Jimmy Kimmel

Mozilla Firefox has challenged fundraisers to step it up over the holidays, offering $100,000 to the one who can bring in the most money through Jan. 10. Baltimore-born Edward Norton is running 5th, having raised -- as of early this week -- more than $27,000 for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, an environmental organization working to protect the region's ecosystems. In first place is Jimmy Kimmel, who'd brought in more then $41,000 for Comfort the Children, a group that does work in Kenya.

"What's the second paragraph?" That is my boilerplate response when someone suggests a column idea to me. "Yeah. Right. But where do I go from there?" Not every topic is worth 700 words. So, today I will offer a few words on recent headlines in the news. Call it speed-opinionating. •Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, whose aides told everybody he was hiking the Appalachian Trail when he was in fact bedding his mistress in Argentina, has won the Republican primary for his old congressional seat.

"What's the second paragraph?" That is my boilerplate response when someone suggests a column idea to me. "Yeah. Right. But where do I go from there?" Not every topic is worth 700 words. So, today I will offer a few words on recent headlines in the news. Call it speed-opinionating. •Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, whose aides told everybody he was hiking the Appalachian Trail when he was in fact bedding his mistress in Argentina, has won the Republican primary for his old congressional seat.

It's going to be dueling Ravens in late night Thursday with Jacoby Jones on Jimmy Kimmel and John Harbaugh on David Letterman . Both shows air at 11:35 p.m. -- Kimmel on ABC and Letterman on CBS. Talk about TV suddenly paying national attention to the Ravens in the wake of their Super Bowl victory Sunday. For years, no one had them on the national shows. Now they are being counterprogrammed against each other. Monday night, Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco , did an impressive turn on Letterman , who came calling for more with the Harbaugh booking.

People who follow Julie Bowen on Twitter might have been in for a shock if they saw what she was Tweeting around lunchtime Wednesday. Let's just say, she wasn't herself. Tweets included: "Am I the most talented actor on Modern Family? In a word, yes. But everyone is great. " "Four days without shoplifting, if you don't count Luna Bars. " "Pizza is for fatties #tweetingnoteating" There was also: "in my opinion, @ LanceArmstong did what needed to be done FOR AMERICA.

It's going to be dueling Ravens in late night Thursday with Jacoby Jones on Jimmy Kimmel and John Harbaugh on David Letterman . Both shows air at 11:35 p.m. -- Kimmel on ABC and Letterman on CBS. Talk about TV suddenly paying national attention to the Ravens in the wake of their Super Bowl victory Sunday. For years, no one had them on the national shows. Now they are being counterprogrammed against each other. Monday night, Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco , did an impressive turn on Letterman , who came calling for more with the Harbaugh booking.

We all know Michele Bachmann has a unique understanding of history: The founding fathers worked tirelessly to eliminate slavery, John Quincy Adams (America's sixth president) was a founder, New Hampshire is Massachusetts, etc.   Lucky for us, we all can now learn these little-known historical facts, thanks to Bachmann's new educational video.  Jimmy Kimmel premiered the video last night on his show. Who knew Napoleon conspired to kill America, the American revolution was fought over the King of England's "liberal agenda," and Frodo of "Lord of the Rings" played a key role in our country's independence?

A night after riffing on President Obama's budget plan, Jimmy Kimmel took on the easiest and most conceited target out there: The Donald, himself.  Kimmel's take: Trump isn't actually running for the presidency. It's all a publicity stunt and we're all unwitting passengers along for the ride. But he also took on some of the stupider things Trump has said.  "Trump said in a radio interview he has a good relationship with, and this is a quote, the blacks," Kimmel joked. "Well, not any more.

I've been saying for a while now that I don't believe Donald Trump has "investigators" in Hawaii researching President Barack Obama's birth certificate and background. I think every time he says this he's full of hot air.  Well, George Stephanopoulos on ABC confronted Trump yesterday on this issue. As usual, Trump stonewalled (probably because he knows he's making this all up). But Stephanopoulos persisted in asking him questions about this make-believe investigation and Trump grew comically irritable, repeating the phrase, "We're going to see what happens" in a voice that grew angrier and angrier.  All of this provided perfect material for Jimmy Kimmel last night to have some fun at Trump's expense.

Poor Harry Baals. He's dead and everyone's still making fun of his name. In case you haven't heard about this (very important) controversy, the citizens of Fort Wayne (Ind.) chose to name a new government building over their esteemed (but unfortunately named) former mayor. Harry Baals was good mayor. For four terms, he did good work for the city's transportation system. But Harry Baals' name is, well, Harry Baals. And no one in the current government wants to erect a building in honor of someone whose moniker conjures up images of an old dude's junk.

People who follow Julie Bowen on Twitter might have been in for a shock if they saw what she was Tweeting around lunchtime Wednesday. Let's just say, she wasn't herself. Tweets included: "Am I the most talented actor on Modern Family? In a word, yes. But everyone is great. " "Four days without shoplifting, if you don't count Luna Bars. " "Pizza is for fatties #tweetingnoteating" There was also: "in my opinion, @ LanceArmstong did what needed to be done FOR AMERICA.

Mozilla Firefox has challenged fundraisers to step it up over the holidays, offering $100,000 to the one who can bring in the most money through Jan. 10. Baltimore-born Edward Norton is running 5th, having raised -- as of early this week -- more than $27,000 for the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, an environmental organization working to protect the region's ecosystems. In first place is Jimmy Kimmel, who'd brought in more then $41,000 for Comfort the Children, a group that does work in Kenya.

Dan Deacon and his ensemble were confined to the "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" stage last night, a rarity for the acclaimed Baltimore electronic musician. (If you've been to a Deacon show, you likely know he prefers the floor, with the crowd by his side.) Rules may be rules, but Deacon still made his unique connection with the audience through the Dan Deacon smartphone app . As you'll see in the clip, Deacon - broadcasting from an iPhone - instructs viewers at home to play along, too. It's a strong performance from Deacon and his ensemble, as "True Thrush's" pop sensibilities naturally shine.

(UPDATE: "Jimmy Kimmel Live" begins at midnight, not 11:35 p.m. Thanks for heads up, Alex.) Dan Deacon, arguably Baltimore's best known electronic musician, will make his national TV debut tonight on "Jimmy Kimmel Live. " He will perform the "America" single "True Thrush" with an ensemble. The show starts at 11:35 p.m. midnight , but in typical late-night talk show fashion, he won't perform until the end of the show. The studio audience will use the Dan Deacon smartphone app during the performance.

We all know Michele Bachmann has a unique understanding of history: The founding fathers worked tirelessly to eliminate slavery, John Quincy Adams (America's sixth president) was a founder, New Hampshire is Massachusetts, etc.   Lucky for us, we all can now learn these little-known historical facts, thanks to Bachmann's new educational video.  Jimmy Kimmel premiered the video last night on his show. Who knew Napoleon conspired to kill America, the American revolution was fought over the King of England's "liberal agenda," and Frodo of "Lord of the Rings" played a key role in our country's independence?

Terrell Suggs has spent a chunk of his offseason behind a camera for his production company, Team Sizzle Worldwide. But last week, the Ravens linebacker was in front of the camera for a quick cameo on "Jimmy Kimmel Live. " In the spot, which was filmed a few months ago , Suggs laid out a guy who was heckling Kimmel sidekick Guillermo. He then ran off, looking for more people to hit, including a certain Steelers quarterback.

The madman Magneto and Professor Xavier form an uneasy alliance to save the mutants from a military leader's dark plot in "X2: X-Men United." Hugh Jackman stars as Wolverine. (8 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Fox, Channel 45). Network CONVICTION -- 9 p.m.-11 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11 / The legal drama ends with a two-parter that features a congressman furious at the lack of an indictment in his daughter's murder as well as a courthouse hostage situation. NBC. ARE YOU BEING SERVED? -- 10:30 p.m.-11 p.m., MPT, Channels 22, 67 / Concerned about a sales slump, Mr. Rumbold decides a training session will get the staff cracking again in the episode "Our Figures Are Slipping."

Sports television, like life, is filled with delicious little ironies. The latest little one unfolded the other day on a preseason NFL conference call when a Fox official and some announcers were peppered with questions about Dennis Miller. The irony, of course, is while ABC is getting attention for opening up the sport to entertainment for placing Miller, a comedian, in the hallowed booth, it's been Fox that cleared the brush, with a decidedly lighter approach to televising the game, over the past six years.

I've been saying for a while now that I don't believe Donald Trump has "investigators" in Hawaii researching President Barack Obama's birth certificate and background. I think every time he says this he's full of hot air.  Well, George Stephanopoulos on ABC confronted Trump yesterday on this issue. As usual, Trump stonewalled (probably because he knows he's making this all up). But Stephanopoulos persisted in asking him questions about this make-believe investigation and Trump grew comically irritable, repeating the phrase, "We're going to see what happens" in a voice that grew angrier and angrier.  All of this provided perfect material for Jimmy Kimmel last night to have some fun at Trump's expense.

A night after riffing on President Obama's budget plan, Jimmy Kimmel took on the easiest and most conceited target out there: The Donald, himself.  Kimmel's take: Trump isn't actually running for the presidency. It's all a publicity stunt and we're all unwitting passengers along for the ride. But he also took on some of the stupider things Trump has said.  "Trump said in a radio interview he has a good relationship with, and this is a quote, the blacks," Kimmel joked. "Well, not any more.