A few weeks ago, we reported that Marlee Matlin will be on the new season of Dancing With the Stars.

It seemed strange to me at first — not because she's deaf, but because she just doesn't seem like the reality TV type, whatever that is — but this video makes me think she'll be pretty adorable on the show.

"I must have been drunk that morning." Heh.

If only she could keep Nancy O'Dell (or another woman with a grabbable booty) as her dance partner! But her partner on the show will be Fabian Sanchez, aka the 2006 U.S. Mambo Champion. He's not half as lovely as Jennifer Beals, which I suppose goes without saying. Here's another clip of Fabian and Marlee, this time on Entertainment Tonight. … continue reading

It's a day of doubles: First Cate Blanchett got two Oscar nods, and now this: Both Sharon Gless and Marlee Matlin will be on Nip/Tuck tonight. Gless plays a talent agent and Matlin plays a studio exec.

And Gless is reportedly going to be topless at some point. Whoa! It's like that song "Centerfold": I don't think I'm ready to see my adolescent fantasies in the flesh. But it's not like I won't watch it or anything. I mean, that guy in the song eventually bought the magazine, didn't he?

My name is thelinster and I’m a biblioholic. It’s been three days since my last Amazon.com order. Oh, who am I kidding: I won’t make it to a week. I love books — the way they feel, the way they smell, the way they look on the shelf. And I love the way a woman looks when she’s reading a book.

Growing up, I was a regular at the library. But nothing matched the feeling of having my very own books to read. Every kid deserves to have that feeling.

Organizations like First Book agree and have made it their mission to give kids from low-income families their very first new books. First Book, which just gave its 50 millionth book to a child in need, is in the midst of a national awareness campaign called “What Book Got You Hooked?” A lot of authors and celebrities are participating, telling us their favorite books from childhood.

For actress Rebecca Romijn, it was Bridge to Terebithia. “Forget the movie,” Romijn says, “there’s nothing that could possibly be better than this book.”

See what happens when she forgets to bring a book to read in the tub? … continue reading

I've been a Marlee Matlin fan since Children of a Lesser God. She's great in just about everything she does. Her turn on Picket Fences was memorable and gay-friendly; she stole the show every time she strolled into The West Wing; and even if you want Bette and Tina to get back together on The L Word, you can't deny that Jodi has made things interesting. Plus, I just think she's hot.

A reader (thanks, tuckatangent) sent me a link to a fascinating Matlin-related drama. It seems Mo Rocca, media personality extraordinaire, recently said a pretty stupid thing on his blog. Here's the offending "joke," posted last week:

Mo Wants To Know: Why Was Marlee Matlin At American Idol Last Night?
I mean no disrespect to the Oscar-winning deaf actress. She can go anywhere she damn pleases.

But, the thing is ... she's deaf. … continue reading

Uh, Mo? The thing is, you're an idiot.

Several years ago, Billie Jean King figured out that sometimes, if you want something to happen, you have to do it yourself. She wanted equality in tennis, so she started a tennis tour: the WTA. She wanted equality in women's sports, so she built her own sports organization for women: the Women's Sports Foundation. And when she wanted to honor women in sports, she created two separate events.

The Annual Salute to Women in Sports is held in October, and specifically honors the achievements of female athletes and those who have contributed to the landscape of women's sports. In April, Billie hosts the Billie Awards, which "recognize media excellence in women's sports and physical activity." The Annual Salute has been around for 27 years, while the Billies event is only in its second year.

… continue reading

I chatted with Billie Jean King at the 2007 Billies a few weeks ago. "It's not just about famous athletes," said King. "Tonight is about the celebration of women's sports coverage in the media. Women only get about eight percent of the sports coverage in the news from the major sports outlets."

Showtime has just announced that Tasha, Jodi and Phyllis will be back next season on The L Word. Marlee Matlin is continuing her role as a series regular, Cybill Shepherd's returning at guest-star status, and it's unclear how involved Rose Rollins will be.

No mention of Janina Gavankar, so I'm guessing that means Papi won't be back. Thank God! Gavankar seems nice enough, and she's not a bad actress, but I don't think I can handle another season of bad slang and even worse hats.

… continue reading