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Politics

Tami Taylor Is Not OK With Romney Ripping Off ‘Friday Night Lights,’ Y’all

By Judy Berman on

She may look sweet as all-American apple pie, but Friday Night Lights fans know you don’t mess with Tami Taylor. So, although Mitt Romney has been ignoring FNL creator Peter Berg’s request that he stop using the show’s “Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose” slogan in his presidential campaign, we sure hope he… Read More

Politics

Tina Fey Has Something to Say About “Legitimate Rape”

By Judy Berman on

“I wish we could have an honest and respectful dialogue about these complicated issues,” said Tina Fey in a speech at last night’s Center for Reproductive Rights’ Inaugural Gala in New York. “But it seems like we can’t right now. And if I have to listen to one more gray-faced man with a two-dollar haircut… Read More

Politics

Jeff Mangum to Headline Occupy Wall Street Telethon

By Judy Berman on

Just like the punk movement to which it shares more than a casual connection, Occupy Wall Street isn’t dead — it’s just harder to find these days. But an all-star concert to be held November 15th at Le Poisson Rouge promises a resurgence of the movement in New York’s popular consciousness. The show will feature… Read More

Politics

Watch Lena Dunham Lip-Synch “You Don’t Own Me” in a New PSA

By Caroline Stanley on

If you’re worried about what a Mitt Romney presidency could mean for women’s reproductive rights, you’re certainly not alone. In a new PSA, female celebrities like Lena Dunham, Miranda July, Natasha Lyonne, Tavi Gevinson, Karen Elson, and Alexa Chung sing along with Lesley Gore’s 1963 hit, “You Don’t Own Me,” while messages underscoring what’s at stake in the upcoming election flash across the screen. “I recorded ‘You Don’t Own Me’ in 1964,’” Gore herself explains at the end of the video. “It’s hard for me to believe, but we’re still fighting for the same things we were then. Yes ladies, we’ve got to come together, get out there and vote, and protect our bodies. They’re ours. Please vote.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Click through to watch the catchy clip for yourself, but don’t be surprised when you suddenly find yourself singing along. … Read More

Politics

Read David Lynch's Exceedingly Lynchian Obama Endorsement

By Judy Berman on

With only a few weeks to go before the presidential election, it’s time for the political news cycle to get a bit loopy. Oh, sure, there are debates and stump speeches and wonky Fox News and MSNBC pundits fixating on tiny details that have no bearing on anything. But now the very serious matter of choosing our next president has fully pervaded even the goofiest corners of pop culture, with the Tumblr Binders Full of Women going viral even before the end of Tuesday’s debate and the crowd outside that event carrying signs that say things like “PROTECT LIL B” (seriously, that happened, we saw it on TV).

In other words, things are getting surreal. And who is the master of the surreal? David Lynch, of course. So obviously, it’s time for him to enter this national conversation. The filmmaker/artistic polymath, who isn’t usually given to making political statements, has published a note on his website endorsing Barack Obama. Apparently, he’s very disturbed that when you rearrange the letters in Romney’s name, you get “R MONEY.” Read Lynch’s full, exceedingly Lynchian, message below. … Read More

Politics

Million Muppet March Planned to Protest Romney's PBS Threat

By Judy Berman on

Mitt Romney should have known better than to diss Big Bird. Despite Sesame Street’s reluctance to get involved with politics, a pair of fans are planning the Million Muppet March (which looks like it may have recently been renamed the Million Puppet March) in response to the candidate’s promise to defund PBS. Animation… Read More

Politics

Watch Sean Penn and Kid Rock's Short Film About Political Stereotypes

By Judy Berman on

Apparently Democrat Sean Penn and Republican Kid Rock are friends. Keep that in mind, because it explains why their 11-minute film “Americans” exists. The clip that they co-wrote and Rock produced finds the celebrities meeting in a folksy local bar to squabble over their divergent political views. But after lashing out at each other with taunts typical of the comments section of just about any major political blog, they’re caught off-guard by a report about marines killed in Afghanistan. As each realizes how deeply affected the other is by the news, they come to understand they’ve got something in common after all. From there, they ride off into the sunset to give each other’s values a shot, Kid Rock buying a Prius (and immediately outfitting it with some taxidermy and a gun rack) and Penn giving up his foofy Hollywood cocktail for a good, ol’ working man’s beer.

See, Americans? The differences between the political left and right aren’t that important, after all — especially if you’re a rich celebrity who’s going to be just fine no matter who wins the election! All snark aside, it’s a very sweet video, and its intentions are good. Unfortunately, it’s also kind of painful to watch. Check it out, if you have the patience and/or would like to see Kid Rock pretend that a pair of overalls with no shirt is an OK thing to wear in public, below. … Read More

Politics

‘Sesame Street’ Not Cool With Obama’s Big Bird Campaign Ad

By Emily Temple on

Sesame Workshop has asked the Obama campaign to take down a new campaign video that features a character that’s been getting a lot of attention recently: Big Bird. The video mocks Mitt Romney’s vow to end the federal subsidy to PBS by cheekily painting Big Bird as a nefarious “evil genius” and menace to our economy, with Romney as the only man brave enough to go up against him. But friendly as he seems, the big yellow bird’s not having it. The folks behind Sesame Street posted this statement on their blog: “Sesame Workshop is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization and we do not endorse candidates or participate in political campaigns. We have approved no campaign ads, and as is our general practice, have requested that the ad be taken down.” Watch the offending video after the jump (while it lasts), and let us know what you think in the comments. … Read More

Politics

Who Will Be Better for the Arts: Romney or Obama?

By Paul Hiebert on

Abortion, tax, gay marriage, the economy, education, health care, immigration, the Middle East, clean energy, terrorism, the budget — these are the issues you’ve probably heard two men running for president discuss a lot recently. But what about the arts? What about those creative endeavors that explore our innermost thoughts and feelings, which are difficult to describe yet impossible to deny? How will the federal government either help or hinder these things during the next four years?

If Mitt Romney’s line about cutting federal support for PBS during last night’s presidential debate left you worried, then you’re not alone. We decided to look at what might happen to arts funding if either Romney or Obama won the upcoming election. Although the federal government can financially support the arts through numerous organizations — such as the Smithsonian Institute, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which in turn funds PBS and NPR, and so on — the biggie, in terms of handing out grants for artists and galleries across the country, is the National Endowment for the Arts. … Read More

Politics

Samuel L. Jackson Has a New Children’s Story for Obama Supporters

By Caroline Stanley on

Remember when Samuel L. Jackson read the audiobook version of Adam Mansbach’s children’s book for adults, Go the Fuck to Sleep? It was the perfect pairing; a match made in viral video heaven. Well, today he’s back with another profanity-laced story in a new online spot from the Jewish Council for Education & Research that’s targeting the more apathetic supporters in Obama’s flock. Titled “Wake the fuck up,” the ad, which as Browbeat notes, was penned by Mansbach, is a rhyming call to arms that while silly, manages to make a lot of really great points. Click through to watch the clip now, and don’t worry, all of Jackson’s swearing is bleeped out, so you won’t get in trouble at work — unless your boss happens to be voting for Romney! … Read More