ABOUT THE NEWS HOLE

It's the new award-winning blog* from the cast and crew of the award-winning television news hour** "Countdown with Keith Olbermann."

We heard about this whole "blogosphere" business from Tom DeLay, and came to the immediate realization that we too, "needed to become involved" in it.

So here it is. Covering the big news, the small news, medium-sized and irregular, The News Hole strives to bring everything you love or hate about Countdown to the internets.

Your feedback and hate mail is encouraged.

*Countdown's "Best of the Web Awards" 2007
**The News Hole's "Best of the TV Awards" 2006



Story #1: "The Neverending Judge Larry Show"

Posted: Wednesday, February 21, 2007 8:07 PM by Countdown

Judge Larry Seidlin promises Friday will be the day he will make a decision on the burial of Anna Nicole Smith...a judgment he says will last "for all eternity".

In our number one story on the Countdown, another day in his courtroom.

For anyone having to sit through it, certainly feeling like all eternity.

Tonight we will again largely get out of the way of the sights and sounds of the absurdity.

WATCH VIDEO

MAIN PAGE

Email this EMAIL THIS

Comments

Everyone wants a piece of the pie. I can see why people around the world think of the United States the way they do!!! Anyone watching the lawyers in that court room claim that they all have the best interest of the child at heart are letting the childs mother rot in the morgue. What is Danielynn going to think when she becomes aware that her mother was left without dignity while this circus was being performed. Every human being deserves dignity in death as they deserve it in life. These same people who claim to want the best for Anna and who claim to love her watched her self destruct and did nothing to stop it. Anna would be turning over in her grave (if she had one)!!!

Dennis Throm, Wellington, FL (Sent Wednesday, February 21, 2007 9:12 PM)

This judge needs to be removed from this case and perhaps completely from the bench........ I don't have an opinion as to who is the father or not but wasn't this supposed to just be a hearing about where Ms. Smith's going to be buried? He is making a complete mockery of this whole situation along with the other vultures who want a piece of the pie......... It is a sad situation..........A judge who is auditioning for a TV show,a mother who is in it for the money, a boyfriend who also wants control of the baby for the money and perhaps another boyfriend slash common law husband who may also have ulterior motives..........YIKES............

Sharon Chopp, Newport,Oregon (Sent Wednesday, February 21, 2007 10:46 PM)

In spite of Judge Larry's objections to the use of the word "circus" to describe the proceedings in his courtroom the term is applicable. I just haven't decided if he is the ringmaster or just one of the clowns.

Bob Edwards Las Cruces, N.M. (Sent Wednesday, February 21, 2007 10:55 PM)

I think the pundits have it all wrong. This is a GREAT judge! He haas allowed all the attorneys to hang themselves except one. Deborah Opri. He allowed HKS and Vigie to hang themselves, not Larry. This judge believes Larry is the father. This judge believes Larry has the best interest and this judge believes Larry will bury Anna with Daniel together. That may be California, that me be Bahamas for later re-internment in CA. He has crafted the story for Larry to be the hero. He is awsome. I wish he haad been the Judge in the many court cases I had with my ex-wife. He has shown time and time again that he wanted all parties to voluntarily, and I re-state voluntarily come to agreement. Larry Birkhead has been the only agreeable one. It shows.

James Kelley, Tucson AZ (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 1:57 AM)

If you take his allegories in context, he is telling everyone in the courtroom what he wants to see in behavior, decorum, testimony, all of it. I recommend Mr Olberman gets it and gets it quick. MSNBC,Fox News, CNN Headline and sometimes even Court TV aren't "getting" this guy. I get it. He is brilliant.

James Kelley, Tucson AZ (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 2:07 AM)

This was my first day watching any of this. When I heard about it, I thought it was too stupid to pay attention to. Boy was I wrong. I was kept hating on each lying party, the judge and the lawyers, then kept in stitches laughing. These are ALL some evil people. I never liked Anna Nicole, no talent, no brain, nothing of interest to me. Now I pity her and her life. May she get buried.

Sandy Mitchell (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 2:40 AM)

I think the guy is a total joke. At times he's leaning back in his chair with his head back like he's not even paying attention, saying off the wall stuff. Where did they find this guy? He just doesn't seem to be all there. They need to have a judge who is not looking to score a court tv show. They need to find someone who knows the law and makes sure that things are done the right way.

Shelly Charron, Elk Grove, CA (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 2:47 AM)

This judge is playing to the cameras and has lost all sense of probity in doing so. His constant use of "I", "Me" and his frequent asides on his past, his bio, his tennis instructor status, is all demeaning to the sober and professional status one is supposed to take on when donning the robe. This guy makes Judge Ito look good. What a bizarre twist to an already bizarre case. Meantime, Nicole's body sits.

Ric Rivera, Littleton, Colorado (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 4:55 AM)

I agree with many of the comments that I have read. I live in Ft. Lauderdale and to say I am embarrassed of our court system. This Judge Larry was only supposed to determine who is the next of kin and get Anna Nicole's body out for burial. It's one thing to have a media circus around your life when you are alive but in death, there should be some dignity and respect.

M, Corker (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 7:31 AM)

I'm not an attorney. Could an attorney with court savvy comment on whether "Judge Larry" was running a dignified and accceptable hearing? It seems to me that he had very little control of the courtroom and the litigants. The proceedings that I watched were disorganized and lacked any semblence of clarity. Would someone with experience comment on whether this was their opinion also? Is this little decorum common in the jucidiary? Thanks!

Laurie L., Muscatine, IA (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:46 AM)

This judge should be removed, both from this hearing and the bench! What a mockery. I've never seen such a farce . Send in the clowns? Don't bother they're here !

Denise K (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:49 AM)

Looks like this Judge is trying to get on the talk show circuit and write a book! Thinking he had another two weeks to decide while Anna Nicole is laying in the morgue to get buried is beyond comprehension. She purchased mulitple burial plots, when she buried her son. That should be enough indication where she wanted to be buried.

Luci Bryan, Port St. Lucie, Fl (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:54 AM)

Judge Larry is indeed the ringleader of this circus. Anna Nicole involved everyone she met her whole life in her downward spiral. She was a self-serving person who only wanted personal gratification, at expense of her son, her daughter, her family and friends. She used "everybody" and "everybody" used her. I think the daughter that is left behind probably has medical problems if Annna used drugs during her pregnancy. I find if very odd that Howard Stern doesn't want to take a paternity test and Larry Burkhard does, It wouldn't surprise me if none of the "so called, I'm the fathers" we NOT the father of the little girl. Meanwhile, back at the morgue, Anna's body is decomping at a rapid rate and like this whole case..it smells. Bury the women oro cremate her like her so called rich Texas husband and divide the ashes with all those who care to have such a morbid item in their houses

Darlene (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:59 AM)

It appears the judge is the only one asking relevant questions. I do agree they go out of line, but the picture seems clearer with the mother, stern, & larry giving their version. the amt of lawyers is obscene and who could be paying all of them. they will get their story written. It was clear that anna wanted to be near her son. yes, all should have tried to get her off presp. meds, but I agree, you can't do it if the person doesn't wwant to. I think anna ran the show and the men were incidental and following her orders.

Rosemary michigan (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 9:20 AM)

This whole fiasco should never even have made it to a major news channel. I am disappointed. Whoever is in charge of programming should be reassigned!!

Alice King, Alpena.Ark. (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 9:38 AM)

Judge Larry has dragged this case out for his own fame-seeking purposes. He should clearly be removed from the bench for such unethical behavior. Its simply appalling. This woman had bought her plot beside her son less than one year ago. How much clearer does it get?

Alex, Bend, Oregon (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 9:39 AM)

Brings to the forefront the necessity for the Legal profession to regulate itself in a timely fashion, or have meaningful State or Federal Congressional oversight that would allow immediate intervention. How the likes of showboating clown Larry, and the Prosecutor of the Duke rape case remain licensed, is laughable to the civilized world. It is a complete mockery, with the only unanswered question being, "Why aren't they wearing red noses, polka dot PJ's and floppy shoes?"

Maurice, Purcellville, Virginia (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 9:57 AM)

Please, someone remove that clown posing as a judge!!!Shame on everyone for letting this poor woman rot and decompose in the morgue, it is a scandal and it is obvious that this self serving judge has only his exposure and celebrity status in mind. It is obvious to me and to the world that she wanted to be buried in the Bahamas next to her son. Why on earth would she have bought 4 plots? You don't need a law degree to see that and you don't need to debate in court for that long. It is also obvious that she despised and wanted nothing to do with her mother, why is she even allowed to appear in court to claim the remains of a daughter who made it so clear and so public that she hated her. Please, stop this circus and allow this poor woman to rest in peace.

Nicole Elmaleh, Montreal, Canada (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 10:05 AM)

The Judge has let this "clown show" get out of hand. Just another fine example of gonzo SoFlo justice and politics. He is the Senior Judge for "pete's sake". Move over Lance Ito you ain't seen nothing yet. Meanwhile the Deputies are fighting to see who gets the assignment so they can be on televsion. The Judge wants his own 'trailer trash judge T.V. show'. And he will get it too!

JD Webber, Philadelphia, Pa (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 10:32 AM)

Why has a matter supported by case law become such a Major affair lasting days instead of hours? Why is a minor, unaccomplished celebutante drawing so much attention? My God folks, is this our escape from the reality of life? Couldn't we do better?

Mark Stevens, Jupiter, FL. (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 10:57 AM)

I don't get what the big deal is...Anna Nichol bought a plot next to her son which she chose to bury in the Bahamas. That to me is 1 and 1 equals 2 that is her choice and where she wanted to be buried. Why the rest of the circus is going on is beyond all logical reason.

Sherry Blum, Bellevue, WA (Sent Thursday, February 22, 2007 11:06 AM)

Judge Larry has been deeply affected by his role in this case. He got as caught up in the chaos that was Anna Nichol's life as those who surrounded her when she was alive. Even in death she can affect people in strange ways. This afternoon I actually had some sympathy for the judge who couldn't stop talking-he even said he shouldn't talk so much. Let her be buried next to her son in the Bahamas. Let her mother go back to Texas. Stern wants to "handle the estate " for 6% (that's 6 million if the estate become 100 million). That will give him full time work for the next several years (he won;t get one any place else). All the possible fathers should submit DNA and get the "who's the father" thing done! Judge Larry has tossed the ball on the burial location to the conservator's hands so he didn't make a decision that would "last for all eternity". He abdicated the decision just to get out from under the weigh of it. He said in his closing remarks that he wants Stern, Birkhead and her mother to agree on whatever is best.(?????!!!!) So we are almost at the beginning again.

cc veech San Diego, CA (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 12:40 AM)

Jeez Louise...I thought I'd turned on an old "Happy Days" show and the Fonz was now a Judge. Of course I was wrong, no Happy Days show was this funny. "Take my credit card and get him some orange juice", says the "Fonz" as one of his lawyers passes out. What hilarity, what writing, what theater, what the hell has happened to our judiciary?

David Butson, Fort Davis, Texas (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 12:44 AM)

The entire "circus" is just another example of how far our court system of justice has fallen. Wake up People! We really need someone to bring the courts back to doing (and acting) like they should be.

Rose Larkins Sturgis, SD (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 1:19 AM)

wow, all those days of talk,talk talk and what does the judge do nothing.no wonder why our taxes are so high,we keep paying for nothing.

FRANK NATIELLO JR ,PSL,FLORIDA (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 1:23 AM)

The best solution is for the judge, the lawyers and the rest acting in the best interest of the dead that was bad enough while alive and worst now dead, is to bury themselves with the case. Perhaps the media that is hypying this BS should jump in the grave too. Or even better crematethe whole lot and be done with. The world has one too many other problems dealing with the living then to pay attention to one dead bimbo.

Mohinder L. Jerath, Atlanta, GA (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 10:32 AM)

Judge Larry is a wonderful man with deep conviction! The nation needs more traditional value. He embodies those values. God bless you Your Honor.

Barry E. Loyselle (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 10:53 AM)

I love Judge Larry! What a big heart...what a huge personality! I hope to see more of him..I hope he gets a Judge Larry Show...and never looses his down to earth ways. How refreshing!

MLSloan, Seattle WA 98109 (Sent Friday, February 23, 2007 8:25 PM)



SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.): 

 Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private)

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=64108