Bye, Robot

Bob May the actor who worked inside the robot costume on the classic 1960s sci-fi series Lost in Space has died. He was 69. Interestingly enough the voice of the robot was actually done by the show's announcer Dick Tufeld. Will Robinson, you're on you're own now. The New York Times has more...

Rock of Love Bus Kept A Rolling (All Night Long)

Chickbomb returns with another outrageous Rock of Love Bus recap including lingerie clad wedding vows, a hay ride from Hell and an elimination ceremony that ends three ho-testants tour in glamorous Greenfield, Indianna! Read on...

DING DONG DUBYA'S GONE!

Hail to the G! The President of our once again great nation's inaugural address was electrifying, inspiring, unifying and worthy of a big, fat friggin' WOO HOO! Now to Ben's Chili Bowl for a celebratory 1/2 smoke sausage! Gawker of course has an assortment of opinions and surprisingly not all are of the snarky, hipster variety...

Bourdain's Blogs From A to Zamir

Anthony Bourdain, celebrated cook, author, No Reservations show host and lousy ATV driver comments in his latest blog on the Americanization of his Russian friend Zamir. Will too many autograph hounds, questionable business opportunities and near death snowmobile rides corrupt Anthony's comrade? Read on...

Iggy Pop Interview & Ron Asheton Memorial

Rolling Stone reports Iggy Pop's first interview since the death of Stooges' co-founder Ron Asheton. Iggy recalls his best friend's inestimable influence, psychedelic origins and love of small animals. Read on (and listen to the actual Detroil radio interview).

And this just in...

Private Memorial Held for Stooges' Guitarist Ron Asheton
By Roger LeLievre The Ann Arbor News

A private memorial service attended by family members and close friends of the late Stooges' guitarist Ron Asheton was held Tuesday at Muehlig's Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor.

Among those attending were Stooges' frontman Iggy Pop; Ron Asheton's brother and Stooges' drummer Scott Asheton; bassist Mike Watt; and saxophonist Steve MacKay, as well as two members of The Stooges' management team.

"Each of us just got up and said a few words. After, we all went to Weber's and had a real nice dinner," said Scott Morgan, a fellow musician and long-time friend of Asheton's. "It was pretty much local except for the band and the band people. There were a lot of close friends, people who always came to Ron's on Christmas Eve."Asheton was found dead in his Ann Arbor home by police officers on Jan. 6. The cause of death has not been determined, pending completion of toxicology tests that are expected to take nearly a month.

Asheton was a founding member of The Stooges, which formed in Ann Arbor in the 1960s and went on to pioneer the musical style of punk rock, influencing generations of rock musicians. He was ranked at No. 29 on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Morgan said Pop and other band members gave no indication about the future of The Stooges without Asheton.

"They are still in shock," he said.

A tribute to Asheton will be held Saturday night at the Music Hall for the Performing Arts in downtown Detroit. A local Stooges tribute is planned for late February at the Blind Pig, with details to come, Morgan said.

Family members have asked that donations in memory of Asheton be made to his favorite charity, the Humane Society of Huron Valley. Contributions can be made online at http://www.hshv.org/ (click the "Donations" link and scroll down to the Memorial Honorarium option). Those wishing to donate should list "Ron Asheton" in the "Honoree Name" part of the electronic form.

Meanwhile, The Stooges were again snubbed by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Wednesday. The band has been on the hall's nomination ballot seven times since the mid-1990s, including this year, but has yet to win enough votes to get in.

Top Chef: Down and Out on the Farm

After episode 8, it's clear as consomme Top Chef's producers did not want to take the simmering Hosea/Leah love connection off the burner just yet.

Otherwise, how is it possible Ariane, who pounded her cougar heart out trying to "honor her protein" was sent packing and both Hosea and Leah who were content to let Arianne overcook her own goose, were allowed to stay?

And then there's Radhika. Her 3-hour grilled corn must have been damned tasty too to qualify her for battle in next week's Restaurant Wars.

And last and by far least, what's up with testy guest judge Toby Young wanting "raw unprotected sex" with his protein and then whine like a cheap merlot about only getting to "first base"? Quick, somebody get that guy a rubber chicken!


Gawker's Joshua David Stein is even more outraged.

New York Magazine's Adam Platt "actually half-liked this episode."

Fresh from the chopping block Ariane talked to Grub Street about teamwork (or lack thereof) simplicity and who should have really been told to pack her knives and go. Read on...

Patrick "The Prisoner" McGoohan - Dead at 80

When all is said and done, he was not a number, he was a free man. Actor Patrick McGoohan, best known simply as No. 6 on the enigmatic 1960s British spy-drama The Prisoner has escaped this mortal coil. McGoohan, not to be confused with Patrick Macnee who stared in The Avengers, was 80. In addition to his Prisoner exploits, McGoohan is the only actor to have played four different murderers on the detective series Columbo none of whom of course were able to elude the good lieutenant's absent minded pursuit. Gawker has more.