Blogcritics Author: Jack E. Jett

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Interview: Loving To Hate Jeff Gannon

Jack E. Jett — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 15:39:15 EST

James Guckhart, a.k.a. Jeff Gannon, is a true mystery man. While Gannon's name may ring a bell, you may have a tough time remembering his scandal. We have been having so much fun with hypocrisy lately that we tend to forget some of our earlier pioneers and discard them like reality show contestant. You have heard them say that a good man is hard to find and a hard man is good to find. Jeff Gannon is a hard man. Mr. Gannon became part of the White House Press Corps, reporting for Talon News, which at the time of his entry into the White House, did not exist. His questions in the press briefings were considered somewhat to the right of Fox News. His fellow journalists became suspicious when, during one conference, he asked President Bush, “You’ve said you are going to reach out to the Democrats. How are you going to work with people who seem to have divorced themselves from reality?"While the seemingly conservative Gannon was playing the staunch Republican journalist, John Aravosis from Americablog brought to light that the hunky journalist had been doubling as a cyber-hooker and stated that Gannon's nude photos appeared on more than one website. To add fuel to the Gannon mystery, he seemed to have free reign as far as coming and going from the White House, signing in, but rarely signing out. In addition, Jeff Gannon interviewed Ambassador Joseph Wilson and supposedly asked him about an internal memo relating to Valerie Plame. No matter how you slice or dice this story, this man is mysterious, and a hard mystery man is good to find.The gay community doesn’t know what to make of Mr. Gannon and he doesn’t know what to make of us. It is a mutual love/hate relationship. It is hard to get inside this man’s head as he speaks in sound bytes and has the amazing talent of making you feel he has answered a question, when in reality, he has not. He could very easily be the next Tony Snow, which I would love to see, especially if Jeff Gannon would perform his press secretary duties while donning a jock strap. Jeff is working on a new book entitled Hating Jeff Gannon. Below is my man on man hot verbiage action with Mr. Mysterious.JJ: Reading your blog, it seems that you might be even more conservative than George W. Bush.JG: I believe that I am more conservative than George W. Bush. However, it is important to note that he has had to govern, which often necessitates political compromise, I had not had to make any such concessions. JJ: What concessions?JG: Bush’s position on illegal immigration is a perfect example of a political compromise. A true conservative would have built a border fence, dug a moat and stationed troops on the border long ago.JJ: Are you more aligned with Bush or Cheney?JG: That’s a tossup, since I find few distinctions between them. However, if I was forced to chose, I would say I am more in line with Cheney because I favor an aggressive expansion of our nation’s intelligence capabilities domestically and around the world. JJ: You look like you could be Dick Cheney’s little brother… Do you think that the government should be able to monitor our phone calls, websites, perhaps our bowel movements?JG: C’mon now, Cheney’s like 50 years older than me! I think that the government has an obligation to monitor communications that could reveal a plot to murder millions of Americans. Monitoring bowel movements? I’ll leave that to some of the gay bloggers, that’s much more their style.JJ: Much has been made about your frequent visits to the White House and the lack of oversight. Why so much freedom, and what were you doing with yourself?JG: That’s all just nonsense. Believe it or not, the Secret Service does shoddy record-keeping when it comes to reporters’ comings and goings. There was never anything improper between me and anyone at the White House. As far as being there when there wasn’t a briefing, there were other events that I covered, like a speech to a group like recipients of faith-based initiative funding or the unveiling of the Clinton portraits. Sometimes I went there to get background information for a story I was working on. I worked there!JJ: It must have been a bit of a come down after spending the day with the A-Team, to then hang out with the run of the mill homos at night.JG: I didn’t spend much time with the “run of the mill homos” as you say. I was very serious about my job as a reporter, columnist and talk show host and didn’t have much time for that even if I was inclined to do that – which I was not.JJ: What is a Christian?JG: Christian is a term used to describe a broad range of those who believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God. I think of myself at an Evangelical Christian and regularly attend a Pentecostal church.JJ: When I think of Pentecostals, I think of speaking in tongues and snake handlers.JG: No snakes, no tongues. I know we’re trying to be light, but that is insulting. Pentecostals believe they experience the power of the Holy Spirit at various times. I believe that also since I have experienced it first-hand. It’s not something that can be easily explained.JJ: Do you believe in Heaven and Hell?JG: I absolutely believe in Heaven and Hell. They’re just like what the Bible says they are.JJ: Who were some of your White House journalist buds?JG: Actually, Helen Thomas and I always got along well. I still see her from time to time. Even though we have vastly different points of view, we have great respect for each other.JJ: Is their a journalistic hierarchy in the White House Press Corps?JG: There is indeed a journalist hierarchy. I spend a bit of time talking about that in my book. There were no bloggers at the White House when I was there. They only got in after I left in February 2005. JJ: Would you say you opened the doors for the new media and do you think it will soon be the media of choice?JG: I am absolutely responsible for opening the doors to the press briefings for the New Media. I’m not sure when the New Media will replace the Old Media, but it will be sooner than later.JJ: I want to mention some “old media” journalist and pop culture figures and get your opinion. Anderson Cooper.JG: Being Gloria Vanderbilt’s son explains a lot.JJ: Rita Cosby.JG: Nice lady, too bad about having to go to MSNBC, it’s where news show hosts go to die.JJ: Bill O’Reilly.JG: Kicks Olbermann’s ass.JJ: Howard Stern.JG: A media pioneer, but not my kind of humor.JJ: Matt Lauer.JG: Where in the world is Matt Lauer and why are we looking for him anyway?JJ: Mary Hart.JG: Is she still around?JJ: Rev. Ted Haggerd.JG: He says that he’s “a liar and a deceiver.” I probably can’t add much to that.JJ: The Scissor Sisters.JG: I have no idea who that is.JJ: What is your beef with gay people?JG: I have issues with liberals, which includes many gay people. I have found some liberal gays to be extremely intolerant of other points of view.JJ: Are you intolerant of liberal points of view?JG: Absolutely not. I enjoy competing in the marketplace of free ideas.JJ: You do hang out with gay people don’t you?JG: I haven’t done much hanging out in the past few years, gay or otherwise.JJ: Could you ever fall in love with a Democrat?JG: I’m sure I could fall in love with a Democrat as easily as a Republican. Some things transcend politics.JJ: Do you think people perceive you as a gay man?JG: I don’t know about most people, but those who know me best see me in a different light.JJ: Do you think the gay community misunderstands you?JG: I don’t think I can answer that question without a long and laborious explanation. I don’t think that I have been treated kindly or fairly by a certain portion of the gay community. Most of the rest don’t know what to make of me. On the occasions that I have had the opportunity to present myself to the community, I have gotten a positive response. For example, my appearance on a panel at the Equality Forum in May changed a lot of opinions about me.JJ: Are you a sexual adventurer?JG: Not really.JJ: I saw some photos of you pissing that seemed a bit adventurous.JG: I’m sure the pictures you saw didn’t have my face on them.JJ: Then how would you describe yourself sexually?JG: Human.JJ: Human is good, and very legal. Are you a manscaper?JG: Not really. Perhaps a bit of pruning from time to time, but no clear-cutting.JJ: Are you a Daddy?JG: If that term describes masculine, mature and confident, that is accurate.JJ: So what kind of guys does Daddy like?JG: I judge each person on individual merits.JJ: Why did you have all the nude photos of you removed from the Internet?JG: First of all, I disagree with your premise. There is so much misinformation floating around cyberspace that I wouldn’t put too much stock in any of it.JJ: Does it bother you that other people put stock in it?JG: I have come to understand what being a public person means. I don’t let things I can’t do anything about bother me.JJ: What are your thoughts on the Democrats midterm wins?JG: Republicans lost control of Congress because they strayed from the core conservative values that put them into the majority in 1994. If they return to the basic values that a majority of Americans share, they will regain power. If not, they won’t. The Democrats now need to govern for all Americans as well as deliver for their core constituencies. It will be difficult for them to do both.JJ: Do you think there was a cover up with Mark Foley?JG: Not in the least. Foleygate was a well-timed political hit. The Democrats’ screeching about Republicans’ failure to protect underage boys from sexual predators was particularly ironic because it was being done at the same time they were paying tribute to the original page-bender, Gerry Studds.JJ: Do you think the 17-year olds who were e-mailing him knew the score?JG: That’s the impression I get since computer-savvy 17-year olds are probably quite sexualized.JJ: What is it about Valerie Plame that rubs you the wrong way?JG: Valerie Plame is a third-rate analyst married to a proven liar. The two of them perpetrated a fraud on the American people with their nonsense about her “outing.” She wasn’t “outed” any more than I was. Washington, DC is a small town and it’s a company town.JJ: Okay, now let’s play softball, are you a beer or cocktail man?JG: I drink a lot of everything; beer while watching football. I have a taste for whiskey, but Jack Daniels and ginger is about as fancy as it gets with me.JJ: How many electrical outlets do you have in your house?JG: Too few, since I have four power strips in my workspace.JJ: Jeff, you are clearly trying to avoid this question. I repeat, how many electrical outlets do you have in your house?JG: There are privacy considerations here. Have you no decency, sir?

Aging TV Gasbag

Jason Priestley Interview

Jack E. Jett — Fri, 12 Mar 2004 12:56:23 EST

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down for an interview with actor Jason Priestley. For a man who had been through a serious auto racing accident, he looked phenomenal. Most widely know from Beverly Hills 90210, he has received critical acclaim for his role in Love & Death On Long Island and can be currently seen in I Want To Marry Ryan Banks and Die Mommie Die.JEJ When I did a google search on you, Mr. Jason, my computer almost exploded from all the sites dedicated to you. I even found one that compares what would Jesus do versus what would Jason do. You two were about 80% in sync. JP Really ... well you know they say that Preistlyness is next to Godliness!JEJ That is a good one. You are a regular Rita Rudner. Beverly Hills 90210 captured the attention of the planet. How soon after this show came out did you become recognizable?JP It wasn't until the show took off in the second season, when George Bush Senior, your second favorite Bush and the first Gulf war was taking place. All the channels were showing war coverage and Fox, in its infinite wisdom went back to showing regular TV.JEJ Even people who were too cool to watch TV, watched Beverly Hills 90210?JP We had some closet fans too.JEJ Aaron Spelling is richer than God. I hear he is going to buy Canada.JP That could very well be true. Canada is great, it is just like America but no one lives there.JEJ Hey, hey, hey, this show airs in Canada and I know that we have at least 6 viewers.JP I am not bashing Canada. I love Canada. I am from Canada. I will bash the Canadian government but never Canada. JEJ Who is that mayor in Canada that is always making crazy comments about smoking pot?JP Canada is an amazing country. It is so liberal and so accepting. It is poised on the prespice of becoming the next Amsterdam. It is very cool, very liberal. I am proud to be from Canada.JEJ Back to your becoming so recognizable so fast. At what oint was it that every time you would go out people were like "Hey, there is Jason Priestley"?JP Probably around the second season.JEF Did fame freak you out at first?JP Yeah, as an actor, you never assume that you are going to obtain that type os stardom. You never have the audacity to think you are going to be the flavor of the month. So when it happens, it is confusing, it is scary, it is shocking, but it also in a way, validates what you've been doing as an actor. So you grow to appreciate it, enjoy it. It can be a strange experience. I am sure that you go through it.JEJ Yes, sometimes I have been recognized by 2 or 4 people.JP At one time?JEJ No, in a year's time. You got into directing episodes of Beverly Hills 90210. Did you have to kiss Aaron Spellings' ass to get that gig?JP This kissing ass seems to be a theme on your show, but yes, yes, I did.JEJ Thanks for being so honest.JP I had to make a case for it. He gave me one episode to direct and they were thinking oh he'll do this one and he will shut up, but I did two the next year and then I started directing about 5 a year.JEJ I think that the lesson learned is that if you are going to kiss ass in Hollywood ... make it Aaron Spelling's ass.JP Yes, kiss Aaron Spelling's ass, no question.JEJ You directed the Bare Naked Ladies documentary. How did that come to be?JP I have always been a big fan and I always end up on the road with them and I thought with all the hysterical things that go on in the tour bus, someone should make a movie out of this. So, I thought, well why don't I do it.JEJ Love & Death On Long Island ... Is that kind of role an actors dream? I loved the film, but it was a bit on the creepy side.JP But John Hurt did a great job of making it all palatable. It is the story of a man stalking another man, but he made it so nice.JEJ That is because he is the Elephant Man and the Elephant Man makes everything nice!JEJ You are in the movie Die Mommie Die with Charles Busch. What was it like, for you, kissing Charles Busch?JP It was great! I've kissed a lot of women on screen.JEJ Yes, but Charles is a bit older.JP It was the first time in my career I have actually received a beard burn but Charles was very gentle and very kind because he knew it was my first time.JEJ That movie is based somewhat on your package, your large endowment?JP Yes.JEJ I read that in reference to your own endowment that that it is possible that the rumors could be based on the fact that all the girls that you have been with have had small hands.JP Yes, I thought that was funny.JEJ Don't you think that men with small penises tend to be very angry and pissed off?JP Right.JEJ Me say, men with small penis make big war.JP You are right, look at Napoleon!JEJ Look at George BushJP And look at George W.! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.JEJ If we could genetically shrink the hands of all people so that all men would think they had big schlongs ... don't you think THAT would stop all the wars in the world?JP I think you are on to something JJ.JEJ I thank you for being on with me JP.

Aging TV Gasbag