So how do you like your Jerry Springer Show: less freaks or extra freaky?

Well, those of you who like the latter might be disappointed in the upcoming 44th season of Jerry's show. The producers promise that they're going to make the show less crazy and actually focus on one person/family for the entire show, something they did when the show first started.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the show is suddenly going to turn into Charlie Rose. I'm sure the topics will still be cheating, sex changes, family problems, and everything else that has made the show a hit. And if someone were to pick up a chair and throw it for some reason, I'm sure the producers wouldn't mind.

The article above says that there will no longer be guys that can walk on their hands, mimes, plate-spinners, and puppets. Wait a second, did Springer turn into The Ed Sullivan Show the past few years? I should pay attention more.

Once while watching a movie with a friend of mine, one he had already seen, he turned to me halfway through and said, "I'm not going to tell you what happens in the movie, but just know that nothing is what it seems right now." I wanted to explain to him that saying that was just as bad as revealing the ending to me. Now, no matter what happens in the movie, I'm not going to be surprised because I now expect everything. I think this is why magicians, even the really great ones, never really impress me. I know it's going to be a big set up, and then, ta-da, some great reveal. Lather, rinse, repeat.

That's why I've always had a fondness for Penn and Teller, who know it's not enough to just do tricks, but to really make the audience squirm while doing so. Oh yeah, and later this month they'll be guest programmers on TCM. On May 22 the duo will join Robert Osbourne to introduce and talk about four of their favorite films, one of which, Tod Browning's Freaks, happens to be one of my favorite movies, as well. The four-movie marathon will begin in May 22 at 8 p.m. with the Marx Brother's At the Circus. The marathon will also include F for Fake and The Sunshine Boys.