Wow—that woman can wail!

By Jennifer J. Foster

You’ve probably heard about it, so why not see it for yourself—the 47-year-old, supposedly-never-been-kissed, Elaine Paige-wannabe who delivered one of the biggest vocal surprises in the history of television talent shows.

It will put a smile on your face—and, perhaps, tears in your eyes.

See also:

Paige singing the same famous song her No. 1 fan knocked out of the park. Compare the two. Whose voice do you favor?

News from Florida

By Jennifer J. Foster

Self-indulgence alert: Regular readers know I used to work in the Florida House of Representatives.

My former boss, State Rep. Bill Galvano (R-Bradenton), is now the chairman of the House Rules & Calendar Committee. He is the gatekeeper to the floor. In other words, for the next two years, if Bill doesn’t like it for passage, its chances aren’t good.

Bill was the subject of an article this weekend in the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune. I thought you might be interested in reading a little bit about him. Check out the article here.

Bill has worked very hard throughout his three terms in the Florida House. He has spent his career in elected politics protecting children and the disabled. He has built his reputation on pragmatism and common sense; as a result, he is respected by Democrats and Republicans alike.

There are more than a few people who believe that Bill will someday be the governor of Florida.

I am one of those who hopes they’re right.

See also:

If you’re interested in an overall look at the challenges the Florida Legislature is facing, check out this session preview from my hometown paper, the Bradenton Herald.

New poll

By Jennifer J. Foster

Hey folks, just wanted to call your attention to the new poll in the sidebar.

I want to know what you think about Attorney General Eric Holder’s statement about the United States being a “nation of cowards.“

Phoenix on Letterman

By Jennifer J. Foster

Let’s take a break from politics for a minute to consider something from the pop culture world.

Did you see Joaquin Phoenix’s appearance last night on the “Late Show with David Letterman?“

Everyone—and by everyone, I mean enough people to make it the second-most searched term on the Internet, according to Google—is talking about it this morning.

If you missed it, you can see it below.

My first thought upon watching it was, how bizarre. My second thought was, bizarre behavior is nothing new for Joaquin Phoenix. (Remember a couple of weeks ago when he said he was giving up acting to become a rapper, and anonymous sources saying it’s all a hoax?)

But about three minutes into the interview, it seems to take a turn and Phoenix seems genuinely uncomfortable. (Watch Phoenix’s response to Letterman’s Unabomber comment.) He shifts in his seat and continually looks down, as if to avoid anyone’s gaze—and especially Letterman’s attention.

Was Phoenix—a two-time Academy Award nominee—suffering from stage fright?

If so, it would explain why it’s been three years since his last appearance on Letterman.

Letterman doesn’t do himself any favors with his guest, either. After the commercial break, Letterman’s jokes become downright caustic. I actually felt bad for Phoenix (although that gum stunt was gross).

And when Phoenix finally did open up about his new career path—hip-hop music, apparently—Letterman ridiculed him. Not surprisingly, things got reaallly uncomfortable after that. Listen to Phoenix’s comeback when Letterman tells him it’s “not likely” Phoenix’s group could make a musical appearance on the show.

But then, at the end of the interview, Phoenix gets up and shakes Letterman’s hand—twice—and even removes his sunglasses.

That left me wondering: Was this all a publicity stunt on Phoenix’s part? If so, and Letterman wasn’t in on the plan (and it is almost certain he wasn’t), then I can understand why the host would resent having his show abused this way.

What do you think?

In any event, it will probably be another three years until Phoenix’s next “Late Show” appearance—if he is invited back there at all.

See also:

Courtesy of the Tower Ticker, a roundup of the most bizarre interviews David Letterman has ever conducted ... with video.

New poll

By Jennifer J. Foster

Hey folks, there’s a new poll in the sidebar. Given the subject matter of my column this weekend, I’d like to hear your thoughts on a bailout of the newspaper industry. (The link to it is below, in case you haven’t seen it yet.)

Check out the poll below, and send me a comment with your thoughts.