Here’s amateur footage of the 2008 protest where Discovery hostage-taker James Lee threw money into a crowd, a stunt for which he was soon arrested and later sentenced to probation.

You know, Lee’s getting some really bad press just because he’s threatening to shoot people and/or blow them up. But someone should play devil’s advocate here. He hands out free money. He cares about the environment. He dislikes all the same TLC shows I do. Hell, most of the people at Discovery got the day off because of him. And the handful of hostages who didn’t will probably get the rest of the week off. Assuming they aren’t, you know, killed by the anti-procreation madman blaming cable TV networks for the decline of the planet. I’m not defending him, I’m just sayin’: no one’s ever handed me free money before.

[via The Daily What]

UPDATE, 5:05 p.m.: A police spokesman has confirmed that police have shot James Lee. His condition is unknown.

While the hostage scenario at Discovery Networks headquarters is still ongoing, more details are beginning to emerge about the gunman and his demands. James Lee (inset) was arrested, fined, and sentenced to probation in 2008 for throwing money into a crowd during a protest outside Discovery HQ. He’s in his early 40s and a native of San Diego who now lives in Silver Spring.

I’m watching cable news, and police have just given a statement confirming a small number of hostages and their ongoing effort to negotiate a peaceful settlement with Lee. Until we get more developments, let’s sift through Lee’s demands. His crazy, crazy demands. The short version: he hates “filthy human children,” “parasitic human infants,” war, civilization, and immigration. Likes: forest animals. Buckle up for a long, crazy ride:

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Ultimate Air Jaws / Into the Shark Bite (Discovery, Sunday) — These two one-hour programs kick off Shark Week. And you know what they say:

Rubicon (AMC, Sunday) — Series premiere. Yes, the premiere episode has already been shown twice, but AMC is going to show it again with the not-yet-seen second episode as a lead-in to “Mad Men.” I wasn’t completely wowed by the premiere, but I’m going to stick with it and hope that the slow build leads to a gratifying payoff. Kinda like taking your time when masturbating.

Best Food Ever (TLC, Saturday) — The punctuation for this show is all wrong. It should be “Best. Food. EVER!”

Pit Boss (Animal Planet, Saturday) — I wonder if casino pit bosses are upset that they’re being portrayed as dwarf ex-convicts who work with dogs.

Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, Friday) — Madonna and Harry Connick Jr are the guests, making this the can’t miss late-night show of 1990. Just the way CBS’s viewers like it.

Next Food Network Star (Food, Sunday) — The aspiring Guy Fieris cook for Eva Longoria. Nothing about that sentence is remotely enticing.

Ice Road Truckers (History, Sunday) — Featured this week: the truckers drive on icy roads.

Business Shark just wants Casual Friday to come around

Shark Week doesn’t start until August 1st, but Discovery Networks’ headquarters building in Silver Spring, Maryland is already decked out in honor of the channel’s biggest week, which will be hosted by Craig Ferguson this year.

The word on the street is that there will be six completely new specials on sharks this year — none of which, sadly, will feature Sharktopus. Personally, I’m still hoping for a game show where people win the right to throw cats into a shark tank. And if you think that sounds cruel, don’t worry, the cats are wearing fish costumes.

[more pics at BuzzFeed]

This is the cold open to last night’s “Late Late Show,” in which Craig Ferguson announces via hand puppet that he’ll be the host of Discovery Channel’s Shark Week this year. I always like hearing big news from hand puppets; it’s how I learned I wasn’t a virgin any more. Thanks, Uncle Jasper!

(image via)