East Coast 'Survivor' Update

Schoolyard pick. Survivors split into two tribes:
Casia (spelling?) -- Danielle, Shane, Courtney, Aras, Cirie, Bobby and Melinda
La Mina -- Terry, Sally, Austin, Misty, Nick, Ruth Marie and Dan

Odd man out not picked -- Bruce.
He's sent to Exile Island for three days. Immune at the next Tribal Council. At TC, he'll go and sit in, then replace whoever is voted out

Rewards Challenge -- for fishing gear, raft and 4 paddles
La Mina won

Tonight's (02-09) 'Survivor: Panama - Exile Island' Blogging Schedule

Once again, as important events on the show occur (deaths, who goes to Exile Island, any Idol finding, reward challenge, immunity challenge and the boot)... I'll be slapping up quick details here. If you're on the West Coast and like East Coast airing show night spoilers, this is the place for you.

Within moments after the entry here, entry links will be added to my Jackie's Survivor Blog/Web Links Reference

There isn't an immediate way to get notice of an entry, but you can check here or there during the time the show airs in the east. A hint -- sometimes the new entries don't show immediately on the main blog page, but if you hit the February archive in the sidebar, it will show.

Much later this evening, I'll be posting a full recap and would love to know your thoughts about the show!

Survivor fans ready?

Today's TV Newsy Bits - Feb. 9, 2006

Bits! Bits! Here's your television and entertainment related newsy bits for the day!

• CANOE -- JAM! Television: American Idol crushes Grammys in head-to-head TV ratings: Nielsen
• XM Radio Signs 3 Year Deal With Oprah Winfrey
• CNN.com - 2 charged in 'Curious George' slaying - Feb 9, 2006
• Original 'American Idol' Kelly Clarkson wins two Grammy Awards - Reality TV World - News, information, episode summaries, mes..
• “To Be Honest”: An Interview with American Idol Producer Ken Warwick
• Britney Spears: "I Made a Mistake" (What? Having a child in the first place? - I couldn't resist.)
• AOL Music: 2006 Grammy Awards Coverage -- Winners, Photos, News, Concerts and More

What? Sly Actually Showed Up?

I can't believe it. I taped the Grammy Awards show and haven't watched it all yet. Well, chances are that I'll fast forward through most of it so I can just watch the performances and/or performers I enjoy.

But when I saw the blurbs on the news about Sly (of Sly and the Family Stone) showing up, I had to go to the tape. Sure enough, there he was... looking like George Clinton designed his wardrobe and Mr. T did his hair. Yikes!

You have to understand, I was a child of the sixties. Sly burnt me when I was fourteen years old! Yes, he did! Don't get me wrong; I love his music. It's because I love his music that I got burnt.

Here's what happened:
I had saved my babysitting money and my brother (a year older) had some cash from wherever he got cash those days. We talked our mother into driving us about ten miles away to Albany -- Sly and the Family Stone were to play at the old Palace Theater there. The show was to start at 7:30, the neighborhood was a bit hinky. We got there at 7, bought our tickets and went in when they opened the doors at 7:15 PM. 8 PM came, nothing. 9 PM, nothing. The odor of marijuana wafted through the air and we made friends with the two aisles of folks around us. We invented a game where we'd tap out songs on the seat backs and guess what song. 10 PM, nothing. About every hour a man would get on the stage announcing the show was delayed, they were waiting for Sly to arrive.

Then midnight came. A priest, a Catholic priest, got on the stage and announced that Sly "got into an altercation on Central Avenue and will not be appearing tonight." He was surrounded by Albany police. We were to exit immediately and orderly. We had no choice. The Albany Police were there full force in riot gear with the plastic shields and all. Dang. What did they think we'd do? We'd been stuck in a theater full of marijuana smoke for five hours. We could be violent nappers, I guess.

I never got my money back.

Sly burnt me.

And left me stuck in a bad neighborhood past midnight on a school night.

Blogging 'American Idol' - Welcome to Hollywood

*These blog notes are typed as I watch the show and put up immediately following the east coast airing of 'American Idol.' Please ignore or, at the very least, forgive me for any typos, punctuation or otherwise errors. Thank you!

175 of the nation's top singers? Heh. I bet a lot of the real top singers never auditioned!
We open with Ryan explaining how the contestants chose one song from a list of 12. They'll have background singers and music. I see a lot of folks they never showed on the auditions.

Kellie Pickler, with the sob story about father in jail (blah, blah, blah), is being featured. She sings pretty well, but not perfect. Simon mentions her nerves. Kellie, a Hannah and some un-named girls make it to the next round.

Patrick Hall sounds good to me! Let's see if he makes it. The judges look happy. Randy wants him to work on his look. Simon says, "You're not Clay Aiken, but you're likable." He made the cut. Good. I think his voice is excellent. I personally don't find his image offputting at all.

Now they touring Hollywood, checking out the Hollywood Bowl.

Ronnie Norman, the Ego Waiter and the soldier guy who wooed Paula are going to be featured. Ohhh... I think Ronnie sounds hoarse. Neither made it. They don't take it well. Ronnie cries. Oh, well.

Lisa Tucker from the Denver auditions is on. I think decent. Onto the next round. Lots of Hopelessly Devoted contestants. "Some are more hopelessly devoted than others." -- from Ryan Seacrest. A cowboy sings it to Paula and makes the cut. He was good. Not sure American Idol with the way the audience votes good, but good.

Now the tour group is in downtown Hollywood.

Ashley Guademuz
Kymyata
Linella? -- all bad

Randy gives the contestants a pep talk.

Paris Bennet - excellent! Made it, naturally.

Now they're showing the trip to the beach in Santa Monica.

Taylor Hicks, the grey haired guy, is singing. I like his voice, but he is reminding me a bit of Joe Cocker. Simon says he's interesting. He made the cut!

Garet Johnson, the naive cowboy is being featured. Such a sweet innocent kid... seeing the ocean for the first time.

Into a bunch of turn downs with no names. Lots of tears.
Now the happy ones. End of Day 1, 40 made it through to the next round.

Whoa, despite the news releases, it looks like the Brittenum twins are indeed in Hollywood! I wonder what's going on with that!

Day Two - The ones who auditioned yesterday tour today and vice versa. Melissa Lucas is in Megan Zieger's segment as Megan has a sore throat and is worried. Yes, she's off key and hoarse. She can indeed sing... she tries again. She really tries. She's onto the next round.

Then excuses started. The tour group wants to know why Randy and Paula have a star on the Walk of Fame, but no Simon.

The Brittenum twins segment. They must go solo. Derrell is up. Simon doesn't think he's looking at the winner. Now Terrell. Could it be the other way around? They're identical twins with rhyming names. Ain't my fault. Hmmm... I like these two together, but singly I'm not thrilled. Paula mentions over the top. Both made it, so the news lies. Now they're dissing Carrie Underwood.

The promos keep showing Crazy Dave. If he makes the cut, I think I may have to go sit in my closet and sob.

(Sidenote, U2 is performing on the Grammy Awards now as AI is in commercial. Argh. I'm taping it.)

Gina Glockson, David Radford, Brett Ace Young, Kevin Covais all sining If I Ever Fall In Love again. All four make it through.

Joshua and Jarret Simmons, the Chicago twins are up singly. Paula is happy. Simon isn't thrilled with either. The cut? They didn't make it. Aw, they seemed like nice kids. Supposedly, the Brittenum twins will set them up with folks.

Back to the tour.

Back to the theater, thankfully. Now the Naive Cowboy Garet Johnson is about to go on stage. He's emotional. I liked him. He sang You Can't Fight the Moonlight. He makes the cut! He's thrilled to death. I like this kid!

What is this? The Brittenum Twins show? They're complaining about others who went on. Huh. Maybe they ought rate the contestants by criminal activities.

Near the end of Day Two... Chris Daughtry is doing well. He makes the cut. Mandisa Hundley is up, makes it. Katherine McPhee, wow! I think good! Makes it.

Crazy Dave Hoover is preparing to go on. Today, he's calm. His energy focused, he takes the stage. Honorable overlords, he calls the judges. He sings Bat Out of Hell. He's all over the stage including a leap at the judge's stand. They're laughing. He's gone, didn't make the cut.

66 hopefuls cut in two days. More tears.

99 are still in.The Group Song section will be next week. Hey, end this FOX! It's cutting into LOST! Make it go 'way for the night!

Jackie OUT!