Freak Show

Are you ready for a freak show? Thought so. Then circle Jan. 31, 2012 on the calendar. It could be your lucky day. The NFL just announced it will put 5,000 "affordable" tickets on sale to Super Bowl media day, a "first-ever" opportunity for fans to get a "behind-the-scenes" glimpse into the glamorous sport of celebrity interviewing. The fortunate few will have access to the stadium club, concession and merchandise shops and a seat in the stands at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, plus a gift bag with a radio to listen to the NFL Network's coverage and sound bites from a few...

When "The Addams Family," the musical, opened on Broadway in April 2010, expectations ran high. The eccentric characters were familiar to generations, who may have been introduced to the franchise through the popular mid-1960s television comedy, the 1990s feature films, or the late Charles Addams's original cartoons for The New Yorker, which he began drawing back in the 1930s. But despite assets that included the writing team behind the hit show "Jersey Boys," Broadway superstar Nathan Lane in the lead role, and a beloved theme song ("They're creepy and they're kooky . . . ")

I'm inclined to like anything that has David Cross's name on it. As the clueless Tobias Funke on "Arrested Development," he gave a shameless, hysterical performance, and his cool comedy resume also includes writing for "The Ben Stiller Show" and co-creating HBO's "Mr. Show With Bob and Dave. " He has a sick brilliance, and yes, it speaks to me. Tonight at 10:30, Cross's name is on a new Comedy Central animated series called "Freak Show," which he co-created with H. Jon Benjamin.

Are you ready for a freak show? Thought so. Then circle Jan. 31, 2012 on the calendar. It could be your lucky day. The NFL just announced it will put 5,000 "affordable" tickets on sale to Super Bowl media day, a "first-ever" opportunity for fans to get a "behind-the-scenes" glimpse into the glamorous sport of celebrity interviewing. The fortunate few will have access to the stadium club, concession and merchandise shops and a seat in the stands at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, plus a gift bag with a radio to listen to the NFL Network's coverage and sound bites from a few...

When "The Addams Family," the musical, opened on Broadway in April 2010, expectations ran high. The eccentric characters were familiar to generations, who may have been introduced to the franchise through the popular mid-1960s television comedy, the 1990s feature films, or the late Charles Addams's original cartoons for The New Yorker, which he began drawing back in the 1930s. But despite assets that included the writing team behind the hit show "Jersey Boys," Broadway superstar Nathan Lane in the lead role, and a beloved theme song ("They're creepy and they're kooky . . . ")

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached yesterday by Illinois lawmakers, one of whom said he turned state government into a "freak show. " The House vote sets the stage for an unprecedented trial in the state Senate that could get him thrown out of office. The 114-1 vote occurred exactly a month after Blagojevich's arrest on charges that included trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat. The debate took less than 90 minutes, and not a single legislator rose in defense of the governor.

When it comes to original material, Lifetime has generally assumed women don't have a sense of humor. Its programmers appear to think their target audience prefers melodramatic tales of bravery, adultery, pregnancy, and that old standby, split personality. They've even gone out of their way to make Tori Spelling unfunny. That's like making Anna Nicole Smith brainy. Tonight at 11, Lifetime attempts to crack smiles with a cracked new series called "Lovespring International. " It's not for everyone, that's for sure.

INDIANAPOLIS - Sandy Allen, who grew to be 7 feet 7 inches tall and was recognized as the world's tallest female, died early yesterday, a friend said. She was 53. Ms. Allen, who used her height to inspire schoolchildren to accept those who are different, died at a nursing home in her hometown of Shelbyville, family friend Rita Rose said. The cause of death was not known. Ms. Allen had been hospitalized in recent months as she suffered from a recurring blood infection, along with diabetes, breathing troubles, and kidney failure, Rose said.

"Sons of Hollywood" has an awful lot to teach you -- if you're planning to make the worst celeb-reality show ever. The new A&E series, premiering tomorrow at 10 p.m., is a showcase of reality TV don'ts, particularly as it commits the No. 1 reality sin of all time: Being boring. You'd think that, with the license to completely falsify situations and edit footage into wildly fictional story arcs, the makers of "Sons of Hollywood" would at least have entertained us while grossing us out with conspicuous consumption.

**½ MOZART"S SISTER Written and directed by: René Féret Starring: Marie Féret, Lisa Féret, Clovis Fouin, David Moreau At: Kendall Square Running time: 120 minutes Unrated (as PG: repressed sexuality with wigs on) In French, with subtitles Those who stand too close to fame usually get swamped by it. Yes, Mozart had a sister, Anna Maria, nicknamed Nannerl, and the sneaking historical suspicion has always been that if she'd been a man we might speak of her in the same breath as her brother.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached yesterday by Illinois lawmakers, one of whom said he turned state government into a "freak show. " The House vote sets the stage for an unprecedented trial in the state Senate that could get him thrown out of office. The 114-1 vote occurred exactly a month after Blagojevich's arrest on charges that included trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's former Senate seat. The debate took less than 90 minutes, and not a single legislator rose in defense of the governor.

INDIANAPOLIS - Sandy Allen, who grew to be 7 feet 7 inches tall and was recognized as the world's tallest female, died early yesterday, a friend said. She was 53. Ms. Allen, who used her height to inspire schoolchildren to accept those who are different, died at a nursing home in her hometown of Shelbyville, family friend Rita Rose said. The cause of death was not known. Ms. Allen had been hospitalized in recent months as she suffered from a recurring blood infection, along with diabetes, breathing troubles, and kidney failure, Rose said.

"Sons of Hollywood" has an awful lot to teach you -- if you're planning to make the worst celeb-reality show ever. The new A&E series, premiering tomorrow at 10 p.m., is a showcase of reality TV don'ts, particularly as it commits the No. 1 reality sin of all time: Being boring. You'd think that, with the license to completely falsify situations and edit footage into wildly fictional story arcs, the makers of "Sons of Hollywood" would at least have entertained us while grossing us out with conspicuous consumption.

I'm inclined to like anything that has David Cross's name on it. As the clueless Tobias Funke on "Arrested Development," he gave a shameless, hysterical performance, and his cool comedy resume also includes writing for "The Ben Stiller Show" and co-creating HBO's "Mr. Show With Bob and Dave. " He has a sick brilliance, and yes, it speaks to me. Tonight at 10:30, Cross's name is on a new Comedy Central animated series called "Freak Show," which he co-created with H. Jon Benjamin.

When it comes to original material, Lifetime has generally assumed women don't have a sense of humor. Its programmers appear to think their target audience prefers melodramatic tales of bravery, adultery, pregnancy, and that old standby, split personality. They've even gone out of their way to make Tori Spelling unfunny. That's like making Anna Nicole Smith brainy. Tonight at 11, Lifetime attempts to crack smiles with a cracked new series called "Lovespring International. " It's not for everyone, that's for sure.

The Woman Who Married the Eiffel Tower 9 p.m., BBC America TLC is freak-show central, what with "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" and "Toddlers & Tiaras. " But BBC America traffics in crazy stuff, too, as evidenced by tonight's look at "objectum sexuals," people who fall in love with inanimate objects. The hour profiles Erika La Tour, a former US Army soldier who tied the knot with the Eiffel Tower. Actually, it's Erika La Tour Eiffel; she took her husband's name. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 9 p.m., Channel 4 Last week's episode was the 200th, and it was beautifully directed by William Friedkin.