Paris WHITNEY Hilton???

Yup, Paris' middle name is Whitney!

Did you know that? Me, neither!

That's just one of the tidbits I learned by reading the online petition her friends and fans have begun to try to sway California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to keep Paris (seen here in an AP file shot during better days) out of jail after she was sentenced to 45 days in the slammer for several violations, including DUI.

You have to read this thing!

Among the rest of the drivel contained in the petition (and I'm quoting here): "Hilton is notable for her leading roles on the FOX reality series The Simple Life and in the remake of the Vincent Price horror classic 'House of Wax'. In addition to her work as an actress, she has achieved some recognition as a model, celebrity spokesperson, singer, and writer."

Are you serious??? They're using "House of Wax" as one of the reasons for keeping her out of prison?! I paid $1 on a Tuesday at the South Hills Mall theater to watch that 80-minutes piece of drek and I wanted to put her in jail! (I also wanted to sue her and get my buck back! I'm sure she's got the cash.)

Let's look at the rest of her "credentials," as laid out in the petition...

Model? OK, I'll give you that. She even looks hot in this recent court sketch, compliments of the AP. And you know when she comes out of lock-up, girls everywhere are going to start wearing orange jumpsuits!

Celebrity spokesperson? Sure. Remember those Carl's Jr. commercials where she was washing a car and eating a quarter-pounder at the same time? Wowsers!

Singer? Admittedly, her debut single, "Stars Are Blind," was a guilty pleasure for me ... much the same way watching the first season of "Silver Spoons" on DVD will be, come June. (See the May 2 post)

But writer??? That's where I've got to draw the line! Yeah, I know she "wrote" an autobiography, but (call me a cynic) I find it hard to believe she can read a book, let alone write one.

On the off chance that the online petition doesn't work — though how could it not?! — you get the feeling Paris will have plenty of time to learn.

Three decades of "Star Wars"

GEEK ALERT!
GEEK ALERT!

Has it really been 30 years since we all first met Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and, of course, the most amazing villain of all-time ... Darth Vader??? Indeed, May 25 marks the 30th anniversary of "Star Wars," the movie that changed our lives and the way we watch movies!

I can't tell you how much money I've sunk into George Lucas' pockets since I was a little kid — starting with the old-school action figures back in the day and the Millenium Falcon I bought a couple of years ago, to the DVD release, the $100 lightsaber I bought and the officially licensed, certified-autographed picture of Carrie Fisher in the "Return of the Jedi" outfit she wore in Jabba's lair ... you know the one! ;)

When my mom was all caught up in the Luke & Laura drama, I was all about Luke & Leia!

(And yeah, as you can see, while I am a BIG "Star Wars" geek, I'm not to the point where I call each of the movies by just one word, like "Empire" or "Jedi." I hate that.)
In between, I've ridden the "Star Tours" ride here at the Disney-MGM Studios at Disney World and even met Darth Vader and an undescript Stormtrooper. (They were actually signing autographs outside "Star Tours" this past December. I mean, I can see getting Darth Vader's autograph ... but what does the stormtrooper sign his name as?! He's one of like a million stormtroopers!)

I just like some of the names in the movies: places like Tatooine and Dagobah, and characters like Boba Fett and Lando Calrissian. They're just fun to say!)

In an earlier blog entry on April 26, I wrote about the new "Star Wars" postage stamps coming out and the R2-D2 mailbox at the Poughkeepsie Galleria.

Adding to the 30th anniversary hoopla, Seth Green and the folks at "Robot Chicken" will unveil a "Star Wars" episode on the Cartoon Network on June 17. Mark Hamill — yes, Luke Sywalker himself! — will be one of the voices on the show.

Until then, may The Force be with you!

Need a lil' NYC help here...

So I've secured a couple of tickets to see an upcoming performance of the Broadway show "Talk Radio," and doing some research on the Internet, the first few reviews I've seen have been pretty bad.

Here's where you come in: Has anyone seen this play? Is it worth my GF and I taking the train down and schlubbing through the city to see on a weeknight? I saw it got nominated for some Drama Desk award — though I don't know what those are) — so it can't be that bad, right?

Admittedly, I'm not a theater veteran. Before seeing "Mary Poppins" back in March (and wait 'til I tell you about how awesome that was!), I'd only seen one other play, taking in a matinee of "Phantom of the Opera" a few years ago. (See? If I was an avid theater-goer, I'd have just called it "Phantom.")

Anyway...if there's anyone out there who's seen this show, please write a comment and let me know if it's any good or if a Thursday night in Poughkeepsie be just as fulfilling. Thanks in advance!

"Cowboy" comes through

Now, this is exactly what the intent I had behind starting "Sean's Space" was: Combining the fun worlds of sports and entertainment into one blog! (Call it "convergence.")

Who knew Kid Rock (seen here in an AP file pic) was a golf fan?

After hearing that a girls' golf team from Milan (Mich.) High School had six sets of golf clubs stolen from its team van earlier this week, the Detroit-area rap/rocker arranged to get the teens complete new sets of clubs.

Kid got together with John Daly, the PGA Tour's "every man," and they got TaylorMade to donate the clubs. Nice, right?

------

On a totally unrelated note...

I was watching a rerun of "Deal or No Deal" on CNBC last night at 2 a.m., and saw that World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars John Cena (he's the champ), Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton and Edge were part of the contestant's cheering section.

For everything else that's happening in the world of sports entertainment, feel free to click on Phil Strum's "Under the Ring" blog ... and tell him Sean sent you!

It's finally coming out on DVD!!!

Start the line outside Best Buy. Set up your tent. Get ready to camp out...

Lo these many years of waiting — exactly two decades after it last aired — "Silver Spoons" is finally coming out on DVD on June 19!!! Seriously, you have NO IDEA how big a deal this is! There's been an Internet groundswell to bring this classic NBC sit-com, which ran from 1982-1987, to DVD for years. I'm not naming any names, but I even know at least one person who's signed an online petition to try to urge the studios to release this gem onto disc.

Admittedly, I several personal connections to the show:

√ First, I have an aunt from Queens who thought I looked just like Ricky Schroder at the time. (I mean, seriously, look at the photo in the Sean's Space icon ... you can see it, right?) Of course, she also used to say we lived in "the country" here in Poughkeepsie, so take it for what it's worth.

√ Second, my parents and I actually saw Ricky Schroder in person at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade one year when we went down there. (BTW, you've got to go to the parade at least once in your life. It's a total thrill ... as long as it doesn't rain!)

√ Third, my family and I even waited, like, six hours at the grand opening of Macy's at the Jefferson Valley Mall when I was a little kid during the height of the show's popularity. Finally reaching (near) the head of the line, Macy's officials announced Ricky was leaving. Alas, all that waiting was for naught. I was crestfallen.

But it's OK now, 'cause 20 years later, I'll be able to watch Mr. Stratton ride that cool train through the living room, right past such hip, new (at the time) video games as "Asteroids" and "Defender."

Now, there's just 47 days til the first season (22 episodes in all) comes out on DVD. See ya at the mall!

She's baaaaack!

Admittedly, my adoration for Britney has wained in recent months — although she did name her firstborn after me, even spelling Sean the right way — but it's just good to know the pop princess is working on a comeback!

(Here she is in an Associated Press file shot. It's one of the tamest ones I could find. Remember when she had hair? Good times!)

Britney "performed" a five-song set in San Diego last night in an impromptu return to the stage ... wig and all! I say "performed" 'cause I've seen her twice in concert (first at the Nassau Coliseum in '02 and then at the Meadowlands in '04) and I've only seen her SING three or four songs.

Don't get me wrong: Her concerts are "visually stunning," if ya know what I mean (wink, wink), and I get to see it all — literally being the only one in the crowd over the age of 14, I'm usually the tallest one there and don't have to peek over anyone taller in front of me!

Seriously, though, don't ya want Brit to make a comeback? Don't ya want the trainwreck to end, to see her get back on the right track?? Don't ya just LOVE that smile???

Bueller?
Bueller?
Anyone?
Bueller?

No? Just me? C'mon ... someone's got to have SOME comment about our fav pop tart! Let's hear it...

Who is Bo Bice???

OK, so back last month, I got the guest list to see Bo Bice in concert on May 19th at The Chance. I thought, if nothing else, it would be a free night out for me and my GF. We both like music and concerts — we were in the first row at the Civic Center for the Goo Goo Dolls in December, and we're going to see The Police at MSG in August — so I thought it would be a fun night.

Admittedly, I didn't know who exactly he was, other than that he was a former cast-off on "American Idol" long after I'd given up on the show. (In my prime, though, I did vote for Kelly Clarkson ... she was so cute!)

So, I wasn't sure exactly which former "AI" contestant this Bo Bice guy was.

I kinda got him confused with this guy:


This is some Constantine Maroulis. He also lost on "AI," but he's not who we're seeing.

Pray as I did — and I did, hoping against hope — I knew it wasn't this girl:

That's Carrie Underwood, who actually WON on "AI" a couple seasons ago!

So, after A LOT of research on my part, it turns out THIS is the guy we're going to see in a few weeks:


So here's where I need some help from some true "AI" fans out there ...
What songs does this guy sing?
Is he any good? I mean, the guy's on tour, and he made it to the final two on the show, so he's gotta be able to sing, right?
I need a little help here...

If nothing else, I know he's GOTTA BE better than this guy, right?


(That's William Hung, btw, for anyone who didn't know. At least I know we're NOT going to see him in Poughkeepsie!)

See you at Mountain Jam!