This, That, And The Other Thing

So much going on . . . so little space.

You Still Can't Call Him Senator Al

A three-judge panel ruled that 312 votes are enough for Democrat Al Franken to become Minnesota's next U.S. Senator. Hold on a minute! It is widely assumed that Republican Norm Coleman will file an appeal before the state Supreme Court, and that Governor Tim Pawlenty won't sign an election certificate until Coleman prevails. As sick of this process as we are, we now believe Coleman should go for it. After all, what's another month or two of Senator Amy Klobuchar doing the work of two men? And of Minnesota being the political laughingstock of America?

I'm a Former Governor . . . Get Me Out of Prison!

As anyone who watches Law & Order, Boston Legal, or any other crime show knows, defendants at a bail hearing usually have their passports taken away and ordered not to leave town by a judge. So why does former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich think he's an exception? He's been offered the chance to fly to the jungles of Costa Rica, competing with other semi-known notables on an NBC game show called "I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here!", pending judicial approval. Blagojevich, who has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges, should be more concerned about staying out of prison right now. Besides, why would he want to go on another reality show when he's already starring in one?

John Madden: It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

For the first time in 30 years, John Madden won't be in a broadcast booth to cover an NFL game. Instead, at age 73, he's going to spend more time with his family, and to plop down that Madden-cruiser wherever he damn well pleases. In the three decades since walking away from a Hall of Fame career as Oakland Raiders coach, Madden has been winning raves as the best ever to describe the X's and O's to football fans everywhere. And because Madden was the best, he usually got to work with the best play-by-play talent: Vin Scully and Pat Summerall at CBS and Fox, Al Michaels at ABC and NBC. If it was the game of the week, a conference championship, or a Super Bowl, you wanted Madden there. Cris Collinsworth will be Michaels' new partner on Sunday nights, but everybody knows it's hard to replace a legend.

Is It Live, or Is It Someone Else?

Much has been said and written about Susan Boyle, the ugly duckling who went on a British TV talent show and sang like a swan. On the surface, anyone who can impress judge Simon Cowell must be doing something extraordinary. But we were wondering if perhaps Ms. Boyle might be the victim of a cruel hoax. Is it possible that she might have been lip-syncing the voice of someone else a la Milli Vanilli? We hope it's not true, otherwise shame on the producers for taking advantage of the poor woman.