引自Autoblog China

My favorite TV show “Bones” is coming back! I am so excited! Due to the strike, I haven’t enjoyed the Fox’s cult-hit romantic-comedy procedural for more than three months. It is glad to meet Dr. Brennan and her top-excellent fellows as well as special agent Booth again. The truth is, since Dr. Brennan and Booth’s Christmas kiss, they are expected to have a further development of their relationship.

On this Wednesday, the cast and writers of “Bones” gathered at the Paley Center in Los Angeles to celebrate the return of the show next Monday, April 14. I don’t know the details about the party, but I am sure that was great for gaining media’s attention and covers, attracting public to get back to their TV and ready for the rest of season three. However, I didn’t see any trailer telling “Bones” return message or showing the clues of Gormagon murder case. Instead, “Dirt” worked really hard to promote itself.

There was an interesting interview to Hart Hanson and Stephen Nathan, the executive producers, as well as castmembers Emily Deschanel (Dr. Brennan), Michaela Conlin (Angela) and Eric Millegan (Zack). The interactive interview with Bones’ fans showed how they cared their criminal-strike heroes’ personal life, for example who might be getting married, and who could be getting up close… It seems the success of “Bones” is not about how intelligent Bones are at the Jeffersonian Institute, but how they deal with their developing relationships with others in their out-of-work life. So I think Fox may shoot a short talk show or something to make the leading cast discuss their thoughts about their personal issues both in real life and in those episodes. That will be encouraging people to learn more about “Bones.”

Well, I can’t wait next Monday’s coming to see these brilliant guys’ show. Let’s see what is going to happen. It is said there will be eight more episodes for this season. I hope it’s not the end.

 

On April 1^st, I heard two pieces of news from Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, the world most famous couple. One is that they were snapped in a store at Austin buying snacks for their kids. The other one is that the couple wedded in a New Orleans church Saturday, March 30^th. My first reaction was questioning: come on, another April fool’s joke? 

The first news has been confirmed Nowmagazine.com saying “Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie enjoyed a family day out in Texas.” It is said Brad is filming new drama “Tree of Life” with Sean Penn. For the second one, media covered their wedding report in the very beginning. Star Magazine said there were sources having information regarding a secret wedding ceremony between Pitt and Jolie. However, People claimed that “a source close to the couple” told “there was no wedding.” It is reported that majority said they didn’t believe Pitt and Jolie wedded, with a few people’s congratulations. 

I personally would congratulate their marriage as well if they really took a wedding. Angelina Jolie is a famous woman not only for her actress career but also her charity career. As a UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) Goodwill Ambassador, she always uses her celebrity to help those refugees and internally displaced persons all around the world and make them noticed. She also adopted Maddox, Pax and Zahara. Two years ago Jolie gave birth to a daughter, Shiloh in Africa and the first pictures of Shiloh turned out to be a $10 million sale. What’s more surprised, Jolie and Pitt donated all the profits to an undisclosed charity. 

Regardless of the April fool’s joke, there happened to be a way to promote Brad Pitt’s “Tree of Life,” and Angelina Jolie’s “Wanted,” which will open in June. Yes, this is the coolest celebrity couple ever in the planet.

Simpson’s golf friends, Clarence Stewart and Charles Enrlich were also taken into custody as accomplices. Michael McClinton, another golf buddy described as a “key player” in the alleged robbery, turned himself in. McClinton committed holding the victims by using a weapon.  

Simpson, Stewart and Enrlich were formally charged with 11 criminal counts including coercion and assault with a deadly weapon. Due to the slow proceeding of the investigation, a Las Vegas judge agreed on March 7, 2008, to postpone Simpson’s trial to September 8 after attorneys for Simpson and his codefendant requested more time to prepare for the case. 

During this time, the mainstream media remained neutral toward Simpson’s latest brush with the law, especially since it was unclear as to what exactly was going on. They described the situation of Simpson’s case and followed up with the development. They published the news articles with the descriptive headline such as “O.J. Simpson Arrested in Armed Robbery of Las Vegas Hotel Room” at FOXNews.com, showing some photos of Simpson after he was arrested. 

Media seemed to focus on the truth of the robbery. Through Simpson insisted on claiming that he went to the room to recover sports memorabilia which belonged to him but denied breaking in and no weapon was involved, the two robbery victims, Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong were most quoted by media who said they were threatened by Simpson and a gang of associates with gunpoint at their head.  

Surprisingly, the media didn’t relate this arrest with his more famous 1994 arrest for the murder of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. He was found not guilty. They still interviewed the families of Goldman about their opinion for the new case and got the answer of “I hope he goes to prison for a very long time, where he belongs.” 

Well, most bloggers were happy about Simpson’s arrest. They used short but strong headline, “Simpson Gets Arrested” and “O.J. Simpson arrested in Vegas.” They mocked Simpson. They described the case briefly, without many interests in details. However, they still wanted to see what will happen next and wait for the final result. One blogger photoshopped a Simpson photo to make him look like the devil. Another one displayed a side-by-side comparison of Simpson’s 1994 and 2007 mug.

Bloggers expressed their opinions freely and emotionally, while mainstream media relied on the rational description as comprehensively as they could. Blogs would be subjective with personal color, and media are always pursuing to be objective. But they are at least the same for what happened so far.  

I think Simpson had nothing much to do during the crisis. He was self-possessed and cooperative in the situation. After all, it is not the first time Simpson has been arrested and charged with a crime. He should have learned a lot and known how to deal with the situation after his last charge with murdering his ex-wife and Ron Goldman. To be honest, I have no suggestions for Simpson since he is more experienced than me in that aspect. Anyway, I will see how justice will lead his life but won’t wish him good luck.

It seems there is a delicate connection between the right-protecting meeting and American writers’ strike. Sometimes you must cry then others will hear you. Though Chinese writers denied their intention of relying on American fellow’s efforts, they admitted that the strike gave them a huge impact to encourage their standing up. 

At the ending of the right-protecting meeting, delegates brought three appeals forward to The State Administration of Radio Film and Television: first, they claim their signature right; second, the administrators should regulate those unreasonable agreements between writers and producers; third, they claim the dividend besides the play. I think these appeals are very reasonable. However, it will be quite difficult for the Chinese screenwriters to win the “fight.” 

China is so different from America in many aspects, including the radio film and television industry. Chinese writers are paid less money than American fellow, especially those nameless. I heard that some famous writers got more than those leading actors in America. And the system is running well with the American writers and producers, while there is no administration to manage the Chinese writers’ rights. Furthermore, China has no lack of people as well as screenwriters. If the producers can not satisfy a writer’s demand, they can find a replacement immediately. Chinese screenwriters are in the situation of buyer’s market. 

Another interesting thing I found after I came to America is that those hot TV series such as “desperate housewives,” (I like desperate housewives!) are kept updated with producers and audiences. They would even change the play according to the responses of audiences. So the writers are playing a really important role on it. When they strike, the producers have to stop. But in China, the TV series came to audiences after the producers finished the entire shooting. And Chinese audiences think the recent TV plays are more and more slouchy, far away from the welcome of those classical old TV series. So if Chinese writers stop writing new plays, TV programs will show those old plays. 

Let’s just keep an eye on this.