AI Group ...2

Hands-down: Allison, Adam and……Norman Gentle….I just love him….

And here’s why

“Love Song”
Jasmine M - What a disappointment – wrong song, wrong key, just wrong

Cold Play song
Matt G -
I don’t like Cold Play but this was just weird anyway – frenetic, not him, another disappointment because I had liked him until this.

can’t remember her song – how’s that for forgettable
Janine V - I was completely distracted by the thought that I think she may actually be a drag queen. But of the first 3 she was the best – then quickly faded away…not good enough… and really hammy….I didn’t like that.

And I am Telling You
Nick M - I’m sorry but I just love this guy. Yes, I voted for him! And I’ve heard him sing better so the singing here was a disappointment. He really can do better. It’s ok to add in the silliness I think so long as the quality of your vocals is up there.

Alone
Allison I -
Holy Mackerel child, where did you come from?! She blew me away. Really really good. Can she sustain it week after week? We’ll see…

another song I don’t remember (man in the mirror)
Kris A - Yeah, I remember thinking the song was odd but also that I enjoyed his voice. Good enough to get through. Eh.


Put Your Records On
Megan C - I like this song, and for the most part she did a good job, cute, some weird dancing, and I agree with Simon, a little shouty in the middle. Now whenever I hear someone sing a song like this though, I have to ask – is that your voice, or are you channeling the original singer of this stylized song. The thing about this Corrinne Bailey Rae song is that it is bluesy ( a little Lady-Day-ish in her sound) and very restrained. Is that who you are? I think she could be a wildcard. And yeah, what’s up with the sleeve, man?!

forgettable song (if you can only see... Tonic)
Matt B - What’s up with the mediocrity and songs so boring that I don’t remember them today. I can recall thinking ok this is nice….NEXT! He’s a goner.

Bette Davis Eyes
Jesse L - What a stupid song. It is just not a singer’s song and you need that right now. She won’t move on, but she would have been interesting to hear.

oldie that I don’t remember
Kai K - .Just like Matt B – lovely background music, pleasant, but *yawn*…these people aren’t bringing their A game and I am completely perplexed.

don’t remember the song – AGAIN!
Mishovana H - She was OK – my ears weren’t shriveling up from the sound but just so so blah….

Satisfaction
Adam L - WOW WOW WOW – he’s got a lot of stuff wrong (weird hairstyle, kinda glam/goth, tongue affectation when he hits the big notes), but so much is right – he is hammy in the right way, he is very, dare I say it, Freddie Mercury – I love it!!!!

Winner - Allison & Adam, but my 3rd….Nick/Norman

I will refrain from choosing wildcards until is said and done… it’s too hard … well wait I’ll choose from Group 1 since they’re done: Anoop, Jackie, and yes, I do believe, Tatiana. And that’s based on the theory that it’s judges’ choice, which we don’t know yet. There’s some stories out there that are unconfirmed on how that group will be picked. So if it’s on votes, then my 3 wildcards would be different….(and in fact you could probably figure out if you watched the vote off show in the first place).Whaddya think?

Don't hate me because I'm right

Yes yes yes I know - my Idol predictions came true....what can I say? he Alexis Grace, Danny Gokey, Michael Roughneck (I can't remember his last name), all in.

So we watched Batman the Dark Knight with Heath Ledger last night and man was he good. My favorite Joker moment? When he was dressed like a nurse in the hospital with Harvey "Two-Face" Dent and just said "Hi" as if he were filled with chagrin. Awesome. It really was good. Dark and violent (definitely NOT for kids) but really good.

So let me tell you what happened with my cheesecake for the Batman's birthday. I followed a Paula Deen recipe instead of my tried and true one and it looked beautiful but when we cut into it. Yep, RAW. Ugh! I was so mad! Put it back in the oven for about another hour and just crossed my fingers that it wasn't completely ruined. It's ugly now but cooked and tasting fine. Shoulda stuck with what I know.

Anyone watch OC Housewives finale? Ok, so I knew all along because I read Gretchen's blog that Jeff died before they aired any of these shows. But man, these women are royal biatches, judging what she does, and saying the relationship isn't real. I can't wait to see the reunion - I hope she pulls someone's extensions out. I haven't watched my NYC housewives yet....shortly....while I am folding laundry...

Top Chef - Stefan, I've had with your smugness and it will be your downfall. My money's on Carla. You go girl!

Oscars tomorrow night and I'm considering making a conscious effort to watch more nominees and review them here. So long as an emotional journey isn't involved. that may leave Slumdog Millionaire out for me. Why can't Shrek be nominated? I've seen it a million times already. Oh well. *sigh*

AI Email-blog - Group 1

I am craving a coke and not sure why?????


Marilyn's predictions:
Winners:
Alexis
Danny
Ricky

Alexis and Danny totally nailed it!

I liked Tatiana, but I don't think she'll make it tonight-however
she'll probably make the wild card show in a couple of weeks.


Ladies and gentlemen, start your voices:

Jackie T - “A little Less Conversation”
DK: Wasn't horrible, never a fan of the low bending over, good energy, ave vocals at best – bye
KD – I am so frightened of her pants I can barely listen. I think though the tempo is too slow. A like that she did her own thing with it, but it actually turned out a little dark for me, kinda like if Jim Morrison came back from the grave and decided to do a remake of this song. I don’t think it’s gonna get her to the next round.

Ricky B - What the heck was that song? I don’t even know.
DK: Great voice, pretty tone, nice control - liked it
KD: He’s got an excellent voice but I don’t know if he’s got the star quality to get through. I think he’ll make the wildcard round.

Alexis G - “I Never Loved a Man”
DK: I wasn't a fan, thought she had some major intonation problems especially in the lower register - agree her look is much improved but just didn't do it for me. Paula seems slightly buzzed
KD: LOVED IT – she’s staying. She felt that song from her head to her toes

Brent K - “Hicktown”
DK: Not feeling it dog - but I don't like country, forgettable – bye
KD: TOTALLY FORGETTABLE – I agree with Simon. I thought if he wanted to do something like that he should have taken advantage of the background vocals that were available and done Boomtown’s “Boondocks

Stevie W - Some Taylor Swift song
DK: The beginning was a mess, I really like her tone but overall kinda a wreck - she's too young – bye
KD – AWFUL – lost her pitch, voice had no support, low range is just missing, couldn’t catch her breath. She’s a goner.

Anoop - “angel eyes”
DK: If you closed your eyes you would never guess that its a kinda dorky looking Indian guy singing this - he can really sing but I'm not sure he pulled this off. Very nice warm, pleasant tone. I've always liked him - we'll see
KD – UNSURE – I really like Anoop and have from the beginning because I think the tone of his voice is so pleasant, but this song was just boring. If you don’t have people on their feet and smiling in this round, you may be on the chopping block

Casey C - “Everything She Does”
DK: so off tune, bad, oh well - a great bikini model tho. Soooooo bye
KD – that was nuts. She’s so beautiful (like a little mini Kat McPhee) but dang she don’t sound like her. At one point, she was just opening her mouth and yelling aaaaahhhhh. Ew. Bye bye.

Michael S - “Lately” (I think that’s the name of the song)
DK: Great song choice, did a nice job. He's such a likable guy.
KD – I think he’s gonna be #3 through just simply because this was so enjoyable. And I love how he looks like a gorilla next to Ryan Seacrest on the couch.

Anne Marie B - “Natural Woman”
DK: Kinda boring at first but warmed up a little, technically good but no wow. (and where was the "ayoop" by the background singers early on?)
KD – NOT GOOD – I was so annoyed by how she pronounced “feel” and that was a killer for me. There was no “L” on the end of the word. It was a back of the throat guttural end to the word so it actually comes out “feegl”. See ya wouldn’t wanna be ya.

Steven F - “Don’t Stop”
Dk: sooo eh. forgettable, really poor song choice
KD – No please stop. It was just a-right for me dawg, if I may quote Randy. No fire, no excitement. I don’t appreciate that they didn’t follow through during the auditions on their “if you F up you’re gone”. Apparently not. Btw I notice that now Paula just copies whatever Randy AND Cara say. Greeeaaaat.

Tatianna - Whitney Houston song I can’t recall
DK: Even tho she is not likable her singing was technically very good, Maybe good enough - she definitely has a voice.
KD – I remember sitting there being surprised at her reserve. She is a very good singer. If she can tone down the over-the-top quotient we might get somewhere. Notice also that Paula had managed to replace the star ring that she gave Tatiana in Hollywood. I bet she’s got a closetful for her next QVC sale.

Danny G - “Hero"
DK: Excellent, technically perfect - great emotion - by far the best of the night.
KD – He is my favorite guy right now (and has been of whom I’ve seen). I wouldn’t be jumping out of my chair over this song like Randy, Paula and Cara, but it was really good. Plus he’s got a back story I think the producers just plain set him up last so he naturally makes it to the next round.

DK: So overall a pretty bad night:
KD - I agree – pretty mediocre night

DK's Winners - Danny G, Ricky B and (gulp) Tatianna
Karen’s picks – Danny G, Alexis G, Michael S

The day of which we shall not speak

Ok I was typing away and my stuff disappeared but I will recreate because I love you all and you're worth it.



Let us not mention what today is. I do not like to speak it's name or number. I am paranoid and superstitious and will remain that way, thank you very much. But I will feel better when it is tomorrow.



I do believe we have reached maximum joy, if that's even possible, with the reality tv right now. What's in my line-up? Survivor started last night, Amazing Race will start Sunday, we have OC Housewives going out but the ladies of NYC on their loud and fairly not classy way in, Top Chef is getting good, Hell's Kitchen is up and running, Paranormal State and Ghosthunters International have new episodes, Bret Michaels increased the skank quotient on his Love Bus threefold, AMERICAN IDOL NEED I SAY MORE, and then, to what do my wondering eyes should appear, but this magically dark and frightening cooking competition!

http://www.nbc.com/Primetime/Chopping_Block/
(sorry can't embed the video)

Was is das?! Chef Marco Pierre White hosts the Chopping Block????? I must know more. He made Gordon Ramsey cry?! The hell you say! Chef at the Yew Tree in England - oh I just read the menu and I must go now because they have one of my favorite things: a cheese plate with quince paste/jelly...oh how I love that....

Actually he's a fairly prolific chef with quite a career:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Pierre_White

So March 11th for that!!!



What else? So this low/no carb thing...I am starving all the time. I just ate 3 eggs plus a ginormous tomato and I am still starving. Would someone please tell me what else I can eat? I'm not losing any weight either. So my doc says, well are you exercising? I say yes - pilates, yoga, zumba, whatever I can get to with my schedule. She says are you doing anything weight bearing? I said I'm bearing my own weight, lady. Well then, there you go, says she. You need to do weight bearing exercise. UGH. Ok so first I starve myself. Nada. Jenny Criag. No luck. South Beach diet. Nuttin. Why? Apparently if i carried around more than a 25 lb baby, or at least carried him around while I was exercising then I'd be a size 4 again. Seriously? I might have to shell out for that nutritionist after all.



Now I know I am not updating you on reality TV why? I haven't caught up. Not even on Survivor. Damn that DVR! It is evil - I watch everything but what's actually on. I have decided that if I were younger, I would be Ryan's college girlfriend (he of the Penn State Paranormal Society), although I'm picking up some gaydar there. And of course that if I were a stripper I'd be on the Love Bus. I am reserving Idol thoughts until we have our first 12 contestants compete on Tuesday. Which it appears they are not doing the boy/girl thing; it's co-ed. Great. I was intrigued btw, by Natasha's make-up on the Love Bus. I hadn't seen anything quite like it.

why would you want to have this droopy dawg thing going on with the eyes? like a sad Halloween mask.

and in case you didn't know she is a) a porn star, b) an actual girl, not a man, although it wouldn't surprise me.

Until AI Tues.....smell ya later.....

American Idol Hollywood Baby!

So I'm getting a little caught up with things. I may even manage to bathe my chillens' tonight. Poor baby boy has molars coming in...NOT a good night last night. Well, I've had worse but still - he was very uncomfortable and I don't remember when it happened but bang! Two extra chillens in the bed with me and The Batman. I was having a convo one day with Dabba and Miss Thing about having their own rooms if we add onto the house, or that they could even have one ginormous room. Dabba got a brilliant idea: A HUGE BED! Then we can all have one room! I don't think so.

So let's see -

Rock of Love - tuned into see the Penthouse Pet fall off of the stage in a big way...and then Marcia went home. You know her - she of the tequila and porcelain god worship, then kissing Bret...ewww.....good bye!

Housewives of the OC - nothing really happened - Vicki was loud in Chicago ...oh wait though, Shane Keough is the biggest jerk. I don't even know how he has a girlfriend and treats people so awful and Jeana his mom just lets it go. I thought I had guilt, but this woman has so much guilt over her marriage and her husband's moods after a head injury that she lets the kids do/say ANYTHING. But even so, sometime don't you grow up and say "I'm not gonna act like this"?! I'll try to remember for the take-my-own-advice-department later - eventually Mom, it ain't you. Your kid is just an a-hole. But mine won't be. Only when necessary. ;)

Hell's Kitchen - yes! It's back! Too early for any judgements. I don't know why anyone signs up though for Gordon Ramsey to yell at them.

So now - Idol - First night of Hollywood and the judges were taking no prisoners! Groups basically re-auditioning, and if we don't like you - too bad!

Case in point - my friend here who (if you close your eyes) sounds ok - open them, and his face is way way frightening - he actually looks like he is scared while singing. Gone.

Norman! Why did you do it again?! This guy can really sing, but if he doesn't stop with the theatrics.... he really is better suited to the Great White Way, not AI. He's turning himself into a character, which just doesn't work for this. He sang a song from Dreamgirls for pete's sake. B'way audition, maybe, but not AI. But he made it through one more time. I just hope he can rein it in.

I, unlike the judges, was not excited by Lil Rounds' rendition of I Will Always Love You (which I have heard sung live by the indominatable Miss Dolly Parton FYI). To me, it was in tune and it was loud. That's all. But she stays too.

Perhaps he missed the auditions for High School Musicals 1, 2, and 3. Again - he lives to see another day, but I do not have any hope for him making it all the way through.

I am a huge fan of Robert Downey Jr and I had no idea that he could sing so great and was sorry to hear that he's a widower. Psyched that he is going through. I really like this guy.

Emily! Why did you change songs?! I was excited to hear "I Put a Spell on You" and instead she sang some wierd thing. Please please sing the other later, because I think you'd be phenomenal at it. And what is with the facial piercings, people?! Do your parents not tell you it's gonna leave a scar later?! Plus some of them just look like you have something stuck to your face that shouldn't be there, like an errant boogie or something. Please remove.

what happened little hippie girl? why so sad? cheer up buckaroo - you're through to the next round. but you better step it up - I liked her rendition of Dock of the Bay, but she very nearly phoned it in.

What can I say? First - I wish there were a photo of her insane outfit - what was that? It looked like she borrowed something from Zsa Zsa Gabor's S&M collection. I'm not even sure that was a dress? It was possibly a swimsuit cover-up made from a hefty bag and a black feather boa. Now, I have to say I find her doe-like eyes completely mesmerizing and when I have plastic surgery, I will take a pic of them to the doc and say "gimme these". But her singing - there is no musicality - there is nothing happening that says "I feel this song". She just sings. Period. I think her time is limited to only how long Randy and Simon want to look at her, frankly.

So, what's on the sched for tonight, you ask? Hmmm...first I get to go to the doc and wear a paper dress and listen to apologies for cold hands and icy medical instruments, then I do believe there is another Idol tonight. Yay! And also Top Chef? Housewives was new last night but I didn't get to see it. Yet.... My dvr is getting full and I gotta get caught up with Ghosthunters International and Paranormal State for crying out loud! A girl can only stay up so late... asta la manana....