Carrie Underwood Down On Celebrity Politicking

Like the rest of us, Carrie Underwood watched as Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lindsay Lohan, Matt Damon, Bruce Springsteen and Sean “Diddy” Combs publicly campaigned for our new president-elect, Barack Obama.

The country star didn’t much like what she saw and has voiced her opinion about fellow celebrities who use their fame to bring attention to political candidates.

“There is someone I do support, but I don’t support publicly. I lose all respect for celebrities when they back a candidate,” she told TV Guide.

According to Underwood, voters ought to make up their own minds rather than listen to the recommendations of the famous.

When celebrity endorsements are taken too seriously, Underwood suggested that “it’s saying that the American public isn’t smart enough to make their own decisions.”

She then noted, “Music is where you go to get away from all the BS.” click for more…

Will Ferrell to Play Bush on Broadway

Before Tina Fey created the Sarah Palin knockoff, Will Ferrell gained fame for his “Saturday Night Live” impersonation of President Bush.

Now the comedic film star has plans to bring his presidential mimicking to the Broadway stage.

“You’re Welcome America – A Final Night With George W. Bush” will enable Ferrell to make his stage debut in a one-man show.

The actor will collaborate with “Anchorman” and “Talladega Nights” writer Adam McKay for a performance that’s scheduled to open in 2009.

Ferrell generally approached his SNL Bush in a lighthearted way.

A quote attributed to Ferrell may fuel some optimism for the Broadway Bush character: “I’m no tortured, anger-stoked, deeply neurotic comic. Just a pretty low-key normal guy – a, ‘Hey, the glass is half-full’ kind of a guy. But please keep it quiet, or I may never work again.”

Homer Simpson to Endorse Obama

Barack Obama is set to receive an endorsement—sort of.

The support will reportedly come from iconic cartoon character Homer Simpson.

In an upcoming episode of the Fox animated series, which is scheduled to be aired two days prior to the election, Bart’s dad will explain his support for the Dem candidate.

“Obama cares about people like me,” Homer declares. “I haven’t been blessed with intelligence, a strong work-ethic, or sound moral judgment. But I have needs. An Obama administration will make it easier for guys like me to get what we need.”

Homer attempts to vote using an electronic voting machine.

“It’s time for a change,” he says as he repeatedly pushes the Obama button on the machine. But instead of votes for Obama, the machine indicates half a dozen votes for John McCain.

Ultimately the voting machine devours Homer whole, while he screams, “This can’t happen in America.”

If McCain wins the election, don’t be surprised if Dems use the “machine ate my hubby” excuse to launch a lawsuit.

‘Commander in Chief’ Creator Rod Lurie Seeks Veep Candidate Credit

Rod Lurie, creator of ABC’s 2005 television series, “Commander in Chief,” attended the Democratic National Convention and cheered for his candidate of choice, Barack Obama.

The producer then gave his assessment of John McCain’s pick for vice president.

“People who understand politics know anything is possible,” Lurie told the Hollywood Reporter.

“Picking a woman is an absolute strategic idea from McCain’s point of view. He’s not talking about governing right now. The idea of this woman [Palin] actually facing down Putin and negotiating with Medvedev is idiotic,” he added.

In the pilot for Lurie’s cancelled TV show, an experienced GOP presidential candidate chose a young unknown woman to be his running mate.

“It’s unbelievable isn’t it?” Lurie asked. “I think that Geena [Davis] and I need to be paid royalties by the Republicans.”

After Davis’ character succeeded to the White House, she was criticized for lack of experience. But the TV prez proved her detractors wrong.

The dismissal of Palin’s experience by the Dems and many in the mainstream media is unseemly, especially in the light of Obama’s thin resume and the media’s lack of perusal.

Palin definitely has defenders such as America’s mayor Rudy Giuliani, who while appearing on “Face the Nation” praised the former two term mayor, conservation commission chair and current governor of Alaska, and pointed out that when talking about the readiness issue, Obama is the one who has “never run a city, he’s never run a state, he’s never run a business, he’s never administered a payroll, he’s never led people in crisis.”

Giuliani also noted that Obama “had to put all that emphasis on somebody [Biden] helping him because he’s never had a record of executive experience.”

Clooney Worried Star Power Harms Obama

Michael Moore’s Obama Advice

Michael Moore usually can’t stay quiet during a political campaign season. And this year is no exception.

In an attempt to insert himself into the current presidential contest, Moore has released a book called “Mike’s Election Guide 2008.”

In an excerpt on his Web site, the “Sicko” filmmaker posts a formula for a Barack Obama loss.

Titled “How The Democrats Can Blow It …In Six Easy Steps,” Moore sets forth a “blueprint for losing the most winnable presidential election in American history.”

Along with items that he claims will cause the presumptive Democrat nominee to eventually lose (like “saying nice things about McCain,” picking “a running mate who is a conservative white guy or a general or a Republican” and “writing speeches for Obama that make him sound like a hawk”) is something that signals a new level of self-absorption even for Moore. Step number six reads, “Denounce me!”

According to Moore, if Obama distances himself from him, it would be a fatal error, politically and strategically.

The “Bowling for Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 9/11” documentary maker writes that “Obama, at some point, might be asked this question: ‘Michael Moore has endorsed you. But he recently said (fill in the blank with some outrageously offensive line taken out of context). Will you still accept his endorsement, or do you denounce him?’”

Moore answers his own hypothetical in the following way: “So Barack, by denouncing me, you can help McCain get elected. Because when you denounce me, it’s not really me you’re distancing yourself from — it’s the millions upon millions of people who feel the same way about things as I do.”

The only problem for Moore is that the millions upon millions of people who feel the same way he does live on Planet X and usually vote the Tin Foil Hat Party.

James Hirsen is a media analyst, Trinity Law School professor, and teacher of mass media and entertainment law at Biola University.

Visit: Newsmax TV Hollywood: http://www.youtube.com/user/NMHollywood

Angelina Jolie Tilting Toward McCain?

As Hollywood celebrities queue up for presumptive Democrat nominee Barack Obama, one superstar is giving the Obama campaign some shivers.

It’s none other than Brad Pitt’s main squeeze—Angelina Jolie.

In a statement to Variety, Jolie indicated that she hasn’t made up her mind about whom she’s going to support.

Then came the scary part for Dems. She seems to be leaning McCain’s way.

“I have not decided on a candidate,” Jolie said. “I am waiting to see the commitments they will make on issues like international justice, refugees and how to address the needs of children in crisis around the world.”

It just so happens that Jolie is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Her endorsement would certainly have some clout, as she is well known and respected for her humanitarian activities.

Sounding like a staffer from the McCain campaign, Jolie penned an op-ed in the Washington Post in which she made the case for staying in Iraq.

She wrote, “Today’s humanitarian crisis in Iraq — and the potential consequences for our national security — are great. Can the United States afford to gamble that 4 million or more poor and displaced people, in the heart of Middle East, won’t explode in violent desperation, sending the whole region into further disorder?”

“What we cannot afford, in my view, is to squander the progress that has been made,” Jolie added.

You may recall that not too long ago she and Pitt spoke out in favor of gun ownership.

Jolie’s father, Jon Voigt, has endorsed McCain, and he recently criticized Obama in an op-ed that was published in the Washington Times.

In a campaign season where Hollywood celebs are presumed to be in Barack’s camp, so far Jolie has refused to jump aboard the Obama train.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she said, “I think people assume I’m a Democrat. But I’m registered Independent and I’m still undecided. So I’m looking at McCain as well as Obama.”

James Hirsen is a media analyst, Trinity Law School professor, and teacher of mass media and entertainment law at Biola University.

Visit: Newsmax TV Hollywood @ http://www.youtube.com/user/NMHollywood

Maggie Gyllenhaal’s Global Warming Reality Show

Now that she has co-starred in the mega-blockbuster “The Dark Knight,” is Maggie Gyllenhaal going to Disneyland?

No, she’s celebrating her cinematic success by taking a job as a judge on an online reality show to, of all things, fight global warming.

It’s called “Climate Matters.”

Contestants will be submitting ad-length videos to convince the next occupant of the White House to take action against climate change.

The winner will get a $3,000 Visa gift card, and the Top Ten videos will be broadcast on various eco-oriented Web sites.

A number of filmmakers have agreed to be judges including an Emmy-winning documentary producer, Rory Kennedy.

The “Simon Cowell” role on the panel of judges has yet to be filled, but a certain Nobel Prize winning recipient is rumored to be begging for an audition.

James Hirsen is a media analyst, Trinity Law School professor, and teacher of mass media and entertainment law at Biola University.

Mars Cancels Mr. T Ad Over Nutty Allegation

In another example of special interest group meddling of the PC kind, candy bar maker Mars has had to cancel a Snickers advertisement, which was running in the U.K. and featured Mr. T.

According to the gay advocacy group, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the candy company pulled the ad after some “communication between the HRC Workplace Project and Mars.”

The HRC Workplace Project issued a statement applauding Mars for taking “swift and appropriate action” in canceling the ad.

In the commercial, a man was engaged in speed walking, an activity that may sometimes appear to be deficient in the macho department.

Mr. T poked fun at the man, who was subsequently shot at by a Snickers cannon.

The last scene featured Mr. T proclaiming the Snickers slogan: “Get some nuts.”

James Hirsen is a media analyst, Trinity Law School professor, and teacher of mass media and entertainment law at Biola University.

Miley Cyrus’ Achy Breaky Makeover

News stories about tween phenom Miley Cyrus are becoming more and more disturbing.

Millions of young girls follow the star’s every move and imitate her to a T.

Parents are growing weary at having to field questions over Miley-related news stories that are slowly morphing Hannah Montana’s alter ego into a broken Britney clone.

Girls of primary school age, still clutching teddy bears, are having to reconcile their idealized image of the Disney star with that of a semi-nude picture on MySpace and suggestive photos in Vanity Fair.

Either Miley herself, or perhaps her handlers, think that giving the teen idol a bad girl makeover may serve to broaden the scope of her career.

Maybe it’s time for Miley’s conservative leaning dad, Billy Ray, to be a little more proactive in the protection department.

Parents the world over would appreciate it.

James Hirsen is a media analyst, Trinity Law School professor, and teacher of mass media and entertainment law at Biola University.