It is obvious the studio honchos can’t quite fancy what gives Pixar the upper hand in churning out hit after hit, otherwise they would have bottled and sold it in mass quantities.  Here’s a hunch — Pixar’s success might have something to do with respect for the audience.

Toy Story 3 was again the week’s #1 movie topping new fare from Adam Sandler, Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.  For well over a decade, Pixar has single-handedly delivered a new golden-age of animated film-making.  Just like it was thrilling to be a teenager growing up with Luke Skywalker, E.T. and Marty McFly, it is easy to see why today’s kids are electrified by Buzz Lightyear, The Incredibles and Wall-e.

But it’s worth considering that the original Toy Story never should have worked under the Hollywood studio executive orthodoxy.  In the early 1990’s, computer animated feature films did not exist, yet Disney took a risk to fund a group of PhD’s who swore they could make it work.  It wasn’t just the technology they believed in, but in the stories they could tell.  The animation was futuristic, but Pixar leader John Lasseter envisioned using it to tell a home-spun tale of a typical American boy and his best pal Woody, who happened to be a 1950’s era toy cowboy.  But…

…Jeffrey Katzenberg, then Chairman of the struggling Disney Animation Studios, pressured Lasseter and the budding geniuses of Pixar to steer away from family entertainment.  In the documentary “A Pixar Story,”  Disney’s Tom Schumacher recounts, “Jeffrey would always be pushing for what he called ‘the edge… snappy, adult, on the edge of inappropriate, and not too young.’  In fact, Katzenberg even suggested they lose the word “toy” from the title so as not to scare away teens.

Under Katzenberg’s charge, Toy Story became an irreverent, mean-spirited muddled mess.  It was only when Lasseter, Pete Docter, Andrew Stanton and others returned to the old-fashioned idea of staying true to their vision that Toy Story came alive.  The ‘edgy’ storyboards were thrown on the scrapheap, and the characters were re-drawn from the heart of the writers. The rest is history: Toy Story became a family-oriented, masterfully told hit film and one of the most beloved franchises in modern cinema. But it is worth mentioning the film’s allure came when the budding filmmakers stopped making what they thought the studio wanted, and instead made the film they would want their kids to watch.

Could it be that the boring old concept of quality, unoffensive  family entertainment could be something that makes good box office?  Fact is, Katzenberg, and much of the Hollywood establishment, seem to hold a cynical view of American audiences.  It is one reason the LA Times called Katzenberg an “indefatigable huckster” for his obsession with driving box office revenue through gimmicks like 3-D (often at the expense of quality storytelling).

Pixar happily chugs along making thoughtful, even wholesome, blockbuster pictures like Toy Story 3, Up and Finding Nemo, while Katzenberg working on his latest indellible contribution to American cinema: Kung Fu Panda: The Kaboom of Doom.  Fear not, it is sure to be offered in eye-popping 3-D.

I’ll save my money for whatever Pixar comes out with next.

Betty White is a TV trailblazer and icon – popular actress on the groundbreaking Mary Tyler Moore Show and an hysterical off-beat widow on The Golden Girls.  Her work earned numerous Emmy Awards, the first coming in 1952 for a comedy White starred at her local TV station — a long an admirable career to say the least!

Now, this Golden Girl has entered the Twilight Zone.

Late, late night host Craig Ferguson apparently started making White a regular in recent years (it is not known whether anyone actually watches Ferguson’s show, but studies on YouTube has proven it exists).  The Betty White bit was simple:  sweet, half-cocked old lady says something shocking or offensive – like when she called Sarah Palin ‘one crazy bitch’ during the 2008 Presidential campaign.  Typical, sophomoric and forgettable late-night shenanigans.

But now Betty White’s snarky shtick has jumped the shark.  Take the “NPR, Delicious Dish” sketch on SNL last weekend – please!  In it, White was forced to repeat a sexual innuendo about her ‘muffin.’  The lazy SNL writers were ripping off an earlier show where Alec Baldwin talked about his ‘Schweddy Balls.’

Betty, sweetheart… you’re better than this!

The joke (and the tedious sketch) just went on and on.  Perhaps White should have just beat a dead horse. After the first 10 minutes of SNL, a dead horse beating might have been just what the doctor ordered — it certainly couldn’t have been any more uncomfortable or offensive.

In any case, 2010 adds an indelible asterisk to White’s long and accomplished resume.  It marks the time a beautiful and talented lady of comedy — who knew how to deliver a good joke – just became one instead.

Reality TV has given us real housewives, wife swaps and biggest losers. Finally, the whole genre may have jumped the shark right here in DC.  The Salahis hadn’t even finished auditioning for Bethesda-based Half Yard Productions when they pulled off the ultimate reality-show stunt.  By gate-crashing a White House State Dinner, one can just hear the director behind the camera: “You got the part, baby!” Now comes news of a third crasher… Salahi friend Carlos Allen, a D.C. “party promoter!” With all these shenanigans at that first State Dinner, it’s a wonder Indian Prime Minister Singh didn’t run screaming — “I’m a Dignitary — Get Me Outta Here!”

Last month, in response to the ‘party crashers,’ an outraged Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) wanted to know what GE’s Jeffrey Immelt knew and when he knew it.  After all, he attended the State Dinner as a confirmed guest, and in an awkward twist, the reality TV show for which Michaele and Tareq Salahi were auditioning, “Real Housewives of D.C.,” is produced by Immelt’s Bravo network.  Watson, who chairs the Congressional Entertainment Caucus, called for a sweeping review of “the conduct and ethics of reality television in general.”  This, from a woman who once praised Fidel Castro as “one of the brightest leaders I have ever met.”  With words like that, she shouldn’t stand in judgement of reality TV, she ought to be on it!

Nary a peep has been heard from Congresswoman Watson and her reality TV investigation lately.  Perhaps Democrats realize they have bigger problems than reality TV.

D.C. is rarely featured in reality television.  Its official image tediously plays out on television every night in households across America.  All political spin, prepared speeches and carefully choreographed sound bites; not the unscripted, spontaneous train-wreck fare familiar to reality TV audiences.  But ‘official’ Washington provides an unmatchable reality show backdrop. Imagine Survivor’s Jeff Probst hosting a show where a handful of lawmakers get voted off Capitol Hill each week.  All the makings of histrionics worthy of an Emmy!

In a distressing quest for fame, the Salahis did what any respectable reality TV star would do and threw common sense right out the window, sashayed uninvited through the door, and hobnobbed with the leader of the free world.  Respect and restraint are words completely unknown in reality TV — so Michaele, acting as a true desperate housewife, posted her White House exploits all over her Facebook page. Perfect!

Ironic that the official entertainment for Obama’s first State Dinner was none other than reality TV star Jennifer Hudson.  Having been booted from “American Idol,” Hudson went on to receive an Academy Award.  Sometimes reality TV stars aren’t always the biggest losers –Hudson’s “Idol” appearance launched an acting and singing career.

For their part, the Obamas don’t seem to have any problem with reality TV. Hosting a White House “Iron Chef” competition for the Food Network that aired just last week, Michelle Obama became the first presidential wife to appear live on a reality TV show. “The Naked Chef,” Jamie Oliver, served the Obamas while they dined in London at the G-20 last year.  The First Lady’s hairstylist, Johnny Wright, inked a ‘docu soap’ reality show deal.  Even the winner of Obama’s “Health Care Reform Video Challenge,” Eric Hurt, was a contestant on the trashy reality show “Temptation Island.”   (More Fun Facts: one of MTV’s “Real World DC” cast members was an Obama delegate).

So, reality TV has finally come to roost in the nation’s capital.

A Salahi storyline would likely be a ratings and publicity bonanza for Bravo’s “Real Housewives” franchise; that is, if someone doesn’t wind up in jail over the whole thing.  But wait – that could make a good episode too. To be sure, a weekly show featuring the Salahi’s would only create an ongoing headache for a White House eager to move on from ‘Gate-Crashers Gate.’  

So, will the Salahi’s star in the new season of “Real Housewives of DC?”  Stay tuned, the series could debut as soon as this spring.

My book Hollywood on the Potomac, chronicles many historic moments when Hollywood took a stand on the biggest political issues of the day — from World War 2 to Iraq, International Relief to Civil Rights.  In 1963, it was stars such as Marlon Brando, Paul Newman and Harry Belafonte at the Lincoln Memorial with Dr. King.

Actor Marlon Brando at the Civil Rights ‘March on Washington’ (to his right are playwright James Baldwin and actor Charlton Heston).  Brando also participated in the ‘freedom rides,’ protests that publicly tested segregation court decisions in the South.  After the death of Martin Luther King Jr., Brando scrapped his upcoming movie telling The Joey Bishop Show, ”I felt I’d better go find out… what it is to be black in this country; what this rage is all about.”

Dr. King’s historic march made an impact on folk singers Joan Baez and Bob Dylan who were there.   Dylan was inspired to write “The Times They Are a Changin’” featuring a direct appeal to Washington: “Come senators, congressmen / Please heed the call / Don’t stand in the doorway / Don’t block up the hall.”  Less than a year later, the Civil Rights Act became law.

Actors Charlton Heston and singer Harry Belafonte review a speech for the crowd of 250,000 gathered at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Heston remarked that he supported civil rights “long before Hollywood found it fashionable.”

Actor Paul Newman was there too.  Most came by bus, but Newman did what any modern day ‘A-Lister’ would do — he took a private plane from Los Angeles.

All photos Courtesy National Archives.

DeSeve was charged with getting the Recovery.gov website up and running.  During the Colbert Report, the host pointed out some ‘problems’ with the site, and in typical Colbert fashion, mispronounced DeSeve’s name as ‘deceive.’  Softball satire to say the least, but for some reason DeSeve thought it important enough to go to a National Press Club audience and fire back:  ”Just two days ago, I’m told — because I don’t have cable TV and I don’t stay up late — I’m told that I was called out by Stefan Colburt [sic] — I was called out as being a malefactor in oversight and execution of stimulus. Not only did he call me out, but he perverted the pronunciation of my name.”

Late night comics attacked Republicans 7 to 1 over democrats during the 2008 campaign.  Tina Fey skewered Sarah Palin as a ditzy, dangerous sexpot.  And the hate-driven attacks on the Bush White House…  well, enough said.  All this late night roasting leaves conservatives unfazed, but Obama officials are breaking out in hives at the slightest little prod. 

Can’t they take a joke — or perhaps, truth hurts?

DeSeve’s faulty site is supposed to track how much money was spent and how many jobs were created.  Vice President Joe Biden promised the site would “blow you away.”  And that it has — the defective site cost a whopping $18 million to launch.  DeSeve told the press he “didn’t think there were a lot of problems” with the site.  But the site created 440 fake Congressional districts in all 50 states, crediting phony jobs in places that don’t exist.  ABC News called the stimulus reporting “riddled with errors” finding “700 mistakenly credited congressional districts out of more than 130,000 stimulus grants.”  Call it an 18 million dollar website to nowhere….

No wonder Colbert pronounced Ed’s last name “deceive” — that’s not satire, it’s accurate!

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The ad was selected out of 1,000 entries, as part of Obama’s “Health Care Reform Video Challenge.”  Ironically, instead of showcasing real people who suffer under the current health-care structure, the judges hand picked an ad that is all showbiz and zero substance.  They chose to go with fake health-care horror stories read by adorable but soppy kid actors — pawns in a political high-stakes game of shocksploitation. These kids obviously don’t have dire health care problems;  they just have showbiz parents who hooked them up with a gig.

Don’t be too surprised — Hollywood has lent Obama an ever-willing hand.  The judges were comprised of a celebrity panel that reads like the Hollywood Squares: Rosario Dawson, musician Will.I.Am., Brandon Routh, Kate Walsh and Olivia Wilde, and raunchy “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane. When you think America’s health-care solutions — you want to call in Seth MacFarlane, right?!

In American politics there is a cardinal rule:  if you must use a personal story to advance an ideology or an issue, be sure it is true.  When a President stands before the public and uses names of real people with real problems to advance an agenda, he makes a point through presenting solid evidence — life lessons.  Reagan did it, Clinton did it, George W. Bush did it… and there’s nothing wrong with it if it is true.

Not only did the Obama team ignore the facts, they ignored any input by average Americans.  When you ask a glitzy Hollywood panel to come up with your health-care message, don’t be surprised if they enlist a reality TV has-been director of stoner movies.   What is surprising in all this is that ads that deal with highly sensitive political messages are normally carefully focus-grouped in front of an audience of regular Americans.  This is done so they have the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns about vitally important policy decisions.

Apparently, no one at the White House or the DNC were bothered much with grassroots concerns in this case (after all, DNC Chair Tim Kaine was on the judging panel). If they did, they would hear more about the economy — according to the latest Gallup poll 51% think the economy should be the President’s main focus, only 21% said health care. It all begs the question:  if you have to make it all up with actors, what are you really saying?  Perhaps a better question in this case: what are they smoking?

Understanding the Surge – The Trailer from ISW on Vimeo.

The short film features never-before-seen interviews that move beyond Washington politics to tell the truth of how a failing mission was transformed into one of the most successful military operations in a generation. Audiences will watch rare interviews from high profile figures like General David Petraeus, General Raymond Odierno, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker – among many others. The documentary reveals the personalities of a new generation of U.S. military leaders and explains how they successfully implemented a counterinsurgency campaign in Iraq that brought the country back from the brink of civil war and catastrophe.

The documentary will be released on Monday, November 9th, and available as a free download at UnderstandingTheSurge.org, as a generous gift by The National Philanthropic Trust and the Ware Family Foundation. This way, everyone can hear the real story of the Surge.  As the director and co-writer of this film, I hope audiences will take a look and see for themselves, there are some important lessons to be learned.

Here’s hoping our elected leaders are tuning in.

Learn more at www.understandingthesurge.org

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So, what’s a nice Catholic girl from Milwaukee doing in an ad like this? Graham admits, “My friends really wanted Obama to be elected so we all did a spell and then he got elected.”  Thanks for sharing.  Graham is a long way from that seemingly squeaky upbringing, having joined a coven of witches. But she becomes just the latest conjurer in a string of celebrity activists pushing ObamaCare.

The ad’s narrator is counter-culture hippie and actor Peter Coyote, and the message recalls another recent MoveOn ad starring Will Ferrell that lampooned insurance companies.  Ferrell, for his part, has a growing proclivity for turning up in more and more politically loaded advertising. Hardly surprising for a guy who owes his career to playing George W. Bush, but when asked to meet the President snapped, “I don’t want to meet that guy.”

The jury is still out on whether celebrities influence weighty issues like America’s health-care overhaul.  Surely, casting witches and clowns in ads won’t help.  Are these multi-million dollar campaigns that use comedy and sexual innuendo effective in persuading a skeptical public? If you’re George Soros, apparently so!  But then, “Track Meet” is a tortured ad that insults the very youth demographic it tries so hard to persuade.  An obvious play to Obama’s core of young followers, it contrasts the titillating, youthful Heather Graham against a pack of older suit-wearing health care big-wigs. But… is Graham supposed to be sexy or silly performing her ridiculous warm ups (or does it really matter)? Austin Powers might say: Oh, bee-have!

Most perplexing, the producers unwittingly put down the intended audience — one straight-laced woman villainously checks her e-mails and text messages… another executive eats a cheeseburger… another parties with champagne… more than a few go ga-ga over Graham — it’s like they were acting exactly like the age group they are targeting!

Until MoveOn grows up and gets serious, the kooky George Soros-financed outfit will be about as threatening as Doctor Evil in a room full of Mini-Me’s.

A few weeks ago, a funny thing happened — call it a late night political paradigm shift. Conan O’Brien put some extra bite to his bark by featuring a tape of Sesame Street characters who earlier in the day had visited with the First Lady to talk about healthy eating. Conan overdubbed the clip and, suddenly, instead of talking about food, the muppets questioned Obama’s ‘United States birth certificate’ and his ’socialist health care agenda.’ In the past, satire like this might have been automatically assumed to be an attack on the right, but the skit ended up taking some Obama fans aback. Perhaps it struck a nerve.

Then, Saturday Night Live rolled out a skit blatantly saying Obama had accomplished nothing, and followed it up by laughing at his Nobel Prize — relatively mild in execution, but they managed to cause a stir in the press. These comedic bits, once routine against President Bush, distressed many Democrat opinion leaders. Suddenly, more than a few talking heads were calling for the White House to start making their accomplishments clear — (so it looks like they have some). Others were killing the messenger — calling SNL’s Fred Armisen, who plays Obama, “no Tina Fey.”

Touchy.

The left-leaning comedy writers are still holding back on the really good stuff. Will we ever see the skit where Obama runs with the Olympic torch, smoking a cigarette past a row of foreclosed homes while singing ‘Solidarity Forever?’ Probably not. Former SNL alum Chevy Chase recently told CNN he was very aware he was helping Jimmy Carter’s election as he lampooned President Ford as a klutz. According to Chase, SNL is “much more democratic now.” Nowadays, whatever political bit runs on SNL will undoubtedly repeat on the Today Show, CNN, MSNBC and others — right alongside serious political debate and discussion. As if SNL’s commentary is every bit as important as a national policy expert, or an analyst… or the rest of us.

But if these tidbits are going to be given such clout, couldn’t they at least be funny? It makes you wonder who should be more embarrassed — the White House or the comedy writers. On Obama’s winning the Nobel Peace Prize SNL joked he had won it “for not being George Bush.” Really? That’s the best they could do with that… Really?!

Whatever the laugh-factor, the bruise of the late-night anvil falling on the White House is undeniable. Washington Post blogger Jonathan Capehart summed it up, “When your ‘friends’ start talking about you like this — and friends with a huge megaphone and a feel for the national mood — the White House should listen.” They are.

Though the White House issues a “no comment” on the lampoons, it’s clear all the hub-bub is no laughing matter. White House’s deputy communications director Dan Pfeiffer told the New York Times, “You ignore [the late night comic's] influence at your peril. They are often leading indicators of where the narrative is headed.”  Cowboy humorist Will Rogers noted long ago, ‘When people start taking the comedian seriously and the politician as a joke, everything changes.’

And so it goes with the ‘Change’ many once believed in.

The New York Times wrote during campaign 2008 that late night comics were having a hard time cracking jokes about Barack Obama.  This year, President Obama was treated with kid gloves. Leno, Letterman and Conan largely stood in a cone of silence when it came to prodding the Prez.  But after scandals and bumbled policy initiatives, the once-airtight Obama spin control has given way to a White House spinning out-of-control.  Late Night TV finally rises to the occasion — and the honeymoon is officially over.

This hilarious clip would have been unthinkable just 3 or 4 months ago.  The wildly enthusiastic Conan audience cheers.  Hilarity ensues.  And Obama, Axelrod and Company find they’re not in Kansas anymore.