Happy (belated) Women’s History Month or — as I like to call it — Ladies’ Month. I have no good excuse for being two weeks late to the party other than, well, it’s 2008 and us hard-working career gals are busy. But that doesn’t mean slowing down for a second and paying our past its due isn’t important. Sometimes, I think it’s more important than ever.

Of course, at this point someone will ask, “Why even have a Women’s History Month”? Aren’t we past the superficial need to celebrate one’s gender as a part of our cultural identity? In theory, gosh, wouldn’t that be nice. In actuality, so very much no. Go ahead and Google feminism. Among the top results, you’ll find “Ladies Against Feminism,” “Feminism is evil!” and “How feminism destroyed real men.”

Yes, because the plague of fake men roaming the countryside threatening to paint your toenails and wash the dishes has truly reached epidemic levels. It’s at moments like these that I dig down and seek the guidance of my spiritual gurus, the Muppets. … continue reading

What is this, national Jodie Foster week? I've already alerted you to some late-night Foster (hmm) on Letterman tonight (Monday), but I thought I should also give you a tip for the morning after: She'll be on Live With Regis and Kelly on Tuesday.

Foster at the Toronto International Film Festival

And if you're still not sated after all that, she'll also be on The Daily Show Tuesday night. Jon Stewart, please be a truly brave one and ask her some tricky questions! Oh, never mind: In my world, every week is Jodie Foster week, so I don't really care what she does or says, as long as I get to behold her once in a while. (And you thought my Beals love was extreme.)

Speaking of beholding, Entertainment Weekly has a nice gallery of Foster roles through the decades. The tomboylicious Freaky Friday picture should make you understand why that film had quite an impact on five-year-old me.

TV Squad recently posted its list of the "The seven coolest geeks on television." I think this is a fun idea (and I'm all for supporting geekdom!) but none of the geeks are women! This may be because, frankly, there are fewer female geeks than male ones on TV; women on TV are supposed to be sexy or not exist at all, whereas there is more wiggle room for men to exhibit a range of behavior.

However, I think I am not alone in loving a smart — even geeky — woman. So here are my seven coolest female geeks on TV (in alphabetical order, because I am that geeky):

Samantha Bee from The Daily Show — Bee's reporting on everything from pop culture to politics presents a character who is so earnest about her (faulty) expertise I always wonder how she manages to keep a straight face on-camera. It takes a smart woman to pull off deluded with Bee's panache.

Watch a hilarious clip of her reporting on whether America is ready for a Mormon president after the jump: … continue reading

Bonnie Hunt will be returning to TV in 2008 with her own talk show. (If you click that link, good luck: The news is really buried, in the third paragraph from the bottom.)

… continue reading

How much does Samantha Bee rock? I just watched her latest Daily Show video, in which she asks whether America can trust a Mormon, a Catholic, a black person, a Jew or a woman. Some of them are just weird!

Note that "a gay" is missing from that list. Because Samantha loves us. Or so I'll keep believing, until she proves me wrong.

Bee knows how important caffeine is to America. And there are so many other brilliant moments, I don't know which to highlight. "I can feel you shooting my boobs!"

Don't miss the zinger at the end ... … continue reading

Last night, my TV broke my heart. And then it reached in and put a string of lights around it. First, Melinda Doolittle was kicked off American Idol. I know, I know, you all told me that would happen, but I was foolishly holding out hope. After that travesty, I was dejected and glum and ready to be old, bitter and over TV altogether. But then, like a disaffected superhero in a cape made of snark, Samantha Bee swooped into her seat at The Daily Show to talk about "News I'd Like to F---."

"I'm a NILF hunter. And the 24-hour news networks are my Serengeti."

Let's start with the genius of the NILF concept: Newscasters are expected to be attractive — especially the female ones (just ask Katie Couric). But how does that help you understand the news, exactly? Well, if you're Samantha Bee, the point is not to understand but to appreciate. See for yourself: … continue reading