On TV

Reality, Non-Reality and Everything In-Between

Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. ET to track the trajectories of the two "Heroes" writers ejected by NBC, to inspect the gory (and premature) demise off "Grey's Anatomy's" girl-on-girl sweeps action, and to explain how CNN's new Princess Leia hologram-terview attracted the channel's biggest audience ever. Help us, Oblitz-er Kenwolfie, you're our only hope!

Poll Time! Didn't get enough voting this week? Comeback for seconds and cast your ballot on technology abuse and ladies in love.

The transcript follows.

Lisa Blogs From the Press Tour| TV columns| On TV discussion transcripts.

De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.

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washingtonpost.com: Lisa will be starting about five minutes late.

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Lisa de Moraes: Hi everyone.

Don't forget to vote in this week's Washington Post Team TV Chat Poll at the top of the chat. Two burning questions this week: Whose side are you on in the Callie vs Shonda "Grey's Anatomy" kerfuffle? And CNN Hologramterviews -- love 'em or hate 'em?

And, re: last week's poll -- America, at least the ones discriminating enough to participate in the Washington Post Team TV chat, are decidedly Pro Obamamercial:

Pro: 320, 78.43 percent
Con: 88, 21.57 percent

And finally, here is this week's Washington Post Team TV Television Status Watch:

PICKED UP
"Samantha Who?" (ABC), for a full Season 2
"Kath & Kim" (NBC), for a full Season 1

DELAYED
"Law &; Order: Criminal Intent" (USA) Season 8 premiere, until first quarter 2009

DATE SET
"American Idol" (FOX), Season 8 -- four-hour/two-night premiere on Jan. 13/14
"24" (FOX), season 7 four-hour/two-night premiere on Jan. 11/12

SO YOU CAN STOP WONDERING...
The much-hyped Joss Whedon "Dollhouse" (FOX), debuts Feb. 13

SO YOU CAN START WONDERING (why this new show sounds so much like "The Mentalist")
Starring Tim Roth, "Lie to Me" (FOX), debuts Jan. 21

UM, NEVER MIND...
"The Graysons" (CW): Sadly, you'll never get to see the real life story of Batman sidekick Robin: The Teen Years; after ordering the pilot, the network scrapped plans.
"Single With Parents" (ABC): "Creative differences" killed Alyssa Milano-as-a-sad-lonely-woman pilot.

RIP
"Easy Money" and "Valentine" (CW); each lasted seven episodes (possibly eight, pending)

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Hudson Valley, N.Y.: I don't think Grey's Anatomy got rid of Hahn because of the lesbian thing (they are, after all, bringing in a new bisexual woman---the super hot chick from "In Treatment"). They got rid of her because Hahn was such a darn unlikeable character. I'm happy to see her go. I'm hoping Izzy will leave, too, following an Emmy-worthy breakdown over seeing Dead Denny everywhere.

Lisa de Moraes: Hahn was a great addition to the show, because she was a no-nonsense doctor who actually focused on practicing medicine and wasn't all "I don't know if I can live with him ... but I love him ... only I don't trust him ... and he kissed the nurse" all the time like Meredith, Izzy, etc. But then Shonda goes and turns her into another gooey-eyed "you are my glasses" chick on the series -- and yes, it was creepy, and that scene couldn't have been over with soon enough for me...

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Jacksonville, Fla.: Is that really you Lisa or is it a hologram? "Help me Larry King, you're my only hope"

Lisa de Moraes: I am working on becoming a hologram as we speak. It takes a certain amount of training -- and dozens of cameras. Plus learning not to wear a black suit with bell-bottom pants, I'm gathering from Jessica Yellin's holo-pearance on Election Night...

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"Saturday Night Live" and Obama: Will "SNL" hire a decent Obama impersonator? Armisen does a weak Barack!

Lisa de Moraes: Hope so. I too think Armisen is weak. Did I read somewhere recently where he said it was all about the eyes? Which may explain why he doesn't have the voice or the hand gestures down yet....

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Washington: So you can claim prophet status re: your column today and "Bones" last night.

washingtonpost.com: 'Grey's' Lesbian Doc Fails the 'Chemistry' Test (Post, Nov. 7)

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, I'm the Hologram Prophet ... I am a glittery gold around the edges...

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"30 Rock" weirdness: I don't know if it was just a local problem, but here in Maine, at least at my house, there seemed to be some problem with the "30 Rock" broadcast. The dialogue and mouth movement didn't seem to match, like the whole episode was dubbed. I liked the episode, but it was really disconcerting and distracting. Do you know what that happens?

Lisa de Moraes: I don't, but will find out. I DVRed it to watch "Grey's," but have read on blogs and blogs about it. It actually sounds hilarious. Maybe NBC should run all its programming that way. Of course on "Knight Rider" it wouldn't really matter since the car doesn't have lips. But all its other shows might benefit from that bad lip syncing effect...

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17th and M Streets: Sorry for the offbeat question, but I love your chats and it has been driving me nuts -- how do you pronounce your last name?

Lisa de Moraes: It depends whether you are north of the equator or south. Based on "17th and M Streets" I'm guessing you aren't joining us from Sao Paulo. Here in this country, most of my family goes with "dee more eyes." I am a big fan of the Brazilian pronunciation, which is, of course, to ignore the "de" and focus on the "more ice"...But, truth be told, I'm thrilled just to not be called "de Morales" or, worse yet, "de Moralize" which, yes, has happened...

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Atlanta: The funniest thing about the CNN holograms is the buildup. Wolf Blitzer was talking about that nonsense all damn day, explaining it from every angle. Over and over again.

Lisa de Moraes: And yet, it seems to have worked. More people watched election night on CNN than any other network. More than 13 million people -- biggest number for the network in its 28-year history -- a real game-changer. I only can assume some came for the holograms. You have to admit, it was fun. I'm sure I don't know what it has to do with journalism, but it was a hoot...

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Reston, Va.: How much longer is ABC going to stick with "Pushing Daisies"? Oh, and Oprah wants to sit down with Sarah Palin now after they lost? If I were Sarah, I'd tell Oprah where she could stick her invitation!

Lisa de Moraes: I think Greta Van Susteren nailed the first post-party-letdown chat with Palin. But why shouldn't Palin talk to Oprah? Oprah won't ask tough questions -- she's no Katie Couric, ha ha ha ha! ... Oh, sorry. ... Also Palin has major political aspirations...

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Hearing impaired person here: I was wigging out when the "30 Rock" dialog and lip movements were out of sync last night. Their script moves fast enough without having that big disconnect as well.

Lisa de Moraes: I think it was probably an episode best watched while medicated, and I thank you all for the heads-up and intend to watch it in that condition tonight. I'll report back next week...

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Anderson Cooper is a fox: Just saying...

Lisa de Moraes: When in tight black T-shirts and black jeans -- which, really, needs to become the new uniform at CNN. If holograms can attract 13 million viewers, think what CNN could accomplish if all the guys were in tight black T-shirts and jeans. Except Larry King, or course -- that would just be creepy. But I am always so disappointed when Hot Weatherman shows up in a suit in front of the map. ... It's just not the same, let's face it.

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Reston, Va.: Why shouldn't Palin speak with Oprah? Because Oprah refused to invite her on the show during the campaign. What's good for the goose, and all that.

Lisa de Moraes: You are so sweet, Pookie -- don't ever change. But seriously, Oprah has a huge audience; Palin wants to reach a huge audience. Everybody's happy. You can't go holding grudges, or you'll never get ahead in this game. It's the first rule of television. Remember, Oprah went on Letterman. McCain went on Letterman. I'm running out of grudge instances, but I know there are lots more....

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Arlington, Va.: Dear Ms. Demoralize, what is the worst show of the new season?

Lisa de Moraes: I knew I should not have revealed my deepest darkest secret on this chat. ... I think I'll have to go with "Valentine" here, though I hate to speak ill of the dead. Oh, wait, no I don't...

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Sunny Arizona: Lisa, please help! I've been completely mesmerized by John King and the magic CNN map all these days. I've cherished every moment spent watching the map-ipulation by John's deft fingers and listening to his soothing voice. What will I do now? Waily waily!

Lisa de Moraes: I want to see him walking behind holograms when he's interviewing them, so we can, as the D.C. bureau chief explained to the TV Column the other day, see a little of him through the Chief White House Hologram. Yes, he was speaking of Wolf Blitzer, but I'd much rather see a little of King through Yellin than Blitzer...

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Last night's "30 Rock" episode: I didn't notice the out-of-sync dialogue. What's that say about me?

Lisa de Moraes: That you were heavily medicated? I give up, what?

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And Anderson Cooper likes NeNe on "Real Housewives of Atlanta": Saw it on "Ellen."

Lisa de Moraes: Except that he mispronounced her name, it was fab...

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TKPK: "30 Rock" uses their guest stars for good and not evil. What other shows can legitimately say that?

Lisa de Moraes: Next week, Jennifer Aniston -- hooray!

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Washington: Tom Cruise and Brooke Shields kissed and made up ... (grudges gone good)

Lisa de Moraes: Excellent example. Like I said, it's all about reaching the audience, not about how much you hate the host. Numbers people, numbers...

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Washington: Hi Pookie. No date yet for "Big Love"?

Lisa de Moraes: Not yet, though I've been napping this morning. Early 2009...

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Silver Spring, Md.: Will "The Daily Show" and "Colbert Report" still be funny now that a Democrat is about to take office? "The Daily Show" is basically set up to make fun of the Republicans in power, and Colbert exults the Republicans while still really making fun of them. I'm sure the Democrats will screw some things up and will get skewered, but Barack Obama's eloquent speeches aren't nearly as easy to make fun of as George "Is our children learning?" Bush.

Lisa de Moraes: No, I've noticed both shows were sounding like tires with the air being let out last night. I hope this is not like what happened to "The West Wing." It was so hot and relevant during the heyday of the Clinton administration but became sadly out of sync -- like last night's "30 Rock" -- with the times when the Bush administration came to power. I worry for "The Daily Show," which has defined Must Watch TV for the past few years...

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washingtonpost.com: CNN Princess Leia-cast:

Loved it -- 24.56 percent
Hated it -- 75.44 percent

Lisa de Moraes: Okay, you guys are just not taking the right attitude about CNN's Hologram-terviews. ... Wouldn't you rather watch Lou Dobbs interview the head of GM while the head of GM was flickering blue around the edges? I know I would...

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"Life on Mars": I doubt it will stick around, but I am really liking that show. Am I in the minority?

Lisa de Moraes: Are you sitting down? "Life" last night clocked 9.5 million viewers when it was handed a lead-in audience of 16 million by "Grey's".. needless to say, that is not great. It also finished third in the Magic Demographic. Apparently 24 year old viewers flee a show set in the '70s -- unless it's a comedy and it stars Ashton Kutcher.

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washingtonpost.com: Do you believe Smith or Rhimes?:

Smith -- 37.1 percent
Rhimes -- 62.9 percent

Lisa de Moraes: North Carolina and Missouri are still too close to call, but it appears Shonda Rhimes has this one all sewn up. Those of you who think Smith got, um, screwed, get out and vote...

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Re: Stewart: I dunno, I think "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" will have plenty of material as the GOP tries to sandbag the Obama presidency, and as Obama's own party bickers internally.

Lisa de Moraes: And I was encouraged by the appointment of Rahm Emanuel -- there's gonna be loads of good material there...

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The Poll: Name-checking Wendy Hiller in a Grey's Anatomy question: priceless.

Lisa de Moraes: Love, love, love Wendy Hiller. Get "I Know Where I'm Going" from Netflix, if only to see the scene where the train is going through the countryside of Scotland and the hills are all covered in various plaids.. Really, they just don't make movies on shoestring budgets like they used to...

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Reston, Va.: Count me as one who doesn't like the hologram thing and is afraid of the potential uses. What if they use that on Larry King, and we find out the hard way that he doesn't wear pants?

Lisa de Moraes: Another compelling argument for using holograms. We need to know, once and for all, whether King is trousered or not. What's at the end of those suspenders, Mr. King?

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Re: Life: How is "Life" doing in the ratings? I think the show has improved this year.

Lisa de Moraes: Encouraging numbers recently. Keep watching...

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Fairfax, Va.: Pookie, please tell me they aren't going to write Alyson Hannigan's pregnancy into "How I Met Your Mother"! Babies ruin TV shows! Also, have you noticed that Josh Radnor and Jason Segal have been packing on the pounds? And what is up with Segal's hair? Terrible.

Lisa de Moraes: They told Radnor and Segal they have to put on weight so Hannigan won't look heavy when she's in her seventh month, effectively hiding the pregnancy. ... Really, it's a very well oiled machine, that "How I Met Your Mother" -- they're using the oil from Segal's hair...

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St. Louis: I'd rather watch Lou Dobbs with the sound down.

Lisa de Moraes: Good too. Sound off and flickering. How can you not love that? Work with me people -- change is good, change is good...

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New York: If Ari Emmanuel was the inspiration for Ari Gold and Rahm was the inspiration for Josh on "West Wing," don't you think the third brother should be looking for a writer to create a medical show staring a character loosely based on him?

Lisa de Moraes: No -- he just needs a really good agent ... the rest will happen once he has accomplished that...

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Chattanooga, Tenn.: Who is going to be the new producer for "Mad Man"?

Lisa de Moraes: Someone actually mentioned Aaron Sorkin in print the other day. Wouldn't that be hilarious? I'd watch that...

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Re: Rahm Emanuel: I was kind of nervous about the appointment of Rahm, but when you look at it from a comedy point of view it's great. Thanks for cheering me up.

Lisa de Moraes: You are welcome. This is how I look at all politics, from the comedy TV point of view. It has served me well the last eight years...

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Re: CNN Holograms: If they're going to go that route, they need to go all-in and give the host a ray gun with which he can shoot the holographic guest if the guest displeases him.

Lisa de Moraes: Too conventional -- need a remote that can turn them into a frog....or plant lice, which is my new favorite animal now that I have learned so much about it. For instance, it has the life expectancy of a made-for-TV lesbian -- one sweeps month...

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Washington: During one of yesterday's chats someone asked why Hilda speaks with an accent while Ugly Betty doesn't. Naturally, they knew to defer to you. What is the answer, aside from Betty's brain must be fried by all those colors and patterns she has been wearing.

Lisa de Moraes: I think I answered that last week .... It's obviously an homage to old movies, (like "Robin Hood" starring Errol Flynn) in which half the actors speak with proper British accents -- whether they're British or not -- and the other half sound like bullfrogs from Kansas...

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New "Mad Men" producer?: Where's Matthew Weiner going? Once they start tinkering with that stuff, the story suffers. Ugh.

Lisa de Moraes: He's holding out for $10 million a year. I got a hold of some scripts and counted up the number of words per script -- there's no end to the legwork needed, if you're going to cover TV properly, that you need to be willing to do -- and it came to $161 per word! That's as opposed to, say Charles Dickens, who was paid about $125 in 2008 dollars, for "Pickwick Papers." I rest my case...

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"Fringe": Just got to say, I love the cow and the old father guy! We sort of like this show, but we love the cow and the father guy's monologues. I highly recommend this!

Lisa de Moraes: Gosh, I'm guessing you were not on my chat the week I broke the sad news that they recast the cow. The cow in the pilot -- who gave a stunning performance, by the way -- could not travel to the United States -- the pilot was shot in Canada -- and so, sadly, the cow had to be recast. Frankly, I've never thought the American cow rose to the performance of the Canadian Cow. ... Never nailed the accent...

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That was a hologram?: I thought she was a little person.

Lisa de Moraes: A little, blue-fringed, flickering bell...

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Sigh: I'm dreaming of the day I can become someone important enough to be hologrammed on CNN. I so desperately want to be blue-light-flickery around the edges.

Lisa de Moraes: Me too. They actually added the blue flickery effect so as not to make it look too "Cokie Roberts with trench coat over her evening dress standing in studio in New York in front of green screen with a picture of the Capitol, giving a report on the State of the Union address like she was there."

I'm hoping CNN comes up with a color-code system to let you know how important a newsmaker the person being hologrammed actually is. Kind of like Orange alert and red alert. Blue would be for your basic correspondent. Red would be higher up the food chain. Really Important People -- you know, like Oprah -- would flicker silver or gold...

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Providence, R.I.: I wrote in a few weeks ago about having watched, for whatever reason, all the episodes of "Gary Unmarried." I continue to watch.

I notice more continuity problems with that show than with any other show that's on right now. For example the ex-wife is wearing a scarf -- camera cuts to Gary -- back to ex-wife and no scarf -- back to Gary -- back to ex-wife and she has the scarf on again. How does no one notice things like this?

Lisa de Moraes: ... And, another drinking game is born.. Thank you!

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Arlington, Va.: Any ratings info on Comedy Central's "Indecision '08" Tuesday night? My significant other and I were really looking forward to it but turned it off halfway through, disappointed at how lame and unfunny it was.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm sorry, I do not remember them off the top of my head, but they were nearly up to the numbers they did the night of the Barack Obamamercial -- which were records. For "The Daily Show" it was nearly 4 million that night and I think he was in the above 3 million on Election Night. Look for it in my Wednesday Winners/Losers column...

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Houston: I am so upset that they dropped Dr. Hahn from "Grey's." I was a bit eh on the whole lesbian thing, but I loved her character's bitchiness and saying whatever was on her mind.

Is the kind-of-annoying ex-army guy her replacement? I mean, seriously, I realize that he was supposedly in Iraq, but for his entire life?

I am over his meatball surgery comments (although they have softened him up a little in the last episode). I mean, I doubt that's how Hawkeye Pierce acted when he came back from Korea.

Lisa de Moraes: Paleeze. Kevin McKidd is soooo much hotter than Hawkeye and his "show respect" speech was kind of ""M*A*S*H"-esque. And, by the way, wasn't it exactly what you've been dying to say to that entire cast of whiny self-absorbed hot-docs-in-training for several seasons? I admit I shouted out my approval during the scene -- TV watching is very interactive at my house...

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Re: Palin on Oprah: Oprah had a policy after a certain point in the campaign season (pre-Palin) not to have any politicians on her show. She didn't have Biden on, either. The so-called "snub" wasn't personal or political. And yuck, I've just been compelled to defend Oprah. Don't make me do that again.

Lisa de Moraes: Excellent point and thanks for making it...

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No-prah: Just read online that Oprah's giving up the syndicated show in 2011! What will happen to us as a country?

Lisa de Moraes: If this were not the third or fourth (fifth?) time Oprah has announced when she's giving up the syndicated show, I would be more depressed. But it is -- so I'm not....

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Beltsville, Md.: CNN should just have interviews with big, giant hologram heads.

Lisa de Moraes: With adorable kittens playing with balls of yarn at their feet. It's a 20-share -- trust me...

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Reston, Va.: With the advent of BBC America, and with them broadcasting modern Brit shows, and with completed shows on DVD, why on Earth are U.S. network execs buying their used scripts?

Lisa de Moraes: When BBC America starts doing NBC-esque numbers, it will be a factor. Right now, not so much...

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Washington: I miss the ratings grid of all network shows The Post used to print with your winners/losers ratings summary on Wednesdays. I could see how shows that didn't fall into either category were doing. In the CW universe, how are "Smallville" and "Supernatural" doing this year?

Lisa de Moraes: "Smallville" is in the 4-million range and I think it may be CW's most watched show. "Supernatural" is in the 3 million range. Both are doing fine by CW standards -- all relative, you know...

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washingtonpost.com: Walter and his cow, via Hulu. Skip to about the 19:09 mark.

Lisa de Moraes: Thanks to my brilliant producer, we bring you Walter and his cow, so you can see these Emmy-worthy performances for yourself...

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Washington: I am totally and completely enthralled with the Sarah Palin show. Everything she does is interesting to me, though maybe just in the schadenfreude way. I cannot get enough of her saying ridiculous things or winking at old men. Any chance you can pull some weight with the networks to make her a regular on a show? Us Weekly just won't be enough.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm hoping TLC turns her into a makeover show host. Admit it -- you too want to know how she gets her hair to do the things it does. She has the best hair of any politician I have ever seen. Washington definitely needs better hair.

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washingtonpost.com: Hologram

Loved it -- 23.3 percent
Hated it -- 79 percent

"Grey's"

Rhimes -- 32.71 percent
Smith -- 67.29 percent

Lisa de Moraes: I'm nearly out of time, but wanted you to know you still can vote on our polls this week for a while longer. So far the future of CNN hologramterviews not looking great, but Brooke Smith has pulled ahead in the Great "Grey's Anatomy" Why Was She Sacked Controversy. ... Thanks for joining me. Bye.

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