Culturite

Actor/comedian D.L. Hughley will star in a live weekend CNN show that will take what the network calls an “unconventional” look at the news.

The program, tentatively titled “D.L. Hughley Breaks the News,” will air at 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays beginning October 25.

The network promises plenty of laughs as well as interviews in the show, which will air live in front of a studio audience at CNN’s New York studios.

Hughley co-created and starred in the series “The Hughleys” and was one of the four stand-up comedians featured in Spike Lee’s documentary “The Original Kings of Comedy.”

After several lineup updates, the CMJ folks have finally released the fest’s computerized schedulematron via the fest website, letting you know just when and where you’ll be zigging and zagging around the Big Apple next week. You can break down your time at CMJ by day, venue, and band; as for how you’ll swing both Róisín Murphy at Mansion and Jay Reatard at Bowery Ballroom on October 24, well, you’re on your own there.

CMJ ‘08 will feature four unique performances by Coheed & Cambria at Terminal 5 during Marathon. Bear Hands, Crystal Antlers, De Novo Dahl, Emmy the Great, George Clinton and the Gangsters of Love (w/ special guests RZA, Shavo Odadjian, El Debarge), Passion Pit, Southside Johnny w/ the LaBamba Big Band: the Songs of Tom Waits, Pattern is Movement, Saves The Day and The Ruby Suns also join the hundreds of recently announced artists, highlighted by:

A Place To Bury Strangers, Beach House, Broken Social Scene, Cool Kids, Crystal Castles, Del McCoury Band, Deerhoof, Donavon Frankenreiter, Gang Gang Dance, Jay Reatard, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Lykke Li, Minus The Bear, Roisin Murphy, The Dears and Yo Majesty.

Denis Leary has gotten himself in trouble with the Autism Society of America after an excerpt was released from his new book Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid. Here’s Denis’ take on the topic via Page Six:

“There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can’t compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don’t give a [bleep] what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you – yer kid is NOT autistic. He’s just stupid. Or lazy. Or both.”

Whattsamatta, Denis, my fellow Bahstonian, did you get a bad clam at Kelly’s? When did we autism parents and our “junior morons” become the punching bag of the week? Or did you just include this particular rant because you know autism is prevalent in the news and it would generate publicity for you? That’s what I think. I can see you sitting at your desk, well, maybe pacing anxiously back and forth, ruffling your hand through your thick hair, “I need a hook! I need to piss off people who will write about me. Autism! Those parents aaah crazy, rabid dahgs! I’m a freakin’ GEEEN-ius! What a wicked awesome idea! Now, what the hell is autism? Who ce-ahs!”

I care, Denis. I care that your words imply that my three girls aren’t seriously disabled like your good friend Michael J. Fox or worthy of respect. I’ve always enjoyed your brash, in your face humor. I love that you’re a Boston Irishman. I think firemen are hot. But Denis, don’t turn the hose on me and my kids. Please.

(PS) Click HERE to read the scorching letter just sent to The Leary Firefighter Foundation by a retired FDNY veteran who left his career to stay home and care for his son with autism.

DJ AM considers himself “blessed” to have survived the September 19 plane crash that left him and Travis Barker with second- and third-degree burns and killed four others, including Barker’s assistant, Chris Baker, and bodyguard Charles Still.

In his first interview since the crash, AM told People magazine that during his recovery, he grew closer to God and that he now believes he was saved “for a reason.”

“I’ve prayed every night for the past 10 years. There’s a lot more to thank God for now. My philosophy is ‘live life to the fullest,’ [and] I was saved for a reason,” he told the magazine. “Maybe I’m going to help someone else. I don’t question it. All I know is, I’m thankful I’m still here.”

He also said that while he’s grateful to be alive, he’s wrestled with guilt, knowing that four people didn’t survive the crash.

“My emotions go back and forth,” he said. “At the first hospital, I screamed, ‘Thank you!’ Then I wondered, ‘Why did I live?’ I can’t believe I made it. Any second, it can all be gone.”