Personal/Sidenote

Through the Penn State sex abuse scandal, we have been given the opportunity to put a face to a vicious, widespread crime. That face, at the moment, is that of Jerry Sandusky.

Sandusky, 67, has been charged with sexual abuse of eight boys over a 15-year period. His preliminary hearing on 40 criminal counts is scheduled for Dec. 13. A new accuser came forward just days ago.

As parents across the country sit on their couches and call Jerry a sick a-hole, their relatives, friends, neighbors, church members, babysitters, boyfriends, husbands, children's teachers, parents of their children's friends, and others are currently sexually abusing their kids.

Jerry's case has put a spotlight on athletic coaches. Sadly, other abuse allegations involving coaches have surfaced within the past few weeks, but figuring out who may abuse your child isn't that simple. There is no definitive profile of a child molester. 

How many times have we heard parents say that they told their child to tell them if someone touches them? How many times have we, as grown adults, done something that truly terrifies us? How many times have we confessed to participating in something that we are deeply ashamed of and feel responsible for? Every parent assumes that their child will tell them if they have been abused, and nearly every parent is wrong. Case in point: Decades and alleged victims later we are finally hearing that Sandusky was allegedly having his way with young, disadvantaged boys. Decades later some alleged victims are now coming forward.

It's comforting to sit at home, look at Sandusky's rotting teeth, unattractive face, and say that he is sick. Inside we're all thinking that he looks like a child molester, walks like a child molester, and says things that a child molester would. We breathe a collective sigh; our children are still safe, or are they?

As someone whose former babysitter's son is currently sitting in a jail cell convicted of rape, and has victimized some people that I know, as a friend to those who've been abused by relatives, family friends, and others they were close to (and from the countless stories we've all heard), it becomes clear that predators are, essentially, our "friends." The people we "know and trust" are the ones who abuse our kids, and victims often don't speak out.

The hot girl in the photo below is Megan (aka POTP blogger "Snarky"). Years ago, Megan text me this picture that she took while at a karaoke bar. Next thing I know, we were texting about her long "lesbian fingers." Seriously, Megan could work magic on any male or female with those things if she wanted to. More importantly, Megan's photo captures the essence of the kind of young woman she is: Cute, fun loving, and always drunk.

Megan is hilarious on paper and even funnier in person; her contagious laughter only makes her comments more hysterical. Most importantly, Snarky succeeds where it matters the most. She is a kind person to everyone, and those who know her personally adore her. A popular bartender and a devoted mother to an adorable 2 year-old, Megan always makes people feel like they're lucky to know her. Whether it's the jokes that she gives, the good advice, or just her undivided attention whenever you need to talk, Megan is always there.

Megan in 2007

Some bloggers believe that being bitchy and sounding angry or vile is what entertainment is all about. But Megan knows better. Unlike most gossip bloggers, Snarky has always laughed with celebrities instead of taking the easy route by simply taking jabs and laughing at them. Snarky is the ideal team player, never hesitating to encourage and congratulate others whenever possible. Four years and more than 3,400 posts later, I am just as honored to know Megan today as I was five years ago. We will miss your unique voice, clever observations, and fun attitude. We love you Megan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Firecracker

What always set Megan's writing apart from that of other gossip bloggers was the warm, friendly tone she always managed to strike, even when she was tearing into some entitled D-lister. So many bloggers try to make you feel like they're the witty insider, and you should be grateful that they're sharing their hilarious secrets with you. With Megan, you felt more like you're sharing some drinks and laughs with your funniest friend. That's her gift, and I know it's one she'll continue to share whether she continues blogging, or decides that her talents are better used cracking up her absurdly lucky family and friends.

Blogging is a competitive field and I'm accustomed to other writers doing everything in their power to make you feel like crap. But then, I had never worked with someone like Megan before. Not only did she add me as a Facebook friend shortly after I started, and then - to my utter shock - posted stories that I had written on her own wall. It was an ego boost that I sorely needed at that point in my career, and it's the sort of kind act that I suspect Megan engages in on a daily basis. In short, the web could use more bloggers like Snarky, and the world could use more people like Megan.

- Lil Payne

Megan in 2011

Snarky, AKA Megan, has made me laugh so much over the years. No insult, but she is one of the reasons why I love to read Pop on the Pop everyday. She is witty, her writing is boisterous, and her analogies and humor are unmatched. It is a sad day to see her go, but I have full faith she will bring humor and joy to many of her family and friends. We will love you long time Megan!!!!

-Mr. Gyllenhaal

Look, do you know the kind of internal resources it takes to look at Kim Kardashian's damn puss every bloody day and find something to say about it that won't get you thrown in prison? To write over three thousand blog posts without going insane? And to do it as a well-liked member of a community of similarly employed divas, each with a beady eye on the competition? It takes heart, it takes stamina, it takes brains and it takes class. Goodbye Snarky. One less competitor to keep me awake nights!

- Lorraine of Raincoaster

Snarky's just a chill, badass chick--and you can totally tell from her writing. Her biting honesty has made me LOL (literally) over many a celebrity's stupidity. And her recaps even got me following the hot mess that is the Teen Mom cast, for which I can be eternally grateful.

- Brie

The only reason I faithfully visit POTP is because of the writers. I can get watered down BS gossip ANYWHERE on the net, but it's writers like Snarky that keep me coming back for more. She has a direct, opinionated, no-frills way of delivering news in a way that I can't help but adore. Sad to see you go Snarky! Good luck in whatever endeavors you may explore ;)                       

- Ashley

Snarky – why must you leave us! but seriously, thanks for the sass, the swag and the laughs. Pop on the Pop has been my one and only choice for gossip blogs, and you will definitely be missed!

- Gaby

Reality shows are often plagued by rumors that the episodes are scripted and the stars are well-paid actors. The more outrageous the show, the more prevalent the rumors. So, naturally, Jersey Shore, which features the most cartoonish cast in the history of "reality" television has been the subject of a number of reports claiming that MTV has pulled off an incredibly elaborate hoax by paying a bunch of aspiring stars from the fist-pumpingest region of the US to portray the fictitious guidos and guidettes that we now know and love. You may have even seen photographic evidence circulating around the Internet.

The above photos were posted by a Reddit user and show screen caps from a season two fight between Snooki and Angelina. Notice JWoww's socks. They're on, then they're off, then they're back on again. It seems unlikely that Jenni's feet just got hot, then cold, then hot again, causing her to change her footwear twice over the course of one guidette wrestling match. So what gives? Did producers shoot the fight in more than one take? Possibly, but that still doesn't mean it was staged. Maybe they didn't catch the whole thing the first time, and brought everyone back for a re-shoot. Maybe Snooks and Angelina went at it twice and they edited the two fights together into one. The fact is, no one really knows what goes into producing the hour of drunken smushery that is an episode of Jersey Shore.

Look, if you really believe everything you see on your favorite reality shows went down exactly as you see it on TV, then you're probably one of those people who was shocked to find out professional wrestling is fake. The fact is, it doesn't make sense for MTV to stage and script the events of Jersey Shore, or any of its reality series, and here's why:

There are few things more wonderful in life than seeing an equally yolked couple happy in love... So about that equally yolked thing: Are Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries equally yolked? Definitely not. Although Kris is no Kobe Bryant, he still has talent. Kimmy K has none. Then there's the age gap. Kimberly is 30 years old while Kris is 26, which isn't exactly a deal breaker, but their maturity levels may differ. Next, we have to consider their personalities. Kris is funny, while Kim doesn't have enough personality to be funny.

For most people, differences in a relationship can keep things interesting, but Kris' new reality will involve adapting to having his name replaced with emasculating labels like "Mr. Kardashian." Kim has dozens of millions more than Kris does, all the while he actually has to work for his income.

Kris and Kim seem to be night and day for the most part; and they'll enjoy a honeymoon while still in the honeymoon phase because Kimmy desperately wanted to remarry, so they rushed to the altar. I'm not convinced the sex tape star would have said "I do" to Humphries if she were 5 years younger. Still, the most famous Kardashian knows that the odds are against her. I think Kim will fight tooth and nail to make this marriage work; I'm just not so sure that she'll be happy down the road. Co-dependency is a recipe for settling, not one for bliss. On the other side of the reality TV and tabloid spectrum, K & K could have forged a strong bond over the course of the past year and this relationship may not be as odd or superficial as it appears. We shouldn't forget that all of their moments together do not end up on E!

I wish Kim and Kris an eternal, happy marriage. I'm not gonna side with the haters who predict they'll split. Here's to hoping that both parties will remain happy if they do manage to stand the test of time.

Photo: Wenn

Jenny McCarthy jumped ship from Oprah's network a few weeks ago, ditching Winfrey for NBC, which generated more bad publicity for Oprah's cable channel. There are many reasons why the Oprah Winfrey Network has been a massive failure, a predicament unforeseen by Lady O and her staff. To simplify, maybe Oprah shouldn't have named a television channel after herself only to feature a roster of shows that don't involve her. The only show on OWN that Oprah appears on is "Oprah Season 25: Behind the Scenes," which is now no longer airing new episodes.

A few months ago I met an OWN employee in Hollywood who told me that "Behind the Scenes" is the highest rated show on the network. Maybe that has something to do with Oprah's fans wanting to watch her on TV, they've been doing so for 25 years afterall, so why would she assume that things would suddenly be different?!

Besides the lack of Oprah's presence on her network, OWN's shows are dated. Ryan & Tatum O'Neal have a show, so does Shania Twain, The Judds, and Sarah Ferguson. We don't care about them! We wonder why the former Queen of Daytime TV would launch various shows about has beens? We have VH1 for that. 

Each OWN reality show is as boring as Scott Pelley on the CBS Evening News. We want fun and entertainment!

Oprah has peppered nearly each episode of her talk show with humor, but her network is filled with preachy or heavy content that may teach us how to become better people, but we're too busy falling asleep during these valuable life lessons to take notice of their value.

Oprah is out of touch, sadly, and her OWN debut has been rushed. She should have used her talk show as a launching pad for her network, for at least two seasons instead of one, before leaving the #1 rated talk show on television.

Whenever Lady O is giving away free swag, fans are very interested in her preferences; but when she attempts to fill hour after hour of our time with shows that feel like dated after school specials, we're going to tune out and we won't return.

It will take years for OWN to become successful, and I think it will take many hours of Oprah in front of the camera on her network to help the cable channel reach its goals. There were rumors that Oprah was going to be joining the late night TV circuit with a late night show that would air on OWN. No evidence has supported this rumor, but a late night show could single-handedly revive the network.

In summary, if you have a network named after you, designed to appeal to your fans, you shouldn't be afraid to show your friggin' face on it. Just a tip.

We're less than a week away from the premiere of the fourth season of Jersey Shore and the awesome trailer promises plenty of drama and culture clashes between our favorite guidos and actual Italians. We can assume that at some point, the entire cast makes @sses of themselves overseas, but the question remains, who will be the worst ugly American?

We already know Snooki hospitalized 2 policemen by driving like, well...like Snooki, but it's possible one of more of her cast mates made life even more difficult for the locals in Florence. For one, Deena Nicole Cortese walked the streets dressed like a $2 boardwalk hooker, which would cause widespread vomiting and eye-gouging in every country, but must have seemed especially shocking in one Europe's fashion capitals. Even so, it's probably JWoww who caught the most dirty looks for her questionable fashion sense. It's about time someone showed those Eye-talians would a good set of American implants looks like.

Then there are the guys. Odds are they all nearly got locked up for their aggressive mating rituals, but surprisingly, it seems like the girls in Florence were actually digging the boys from Seaside. Pauly and Vinny seem to have gone into the experience with a genuine interest in learning about another country (and its women) and Ronnie managed to leave without getting arrested for a domestic dispute with Sammi, which is the most we could've hoped for. Then there's The Situation. Aside from getting the sh!t kicked out of him by Ronnie, The Sitch seems to have generally acted like his douchey self for the duration of the trip.

Looks like even an old-fashioned @ss-whupping wasn't enough to keep Mike in line. I'd say they should've just left him there, but it probably would've sparked some kind of international incident, and we don't need another war. We won't know the full extent of The Sitch's cross-cultural dickishness until next week, but my guess is, he'll embarrass us all. The fourth season of Jersey Shore premieres August 4th on MTV.

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest that Amy Winehouse died of an overdose or that her death was in any way linked to her drug use. Amy made no effort to conceal her many vices and when a well-off 27 year old woman is found dead in her own home with no signs of foul play, it's only natural to conclude that some of her more unhealthy habits may have contributed to her demise. But there are always those who prefer pleasant answers to truthful ones.

We here at Pop on the Pop have followed this sad story from the beginning, and like any site that truthfully reported on the events of Amy's life, some of our observations were less than flattering.

Some have noticed this and were quick to react in an ignorant, knee-jerk fashion, calling our writers hypocrites (and worse) for reporting on Amy's struggles during her life, and then referring to her death as tragic and unnecessary. I will never understand this reasoning.

Yes, at times our comments about Amy's condition, behavior, and appearance were blunt and we certainly made jokes at her expense. Click around a bit, that's kinda the nature of this site. However, the idea that making an occasional off-color remark about someone in life somehow precludes mourning them in death is a ludicrous one.

As I stated in my original post on the topic of her death, I was a fan of Amy Winehouse. We all were. We made jokes about her frequent inebriation, but so did many other people - including Amy Winehouse! Her most famous and enduring song - 2006's "Rehab" - was a humorous, lighthearted response to the suggestion that she sober up.

Amy's drug use quickly went from punchline to warning sign, and it would be easy to dig up every disparaging comment about her on the internet (though it may take you a couple decades) and guilt-trip whoever posted it for taking insensitive cracks at a talented young woman who was cut down in her prime. Doing so, however, would be a denial of Amy's life and legacy and would suggest that the guilt-tripper never had a laugh at the expense of someone who is no longer with us.

There is value in the truth of Amy's life. There is a lesson in her meteoric rise and tragic fall.

I was on Twitter the other day when Sherri posted this Tweet:

I then responded to her tweet with the following: Yep. And now you have $ to wear a new wig every single day of your life! You're addicted. I've never seen anything like it.

Sherri then sent me a personal direct message (to which I couldn't reply cause famous folks don't allow anyone to contact them directly) saying, No I'm not addicted... my hairstylist is

Uh, yeah right! This woman wears a different styled wig EVERY SINGLE DAY on The View. She has a very weird obsession.

If Sherri didn't want so much fake hair all over her head, she would tell her hairdresser no and she wouldn't pay someone who's going to make her unhappy by giving her a new wig every day. She's completely addicted, but her hair is part of the reason why I tune into the View. Me and my mom are always like, 'Look at Sherri's wig today!... I like it... It looks cheap... She's addicted!'

I can't believe I went to Europe to begin with, but yep, I'm back from my 25-day tour. First of all, I have to say that I was able to enjoy my time in Europe because Megan (aka Snarky) was blogging for me. She is so talented and kind and funny and trustworthy. I knew that the site was in good hands. THANK YOU, MEGAN! :)

Europe is the land of beautiful people, ridiculously delicious food, and a completely different, more relaxed lifestyle that's conducive to having a great time. Always.

I went to Dublin, Wales, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Switzerland, Florence, Pisa, the French Rivera (Nice, France), Monaco and Barcelona. It was the trip of a lifetime for me and I enjoyed virtually every minute of it. I even spoke Spanish like a rockstar in Spain which stunned me! I took Spanish classes forever ago, but it all came back. Plus I HAD to speak it cause people pretty much speak Spanish only in Barcelona - including all the taxi drivers.

I am headed off to Europe for the next three weeks. I'd love to be all deep and sh*t right now, but as you can tell by all my dozens of posts today, I don't have much time. Hmmm... where to begin with this lil note?

First I'd like to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you. POTP's 3rd anniversary is August 1st and I still can't believe that I'm fortunate enough to have the job that I do. Thank you for keeping me happy, employed, inspired and motivated.

I'd also like to thank the incomparable Snarky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is an amazing woman named Megan who always makes me LMAO every time I talk to her. She's hilarious and sweet and the kind of person you definitely wanna party with, or have blog for you while you're away. Without Megan, I would have no vacation. I can not thank her enough. I'd also like to thank Matt, Eric and Craig for all that they do.

I'll be back the second week of August when I aspire to go to more red carpet events, keep the giveaways coming as the offers come in, and continue to blog right along with Snarky. Oh, and I desperately wanna bring back my personal/sidenote stories, they're my favorite.

Thanks so much for Pop on the Popping!

Till Mid-August,

Firecracker