Kathy Griffin

Kathy Griffin's desperate efforts to get some shock buzz New Year's Eve on CNN were so obvious that I vowed I wouldn't write about her -- wouldn't write about her kissing Anderson Cooper's crotch and trying to make sure every viewer knew what she was doing. You can see the video above. (And don't write to me about using the video from the right-wing Newsbusters website. It's the best edited of the lot, and most of the YouTube cuts have such bad video you don't know what's being said unless you're a lip-reader.)

Kathy Griffin's desperate efforts to get some shock buzz New Year's Eve on CNN were so obvious that I vowed I wouldn't write about her -- wouldn't write about her kissing Anderson Cooper's crotch and trying to make sure every viewer knew what she was doing. You can see the video above. (And don't write to me about using the video from the right-wing Newsbusters website. It's the best edited of the lot, and most of the YouTube cuts have such bad video you don't know what's being said unless you're a lip-reader.)

For Kathy Griffin, fame - even a self-proclaimed D-list fame - has its advantages. "It's great getting known so that people know what to expect," Griffin says. KATHY GRIFFIN / / 8 p.m. Wednesday. Lyric Opera House, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave. $28-$58. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.com.

Please allow me (or "myself" as Mike Myers famously said ) to introduce myself. Those of you who have been reading Baltimore-area newspapers for the past decade might (or might not) recognize my byline (I've written articles for The Sun, The Examiner, the Howard County Times, etc.) but this is my first attempt at a regular blog. We're calling it the Ridiculous Report and, on it, I plan to show on a frequent basis how common sense is often lost in our discussions of politics, government and the news in general.

About a year ago, comic actress Kirstie Alley spent five days in bed, thinking. The hiatus she'd taken to spend more time with her children had lasted too long, she thought. Her phone wasn't ringing so much. She missed acting as if it were oxygen. Cheers, the Look Who's Talking movies, the People's Choice awards and her last sitcom, Veronica's Closet, were old news. She had gained 60 or 70 pounds. She was 53 years old. She had come face to face with "the void," something women in Hollywood have complained about since the first screen actress passed 40. But face-in-the-pillow victimhood felt to her like "a pretty creepy position."

Kathy Griffin Self-proclaimed D-lister Kathy Griffin brings her comedy routine to the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall tonight at 8. Hey, we're not being harsh -- her reality show My Life on the D List returns for a second season on Bravo Tuesday night at 9. The Meyerhoff is at 1212 Cathedral St. Tickets are $32.50. Call 410-783-8000 or 410-547-SEAT or go to ticketmaster.com. (She's also at D.C.'s Warner Theatre, 13th and E streets N.W., Sunday night at 8. Tickets are $37 and available through Ticketmaster.

MTV goes for Britney, baby, one more time Despite Britney Spears' train-wreck performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last year, the network confirms the pop singer will kick off the show once again. But it won't be a performance. Instead, MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler said, it'll be something "fun and unexpected" on Sunday night's show. Unexpected is probably the kindest way to describe Spears' performance at last year's VMAs.

Just announced Van Halen and David Lee Roth -- Verizon Center in Washington on Nov. 1. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.com. Kathy Griffin -- Kennedy Center in Washington on Sept. 18. 202-467-4600. Bob Dylan and his Band and Elvis Costello -- Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sept. 28. The Shins are there Oct. 22. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmas ter.com. Brand New, Thrice and mewithoutyou -- UMBC Fieldhouse on Dec. 2. 410-547-SEAT or tick etmaster.com. Atmosphere -- Rams Head Live on Sept.

This might well date me, but one of the few prime-time entertainment shows I have been waiting for with a real sense of anticipation is the NBC variety show premiering tonight at 8, Rosie Live, with Rosie O'Donnell. The variety show, a genre that introduced me as a kid to stars like Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra through the "magic" of television and CBS, was declared dead way too soon by the pundits. The producers of American Idol figured that out and made tens of millions of dollars by simply jiggering the formula.

CONCERT Beyonce: It took her a while, but the booty-shakin' singer is finally on tour for her 2008 album I Am ... Sasha Fierce. But don't think she hasn't been busy. She's had other things on her plate, like serenading the Obamas and kicking butt in an action thriller. Show starts 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at 1st Mariner. Web: www.baltimorearena.com FILM 'Transformers: : Revenge of the Fallen' : This time, the robots are hardly in disguise. Ever-so-subtle director Michael Bay is rolling out a total of 46 metal men (the original had a measly 14)

CONCERT Beyonce: It took her a while, but the booty-shakin' singer is finally on tour for her 2008 album I Am ... Sasha Fierce. But don't think she hasn't been busy. She's had other things on her plate, like serenading the Obamas and kicking butt in an action thriller. Show starts 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at 1st Mariner. Web: www.baltimorearena.com FILM 'Transformers: : Revenge of the Fallen' : This time, the robots are hardly in disguise. Ever-so-subtle director Michael Bay is rolling out a total of 46 metal men (the original had a measly 14)

This might well date me, but one of the few prime-time entertainment shows I have been waiting for with a real sense of anticipation is the NBC variety show premiering tonight at 8, Rosie Live, with Rosie O'Donnell. The variety show, a genre that introduced me as a kid to stars like Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra through the "magic" of television and CBS, was declared dead way too soon by the pundits. The producers of American Idol figured that out and made tens of millions of dollars by simply jiggering the formula.

MTV goes for Britney, baby, one more time Despite Britney Spears' train-wreck performance at the MTV Video Music Awards last year, the network confirms the pop singer will kick off the show once again. But it won't be a performance. Instead, MTV Networks Music Group President Van Toffler said, it'll be something "fun and unexpected" on Sunday night's show. Unexpected is probably the kindest way to describe Spears' performance at last year's VMAs.

Just announced Rock Witchu -- starring Janet Jackson, Verizon Center in Washington on Oct. 15. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com. Kathy Griffin -- DAR Constitution Hall in Washington on Sept. 25. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com. Summer Spirit Festival -- featuring Jill Scott, the Roots, Chuck Brown and Estelle, Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia on Aug. 2. 410-547-7328 or ticketmaster.com. The Burning Up Tour -- starring the Jonas Brothers, 1st Mariner Arena on Aug. 6. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

For Kathy Griffin, fame - even a self-proclaimed D-list fame - has its advantages. "It's great getting known so that people know what to expect," Griffin says. KATHY GRIFFIN / / 8 p.m. Wednesday. Lyric Opera House, 140 W. Mount Royal Ave. $28-$58. 410-547-SEAT or ticketmaster.com.

Kathy Griffin Self-proclaimed D-lister Kathy Griffin brings her comedy routine to the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall tonight at 8. Hey, we're not being harsh -- her reality show My Life on the D List returns for a second season on Bravo Tuesday night at 9. The Meyerhoff is at 1212 Cathedral St. Tickets are $32.50. Call 410-783-8000 or 410-547-SEAT or go to ticketmaster.com. (She's also at D.C.'s Warner Theatre, 13th and E streets N.W., Sunday night at 8. Tickets are $37 and available through Ticketmaster.