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Reuters - Kim Basinger is set to
make her TV movie debut in "The Mermaid Chair," a Lifetime film
based on the best-selling book by Sue Monk Kidd.

It’s a brave new TWiT…

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Hosts: Leo Laporte,Robert Heron, Alex Lindsay, Chris DiBona, and Wil Harris

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Running time: 1:01:20

The House of Mouse will show the comic-based dinosaur hunter’s return and two new Wii titles as part of its slate of games for the expo.

Reuters - Fox Broadcasting Co. has
jumpstarted more of its 2006-07 primetime schedule with early
pickups for two drama pilots, “Primary” and “American Crime.”

Visit ESPN.com for the complete story.

Reuters - More and more scripted
TV shows are turning to music artists to help boost ratings.
The performances instantly up a show’s cool factor, and the
artist gains exposure to millions of eyes and ears.

AP - Marc Anthony and Andy Garcia were honored with special tributes at Sunday's 2006 ALMA Awards, which celebrated achievements by Hispanic artists from the worlds of music, television and film.

ianchaos writes “In an article on ScienCentral News, Scientists at the University of Texas are using alcohol to power artificial muscles. From the article: ‘Usually the only alcohol-powered muscles are the ones in barroom brawls, but one scientist is adding alcohol to artificial muscles to power robots and more.’”

One week after Nintendo changed the Revolution code-name to Wii, the Joystiq staff sounds off:

• James Ransom-Wiley: “Not sure if anyone else has made the connection … but the name brings to mind the disposal of urine from the body - an action that’s often referred to as ‘Number 1.’ Is this Nintendo’s clever way of joining the next-gen pissing contest?”

• Ross Miller: “Speaking of Apple, my theory is that Nintendo marketing executives were suffering from some form of dyslexia (oraphasia) and were trying to copy Apple’s style. One person said “why not?,” to which another replied “I’ll tell you why… iWhy,” which was later changed to “iWi” since palindromes are catchy. Then the dyslexia kicked in and someone wrote down “Wii,” which was sent to the Nintendo executives who had been enjoying a party honoring the DS sales with some high-grade cannabis and Hennessey. A drunk Miyamoto, looking at the word, laughed and shouting “wiiiiii!” as he danced off. Everyone in the room thought this was an approval, and so they ran with it that very morning. Miyamoto is still recovering from his hangover, which should last until E3.”
• Christopher Grant: “One would have to assume that a small army of marketing and branding experts sat on this egg for months, giving it all the love and warmth it needed, taking all this extra time to focus-test the name to death. Undoubtedly, it’s already been kid-tested, mother-approved. I’d like to think we’ll all get used to it, like the iPod, or that dog whose name you thought would never stick; however, my fear is that despite replacing the lunchbox design with something iSexy, Nintendo may have just sat itself at the kid’s table again.”
• Vladimir Cole: “This name will be in marketing textbooks for years to come as a case study on what not to do. Never has there been so much negative publicity surrounding a name. Nintendo’s DS did hasten Gizmondo’s departure from this world, but Nintendo shouldn’t have looted the Gizmondo corpse of the Most Awful CE Product Name of All Time” championship belt.”
• Blake Snow: “Really taken back at first, but since being announced last Thursday, it’s grown on me. Too crazy not to take it seriously.”
• Jennie Lees: “I’m still giggling. I think that’s a good thing.”
• Conrad Quilty-Harper: “First thing worth saying is that I’m over Wii, as a tool for making funny sentences that is (e.g. I’m bursting for a Wii!). However, I’m still not entirely sure about how effective the brand name will be for Nintendo. They’ve certainly generated a lot of — some say negative — press, but that’s only because the people reporting on Wii are tech/games journalists. I think the fact that the name annoys these type of people is a good thing, even if it does mean that Nintendo has to sacrifice hardcore sales (isn’t this what they wanted to do all along?). In summary: a good way to target the casual/non-gaming audience but goddamn alienating for the hardcore gaming demographic.”
• Dan Choi: “Actually, the first thing I thought of when I heard the name was a certain promising young female golfer by the name of Michelle Wie. So I guess Nintendo’s riding on the coattails of the next golfing phenom?”

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Mets closer Billy Wagner heated up his team’s rivalry with the Phillies on Sunday, criticizing his former Phillies teammates in an interview.

Tonight’s Soprano’s episode is “The Ride,” described as:

Christopher makes a surprise announcement; Paulie pays a price for cutting costs at an Italian Street Fair; Tony embraces the “old school.”

There’s a big photo of Bobby on the episode page, so he probably plays a big part. I hope there’s not too much of Janice, she’s like fingernails on a blackboard.

I can’t believe we’re already on Show 9 of the new and almost last season. I’m not feeling like a lot has happened — Other than Tony being shot, Vito sticks out in my mind as the one major development. Maybe his “embracing the old school” means he agrees to order Vito taken out. Or he hooks up with the real estate agent.

IN 2003 the smiles and courage of Sophie Delezio, then aged 2, won the admiration of people across Australia after she was gravely injured by an elderly driver whose car crashed into her childcare centre in Sydney. [The Times (UK)]