Week of January 8, 2004

Reversing himself, President Bush announces that Canadian companies would

be eligible for prime contracts to rebuild Iraq.

President Bush indicates that he would lift millions of undocumented workers and

open them to guest worker programs.

Mad Cow fear - In Seattle - About 2,000 tons of frozen French fries, pre-fried in

beef tallow aren’t going anywhere as they are being rejected by buyers in Japan,

China and South Korea.

An American Black Hawk helicopter

crashes in Naaimiya, Iraq, killing all nine

U.S. solders on board.

A biker, probably stopped to fix his bike,

is attacked, mauled and killed in Orange

County, California. The scene was in a

popular wilderness park. The lion also

attacked a woman afterward, grabbing

her by the neck and dragging her, before

she was rescued by other bikers.

Secretary of State Colin Powell defends his arguments that Saddam Hussein had

weapons of mass destruction that justified a war against Iraq.

Mr. Blackwell unveils his worst dressed list - his 44 th . Of

Shania Twain who is at #3 - “What can I say/ In buckled bombs

and country-fried kitsch, has Calamity Twain popped a stitch.”

On top of the list - Paris Hilton: “How are you gonna keep ‘em

down on the farm after they’ve seen Paree,” “Grab the blinders,

here comes Paris. From cyber disgrace to red carpet chills, she’s

the vapid Venus of Beverly Hills.”

A judge issues an order banning all cameras in the courtroom

during Michael Jackson’s arraignment on child-molestation

charges in Santa Maria, California.

The FDA rejects refuses to lift restrictions on the use of silicone

gel break implants, saying more research was necessary to

prove their safety.

Week of January 8, 2004

Walt Disney Studios says it is shutting down its Orlando animation unit. Some

260 artists are expected to lose their jobs.

Now on DVD - “The Four Complete Historic

Ed Sullivan Shows Featuring The Beatles.”

Sports -

Indianapolis Colt QB Peyton Manning wraps up

his best season in six years in the NFL. He’s hit

five consecutive 4,000-yeard seasons and he

only had 10 interceptions.

Dennis Green, one of the winningest NFL

coaches in the 1990’s, signs a five-year

contract to guide the struggling Arizona

Cardinals.

Some best selling books -

The Big Bad Wolf - James Patterson

Five People You Meet in Heaven - Mitch

Albom

Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

The Pleasure of My Company - Steve Martin

Who’s Looking out for You? - Bill O’Reilly

Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them - Al Frankenstein

Dude, Where’s My Country - Michael Moore

Living to Tell the Tale - Gabriel Gareta

Music news -

50-Cent - the hottest recording artist last

year, rejoins his old group - G Unit and

they’ve recorded a new album. Look for

“Beg For Mercy” at stores now.

Ozzy Osbourne cancels his upcoming 20-

date tour of Britain to give him time to

recover fully from his accident on an all-

terrain vehicle last month. Osbourne (55)

fractured his collarbone, eight ribs and a

neck vertebra Dec 8 when his vehicle flipped and landed on top of him at his

estate in Buckinghamshire, southern England.

Week of January 8, 2004

Beyonce, who recently went solo, will get back together with “Destiny’s Child” for

a new album.

Britney Spears’ 55-hour marriage to

fellow Kentwood, Louisiana resident and

childhood friend Jason Alexander has

embarrassed the town. Both got married

at the Little White Wedding Chapel on

the Las Vegas Strip at 5:30am Saturday.

Hours later, - the 22-yar-olds renounced

their wedding by calling it a prank.

Alexander returned home to his family

with a flock of reporters, television crews and paparazzi in tow.

Television news -

“The Wayne Brady Show” is being canceled after its third season. Low ratings.

The WB network’s 12-to-34 viewership is down some 18% - more than rival Fox

and UPN.

Has it been 12 years already? Tim Russert celebrates that milestone this week

as host of “Meet the Press.”

Friday night television -

CBS - Joan of Arcadia , JAG, The Handler, late Show

NBC- Dateline NBC, Ed, Third watch, Tonight Show

ABC George Lopez, Married to the Kellys, Hope &

Faith, Life with Bonnie, 20/20, Nightline

UPN - Movie

Fox - Totally Outrageous Behavior, The World’s

Craziest Videos. Boston public

WB - Reba, What I Like About You, Grounded for Life,

Like Family

Court TV - I, Detective, Forensic Files, The System

HGTV - Debbie Travis’ Facelift

Tonight Show - Britney Spears and Jim Belushi

Late Show - David Letterman welcomes Billy Bob Thornton, Charlie Hill.