, 5:00 AM
• Part 4, 1865-1885 Tuesday, January 20 07:00 PM & 11:00 PM, Thursday January 22 5:00 AM
• Part 5 1885-1913. Wednesday, January 21 12:00 PM & 06:00 PM, Friday January 23 :00 AM
• Part 6 1913-1945. Wednesday, January 21 07:00 PM & 11:00 PM, February 17 5:00 AM
• Part 7 1945-1977. Thursday, January 22 12:00 PM & 06:00 PM, February 18 5:00 AM
• Part 8 1977-Present. Thursday, January 22 07:00 PM & 11:00 PM, February 19 5:00 AM

After cutting and pasting all that and getting confused myself, I found a better presentation of the schedule for The Presidents at Zap2It, although it doesn’t show the Feb. dates for the final three episodes for History in the Classroom. (make sure you have your time zone selected on the top of the Zap2it page).

FDR: A Presidency Revealed: Part 1.
* Tuesday, January 20 08:00 PM; Wednesday, January 21, 12:00 AM

No sign of when Part 2 might follow.

There are a bunch of other president-themed programs this week, including Lincoln mythology, John Wilkes Booth, the Kennedy Assassination, Air Force One, etc, but some of them sound hokey and I probably won’t seek them out.

You can turn off the TV and go to the History Channel website to browse a section on presidential history, including Lincoln’s Bible, on which Barack Obama will be sworn in Tuesday, and recent inaugural addresses. Or study all 44 American Presidents.

In light of President Obama’s realization of Dr. King’s dream, I’m putting this in the presidential category for inauguration week:

King
Sunday, Jan. 18
Martin Luther King is remembered with a rebroadcast of King, a documentary from last year (I think).

• Sunday, January 18 08:00 PM
• Monday, January 19 12:00 AM
• Monday, January 19 10:00 AM
• Monday, January 19 04:00 PM
• In two parts without commercials on January 29 and 30 at 5:00 AM as part of History in the Classroom

The History Channel store is having an Inauguration special, with 30% off and $1 shipping — through the 21st. Sound like it might be a good time for me to order The Universe, Seasons 1 and 2. I also liked Black Blizzard, about the Dust Bowl, and would like to share it with other hopelessly geeky Oklahomans. I already bought myself a birthday present, so let’s call this a Farewell to Bush present, shall we?

I think Rachel is eclipsed only by Obama in meteoric rise from relative obscurity during 2008. She first got national attention in 2004 on Air America Radio. In 2005, she started providing occasional commentary on Tucker Carlson’s old show (the only good thing that ever came from that), and last January (which seems like ages ago!) began doing political analysis for various MSNBC shows, and subbing for Keith Olbermann during the summer. Her appearances were so popular (the blogosphere followed her every word) that by August the brass were persuaded to give her her own hour, making history as the first openly gay/lesbian anchor to host a prime-time news program. The show was immediately a huge hit, surprising only the suits.

Getting her that hosting spot was apparently Keith Olbermann’s mission in life this year. Hey, good work, Mr. O. He’s seen as a genius for pushing it now, but can you imagine the first meeting at NBC on the subject? To have been a fly on that wall! No, it wasn’t so obvious it would fly, certainly not that it would revolutionize the channel’s stagnant lineup and sent its ratings souring.

Here are a few of the many profiles done on Rach in the past few months when it became apparent that she was on to something with her charming wonkery and progressive intellect.

New York Magazine
The Nation
Washington Post

In addition to promoting progressive ideas with a wider audience, she’s become an unlikely sex symbol, a butch lesbian that makes men and women alike into groupies. By being herself — disarmingly kind and funny — she’s advancing civil rights by huge bounds without breaking a sweat.

She’s taken issues that are otherwise archaic or complex, and broken them into digestable chunks. She keeps up with mainstream news, the blogosphere, the think tanks, and backroom politics, and digests it for the rest of us. It’s almost like she’s a Rhodes Scholar or something. She does need a little help with pop culture, which we all like to help her discover and exclaim over.

So, there was really no other choice for 2008 Progressive Person of the Year. Rachel has been our favorite pundit, our proud representative, our champion.

What’s most heartening to me is that Rachel will be questioning and challenging Obama and other Democrats from the left as his administration works with Congress to begin to set this country right. She’ll do so without all the mean-spirited dramatics that is the typical cable news fare, but rather with deep knowledge of history, keen insight and careful research. And she’ll demonstrate how an oppositional press is supposed to work.

All in all, Rachel Maddow is the most exciting and unexpected gift to the progressive movement in years. She’s made smart sexy and fun again.

And she’s just getting started!

Rachel Maddow links:
Rachel Maddow official site
MSNBC show web page
Air American show web page
Rachel’s Twitter (she hasn’t posted for a few weeks)
Facebook page for The Rachel Maddow Show
Fan site

An excerpt is provided at the program page gives a taste of the interview, and of Mankiller’s interesting life and many contributions to our state and country.

Upcoming showtimes:

Sunday, November30 1:00 p.m. OETA MAIN
Wednesday, Dec. 3 6:00 p.m. OETA Okla
Thursday, December 4 8:00 a.m. OETA Okla
Thursday, December 4 12:00 p.m. OETA Okla
Wednesday, Dec. 17 6:00 p.m. OETA Okla
Thursday, December 18 8:00 a.m. OETA Okla
Thursday, December 18 12:00 p.m. OETA Okla
Tuesday, January 6 5:00 a.m. OETA MAIN
Thursday, January 15 9:00 p.m. OETA Okla

I’m not sure what the difference is between “Main” and “Okla” channels, but I only have basic cable (so I’m going with Main, I think). If you have expanded, you probably already know what the difference it.

Also, it appears that OETA may put mp3′s and full transcripts of their interviews on their site, after the broadcasts are done.

hat tip to Jean Warner for the heads up about the showing

(If the video doesn’t load, you can find it here.)

Good on Larry to bring the writer/director of Roger and Me to talk about this catastrophe.

Mike’s remedy:

We’ve got a huge problem. That’s why government — this is a crisis. There’s a catastrophe about to happen and the government has to step in and say, just like Roosevelt did, this is what you’re building. This is how it’s going to be built. We’re going to have a mass transit system in this country. We’re going to bring back light rail. We’re going to build more subways. We’re going to build more buses. And we’re going to employ not only the people that are currently employed, but a lot of the people who have lost their jobs.

We need a huge works program. We need the infrastructure of General Motors and Ford and Chrysler. That’s why they can’t just — and they can’t file for bankruptcy, either, because once a company says they’re filing for bankruptcy, who’s going to buy a car from that company?

There’s no — I mean you’re like, jeez, I may not be able to get this car fixed next year if the company hasn’t come back. So bankruptcy isn’t the answer.

What I think is ironic and, again, hypocritical on the part of Congress, is that they’re not — they’re holding back. He can’t get the votes to bail out the auto companies because that’s going to help a lot of blue collar people — people that don’t have a voice, who don’t have lobbyists fighting for them on Capitol Hill.

But, boy, as soon as the banks or the financial institutions or the people that just gambled the money away — as soon as they were wanting some dough, boy, the trough just was laid out for them. Line right up, take whatever you want, sure, no problem. You know, everybody was there to vote for that.

But when it came time, now, to help the people, the working class of this country, it’s like, ah, I don’t know about that.

So, on one hand, there needs to be a program with money behind it to make sure that these people don’t lose their jobs. But we need to restructure these auto companies so they become mass transit companies and companies that build cars that are hybrid or much more fuel- efficient and better for the environment. That’s what the country needs. That’s what the world needs.

Mike ended his interview saying, “We’re seeing the end of capitalism — the end of capitalism as we know it. And I say good riddance.” Then, the next guest, Rep. Charlie Rangell starts with, “Why do you have me follow Michael Moore? ‘The end of capitalism’!” And he and Larry crack up. Now, that’s good television! [Transcript.]

As was seeing on C-Span those idiot CEOs get grilled like a cheese sandwich in the House and Senate, blasted repeatedly for flying in their private jets to come to Washington to rattle their tin cups.

Unfortunately, as th reporter who got the private jet story later told Anderson Cooper, they were completely unfazed by the outrage. They think they deserve and have earned all the money and perks and privilege they have. That’s why Michael Moore is right — the first stipulation of any bailout by the taxpayers is the elimination of top management.

Silly, maybe, but like I said, it was a hard time and some silly was helpful.

Post-talk show, I ‘ve missed it (and wished for a Best-of DVD which never came), but her blog, with its focus on kids; videos and clipped poetry, I don’t enjoy so much, and I rarely watched The View when she was on it (I never watch The View without her — can’t stand it).

Which is a long intro to the news that , Rosie LiveRosie’s new show — this time an new take on the old variety thing — will start on Nov. 26.

From the official site:

This November, the illustrious Rosie O’Donnell is bringing the classic variety show back to NBC! Just as Ed Sullivan, Carol Burnett and ROWAN & MARTIN’S LAUGH-IN, captivated the hearts of audiences across the country, the always entertaining Rosie O’Donnell will bring that grand tradition to a whole new level!

Guest stars include Alanis Morrissette, Jane Krakowski, Elmo, Ne-Yo, Liza Minnelli, Anti-Gravity with the Lombard Twins, Kathy Griffin and more. The live, one-hour special will feature an unparalleled array of celebrity guests and musical performances, comedic skits and one of a kind games for the in-studio and at home audience. This spectacular show concludes with a massive primetime giveaway where the home and studio audience has a chance to win remarkable prizes!

Rosie will kick off the hour doing what she does best — sounding off about current events, pop culture and whatever is on her mind. Anything can happen as Rosie, her celebrity friends and fans sing, dance, and laugh in a primetime variety show like no other.

I’m looking forward to it and hope its good. I actually will have to delay watching Countdown (thank goodness Keith gets repeated later in the evening) — a major sacrifice on my part for an old friend.

I expect to like the “kick off the hour” part best, just as I did on her old talk show. Don’t tell my Rosie, but sometimes at the end, when some musical guest I’d never heard of was featured, I’d tune away or leave the room.

Update, after the show: Okay, forget I ever posted this. Please?

One of the snotty a-holes on the Morning Joe show went into Manhattan in McCain gear and got the business from the residents, thus proving, of course, that liberals are intolerant elitists who just don’t appreciate real Americans.

Have you ever seen that show? I don’t think any of them would have to be wearing or promoting anything in particular to get rejected by decent people anywhere.

I just sent them an email:

I DARE Willie (and the rest of you) to come to rural Oklahoma where I live and wear an Obama t-shirt. C’mon, Willie, Joe, Mika, hop on a plane this weekend and really prove your point. After all, it’s only Eastern liberals who are “closed-minded” and “hostile”. Right?

The show was Black Blizzard.

Take a front row seat on a period of U.S. history from 1930-1940 when America’s heartland was ravaged by a weather phenomenon that became known as a “black blizzard.” Watch as scientists and special effects experts recreate the black blizzards in amazing detail and reveal that this was a man-made disaster. Discover how these phenomena form, what they’re made of, and how they affect people’s health and the environment. Learn how a black blizzard emerged so ferociously that it seemed like a moving mountain range creating enough static electricity to power New York City. Hear the story of the people who refused to leave their land and learn the history of the Great Plains and how it came to be settled.

Rating: TVPG

Running Time: 120 minutes

Since I started in the middle, and fell asleep before the end, I will be catching one of the upcoming repeats of the show.

• Thursday, November 13 08:00 AM
• Thursday, November 13 02:00 PM

Note: times shown may be Eastern, the site doesn’t say this far in advance.

In fact, the vast majority of Oklahomans impacted by the storms did not leave the state — the show explains that those who made it to California wrote back that they didn’t encourage anyone to follow their example, so bad were the conditions and the treatment in migrant camps.

Which reinforces my friend Rachel’s insistance that real Okies “don’t quit.”

Transcript in this Daily Kos diary, along with the day-long discussion about getting it on the air in swing states. Truthandhope.org has been helping such grassroots video work get the production assistance and funding to be seen nationally, and they are hoping to do the same for this one (per comments in the links diary).

Naturally, tv advertising takes money, so, if you can, give them a few bucks.