My Sick Mind

The time-period premiere of " Gameshow Marathon ," 5.8 rating /10 share, put CBS on top at 8 p.m. ABC was second with the live (tape-delayed out West) final rounds of the National Spelling Bee , scoring a 5.0/9 for the hour. A repeat of " So You Think You Can Dance " was third for FOX at 3.8/7. Two episodes of " The Office " averaged 3.4/6 for NBC. A " Smallville " repeat on The WB topped UPN's " Everybody Hates Chris " and " Love, Inc ." It was close, but the Bee was second. Still, 9% of the sets in use were being used watching it (approximately 5.5 million viewers), while the precious American Idol usually gets around 25% and 17 million viewers. So, any ideas Simon had of asking contestants to spell the titles of the songs they're singing went right out the window. Thursday's top 4 shows represented 32% of the sets in use. What are the other 68% watching? Judging from all the chatter, you would have thought that ...

HIGH DRAMA IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL WASHINGTON - Spellers took to the stage minutes before the television broadcast, huddling and chanting "1-2-3, Spell" before taking their seats. Their parents sat on stage, too, across the aisle. The broadcast had the flavor and style of a sports program, opening with a montage of the competitors and including a short profile of the first speller before he got his word. Profiles of other spellers followed during subsequent commercial breaks, and each pause in the competition brought a groan from the audience. Each word or grimace by spellers triggered a blast of camera shutters, and the live TV camera followed the losers into the arms of comforting parents. Even gamblers got into the act, putting money down on questions including whether the final word would have an "e" in it and whether the winner would wear glasses. Simon Noble, CEO of PinnacleSports.com, said his offshore Internet sports betting company had received about ...

This little blurb recently appeared on ESPN's web site, which I believe is espn.com, but I'm guessing: You know it, you love it ... that's right, it's the National Spelling Bee , a spectacle that ranks alongside the Adult Video News Awards and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show as the most secretly captivating telecast on TV. Pardon me if I don't share that viewpoint, but I just can't conjure up a lot of enthusiasm for kids who spell better than my Microsoft spell check program. Counted among the "spectacles" are such compelling choices as poker, cooking and the weather. They're all on TV somewhere, and it's 24/7 excitement for couch veggies everywhere. There are so many channels on cable that I can't count them. Mostly because they skip over a lot of numbers, but otherwise, I just lose track. Usually, my attention is diverted somewhere near the Spanish channel, where even the most dramatic medical show can feature a large-breasted girl...

PITTSBURGH - A Pennsylvania state Gaming Control Board employee was suspended without pay a day after he was arrested for a scuffle with police outside a bar. Town Tavern manager Aidan Kiernan said the incident began when Justin Husar showed his agency badge to a bouncer, asking to be admitted to the second-floor dance club without paying the $5 cover. Husar was let through, but began arguing when he insisted his friends also be allowed in free and the bouncer refused, Kiernan said. Husar is the fifth board employee to find himself in trouble with the law. Kevin P. Eckenrode, 25, a former press aide, was allegedly dangling girlfriend Rachel Kozlusky, 23, by her wrists outside his Harrisburg high-rise when she slipped and fell to her death Feb. 25 in what authorities have characterized as alcohol-related horseplay. He is charged with criminal homicide. Two employees were charged in connection with separate fights and disturbances outside Harrisburg bars last year. Last month, an invest...

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - The head of the Nepal Mountaineering Association urged the government Saturday to take action against a sherpa who reportedly stripped on top of Mount Everest. The Himalayan Times had reported Friday that the Nepali climbing guide, whose name it gave as Lakpa Tharke, stood naked for three minutes in freezing conditions on the 29,035-foot summit of the world's highest peak. So, I guess that would make 2 peaks? I don't know if the photo (above) illustrates anything or not, although I would imagine that, in freezing temperatures there would be considerable shrinkage. And to think I was such a huge fan of Lakpa on that Taxi show. Fallen on hard times, I guess. Or maybe not, depending on your view.