Afternoon Meme: "Modern Family" Gets It Right, "American Idol" Gets the Money, Becks Gets Hurt, and Katherine Heigl Gets Out

Salon.com is always a fun read, if a little pretentious. Today they compare two family comedies on the air right now, Modern Family and Parenthood. And they come to the same conclusion I have: Parenthood just doesn’t work.

The people behind the March on Washington in October are back with a new direct-action group, GetEQUAL. They have their manifesto read by the adorable Will Phillips.

Forbes has a list out of TV’s biggest moneymakers, and it’s not a terribly gay list. Frankly, it’s not a list that makes a lot of sense at all. American Idol I understand, but V? And how could 24 pull in any money with the price tag it has?

I can’t believe that we missed this interview with the goddess that is Cyndi Lauper, but I can’t find any reference to it on the site. How many artists can you say “Who taught you to put on makeup? Tell me it was a drag queen!” and have them not be offended?

This is a huge list of the Many Uses of Vodka, that oddly does not include shots or martinis. I don’t recommend the top shelf stuff for this.

Someone in the comments of Morning Meme asked when Eureka had last been on SyFy, and I can’t remember. But it starts filming a new season this week, and they’ve added Dr. Gaius Baltar himself, James Callis, to the cast. I’m assuming he could play Gaius Baltar on the show, since “all of this has happened before, and will happen again.”

The Tribeca Film Festical previously announced it would be opening with the cinematic masterpiece that is Shrek Forever After. The festival has now released the full lineup but I have no idea which of all these art house films might be of gay interest.

Also in New York City, you may soon be able to come out of the closet - as a beekeeper. Finally, viewing A Bee Movie doesn’t have to be bittersweet.

David Beckham has suffered some sort of tendon injury that may prevent him from playing in the World Cup. Now that he’s not the crotch face of Armani Underwear, I bet he really needs the paycheck.

Doctor Who’s new companion swears there’s an explanation for why she’s running around in mini skirts all the time. You know, beyond the need for ratings.

Lady GaGa is announcing more tour dates for North America. I guess she has no choice, since she revealed in her Jonathan Ross interview that she has no house or apartment at the moment. If she stopped touring, she’d make the oddest dressed homeless person in New York City, and that’s saying something.

Katherine Heigl is leaving Grey’s Anatomy. This would be news if she’d been on Grey’s Anatomy this season instead of making movies. Now if she has more time, she can cast her buddy T.R. Knight in a film or two. We miss him.

Now we know a bit more about why the Supreme Court made the campaign finance ruling allowing corporations unlimited contributions. Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife is forming a Tea Party group, breaking any vague semblance her husband has of impartiality on the bench.

Peter Graves, the iconic actor of Gunsmoke, Mission Impossible, and more importantly, Airplane! has passed away of a heart attack. Our condolences to his family and friends.

Hollywood is scared about the summer box office because it’s mostly original films instead of sequels and franchises. And they’re not used to original ideas for their movies. Neither are we at this point.

Piers Morgan, who I only know from judging reality shows, has listed out 100 British Celebrities that Really Matter. Not surprisingly, he listed his boss Simon Cowell at #1, above even Sir Paul McCartney, who’s also been upstaged by the likes of Cheryl Cole and Robert Pattinson. The first out star I see is Sir Elton John at #21. The empire really is in decline, isn’t it?

Remember this morning's puppies? These ducklings were the original photo I planned. Then my local television station used a rubber ducky dancing to denote continued rain in the weather forecast, and I rebelled.

But these duckies aren't rubber.

I feel like I'm trapped in some weird combination of Space Invaders and Asteroids.

You know how I have so many of the animal pictures with the animal's nose right up in your face with the funny twist on perspective? It works with people too. Just ask the Aussiebum Twitter feed.

I snuck in an extra guy to ogle today.

I survived the clubbing fad of glowsticks and fans. I'm so glad I'm too old to club and survive Party Rats, because you know these are headed to a dance floor near you.

Why rats?

Personally, I think the polar bear just wants to cuddle. Why won't you love him?

Think you're having an awkward day at work? I bet your office dog didn't eat the client's $20k diamond when he dropped it on the floor. Feel better?

I know I've whined about snow all winter. But you know what happens when snow melts? This is about 5-6 miles from home.

I'm not big on documentaries, but this look back at the revival of animation at Walt Disney has me fascinated. Waking Sleeping Beauty begins essentially when Disney kicked the animators out of their offices. Could you imagine Disney without animation?