TLC's new online program, "A Conception Story," disturbs on multiple levels. Blazing a trail for more wholly sponsored programming, who knows where it might lead. Meanwhile, in the concrete here and now, the show is unapologetically mired in the canononization of motherhood. So? You might say. The program is based on what a spokesperson for the show calls "hopeful positives," and there is nothing particularly surprising about fluffing up ... Read More

Oklahoma is well on its way to becoming the most restrictive state for women seeking abortions. The two most recent bills are bad enough–one forces a woman to have an ultrasound and then listen to a detailed description of the fetus' limbs and organs, while the other prevents a woman for suing a doctor who fails to mention if the fetus is disabled. I don't even get how these two bills can actually work together, but apparently that ... Read More

Thank you, Peter Elkind, for wresting yet another freak show moment from the annals of Eliot Spitzerdom. In his new book, Rough Justice, Elkind quotes the former governor's wife as saying, "The wife is supposed to take care of the sex. This is my failing; I wasn't adequate." Does that not sound disingenuous to anyone else? Even for the Xanax-faced bride who stood by Spitzer in one of the best/worst press conferences ever. (Tiger, had you ... Read More

Here's the pitch -- a great chef who loves music creates "tour food" for his favorite indie bands. What doesn't this new IFC show have going for it? You can be the judge tonight, when Chef Sam Mason brings his culinary talents and visual splendor to the small screen's premiere episode* of "Dinner with the Band," airing at 10:30 EST. OK, I'm calling it "tour food" because I don't see pheasant actually hitting an on-the-go menu anytime soon, ... Read More

  Today's PETA ad in the Chicago Tribune has set off a maelstrom in the blogosphere. People just love to hate PETA. But for this? Because it's tacky? As opposed to what, the way these animals are treated? In playing the first character on TV to have an abortion, Arthur didn't exactly shy away from controversy in her lifetime. And that stone cold stare? Classic Bea/Maude. The fullpage ad explains everything, and not in fine print. ... Read More