All new LOST!

My favorite night of the week is nearly here. WEDNESDAY=another new episode of LOST! I think this one could be the best one of the season. Really. I'm basing that statement on the fact that this week's plot solely depends on the implications of last week's final minutes, which involved Sayid pulling the trigger on one of Dharma's own (sorry folks, no spoilers here). Though I saw last week's ending coming, the action of it all still caught me off guard. Of course, those kind of OMG moments are what keep me tuned in each week, so I'm hoping for more this week. E!Online's "Watch with Krisitin" has already uploaded sneak peeks, so check them out! The guys from Entertainment Weekly's "Totally Lost" also have more recap/teaser videos online.

DWTS 4

Some surprises this week, including Ty Murray (aka Jewel's husband) and Chelsie Hightower (one of my favorites from last season's So You Think You Can Dance on FOX) dancing a very energetic Lindy Hop! She's definitely worked her magic on Ty, who has improved so much since the beginning of the season! Usual favs were great again this week with Gilles Marini and his partner Cheryl Burke getting a perfect 30/30 from the judges for their Argentine Tango! Their dance was unbelievable! The couple looked gorgeous, I absolutely loved Cheryl's purple dress. Shawn Johnson and Melissa Rycroft both performed the Lindy Hop with their partners.

Sun-Times files for bankruptcy

The Sun-Times Media Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Tuesday. The company owns the Chicago Sun-Times and many suburban newspapers. Chairman Jeremy Halbreich said the filing was important "to re-establish itself as a self-sustaining, profitable operation. That is worth fighting for.”

The Sun-Times Media Group now joins the Tribune Co. and the Star Tribune as Chapter 11 filers.

Gisele on May VF cover

Gisele Bündchen is featured on the new cover of Vanity Fair. I haven't gotten my copy yet, but I'm anxious to read about the supermodel's life with new husband and NFL quarterback Tom Brady.

Free Press publisher speaks about changes

Detroit Free Press publisher David Hunke spoke to business leaders today at the Detroit Economic Club about the paper's new edition. The staff at the paper is enthuiastically pushing its new vision. They even created a music video, which is below:

Changes take effect

The Detroit Free Press begins Monday its push toward sustaining journalism in the digital media age. The paper will print three days a week for home delivery (Thursday, Friday and Sunday) as well as daily for coin machines. It will be sent digitally to subscribers each morning. It will still maintain its Web site (free for all, updated 24-7). It will also begin sending free e-mail newsletters to those who sign up. Social networking will also be integrated with Facebook and Twitter, and eventually e-readers will begin to carry a version of the paper. I watched the video below and became hopeful all the planning will pay off. One of the residents interviewed in the clip calls journalism the "fourth branch of the government." I believe this is true, as there is an important role newspapers and journalism play in our democracy. I also loved the part where a staff member taught senior citizens how to use the digital edition on laptops! One was overjoyed at the thought of printing out two copies of the Sudoku—adorable! The entire newspaper world will be watching to see if this model pans out (I'm crossing my fingers that it does).

Sneak peek of Alexis Bledel (Rory) on ER

This week's series finale of ER is pulling out all the stops, including adding a new intern played by Alexis Bledel (aka Rory on our favorite Gilmore Girls). Watch the clip below!


(video via "Watch with Kristin")

HuffPost's new journalism venture

The Huffington Post announced some exciting news Sunday for both experienced journalists and young journalism majors. The online blog will soon sponsor an investigative journalism venture with an initial budget of $1.75 million! With the fate of newspapers threatening to shrink investigative projects, the HuffPost seized the opportunity to help save the watchdog function of the press. The money will staff 10 journalists.

200,000th user to join Facebook

"Is Facebook Growing Too Fast?" An article in the NYTimes asks that question of the five-year-old social networking site's growth within the last year—it doubled its size from 100,000 users last August to 200,000 sometime this week.

MN/ND flooding...

I've been following the Red River Valley flooding in North Dakota/Minnesota, and thinking of the people who are close to having their houses swept away. I hope all the hard work will pay off and the levies will hold for the members of the community. Being a Minnesota native, the potential victims have a special place in my heart.

(photo via Star Tribune)

Palestra.net buys UWIRE

Palestra.net's purchase of UWIRE from CBS was officially announced Wednesday. The two entities aim to preserve and promote college media via print (newspapers) and digital content (videos, twitter, blogs). Palestra.net's CEO Joe Weasel was interviewed about the new collaboration by Innovation in College Media and College Media Matters. 

AMAZING!

OMG, LOST was amazing last night—and I totally predicted the ending, which always makes me happy. For a recap (don't worry, there aren't any spoilers) click here.

Rachel Maddow on Late Night

Rachel Maddow was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night. Check it out below.

Oscars 2010

Yes, it may be a bit early to mention next year's awards show, but it was announced today that the 2010 Academy Awards will air March 7. The last three Oscars have been in late February. 

Leslie Unger, a spokesperson for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who distributes the awards, said the change was to avoid conflicts with the 2010 Winter Olympics.

According to the AP, nominations will be announced Feb. 2. It's way too early to predict the actors and actresses on that list, but I'm already anticipating it!

New LOST!

Wednesday=new LOST episode! The "Watch With Kristin" blog already posted sneak peeks from tonight's episode. I don't have a good feeling about this week's show. I know it will likely push the series along like the rest of the Season 5 episodes, but there is something about Little Ben and Sayid together that gives me the chills... A new "Totally LOST" with the guys from EW.com is also online, which offers teasers of tonight's episode.

(photo via E!Online)

Guilty pleasure Week 3

My favs performed another round of dances last night on Dancing with the Stars with Shawn and her partner Mark, Melissa and her partner Tony, and Gilles and his partner Cheryl all earning 27/30. Shawn and Melissa performed the Foxtrot, while Gilles danced the Samba (and man was it HOT!). Check out their dances below, and click here for a recap from EW.com. This week's rehearsal tapes got a little more personal with Shawn talking to her friends back home, Melissa going to Dallas to clean out her work desk and Gilles' mom coming to visit his practice ... awwww, so sweet.

LOST, Grey's Weddings

Two of my favorite shows are apparently planning weddings. Main characters on Grey's Anatomy and LOST will be getting married, according to EW.com's Michael Ausiello. It's highly likely that the lucky couple will be Meredith and Derek on Grey's, but who will it be on LOST?! 

Takethelede now on Twitter

Takethelede has joined Twitter and has added Twitter updates as a sidebar to this blog, so if you don't have Twitter, you can keep tabs on what I'm doing from here. If you have Twitter, follow me!

Coach Robinson on Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow had Craig Robinson, aka older brother to Michelle Obama, brother-in-law to President Obama and coach of the Oregon State men's basketball team, on her show Friday. Click to listen to him talk about the NCAA tournament, and Obama's bracket.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

MARCH MADNESS

The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has taken over my television, and my computer screen with games across the country. I love that the games are streaming over the Internet, it makes it that much easier to root for your favorite team if you cannot access a TV, or if a different game than the one you want to watch is playing in your area. I wrote about this in an earlier post, but college reporters are covering the games too! You can follow them here, courtesy of UWIRE.

EW pays respects

This week's Entertainment Weekly pays tribute to Natasha Richardson.

(photo via EW.com)

Friends remember Natasha

An outpouring of condolences have come from those who knew and worked with Natasha Richardson. "A magnificent actress," "excellent mother" and "fiercely loyal friend" are the words being used to describe her by those in the industry. Robert Duvall, Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Sam Mendes and Ralph Fiennes join those who have made statements about her death. It's just so sad! I watched The Parent Trap last night after not seeing it for about 8 years, and she was just radiant. There is a scene in it in which one of Lindsay Lohan's "twins" sees Richardson's character for the first time and they meet each other for a slow motion hug. It broke my heart to think of her sons never being able to hug her like that again. Such a tragedy.

The above photo is of the women in the Redgrave acting dynasty, which includes Richardson, her grandmother Rachel Kempson, mother Vanessa Redgrave, sister Joely Richardson and neice Daisy Bevan. It was taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz in 1998 for Vanity Fair.

(photo via VF)

An awful ending

The NYTimes is reporting that actress Natasha Richardson, 45, has died two days after a ski accident. So tragic. My thoughts are with her family and friends, which include husband Liam Neeson, mother Vanessa Redgrave and sister Joely Richardson—all actors. The following statement was released from the family:

"Liam Neeson, his sons, and the entire family are shocked and devastated by the tragic death of their beloved Natasha. They are profoundly grateful for the support, love and prayers of everyone, and ask for privacy during this very difficult time."

One of my favorite movies growing up was "The Parent Trap" in which she starred with Dennis Quaid and a young Lindsay Lohan. I will have to watch it in her memory. Rest in peace.

(photo via NYTimes)

Carrie to debut duet with Randy Travis

Tonight brings another elimination to the songbird-hopefuls of American Idol. I've already got my DVR set, not because I need to see who goes home, but because past Idol-winner Carrie Underwood will be performing! She is set to debut her version of Randy Travis' "I Told You So" on the air with Travis. She covered the song on her Carnival Ride album, but will be releasing it as a duet.

(photo via MTV)

LOST tonight!

It's Wednesday! ... which means there is an all new episode of LOST! For sneak peeks from E!Online's "Watch with Kristin" click here. To see another recap/teaser version of "Totally Lost" from the EW.com guys click here. From what I've see so far, tonight's ep. is going to be great!

(photo via E!Online)

Natasha in my thoughts

The (incomplete) story has been developing all day with conflicting reports coming from many sources, but actress Natasha Richardson has been in my thoughts all day. Richardson was critically injured in a ski accident in Canada sometime Monday, and the latest news is that she's been transferred from a Canadian hospital to one in New York.

My thoughts go out to her family—husband Liam Neeson and their sons, mother Vanessa Redgrave, and other family members.
___________

Wednesday morning UPDATE: Sadly, there is not much of an update currently. The NYTimes is reporting that more of Richardson's family, including her sister Joely Richardson, have gathered in New York. People.com is reporting that there is "no chance" for Richardson's survival, according to a family friend. So sad!

(photo via People.com)

LOST sneak peek

E!Online's "Watch with Kristin" already has a LOST sneak peek online. It's a short clip, but without a new episode last week I am squealing with excitement already for tomorrow night! Click to watch the preview, and don't forget to watch tomorrow at 8 p.m. CST on ABC.

DWTS Week 2

Shawn and Melissa danced the salsa with their partners. Another dancer topping my favorites list is Gilles Marini, who danced a Superman-themed quickstep with partner Cheryl Burke (their cha cha from Week 1 is the last video). If you don't know who Gilles is, he played Samantha's incredibly sexy neighbor in the "Sex and the City" movie. *He also had a now famous nude shower scene in the movie. For a full recap of all the dancers, check EW.com's coverage.

West Side Story

Broadway is bringing back West Side Story, the NYC musical take on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and Vanity Fair is helping launch its comeback. Jennifer Lopez, Rodrigo Santoro, Camilla Belle and Ben Barnes lend a hand in recreating Tony, Maria, the Sharks and the Jets for VF.com. The photos look beautiful!

(photos via VF.com)

Follow March Madness with UWIRE

UWIRE has pooled together its resources to cover March Madness. The NCAA College Men's Basketball tournament will begin this Thursday! Follow it here with the students who cover basketball year-round.

Julia Roberts, Clive Owens on EW's cover

After an absence from the big screen, Julia Roberts joins Clive Owens in Duplicity and graces the cover of the upcoming Entertainment Weekly! Having been one of my favorite actresses growing up, I've missed her the past couple of years as she's taken a break to spend time with her three children. 

"I'm baaaaaaaack," she tells EW in this week's cover story. I couldn't be more excited to hear it!

(photo via EW.com)

VF's Rachel Maddow Q&A

Vanity Fair's George Wayne has an exclusive Q&A with Rachel Maddow! Click to read about the cable news host's thoughts on President Obama, where she grew up and more.

DWTS clips

I haven't been a fan of Dancing with the Stars before, but after watching the season premiere last night, I already have two favorites in the competition—Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and Bachelor ex-fiance Melissa Rycroft! They were great, and I think I'm going to have to tune in each week to see how they progress.

(videos via watchdwts)

Reese looking great

While promoting "Monsters vs. Aliens" in Berlin Monday, Reese Witherspoon looked fantastic in this Valentino dress. 

Gorgeous!

(photo via EW.com)

Obama lifts stem-cell funding ban

President Barack Obama signed an executive order this morning reversing the federal funding ban on human embryonic stem cell research put in place by former President George W. Bush. 

This type of research is critical at the University of Wisconsin, where several stem cell discoveries have taken place. UW researcher James Thomson, who derived the first human embryonic stem cell line in 1998, released the following statement about the implications of Obama's action: 

"The executive action by President Obama lifting restrictions on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research is a welcome milestone for our field. The decision will help restore America as a leader in this field and is a clear path out of a policy thicket that has slowed the pace of discovery for eight years. It also removes a stigma that has discouraged many bright young people from embarking on careers in stem cell research. Research on embryonic stem cells remains critically important. We have many unanswered questions, and the only way to realize the full potential of embryonic stem cells and other types of stem cells is a level playing field and unfettered inquiry. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells—the transformed adult cells that seem to mimic the qualities of embryonic stem cells—would not have been possible without research on human embryonic stem cells. We are grateful to President Obama for the courage of his decision as well as for the broad bipartisan support out work has received in Washington."

In November 2007, Thomson also found a way to make adult skin cells act like human embryonic stem cells. For his research, Thomson was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME magazine.

(photo via NYTimes)

Rachel Maddow looks at the fate of newspapers

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Chris Brown charged with two felonies

Chris Brown was formally charged this morning with two felonies, one for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and one for making criminal threats. The charges stem from an incident the night of the Grammys in which Brown allegedly beat-up his girlfriend Rihanna.

Do you think he'll plead guilty or not guilty?

(image via EW.com)

New LOST

It's Wednesday again, which means another new episode of LOST! "Watch with Kristin" has some sneak peeks and the guys from EW.com have some teasers as well. I'm so excited!

Reese on Elle!

One of my acting favs, Reese Witherspoon, graces the cover of Elle's April edition! Titled "Big Love," I'm guessing the article will have Reese opening up about her life with Jake Gyllenhaal (post-divorce with Ryan Phillipe and post-Oscar win). She looks great!

(photo via Elle)

Jimmy Fallon now on 'Late'

Jimmy Fallon made his late-night debut Monday, with special surprises (Conan O'Brien) and other regularly scheduled guests. Watch the full episode here. The Huffington Post also has a recap of the show and shorter clips.

O'Brien will take over "The Tonight Show" on June 1. Watch his "Late Night" exit here.

Daily Kate Intake

Did you know Kate Winslet released a song? It was nearly a decade ago, but "What If" was for a version of the Christmas Carol! She sounds pretty great!

VF's April cover!

A new Vanity Fair portfolio for the April issue highlights some of this generation's new comedic geniuses. Featured are the Judd Apatow clan: Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann, as well as Bill Hader, Russell Brand, Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Anna Faris. Check it out!

(videos, photo via VF)