After watching another hour installment of FOX’s new gameshow Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, a couple of things came to mind…

Which is worse:

1. Putting a game show on the air to prove that a typical American isn’t smarter than a fifth grader?

OR

2. Portraying redneck comedian Jeff Foxworthy as a teacher?

Both seem equally dangerous in my mind, but maybe the worst part is that contestants are willing to profess to the entire world for cash that they are not, in fact, smarter than a fifth grader.

Although this is the land of reality show contestants who eat bull testicles and try to survive in the wilderness for cash prizes, so maybe this is all just more of the same…

Quirky comedian Calvert DeForest, better known to television viewers as Larry “Bud” Melman on David Letterman’s shows, died in a Long Island hospital at the age of 85:

The balding, bespectacled nebbish who gained cult status as the oddball Larry “Bud” Melman on David Letterman’s late-night television shows has died after a long illness. […]

He made dozens of appearances on Letterman’s shows from 1982 through 2002, handling a variety of twisted duties: singing a duet with Sonny Bono on “I Got You, Babe”; doing a Mary Tyler Moore impression during a visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where her 1970s show was set; handing out hot towels to arrivals at New York’s Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Cue cards were often DeForest’s television kryptonite, and his character invariably appeared in an ill-fitting black suit behind thick, black-rimmed glasses.

“Everyone always wondered if Calvert was an actor playing a character, but in reality he was just himself — a genuine, modest and nice man,” Letterman said in a statement. “To our staff and to our viewers, he was a beloved and valued part of our show, and we will miss him.”

DeForest’s gnomish face was the first to greet viewers when Letterman’s NBC show debuted on Feb. 1, 1982, offering a parody of the prologue to the Boris Karloff film “Frankenstein.”

“It was the greatest thing that had happened in my life,” he once said of his first Letterman appearance.

For those of you who don’t remember Bud’s appearances on the Late Show, he essentially did what longtime character actor Abe Vigoda does for Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Namely, act like a fool by doing whatever the host asks him to do.

Bud was a great addition to Letterman’s late night comedy and his impish stature and unique-sounding voice made his antics that much funnier.

Calvert DeForest was a funny part of vintage late night comedy and we’ll miss you, Bud. You might not have left any survivors, but you left a mark on many viewers’ lives.

During my stay at New York University, one of my favorite courses was Digital Filmmaking, where I made several digital film shorts. One of those films starred my roommate Evan and was called Put Down That Pencil, about an overworked 9-to-5er who can’t wait for his work day to end to fully express himself.

It just so happens that Evan was going through his tapes today and he uploaded my film to YouTube. So, without further ado, I present to you Put Down That Pencil:

I really enjoyed shooting, scripting, and editing my own films and would love to do some more soon. I’d appreciate your comments and feedback.

A NYC restaurant has unveiled a new pizza that has lobster and caviar toppings and will only run you $1000 a pie:

We’ve been dealing with the pocket-emptying effects of rising gas prices, new electric rates, and an increase in cab fare, but how would you feel about breaking the bank all for…a pizza? Now you can find out thanks to Manhattan restauranteur Nino Selimaj, who has apparently brought from the heavens a real “pie in the sky” with his new $1,000 pizza.

Yep, that’ll be $1,000 please.

The pizza will be added to the menu at “Nino’s Bellisima,” one of Selimaj’s six restaurants in the city. Forget traditional cheese and pizza sauce, the record-priced pie will be topped with creme fraiche, chives, eight ounces of four different kinds of Petrossian caviar, four ounces of thinly sliced Maine lobster tail, salmon roe, and a little bit of spice with wasabi.

Who the heck is going to buy 4 slices of pizza at $250 each?!? A $41 burger is one thing, but come on!

Anyone know if they’ll deliver to Trump Tower or Gracie Mansion?

Court TV is changing it’s name in 2008 to reflect its re-branding under new owners Turner Broadcasting:

The name of Court TV is getting disbarred. Turner Broadcasting said on Tuesday that it will rename its cable channel to reflect a more action-driven lineup. The new name won’t be revealed until summer and will take effect at the start of next year.

The legal channel will be revamped by also adding a new logo, reality programming, and, apparently, Star Jones.

But what will it be called? Was it really necessary for Turner to change the channel’s name?

And why do we have to wait until the summer to find out the new name?

If you’re impatient like me about such things, have no fear. Here are my humble suggestions for Top 10 New Court TV Names:

• 10) The NEW Court TV
• 9) Legal Reality
• Cops Reruns
• 7) Better Than The View
• 6) The Star Jones Wedding Celebration Channel
• 5) Annoying Women Hosts Channel
• 4) Legal Look
• 3) Star Jones is Alive!
• 2) Court Isn’t Boring Channel
• 1) O.J. Simpson Watch

ALSO: Conan O’Brien had a good addition to the list on Late Night: “In honor of Star Jones, the network is changing it name to Food Court TV.”