Madison man vies for heart of 'Bachelorette' starts tonight

Are you a Bachelorette addict? Well, the first step on the road to recovery is admitting you have a problem — and bookmarking. Emily “Tragic Single Mom” Maynard kicks off her husband-seeking “journey” tonight, and we here at Rose Lovers Central have so much coverage planned, it’s almost embarrassing. Here’s a quick rundown of everything you can expect:

“I’ve got more than a theory. You know why?” opines his boss, Advertising Director Roland Weeks.

“I’ve been online. I’ve read the blogs. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s top 5,” Weeks said of Pope, who is among a pack of 25 suitors vying for bachelorette and North Carolina resident Emily Maynard’s love.

Watch The Bachelorette with author Jennifer Weiner — every week! Yes, the best-selling novelist (In Her Shoes, Little Earthquakes, Then Came You) and confessed Bachelor/Bachelorette junkie will be joining EW readers in the ViEWer room to live blog Emily’s “journey” all season. Log on tonight at 9:30 p.m. (EST) right here as Weiner leads a wine-fueled discussion about Emily, her suitors, and all of the rose-seeking shenanigans.

Said ad rep Glenda Gilmer: “He’s like a little brother. It’s like you want to keep him out of trouble.”

But is he a player?

“From the stories I’ve heard, I’d say so,” observes ad rep Marcus Burger. “I’ve talked to his friends from MSU. He’s not shy.”

Chris Harrison’s back as EW.com’s exclusive Bachelorette blogger! Everyone’s favorite reality TV host (at least, everyone I know) and blogger extraordinaire will be back to share his behind-the-scenes insights and wry personal take on every episode. Got burning Bachelorette questions? Ask them in the comments — he’ll answer them in his blog and in Entertainment Weekly.

Need more? Read my weekly recaps! No, seriously, please do. Otherwise, my 10-year love/hate relationship with this godforsaken reality TV franchise has been in vain.

“He’s a Southern charmer. He’s really camera friendly.”

Pope, a 30-year-old Madison resident employed almost three years as an ad rep at the newspaper, will have the attention of thousands of metro-area residents tonight when The Bachelorette premiers at 8:30 p.m. on ABC.

Stephen Colbert’s Super PAC Starts More Than $1 Million

U.S. for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, commonly known as the Stephen Colbert Super PAC, submitted its contribution report to the FEC this morning at 12:01 AM. The report shows that the Super PAC, which can legally collect and spend unlimited amounts of money to influence US elections, raised $1,023,121.24 in total. 

Stephen Colbert’s quasi-satirical presidential bid has raised serious cash, over $1 million, as of Tuesday morning, the comedian announced.
An announcement on the Web site of Mr. Colbert’s political action committee said the “super PAC” had filed $1,023,121.24 with the Federal Election Commission at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday.
The super PAC — once known as the “The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC,” then the “Colbert Super PAC,” but officially as “Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow” — raised money from viewers to fund things like a commercial shown in South Carolina that equated Mitt Romney with a serial killer.

The 146-page reports lists donors and details expenditures made to influence the outcome of the South Carolina Republican Primary. It is noted that the “Romney the Ripper” ad is formally titled “Strings” that’s credited by some for the sudden turnaround in the race between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, transforming Romney’s clear lead to a sound drubbing by Speaker Gingrich.
At 12:01 morning, the most famous super PAC in America disclosed its donors for the first time. Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, the vehicle for much of comedian Stephen Colbert's recent hijinks, disclosed that it had raised $825,475 from its inception in the middle of 2011 through December 31.
While most political observers want to see which billionaires and millionaires are bankrolling the super PACs backing the Republicans competing for the presidential nomination, the Colbert super PAC did not receive similarly super-sized campaign contributions. In fact, 90 percent of the contributions to Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, which can receive unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, and unions -- came from donors giving under $250.
Those small donors are not required to be listed on the super PAC's disclosure forms filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Colbert is quoted in the filing saying, ''Yeah! How you like me now, F.E.C? I'm rolling seven digits deep! I got 99 problems but a non-connected independent-expenditure only committee ain't one!''
And according to a South Carolina news web site, the Palmetto Public Record, the super PAC is also reportedly “negotiating a substantial media buy in the Columbia market.”
Stephen Colbert is putting his money where his mockery is — or, at least, his super PAC is.
On his Comedy Central show Thursday night Colbert announced “an exploratory committee to lay the groundwork” for his “possible candidacy for president of the United States of South Carolina.” He also handed control of his super PAC, Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow, over to his colleague, Jon Stewart, host of “The Daily Show.”