So let us say I’m watching a commercial and it’s this really big juicy burger that comes on the screen. Man it looks so good it even makes me want to lick my T.V. screen. So I run to the store that advertises that burger and I get me not one, not two, but three of them. You know why? They’re not as big as it seems. The camera really does add 10 pounds… to everything. I eat three of them and I’m still NOT FULL. But one of those tiny things are like $3.99, and they were not even good. Read more...

The following originally aired August 1, 2010 on KCBS

By Maya Cueva

Throughout the school year, I sit in stuffy classrooms day dreaming about endless freedom. Yet when summer finally comes around, I often feel plagued by boredom.

In past summers, my days would start at noon when I finally got out of bed. Then I’d watch pointless TV shows I didn’t like. Laziness was my forte, mostly because I was too old for summer camps and wasn’t that interested in finding a job.

This summer started out very much the same, with too much time spent on Facebook lurking people’s profiles.

Except now I’m tired wasting my days. So I started my own 4-step program to kick boredom to the curb. The first step is admitting that I’m lazy. The 2nd step is figuring out creative activities to do with my time. And the 3rd step, is getting off my butt.

Now when I catch myself complaining, grab my book and head to the park. I‘ve also started taking walks, exploring my neighborhood—finding shops I didn’t know existed or walked past but never entered.

By the time my summer is over, I hope to achieve the 4th and final step…recovery.

Previously:

• Parks and Recreation
• Senioritis Going Viral
• Financial Dreamers

Why is there a scarcity of male nudity in media imagery, but an abundance of unclothed females? There is a strong stigma against aginast male nakedness, nobody wants to see it, so it doesn’t appear very much. Thus, shots that in include full frontal male nudity can often be timed on a stop watch, but scenes that feature women naked require a sun dial. Read more...

Do you remember way back when fame came to those with talent? Way back when you had to be an actor, an author, a philanthropist, an athlete, a politician? Then around the 90’s, cast members from MTV’s “The Real World” started slowly appearing in the mix with actual celebrities. Fast forward to today. Now we have a group of famous people who are known for basically hanging out on camera.

It upsets me that I can recognize Jon Gosselin, Kim Kardashian and “Snookie”. But I, personally, can’t identify their talents. It seems they are famous because of these things: Kim Kardashian is famous for filming her intimate moments with Ray-J. Snookie is known as the girl who got sucker punched at the bar. And besides his marital troubles, Jon Gosselin is famous for fathering eight children.

I had the opportunity to audition for a dating reality show. The production company was looking for single contestants who were willing to try dating—on air. When I arrived for the taped Q&A session, however, I realized how far we have come from and how far people are willing to go be famous. I was asked to lay out my entire life. For instance... “Tell us surprising things about yourself or your past that most people don’t know."  Or  “Tell us your unique life story in 50 words or less."  After my interview session, I started to have nightmares about being introduced to the world on such a medium. You have no control over how you are presented or how you are perceived. What if I get punched on TV, like Snookie?  I haven’t been called yet to appear for the show. But one thing’s for sure…I’m not waiting for the phone to ring.

If you’re a tech freak like me than you are paying a close attention to the CES 2010 —Consumer Electronics Show-- in Las Vegas. Nearly all of the leading technology companies come to introduce their newest products each year at CES, making it the biggest technology-related trade show in the country.

I thought I've seen technology at its peak when I heard of 3-D TVs or Verizon's new phone Droid, but I was wrong. At CES companies like Samsung and Panasonic showed off their newest product like the biggest 3D HD TV to thinest TV ever made.

Check out videos of those and more after the jump. 

On Thursday, Oprah Winfrey announced that she is ending her uber-famous The Oprah Winfrey Show. The last show will air in September 2011.

While this is still two years from now, I never thought her show would end. She has been a major icon my whole life. She started her career well before I was born and while I’m not a super fan, I still tune in from time to time. On the other hand, my grandmother watches the show just about every day. Winfrey has helped many people across the globe and inspired millions.

Oprah explained on her website:

Twenty-four years ago, on September 8, 1986, I went live from Chicago to launch the first national Oprah Winfrey Show. I was beyond excited...and as you all might expect, a little nervous. I knew then what a miraculous opportunity I had been given, but I certainly never could have imagined the "yellow brick road" of blessings that have led me to this moment with you.

So here we are, halfway through the season, 24, and it still means as much to me to spend an hour every day with you as it did back in 1986. So why walk away and make next season the last?

Here is the real reason: I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it's time to say good-bye.

I'm glad she is ending the show while she is still in her prime, instead of letting her spotlight dim. We aren’t at a complete loss, because she is starting her own cable channel. Yeah, that’s right, in addition to her book club magazine and radio station, she will have her OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network premiering in January 2011. The Oprah Winfrey Show may be ending, but I'm sure this isn’t the last of Ms. Winfrey.

 Previously:

• Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire [TRAILER]
• Books Turn Into Movies
• Oprah Cancels Columbine Show

Youth Radio Alum The Latifah has taken to the time honored tradition of television criticism... the most entertaining of the critical disciplines, since nothing soaks up witty broadsides and snark like trashy TV shows. This week The Latifah serves up a recession minded two-for-one pitting the new show "The City" against its revamped parent show "The Hills":

Now when The Hills first started I was all for the coming of age story about some rich white chick moving from one rich town in Southern California to another rich town in Southern California. When Lauryn jumped into her CLK Benz, looking all poor (b/c where they come from buying a CLK is pretty much like driving a Subaru…its gross) yet wide-eyed and bushy tailed somehow I related. Then I looked in the mirror and remembered that I can’t relate to her at all. But I digress. Anywho, long story long, LC is no longer on the show and now this little chick named Kristin is taking her spot. And guess what people? I’m not that interested.

All this and more from the new season at Latifah and the Boob Tube.

[UPDATED]

TODAY is the big day. Are you ready to go digital? TV is going digital, and this time it's no joke. Going digital doesn’t sound bad at all, but it’s definitely something grown ups have to get used to.

The original Feb. 17 deadline for the shutdown was delayed by the Obama administration after funding ran out for $40 coupons the government offered to help people buy converter boxes for old TVs.

Read more...

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Youth Radio’s Sandra Quel reports on why second generation viewers of Spanish Language TV have different tastes than their parents.

(download mp3)

Jordan Monroe is a young father who says everything he learned about fatherhood was on TV because his father wasn’t around when he was growing up.

(download mp3)