TV Shows You Won't See This Fall

Well, my friend in the television industry has written me again, this time with a short list of shows that were rejected by the networks. See what you think.

1) "Pimp My Medicaid Scooter" This exciting show takes an elderly persons battery powered scooter and "pimps" it out making it all the rave of the retirement home. In the first episode a scooter is equipped with a plasma tv, XBox 360 and a hydraulic lift system.

2) "The Bachelor: San Quentin" 25 lucky prisoners vie for the attention of a death row inmate in a quest to become his "bitch". Be sure to watch the first controversial episode filmed in the boiler room.

3) "Metrosexual Man" This crime drama stars a man who doesn't drive a fast car, use a powerful handgun or beat the suspects with a phone book to get a confession. Instead he uses his sense of fashion and his ability to understand what women "really" want to solve a variety of crimes.

I can't imagine why these shows won't be making it onto our screens this fall. But who said the networks had any sense of taste anyway.

Don't Bet Your Rosary

Pope Expresses 'Deep Respect' for Islam

By Philip Pullella and Stephen Brown

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Benedict said on Wednesday that his use of medieval quotes portraying a violent Islam did not reflect his views and were misunderstood, but he did not give the clear apology still demanded by many Muslims.

The leader of the world's 1.1 billion Roman Catholics, whose speech last week has provoked al Qaeda groups to declare war on the Church, Iraqis to burn the Pope's effigy and Turks to petition for his arrest, said he had not meant to cause offence.

Speaking amid tighter security at his weekly general audience in St Peter's Square, the Pope repeated the thrust of remarks made on Sunday that his words had been misunderstood and expressed "profound respect" for Muslims

Does anyone really believe the Pope respects Islam. And by the way, when did Joe Pesci become the Pope? I can hear the Pope now: "So Achmed you think I'm funny? You think I'm a clown, I make you laugh. Tell me whats so funny Achmed! You tell me what's so freaking funny!"

Outside looking in...The Actor's Studio

I enjoy watching Inside the Actor's Studio. If you're not familiar with this show, movie stars come on and are interviewed about their careers. Basically a life and times format. And though I enjoy the show, often I'm left feeling a little down.

It's not that the stars who come on are rich and famous, they are, but that they have such a passion about their lives and careers. Dustin Hoffman was on the other night and he expressed how even if he was just doing his acting in community theater, he'd still be doing it. How nice it must be to have such a calling.

Hoffman also attributed a quote to Picasso: "Picasso said if they take away my paints, I'll use water colors. If they take those away, I'll use pencils and if they take those away, I'll use crayons. And if they strip me naked and throw me into a cell, I'll spit on my finger and draw on the wall."

When I examine my life, I find no such passion. I'm excluding relationships such as spouses and children but looking at my own life. Am I passionate about writing? I've written a manuscript, but haven't done anything with it. Am I passionate about my religion? I'm a believer, yet often just go through the motions. Am I passionate about my career? I just want the day to end so I can go home. Am I passionate about life? Evening fare is reduced to what's on TV.

What a gift a passion must be. I wistfully watch these programs not jealous of the attention these celebrities receive, but of their drive and passion.

Are any of you passionate about anything. Is there something you're doing that you'd do no matter what, for free, for ever? Or are you just mugging through life as I seem to be, grasping at moments of happiness and trying to survive everything else?

Can you become passionate or is it something you're just born with. A type of life lottery?

I don't know, but I wish I was passionate enough to find out.