Madness Returns -- American Idol is Back

Y'know, with the exception of Melinda Doolittle, I've never bought anything from any American Idol contestants. Sure, some of the more successful ones have a load of talent, but often the songs they sing just aren't my cuppa. However, more power to them.

Tonight was the premiere of the eighth season. Yes, it's been that long. A new judge is in the mix. I'm a bit so-so about that although I liked Simon not being able to say the "aaa" sound in Kara (Care-ah). So he calls her Kara (Car-ah). Great. He'd call me "Jockie."

Since we're in the audition phase of the show, it's pretty much what we've seen before -- some horrible singers who think they can sing, some horrible singers who know they're horrible and just want to be on TV, and a gem or two along the way. Oh. We also had a girl who looks hot in a bikini. The jury is still out as to whether she can sing or not.

I tried to look at the show from another perspective tonight. I've decided I'd like to be on it. Um, no ... not really on it, per se. The production, the editing of the scenes, the decisions regarding songs in the background to enhance the happenings. The cheese.

Let me explain. This show not only has a built-in traffic maker with the teenage crowd looking for new teenybopper stars. But it's also very slick, well-produced, cleverly edited, and it's cheesy while doing all that stuff! I've always been a fan of cheese (not the dairy product so much, mind you). I enjoyed the days when Jeff Probst (Survivor) would leave the final tribal council on a jet ski, then arrive in NYC on the same one. I liked the old Batman television show. I adored David Letterman in the 80s. Cheese, zaniness, a bit of camp on the side and I'm hooked. American Idol does it all very well.

While I'd never want to be on camera and the world should never be exposed to my singing, I'd love to be behind the scenes on the show. I'd love to be the one to say "this song goes fantastic with this loser" or be the one to edit the reactions of the judges in perfect precision with off-key performances. Make it happen, FOX. No, I've never studied anything in film or production. But the contestants often haven't studied voice either. So ...

Did you watch? Your thoughts on Kara?

Monday, Monday

Baby, it's cold outside. Above I found some rabbit tracks in the snow. Below, it's one of the decorative kale taken this afternoon just before sunset. As always, clicking on the image will open it in a larger window. We had about four inches of snow followed by ice and rain Saturday night into Sunday. Now we're in a deep freeze with the expected high on Thursday to be about 10 degrees.


My Reality Clack column and Cold Case review are both up over at CliqueClack TV. Later tonight, I'll be posting a review of The Big Bang Theory over there, too. I know you all enjoy eating, so I should let you know that we now have a CliqueClack food site!

On television tonight, don't forget it's The Bachelor and we have the perfect meeting spot for you to hang out with your friends during or after the show. Make sure you go to the newest discussion post and, if you spill things, the mop is in the water closet.

Please try to stay warm, folks. Brr! (A cat or dog comes in real handy for added heat!)

Today's musical non sequitur:
Ice ice baby vanilla
Ice ice baby (oh-oh) vanilla
Ice ice baby vanilla
Ice ice baby vanilla ice
Yo man let's get out of here
Word to your mother
-- "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice
I couldn't resist!

TV Shows Continue the Return

Before I talk about TV, just a bit of off topic rambling! I found an ornamental kale not in my patch o' kale I've been photographing. This one is further along in the winter phase and to the point where it's often called snow cabbage. It has lost its color and is closing up like a cabbage. Also, I spotted Roofus the cat today. I was on the train home, but was going a few stops further to run some errands. So I didn't have my camera ready as I caught sight of him in his usual place just before sunset this evening.

Onto television!

I received a screener for the upcoming season premiere of The Closer (TNT) which I'll hopefully get to viewing on Sunday. It's set to air Monday, January 26 at 9 PM ET/PT. So if I don't get to it this week, next week will do. I also received another screener copy from TNT -- Gifted Hands, the Ben Carson Story. That one is a movie based on the life of Dr. Benjamin Carson, a man who became the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Childrens' Center. He also won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It looks quite interesting. I have more time on that one as it will air on February 7.

Closer to date --
This coming Monday marks a big TV night. 24 returns to FOX in a two-hour premiere starting at 8 PM ET/PT. The CBS regular Monday primetime line-up is all new episodes. The Superstars of Dance (which didn't really rock my socks) is new and two hours starting at 8 PM ET/PT on NBC. Of course, The Bachelor (ABC) is also new as are all the network shows in the 10 PM ET/PT slot, too.

On Tuesday, the madness which is American Idol begins with a two-hour show on FOX starting at 8 PM ET/PT. The Biggest Loser also has its season premiere at the same time on NBC. All of the other network shows are brand-spanking new, too. I see we have back-to-back new Scrubs running head-to-head against The Mentalist.

Wednesday has the entire primetime block on ABC taken up with Lost. However, the season premiere isn't until the following week. On FOX, American Idol has another two-hour show. NBC has crammed an old L&O: SVU in between a new Knight Rider and a new Law and Order. The CBS primetime block is all new episodes of the usual Wednesday night suspects.

On Thursday, CBS starts of with a CSI repeat, but then into new episodes of CSI and Eleventh Hour. NBC has all new Thursday episodes of its regular line-up. FOX has a new Bones, then the season premiere of Kitchen Nightmares. ABC is all new, too! Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, and Private Practice.

I'm still finding Friday a bit disappointing, but will post more on that night later on. And, mind you ... I didn't even go into the cable listings. Perhaps on Friday, I can watch some of the stuff I recorded earlier in the week.

What will you be watching or recording?

Time to be Lost Soon

Yep, yep! We've gone through our withdrawal and shows are coming back left and right this month. I gave up actually blogging Lost (and Heroes) because they're both too nitpicky and confusing to write up as I watch. I'm also not as enamored with them as I once was. But that's not to say I won't be watching when they're on! I found this little tease preview of Lost for you. The season premiere is Wednesday, January 21 at 8 PM ET/PT.

The Bachelor 2009 Blog Discussion Post

Here it is ... a new bachelor and a new season! The season premiere is January 5, 8 PM - 10 PM (ET/PT). Then it will just run an hour on Monday evenings. If you want to peek in at the official website, it's here.

However, this is your place to hang out with friends and discuss the show! Snacks and beverages welcome, comfy chairs abound.