My 2009 "McLaughlin Awards" [Part 1]

Chris Weigant, 12.26.2009

Author, Political Commentator, and Blogger (ChrisWeigant.com)

Welcome once again to our year-end wrap-up and awards ceremony. Honesty dictates that I immediately genuflect to The McLaughlin Group, from whom I have stolen all these award categories.

If Only This Is It Were It

Jon Chattman, 09.30.2009

Founder of thecheappop.com, pop culture/music writer, and author of "Sweet Stache"

Next month the much-hyped This Is It will hit theaters, and I have no doubt that it'll be a smash success, and more importantly, a fitting final chapter in Jackson's roller coaster legacy.

My Journey With Farrah

Alana Stewart, 09.11.2009

Actress, former model, and talk-show host

One day Farrah was fine, the next she was not. Yet through it all, I never heard her question "Why me?" I never saw her act like a victim.

Celebrity Weekly Cover Analysis: Which Will Be The Big Winner?

Mark Pasetsky, 09.05.2009

Editorial Director, CoverAwards.com

People, OK!, Us Weekly, In Touch, Star and Life & Style each feature a unique cover story topic - and that has not happened in quite a while. Let's d...

The Dharma of Celebrity Death

Dean Sluyter, 08.23.2009

Buddhist/Advaita author, teacher, prison chaplain

Everybody dies. Why, from a spiritual point of view, are celebrity deaths such an extra big deal?

Why My Daughter Is Getting The HPV Vaccine

Rebecca Booth, MD, 08.20.2009

Obstetrician and gynecologist, Author of The Venus Week: Discover the Powerful Secret of Your Cycle...At Any Age

Could anyone forget the beautiful music of Evita, or even more compelling the black and white photos of Eva Peron, her cheeks becoming more and more h...

"What Bernie Madoff, Victimization, and Elie Wiesel Have to Teach Us"

Dr. Cara Barker, 08.08.2009

author, Analyst,Keynotes, Painting Meditation Retreats, the Sacred Feminine

"....in those times, it was human to be inhuman. And now the world has learned, I hope.... There must come a moment -- a moment of bringing people to...

Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson: Two Tragedies, Two Different Emotions

Carolyn Rubenstein, 08.07.2009

Author of "Perseverance," Harvard grad student, non-profit founder/pres

When I heard that Farrah Fawcett had passed away on June 25th, my body went weak. I, along with millions of other individuals, watched her battle ca...

Why Read When You Can Watch?

B. Jeffrey Madoff, 08.04.2009

Founder of Madoff Productions

What did I learn from my 3 week media experiment? It's easier to zone out in front of a glowing rectangle than engage in reading.

Michael Jackson RIP, 3 Decades LA Style

Jodi Lampert, 08.03.2009

Lifelong Democrat who claims never to have voted for a Republican.

I haven't cried for Michael Jackson. Because I find myself -- still -- annoyed by footage I've seen on this morning's local news

Michael, Farrah: Why We're Fascinated and What We Should Do About It

Greg Archer, 08.02.2009

Professional writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area

Welcome to the aftermath of Michael Jackson's death. Take your shoes off. Stay awhile. The sudden passing last week of the King of Pop, and the dea...

Lucky Will Remember The Time

Wendy Diamond, 08.01.2009

TV Personality, Pet Lifestyle Expert, Animal Rescue Advocate

Many of the animals recently have been transplanted from Neverland to Lake Powell, Arizona where they will be cared for at a wildlife reserve.

Celebrities Die in Threes. Except When They Don't.

Jim Watkins, 07.31.2009

Anchor, PIX News at 10

Believers have their "proof" this month after the departures of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson in quick succession. Three celebrities! Game, set, match for the urban legend!

Jackson's Death Means We're All Older Now and Need to Sober Up

Francesca Biller-Safran, 07.30.2009

Award-Winning Investigative Journalist and Satirist, covering politics, race, religion

The passing of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett has hit us near-baby boomers and full-on baby boomers with a rock and roll punch to the gut we weren't ready for.

Kings and Angels

David Dean Bottrell, 07.30.2009

blogs at www.partsandlabor.tv

When icons of that stature pass away it does leave a mark and I'm of a generation that remembers the trajectory of both of those entertainers vividly.

Remaining Celebrities Moved Underground For Safety

Spencer Green, 07.30.2009

Visit Mr. Green's website parallelfilmguide.com

The famed site, unknown by the general public until now, was built as a temporary safe haven for celebrities to hide from TMZ and other like-minded media reporters but has been adapted for the current emergency.

The Breakfast Club Takes on Jackson, Fawcett, Sanford, Mrs. Madoff

David Finkle, 07.30.2009

Writer, Drama Critic

On the day after Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett went to their fabulous maker(s), The Breakfast Club kicked off its daily meeting with discussions of both departed celebs.

Two Interviews

Carol Muske-Dukes, 07.30.2009

Poet Laureate of California

I didn't know Farrah Fawcett or Joe Jackson, but there is still this insistent sense, as they each described their lives to me, of a wish to be recognized as talented and good, a wish to be taken seriously.

Sunday Roundup

Arianna Huffington, 07.28.2009

This week saw coverage of the Iran revolution overtaken by coverage of the Argentina revelation. It was at once utterly familiar (GOP family values hypocrite hoisted on his own, uh, petard) and utterly unique ("Appalachian Trail," "tan lines," and "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina" jokes will never be the same). Sanford's TMI press conference, in which he repeatedly spoke of the role his heart played in things, was the most disheartening use of that vital organ since Woody Allen tried to explain away his relationship with his lover's daughter by saying, "The heart wants what the heart wants." This week also brought the passing of the King of Pop, Charlie's favorite Angel, and TV's greatest second banana. Rest In Peace.

The Five Stages of Public Grief: Ed, Farrah, Michael, Michael, Michael

David Kessler, 07.28.2009

Grief and Loss specialist and co-author with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross www.grief.com

Michael was the epitome of sudden death. We were collectively thrust into denial and are now obsessed with the "whys."

Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett: How They Changed Television

Ed Martin, 07.27.2009

JackMyers.com Television Critic

Fawcett and Jackson rose to the top and achieved legendary success the old-fashioned way. They earned it one performance at a time.