I read with a little dismay that PBS has fired Melanie Martinez from Sprout's The Good Night Show. As a father of three kids, this late night kids show that aims to put them to sleep has been a lifesaver for me on many occasions of nocturnal teething woes. What's more, Melanie was pretty cute in a "I Dream of Jeannie" kind of way, which gave me something to watch too.

PBS let her go after a comedy video skit emerged online that was shot several years ago. My first thought was that this was yet another example of the moral majority crusading over a non-issue, trying to save impressionable ears from something that wouldn't have shocked them anyway.

Then I watched "Anal Sex" and realized they might have a point. But the webmaster who first posted the video online is less than sympathetic. Someone tell Pee Wee Hermann we need him to lend a hand....

The US Postal Service and the Smithsonian National Postal Museum are sponsoring a Photo Stamps of the Year Contest. There will be finalists chosen throughout the coming year, with the winners chosen in August 2007. The winning stamps will be put on display in the Smithsonian. So finally, put that graphic arts degree to work and get hung (in the Smithsonian).

This weekend Monster House opened on 3,553 screens, taking in an average $6,473 per screen. Of those theaters, 163 screens showed the film in digital 3-D, and those screens averaged $16,012 each. This gross exceeded industry expectations.

One reason for the surprising gross -- Monster House is a surprisingly fun movie. Unlike recent past attempts to show 3D films in non-IMAX cinemas, Spy Kids 3-D, Chicken Little, and Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Monster House is funny, engaging, and looks fantastic in 3D. It is truly immersive, as the glasses are plastic and comfortable, and the circular polarized process means you can tilt your head without losing the 3D effect. That's right, none of those red/blue, headache inducing, cardboard pieces of crap.

It's well worth hunting down a theater near you showing the film in 3D to check it out. Even more exciting for fans of stereoscopic movies -- they ran 3D trailers for Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas 3D (October) and Meet the Robinson's (March, 2007).

On July 28, Warner Brothers' The Ant Bully opens on IMAX screens in 3D, and September 29 brings Open Season in IMAX 3D as well. James Cameron, George Lucas, and Robert Rodriguez are a few of the major filmmakers who believe digital 3D is the best way to put butts in seats and get people away from the home theaters. Based on the reaction of the audience I saw Monster House 3D with, they might be on to something.

Steely Dan have posted an open letter to Luke Wilson about his brother's latest movie ripping off one of their songs. Either it's one of the funniest tongue-in-cheek self-parodies I've read in a long time, or Spinal Tap was so much truer than any of us believe.

- I'm guessing this Bubblicious spot isn't running in the US. Maybe Australia...they're just wacky down there.
- In honor of the upcoming Talladega Nights, how about a whole bunch of Will Ferrell bloopers. Yeah...bloopers!
- It's great when guys like Chris Matthews and Pat Buchanan can agree on certain things, like neocons are nuts.
- Have you seen Lucky Louie on HBO? Don't bother, it sucks. Which I don't get, because Louis CK is really funny.
- And did I miss a memo? All of a sudden Oprah's gay, but not really. Ok, but I've still got my doubts about Hannity.