Strollerderby : The Today Show

10 Year Old Author Alec Greven Is Back

Brett Singer — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Remember Alec Greven? He's the kid who wrote How To Talk To Girls last year. This time when I say "kid", I don't mean someone under 25. I mean kid. Because he's 10 years old.

Now Alec has written two more books. How to Talk to Moms and How to Talk to Dads.

In this interview with The Today Show, the young Mr. Greven tells us that "Dad is more lenient." There is an "80% chance that dad will say yes to little stuff when mom might say no."

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What else?

"Moms love hugs and nice notes." They especially like it when you "admit [that] you make a mistake [and] write a note that says I'm sorry." Helping out around the house is also a way to make mom happy.

His advice about dads could be taken the wrong way. Alec says that "dads have a good side and a bad side," and that "staying on dad's good side depends on your mood and attitude...If you have good behavior, you stay on dad's good side." This sounds a little bit like what an abused child might say on an episode of "Law & Order." Not saying there's anything weird going on, but it sounded funny to me. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Examples of "bad behavior" that will get you on dad's "bad side" include: "tattletaling" on dad to mom (Alec says that he caught dad drinking out of the milk carton, told mom, and dad was not pleased), and also "fighting with your brother."

For their part, "moms don't like it when you bring snakes and spiders into the house." Alec says that he doesn't do this sort of thing, but his brother (the one he fights with, I suppose) does; he says that his mother often finds "rolly pollys" in his brother's coat pocket. (I had to look up what rolly-pollys are, apparently they're pill bugs. My wife and I would be equally annoyed if either kid brought those into our house.)

Under intense questioning from Matt Lauer and Meredith Viera, Alec admits that his advice is based on personal experience, but he did do some research because "parents have their own little tricks and stuff so I had to make sure other families did it to."

On the one hand, I'm happy for the kid. He seems nice enough, and says that he has donated some of the money he's earned to a cancer charity. He also started a school writing contest, and hopes that he has inspired a lot of other kids to write. "Without writers we can't have books to read," he says. "Without books, we can't learn."

Alec isn't resting on his laurels. For the holidays, he will give us "How To Talk To Santa," and he might do "How To Talk To Teachers."

On the other hand, WHERE'S MY BOOK DEAL? Or more to the point, why aren't my children writing books, earning money so I can relax? Huh? HUH?

OK, I think I'm mostly happy for him. Although I may have a little chat with my kids tonight. Perhaps they'd like to pen "How To Talk -- All The Time." Could be a bestseller.

Source: MSNBC (click the link if the embedded video doesn't work), Amazon.com

Image: Nerve.com

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Miss Piggy Wants a Bailout For Christmas

Brett Singer — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:30:00 GMT

I'm going to backtrack now on something I said earlier. I was bemoaning (OK, fine, I was whining) that Disney, who now own the Muppets, were going to ruin what I feel are great characters, thereby destroying the possibility that future generations will derive pleasure from Kermit and Company.

Are you sitting down?

I may have been wrong.

Various Muppets appeared on The Today Show this morning to promote their new holiday special, 'A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa' (airing on NBC tonight at 8pm EST; Newsday gives it an A). (No, I don't mean to imply that Tom Cruise, who also was on this morning, is a Muppet. Although that would explain a lot.) The best part, in my opinion, was Miss Piggy, who as far as I know is still being played by the great Frank Oz.

It's not even that what she said was so hysterically funny. But the way that the hosts just sit and chat with her as if she were something other than felt never gets old to me.

Anyway, here are two clips from Miss Piggy's recent appearance, plus one from earlier this year where the Muppets took over the show and Miss Piggy tied up 'Law & Order' star Christopher Meloni with crime scene tape. Good times, good times.

Miss Piggy Wants a Bailout

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Miss Piggy on Today Show

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Older: Muppets Take Over Today Show

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Muppets Take Over the Today Show and Miss Piggy Ties Up Christopher Meloni

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Hopefully these frequent Muppet appearances will get my kids interested in the characters once they outgrow Sesame Street. I grew up loving The Muppet Show, and enjoyed the same shows on DVD with my first son. (The second one doesn't seem interested yet.) With such a multitude of viewing choices out there, reminding us about the Muppets can't be a bad thing.

So there you go! I may have been wrong about Disney and their treatment of the Muppet property. Happy holidays, everyone.

(NOTE: Thank you to the commenter below who points out that the embeds of these videos aren't working. Go to MSNBC.com to find them.)

Source: MSNBC

Image: NYTimes

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Katie Couric to Return to 'Today'

Madeline Holler — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:36:00 GMT

Everybody's once favorite morning cup of coffee now least watched evening news anchor (and also toothy mother of two), Katie Couric, will return to the "Today Show" Wednesday. Her former colleague Matt Lauer made the announcement today and everybody's going crazy.

We all knew her days at CBS Evening News were numbered. But a return to the show that launched a thousand mornings for us and a career for her? Too good to be true.

Indeed, it is. Her return is likely just for one segment and also alongside nasally Brian Williams and blah Charles Gibson. The threesome will be making joint appearances all around New York City that day. What results will be filmed and repackaged into a special, "Stand Up to Cancer." It is scheduled to air this fall.

From ABCNews.com

The broadcast, "Stand Up To Cancer," will air on Sept. 5 on ABC, CBS and NBC and will feature live performances by recording artists and movie and film stars who will, along with the evening news anchors from each of the networks, deliver information about potentially life-saving cancer research.

Is this going to replace that Jerry Lewis telethon?

Question: What IS Katie Couric going to do when her evening news career ends sooner rather than later? Will she really swap jobs with CNN's Anderson Cooper?

Photo: celebritybabies.typepad.com

"Sippy Cups" Author on Drinking, Motherhood, a New Book and Zoloft

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 10:51:00 GMT

Stefanie Wilder-Taylor is my new favorite mom. Funny. Smart. So hot she must be anorexic. What's not to love? Asked on the Today Show not too long ago whether it was OK for a mom and dad to split a beer in front of their kids, she said something close to, "I think a husband and wife should have their own beer."

If by own, she meant thirty six, then we're on the same page. Still, it was pretty funny -- the Today Show cast could be heard cackling in the background.

It turns out Wilder-Taylor, author of the classic parenting tome "Sippy Cups are Not for Chardonnay," had a whirlwind few weeks following the show. She won praise from parents who think it's just fine to mix playdates with an occasional drink and got a book deal out of the whole thing.

Good for her. If her new book, "Nap Time is the New Happy Hour," is anything like her first, I can't wait for it to come out (April '08 baby!) -- especially if she tells all about her brief relationship with Today Show host Meredith Viera.

The following is a Strollerderby conversation -- similar to Charlie Rose, just with more alcohol:

1. You were just on the Today Show defending a mother's right to have a play date drink. I'm not naming names, but I know some people who cheered you on -- but it's a touchy subject. What was the reaction? Besides landing a book deal about naptime cocktails, I mean ...

The fact that it's a touchy subject is insane to me. A drink or two and we mothers are not capable of taking care of our children? What's next; we do a little smack and suddenly child services is breathing down our necks? Seriously, I thought it was obviously that I wasn't advocating drinking and driving but relaxing with a drink or two on a lazy Sunday and being judged for it seems a bit harsh. And judge all you want, women are doing it in droves. FYI: Naptime is the Real Happy Hour has nothing to do with drinking while your kids sleep. It just means that as moms (and dads) our schedules are turned so upside down that our real downtime is while the kids are sleeping.

2. Did Matt Lauer hit on you? Come on, we won't tell.

Did Matt Lauer hit on me? That's like asking if Britney Spears like Coca cola. Of course he did. I can't even count the stares and come hither looks and gestures for me to write down my number so he could call me...or he was just chatting with him make-up lady and I'm psychotic. You decide.

3. You took a lot of heat in your first book for, gasp, saying it's OK not to breastfeed -- what can we expect from your second parenting book?

Well, hopefully only the die hards are breast feeding their toddlers and they will have no use for a book like mine because clearly they have no sense of humor. I think that making the decision to not breast feed or quit breast feeding is an extremely difficult and emotionally wrought process. I only hoped to tell my story and let women know that as long as they are doing the best they can for their child they are way ahead of the game.

4. Why do you hate children?

Because they're really young and you can't swear around them.

5. OK, OK -- back to drinking. It just struck me that both of your books are about alcohol, or at least prominently promote it. Some of your Amazon reviewers have suggested you might be headed down the Lindsey Lohan track -- what say you? And what say your
in-laws?

Oh yes, people have outright called me an alcoholic. I think the drama of drinking is far more interesting than actually being wasted. I always think of a cocktail as being something I associate with being an adult and having a child takes part of that away. Truth be told, I do enjoy a glass or four of wine when the kid's in bed and, obviously, I'm drinking right now while answering these questions.

6. Seriously, how about Meredith? I hear she's "handsy."

Meredith has obvious lesbian tendencies. If you have TiVo, and happened to record my segment just pause it at the longing looks she was throwing my way. We went on a few dates after the show but to be honest, no chemistry.

7. On your personal blog, you wrote a great essay about a flight with your daughter and how, at the end of it, you ended up not liking her. I think it's a common feeling at times, but one that rarely gets aired in public. Are you worried at all about being "too" open with your parenting feelings, on your blog or in books, and that one day your daughter might read them?

I think about it. But one thing I've always been is honest. I know for a fact that other people feel the way I do and if they want to vilify me for saying or writing it out loud so be it. But isn't that what a blog is for? And are any of us perfect parents? And what the fuck is a perfect parent? Something I wish I never had a kid. It last about 20 seconds but it comes into my head. Parenting is hard. We all know that. When other people write honest blog entries, that's what keeps me blogging. So guess what. If you don't like it, don't read it.

8. Isn't that what Zoloft is for?

Zoloft only helps so much. Maybe I need to up my dosage. I do believe in pharmaceuticals perhaps because my mother is/was a therapist.

9. So you used to be a TV writer -- which shows? Would we recognize any of the episodes?

They are all embarrassing show. Just IMDB me and have a laugh. My favorite show was Blind Date but I worked with all men who assumed that women are whores who just want it. We didn't get along all that well. Whose Line is it Anyway? was a blast and all those guys are friendly as hell, talented as hell and never knew what was going to be thrown at them.

10. How do you fit all that writing in during the day anyway? Kids have naps and meals and cocktail playdates of their own. What's your routine.

It changes all the time. I go crazy. Sometimes I have a nanny 4 days a week. Sometimes only two and I have to write at night. I used to write during her naps but naps are so inconsistent these days it's nearly impossible. I'm hanging on until preschool and until then I do it in bits and spurts.

Thanks for taking the time. We're looking forward to the next book!

Cocktail Playdates Redux on the Today Show

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:02:00 GMT

Because of the heated reaction to The Today Show's segment on cocktail playdates which aired on 1/26/07 Meredith Viera and company decided to update the segment this morning by bringing back Dr. Janet Taylor (the mental health professional-slash-mother of four) and Stefanie Wilder-Taylor, the author who was featured drinking white wine while her kids played in her back yard.

The Today Show must have received an overwhelming number of emails and letters in support of "martini moms" because today's piece was livelier and less judgmental. Instead of focusing on "what if something should happen...you're a bad mom..." it was more about showing that one drink at a playdate is not a huge deal. Dr. Taylor even seemed to have softened her stance by saying that she doesn't have a problem with playdate drinking, but if you are drinking to self-medicate, then you might have a problem. Well, duh.

I'm happy they addressed the gender bias and how no one talks about men drinking at a party, but the moment women are involved, judgments are flying. I'm also happy there were no lame references to iVillage polls. All they had to do was take a stroll around the internet to see how moms and dads felt about this NONissue.

Wilder-Taylor even got a laugh out of the set when she said that modelling responsible drinking was not "splitting a beer" with your husband. She thinks everyone should "get their own beer." Meredith Viera even closed the segment by saying she could use a drink "right now." Oh really, at 8:00AM, Meredith? Do we need to talk?

[graphic credit: Suburban Bliss]

Cocktail Playdates: What's the Big Deal?

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:15:00 GMT

Did you catch the Today Show this morning? Melissa Summers was on with Meredith Viera discussing the "cocktail playdate" phenomenon.

When Melissa told me she was going on the show, I was worried that the producers would try to paint those of us that might like to have a cocktail or glass of wine at playdates (no, not every one, and not at 9:00 AM although some days...) as a bunch of irresponsible alcoholics, but my impression was that it was a very balanced segment.

The moms they interviewed were all women I'd be happy to have over some afternoon to share a bottle of wine. And Melissa is right, if you have a problem with that we probably can't be friends. And people that criticize moms who drink responsibly BECAUSE WE'RE ADULTS, are just looking for an excuse to critize, well, anything.

The Today Show polled iVillage members and 57% disapproved of "momtinis." I think the numbers would be different if they polled on a site like Babble. So what do you think? Have you ever shared a bottle of wine or mixed up a batch of mojitos with other parents while your kids are around? Or should alcohol never mix with children?

[graphic credit: Suburban Bliss]

5 Best Cities to Have a Baby

Karen Murphy — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:09:00 GMT

Say you're pregnant (or want to become pregnant), have unlimited funds and flexibility, and want to move to the U.S. city best suited for your and your baby's new lifestyle. What city would you pick? Fit Pregnancy spoke to The Today Show about their findings of a review of the 50 most populous cities in the country, and how they stacked up in terms of health care, safety, child care, affordability, birthing options, and fertility laws. Who made the list?

1. Boston. Awesome healthcare, and definitely the place to be if you need specialized prenatal care (and I hope you don't). Plus Boston has the best chowdah anywheah.

2. San Francisco. Well, duh. A healthy lifestyle makes for a healthy baby, plus it has high breastfeeding rates and is chock-full of fertility specialists. And the fried calamari? Yum.

3. Minneapolis. Three times the national average for the number of child-care providers? Wow! Plus it has lot of fertility clinics, specialty birthing options, and midwives and doulas. Something for everyone! And don't mind the cold in winter: there's a cool network of above-street Habitrail-style walkways that can get you all over downtown without setting foot in icy slush.

4. Portland. It's all about the nunnies, as we say in my house. Yeah, that. Breastfeeding. Portland's got the highest rate in the nation. Woot! And is jam-packed with midwives and doulas-a-plenty. If you have alternative leanings? Sounds like this is the place to be.

5. Omaha. Er, Omaha? That's in Nebraska, right? Well, I hear they have great steaks. Also? Affordable housing, access to daycare, and a Baby Friendly Hospital. Who knew? Hey, Omaha! You've been outed! (Get ready for the influx)

Although my personal favorite city, Boulder, wasn't mentioned (it's not one of the 50 largest cities), nearby Denver made #6. So there. Family-friendly bike trails, a wide variety of fresh and organic produce, lots of alternative birthing options, over 200 days of sunshine per year, and a gorgeous daily eye-feed known as the Rocky Mountains make this MY place to be. (Philadelphia, the city near where I'm presently ~~interred stuck~~ uh, living, is at almost the bottom of the list. Yeah, I knew that.)

[photo credit: UrbanInfant.com]

Strollerderby : The Today Show

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Cocktail Playdates Redux on the Today Show

Cocktail Playdates: What's the Big Deal?

5 Best Cities to Have a Baby