Arts & Culture

Ali G’s Borat Tackles the ‘War of Terror’

Staff / Truthdig Aug 13, 2006 The movie trailer is out for Sacha Baron Cohen's "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." Watch an American rodeo crowd roar in approval (and then disgust) as Cohen's Borat mocks America's "war of terror" and arrogance. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

No Sacred Cows at Edinburgh Fringe

Staff / Truthdig Aug 10, 2006 Tales of Mary Magdalene and a 21st-century stripper hooked on heroin; Jesus Christ doing time at Guantanamo for aspiring to be a martyr; they're just a few of the plays taking place at the Scottish festival. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Madonna ‘Crucified’ in Italy, Angering Vatican

Staff / Truthdig Aug 7, 2006 The pop queen staged a mock crucifixion in a stadium a mile away from Vatican City, ignoring accusations of blasphemy by the Catholic Church, and even inviting Pope Benedict to come and watch. Of course, Madonna has been fending off Vatican blasphemy accusations since 1989 -- in the pre-"covering up for child molestors" era, when many people still felt the Catholic Church held the moral high ground. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

CNN Host Gets Heated With Israeli Spokeswoman

Staff / Truthdig Aug 3, 2006 Interviewing a flack for the Israeli government about the killing of women and children at Qana in Lebanon, this CNN anchor channels Anderson Cooper with her refusal to meekly accept meaningless government platitudes. Watch the sparks fly. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

John Dean Lauds ‘Playing President’

Staff / Truthdig Jul 29, 2006 In a thoughtful review, the former presidential counselor and bestselling author writes about Robert Scheer's new book: "If anyone has more succinctly stated and summarized the folly we call presidential campaigns, I am not aware of it -- and I read widely about the subject." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Sen. Stevens Open to ‘Daily Show’ Appearance

Staff / Truthdig Jul 28, 2006 The Alaska senator whom Jon Stewart (and much of the world) has mocked mercilessly for his infamous "series of tubes" diatribe on Internet fundamentals, says he'd consider appearing on "The Daily Show" to defend himself Stewart has yet to extend the offer . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

PBS Kiddie Show Host Fired Over Sexy Spoof Videos

Staff / Truthdig Jul 26, 2006 The PBS KIDS Sprout network has fired the host of "The Good Night Show" upon learning that she appeared seven years ago in videos called "Technical Virgin," which dealt satirically with anal sex and masturbation PBS's president said the videos "undermine [the host's] credibility with our audience" Link to the videos in question. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Meet the Bad Boy of Political Advertising

Staff / Truthdig Jul 14, 2006 He transformed former Gov. Jesse Ventura into a Rodin sculpture and a Texas gubernatorial candidate into an action figure. He also paired Ned Lamont with Daily Kos founder Markos Zuniga. But Bill Hillsman produces winners, so why is he shunned by most of the political advertising establishment? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Brangelina’s Next Project: Mariane Pearl Movie

Staff / Truthdig Jul 13, 2006 Angelina Jolie will star as the wife of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in an adaptation of her book "A Mighty Heart." Jolie's husband Brad Pitt will produce the film, and Michael Winterbottom (whose "The Road to Guantanamo" is in theaters now) will direct. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘South Park’ Scientology/Tom Cruise Spoof Rejoins Lineup

Staff / Truthdig Jul 13, 2006 The Emmy-nominated episode that lampooned Tom Cruise and his Scientology beliefs will rejoin the rotation on Comedy Central, nearly four months after the network yanked it, reportedly under pressure from Cruise himself (more). Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Michael Moore: Going Beyond ‘HMO’s Suck’

Staff / Truthdig Jul 12, 2006 The guerrilla documentary filmmaker's next movie, "Sicko," will be "a comedy about 45 million people with no health care in the richest country on earth." But it's not just "a movie that tells you that HMOs and the pharmaceutical companies suck. Everybody knows that. I'd like to show you some things you don't know." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Emmys Stick It to Tom Cruise

Staff / Truthdig Jul 7, 2006 The "South Park" episode that mocked Tom Cruise's affiliation with Scientology is up for an Emmy. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )