Goin' Rogue

Yes, chickadees, I saw John McCain on SNL this weekend in all his QVC glory. And I love Tina Fey ... love! love! love!

If you missed it and you consider yourself a home shopping diva, you must check it out!

This isn't a political blog, but I just want to encourage you to please vote tomorrow--no matter the lines, the weather, or the wait. Vote. It's your right and the only real voice you have in this country and, yes, it matters.

And just in case you would like to remember your brave act of patriotism with a beautiful piece of quality jewelry, for only $19.95, Jewelry Television is offering Commemorative Presidential Birthstone Sets exclusively on Tuesday, November 4th (Election Day). Seriously, I kid you not! This isn't a Saturday Night Live skit--this is for reals, y'all!

Joyce Richman, Senior Vice President of Programming at JTV said that they are "planning to keep tabs on which birthstone set is selling best on Tuesday to create a sense of fun and excitement on this historic Election Day."

Here's what you'll get:

Barack Obama/Joe Biden Birthstone Set
Native Hawaiians treasure peridot and refer to the stone as the tears of Pele, a Hawaiian goddess of fire. Peridot is also the birthstone for Democratic Presidential Nominee, Barack Obama, who was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 4, 1961. Citrine is the birthstone of Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee, Joe Biden, who was born on November 20, 1942. One of very few naturally occurring yellow gemstones, citrine was traditionally believed to increase clarity and foster a healthy heart.

John McCain/Sarah Palin Birthstone Set
Born August 29, 1936, John McCain's birthstone is the beautiful green peridot. Peridot is mined almost exclusively in the United States including Arizona, where the Republican Presidential Nominee served as a U.S. senator for nearly 20 years. Republican Vice Presidential Nominee, Sarah Palin, was born on February 11, 1964 and enjoys amethyst as her birthstone. Several ancient cultures believe amethyst brings good fortune and protection.

Only in America ... or, as Tim Russert would always say, "What a country!"

Shopping Around ... Too Cool for School

• For just a split second, I thought this was real: The Home Shopping Network Introduces Talking Presidential Candidate Doll® Collection. Hey, I’ve come to expect anything from the company that sells Banana Bunkers!

• Wanna be an easy rider? Enter the QVC Orange County Choppers Sweepstakes. The Grand Prize is $10,000 cash plus an Orange County Choppers bike that will signed by Paul Teutul Sr., Paul Teutul Jr., and Mikey Teutul and has an engraving that has "QVC Inaugural Show October 9, 2008" on it. You know, you just can't get much cooler than having QVC engraved on your bike. Good grief! Who made that decision? Probably the same guy that likes to put "DMQ" on the face of all the Diamonique watches. QVC has improved by leaps and bounds, but don't kid yourselves, QVC is still not considered cool.

• HSN is also having their own Great Gift Giveaway. Although I still haven't figured out exactly what they are giving away exactly.

• Kim Parrish--of the Kim Parrish Collection on HSN and former QVC host--will be touring around the country giving workshops for Miss America's Outstanding Teen to give contestants inside look into the organization and the acting/audition process. Maybe she'll find the next VP candidate? You never know!

• You might want to read this before you go investing in all those gold coins sold on home shopping. Basically, buy what you like, don't buy because you probably won't get a huge ROI if you ever decide to sell them.

• I looove Project Runway, so it's only fitting that I love all the PR alums that come to QVC. Chole Dao was one of--if not the--first to do this. Dao says her pieces on QVC typically sell out. "It was scary because you don't think you can sell 10,000 units of anything, but I do," she said. Not only are her pieces selling out on QVC, she's also got her own line of electronic accessories at Verizon, she’s a spokesperson for Dove, and she's got some higher-end fancy duds on her website. Check ‘em out!

• It's not on her website yet, but Lori Greiner's upcoming TSV for November 9th looks like it's da bomb, baby! This absolutely ginormous jewelry cabinet swivels 360 degrees and can hold up to 700 pieces of jewelry and it opens up into a 3-way mirror. Although I do not enjoy looking at my bra bulges and muffin top in a 3-way mirror, I do appreciate the huge jewelry storage capacity. Here's a picture from The Insider:
  
  

Speaking of The Insider, when in the heck is QVC gonna wise up and start giving out free subscriptions for its most loyal customers? If you spend over a certain amount of money with QVC, wouldn't it behoove them to extend this mere pittance of a gesture of goodwill? It could even be an online copy. In fact, I would probably prefer that.

Who Needs CNN When You've Got QVC!

QVC is getting political--selling Obama and McCain shirts, caps, and buttons--and some customers don't feel that it's appropriate.

My initial reaction was "Who cares?" I mean, if they are selling merchandise from both major parties then you can't say that they are taking sides, right? Unless you support one of the third-party candidates, it seems fair enough on the surface.

Then I got to thinking it was a bit of a slippery slope. Selling political memorabilia from elections past is far different than selling merchandise in the heat of an election, especially considering we have such a sharply divided electorate (just take a gander at some of the explosive arguments on the message boards!)

Another sticking point? The sales pitch itself. Anything beyond discussing the style and quality of the item will quickly venture into dangerous territory. Even the camera shots have to be carefully monitored--can't have twice as much air time for candidate A's shirt than candidate B's shirt. Equal time, you know.

I watched some of the presentation video on the Q's website and both the host, Dan Hughes, and vendor seemed stiff and uncomfortable. They had to begin the segment with an explanation that they aren't being political and that they ordered the same number for both … yadda yadda yadda. Dan worried about having both shirts in the shot at all times and which hand he held them in, generally just walking on brittle egg shells the entire time. They were even afraid to say anything about the current administration. It all basically boiled down to a get-out-the-vote spiel

Then they took calls!!!

I think these callers were threatened to within an inch of their lives not to say anything that could possibly be construed as divisive. How uncomfortable to watch.

I checked HSN and ShopNBC and didn't see any Obama or McCain merchandise. I hope it stays that way until after the election. I have my own rather strong political views this election, but I do realize that there is a time and a place for these things and, trust me, QVC ain't the place!

Rosie the Riviter!

According to Rosie's website, she will be the latest celebrity peddling her wares on HSN (aren't they all these days????)

Along with the Rosie O'Donnell Show Season One DVD, she'll be selling her latest book, Crafty U, a crafting book for kids that has gotten great reviews on Amazon. Rosie is an avid crafter--remember back during her old show when she was obsessed with decoupage? While she personally uses crafting as a way to relax, with the new book, she wants to inspire families to spend more time together crafting using mostly found objects and lots of creativity.

Ok, so here's the meat of the whole thing: some people hate Rosie with a fiery passion and therefor are absolutely horrified that HSN would dare let her on the air.

I don't agree.

Rosie is rather ... shall I say ... outspoken about many hot-button political issues, so I'm not saying that you need to agree with her opinions or even agree with the way she goes about expressing them (usually very loudly!!!)

From what I've seen of Rosie over the years, she is a basically kind-hearted person who feels passionately about protecting and helping children. She has admitted to fighting personal demons from childhood and has been in therapy for years to address her problems.

My point is that although she might go about things the wrong way, her heart is usually in the right place, which is more than I can say about many of the people she fights with. Besides, sometimes things just need to be shaken up a bit!

If nothing else, she'll probably make for some great entertainment. In all the fuss about her politics, people forget how funny she can be.

Although, I must admit, with the political firestorm going on right now, it'll be interesting to see how long she can bite her tongue (not one of her better talents!)

So all this talk of boycotting Rosie or HSN is completely stupid. Get over yourselves. No one is perfect and she would probably be the first one to admit that.

Check her out 9/21- HSN 12PM, 6PM, and 11PM EST.

Just in Case You Decide to Run for President ...

... QVC and Diamonique want to help you show off your patriotism with their Epiphany Platinum Clad Diamonique American Flag Lapel Pin!!!

Or, perhaps, you'd rather put some lipstick on a pig with the QVC Cloisonne Set of Two Little Pink Pig Enamel Trinket Boxes.

See, chickadees! Home shopping is totally relevant to the current level of political discourse. I don't know if this bodes worse for politics or home shopping.