Wednesday, May 26, 2010

American Idol Finale Rocks the House

I watched in fear and admiration as Bret Michaels sang with Casey on the American Idol finale. I know his doctors were probably aghast about him doing the show. He rocked and looked good, too. With all that's been going on with him, I've developed a new respect for the man. Well, a respect, I guess. I wasn't a fan of his at all until his Celebrity Apprentice days and his health battles.

What a night on the show! Not only would either Crystal Bowersox or Lee DeWyze be crowned the new idol, but it's Simon Cowell's final hurrah on the show. Rock stars from the 70s were dredged up from wherever they've been all these years -- Hall and Oates, Chicago, Alice Cooper, Joe Cocker, and more. Joe Cocker looked like a real pale Fred Sanford playing a pirate. Janet Jackson, Cristina Aquilera, and every contestant ever on the show. Well, some were missing. I didn't see Corey Clark there, did you? Paula and Simon reunited and it felt so good.

The real shocker other than Bret's amazing performance was that Lee DeWyze won. I've been on the Lee train since early in the show, saying all along that there was something about his voice I like. But I like Crystal Bowersox, too. I think she's very special and has an incredible voice. I thought it would definitely be a Bowersox win, but nope. Lee got it! They'll both do well in their careers.

You don't have to win Idol to get a career jump start from it. In local news here, Diana DeGarmo is now starring in Hair on Broadway. I saw the announcements for ticket sales for the Jordin Sparks concert tour this summer.

I'm going to miss Simon on the show and, while I'll give the next season a shot, it won't be the same.

What do you think of the finale?

PHOTO CREDIT: TMZ

Monday, May 24, 2010

LOST Alternate Endings from Jimmy Kimmel Live

Being who I am, I like the Jeff Probst Survivor ending the best --

"Sayid, the tribe has spoken."
"I didn't spend five years in the Republican Guard, get shot, get drowned in a pond, take a bomb to the stomach on a submarine ... just to get eliminated by Jeff [bleeping] Probst!"

Loved the Newhart ending, too!


Sunday, May 23, 2010

LOST - "The End" Series Finale Blog Party

Well, this is it. It's the series finale for a show which brought us both smoke monsters and giant polar bears. Will our questions be answered?

What better time for me to include various Lost logos made for us by Zoetawny over the past five seasons? Enjoy!

Jackie's TV Blog, Lost

Jackie's TV Blog, Lost

Jackie's TV Blog, Lost

Jackie's TV Blog, Lost

Jackie's TV Blog, Lost

Jackie's TV Blog, Lost

I won't be live-blogging the show because I actually want to WATCH it without typing or taking notes, but I will be piping in during some commercials, for sure. Everyone is invited to party and hang out in the comments section. It's BYOB and snacks!

So far they're each reminiscing about their characters. "If we can't live together ... (dramatic pause) ... we're going to die alone!"

Ah, I was right. The smoke monster only threw Richard Alpert. He's still alive.

No. Wait. Everyone's dead. Um. Okay.

Lost Series Finale as done by cats

This was too cute not to share --



Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - May 23, 2010

Another Sunday, another off TV topic look back at the week gone by in words and photographs I've taken. Tonight is the big Lost series finale. At about 7 PM ET, I'll be getting a post up for those who want to comment on the show. Since it's probably going to be the kind of show I seriously have to watch, not blog and watch, I won't be blogging it per se. But I'll be commenting during commercials.

Hmmm ... trying to remember the week. Huh. I guess nothing really exciting happened. It's strange with both The Amazing Race and Survivor finished up for the season. Letterman has been having on great guests for May Sweeps, but that will be over soon.

I almost got a snake photo this week, but he moved too quickly. It's amazing how fast they can go without legs. I didn't even notice him almost underfoot until he zoomed away. Oh, it wasn't a big snake, nor was it a dangerous snake. My guess would have been a small garter snake.

Work is still hectic. I really wish that would stop. Home life is still the same as it has been. Although the landlord lost the building and the bank took it over, we still have an inoperable elevator. Someone (don't know who) is still cleaning the hallways daily. Vincent and I still hear mice in the walls, but none have been caught by Vincent lately.

There have been a lot of shootings in my town lately. They've been concentrated on the other side of town away from where I live, supposedly some kind of gang war going on. No one has died, so they can't be too good with guns. It makes me appreciate my neighborhood all that much more, though. If fools driving into parked cars are the most prolific crimes in the 'hood, I guess that's not bad at all.

Onto the photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window.



Bird on a branch

Most of the dead tree the birds used to sit on came crashing down with high winds over the winter, but a bit remains. Of course, he's probably a sentry in the war against mankind. Bridgewater, NJ


Not a thistle

Nope, it's soft. It's a spotted knapweed. Sometimes weeds can be pretty ... even when they're classified as "invasive species."


Suspicious Acts, NJ

Next stop! Is the man suspicious? Or, could he be phoning in a suspicion? Maybe he's reporting ME! Aboard the NJ Transit Raritan Valley Line train waiting for a train to go by on the other track due to track construction, then we switched to their track. They were obviously more important than us.


So, what's wrong with these tracks?

Most of the wooden ties on my regular work route have been replaced with concrete-ish pieces. Taken out the window while at Suspicious Acts.


Heal

They really need to heal these billboards. It's odd that "heal" is just about the only word visible between the two. East Second Street, Plainfield.


Wet Bridgewater Bunny

He was just sitting there in the rain at the train station. Alas, my flash went off making his eye glow. I hate that.


Yeah, yeah ... it's still spring



Look! John Oates of Hall & Oates!

Er, maybe it's just a dude riding NJ Transit. People really shouldn't sleep near me on the train.


Still spring


Yes, I messed with this

North Street in Plainfield gets a clean sweep. I hear a new broom sweeps clean, yet they re-elected the previous mayor.


The Berckman Street Bunny

This is the rabbit I first started photographing last December. He's now on the other side of the street at the corner of Berckman and East Front. New people have moved into that house after it sat vacant for a while. They saw me taking pictures and told me that it seems to be living under the deck you see there. It comes to their door for food and munches their lawn.

They too think it was once someone's pet. If you compare it with the wild rabbit photo above, different colors, different face and ear shapes. Plus, he's HUGE. He has to be a Vincent and a half! Plainfield, NJ.


Yay, ticketed!

On East Fourth Street near Watchung Avenue, the garages have been parking disassembled cars on the street on whim. Two ticketed here. Now, let them ticket the vehicles constantly blocking the sidewalk at the same businesses. Across the street, the Plainfield Auto Body place is totally vacant and shut down.


In the sun under the moon while on a wire.


More weeds

I haven't a clue what these are. Growing along a fence on Church Street in Plainfield.


A Squirrel in the Sun

East Front Street, Plainfield


No, I won't pose! I want catnip!

Vincent is having a moment.

How was your week?