Today's TV Newsy Bits - Feb. 15, 2006

Two bits, four bits, anyone want some bits? I mean those television/entertainment newsy bits links I found today out on the web. Of course. Really.

• CBS Dismisses Van Halen Rumors
• 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS, 9 PEOPLE, 1 BUNKER, 1 WAY OUT: "UNAN1MOUS"
• TMZ.com: News - EXCLUSIVE: Secret Terms of 'A.I.' Contracts
• This Week A Castaway Spends One of the Worst Nights in "Survivor" History
• NBC Announces Extension of "The Office" Season to May 11
• OrlandoSentinel.com: 'Idol' tops Olympics
• Goldblum set to ink for "Red" - Yahoo! News
• AOL News: entertainment tv articles - MTV Preps Three Docu-Reality Series

Blogging 'American Idol' - And Then There Were 24

These notes are blogged while the show airs in on the east coast and posted immediately to the blog at the end of the show. Please forgive typos, misspellings and whatnot. Especially the whatnot. Thank you!

Pasadena Civic Center is the stage for the one on three (three on one?) meeting where the judges tell each contestant yes or no. Lots of no. No(s) galore. Most so far haven't really been featured in past shows. Brooke Barretsmith was a no.

Katherine McPhee is the first one through to the 24 that they've shown.

Ace Young is through to the next round.

Not through - Antonio Bridges, (someone) Littlejohn is crushed -- she thinks her life is over. Robert Bennett, Jr. made it through. Mandisa commented that they may not have had a bigger stage, but could have gotten a bigger chair -- aimed at Simon. She told Simon that she forgave him even though he hurt her feelings. Aw, she and Simon hug and he's even humbled. Simon tells her she's on through the next round. He also apologized.

Melissa McGhee is through to the next round. Mark Adam Locklear didn't make it. Lisa Tucker (age 16) made it through. David Radford, the cutie lil crooner, makes it through. Jose Sway Penala's birthday is the day this was filmed. He makes it through. Elliott Yamin made it, too! Brenna (whose personality I don't care for) Gethers -- Simon seems to think the same as me "a nightmare to work with" -- but she makes it through.

We're up to 10 if I didn't miss any. Fourteen more will get in. The commercial is on now. I want ginger ale. Where's the beverage cart? Oh, wait. I don't have a waitstaff here. Sigh.

Marcy Smith, who doesn't like Brenna, is up next. She didn't make it. A parade of no-go. Gedeon McKeney is going through to the next round. Stephanie "Stevie" Scott makes it through. The basketball girl - Ayla Brown -- goes to the next round. Chris Daughtrey is stuck in the elevator. He makes it through to the 24. We're up to 14. And a commercial, of course.

Paris Bennett is jotting notes on who's made it. Rebecca O'Donohue, split decision, but she makes it through to the next round. Heather Cox and April Walsh -- no on April, yes on Heather. Bucky Covington makes it through. Patrick Hall made it (even though he's not as pretty as Ace). Kevin Covais makes it though! Now Paris is heading up. I know she will make it. So... she does.

Commercial break. Four places left, eight contestants to go. And, heh, there's shocking news about the Brittenum twins coming up. Well, we're not so shocked, are we? (Note originally posted about their arrests and that they were "uninvited" by the show.) I wasn't worried, but their personalities were really bugging me. Yeah, they can sing, but if I had to sit through watching them a season... well, I'd watch Animal Planet instead!

Now the twins. Bars graphics. They go into the court case. No longer in the competition. Yay, even though I knew it already.

Kellie Pickler is going to the 24. Taylor Hicks goes to the judges playing a harmonica. He makes it through to the finals. And sings! I like that guy! Kinnik Sky/Megan Bobo -- Megan doesn't make it, Kinnik does. William Makar and Syd Harcourt -- William makes it through. I'm surprised. I like them both. But I thought the judges would go for Syd.

That's it.

Today's TV Newsy Bits - Feb. 14, 2006

No buts about it; here's your bits! Here are the television/entertainment related newsy bit links I found while poking about the web today:

• TMZ.com: News - Shannen Doherty in Car Wreck
• TV Land Boldly Goes Where No Network Has Gone Before ... -- William Shatner in Concert...eek!
• Van Halen to be Next Reality Rock Stars?
• MTV.com - Movies - News - Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes Deny Split
• Travis Faces the Rejected Women on The Bachelor Special February 20th
• Cheney hunting accident triggers humor volley

'The Amazing Race' - Phil Keoghan Interview

I found this article online - National Ledger - Keoghan Glad 'The Amazing Race' Counters Negative World View - and thought he brings up some interesting points. Please be aware that if you read the entire interview, it contains a few destination spoilers for the upcoming season.

He mentions that folks tend to be frightened by the world at large, often thinking the United States is "safest" and other countries... well, aren't as safe. I beg to differ with a bit of his perception -- he mentions that being at JFK (Airport) not long after 9/11 was somewhere he felt scared. I'm local to the NYC area and, though that was life-changing for me on a personal level, I really don't walk around feeling unsafe. He goes on to say that often other countries aren't often seen in a good light and that's something 'The Amazing Race' has been able to show. I know from following the show and news items that other countries love it when TAR goes through. They get good publicity, money from the show itself for set up, etc., and hopefully tourist dollars down the line.

As for me, I've always loved to see other places, cultures I don't know much about and learn a bit. I'm not the easily scared type, except perhaps by strange icky foods. But I think Phil is spot on. We're in this world together and the more we can understand other cultures, the better for us all.

An excerpt:
"This is where our show has become more than just an entertainment show," he says, adding that none of the team anticipated the program would become so huge -- it's a hit in some 80 countries -- and have such an impact. "If we show a Muslim person giving money and help and showing concern for the racers that is very genuine, we're letting viewers see a reality they're not usually seeing."

I think that, besides the whirlwind excitement, one of the big draws for the show is that folks honestly love to see different places and learn smidgens about the folks in other countries. That's one reason I'm hooked. Why do you watch 'The Amazing Race'?

Blogging 'American Idol' - Hell Week (Hollywood Cuts) Continues

These blog notes are typed (or typo'd) as I watch the show and quickly put up after the show ends here on the East Coast. Please forgive any spelling errors, punctuation woes, fits of frustration, whatever! Thank you!


175 started, only 99 remain. Tonight is the group performance.

Orpheum, downtown Los Angeles. Personality clashes, someone named Marcie wants to cry. Ack. Terrell Brittenum. Sway went to bed. Terrell wants to rehearse. Fuss, fight 3 AM, Terrell goes for Sway. Marcie, Nick practice moves without Brenna. Dang, back to Terrell. I thought the Brittenum twins were supposed to be bye-bye. Why are they (or one of them) trying to run the show?

Now, Terrell is STILL upset come morning. Now Brenna is complaining that no one from her group called her to practice. There's no drama in some groups. Back to Terrell. Now he's arguing with his own brother. I really don't like their attitudes. Commercial break and then performances.

10 AM, crunch time. Judges settle in. First group -- Paris, Hannah Freeman. Paris makes it, Stephanie Scott goes on, Hannah is bye-bye. Not so so great. The 'Idolphonics' - Terrell's group up next. Anthony Hansen, Terrell, Sway (Panella?) and Elliot Yamin are up -- Better than the girls overall. Terrell is whining. Simon tells him he was terrible. Anthony is cut. Terrell goes through. Sway and Elliott go on. Now Terrell is dissing Anothony. @@

Apparently the drama will continue with Derrell after the commercial break. They can sing, but their people skills suck!

Now 3 PM? A lot not shown! Rat Pack - Kevin Covais, Josh Jordan, David Radford, William Makur are singing Take Me to the Moon. They did well -- all four made it through.

Derrell Brittenum up with others -- now he fusses when he got through. "My spirit has been broken." He's saying it wasn't the place for him and his brother. He quits the show and tells the judges he's taking his brother with him and they will finish cutting their record. He thought he was being cut? Terrell tells him to apologize. These guys are unreal. @@ <--- rolling my eyes at anyone in the world named Brittenum, guilty by association.

Brooke Barretsmith, Sarah Enquen and Mandisa are up, do well. Singing Band of Gold. All three go on to the next round.

4 PM -- lyrics written on arms. Mess ups... flubs and follies. They're not giving names, just misheard lyrics.

Now Tyra who quit one group wants to go back to the original one. The Try Hards - Lauren, Meredith Bandas, Leah Barretsmith and another... horrible. All sent packing.

Now a Barretsmith sister fuss cry.

Derrell and Terrell. Simon asks the crowd whether to keep him in. I'm fed up of your hissy attitude. I think this lot here is sick to death of you. I'll decide in thirty minutes." TELL THEM NO, do it for America, Simon. Please!

Celeste Scalone, Shontai K Sky, Tyra Schwartz , Nicole Turk UP. All make it.

Marcy Smith, Brenna Gethers, Brenna overdoing it. Nick Whitten. Cute ending. They're talking about the personality clashes. Nick goes on to next round. Both girls go to the next round, too. Then Brenna.

Cowboy group - Brokenote Mountain parody. Garet Layne Johnson, Matthew Buckstein, Michael Evans.. cute little film, all seem very nice. After the commercial we'll see the performance.

Brittenums. Ack. One twin apologizes. Both will stay. Grr.

Cowboys up. Not great, but funny. Garet keeps forgetting his lines. Simon says it was ridiculous. All three go home, not moved on. Aww. I know they didn't have the talent in the performance to go on, but they seem like a good bunch of guys. Garet will keep trying.

Day 4, 6:30 AM.
Singing alone accapella.
The judges meet alone to decide who stays and who goes. "Yes, no, maybe and weird."
Going to go tell them -- four rooms. No Brittenums! That room goes home. Simon tells them.
Room 2 - made it through - I see Sway and Mandisa.
Simon has to leave. Next two rooms.
A Brittenum Derrelland our gray haired dude - Taylor - they move on. Not sure which Brittenum.
Room 4 makes it. Both Brittenums. Argh.
44 make it through.
Eek. Brittenums hugging and crying. Tomorrow more drastic cuts.
I'll be here blogging it for you.
Jackie OUT.