TV Wrap-Up: Nobels, Virgins and Balloons

By Tricia Romano Posted Oct 16th 2009 10:00AM

With no new celebrity talk show host sex scandal to milk, this week in TV was comparatively quiet ... until the arrival of Balloon Boy. Join PopEater as we take a look back at the way we were, both before and after the boy was in the balloon, but then he really wasn't, and for some reason we're still paying attention to him.

Saturday: 'SNL' Turns Obama into a Punching Bag. Again. -- You know it's getting bad when unabashed liberal show Saturday Night Live stops skewering Republicans and turns its sights toward the previously can-do-no-wrong President. For the second week in a row they mocked Obama as do-nothing weakling. With the news of the Nobel Peace Prize, the writers had a little party staging a fake press conference which wasn't too far from the real one which showed the President in a state of disbelief.

"I won it for not being George Bush," said Fred Armisen's Obama before noting: "I have only not been George W. Bush for nine months."

Sunday: 'Mad Men' Shows Why The 1960s Weren't So Awesome -- So, Sal, the closeted ad man-turned-director, turned down the advances of the man in charge of a big client (Lucky Strike), gets canned first by Roger, then by Don, who is disgusted that Sal couldn't get the job done. "You people," he sneers, and just like that Sal is fired for having morals and being secretly gay. Oh, pesky anti-discrimination laws, who needs you when everyone looks snazzy in their suits?

Monday: Jon Stewart Rips CNN a New You-Know-What -- "Comedian," and "satirist" Jon Stewart continues to do the job that the rest of the press is supposed to be doing, on his "comedy" show. For a full eleven minutes, Stewart tore a new one into CNN for, among other things: ignoring the massive March on Washington of the gay community in favor of football Sunday and the weekend box office numbers and fact-checking the 'SNL' Obama sketch from last week. "Did you find out there are no d*cks in boxes?" he asked incredulously. He pinned John King, Tony Harris and Anderson Cooper for letting their guests get away with spouting inflated numbers and making inflammatory statements without challenging them. "Let's leave it there," said Harris in regards to a statement by Orrin Hatch over "socialized medicine." "No!" shouted Stewart, "let's not leave it there!"

Tuesday: Joe Jackson Pimps Out His Grandkids -- A&E and Joe Jackson joined forces as they embark on a reality show that Michael Jackson would surely never have let happen. 'The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty,' will feature the three kids that MJ guarded so closely that they wore scarves, blankets and disguises over their heads in public to shield them from the press until he died. We're disappointed to find out that only Rebbie Jackson is against the show: Janet, we're looking at you.

Wednesday: 'Late Night' With Tina Fey's Virginity -- Before she was super-famous, had multiple Emmys and was on one of the funniest shows that television has to offer, Tina Fey was a "homely" 24-year-old virgin. Seriously, that's exactly what she told David Letterman during an interview on 'The Late Show.' Fey says she "couldn't give it away." TMI, Tina?

Thursday: Izzy Gets Fired on 'Grey's Anatomy'? -- With her cancer causing her emotional distress and possibly triggering a potentially fatal mistake on a kidney patient, Izzy gets the call to the Chief's office, where she is met with the Chief and the ominous HR lady. Never one to take things in stride, Izzy promptly flips out, breaks up with Alex, and leaves an equally ominous note about going somewhere to "wait it out" -- it presumably, being the cancer. Or the end of her contract?

Extra Special Bonus Thursday: Balloon Boy Takes Over Every TV Station on Earth -- The sight of a balloon that looked remarkably like a UFO crossed with a pan of Jiffy Pop hovering in the sky was all over TV stations, as they followed the fake-saga of Falcon Henne, the six-year-old boy who had supposedly gotten into the balloon and unleashed it. When it was later found without a boy, a massive search took place, only to discover the boy was in the attic hiding the entire time. However, red flags were raised when it was discovered that this family had been on Wife Swap twice. During an interview with Wolf Blitzer, the boy slipped and said that he was hiding for a "show." Oopsie. Since 'Jon and Kate Plus 8' (as well as 'Kate Plus 8') are definitely dunzo, it would have been perfect timing, but we think even Americans are not that cynical.

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PopScene: Week's Hottest Pics

Pamela Anderson slips back into her old 'Baywatch' bikini and wears caution tape wrapped around her legs at the Richie Rich fashion show at Setai Hotel on October 14, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Gustavo Caballero, Getty Images

PopScene: Weeks Hottest Pics

Pamela Anderson slips back into her old 'Baywatch' bikini and wears caution tape wrapped around her legs at the Richie Rich fashion show at Setai Hotel on October 14, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida.

Gustavo Caballero, Getty Images

George Clooney and girlfriend Elisabetta Canalis attend the World Premiere of Fantastic Mr Fox and the Opening Gala ofThe Times BFI London Film Festival at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 14th in London, England.

Samir Hussein, Getty Images

Amy Winehouse smokes a cigarette and strolls around happily in London, England on October 13th.

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Scarlett Johansson poses for the media presenting he new MANGO Winter 2009/10 campaign on October 15th in Munich, Germany.

Miguel Villagran, Getty Images

'The Hills' co-stars Kristin Cavallari and Justin Bobby film a scene at 8oz. Burger on Melrose Ave in Los Angeles, California on October 14th.

Bauer-Griffin

'Real Housewives of New York' Jill Zarin, Allyson Zarin and LuAnn de Lesseps attend the KODAK Gallery Re-Launch Media Event at the OPIA Lounge at Hotel 57 on October 14th in New York City.

Joe Kohen, Getty Images

Jessica Simpson looks glamorous as she hosts the 16th annual QVC presents Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) Shoes on Sale event on October 13th in New York City.

Bauer-Griffin

Cheryl Burke displays two pumpkins while visiting a pumpkin patch on October 12th.

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LeAnn Rimes arrives at the Los Angeles International airport wearing a striped sweater dress on October 13th.

Bauer-Griffin

Bryan Batt, Rich Sommer, Janie Bryant, Vincent Katheiser and Michael Gladis celebrate Janie Bryant the costume designer for 'Mad Men' at Brooks Brothers on October 13th in New York City.

Michael N. Todaro, Getty Images