Mid Day Distraction

God I love her.

To our readers: Happy, healthy new year!

By GottaLaff

I can't believe it. In only a few hours, it will be an election year. Hang onto your hats!

Meanwhile, I took a shine to this sparkly, clocky, balloony New Years gif:

(via)

Paddy and I wish you the best, happiest, healthiest, most prosperous New Year ever.

Thank you for sharing all the good news with us, and enduring all the bad. Thank you for coming up with amazing, pithy (yes, I just wanted to say "pithy"), hilarious, sweet, thoughtful, insightful comments.

We appreciate you more than you know, and can't wait to make a difference with you in 2010.

VIDEO: Poor Anderson Cooper-- CNN Edits Kathy Griffin's Blue Moment

By GottaLaff

We go from a classy "West Wing" video to one from the other end of the spectrum. Wow. I wonder if Anderson Cooper's ever had this many cringe-worthy moments:

In the first 15 minutes of CNN's New Year's Eve Special, Kathy Griffin managed to antagonize, provoke and entertain in her own unrivaled way. Early comments included, "Can I get a pap smear from Dr. Sanjay Gupta?" "Has Ryan Seacrest been shot?" and, about former CNNer Glenn Beck, "He's a heroin addict Mormon."

But it was toward the end of the live two-hour special that Griffin really went blue. She was chastising a heckler for mocking her, saying, "Why don't you get a job buddy. You know, I don't go to your job and knock the d---s out of your mouth."

But TVNewser noticed that for the re-air (around 3:51amET) CNN edited out the moment, cutting to commercial break instead.

Here's the original, uncut, typically Griffin moment:

Real classy... with a Kapital K. Or should I say "D"?

I'd missed the "...out of your mouth" moment, since I was flipping back and forth to one of Rachel Maddow's more informative-yet-sedate half-hour specials. Way to spiff up a show, Kath.

And yes, Griffin's had her face lifted. She also had her eyes done seven years ago (I think that's the right number), and has been Botoxed repeatedly. She's said as much. I only mention this because I've been reading Comments elsewhere wondering about such things, although it seems pretty obvious.

VIDEO: Kathy Griffin and Anderson Cooper preview New Years Eve show

By GottaLaff

I caught this yesterday, and love how Anderson Cooper is completely flummoxed, and entertained, by Kathy "I-Have-No-Self-Control" Griffin.

My favorite parts: Kathy razzes Anderson when he takes his wallet out of his pocket; Kathy makes a crack about "The Best Political Team in Show Business" (not quite TBPNTOTV!!!, but close enough).

Enjoy:

The Obamas' quiet Hawaiian New Years Eve

By GottaLaff

After a quiet New Years Eve, he's in for a bumpy rest-of-2009:

President-elect Barack Obama will ring in the New Year quietly at the rental home in Hawaii, according to transition spokesman Ben LaBolt. “The Obama family is staying in Kailua, celebrating with friends,” LaBolt said, referring to the part of the island of Oahu where the family has been staying for nearly two weeks.

Starting 2009 with Obama in office is the best New Years kick-off we've had in nearly a decade. For that I am grateful.

Bill and Hill to do button duty for Times Square ball

Condolence prize for Hill? I'll be watching Anderson and Kathy.

Bill and Hillary Clinton will push the ceremonial button to signal the lowering of the giant illuminated ball in New York's Times Square this New Year.

The former president and his wife -- a U.S. senator from New York and President-elect Barack Obama's choice for Secretary of State -- will join New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in this year's festivities, event organizers said in a statement Tuesday.

They will push a button at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday night, starting the 60-second countdown that is part of the annual celebration in New York City's signature square.

Ooh, almost missed this-

• MSNBC — And now, for something totally different. At 10pmET, Countdown with Keith Olbermann's "Favorite People 2008" re-airs, followed by a half-hour "Rachel Maddow Show Awards for Excellence in Categories To Be Determined."