I'm not finding the auditions this season as interesting as they were for me in seasons past. So i'm glad they're drawing to a close.
Right now there's a girl named Amy on the stage. She's good, but I don't think she's all that special.
Another voice from God church singer, Tiffany, is up next. I have bad vibes as they mock her intro with church music. Well, she yell-sings well enough.
Relationships betwixt contestants is the theme now ... a love triangle set to the theme from Three's Company. Twins Chris and Cory Lane, two of the love triangle, think they're some sort of rap moguls or suburban Eminems with no talent. They think they're white Brittenum twins. Blech.
Ah, but the girl of the trio comes in with an adorable puppy. Ashley is blonde and talks like Kellie Pickler. As a matter of fact, she reminds me of Kellie if Kellie couldn't sing. She doesn't make it at all -- Simon says that it was excruciating. She took her dog and skipped on out.
Caedin Lee McKinney is singing now. She has a big voice, but ... Simon thinks she's more theatrical than recording. Paula and Randy okay her, Simon nixes her. It's onto Hollywood.
A very pretty plus-sized model type is coming in -- she's from Hoboken and sang the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden. Very nice. Joanne defintitely could be a contender. Randy and Paula push her through while Simon says no. I disagree with Simon on rhia one.
Blonde Alesha (sp) Stelzl is on. Make her stop, please. Anyone who thinks they're beautiful and curls her eyebrows in public should be banned. No go for her. Simon called it dreadful and painful. Uh-oh, they told her to go learn a Dolly Parton song and return.
She learns "Islands in the Stream" and returns. Let's see. It's not as bad as first time around, for sure. I can't see her winning anything with it, but Randy and Paula push her through. @@
Weird audition times ahead. A stripping heavy girl and a potty-mouthed rocker. Then it's Jay Smoove. He thinks he's a;; that and he can do push ups. His real name is Joshua Moreland and he has his own song and pixie dust. Very odd, thankfully not scary. Simon sweeps up the pixie dust, but doesn't know how to use the broom.
It's a Simon is losing his mind segment. From where they are to names, he's lost it all. I'm glad he's not going for trying my name. A contestant from last year is back, Chikezie Ezie is up, Simon wanted to kill him last year but I don't remember him. He doesn't have a bad voice at all, but I can't see him being a huge star. But he makes it through to Hollywood.
Danny Noriega folded under pressure last year, but he's back. He could get the young girls in his camp I'm sure. He goes for the Tina Turner version of "Proud Mary." Randy loved the audition. All three judges say yes. Actually, he's someone I could see attracting an audience -- the Snajaya fans will love him and he has more talent.
So, the auditions are over.
Yay.
It's onto Hollywood next week. 164 made it through and instruments and drama are around the bend.
Here's the video of today's The Early Show Big Brother 9 segment.The photo gallery of the new house is on the official website, too! I like the firepit!
Yes, the reveal took place on The Early Show and the official CBS website is up and running with images and bios for the new hamsters!
I'm not all that keen on the soulmates theme and the almost all white and in their 20s cast, but bring it on! I apologize for the repeat of the pictures, but since more information is out and about, I want to give you my take on them and hope to hear what you think of the latest cast.Here's my quick take on the cast:
Adam -- Oh, although listed as from Florida, we have a Jersey boy here. He has to have some kind of smarts (although being intelligent isn't always a winning trait in the BB house) -- he has a master's degree in fashion design/marketing.
According to his bio, he's close to his mother and likes aggressive women. I'm sure a shrink could have some fun with that, eh? He supposedly talks a big game with women and considers himself a Casanova type. Oh, great!
He thinks himself stylish and trendy. He also boasts his own clothing label (which is totally unknown to the masses at this time). I don't know how thrilled I am with Adam so far.
Amanda -- I wasn't aware that there's a Winona, Minnesota. It kind of has a ring to it, kind of rolls off the tongue. Oh, she's a legal contract specialist for a large health care company. With impending knee surgery, I'm all too familiar with health care issues -- but maybe she'll spill some of the red tape beans!
She's the one on The Early Show who thought she would stun folks with her good looks and they wouldn't realize she's smart, too. I'm generally not one to base anything on looks, but she brought it up first. I don't think she's a stunningly beautiful woman.Then again, she has two cats. So, that's in her favor. My jury is out on her.
Alex -- Okay, here's my local yokel as I'm not far outside of Staten Island, NY. If memory serves from watching The Early Show this morning, he has the accent. (I don't have the local NYC/NJ accent, thankfully.)He has a rather unusual upbringing. He was raised by his single mother, his father came into his life while he was in high school, then he lost his father on 9/11. He's working on his second master's degree, so the kid ain't no dummy.His favorite movie is The Wedding Crashers. Hmmm ... it's an all right choice to watch, but favorite? He says he's a true romantic looking for the right girl, so he's not one planned for a gay coupling on the show. Too bad he's still a child!
Allison -- Ack, an Allison on Big Brother! Bad flashbacks! Bad flashbacks! At least she doesn't spell it with one "L" and she's a brunette. But, still. I would like to call a moratorium on women named Allison on the show. Alison's voice on the feeds still shrieks through my head!So far, this is a well-schooled cast with all having at least a bachelor's degree, far better than some casts in the past with drifters and ne'er-do-wells. Oh, wait. She has the same job as April on BB6 -- pharmaceutical sales rep!
Supposedly guys like her, women hate her, she's a well-traveled person to whom people gravitate as she captures the attention in any room. Uh-huh, we'll see.
Chelsia -- Not the average spelling of the name and it's going to be tough to keep from typo-ing Chelsea. I will try my best. She doesn't have her degree yet, but is expected to study in Austria in the fall, so the winter BB is perfect timing for her. Will a half-million help with her college loans?
Aw, she has a cat named Pugsley. How cute is that? I'm not too entranced by his music choices (Tool and Marilyn Manson), but her TV show and movie choices are decent.She's a tattooed and pierced kind of woman. She claims she's had EVERYTHING pierced. Ouch. She likes older men (and they won't be all that much older with this cast) and wants to sell Harleys. She might be very interesting to watch.
Jacob -- An ex-Marine (some of the cast may be looking for a few good men), Jacob attended elementary schools in both San Diego and Japan before settling in Maryland, then North Carolina. The guy apparently gets around, eh?
He's apparently still a bit smitten with his ex-girlfriend although he's trying to move on. It's hard to move on when he has a tattoo of a symbol she made, though.
He thinks he's funny, energetic, and caring. Although he's not really striking me as the epitome of a BB winner, I think this kid might do well. Something is telling me he'll get along fairly well with the other houseguests and, if he does, he could go a long way in the show.
James -- Now, here's the ultimate drifter, perhaps ne'er-do-well, for the show! He's definitely the odd duck and his appearance on The Early Show brought back memories of the Joe hype last season. "Oh, I'm so crazy and funny! Look at me! Look at me!"
He's a high school graduate bicycling across the country with absolutely no money. He says he learned to get attention by being different. Ah, yes ... an obvious attention-seeker. He wore costumes to school when it wasn't Halloween and was known as the "school freak."
He might be entertaining to watch in the house, but I get the feeling that he might be incredibly annoying and over the top for the other houseguests. He was once engaged to an older woman, so he might be targeted to be the soulmate to Sheila.
Jen -- A typical career for the reality television generation, she's a bartender. She's a fun and crazy party girl who's bounced from one relationship to the next. Perfect fodder for the BB scandals!
She has a teaching degree and claims it's a job she loves and misses. I'm not too sure whether being on BB9 will enamor her with educational institutions. I guess it depends on how wild and crazy she is.She thinks she's beautiful and boast tattoos and piercings. Her favorite activities include shopping and tanning. Now, perhaps it's wrong for me to judge her before I get to know her on the feeds, but ... can you say bimbo?
Joshuah -- I hope he's called Josh as I know I'll spell the name wrong and lose the "h." He's good-looking. He's gay. Why am I not surprised?
Before coming out he played high school football and had longterm relationships with women. His family has never forgiven him for sleeping with his sister's cheerleading coach thus ruining her cheerleading career -- the scandal which brought him out of the closet.
He's an exhibitionist (which should be great for the feeds), considers himself a bi-sexual, and doesn't care what others think of him. The latter could be the kiss of death on the show if he's too off-putting to the other houseguests. He's scared of snakes and believe they're the spawn of Satan. Hmmm ...
Matt -- He's an only child whose father died when he was nine. He's close to his mother. He thinks he's the "ultimate competitor" and was on Couples' Fear Factor three years ago (losing).
He has a Boston accent, and a "ripped body." He also thinks he's the "biggest liar/sweet talker that America will ever meet." Like several other houseguests this season, he has tattoos and a turtle. (Where are these HG getting all the turtles and why? This is like the third or fourth one with a turtle or turtles. Is there a movement going on that I don't know about?)
He's a New England Patriots fan. Bwahahaha! I hope he got the news while in sequester! I think he might think too much of his keen abilities to play the game of Big Brother.
Natalie -- A religious bikini barista who carries her Bible wherever she goes. Well, well, well ... yeah, I find that a bit incongruous, don't you?
She can make any coffee drink imaginable, I like that. She does it in a bikini. That I could do without, but it could be just me. Sex and coffee isn't quite the same as sex and candy, eh?
She doesn't have a turtle, but has two cats and a Jack Russel terrier. What do these folks do with their pets for three months? She seems to think she's too sexy for her shirt, so sexy. I don't know. I realize there's a market for sex, but I'm not so keen on her thrusting her chest at me. She wants to open a mermaid art store. Okay ...
Neil -- Another good-looking gay guy. While he's studied criminology, criminal justice, political science, and business management, he hasn't earned a degree. (I recall my days of wanting to be a professional student, but you can't make a good living at it!)
He's close to his mother and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a modeling and acting career -- perfect aspirations for a future reality television "star," huh?
He's athletic and thinks he's loyal, outgoing, and energetic. Ho-hum. Another pretty face, methinks. Let's see if he has any pizzazz in the house!
Parker -- Oh, my. That hair. He's definitely not the man to sit behind in the movie theater! Parker's the only person of color in this rather bland and colorless BB house. That actually might work in his favor dependent on his personality.
Oh! Oh! He's a member of the TMZ paparazzi -- a proper paparazzo kind of guy if there is such a thing. I can see TMZ having fun with this during the season -- one of their homeboys in the house.
He's proud of losing 45 pounds (kudos to him) and thinks he's inappropriate, unpredictable, and authentic. While it seems like another cry for attention, I guess that's the sort of people who actually go into the house. I think he might be interesting to watch on those late cold winter nights.
Ryan -- What's this? Another professional student? 27 and still studying for his bachelors in economics and business. Maybe I'm old school, but it seems that age should be out in the business world, not still pursuing an undergraduate degree. A masters or doctorate, yeah. But ...!Another center of attention kind of guy, Ryan thinks he's loud, stubborn, opinionated, and sometimes a troublemaker. Well, if he goes overboard with that persona, I can see the other houseguests quickly throwing him under the bus after Dick's win last season.
He has a pit bull and he's the second HG with a September 16 birthdate. Hmmm, does it mean something? I don't know.
Sharon -- A military brat who considers herself spirited, lively, feisty, and dramatic yet sweet. Well, that's a lot going on for her, I guess.
She's currently single, but has had a 12 year on and off relationship. 12 years?!?! Dang, she was 11 when she started the relationship! What kind of relationship can you have when you're 11? Wait, I might not want to know.
She also thinks she's loud and over the top. Yes, apparently another one who enjoys the attention spotlight. she has two cats and a dog. Her favorite activities are talking (yes, so she says), drama, and tanning. She's blonde. Oh, I don't mean anything by that. I'm just sayin', that's all.
Sheila -- The sole "older" person on the show. She's 45 and none of the other houseguests have even hit 30 yet. She's not quite representative of the over 40 crowd at large, though.
She's a former Penthouse Playmate of the Year and lived with Bob Guccione in his 35-million-dollar home for ten years in the 80s. She had the high life, although that seems past news these days.
She says she has a temper and yells and cries when she's angry -- always good live feeds drama fodder. She stands up to those who try to intimidate her and shows a good front even when she's scared on the inside.
How will she fit in with the children in the house? I guess we'll see soon.
The devil went down to Georgia tonight.
Ryan Seacrest's parents showed. No, they didn't audition.
Josh Jones is up first, he's a glass guy. How interesting ... he has a passion for glass. Rather odd eyework, but he turns around and Randy and Paula get jiggy wit' it. Simon isn't thrilled, but the other two pass him onto Hollywood.
JP was Carrie Underwood's audition buddy back in 2004. She was two people behind him. People tell him he has a star quality. I'm just not seeing that, not at all. Nope, not hearing a star quality either. Buh-bye. "My pen has more charisma," says Simon.
Onto a bit about the fickleness of Paula Abdul. She's beginning to remind me of someone I know.
A girl whose dad passed away in a car accident as she went to the audition (how much more of a sob story can we have?). She looks like she may have talent, so let's see. Asia'h Epperson is her name. She is talented and makes it through to Hollywood. Paula is in worse shape than the girl.
Georgia peaches and Southern Belles. And, mostly blonde, of course. Um, do you think God cares who makes it through to Hollywood? A pageant girl who's been at it since she was four is ready to sing. Brooke Helvie. Well, not all that bad. She's through to Hollywood with all three judges' approval. Simon was hoping she wouldn't sing well because she's so annoying. Me, too.
Bad audition run time.
Southern inhospitality is within Eva Miller. Oh, they say attitude in the beginning of the bit. But I think it will get nasty. Whoops, she fell and Simon said it's an act. I agree. Now, here's one who just wants to be on television. She claims it's "not no joke." She has a crush on Simon. She's teary and defiant. Aw, she gets a hug from Simon. She doesn't make it, rips her paper up, and stomps.
Alexandrea Lushinton (sp?) sings "My Funny Valentine." I like her. Heck, I like her 93-year-old grandmother, too. So do the judges. Onto Hollywood!
Nathan Hite, a smart-alecky high school kid is planning to roll with the punches. He's not good. So not good. Simon calls it a bedroom audition. I'm glad I'm not the kid's teacher.
A punk goth something biker nurse is up nect. Oh, she thinks she's cool you hep cats. Will they dig it or not? She goes for a Janis Joplin song. She sneers. She goes for "Playin' in an American Band." Randy loves her, so do Paula and Simon. She's through to Hollywood.
They only did one day in Atlanta and it's drawing to a close. A living in his car kid is going to be the last. He doesn't call himself homeless -- he loves living in his car. (yeah, see me again after 20 years of it, kid.) Josiah Leming, sings a song he wrote. He sings with a British accent. Odd for a kid from the South. Three yesses. He's through to Hollywood.
20 golden tickets were given out in Atlanta. Tomorrow night is Hollywood or Bust, a collection of various auditions.
A dilapidated shack near the Netherwood (NJ) Train Station. They lie. There's no riding academy and indoor track ever coming!
In today's TV Newsy Bits --
- I wrote an article with BB9 news for TV Squad yesterday but it was just posted today. Apparently, according to Jokers, the new promos for the show are saying 16 houseguests instead of the 14 previously said. I haven't personally seen the new commercial yet.
- I think I forgot to mention an article I wrote about TV judges there for the end of last week. And, tomorrow morning there should be an Animal Planet article I wrote published. (Yes, I get around the dial, eh?)
- There's some new programming on tonight -- FOX has a new Prison Break followed by a new Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles; the new series Welcome to the Captain makes its debut at 8:30 PM ET/PT on CBS and new episode of The New Adventures of Old Christine returns at 9:30 ET/PT; NBC has new episodes of American Gladiator and Deal or No Deal taking up the entire primetime block; ABC's primetime is all new -- Dance Wars, Notes from the Underbelly, and October Road.
- Jeff Probst spills a few beans in an article about the new Survivor: Micronesia over on Reality News Online.
- Piers Morgan wrote an article for a UK outlet about working with Lennox Lewis on The Celebrity Apprentice.
Today's musical non-sequitur:
But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep;
I couldn’t take one more step.
-- "American Pie" by Don McLean
* February 3, 1959 is the date the music died -- Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens killed in a plane crash. No, I don't personally remember it, though I do know the music.
I didn't plan on watching the game. I'm not all that into football. But the local hype kept nagging me. I didn't watch the entire game -- I saw the Giants score early on, then watched some Law and Order on USA. Then I flipped back intermittently only to see the Patriots hold a lead forever. Then, surprising myself, I watched the entire 4th quarter. Wow, what a nailbiter! The Giants scored within the last minute or so and ...The NY Giants have won Super Bowl 42!I predict the trains will be a bit rowdy in the morning.
Meow. No, I didn't do the dirty deed. I just took the photo. Meow.
Happy Groundhog Day! Yes, that "famous" groundhog in Pennsylvania saw his shadow, ducked back in the hole and thusly predicted another six weeks of winter. I think that since I'm close to Staten Island (a borough of NYC, but so not Manhattan), I'll go with Staten Island Chuck's prediction. He declared winter over. While we haven't had much of a winter. I personally don't mind a pass on this winter. Thanks, Chuck!
Now, I hear rumors that there's a groundhog in Trenton in on the forecasting gig, but I don't know what he did. But I was thinking ... what if there was a groundhog in New Jersey around where I live? I can see it now, he emerges from his hole and ...
- Says, "How ya doin'" (No, it's not a question. It's a greeting.)
- Flashes his gang signs while wearing colors.
- Asks for a ride to the mall.
- Wants to go down the shore.
- And can't give an accurate weather forecast because the voices in his head are confusing him.
Here are today's TV newsy bits:
- For those of you who aren't watching the Super Bowl tomorrow, there's the The Closer marathon on TNT, Animal Planet has the Puppy Bowl (with Kitty Halftime) slated, Comedy Central has a Scrubs marathon, VH1 has the Celebrity Rehab thing going on, and Bravo has a Law and Order: Criminal Intent marathon.
- Go Giants! Let it be 18 wins and one giant loss for the Patriots, please. But I can't watch a football game all the way through -- I'll peek at the score now and then.
- David Letterman had Paris Hilton on the show last night. Unlike the last time when he really went too far with the jokes about jail (you could see she was getting upset), all is hunky-dory between the two once again. Paris also seems to have left a lot of the wildness behind. Hopefully she won't ever be in the position to be behind bars again.
- Reality TV Calendar (whose pop-up ads are SO annoying) has an article with rumors about Big Brother 9. I expect the cast will be revealed early this week.
- TV Squad will be embedding and running commentary on the Super Bowl commercials tomorrow night. (No, it won't be me -- remember ... although I want the Giants to win, I'm not into football. I like the commercials, though.)
- Richard Hatch's appeal of his tax evasion conviction was denied.
Today's musical non-sequitur:
I've been through the desert on a horse with no name
It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
-- "Horse With No Name" by America
Of course I missed the first hour due to Lost, but ...
... the women finally won a task to do with Croc shoes!
Apparently Piers sent Vinny to go spy on the women and he helped them because he wanted them to win.
In the boardroom, Vinny tried to resign from the show saying it wasn't a good environment for him. It's actually Piers who's the problem for him more than anything else.
Vinny resigns and Trump accepts the resignation. Piers sweat it out as Stephen Baldwin and Trace said they'd rather Vinny stay. Only Lennox wanted Piers to stay.
Buh-bye, Vinny. I'll have to watch the first hour I recorded because this is all a bit confusing.
Finally, after last night's convoluted subtitled repeat of "The Looking Glass" episode and the recap show "Past, Present, and Future" -- it's the new episode! And graphic artist Zoetawny made me a new logo for the show!
The present day mainland Hurley story--
Jack is watching television when he sees a car chase being covered ala O.J.Simpson. It's a '70s model Camaro and, surely enough, it's Hurley being chased by cops and helicopters. When the cops capture him, they know who he is and think someone he saw in a convenience store spooked him. After all, he's one of the Oceanic 6! (Only 6?)
The cops question him -- one cop knew someone on the plane. Oh, Ana Lucia. She had been the cop's partner. Hurley denies ever knowing her. What's up with that?
Hurley watches himself on the tape but then turns to a fishtank. He hallucinates someone swimming towards him and breaking in. It's back to the nuthouse for him.
Back in the hospital, Hugo has a visitor. Why, it's Major Daniels from The Wire! Er, an attorney for Oceanic Airlines on this show. He offers Hurley an upgrade in hospitals. Hurley turns him down. He reminds Hurley he's not fine and in a mental institution. He had no ID and then asks Hurley if "they" were still alive. Hallucination?
Charlie? Charlie's visiting Hurley in the hospital? Yikes! It was Charlie in the store! Charlie tells him that he's both dead and here, slaps him to prove he's real. Charlie tells him that he knew he'd die when he went on his mission down in the Looking Glass. He wants Hurley to do something. "They need you. You know they need you." He vanishes.
A clean-cut Jack arrives to visit. He's supposedly back to surgery. Jack tells Hurley the reporters are leaving him alone, but he still gets asked for autographs. He tells Hurley he's thinking of growing a beard.
Hurley thinks that Jack is checking to see if he's nuts or was "going to tell." Hmmm ... Jack goes to leave. Hurley tells him he's sorry he went with Locke, should have stayed with him. "I think it wants us to come back, it's going to do everything it can..."
"We're never going back!" says Jack. "Never say never, dude," Hurley replies.
Meanwhile, on the island
They're happy to be in preparation to be rescued. Jack tells Kate that if Locke comes back, he'll kill him (for trying to stop them from leaving and attacking Naomi). Sun and Claire are talking babies. Apparently they don't realize that Charlie died in the Looking Glass. Hmmm...
Ben wants Rousseau to take Alex and stash her. She tells him that Alex isn't his daughter.
Hurley tells Bernard about his winnings, then it's off to do a cannonball.
Yikes! Desmond comes ashore to stop them from contacting Naomi's ship only to find out that they already did. And Hurley finds out Charlie is dead.
Jack is talking to the "rescuers" but getting interference. They want to redo the radio settings and ask him to put Naomi on. Instead of telling them she's dead (by Locke), Jack tells them she's getting firewood. Then he heads to Ben at a tree and asks "where is she?" Naomi, that is. She;s not dead after all.
Sawyer, Jin, Hurley, Sayid, Desmond don't want to tell Jack the boat wasn't sent by Penny and raise suspicions. Uh-oh.
Jack, Rousseau, and Ben go off to look for Naomi. Kate thinks she headed west across the island. Kate seems reluctant.
The Know About Charlie and Naomi Crew arm themselves. Hurley looks determined. The crew is walking in the dark. Now Hurley's alone and my TV is digitally pixeling out on me. Whispers. An uh-oh, a commercial.
The blood trail of Naomi ends. Ben is snarky. Ben tells Jack that Kate took the phone when she hugged him and probably followed the right trail to Naomi, too. Sure enough, she's following the trail. The phone rings, so she answers it. She tells the guy on the other end that she's looking for Naomi ... who drops out of a tree and demands the phone from Kate with a knife to her neck.
Naomi talks to George (the guy on the phone), tells him she's hurt, had an accident. "Tell my sister I love her." Dies.
Hurley got separated from the rest of the crew and comes across Jacob's shack. He looks in the window. A face looks out at him! He runs! And there's the homestead place of Mikhail, the door opens. He thinks it's a hallucination and falls over. It's Locke.
Locke asks how Hurley got separated from the group and why he was shouting for help. Locke questions Hurley about the "Not Penny's boat" message on Charlie's hand. Locke wants to to get Jack to believe them so Charlie didn't die for nothing. Hurley meets back up with his crew and Locke comes along.
Sayid wants to know why Locke destroyed the submarine before he accepts his help. Aw, it's reunion time. Everyone but Charlie, that is. Hurley goes to Claire. Cries, tells her that Charlie's dead. They both cry. Locke, Desmond, and Sayid look pensive.
Jack punches Locke to the ground, then tries to shoot him, the gun isn't loaded.
Sawyer and Sayid yank Jack off oh him. Locke defends his actions saying everything he's done has been in their best interest. Kate arrives, gives the phone to Jack, and tells them that Naomi is dead and covered for them. Locke tries to convince them to come with him so they can live. More crying for Charlie. Hurley tells them the last thing Charlie did was warn them that the rescuers in the boat aren't who they said they were.
He tells Jack he won't listen to him, he'll listen to his friend Charlie. "Anyone else?" Locke.
They all start to go with Locke. Ben asks Jack's permission to go with John Locke. "he's all yours," Jack tells him. Rose refuses to go with Locke. Kate confronts Sawyer about going. He tells her he's survivng. The rain starts.
The groups seem to be about half and half, those awaiting a bad rescue and those hiding.
Kate and Jack awaiting rescue in a storm by the fuselage. A helicopter! A parachutist! The music heightens! It's someone I feel I should know ... "Are you Jack?"
And that's it. Who the heck was that guy who parachuted in? Dang. They have too big of a gap between bizarre seasons. I wonder how there are only six in the Oceanic Six, yet Hurley's there and he wasn't with the group awaiting rescue. There were more than six in the group with Jack.
I'd imagine the big secret they're so concerned about would be the rest of the people left behind on the island.
The show has started and they want us to think it's all going to be hot action in Miami tonight.
Shannon McGough is slated to be the first featured audition. She knows how to belch and reminds me of a flapper girl from the '20s. She handles meat. And she screams. Not sure what's going on with her, but I hope she doesn't make it.
Phew. She's out of there and it's a shock to her and her family. Poor deluded folks.
Robbie Carrico, an ex-boy bander, is up. They didn't say what boy band and I'm not all that familiar with the more obscure ones, but he can sing. He makes it.
A bad audition run of guys follows a good pretty girls clip.
Ghaleg is up. He's crashing into love. He wrote the song himself. Simon thinks he'd like Ghaleg or is it Ghaleb if he (Simon) was drunk. Paula brings up his accent but says he has talent. Randy says yes just to counteract Simon's no and make Paula decide. Say what? He's going to Hollywood? Now that's bizarre.
Uh-oh. Two rather heavy girls of color are up. They like men. But can they sing? Corliss Smith sings first. She's not bad. Randy has fallen into her trance. Oh, my ... Randy has patent leather red shoes on. Brittany Wescott (?) sings next and gets the judges all happy. Simon says yes to them both, so does Paula ... and then Randy. They make it through to Hollywood!
A sob story from a girl who became a single mom at 18 after her man left her, Suzanne Toon -- takes the stage. She can sing. She's blonde ... sort of. I think she has pretty eyes. She makes it through. She seems to be playing the sultry single mom card.
Filipini-American girl Ramiele Mulabay goes for "Natural Woman." Not so bad. I didn't expect that. Simon thinks she's good, but more like a hotel singer. Simon says no, but Randy and Paula knock her through to Hollywood.
Onto the second day ... Randy is wearing a purple blouse, hopefully without bright red shoes.
It sounds like the next contestant has read THE SECRET or something -- positive thoughts result in positive outcomes for her. She has a father who struggles with substance abuse, but it's not so much a sob story as one of recovery and love. Aw. Syesha Mercado goes for an Aretha song. She's cute, perky, and has a big voice. Once again, Simon doesn't like her so much. Randy thinks she's one of the best so far in Miami. All three judges say yes.
A streak of good auditions follow -- two girls make ti through.
But how are the guys doing? Not so hot. We see sme clutching golden tickets, but only hear the whacked out. One sings through his nose.
A girl from the top 20 in American Juniors four years ago, Julie Dubela, goes for "Me and Bobby McGee." She's no Janis, not even a Kris Kristofferson. Simon thinks she's acting very precocious. She's a no, not ready yet. She won't stop singing.
The end of the second say is coming and it's down to one contestant. Brandon Black is another odd duck. It's another creepy love tribute to Paula. Um. No.
17 golden tickets were given out, two less than Omaha. So much for hot hot Miami, eh?
Next week it's off to Atlanta.
I think it's enough to keep me out. Well, maybe the tall fence topped with barbwire does it for me, too. This sign is near the Bridgewater (NJ) Train Station surrounding an abandoned parking lot. But it looks radioactive, doesn't it?
Today was rainy then blustery here with high wind warnings, but so far we've escaped much of the bad winter weather to date this season. My bad knee is thankful. On the knee topic, I have an orthopedic surgeon appointment set up for the day before the start of Big Brother 9. Not to worry, though. Rather severe surgery may be ahead, but since it's not an emergency I'll be covering the feeds reports and schedule things for between seasons. Of course, if the doctor has a miracle up his sleeve, I'll go for that rather than scary surgery and a hospital stay.
In today's TV Newsy Bits:
- I'll be putting up a live blogging post of tonight's Miami American Idol auditions if the scheduled outage for Blogger ends as expected. I'm not sure if the outage for maintenance will affect viewing the blog, but as long as it's out I can't post. It should end before the show starts, but I'd rather mention it now just in case it goes kerflooey. Plus it gives me a chance to use the word kerflooey in a sentence.
- If you're not a fan of football (I'm not), TNT is having a The Closer marathon all day for Super Bowl Sunday. While I don't watch football, I say "win it, Big Blue" for the sake of territorial fanship.
- The Celebrity Apprentice has been renewed for a second season. I personally don't think the plain old show needs to ever air again, but I'm finding the celeb version entertaining enough. Yeah, I wrote the linked article for TV Squad, but I'm totally not understanding the one commenter. Odd.
Today's random observation:
While crows fly from point A to point B in a straight line (as the crow flies), geese circle about incessantly honking and acting like crazed tourists in Manhattan.
Today's musical non-sequitur:
When it's late
And it's hot
And a date with the Late Show is all that you've got
Don't give out
Don't give up
One of these nights
You might find someone to love
-- "Someone to Love" by Fountains of Wayne
The show is starting here on the East Coast and this post will be regularly updated as it airs. They're in Omaha, Nebraska, tonight. Well, that's different.
Paula was delayed, so we get witty bits. Well, maybe not so witty. A guy is going to explode and infect everyone with his happiness. His name is Chris and he carries a bag, never a good sign. Well, the bad, not his name.
He wants to do anything and Simon eventually says he can go for being the correspondent for the local FOX station talking about the show. @@
Jason Rich, a farm worker good-looking dude, is being featured. He doesn't seem to be a joke. I bet he can sing. Uh-oh. He can sing, but the nerves are getting to him. He forgot the lyrics to the song he chose. He's from a town of 500, so he's nervous. They let him through to Hollywood with a warning not to do it again. Paula is still missing.
Welp, she's here! And it's into a whole series of bad auditions with forgotten lyrics. And women are arm wrestling in the waiting area. A thrill a minute. A girl goes up against Ryan Seacrest and Simon backs off away from the challenge. Rachael Wicker is her name, arm wrestling and singing her game(s). She sings a country song. Simon thinks she sounds or looks old ... one or the other or both. He says no while Randay and Paula say yes.
Now Sarah Whitaker, an ex-wrestler, is featured. I guess there's not a heck of a lot for women to do in Omaha? Oh, my. She sings like a cross between Julie Andrews and the Wicked Witch of the West. Simon thinks she's strange. She is.
Okay, Ryan questioned the decision, so he's been thrust into Paula's chair while Paula takes his place. Samantha Sicley is the first guinea pig. She sings a Nora Jones song ... not bad at all. Ryan critiques her movements and Paula takes over once again. She made it through to Hollywood.
Into a bunch of good auditions, but only snippets of them. Lotsa Hollywood a goin' on.
A girl with a sob story. She's estranged from her father. Tears, tears. Angelica Puente is her name, but can she sing? She mimics the original Celine Dion and pleads nerves. She's through to Hollywood. Simon and Randy want her to be herself. Paula urges confidence. Wrong door. (It's actually the other door tonight.) Aw, her father tells her on the phone that she's always been his American Idol.
It's rocker time. David Cook thinks he brings something different to the table. He goes for "Livin' on a Prayer." Yes, he can sing. He's onto Hollywood.
Johnny Escamilla compares himself to James Brown. He goes for "Shout." He's scaring me with his flowing sparkly shirt and er ... movements.
After a bunch of "Stuck in the Middle" bad bits, I'm ready for a good audition. One person left -- Leo Marlowe. Hmm ... he has a good sense of humor and can sing. He makes it through.
19 made it through to Hollywood from the Omaha auditions. Tomorrow it's off to Miami. The crowd looks very different from Omaha.
A store window in Westfield, NJ. While they also do fortune telling at the shop, what I want is the flying monkeys sign. At times my own personal squad of flying monkeys could come in handy. But with my luck, they'd go out on strike for better wages and benefits.
In today's TV Newsy Bits:
- I'll be getting a post up to live blog the American Idol audition show as it airs here in the northeast. Or am I mid-Atlantic? It depends to whom you're speaking, I guess. Anyway, the post will be up around 8 PM if you want to share your comments on the show.
- Lots of new programming on the cable stations tonight -- truTV (which should have stayed Court TV) has two episodes of The Real Hustle on at 10 PM ET/PT, Discovery has a new Dirty Jobs on at 9 PM ET/PT followed by Some Assembly Required at 10, TLC has a new Bussey Bunch on at 9 PM ET/PT and a new LA Ink on at 10 PM ET/PT, A&E has an hour of new Parking Wars (two episodes in a row) starting at 10 PM ET/PT.
- Celebrity Spider is reporting that CBS has ordered two more seasons of Survivor. (Yay!)
- Wild Bluff Media has an article which outlines the time frame leading into the new season of Big Brother.
- Don't forget! Lost returns on Thursday night with a two-hour show! Of course, that will throw Celebrity Apprentice to the wayside (most likely) -- I'm not sure how I'll deal with both of them and then Survivor arriving on the 7th of February. Something has to give. I'll have to fire Donald, I guess.
Today's random pondering:
Why don't men wear fedoras more often?
Today's musical non-sequitur:
City lights, the pretty lights
They can warm the coldest nights
All the people going places
Smiling with the electric faces
-- "Neon Rainbow" by The Boxtops
Well, she was supposed to be on last week, but finally here she is. Let's see if she spills any dirty little secrets, eh? So far they're talking about how much time she spends in California vs. New York. Now they're talking about last night's SAG awards and an actress out of hand in the audience.
C'mon, talk Big Brother!
Finally. David is talking about how much he doesn't know about BB, but knows it originated in Holland. Julie tells him the original premise of ten strangers and each week they vote out one of their own. Now there are twists since the fourth season. Yes, there are live feeds, Dave. She said threee months ... was it a slip? Will this be a regular run of a season? Hmmm...
Fake clip time of a nakde woman playing bongos as the After Dark show.
As usual, she spilled no beans, gave no insight.
But Zoetawny made me a cool new logo!
Author Becky Anderson was kind enough to send me two signed copies of her first novel, IN STEREO WHERE AVAILABLE. One I sent out just yesterday to blog reader Jennasmom, the winner of my big book giveaway contest.
Okay, I must admit that my reading tastes generally lean more towards mysteries or horror rather than chick-lit. Nonetheless, I found the book entertaining, possibly because it included one of my other entertainment interests.
You see, the author didn't just approach me on a whim. She's a reality show fan much as all of us are here at this blog. Becky has never missed an episode of Survivor, so how could I not give the book a chance, right?
The protagonist in the story is Phoebe, a 29-year-old virgin looking for love and finding it in one of the most unlikely places -- a wrong phone number from a guy looking to talk to a woman named Karen. But Phoebe's twin now not so identical after various enhancements is also sort of seeking love. Well, more like seeking fame with love and fortune, too -- in a reality television show.
Now, that's some show author Becky Anderson dreamed up. It's sort of a Big Brother meets The Bachelor meets Survivor with a war of the states thrown in! To be honest, if Becky approached reality television producers, I swear The Belle of Georgia could be a hit! Twelve women vying for the attention of two men, one of them named "Rhett" for the show. The challenges show that the author is no stranger to the reality television genre!
Who finds the true love? Yeah, you can almost predict it. However, it's certainly worth the ride. I think it's a laudable first novel and hope to see more from this author in the future. Or, perhaps, maybe she could create a reality television show or two!
IN STEREO WHERE AVAILABLE is available (but not really in stereo) on amazon.com and the official website for the book is here. Buy it. Read it. Let me know what you think!
I haven't seen Roofus the Cat lately, but I'm sure he's street-savvy enough to be taking shelter from the weather. I told you about the defunct Budget Car Rental place and the elderly gentleman who feeds the feral cats adjacent to Roofus' rooftop territory. If you click on this photo, it will enlarge. That's a cat on the counter looking out the door and cat food in a dish on the sidewalk. From what I can see inside without going up and peeking in the windows (and having the man yell), he has industrial size bags of dry cat food and cases of canned food in there as well as cats who seem to come and go somehow. Since Roofus wouldn't even have to cross a street to get here, I'm sure he takes advantage.
In TV Newsy Bits:
- The SAG Awards, unlike the Golden Globes, will actually take place tonight. From a press release I received -- As a build-up to the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards presentation, TNT and TBS will present a special live webcast of the red carpet at tnt.tv and tbs.com, as well as through the TBS and TNT domains within the Kaneva virtual world. The webcast, which will open with SAG president Alan Rosenberg and SAG Awards nominee Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma) announcing the recipients of this year’s new Stunt Ensemble honors, will be hosted by Entertainment Weekly’s Dave Karger and comedian Jamie Kaler, co-star of TBS’s acclaimed comedy series My Boys. Karger and Kaler will cover the red carpet arrivals of this year’s nominees, past winners and other attendees. Following the Red Carpet Pre-Show, the webcast will shift backstage to the press and photo rooms, where this year’s SAG Awards honorees will answer questions from reporters and pose for pictures with their Actor® statuettes.
- I wrote a bit about a few of the reality shows on A&E for a TV Squad article.
- This Reality Wanted interview with Erika Landin (BB4 and All-Stars) is a few days old, but gives a bit of insight to casting on the show.
- Speaking of Big Brother casting, there have still been no announcements and I don't expect anything until the first week of February. What we do know is that there will be 14 in the house (rather large group, expect some double eviction weeks as this season may not run as long as the usual summer season) and the theme is "my dirty little secret." Okay, that could be ax murderers for all we know!
Today's musical non-sequitur:
I don't give a damn about a greenback dollar
Spend it as fast as I can
For a wailin' song and a good guitar
Are the only things I understand.
-- "Greenback Dollar" by Hoyt Axton
Yes, graphic artist Zoetawny has indeed captured that odd fake-looking suntan with the reverse raccoon eyes! Thanks, Zoetawny!
I'm still not too cool with Gene committing apprenticide last week, but even without him this season is a world better than that debacle last year.
But what the heck is going on with the women? I would have thought Marilu would be a shoe-in to win this task for her team. And, yeah ... they came close. But, as always, close just doesn't make the grade. You win or you don't. And they didn't.
Although Marilu clicked with Omarosa and Nely on tonight's task, I personally think Omarosa will be a dividing factor on the team no matter what. Nely obviously is on Trump's firing range just awaiting the shot. As I watch the condescending way Omarosa treats the others when her own biggest claim to fame is being a "reality television star," I can't help but think that her presence alters the actions of the other team members.
That said, of the ones brought back to the boardroom, Jenny would be the one to go. I know the corporate world and they'd eat her alive. She's much better off on the playing field where people don't use the bodies of their dead co-workers to climb the corporate ladder.
Marilu did screw up with David Hyde Pierce. I could have walked by and not noticed him. However, if I saw $50 tickets for the shows, I would have jumped at that. Do you know how much of a savings that is?
As for the guys, I think Piers and Stephen have this love/hate thing goin' on between them. The absolute funniest part of the show was their scene with Stephen doing the Muttly hissy-laugh! Piers in the King Arthur suit carrying the rabbit (which is a notable item for the show) was funny, but I don't think I'd just up and give him money for charity, either. And I wouldn't call myself rude. I rarely walk around with large amounts of cash in the city and, while there are many tourists, I usually have my spending rather planned. I like to choose my charities and they generally don't include clowns ... er, King Arthurs on the street.
It was close this week, but I think Marilu hit on why the guys keep winning while her team loses. The men do have more cut throat leaders aboard. Both Carol and Jenny have been more followers for the women. Then there's Omarosa creating a rift. I really wish they'd juggle the teams around and mix it up more.
So, it was Geneless, but still entertaining. Now if Omarosa could just bump her head or something.
The show is starting here on the east coast. As it airs, I'll update this entry. Please feel free to jump in with your comments!
The first one on stage (well, in the room), is a young man with a big afro who thinks he's the black Clay Aiken. Um, no. Rashar? Argh. I missed the screen with the spelling of his name.
A girl from the same town where Kelly Pickler was raised, DeeAnna Prevatt, is over emoting just a wee bit. Simon called her a little tiger. She didn't make it.
A couple who met on the American Idol message boards, is a prime example of dork love. Crystal Ortiz and Randy Stark, sing. I actually get a kick out of the lyrics, but not the singing.
Michelle and Jeffrey Lampkin, a brother and sister act, is ready now. They can kind of sing. They both make it. I personally don't think they'll make it too far once in Hollywood.
Loser exits and it's back to the woman about ready to give birth whose husband wants to audition.
More bad auditions.
Save the cheerleader, save American Idol? A squeaky clean anti-drug anti-sex cheerleader is brunette, at least. I've tired of blondes. Amy Flynn sounds very nervous, but makes the attempt. She gains more confidence as as she goes along. Paula likes her. Simon thinks a lot of people will find her annoying. But he says yes, as does Randy. She is making me smile. She will be fun on the show, I think.
The first day is wrapping up, but the expectant fanter is hoping to come back. And then we get a sob story from a woman named London who took off three years of singing to deal with her sick father. She's blonde. I'm thinking she can sing without listening yet. Yep, London Weidberg, goes for Billie Holiday's "Good Morning Heartache." Randy and Paula like her. Simon? He thinks it's a good audition, but he didn't hear anything unique. It's onto Hollywood.
Fifteen made it through the first day. I think I liked the auditions better when Simon called contestants bush babies.
Patriotic fever alert! An Air Force gal shows us her cockpit (sounds kinky, doesn't it?). Lyndsey Goodman goes for "Black Velvet." She can sing. Simon thinks she's caberet, but he's said that before. She's a no. Yikes.
Aretha Codner from Buffalo, NY, is up next. Will she live up to her namesake? Well, no Aretha. She's super confident, but Simon thinks she murdered the song. So do I. She's very defensive and takes her time leaving.
Joshua Bosun is worse. What an animated lad, though. I don't love him. He says the show is fake and rigged. Simon says he's rude and deluded. Fuss, fuss, whine, whine. I like how his mother and he wear coordinated clothes.
Another bad audition run. A No serenade, cheesy, but classic for the show.
Oliver Highman, the new daddy, is back to audition. Will it be worth it? Okay, this is the best voice of the guys they've shown in South Carolina so far. But he took it too far and messed with it, so he's not onto Hollywood. Why didn't he just sing without overdoing it? Argh.
23 made it to Hollywood. Ho-hum show. Next week it's onto Omaha. I hope they're more interesting.
A nod to diversity -- this is one of the front windows of a Texas Wieners restaurant in Plainfield, NJ. I have no idea what the line in Arabic says, but I think it may be touting grits (also on the menu, along with chitlins). You gotta love it, eh?
In today's TV Newsy Bits --
- I'll be posting another live blog American Idol post for tonight's South Carolina auditions show around 8 PM ET. Of course, you're all invited!
- Two of my articles hit the TV Squad screen today -- one is on Survivor 16 Micronesia spoilers and the other is a list of five things I've learned from television. If you don't want to see the spoilers, yet want to view the image gallery I created for the Survivor entry (no spoilers in the images although they're from the first episode), this is the link for the gallery.
- Julie Chen is a guest on tonight's Late Show with David Letterman. I'll report back if she lets anything good slip about the upcoming Big Brother season.
- The single dad in last night's American Idol auditions from San Diego, Perrie Cataldo, has an arrest record according to TMZ.com.
Today's musical non-sequitur:
And I swear
That I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
-- "Come As You Are" by Nirvana
