Idol Chatter

In a bit of irony that one only hopes he’s enjoying in his latest destination somewhere beyond the stars, Dave Freeman, co-author of the groundbreaking 1999 travel book “100 Things to Do Before You Die,” passed away on Aug. 17 after falling in his Venice, Calif. home. He was just 47. The book not only…

Author and megachurch pastor Lee Strobel wasn’t always such a high profile Christian–he was actually a spiritual skeptic until the early 80s. However, after interviewing dozens of scientists for his books “The Case for Christ,” “The Case for a Creator,” and “The Case for Faith,” Strobel concludes that the latest evidence points to God as…

Did you watch the Democratic National Convention on TV Monday night? No. Neither did I. It made me think back to that “West Wing” episode of a few years ago, where the dramatic twist featured all three major television network presidents informing the White House staff that they would only be covering one hour of…

“Save Me” stars 80s child star Chad Allen as a drug addicted man who is forced into a Christian-run ministry by his family. The ministry, led by a woman named Gayle (played by Judith Light), can “help cure young men of their ‘gay affliction’ through spiritual guidance.” Although the movie debuted at last year’s Sundance…

I think it’s safe to say that I’m Beliefnet’s resident obsessionado of all-things Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight Series.” And those of you who followed my posts leading up to the release of book four, “Breaking Dawn,” I was, um, kind of excited about it. I attended the NYC launch of the “Breaking Dawn Concert Series” on…

It was a great pleasure to speak again with Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in “The Little Mermaid.” Jodi returns to the role for a new DVD called “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning,” in stores this week. Tell me a little bit about the new DVD and what it was like to return to…

Though I utterly despise the political conventions of any party, I guess I am going to have to watch at least part of the Democratic National Convention tonight out of curiousity. It seems that Donald Miller, author of the spiritual bestseller “Blue Like Jazz” will give the benediction tonight. Though on Miller’s website he states…

A lively debate has been going on here between Idol Chatter readers about the controversial comedy “Hamlet 2.” In particular the movie’s big musical number “Rock Me Sexy Jesus” has raised concerns for its irreverent content. I promised I would weigh in once the movie was in theaters, and since it opened in limited release…

Anyone for a 3-hour tour? If you get on the S.S. Minnow and the other passengers are a movie star, a professor, a millionaire and his wife, not to mention Mary Ann, you might want to check to make sure you’ve packed enough to wear for a long vacation. Yes, the S.S. Minnow from Gilligan’s…

Many years ago, when the first episode of MTV’s “My Super Sweet Sixteen” aired, I thought that the network had taken a daring step by reflecting this generation’s craven consumerism and narcissism back at them with the depictions of half-a-million dollar birthday parties and teens with no concept of the value of money or hard…

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