Stoneless

So this post is going to stray from the typical Hollywood gossip I usually post. I focus today on a loss to television news journalism. Budget cutting has forced NBC to not renew Dateline anchor Stone Phillips contract at the end of this year. I am personally saddened by this as Stone has always been as much a part of Dateline as Barbara Walters was 20/20. Granted 20/20 has survived without Barbara's presence...but I still vow it isn't even close to being the same program. NBC viewers will suffer that same loss when Stone leaves the show.

Now for my usual tidbit of Hollywood news. If you haven't heard already Nicolas Cage will be back in another installment of National Treasure. I was a fan of the first and am thus looking forward to the December 21st release of this latest feature film.

I am going to vent quickly about a few annoying Hollywood tidbits. A) I am sick of hearing about American Idol. Maybe it's just me but I am feeling like this season's show is getting more press than normal and I can't stand it. At this point I don't even care who wins as long as it is over soon. B) If one more Entertainment show does a feature on Anna Nicole Smith I might just have to give up EBUZZ alltogether. I feel it is an injustice to entertainment shows everywhere. There is still as much press now as the day she died. Was she really that important? Name one positive thing she did for the country...something that could be worthy of all this coverage...anyone? Please?! C) I think the criteria for movie critics needs to change. The movies raking in the most dough at the box office are the same movies that are receiving the poorest ratings. People don't go to films because they have ingenious plots, excellent cinematography, and stellar acting performances. They go when they are a) blockbusters, b) star incredibly high profile actors and actresses, and C) when they have caused a controversy. Why aren't the things people want to see in movies taken into consideration when critics review films? I could write a paper on this subject but I will just let you linger on this thought for now.