Miss America: Limbaugh Wins ‘Judge of the Night’ — ‘Variety’ Frets Over Political ‘Tinge’
by John Nolte
Politico reports that Rush appears to be having the time of his life as a judge for the Miss America pageant:
On Thursday night, in between rounds of competition, the judges competed for their own crown: “Judge of the Night.”
While competing in the dance-off, Limbaugh stood up and boogied to Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” alongside fellow judge Vivica A. Fox.
“Rush Limbaugh has exceptionally impressive fist pumping skills,” tweeted Miss America Live.
Limbaugh’s moves won him the “Judge of the Night” title. His prize: a “Mr. New Jersey” sash bestowed upon him by the host, Miss New Jersey 1995 Dena Blizzard.
Naturally, Variety’s Wilshire & Washington (which, months ago, should’ve been renamed The Interminably Uninteresting All-Things Gay Marriage Live-Blog) puts on a bit of a scold with the headline…
“The Pageant’s Political Tinge.”
Wow! Is hand-wringing over the possibility of politics entering into entertainment a new concern with the Hollywood left?
Finally … common ground.
Let us go forward, arm in arm, and sound the warning over potential “tinges” of the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, primetime television, cable television, pay cable television, novels, comic books, children’s programming, theatrical films, music, concerts…
Or are some “tinges” more equal than others?
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153 Comments
NAIL 'EM, Nolte.
The leftwing liars want it all their way. They're so phony they even believe their own b*llsh*t.
Relax, Mr. Nolte! It's just entertainment! Or so they keep telling me.
You know, even though liberals mock this man and paint him as if he's Satan, he always seems like I normal guy who likes having fun but with knowledge and passion when ever I see him. I guess liberals are just jealous they don't have someone like him on their side(you know, with big ratings like him
).
J.J. — One of the biggest differences between left and right — a difference that is not political nor discussed enough — is the art of feeling and spreading joy.
Name a Leftist who can feel or spread simple, innocent joy. Not "pleasure," that's something different entirely. Ted Kennedy knew all about pleasure. I'm talking about, joy.
At least he didn't ask a politically loaded question like that jerk Perez Hilton. I wonder what The Interminably Uninteresting All-Things Gay Marriage Live-Blog had to say about that kerfuffle and it's "political tinge"?
I don't know if you saw that awful piece of Limbaugh death porn in the Onion (and I'm not going to link it), but as I read it, all I could think was, "You don't get this guy at all! He loves life!"
Go get 'em Rush!
Who said fat men can't dance?
Or was it jump?
One of the definitions of "progressive" is to leaven out misery to everyone…
Go, Rush! GO…!!!
Teddy Kennedy and Chris Dodd were all about spreading pleasure and taking joy, especially when it was making waitress sandwiches, or swimming lessons. Now that Teddy is enjoying the pleasures of a life well lived, I'm taking joy in the fact that someone else just took the "Kennedy Seat" at the Senate dining table.
The Miss America pageant has been relegated to TLC of all places, hasn't it? Now it's just a reality show. I remember when it was a huge deal. Who still watches it?
They may not know how to spread joy, but they know how to rob it!
All hail El Rushbo!
Good god, I want to see this. I want to see a Miss America pageant.
The world doesn't make sense anymore.
Just the mere concept of such things happening in the world almost convinces me that Lifes worth living…almost
I would not know where the TLC resides among the many, many unwatched channels.
It was the original reality show.
I think that part of the reason it was a huge deal was that there wasn't really anything else like it, and it didn't happen all the time. It really didn't have any competition.
LOL!
You know… now you mention it…
I sort of want to see it too.
Old Sot Teddy knew nothing about spreading pleasure either. It was about being a sexual deviant, terrorizing everyone else, and then killing one. The "pleasure"–so to speak–"was all his."
Dude,
Abide, just abide. ; )
Nailed it, John. It truly gave Perez Hilton pleasure to scream "c*unt" at Carrie Prejean so hard that spit flew from his mouth and the veins popped out on his forehead. For almost two months after that spectacle, I never saw a single picture of Perez without that huge grin on his face for what he'd done to Carrie – and the frozen, frightened look on hers as the dogs Perez slipped loose went for her throat.
Compare that with the joy of the picture you've just posted above of Rush bogeying. Look at the faces of the people all around him. They're laughing, they're clapping their hands. He's given joy to others.
You are right. One side gives joy – the other takes it away. I want the side that has Rush on it.
John, don't forget the other major difference- a sense of GRATITUDE.
It is interesting that Rush is such a THREAT to their ideological soundness, that his mere presence taints any proceeding of which he is a part.
Get down with your bad self, Mr. Limbaugh.
Get over yourself, freak-out lefties.
I'm taping Miss America! I'm taping it to watch later! /Brian Regan
You see what happens, Mary? You see what happens when you meet a stranger in the Alps?
I always thought that the national symbol of the Democratic Party should be a half empty glass with a crack in it.
Now you know that the ratings for this will probably go up a tick or 2. Anytime he shows up, viewers view.
I agree. My sister was a carryover of the 60's die-hard hippie liberal. Devoid of all positive emotion whatsoever. Nothing was worthy of discussion unless it was negative, someone being oppressed, or something politically incorrect that had been hoisted on some sad sack that was being wronged. She went through a political awakening in '08, allbeit it was the Chicago style thuggery launched onto Hillary that started her journey. She has evolved into a die-hard Conservative, and in general, a person who is now joyous. She had been such a victim for so long, she never sought higher education, a career, or even a driver's license. She is back in school, volunteering to get job skills, and looks forward to each long drive. It is amazing the impact your political affiliation can make in all aspects of your life. Thanks for letting me air this.
Plus +1 for simplicity and sheer ain't that the truth-ness.
*MissQuinn*
Gimme a break.
Did Rush say or do anything that was 'controversial?" Did he bring any sort of agenda to the event like Perez Hilton did?
Nope. But he left wants you to see him as the evil hate filled right wing spawn of Satan that he is no matter what he's doing.
Heaven forbid Rush should be seen having a good time and getting into the spirit of things..
I believe one simple reason for this is that true joy comes from giving, not taking.
Even with Rush on there, I'm not so sure "Miss America" deserves any room on the DVR.
So much so, the pageant will ask him to return again and again.
Even if he does, Leftists do it ALL THE TIME — but NOW ole' W&W is bringing out the "tinge."
"The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries." Winston Churchill
I know I'm a moron, but what's that from?
What I got was a flash of Mary Shelley being scolded by Lord Byron for conjuring up the Frankenstein creature (named Adam in the book) who, if I remember was wandering the snow-covered mountains, or something.
Gotta cut down on my drinking……….nah
“The Pageant’s Political Tinge.”
Wow! Is hand-wringing over the possibility of politics entering into entertainment a new concern with the Hollywood left?
Finally … common ground.
Now **that** is funny! This just reinforces my believe that for the people on the left side of things, it is more of a religion, a "way of life" than a political belief.
That for all this time they can't recognize the integration of left wing ideology and daily reminders in our entertainment culture – and to suddenly become unglued when the "harmless little fuzzball" Rush comes on – is – well, I am at a uncharacteristic loss for words.
Have we heard from Perez Hilton yet on this matter?
And until one contestant sez that she is working for "world peace" it just isn't complete.
I would have no fun judging a pageant of nubile young women. None whatsoever. I'd be as sober as a… erm, judge.
Nah, Liberals are too concerned with all the women on Fox News.
lol I'll try
The Miss America contest would have me turning the TV off before watching it. But I'm glad to see Limbaugh gaining a bit off acceptance by PopMedia/PopCulture. Conservatism should be mainstream throughout media since it represents a solid majority of consumers.
I Might watch this time because Rush is on.
Ah, remember those days? It used to be sort of event tv, almost Oscar-like for girls & their moms.
I was a dishwasher in a restaurant where Rush had dinner with a group of people. The waiters told me that he was the life of the party, extremely funny. The women at the table who were liberal media types were quickly won over by his personality. He popped the whole meal and kicked down an extremely big tip for the waiters. Rush has taken lots of hits from all the rats and cockroaches on the left and I am sure it has taken a significant toll. I am glad to see him having fun.
I think it's cause the pageant really isn't a big deal anymore…see my post above about it being relegated to basic cable.
Thanks for sharing your powerful personal insight.
I think many Hillary supporters were shocked by the "progressive" way she treated by the radical machine.
Perhaps we are seeing the results of that in the Tea Parties and the swing of so many "Independents" giving us victories in NJ, VA, and the "Massachusetts Miracle".
If Hillary runs against Obummer in a Democratic primary in 2012, I believe she'd clean his clock.
Best Wishes to your sister -she's a winner.
Bet they paid Rush a bundle to judge…anything to boost viewership that's been sinking like a stone for years. The fact that the other judge shown is C-lister Viveca Fox tells you something about its cachet these days…couldn't pull ratings on CMT, now it's relegated to TLC.
And c'mon Nolte…the piece you cite is one paragraph long. Variety is a dismal shadow of its old self, and considering there are zero comments on the page, you're likey the only one who read the piece at all.
I remember when TLC was The Learning Channel where, like, you know, you could… learn stuff.
I stopped watching for a long while after every time I flipped to it they would be showing some gruesome operation. Now there's about as much 'learning' as the History Channel does 'history.'
The judges are chosen from several different 'fields' in American life. Rush is the 'media guy'. The others I've never heard of, but they're supposed to be 'outstanding in their field'. like American farmers.
One is a former Miss America, I know that much.
Carolyn,
What you said couldn't be truer.
The only thing that would giv me more joy, than to see people truly having fun, would be to have Perez Hilton begging for mercy, as he was taught manners.
I respect Churchill tremendously, but one of the unknowns about that quote…
The blessings are evaluated by the individual…who is to say if the person living in Malibu is more blessed than the individual living a mile away from the Rio Grande in central New Mexico…
On the other hand, socialism is misery imposed by committee and inflicted through law…
You know just because that adorably cute gymnast judge, Shawn Johnson, led the recital of the pledge of allegience at the Democratic convention in 2008, it doesn't mean that the event is politically tinged.
Oh wait that's not the judge they're referring to is it?
It wasn't so much Perez Hilton who was the problem- he was a dumb bigoted misogynist before the pageant- it was the complete lack of support for Carrie Prejean by the Miss California commitee, most of whom joined in the attack on her and refused to condemn Hilton and even cheered him on!
I'm actually in favour of gay marriage, but the insular Hollywood leftists who believe that everyone who disagrees with it is a hate filled bigot is wrong and counter productive.
As for Prejean, I hope that if and when she returns to the public eye, she receives support and understanding from conservatives. She's made a lot of mistakes- the sex tapes and the understandable yet infuriating attempts to cover them up by saying she was 17- but she is a sweet girl who was thrown to the wolves.
And her refusal to let porn distributers release the tapes even though it would make her very rich demonstrates to me at least that her public stance as a family values christian is sincerely held.
maatkare, I'm sure you are right, but Limbaugh is so hated by the left, I thought they would make an exception this year. Like you, back in the days of 3 channels, this was a big deal with huge ratings. As you say, kind of like the oscars. The first one I remember really watching was the year Maryanne Mobley won which I think was somewhere in the mid to late 50's as I recall.
It wasn't so much Perez Hilton who was the problem- he was a dumb bigoted misogynist before the pageant- it was the complete lack of support for Carrie Prejean by the Miss California commitee, most of whom joined in the attack on her and refused to condemn Hilton and even cheered him on!
This is so true. And I think that true joy inherently has an element of gratitude.
I vividly remember how amazing it was when there was finally a black Miss America (and how crushing the scandal was). Amazing how HUGE that was what? 25 years ago? And in college we'd sit around and watch it. The thing is, many on the left have disparaged beauty pageants in general for so long (sexist! archaic!) that this really isn't going to make much of a blip. Now, if Rush were judging tomorrow night's Grammys or voting on the Oscars…THAT might have ruffled some feathers!
And incidentally I do hope that if & when Prejean makes her comeback she is treated sympathetically by conservatives despite her mistakes- the sex tapes, the understandable yet infuriating attempt to cover it up by claiming she was 17 and the Larry King incident. When someone that young and naive is under a vicious attack they will react badly usually.
She has shown that her stance as a family values Christian wasn't a ploy to extend her fame, by refusing to allow her tapes to be distributed, even though she could make a fortune.
I actually support gay marriage, but can't stand the Hollywood left's stance that anyone who disagrees must hate gays.
Recently I skimmed an article in Entertainment Weekly that was saying how the Miss America show had become more and more irrelevant each year. I looked for Limbaugh's name but didn't find it.
Still, one has to wonder if his being a judge brought that story about. I say, it was related.
"Or are some “tinges” more equal than others?"
I dunno, but our tinges are funnier.
come on Cowboy, haven't you heard he ain't fat anymore, just FUN!!!!!
Thats funny.
Nah, he isn't fat.
He just looks "prosperous"……..
wow !! If anyone thought that Rush made the Miss America less relevant, please rethink and look at the fun he and everyone else around him is having…haven't seen this in years..be big people (if possible)..
I'm going to give it a shot, but will probably learn why God invented FF.
It's the TV edit of The Big Lebowski. "You see what happens, Larry? You see what happens when you f—a stranger in the a–?" becomes "You see what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps?"
Other classic lines:
"If you don't like my peaceful music, get your own cab. Outta my peaceful cab!"
"They peed on my valued rug!"
And who could forget:
"I'll slurp your Coke for $1000!"
Rush has incredible fist pumping skills, eh?…
Just add that to his list of talents. Seeing he can't do the NFL- but the 'non-partisan' Keith Olbermann can-
well, at least he can survey the collected pulchritude of the winsome lasses for us…
I think that Nolte nails it – the more I've hung around conservatives since my "born again" status the more I notice how much more POSITIVE they are, how much more they are able to laugh and have fun. George W. Bush had a wonderful sense of humor (my favorite will always be between him and the Queen of England when he mistakenly said she hadn't been to the U.S. since1776!). So did Reagan and so do so many other conservatives, both politicians and pundits and the like. Watching the video of it (although not a good angle and hard to see), showed how much Rush loves life and I think that it spills over into other people.
I think conservatives are more apt to look past people's politcal views and just enjoy people as people. Whereas the Left seem incapable of doing that. They demonize everything.
Good for Rush. Glad he had a good time.
How is one paragraph on a website nobody reads an indicator of liberal "jealousy?" This is a non-story. Liberals despise Miss America and Limbaugh, and the fact that he's a judge will merely be an "of course he was," and, truthfully, when was the last time anyone gave a flying crap about Miss America from either side of the divide anyway? I defy anyone here to name the CURRENT Miss America, and triple score for anyone who can name her from, say…2007.
Look at Beck and O'Rielly together, they are on stage laughing at each other in front of thousands of people and the shows sell out right after the tickets go on sale. I think these lefties are seeing all this, oh and look at how successful Sarah Palin is after all the crap they threw at her and she does it all with a smile on her face. I think people are seeing all this and wondering if they are so evil why are they so popular and happy? Times are a changing.
What, are you stupid Mr Nolte? Every award ceremony is a platform for left wing assholes to display their ignorance. Limbaugh was just a judge tonight….. not a radio host. Get over it, you whiny little prick.
Actually watched the peagent. It was very deja-vu because I remembered watching when I was little. (I confess my favorite winner was Heather Whitestone from Alabama-not only did she perform a lovely, technically proficient ballet solo on pointe, it was choreographed to a Christian, contemporary song and she also was deaf. But I digress…) Whether or not Miss America is relevant to todays society and its' concerns, you'd think liberals could care less about something that in their eyes is nothing more than something that exploits women. That Mr. Limbaugh was asked to be involved just shows that they A) Can't or won't leave anything with a conservative "tinge" alone and B) Just can't bear to see anyone having fun and especially having fun without their permission. FYI:The winner tonight was from Virginia and she's African-American with a great set of vocal pipes.
With Limbaugh as a judge, I am amazed we have not seen a round of editorials decrying the exploitation of women by the leftist fem-lib contingent.
I don't think liberals care much about Miss America one way or another…Nolte is trying to plump up a controversy where one doesn't exist…one snotty paragraph doesn't make a movement. I tried watching too, and didn't make it very far…it really does feel creaky and desperately trying to be 'current.' I don't think even Limbaugh's star power is going to do much for it.
J.J. – Yes that is the difference. The liberals relish in their sex, drugs and rock and roll mentality which is of course only and all, just pleasure of ones own mind. All practicing those things together makes a "commune" or "community" of "pleasure seekers". Alas, the left is defined.
The right, seeks to enjoy "quality time" with one another or, as a group enjoying each other in conversation about the last vacation, kids, schools, the sport of the season, the job, etc. enjoying comic relief without the smut, an occasional adult beverage without the drunken foolishness, a good smoke once in a while be it a cigar, pipe, or *gasp* a cigarette. Congregating at their respective places of *gasp* worshiping their Lord.
Yes indeed, the left and right are defined and as different as day and night. May I add that too is the difference between "enjoyment" and "pleasure". Typically enjoyment is experienced in a place where all are welcome to see and join typically in the dyalight hours. Pleasure is kept in the darkness, where only those who wish to be seen can be seen and by those that they wish to see them. Cold, dark and disconnected wholly without enjoyment….
"Let us go forward, arm in arm, and sound the warning over potential “tinges” of the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, primetime television, cable television, pay cable television, novels, comic books, children’s programming, theatrical films, music, concerts…"
Umm… Don't you base pretty much all your articles on doing just that? Oh, and keep it up. Apparently, you are making a difference…
"Naturally, Variety’s Wilshire & Washington (which, months ago, should’ve been renamed The Interminably Uninteresting All-Things Gay Marriage Live-Blog) puts on a bit of a scold with the headline…"
Wow, an extremist and completely biased "right wing site" is complaining about an extremist and completely biased "left wing site."
This is what's called in the literary field a writing to formula. (You use it when you have nothing else to write about.)
BTW, what are you doing spending your time perusing and citing what you call a "Gay Marriage Live-Blog"? Is there something you need to get off your chest?
I don't think "liberals" are jealous of anything. Talk Radio failed for them because in reality people of more reasoned minds don't need to listen to someone constantly reminding them and telling them of what and how to think.
They don't call them "ditto" heads for nothing JJ.
"Name a Leftist who can feel or spread simple, innocent joy. Not "pleasure," that's something different entirely. "
This is interesting coming from someone who's sole job is to spread anger and sow seeds of doubt to opposing view.
You want me to name a "leftist" John? Ok. Here you go, but you may not like the answer.
Jesus.
I think gaining joy from watching the pain of others is an example of what you are NOT supposed to be doing Mr. Cowboy "LOGIC."
"When someone that young and naive is under a vicious attack they will react badly usually. "
It's always interesting to me who you choose to condemn, and who you choose to forgive based upon their political beliefs.
I think Ms. Prejean pretty much dug her own grave. I kind of doubt we'll be hearing much from her again. She went from being a poised spokesperson to looking like a bozo overnight. I don't think she had nearly the substance to begin with that people thought she had.
Not really, her most famous political belief is opposition to gay marriage which I don't agree with.
I just see a girl who has been horribly bullied by her enemies who have made it their mission to humiliate her- digging up her parents' divorce records and delving into her sexual history- and who eventually couldn't take it and broke down on national TV.
That does not merit pariah status.
Yawn.
The "Jesus was a leftist!" fallacy?
You were better off with your claim about novae.
…and you never bothered to look up the origin of the "ditto" thing.
You mean that waitress was named Joy, who knew!
An interesting take on the left's fascination with sexual liberation and drugs can be found in Huxley's "Brave New World"
Ah Patrick don't you know, Jesus was real big on moral relativism. Why when he saw the pharisees changing money in the temple he said to the angry crowd of rghtwingers demanding they stop
"wait a minute perhaps this is just what they feel is the way to honor God! Sure we think it is wrong but who are we to judge."
Is this not in your versionof the bible, perhaps you are not using the new up to date Hugo Chavez version of the Bilble. It like the Constituation after is is a "living" document subject to editing and correction based on current modern themes.
Exactly why should I condemn her. If someone makes a sex tape for a boyfriend then that person takes this intimate private thing and sells it for money so that political hacks can damage her for sharing her own poliical beleifs, that is who I'd condemn first. He and the people showing the tape are guilty of the sin of slander. This is defined by Catholic doctrine as telling others things to damage an individuals reputations for resons of spite or gain whether what is said is true or not. It is a mortal sin which means commit one and die without absolution and you condemn yourself to Hell.
A sexual act is a venial sin and will not damn you straight to hell by itself. 'Course the individual act itself is not subject to anyone's judgement but the sinner and God. Politics does not come into it. Course you are not really interested in discussing the moral implications of this are you.. Hmmm……….. Agendas Agendas
"On the other hand, socialism is misery imposed by committee and inflicted through law… "
Great definition of socialism! LOL!
Rush makes over $50,000 a day. He took off several workdays and part of a weekend to do this. That's probably close to $200,000 in lost income. OK, he's on a salary, but we all get the idea. Liberals are jealous. They have not yet recovered from Airy Amerika going down.
Rush clearly enjoys what he did. Good for him. And his line about already having found a conservative woman must really have ticked off the enemy of the people – the pregressive crowd. (Yes, I know how to spell it but they are too backwards for the correct spelling to be valid for them)
Apropos of nothing but, when did "um" become "erm"? Been noticing this for a few years now. I never got the memo.
Look at Beck and O'Rielly together, they are on stage laughing at each other in front of thousands of people and the shows sell out right after the tickets go on sale. I think these lefties are seeing all this, oh and look at how successful Sarah Palin is after all the crap they threw at her and she does it all with a smile on her face. I think people are seeing all this and wondering if they are so evil why are they so popular and happy? Times are a changing.
I agree. I have friends who think everyone who doesn't vote the same left-wing ideology they do are "stupid", and that those who are not for government run health care are lacking compassion and are heartless. John Nolte points out a true insight.
BTW, my son age 14 and I went to see "Bold Fresh Tour 2010" in a local movie theater last night. We had a great time. Laughter galore, lots of applause, and vibe of shared views. People were smiling, happy. They want to be uplifted, their hard work and dedication to what they do for work, earning their rewards, their compassion to worthy causes, acknowledged and not put down, and that is what the left does, is put people down. Bill O'Reilly and Glenn Beck are very different people, but they smile, they laugh, they are witty, but they are also well-informed and insightful. People, and audiences, are naturally drawn to positive outlooks and cheerful views in life and those who share that outlook. Of course there are problems in our communities, country and world, and always will be. But you take a "can do" approach and just tackle them with common sense, practicality, realism, and financial prudence, the job gets quickly done especially if lots of people pitch in with common vision. And then you move on. The left always sees problems. Conservatives solve the problems practically and fiscally prudently, and move on.
In a different day and time, people liked to watch beauty pageants, and the title Miss America was classy. That was back in the day the late Bert Parks would sing the winner down the central aisle "There she goes…. Miss America…. There she goes…. The ideal…." or lyrics similar to that. Back in olden times, when there were no cable or satellite channels and there was only NBC, CBS and ABC this was always a ratings winner when NBC aired it from Atlantic City NJ. Nowadays it's considered a niche show, and TLC bid on the rights to air it. In recent years TLC has tried to make it relevant to today's audiences and air a week's worth of "reality shows" of the contestants doing different unusual things, trying to loosen up the image and make the ending show of the pageant edgier. Putting Rush on as a judge was great! It answers the whole Perez Hilton/Carrie Prejean flap, and probably if TLC experiences a bump up in ratings this year it'll be because Rush was a judge.
My son and I went to the movie theater version of the show last night. Our theater was nearly sold out, people laughing and applauding. Beck and O'Reilly are funny on stage, individually and when they are together. People were happy, smiling. Great show, and conservatives DO have a sense of humor!
The Limbaugh invitation may be a case of the Miss America Organization(MSO) reaching out to its base. The Left has been bashing conventional/traditional womanhood for years. Those holding to the MSO perspective saw the Perez element last year – how about seeing "an alternative" this year? MSO, like most institutions, become driven by the Bottom Line: financial success. Whether or not one favors either Hilton or Limbaugh, ya gotta admit that the Limbaugh selection is more likely to get the pageant back on mainstream TV sometime soon.
Look again at the picture. Everyone is looking ahead or at others. Only Rush is looking at himself. Significance?
You just got to love Rush…..Bet he is having ' more fun than any one should be allowed to have ' all the way to the bank . Let ur Rip Rushbo!!!!!!!!
Hopefully, we'll never hear from Perez Hilton (or whatever his real name is) again.
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