What to do when friendships sour.

There are tons of books on the market guiding us in the delicate dance of ending a romantic relationship.  But what about a friendship that has withered and washed up on the beach of life?  How do you end a friendship with someone who is draining your life-energy, being deceitful (or owes you $20 – Jack, I’m looking at you! – kidding!).

Psychotherapist and contributor for Care.com Robi Ludwig visits NBC’s TODAY to discuss the fine art of “cutting a bitch loose” (as it is so affectionately known in colorful neighborhoods and on reality tv).  But first, how do you know when it’s time to cut the cord?  According to Ludwig:

“If you feel devalued.  If someone is criticizing you.  If you can’t trust somebody.  If you feel you’re really not your best self with this person.   That’s a pretty good sign [to cut them loose].”

That’s half my family!!

I’ll keep them around.  But some of the advice she gives really is sound and addresses issues of friendship rarely discussed (like why it’s often harder to break up with a friend than a boyfriend/girlfriend).

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Jessica Simpson - Mayer's nepalm no longer

Jessica Simpson dropped in on The View to discuss her new VH1 tv special The Price of Beauty (where she travels around the world to discover and define beauty) and to address her critics who have berated her for gaining weight over the past year (something that she was clearly hurt by).  The good news is that she seems to have made peace with herself (refusing to shrink to a size “hollywood zero”, shrugging off critics and still enjoying her fried foods in moderation).

Where Simpson also scores points here is on her candor regarding ex-boyfriend John Mayer who recently ran off at the mouth about Simpson and his other ex-lover Jennifer Aniston.  While his comments about Aniston were less than flattering (and even harsh), Mayer calls sex with Simpson addictive.  Barbara Walters and crew are of the consensus that being called sexual napalm and wanting to be sniffed like cocaine by a man is a flattering thing — they still, however, refuse to let him off the hook (this is The View, after all).

Simpson’s best line of the segment was regarding John Mayer comment about Simpson wherein he compared having sex with her to “sexual napalm”:

“Oh, he’ll never have this napalm again?”

Okay then.

This segment with Simpson does exactly what a talk show appearance is supposed to do:  it reveals a bit about the guest and discusses whatever they are promoting in a way that titillates us into wanting to invest in their latest project.  Her tv show looks surprisingly good and she is clearly passionate about it.  Watching Jessica Simpson come into her own as a woman, take on douchebag former lovers and redefine her beauty on her own terms makes you want to root for this Texas girl all the way.

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Oprah with half-brother Jeffrey Lee (early 80's?)

ABC's The Women of Brewster's Place

Oprah poses with her half-brother Jeffrey Lee in the early 80’s.  Lee eventually died of AIDS in 1989 (just prior to Winfrey producing and starring in the ABC miniseries The Women of Brewster’s Place).  They are only half-siblings, but do we see any family resemblance?

The video clip below is of an ABC’s promo spot for Oprah’s syndicated talk show.  My how we’ve changed.

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A day in the life at YouTube - cupcakes and puppies.

Considering its game-changing impact on culture and society (allowing us to see and share ourselves with the world as never before), it’s pretty astounding that there hasn’t been more “behind the scenes” at YouTube videos.  Or, maybe there have been.  But I’ve certainly never seen any.  Which is why I felt compelled to post this.

NBC’s TODAY show not only shows us footage in the belly of the beast at YouTube (more like a playground for adults), but they interview YouTube employees who proudly champion their employer’s cause.  While they speak to several employees who drone on about the company’s greatness, I’m sure this woman (in summing up YouTube’s entire perception (of itself and that others have of it)) will get a nice raise.  Her one profound line:

“We’re the moneymakers here at YouTube.”

Yes… you are.

Giving us a glimpse into the YouTube culture proves insightful.  But the only part of this behind-the-scenes look at the corporate giant is the revelation that, every Thursday, their pastry chef raffles off a three-pound cupcake.  Where can I apply for a job?

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Vierra, Gifford and Kotb - feel the love.

In a backstage scene you couldn’t pay me to be in, NBC TODAY talk show co-hosts Meredith Vierra, Kathy Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb hold a production meeting in the hair and makeup room for a new segment being hosted by Vierra.

Can we say cranky?  Good.  Can we say hysterical?

Kathy Lee and Hoda (with hair and makeup undone and looking a bit deranged) clearly aren’t in the mood.  When Vierra asks the name of the segment they’re producing, Gifford (clutching her coffee cup for dear life) responds:

“Who knows?”

Zoinks.  And the production meeting is over (in 20 seconds) but not before Al Roker gets a zinger in:

“Hey, Meredith!  If I were you, I’d get a whip, a chair and a pistol!”

Meredith, no slouch in the sarcasm department, zings right back:

“I’ll get it out of your office.”

The frightening things is, I bet Roker really does have a whip, a chair and a pistol.  Team Roker!

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Low-tech Lynn gets her first tech lesson.

You know times have changed when a woman being called “low-tech” is worse than her being called “loose”.  NBC’s TODAY Show ran a contest with Ladies Home Journal to find the most “low-tech” person in America (we all know that person – they don’t do the internet, they don’t text, they actually still talk on the phone – gag).

The prize for the low-tech winner:  a lesson in the latest technology to bring them into the digital age (the Cenozoic era is sooo over).

In an introduction clip, the winner (Lynne Horan from Massachusetts) confesses to being “low-tech” as if she’s admitting to molesting children — all that’s missing is the blur over her face to mask her identity (the hallmark of a confession of shame).  Family and friends have begun to disown her and laugh at her for being a techtard (technological retard – don’t tell Sarah Palin).  Let’s look at the details of Lynn’s affliction:

• Low-tech Lynne buys cheap disposable cameras from the drug store to capture those special family and friends moments (I would disown her at this point myself if I didn’t have a few of those cheapie cameras lying around my house too);
• She makes the following statement proudly:  “I do no how to email.  I have a computer at work.  Mostly data entry.”
• She confesses:  “I would love to keep in touch with the kids but..”  (Somebody call child protective services!)
• She looks into the camera befuddled and asks: “What’s a Skype?”  (the entire room, including the camera guy, bursts into laughter – that’s right Lynne, everyone is laughing at you – it’s time to get help).

After receiving a thorough lesson in modern technology from TODAY correspondent Sarah Haynes, Horan enthusiastically considers herself cured tech-able.  Haynes sums it up a little more precisely (and with a bit of snark on the side):

“More importantly, you’re empowered.  You don’t have to feel stupid.  ‘Cause you’re not.”

Lynn doesn’t seem too convinced of this.  But let’s cut to the chase.  People like Lynn are technologically challenged because they want to be.  With the user-friendliness of today’s software and gadgets and the fact that you can ask anyone in your life (including free tech support for help), anyone who is technologically challenged is that way because they are either extremely lazy, locked away in a bunker waiting for the apocalypse or severely chemically imbalanced in the brain.  Whatever the cause, let’s ship these people to another planet and commence with evolution.

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Wendell Scott - ready for his talk show closeup

Wendell Scott (a sophomore at the University of Georgia) may never have interviewed A-list celebs like Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts or won a Daytime Emmy like Oprah or Ellen, but he is the big man on campus as host of UGA’s first daytime talk show, “The Wendell Show” and he’s back with a revamped show and a growing following (move over Oprah).

RedandBlack.com (an online news site dedicated to reporting news for and about University of Georgia), Wendell Scott was born with the talk show bug (having been raised on Oprah – his favorite talk show host).  Scott pitched the idea of producing a daytime talk show for the college – something he hoped would also serve him as he persues a broadcasting at the school.

There was no resistance.  The school worked with Scott to get the show up and running (a collaborative effort between the faculty and students).  So far, they have one season in the can with a second one due to premiere this Thursday.  Not bad at all.  The show’s topics are timely and engaging.  The show’s second season of guests and topics include “Haitian Hearts” (a focus on the aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake), the North Georgia Paranormal Society, “Is Hip-Hop Dead?” and “Eating Right.  Why it Feels So Wrong”.

Scott is enthusiastic and optimistic about his and the show’s prospects:

“I was always inspired by Oprah… It’s more ‘Tyra’ or ‘Wendy Williams’ right now. It’s not ‘Oprah’ yet, but it’s getting there.”

You never know.  He just might fill Oprah’s big shoes one day.  We’re thinking he can’t possibly be worse than Leno at 10PM.  Go Wendell Scott!Read the original post here.

Evan Bayh and Obama - love lost?

Senator Evan Bayh has a lot of explaining to do.  Walking away from seeking re-election and potentially handing Republicans another senate seat makes him as popular as the girl at the party with coldsore on her lip.  Should he have quit?  Is he pulling a Palin?  Will his decision make it harder for the Democrats in the mid-term elections?

Barbara Walters and her co-horts/co-hosts on The View take Bayh put Bayh in the hot seat and cranked up the fire to “towering inferno”.  Walters starts in with the question that everyone wants to know but no one wants to accept — why did Bayh quit?  His answer is (as it has been in every interview) speaks of sacrifice but hints at self-serving in undertone:

“Barbara, I reached the conclusion that I can more done for my state and for our country in the private sector.”

Joy Behar (clearly no fan of Bayh) immediately goes for his jugular:

“I’d hate to say this but you sound like Sarah Palin right now.”

Ouch.  He should’ve seen that one coming.  The hosts then proceed to pass Bayhs ass around on a platter and tear a piece off as they voice their dismay and seeming disgust at his decision to not run for re-election.

Elizabeth Hasselback yelps at Bayh about running from office (even while Scott Brown his picking up the political torch).  His answers are none too convincing to the panel.  When Whoopi (clearly so frustrated with the Senator and his decision to leave) stutters over her words to express her frustration, Behar comes to her rescue by summing up the sentiment at the table (and undoubtedly with many people in the country):

“We’re mad at you.”

And there you have it.  Say what you will about the women on The View, at times, they nail it.  And they nailed Bayh’s behind to the wall in this interview.  For his part, he survived — barely.

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Sam Worthington

Bill Geddie (Executive Producer of The View) turns his FlipCam on Avatar’s Sam Worthington backstage after his appearance on the show.  Worthington doesn’t seem completely comfortable with having the tiny camera shoved in his face but he’s a good sport.  Bill’s enthusiasm when describing Avatar’s awesomeness is hysterical (he almost can’t keep the camera on Worthington because he keeps pointing it to himself to explain… the awesomeness of Avatar (@officialavatar).

Looks like they were having a party in the background.  It pays to be a groupie on The View.

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Bonnie Hunt dissects Heidi Montag

It’s ashamed that Bonnie Hunt’s daytime talk show, The Bonnie Hunt Show (@bonniehuntshow), was canceled last month.  While her ratings were disappointingly low, Hunt is an incredibly witty woman who can nail the heart of a topic with a wink and joke.

Here, Hunt dissects d-list celeb Heidi Montag’s decision (many say her tragic decision) to undergo massive plastic surgery (ten procedures in one day).  Hunt is clearly disturbed by what she openly admits she cannot in any way relate to.  Her take is predictable:  Montag has low self-esteem (a no-brainer) and she needs to get away from her husband, Spencer Pratt (@speidiweb),  whom she calls a “dirty rat bastard” (no-brainer and rousing applause from the audience).

After showing the audience Montag’s “before and after” photos (eliciting gasps of horror from the audience), Hunt proceeds to ask the men on her set if Heidi looks better or worse post-op.

Heidi Montag (before and after surgery)

That, too, turns out to be predictable.  Hunt’s ever-present producer, Don, takes notice of the breast augmentation Montag had that inflated her b-cup breasts to gigantic double-D cups and says slowly, “Well… isn’t that something.”  Implication:  she’s hot.

Of course, Hunt can’t let Don’s comment go.  He can’t possibly find a blow-up doll with horribly fake breasts attractive.  Don’s answer:

“If the ship is goin’ down.  I’m goin’ with Heidi.”

Spencer Pratt -- Hunt affectionately calls him "Dirty Rotten Bastard" (like a wise aunt)

‘Nuff said from Don (who will turn up missing at tomorrow’s taping).  While her analysis of Montag is fairly simple and obvious (Montag is like thousands of other young, impressionable girls willing to do anything to be Hollywood-famous), what is refreshing is Hunt’s willingness to lay bare her feelings, thoughts and even dumbfounding confusion.  Hunt struggles to understand the mentality of girls like Montag.  She tells a very revealing story of herself at Heidi’s age and how she (young and in love) was also impressionable and desperate to be accepted by a guy (a doctor) she was dating.  She changed her entire personality for him.  And he still dumped her.  Is it really so hard for her to understand Montag’s insecurities that she herself possessed twenty years ago?

Hunt (like a wise, no-nonsense aunt) nailed Montag’s plastic surgery obsession on the head — she’s desperate to be accepted.  To some extent, we all are.  But Montag’s plastic surgery obsession is just like any other addition — unhealthy, possibly deadly and requiring immediate and intensive therapy to get to the real root of the problem (self-loathing).

Don, you’re fired.

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