I am nearly two weeks late in changing my Office (from the TV show) calendar to September. This month’s person is Darryl. The calendar gives this quote from him. “I used to say I wanted to live long enough to see a black president. I didn’t realize how easy that would be. So now I want to live long enough to see a really, really gay president. Or a supermodel president. I want to see all the different kinds of presidents.”

I suspect that, in six years, kindergarten teachers will find a surprising number of kids with the names Michonne, Daryl, and Carl. All three are warriors, and somewhat Eastwoodesque in being killers with few words.

I am, of course, referring to characters in AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” a show Pam and I really enjoy.

Those three characters have emerged as distinctive and un-psycho. Merle, Shane, and the Governor are distinctive, but not guys you’d take home to Momma. Most of the women characters are just annoying (Lori, Maggie, Andrea) or invisible (Carol, Beth).

The old guys tend to be likable and sane–Hershel, Dale–but I don’t see parents naming kids after them. Glenn is coming into his own. Rick–I don’t know. He needs to come out of his funk, and it looks like that may be happening.

But Carl, especially with that great hat, is developing into a great character–kind of Eastwoodesque, a killer with very few lines. Daryl has always been a great character. And Michonne ia kick-butt samurai warrior. And Eastwoodesque too, now that I think of it.

I was happy to see Morgan appear in a late-season episode. I’m wondering if he’ll be sticking around. He could be an interesting guy to have around.

Carol and Axel

Toward the end of “The Walking Dead” last night, I was wondering which cast member would die next. Because nobody is safe. Shane, Lori, Dale, T-Dog–anybody can go next.

So there was a scene with Carol (who I had expected to exit long ago) and a former prisoner named Axel. I figured it would be either Axel or Beth, the daughter of Hershel whose character hadn’t been developed.

As I watched that scene, I decided it would be Axel. And WITHIN SECONDS, a bullet went through Axel’s head.

I decide…it’s done. Eery.

Advertising Age magazine picked the Top 10 Female Ad Icons of all time. Chronologically, they include:

• The Morton Salt Umbrella Girl (1914).
• Betty Crocker (1921).
• Miss Chiquita (Chiquita bananas, 1914).
• Rosie the Riveter (1943).
• Josephine the Plumber (Comet Cleanser, 1963).
• Mrs. Olson (Folgers, 1963).
• Madge the Manicurist (Palmolive, 1966).
• Rosie the Waitress (Bounty, 1970s).
• The incomparable Clara Peller (Wendy’s, 1984).

But I am most excited to see, on this prestigious Top Ten list, one of my personal all-time favorites: Flo the Progressive girl.

Are they missing anyone? All I can think of is Aunt Jemima and Mrs. Buttersworth. I think Aunt Jemima deserves to be in the Top Ten.

Back in 1999, Advertising Age did a list of the Top Ten Advertising Icons of the Century--man, woman, or animal. Aunt Jemima DID make that list. So she definitely should have been among the top women. That list was:

• The Marlboro Man
• Ronald McDonald
• Green Giant
• Betty Crocker
• Energizer Bunny
• Pillsbury Doughboy
• Aunt Jemima
• Michelin Man
• Tony the Tiger
• Elsie (Borden dairy products)

Roger Ailes, head of FoxNews, has a real thing for blondes.

He has three basic requirements for female correspondents and anchors:

• You’re blonde.
• You’re white.
• You look good wearing a very short skirt and sitting on an open couch, chair, or stool. (Because Roger’s certainly not going to put you behind a tasteful desk.)

Imagine two women sitting outside Roger Ailes’ office, waiting to be interviewed for a job at FoxNews. One is a blonde in a short skirt. The other is a brunette wearing…well, it doesn’t matter what she’s wearing. You know who’s getting the job.

Yes, you’ll occasionally see a Hispanic, and there’s Michelle Malkin to represent Asians. Roger Ailes lets them keep their dark hair. But with few exceptions, if you’re a white woman and your name is not Sarah Palin, he requires that you be blonde, or at least heavily highlighted.

I have trouble telling the FoxNews women apart. They all tend to look like Megyn Kelly.

Roger’s predilections apparently don’t bother conservative women viewers. Hey, he’s a powerful guy and a champion of conservative values, so he can hire whoever he wants. And the correspondents themselves don’t mind being objectified. Though I imagine it gets uncomfortable sometimes sitting rigidly on that couch, knowing you don’t dare move your legs until the next commercial break.

In the photo (click to enlarge): Some of the blondes over the years at FoxNews and Fox Business Channel. Row 1 (top row): Juliet Huddy, Ainsley Earhardt, Jamie Colby, Jill Dobson, Molly Hennenberg, Molly Line, Paige Hopkins, Ginger Williams, Nicole Petallides. Row 2: Dana Perino, Megyn Kelly, Molly Line, Alisyn Camerota, Lis Wiehl, Margaret Hoover. Molly Falconer, Alicia Acuna, Melissa Francis. Row 3: Martha McCallum, Jennifer Eccleston, Lauren Sivan, Jane Skinner, Sandy Rios, Janice Dean, Meredith Whitney, Brooke Alexander, Sandra Smith. Row 4: Courtney Friel, ED Hill, Ann Coulter, Gretchen Carlson, Marianne Rafferty, Elizabeth Prann, Lisa Bernhard, Claudia Cowan, Gerri Willis. Row 5: Heather Childers, Heather Nauert, Cheryl Casone, Donna Fiducia, Monica Crowley, Jenna Lee, Lind Vester, Rita Cosby, Louise Pennell. Row 6: Shannon Bream, Greta Von Sustern, Laura Dhue, Caroline Shively, Laura Ingle, Amy Kellogg, John Gibson, Glenn Beck, Steve Doocy.