Jane McGarry Turns Out Not to Be (Just) a Fear-Mongering Robot

Just watched Channel 5 do the Tyler cannibalism story. From what I saw of the local TV coverage, they had the best coverage — primarily because they had an interview with two sisters of the victim, who made a compassionate plea for people to remember their sister as a vibrant, loving person and not for how it appears she died. One of the sisters said this while wiping away tears. Normally such grief-filled interviews feel exploitative. Not this one, as the sisters had a point to make in their interview. And it seemed to affect McGarry, a newscaster at which we’ve directed barbs in this space and in the “print product.” When they threw it back to her in the studio, she appeared to be fighting back tears herself (and for those as cynical as I, no, it didn’t look like she was acting).

I don’t have HD. Anyone with a clearer picture see this? Am I imagining it?

Nick Badovinus Leaves Consilient Restaurants

D freelance food writer and Pegasus News editor Teresa Gubbins reports that Nick “Baddy” Badovinus is leaving the Consilient fold. Excuse me while I pick my tired butt off the floor. WTF? From the outside, it looks like Tristan Simon’s company (Cuba Libre, Hibiscus, The Porch, and Fireside Pies) is successfully rocking and rolling out new restaurants. Hmm, I’m a little more than curious as to the details of Baddy’s departure–it seems like an out-of-left-field development. But, then again, there are now so many opportunities for hot young chefs these days. I mean would you rather work 12 hours a day behind a hot stove or star in your own cooking show? Thankfully (Tristan), I don’t want to do either one. I just wanna have fun.

Norah Jones = On the Market

Page Six reports Norah Jones and her longtime live-in boyfriend (and her band’s bassist) have broken up after years of dating. The split was supposedly amicable.

Nerd Alert: Texas Instruments Giving Gamers a Better View

As the folks at Gizmodo point out, head-to-head competition on any gaming system is always tainted by the split screen. Opponents can get an advantage (or just get plain confused) by taking a peek at the other side of the screen. Texas Instruments has some newfangled DLP technology in the works (I hear it has something to do with an elephant, a little girl, and millions of tiny mirrors) that lets each player see only their car, tennis player, ninja, or whatever it is he or she is controlling. Follow the link for some video footage of the TI doohickey in action at the recent CES show.

Oh, You Think So, Doctor?

Amid criticism that he violated her privacy, Dr. Phil has decided not to dedicate an episode of his talk show to Britney Spears, as originally planned. In a statement on his Web site, he writes:

We had planned to tape a Dr. Phil Now show today, focusing not on the tabloid side of Britney’s latest problems, but instead on the very serious issues surrounding this case. … Because the Spears situation is too intense at this time, and out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping at this particular time.

ICYDK, Dr. Phil was called by the Spears family to the L.A. hospital where Britney, after a custody standoff at her home and an apparent breakdown Thursday night, was being held for psychological evaluation. But Britney, who had just been released (short of the recommended 72 hours) when Dr. Phil arrived Saturday morning, was not pleased to see him and allegedly kicked him out of her room. Eventually, Dr. Phil was able to chat with Britney, who he says is “in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention.”

Instead, today’s show will focus on “how to avoid being that girl” with special guest Dr. Travis Stork, aka the Bachelor, Season 8. (!!)

Can the Spread Offense Defeat Karma?

I was a senior at SMU in 1989 when the June Jones-led Houston college football concern defeated SMU and its 14 starting freshmen, 95-21, accumulating more than 1000 yards of offense. I hated June Jones that day. As did SMU coach Forrest Gregg. Hated him for many years after, too, because he kept throwing deep against a clearly inferior opponent. (I can hold a grudge.) And I rejoiced when, three years later, Houston visited Michigan, a team that never runs up the score, and the Wolverines were throwing deep into the last minutes of their 61-7 victory. After the game, Michigan coach Gary Moeller secured a cushy place in my dark heart by saying, “That was for the SMUs and Eastern Washingtons of the world.” Now, June Jones is the new football coach at SMU.

I’m not saying I won’t root for the Ponies. I’m not saying I don’t wish the team well. I’m not saying I can’t let bygones be bygones. I’m. Just. Saying.

The funny thing is, before I read the comments and was, eh, REMINDED that it was John Jenkins, not June Jones, I was really, really proud of this post. [gunshot]

UPDATE: I mean, do you know how long it took me to find the photo that I linked to, the one that is supposed to look like me circa 1989? And how much it kinda DOES look like me then? I’m having a real identity crisis here, people, and we’re one week into the new year. [Reload, double gunshot]

Drowning Pool Still Not Getting the Message

Someone stole the Dallas band’s instruments. Again.

Farmer Leaving Channel 8

First Jackie Hyland scrammed for New York. Now Justin Farmer, her partner on Belo8’s Daybreak show, is leaving, too. Ed Bark’s got the story.

New York City Food Report

I just returned from New York City where I served as a human ATM for my five (perfect) nieces. Our main objective was to see Legally Blonde, but my young, eager foodie group experienced some of the finest kid-friendly food NYC has to offer. The story is developing here. BTW, ohmigod the musical was totally awesome. Seriously.

Jones Headed to SMU

So says the Honolulu Advertiser. (Thanks to the headline-scanning FrontBurnervian for the link.)

Sad News

Dallas — heck, the world — lost a special person on Saturday morning, as Leigh Tomlinson passed away. I met her about a year ago through a mutual friend, only to discover she and I had more than a half dozen mutual friends. It was a wonder we hadn’t crossed paths before, and I wish I could say we made up for lost time. Leigh, an actress who co-wrote the highly successful Porn for Puritans, was witty, generous, and vivacious. When we met, she was recovering from breast cancer. Doctors thought she had it beat, except she didn’t. The cancer spread to her lungs, spine, and brain. She was 47.

Update: Apologies. As Robin pointed out in the comments, Leigh was 46 and would want that known. Also, I meant to pass along Leigh’s blog, if you care to get to know her better.

Tyler Cannibalism Story

You’ve likely already heard about it. We’ll do our best to show restraint. Unlike these folks, who came up with the headline “Man in Hot Water After Boiling Parts of Dead Girlfriend’s Mutilated Body.”

Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson

You can find more photos of their Los Cabos trip here. Below is my favorite. (And, Eric, I’m with you. Just not till the season’s over. Cause if he doesn’t play well against the Giants, well …)

Leading Off

1. June Jones will decide this morning whether he will take the SMU football head coaching job or go back to Hawaii, as he’s being courted by the entire state, including the governor. Looks like this decision is going to overtime. ROCK ME!

2. On Thursday, the Star-Telegram ran a near-record 83 obituaries. This story says December and January are heavy death months, so no one should be surprised.

3. Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson were in Los Cabos over the weekend, hanging out with Jessica’s BFF, CaCee Cobb. When asked how the weekend went, Romo replied, “I’m just glad the season’s over, so we can relax.” (In fairness, they say other players were with him, as evidenced by the photo. In double fairness, I’m sorry, I think she’s hot.)