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Variety reports that MTV will launch 16 new reality TV shows -- this time a little more cuddly than what we might be used to.

"Our new shows will feature themes of affirmation and accomplishment," says Brian Graden, prez of entertainment at MTV Networks music channels and president of Logo. "Our shows are going to focus less on loud and silly hooks and more on young people proving themselves. These are themes that are consistent with the Obama generation."

I'll be interested to see what comes of this new direction. MTV pioneered reality television with The Real World a generation ago. But the earnest exploration of people trying to understand each other's world view has mostly been replaced by binge-drinking, boob-flashing partiers. I can only watch so many fist fights and fake interventions. That's so 1999, Real World: Hawaii-style.

Graden may be on to something with this new affirmation approach. I prefer shows like MADE, which helps a teenager transform into whatever they want to be. They've turned sissies into BMXers, geeks into beauty queens, fatties into models. It's a nice and seemingly -- for reality TV anyway -- genuine take on the makeover show.

Now let's see if shows like that can really draw an audience.

If you're anything like me then TV Christmas specials are one of the highlights of your holiday season. Not just seasonal favorites like How The Grinch Stole Christmas but the holiday episodes of your favorite shows.

WFMU's website has posted a list of classic TV Christmas specials and where you can see them online for free.

The list is terrific and has everything from I Love Lucy's 1956 Christmas special to The Jeffersons Christmas specials from 1976-1978. In between: Andy Griffith, The Brady Bunch, The Beverly Hillbillies, Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore, The Twilight Zone, Taxi, Sesame Street and even The Price is Right.

One of my personal favorites: the 1978 Taxi Christmas special.

So in the trailer for the new Wolverine movie the X-Men's most badass (and most overly exposed) mutant meets Gambit, gets punched by a morbidly obese boxer (The Blob?) and fights Liev Shreiber as Sabretooth?

From the L.A. Times obit:

A religious woman in her later life, Page was mystified by her influence on modern popular culture. "I have no idea why I'm the only model who has had so much fame so long after quitting work," she said in an interview with The Times in 2006.

"I want to be remembered," she said, "as I was when I was young and in my golden times. . . . I want to be remembered as the woman who changed people's perspectives concerning nudity in its natural form."

So, it's come to this.

From the ad copy:

"Here's This Season's "Must-Have" iPod Accessory That All The Celebrities in Hollywood Are Clamoring For.

Just fold out the blow wand and exhale into it for at least 5 seconds. 2 seconds later, this amazing tool let's you know if you're within the legal limit to drive. It even houses a timer that can be set from 1 minute up to 8 hours in order to remind you when it's time for the next test."

I'm from the "If you're wondering if you can pass a breathalizer test, don't drive" school myself -- but if potential drunk drivers will listen to their iPods and realize it's a bad idea to get behind the wheel, I guess it's progress.

You're sitting there, watching the float for Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, when, all of a sudden, the music stops ... and the audience at home gets one of the biggest Rickrollings ever.

The fact that my grandma now knows about Rickrolling means it is officially so five minutes ago.

Sometimes, you just can't bear the rules of the normal world and you gotta rip off your clothes and run, literally, buck wild.

Goofing around of Facebook today (it's work, really) we ran across this ad from a travel Web site listing the top 10 places to get naked (kinda NSFW).

But if you're looking to stay more local, there's always the Bar-S-Ranch. Though you might want to wait for some balmier weather.

Remember: "Naked" is simply not wearing any clothes. "Nekkid" is when you're not wearing clothes and you're up to no good.

The Cartoon Network's new Batman: The Brave and The Bold cartoon premiered on Friday -- and it's well worth checking out.

(Theme music owes a bit to The Tick, I think, but it's not that tongue-in-cheek.)

As discussed in this Wired interview, it's the first time in decades that we've seen a lighter Batman -- not the driven, disturbed and haunted vigilante of the breakthrough Batman: The Animated Series or the "Dark Knight" of the new batch of Batman films.

The show will team a solo Batman with a different DC comics character each episode -- and it looks like they're going to the back-benches with some of the people who will be showing up. The first episode "Rise of the Blue Beetle!" is light enough for kids, but it's not junk-food. Adult comic fans, sci-fi geeks and kids-at-heart of all ages will also enjoy the show's wit and imagination.

Reminds me a bit of what they did with Superman Adventures some years ago - taking essential elements of the property and telling really great pop stories with them.