Page 1 Consider (02/02)

Ugly on the Inside: HBO is reportedly developing a biopic of Anita Bryant, whose career as a former beauty queen turned singer and orange juice pitchwoman was overshadowed by her hateful work as anti-gay activist. "Sex and the City" creator Darren Star is on board to direct so you know it's going to be good. (Anyone have any good casting ideas?) (Hollywood Reporter)

Fasten Your Seat Belts: President Clinton truly wanted gays to be able to serve openly in the military when he took office in 1993. Will today's initial calling off of the dogs be the start of the fulfillment of that promise made on the campaign trail 18 years ago, or is it just the beginning of yet another major disappointment? (Boston)

Scandal Rag: You can thank novelist James Ellroy and his lurid masterpiece "L.A. Confidential" for inspiring Henry E. Scott's marvelous pop history "Shocking True Story," which details the rise and fall of 1950s scandal rag Confidential. The result is incredibly timely, what with TMZ and Gawker, and the National Enquirer's coverage of John Edwards' love child. Like it or not, these are gossip's glory days. (USA Today)

Cliffhanger: As we await closing arguments and a verdict in the federal lawsuit challenging Prop. 8’s legality, California state Sen. Mark Leno introduced a new bill that protects clergy who don’t want to perform marriage ceremonies that conflict with their beliefs. (SFBG)

Most Popular Films: We keep hearing about "Titanic" and "Avatar" being the highest grossing films of all time. But don't let the box office receipts -- adjusted or not -- fool you. WAY MORE people saw "Gone With the Wind," "The Graduate," "The Sting," "101 Dalmatians" and so on. It's the number of people that counts -- not the money spent on tickets. (USA Today)

Liberal Bellwether: Howard Kurtz tries to decide if there is a deeper meaning behind Jon Stewart's Obama barbs on "The Daily Show." "He's clearly become an important cultural arbiter," says Robert Lichter, director of the Center for Media and Public Affairs. "He's pulled off the trick of being taken seriously when he wants to be and taken frivolously when he wants to be." (WaPo)

Honest to God: While Stuart Elliott tries to make sense of the Tim Tebow & Mom Superbowl ad, I suggest we all just pray for the Big Gator to disappear into the Canadian Football League. (Maybe he can perform free circumcisions up there, too.) (NYT)

Miss Congeniality: The answer to the question could Sandra Bullock win the Oscar and the Razzie in the same year is clearly yes. What I'm not sure about is which of her crap films would win which. (The Envelope)