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Alternate timelines: Our favorite shows get ‘Lost’
My TV column today played off the idea of “Lost’s” alternate timelines. I and my newsroom colleagues came up with too many to fit in print, so here are the remainder. You can read the original story by clicking here.
“Project Runway”
In the alternate timeline, “Project: Runway” is called “Project: Run, Away,” which combines designing clothing with the action-packed drama of “The Running Man.”
Each week, designers attempt to design outfits that allow them to travel a course around New York the fastest. The twist is that each week, they have to design for another designer, so each designer wants to make something that could potentially slow someone else down, knowing that, in turn, someone is also designing something to slow them down. Their only ally is host Tim “Gun” Gunn, who provides them with design advice and small arms. They are pursued each week by a panel of judges trying to kill them: Michael Kors travels by private car service; his car has a turret shaped like his head from which he lobs Molotov cocktails which he calls “constructive criticism.”
Nina Garcia gives contestants misinformation through the Marie Claire website; contestants never know if she is on their side or not. Heidi Klum tries to kill the designers via helicopter; “The Ride of the Valkyries” plays whenever she is on the screen. Contestants are “safe” for the week if they complete the circuit around the city in one hour without being killed - last designer standing wins. This becomes the most popular show of all time.
— Joe Gross
“The Tonight Show”
In the alternate timeline for this show, frequent “Tonight Show” guest host Jay Leno hid in a closet to eavesdrop on a meeting of NBC bigwigs who were planning to install David Letterman, instead of him, to replace the retiring Johnny Carson. Unfortunately for Leno, failed Fox late night host Chevy Chase was already hiding inside. The pair was discovered when Leno, in the dark, stepped on Chase’s foot, leading him to execute a pratfall and yell, “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” Letterman got the “Tonight Show” and Leno started a competing show at CBS. Dave routinely trounced Jay in the ratings until a Hollywood prostitute appeared on Leno’s CBS show in 1995 to beg public forgiveness for her indiscretions with actor Hugh Grant.
Letterman’s “Tonight Show” never recovered in the ratings and a second round of late night wars broke out in 2009 when NBC convinced the still-living Carson to come out of retirement and reclaim the “Tonight Show” desk. Denizens of the Internet quickly pledged their allegiance to either Team Dave or Team Johnny. The disenfranchised Letterman is currently mulling a revolutionary move to a 9 p.m. weekday prime time slot; Conan O’Brien still hosts “Late Night,” Craig Ferguson follows Jay on CBS; and Jimmy Fallon flips burgers at a Carl’s Jr. in Joplin, Missouri, where he regularly cracks himself up.
— Dale Roe
“Damages”
Patty Hewes has decided to forsake her high-powered work as a plaintiffs attorney and goes to work as counsel for a small environmental non-profit in upstate New York. When her two employees call in sick on April Fool’s Day, she is left to manage the office on her own. She realizes she must make her own coffee, but she is helpless in her search for the filters. Cut to two months later: There is a coffee deliveryman exiting from his van on the street below her office window. Patty calls into the lobby to see if anyone can buzz him up. As she makes her way to her office door to see why nobody has responded, two grackles fly at her. Racing from them, she falls from the office window and wakes up to discover she is still in bed. But it’s now seven months earlier and she’s forgotten to ‘fall back’ an hour, so she is late for work. She calls a car service to pick her up and take her to work, but when nobody answers, Uncle Pete’s voice comes on the voicemail. She slams the receiver down as a knock comes at her door. She opens it to find only a newspaper with a picture of Ellen Parsons staring back at her. The caption reads, “Ellen Parsons and Tom Shayes know what you did.” Suddenly, Rip Torn appears and dumps a bucket of confetti on her head. Patty begins to cry. But coffee has replaced her tears.
— Matthew Odam
“30 Rock”
In the alternate timeline for “30 Rock,” Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), never having found success as the head writer for “TGS,” is stuck doing scripts for B-movies. She’s hired by mega-star rapper/actor Tracy Jordan to write a film adaptation of Jordan’s hit song “Werewolf Bah Mitzvah,” where she meets Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski), who is cast as the werewolf’s love interest. Frustrated by Jordan’s insistence of staying in werewolf character throughout the production, Lemon quits to develop her own comedy show. She invites Maroney to join her, and the two approach microwave mogul Jack Donaghy, who Maroney knows through her work on microwave infomercials, to fund the project. The pilot is picked up by NBC, but Donaghy insists that the show can only continue if Jordan, who has signed with Donaghy as a microwave spokesman, joins the cast and the name is changed from “The Girlie Show” to “Werewolf Bah Mitzvah Hour.” Lemon refuses to cooperate and quits, and Donaghy instead hires trucker-hat wearing Frank (Judah Friedlander) as head writer. Lemon signs a contract to air the show on an internet television station run by Kenneth Parcell, who has found a wide-reaching audience with his online show “Gold Case.” The show becomes a runaway hit. Lemon meets world-famous archer Pete Hornberger at the Emmy Awards; the two marry, move to Cleveland and have three children.
— Peter Mongillo
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So what’s the TV guy doing at SXSW Interactive?
I am covering some TV-related panels at SXSW Interactive. We’re trying to keep all of our SXSW Interactive coverage in one place, and that’s over on my colleague Omar Gallaga’s Digital Savant blog.
I will post links here to the panel reviews I publish over there. Got it?
Here’s a review of a panel I just attended called “How Sci-Fi Shapes the Internet.” It was presented by Adria Richards of butyoureagirl.com and attended by about 200 festival-goers.
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Those guys on bikes? They’re from Fox
Fox has a street campaign going on around the fringes of the South by Southwest Interactive festival. If you see several guys wearing business suits and riding bikes, chances are good they’re promoting the new Fox comedy “Sons of Tucson.”
Of course, you probably got that from the helmets and large bike flag’s emblazoned with the show’s title. It’s a funny gimmick, but it’s not usually a good sign when your promotion is funnier than your show.
“Sons of Tucson” hits Fox on Sunday night.
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‘American Idol’ week three: Results
Well, that was a shock.
Are you happy now, “Idol” judges? Remember how I chastised you after Tuesday’s show — how I told you that you weren’t doing Lilly Scott any favors by continuing to indulge her “quirkiness?”
Thanks a lot. Now I’ve got at least one-more week of listening to 60-year-old lounge singer trapped in a 16-year-old-body Katie Stevens.
Sigh.
Maybe I’m just cranky because I fared so poorly in the guessing game this week. Here’s what I predicted:
Girls
Should go: Katie Stevens, Paige Miles
Will go: Paige Miles, Lacey Brown
Guys
Should go: Todrick Hall, Andrew Garcia
Will go: Todrick Hall, Aaron Kelly
This week’s eliminated contestants are Katelyn Epperly, Lilly Scott, Todrick Hall and Alex Lambert, making me 1 for 4. Ouch. (It’s all about me, you know).
Scott’s elimination was certainly the surprise of the night. Week after week, the judges have built her up as a front-runner and the one to beat. They went so far as to call her a game-changer, saying that from this point out, future contestants would feel free to embrace their quirk and be themselves.
Not if they want to win, apparently.
I liked Scott okay, but I was never on her bandwagon the way the “Idol” judges were. I think Simon finally realized just how badly he and his fellow judges were setting Scott up when he finally questioned her horrible Tuesday song choice (“I Fall to Pieces”).
Scott appeared completely shocked and then really angry when Ryan Seacrest announced her departure. Asked to explain America’s vote, she all but said that she had done exactly what the judges asked and received zero constructive criticism.
Her ouster finally managed to wring some emotion out of stoic front-runner Crystal Bowersox, whose face was scrunched up in an unsuccessful “I promised myself I wouldn’t cry” grimace. I’m not sure if Bowersox was genuinely sad to see her only real competition go — realizing that she now had to spend weeks with all these other tools — or if she suddenly realized that if Scott could be sent packing, she could very possibly be next. Whatever. There was something especially sad about seeing her break down like that.
I wasn’t too surprised by the other eliminations. I suspected Hall would be ousted, but I think his departure, along with Scott’s, is setting up a mighty bland rest-of-the-season. I’m okay with Epperly and Lambert leaving (and I’m actually glad that Miles and, especially, Brown survived) but Katie Stevens … you’re on notice.
Here’s what I wrote about this week’s exiting competitors:
“I Feel the Earth Move”
Remember Beatlemania — not the phenomenon, but the tribute band/Broadway show that toured the nation years ago? “It’s not the Beatles, but an incredible simulation!” the ads blared from my television. That was Katelyn tonight, except it was more like “Kingmania!” Katelyn sounded and looked like Carole King, which would have been great had this been a celebrity impersonating contest. I thought she did great last week, but this was definitely a step backwards.
What the judges said:
“It all kind of felt very put on for me,” Randy
“It just wasn’t enough,” Ellen
“I didn’t feel like you were competing tonight on that stage,” Kara
“It was kind of like request night on a Friday night in a restaurant,” Simon
My grade: C-
“I Fall To Pieces”
I didn’t get that at all. Here’s what bothers me about the “Idol” judges … if anybody else had given that performance, they would have torn the contestant apart — complaining about how she should have been more current and relevant, blah blah blah. But the judges love Lilly because she’s “quirky.” Meh. The vocals were okay, but the quirk is starting to annoy me; I can’t see anybody buying that song. Plus, she is like a giant, so I initially thought that the mandolin she was playing was a full-size guitar her Amazonian body was just dwarfing, which distracted me.
What the judges said:
“I think you’re in the zone right now,” Randy
“Loved it, love you,” Ellen
“You kind of made Patsy Cline seem current,” Kara
“That didn’t have the wow factor,” Simon
My grade: C+
“Somebody To Love”
Okay, Todrick’s got a big, theatrical voice, so this should have been a great song choice for him. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite have the chops to back it up. Todrick’s in a tough position, because the judges keep telling the contestants to be themselves, but they don’t like the kind of showtuney singers Todrick represents. I think that’s why he held back so much. It was good, but not great. I think these guys need to remember that America is making the call now, not a quarter of contradictory and confused judges. Forget about them, Todrick … just entertain us. You can do it.
What the judges said:
“Todrick is back!” Randy
“You are a brave, brave young man,” Ellen
“There were moments where I didn’t know to laugh at it or to love it,” Kara
“You’re a Broadway singer,” Simon
My grade: C+
“Trouble”
Oh, “Idol” judges, you’re doing it again — building up false hopes. You know there’s no way this kid is going to win, but there you are, Kara, telling him the only thing standing between him and winning is himself. He’s certainly gotten better, but there’s no way he’s going to beat these guys, not to mention the superior (but still mostly lackluster) girls. I understand that this year’s field is so weak that y’all tend to go overboard with enthusiasm whenever you catch a tiny glimpse of originality or talent but, really … think before you gush.
What the judges said:
“I felt like you could have done a little more with it,” Randy
“You’re becoming a mushy banana; you’re ripening so fast,” Ellen
“You’re not in it; you’re not letting go up there,” Kara
“We’ve never ever seen you relaxed or having a good time,” Simon
My grade: C+
Next week your Top 12 take on The Rolling Stones. Yikes.
Did America make the right call? Did your favorite get dismissed? Who should go next? Sound off!
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Conan tour coming to Austin
UPDATE: The sole Austin date is already sold out. Additional performances are being added in other cities; we’ll let you know if that happens here. Stay tuned.
The Wrap is reporting that Conan O’Brien’s “Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour” will hit Austin on May 14.
The tour, kicking off April 12 in Eugene, Oregon, is expected to last two months and land the ousted “Tonight Show” host in up to 30 cities. The performances will consist of “a night of music, comedy, hugging, and the occasional awkward silence,” the article says, and will feature sidekick Andy Richter and members of O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” band.
O’Brien will perform at the Austin Music Hall. Ticket packages range from $39.50 to a whopping $695 for a meet-and-greet package which includes: Front row center orchestra ticket; meet & greet; photo opportunity; autographed item; access to sound check; pre-show cocktail reception; parking (where available); exclusive merchandise item; collectible laminate; onsite event management staff.
Tickets can be purchased here.
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‘American Idol’ week three: Top 8 guys
Wow. Now that was amazing. I never thought I’d see anything that entertaining this season. It literally made me get up off the couch and jump up and down. It was pretty freaking great.
Unfortunately, it was the extended “Iron Man 2” trailer that ran in the middle of — and served as a welcome respite from — the main event; The “Idol” guys were pretty much as lame as you’d expect. I mean, okay … there was a lot of improvement, but still: Does anybody really stand out in this crowd? Do you honestly think that any of these lunks has a chance to beat any of the slightly more talented female contestants? Would any of them still be here at this point in any other season you can remember?
Okay, maybe Michael Lynche, who seems to be the real deal. Lynche aside, I don’t understand all of the accolades for these performances from judges, viewers and the press. I seem to be the odd man out.
Let’s get to it:
“Fireflies”
Lee really changed this song up in an interesting way. Unfortunately, he’s still having trouble hitting the right notes. That appealing, raspy quality in his voice is only going to carry him so far when all you can concentrate on is the way he misses every third note.
What the judges said:
“You made it work, man,” Randy
“I like that you made it a little rock,” Ellen
“You actually made the song a better song,” Kara
“There’s nothing to rave about after that,” Simon
My grade: C
“Trouble”
Oh, “Idol” judges, you’re doing it again — building up false hopes. You know there’s no way this kid is going to win, but there you are, Kara, telling him the only thing standing between him and winning is himself. He’s certainly gotten better, but there’s no way he’s going to beat these guys, not to mention the superior (but still mostly lackluster) girls. I understand that this year’s field is so weak that y’all tend to go overboard with enthusiasm whenever you catch a tiny glimpse of originality or talent but, really … think before you gush.
What the judges said:
“I felt like you could have done a little more with it,” Randy
“You’re becoming a mushy banana; you’re ripening so fast,” Ellen
“You’re not in it; you’re not letting go up there,” Kara
“We’ve never ever seen you relaxed or having a good time,” Simon
My grade: C+
“Hallelujah”
Ellen: please read my Alex Lambert critique, above. Jumping over the judges’ table and running up onto the stage to give Greg Brady a hug? Sigh. “Hallelujah” is a song title, Ellen, not a stage direction. It was certainly Tim’s best performance, but that’s not saying much. And, seriously, if I never hear that song again, I will be a happy man.
What the judges said:
“I think you did a pretty good job, Tim,” Randy
“That was fantastic; you sounded so good,” Ellen
“I actually think you’re kind of in it,” Kara
“Very, very smart with that song,” Simon
My grade: B-
“Genie In A Bottle”
Ew. Who pulled the cork? Was it Kara? It was, wasn’t it? Her constant reminiscing about that Paula Abdul song you did in Hollywood week pushed you over the edge and forced you to try and make lightning strike twice. I guess it doesn’t matter whose fault it is as long as you get back in that bottle. That was just desperate and weird. Seriously — you’re now giving Siobhan Magnus a run for the weird money, and that’s really saying something.
What the judges said:
“You made it feel like the whole song was three notes,” Randy
“The genie came out of the bottle too late,” Ellen
“You’re in a hard position because you peaked so early,” Kara
“It was a little bit desperate, I thought,” Simon
My grade: C-
“You’ll Think Of Me”
There was nothing really wrong with this, but it was boring and forgettable. I’m already having trouble remembering it. At least we were spared the lusty theatrics between Casey and Kara. I don’t think I heard the word “cougar” once.
What the judges said:
“I think it was a little bit of a safe choice,” Randy
“I thought it was great; I really liked it,” Ellen
“This was better than last week; it was honest,” Kara
“I think it made you sincere,” Simon
My grade: C+
“I’m Already There”
I know Simon looks younger, but he’s pushing 60, right? I’m just wondering if he’s starting to show symptoms of dementia, because after weeks of scolding the younger contestants for singing songs that are way too old for them, he totally attacked Kara for telling Aaron that this song was way too old for him. Isn’t anybody ever going to call Simon out on this crap? Anybody except Seacrest, I mean — he tries but, honestly, that’s about as effective as Colmes tackling Hannity. Huh? Aaron? Oh, right … Kara called it. this was a ridiculous song choice.
What the judges said:
“Job well done,” Randy
“I really thought that was a tough song for you,” Ellen
“That song — you’re 16 years old. How can you feel a connection to it?” Kara
“It wasn’t a great vocal, but it had emotion,” Simon
My grade: D
“Somebody To Love”
Okay, Todrick’s got a big, theatrical voice, so this should have been a great song choice for him. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite have the chops to back it up. Todrick’s in a tough position, because the judges keep telling the contestants to be themselves, but they don’t like the kind of showtuney singers Todrick represents. I think that’s why he held back so much. It was good, but not great. I think these guys need to remember that America is making the call now, not a quarter of contradictory and confused judges. Forget about them, Todrick … just entertain us. You can do it.
What the judges said:
“Todrick is back!” Randy
“You are a brave, brave young man,” Ellen
“There were moments where I didn’t know to laugh at it or to love it,” Kara
“You’re a Broadway singer,” Simon
My grade: C+
“This Woman’s Work”
I totally understand Kara bursting into tears at the end of this number; I was crying, too. They might have been tears of joy that Ellen stayed in her chair and didn’t jump on Lynch’s back, challenging Simon and Kara (who were all over each other all night anyway) to a chicken fight. Perhaps they were tears of relief that the night was finally over. Whatever. That was clearly the best performance of the night, but there’s no way it should have brought anybody to tears. Anyway, Kara, Didi Benami’s already got dibs on the crying thing this season.
What the judges said:
“It was dope; it was unbelievable,” Randy
“Oh my God, that was so beautiful. You are the one to beat now,” Ellen
“As a woman who doesn’t have a child I can relate to it so much. It brought me to tears,” Kara
“You 100 percent nailed it. It was the best performance we’ve had of all these live shows so far,” Simon
My grade: A
Should go: Todrick Hall, Andrew Garcia
Will go: Todrick Hall, Aaron Kelly
Agree? Disagree? Sound off!
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Ticking gets louder on ‘24’ cancellation rumors
It’s no secret that “24” has seen better days, but has the Fox drama seen its final day?
Variety reports that an impending announcement will mark the end of the show’s eight-season run on Fox. Critical drubbing, along with rising production costs and “diminishing returns” are cited in the article as probable factors for the cancellation.
But just as Jack Bauer has often risen from the grave, there are possible avenues for an extension of the franchise, including feature films or a move to another network (NBC has expressed interest).
What do you think? Is it time for jack to pack? How would the concept translate to a 90-minute film?
Sound off!
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Wes Hayden slams Jake and Vienna
Austin’s Wes Hayden is talking to the tabloids about his old “Bachelorette” nemesis, Jake Pavelka.
Pavelka, who went on to be chosen for “The Bachelor,” sent fans of that show into a tizzy by choosing Vienna Girardi over Tenley Molzahn on the show’s March 1 finale.
Hayden, a country musician who clashed with Pavelka on their season of “The Bachelorette,” told Life & Style magazine that he doesn’t think Pavelka and Girardi’s relationship is geuine.
“Do I think there’s going to be a marriage? I highly doubt it,” Hayden says in the magazine. “He said to me, ‘The reason I’m on the show is I want America to fall in love with me so I can be the next Bachelor.’”
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‘American Idol’ week three: Top 8 girls
Well, no medical dramas this week and the ladies went on as scheduled. Overall, the result was about what you’d expect. Some of the contestants slipped a little bit and there were some odd song choices, but it’s really becoming apparent how the final field is shaping up on the girls’ side. It’s getting to the point where we can tell who’s going to go and who’s going to stay based on the reaction of the studio audience. Katie Stevens and Paige Miles gave equally poor performances, but the audience loudly booed the judges’ critique of Katie, while Paige’s trouncing was greeted with an eerie silence.
One other note: it was really annoying how Kara kept throwing it back to the contestants … it seems kind of cruel to trash someone’s performance and then turn around and ask them how they feel about it. That’s Seacrest’s job (well, that and manhandling Didi Benami).
Okay, here’s this week’s roundup:
“Breakaway”
Okay, I know Katie’s not going anywhere, but she really needs to be sent packing. C’mon, America, I know she’s cute, in a precocious, “Legally Blonde” Reese Witherspoonish kind of way, but she is also completely evil, in a precocious, “Election” Reese Witherspoonish kind of way. And she has no idea what songs to choose. She was way off key tonight and her voice sounded uncharacteristically thin and weak. Send her home, please. Matthew Broderick will thank you. The producers put her in the lead off spot, so maybe she had a better rehearsal. As Katie’s peers would say, whatEVER.
What the judges said:
“It was almost like karaoke to me” Randy
“You were singing, but you weren’t feeling,” Ellen
“I don’t think you know who you are yet as an artist,” Kara
“You kind of sucked the energy out of it,” Simon
My grade: D
“House of the Rising Sun”
Siobhan brings it again; I’m calling her now as a dark horse. I was kind of sorry that they skipped the little introduction videos tonight, because each week I look forward to learning something new and totally weird about Siobhan. When they announced her song choice, I was like, “Hmm … really?” But it only took a split second for my fear to switch to extreme interest in what she would do with it and confidence that it would be something cool. It wasn’t as out there as I’d hoped it would be, but it was still really good, starting with a near a capella vibe, building into some nice power belting and then coming back down to a soulful, smokey croon. Well played, Ms. Magnus.
What the judges said:
“You take every risk, every chance” Randy
“You are why I love music; I was captivated,” Ellen
“Week to week I’m surprised by you,” Kara
“It was all a bit weird,” Simon
My grade: B
“The Story”
Well, that was Lacey’s best performance since Hollywood week, and I liked her last week, too. Lacey picked the perfect song for her voice and she really had fun with it. She seemed completely comfortable and totally in control. She was sweet and seductive and didn’t miss a single note. But I’m afraid that “Idol” voters might see it as too little, too late; I’m not sure she’s connected with America, but I hope so. So far, I think I would be more inclined to actually purchase music Lacey had recorded than that of any other contestant.
What the judges said:
“It’s your best performance for me in a long time,” Randy
“That song sounded like something that was written for you,” Ellen
“Effortless singing; I thought it was a brilliant choice,” Kara
“You sang it really, really well,” Simon
My grade: A-
“I Feel the Earth Move”
Remember Beatlemania — not the phenomenon, but the tribute band/Broadway show that toured the nation years ago? “It’s not the Beatles, but an incredible simulation!” the ads blared from my television. That was Katelyn tonight, except it was more like “Kingmania!” Katelyn sounded and looked like Carole King, which would have been great had this been a celebrity impersonating contest. I thought she did great last week, but this was definitely a step backwards.
What the judges said:
“It all kind of felt very put on for me,” Randy
“It just wasn’t enough,” Ellen
“I didn’t feel like you were competing tonight on that stage,” Kara
“It was kind of like request night on a Friday night in a restaurant,” Simon
My grade: C-
“Rhiannon”
I cringed upon learning that Didi was going to be covering Stevie Nicks (that hasn’t proved to be a particularly wise choice this season). But damn if she didn’t bring it. When Didi is on, she’s on, and she’s really got one of the most unique voices in the competition. She probably upped her game just so that Seacrest couldn’t lay his skeevy mitts all over her in the guise of consolation. I think Didi just saved herself from Ryan and America.
What the judges said:
“That’s the person we fell in love with in the first place,” Randy
“I thought that was a lovely performance,” Ellen
“One of my favorite moments of the show so far this season,” Kara
“Head and shoulders above anything else we’ve heard tonight,” Simon
“Don’t worry, I got the court order and will stay two feet away from you,” Seacrest (okay, I made that one up)
My grade: B
“Smile”
Ouch. Paige, oh, Paige … why would you choose that song at this point in the competition? It was just bad. It didn’t sound current at all, your vocals were all over the place. I think the judges’ common criticism this season that the contestants don’t know what kind of singer they want to be particularly applies to Paige. unfortunately, I don’t think she’ll get another chance to make an inexplicable, bad song choice.
What the judges said:
“It just didn’t work, man,” Randy
“That song is supposed to be inspiring; it was just sad and heavy,” Ellen
“It was all wrong, it really was,” Kara
“I think this could be the end of the road,” Simon
My grade: D
“Give Me One Reason”
I thought this was one of Crystal’s weaker performances, which still puts her far ahead of the rest of this pack. It was a little hokey for me; she seemed like a poseur with that electric guitar she barely played. The vocals were spot on, and she changed it up a little, giving it a really bluesy edge that was absent in Tracy Chapman’s oddly mechanical original.
What the judges said:
“Love that, love you, love the song” Randy
“I need new adjectives for you; best performance of the night,” Ellen
“That’s a great song choice,” Kara
“You are the one everyone has to beat; it’s yours to lose,” Simon
My grade: B+
“I Fall To Pieces”
I didn’t get that at all. Here’s what bothers me about the “Idol” judges … if anybody else had given that performance, they would have torn the contestant apart — complaining about how she should have been more current and relevant, blah blah blah. But the judges love Lilly because she’s “quirky.” Meh. The vocals were okay, but the quirk is starting to annoy me; I can’t see anybody buying that song. Plus, she is like a giant, so I initially thought that the mandolin she was playing was a full-size guitar her Amazonian body was just dwarfing, which distracted me.
What the judges said:
“I think you’re in the zone right now,” Randy
“Loved it, love you,” Ellen
“You kind of made Patsy Cline seem current,” Kara
“That didn’t have the wow factor,” Simon
My grade: C+
Should go: Katie Stevens, Paige Miles
Will go: Paige Miles, Lacey Brown
Agree? Disagree? Sound off!
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‘Fringe’ gets a third season
Fox’s trippy, sci-fi tale ‘Fringe’ has been renewed for a third season. Not exactly a ratings blockbuster, the show has been on the bubble for months and honestly could have gone either way. But its decent showing after a move to Thursday nights and the network’s love of the show seem to have granted it a stay of execution (and thank goodness — I’d hate to imagine the sorts of objects with which participants in a “save our show” campaign for ‘Fringe’ would be flooding the Fox offices).
The plot line of the show, created by “Lost’s” J.J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and University of Texas alumnus Roberto Orci, finally caught fire this season after a fairly mind-blowing and risky revelation that the entire first season was basically a set-up. A cliffhanger of sorts in the last regular episode to air has set up an interesting dynamic between Dr. Walter Bishop and his son, Peter, which will play out when the series returns for the remainder of its second season episodes on (no fooling!) April 1.
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Dale on the radio
TV writer Dale Roe is scheduled to be on 98.9 FM today at noon to talk about the Oscar broadcast with Fred Cantu.
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This week’s TV picks
Relax, Chuck, you’re in first class.
Monday:
‘The Bachelor: Jason and Molly’s Wedding’ 7 p.m., ABC: 2009 Bachelor Jason Mesnick and his lady, Molly Malaney, tie the knot in Palos Verdes, California. I was afraid this might not quite be cheesy enough, but then I saw that Gavin DeGraw and ‘American Idol’ reject Jason Castro were performing at the ceremony. Well played, wedding planner slash TV execs.
‘Chuck’ 7 p.m., NBC: Chuck loses his ability to ‘flash,’ which is just as well because this is the family hour and nobody needs to see that.
Tuesday:
‘Miss Turkey Trot and Miss Drumsticks Pageants’ 9 p.m., TLC: The only way the coverage of these pageants from Yellville, Arkansas could be any better is if Gavin DeGraw and Jason Castro sang the “There She Is” song.
Wednesday:
‘America’s Next Top Model’ 7 p.m., The CW: From Los Angeles to New York City, the field is cut from 23 to 13 as Perez Hilton appears on the 14th season opener.
‘The Middle’ 7:30 p.m., ABC: ‘Spy Kid’ Alexa Vega is Axl’s new girlfriend … at least for 22 minutes.
‘Modern Family’ 8 p.m., ABC: Judy Greer as Phil’s old girlfriend? This show’s amazing casting streak continues. Bonus points for having the couple reconnect on Facebook.
Thursday:
‘The Office’ 8 p.m., NBC: Honestly, I can take or leave this show anymore, but this episode might be good because it features the ‘Nard Dog’s first date with receptionist Erin.
‘30 Rock’ 8:30 p.m., NBC: Art imitates life as a cable company plans to purchase NBC.
‘The Marriage Ref’ 9 p.m., NBC: Larry David, Madonna and Ricky Gervais on one stage? I’m not big on this show, but I am so there.
Friday:
‘Numb3rs’ 9 p.m., CBS: Charlie and Amita get hitched in the 6th season closer. Sorry, no Gavin DeGraw or Jason Castro.
Saturday:
‘Texas Music Extravaganza: TexMex Generation’ 7 p.m., PBS: Sir Douglas Quintet and Texas Tornados music is performed by former band members and others.
Sunday:
‘Minute to Win It’ 7 p.m., NBC: The Food Network’s Guy Fieri hosts this new game show. Tonight, a father who wants to move hi family to Texas competes for $1 million.
‘Celebrity Apprentice’ 8 p.m., NBC: Season 9 opens with Sharon Osborne, Darryl Strawberry and Rod Blagojevich, a disgraced politico from my old stomping grounds.
‘Sons of Tucson’ 8:30 p.m., Fox: The lead guy in this is sort of a low-rent Jack Black and the kids are straight out of ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ so if that’s your thing you’ll probably like this new sitcom.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment, Random thoughts
No more Landry on ‘Friday Night Lights’
“Friday Night Lights” — which will be back on NBC and in Austin for production next month — opted not to renew the contract of Jesse Plemons, who plays fan favorite Landry Clarke, Entertainment Weekly reports.
Executive producer Jason Katims said in the EW story that there was not enough story material to keep Landry around, but added that he hoped Plemons would return for some guest spots in the soon-to-film fifth season.
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Sonic commercial features Austin carhops
Two skating Sonic carhops from Austin are featured in a new series of commercials for the fast-food chain.
According to their bios on Sonic’s Facebook page for the commercials, Brandon Ime Nsekpong, 20, is a computer science student at Concordia University. Laurie Garrett, 20, is a music fan who loves rapping.
You can see the commercials on YouTube.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Local people on TV
‘American Idol’ week two: Report card
Another week, another four dream-crushed ‘Idol’ hopefuls sent packing. It was an interesting week, if not a particularly entertaining one. The biggest news was the last minute boy-girl switcheroo, when the guys were forced to perform a day earlier because of Crystal Bowersox’ hospitalization (had she been unable to perform, she would have been eliminated per show rules and there was no way they were letting the best female singer loose this early).
The result was that everyone pretty much upped their game, with a few notable exceptions. Last week I was 1 for 3, but America (mostly) got it right this week, meaning that, by and large, all y’all ‘Idol’ voters more closely agreed with me. The result? This week I was 3 for 4.
Here’s what I predicted:
Guys
Should go: Todrick Hall, John Park
Will go: John Park, Jermaine Sellers
Girls
Should go: Haeley Vaughn, Didi Benami
Will go: Haeley Vaughn, Lacey Brown
This week’s eliminated contestants are John Park, Jermaine Sellers, Haeley Vaughn and Michelle Delamor.
I have to admit that Delamor’s denouncing caught me by surprise. Her performance was not as bad as the judges made it out to be, but she was very static and, as I pointed out, boring. I guess she never made an emotional connection with the audience.
Still, I am pleasantly surprised that both Didi Benami and Lacey Brown live to sing another week. Neither of them will win this competition, but Benami’s got an interesting voice (but an annoying penchant for tearing up — maybe she’s afraid Seacrest is going to grope her again) and I think Brown just needs one home-run performance to connect with voters.
Here’s what I wrote about this week’s losing competitiors:
“Gravity”
Here’s my theory: sometime during Hollywood week, Park (the lead singer of a choral group called Purple Haze, we learn) got replaced with a wax dummy that Kara operates from the judge’s table with an intricate series of wires. If he hopped on the huge Michael Lynch’s lap (seriously — the man makes a guitar look like a ukulele), they could probably do a pretty decent ventriloquist act on Simon Cowell’s new “X Factor” show. Decent vocals, no spark. That’s good, ‘cuz it’d probably melt the wax.
What the judges said:
“I think Purple Haze may get their lead singer back,” Simon
“Way better than last week,” Kara
“It wasn’t as good as the original,” Randy
“There could have been a little more soul in it,” Ellen
My grade: C+
“What’s Goin’ On”
Oh, Jermaine. Not even your buddy Jesus is going to be able to help you when you force a comparison between your over-the-top yet perplexingly weak voice against that of the great Marvin Gaye. We hear what’s goin’ on, and it’s just kind of okay.
What the judges said:
“It just didn’t work for me,” Ellen
“It was just so close, but so far at the same time,” Randy
“The problem is, you’re always doing too much,” Kara
“We’re frustrated and disappointed. You water down the songs,” Simon
My grade: C
“With Arms Wide Open”
Michelle can work the camera and the crowd without coming across as cheesy. Unfortunately, that can lend her performances a cool, calculated air of detached professionalism. Still, there’s no arguing with her soulful, on target vocals — especially on a Creed song — is there? I think if she’s around next week, though, she needs to change it up a little. She’s consistently good, but she’s also kinda’ boring.
What the judges said:
“You just didn’t do enough with it, man,” Randy
“I thought it was really good that you changed it up that much,” Ellen
“My favorite performance of yours ever,” Kara
“To be fair, we give a lot of contradictory advice,” Simon
My grade: B
“The Climb”
Hmm. Two strikes. It’s not that Haeley’s song choice was so bad, but her performance as horrible. And that’s a shame, because I really like Haeley. Maybe she just has one or two songs that she can sing well, and she used them up in auditions and during Hollywood week. This really ought to be the week that Haeley goes home.
What the judges said:
“It was excruciating,” Randy
“I did not feel you connected to the song,” Ellen
“You need about a year of really strengthening your instrument,” Kara
“It was a complete and utter mess,” Simon
My grade: D
It’ll get harder to guess who America will send home now, especially on the girls’ side, where the playing field has kind of leveled off.
Did America make the right call? Did your favorite get dismissed? Who should go next? Sound off!
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‘American Idol’ week two: Top 10 women
So the big news on Wednesday’s “Idol” outing (Top 10 girls) was Crystal Bowersox’ return. She had been hospitalized with complications from diabetes (maybe she watched Aaron Kelly sing “My Girl” too many times) but returned to deliver a knockout punch of a Creedence Clearwater Revival tune.
“I know how sick you are over the past 24 hours. I completely misunderestimated you,” Simon said after her performance.
I think I overestimated Simon. Aren’t the Brits supposed to have a better handle on the English language than we American slugs? They invented it, after all.
Okay, enough pointless chatter … I’m beginning to sound like an “Idol” judge! Let’s get to the performances:
Crystal Bowersox
“Long As I Can See the Light”
Wow, I like Creedence and I really liked Crystal’s soulful version of this song. She is not only totally comfortable on stage, she’s almost oblivious to the goofy showbiz happening around her — she just steps on stage and goes into the zone. And she never misses a note. Not one.
What the judges said:
“I love that girl; that girl is hot!” Randy
“That is pure, raw, natural talent,” Ellen
“You completely recovered from last week,” Kara
“I think we’ve got a really serious artist with you. Congratulations,” Simon
My grade: A
Haeley Vaughn
“The Climb”
Hmm. Two strikes. It’s not that Haeley’s song choice was so bad, but her performance as horrible. And that’s a shame, because I really like Haeley. Maybe she just has one or two songs that she can sing well, and she used them up in auditions and during Hollywood week. This really ought to be the week that Haeley goes home.
What the judges said:
“It was excruciating,” Randy
“I did not feel you connected to the song,” Ellen
“You need about a year of really strengthening your instrument,” Kara
“It was a complete and utter mess,” Simon
My grade: D
Lacey Brown
“Kiss Me”
I’m afraid Lacey’s in trouble, too. I thought she did a great job with this song and that she let a lot of her personality shine through. Of course, she is doomed because she actually took the judges’ advice by singing the song they recommended she sing. Oh, Lacey … if you take their advice they’ll rip you for it. If you ignore their advice, they’ll rip you for it. It’s hard out there for an “Idol.” I think Lacey’s problem is that she just doesn’t seem to “fit,” somehow. Maybe she seems older than the other contestants, I don’t know. But I’ll be sad if she’s sent home.
What the judges said:
“You didn’t bring anything to it,” Randy
“I thought it was adorable,” Ellen
“You have to step it up from here,” Kara
“I think it was marginally better than last week,” Simon
My grade: B-
Katie Stevens
“Put Your Records On”
Okay, I know exactly what Katie’s problem is: she sounds old. Remember when the judges suggested she sing something “younger?” She can’t. Close your eyes and play this youthful song back: doesn’t Katie sound like she’s in her 30s or 40s? Katie could sing the “Barney & Friends” theme song and sound like some smokey jazzstress. It’s her blessing and her curse. But mostly, on this show, her curse.
What the judges said:
“There were some bright moments in there,” Randy
“I don’t want to hear something I would hear in my dentist’s office,” Ellen
“I’m still waiting for that moment for you,” Kara
“I think actually you’ll stay around for another week,” Simon
My grade: C+
Didi Benami
“Lean On Me”
I really thought Didi was unfairly criticized for that Ingrid Michaelson song she sang last week, but now I am starting to get it. In a week when just about everybody seemed to get better, Didi just kind of stayed the same. She’s got talent, but not a lot of soul — at least not Bill Wither’s-style soul — and I’m afraid she’s a little out of her league. But here’s my real question: what’s up with Seacrest? Did you notice that he had his skeevy mitts all over Didi? Taking her hand before her video, relentlessly pawing her during the judges comments, not only putting his arm around her but pulling her very close, which seemed to make Didi very uncomfortable. Dude, if you’re gonna’ do that, you might want to do it with everybody so it’s not so obvious. It was all so sordid. Maybe Randy should call Seacrest “dawg,” then take him to the vet and get him fixed.
What the judges said:
“I would just have not chosen a soul song like that,” Randy
“I don’t know that that was really the greatest song choice,” Ellen
“Didi, it wasn’t good. It really wasn’t good,” Kara
“It was all over the place, it was screeching,” Simon
“Mmmm … you smell really good,” Seacrest (okay, I made that one up)
My grade: C+
Michelle Delamor
“With Arms Wide Open”
Michelle can work the camera and the crowd without coming across as cheesy. Unfortunately, that can lend her performances a cool, calculated air of detached professionalism. Still, there’s no arguing with her soulful, on target vocals — especially on a Creed song — is there? I think if she’s around next week, though, she needs to change it up a little. She’s consistently good, but she’s also kinda’ boring.
What the judges said:
“You just didn’t do enough with it, man,” Randy
“I thought it was really good that you changed it up that much,” Ellen
“My favorite performance of yours ever,” Kara
“To be fair, we give a lot of contradictory advice,” Simon
My grade: B
Lilly Scott
“A Change Is Gonna Come”
Do y’all think Lilly’s wearing a wig? And not even, like, a real wig — more like a platinum blonde Halloween wig? It seems as if she ought to be wearing a French maid costume with that hair. Maybe it’s just me. Anyway, Lilly turned in another great performance, running this Sam Cooke number through her patented “Jazzfolkinator 3000®” and coming out with something wholly original, contemporary and completely captivating.
What the judges said:
“You’re definitely unique and you do your thing,” Randy
“I don’t know what ‘it’ is, but you have got ‘it’,” Ellen
“I was riveted; I couldn’t wait to see what you would do next,” Kara
“I thought it was good; I wasn’t crazy about it,” Simon
My grade: A-
Katelyn Epperly
“The Scientist”
The girls are really stepping it up this week. I liked Katelyn’s piano number a lot more than the judges did. I thought it was really good. I’m not a big Katelyn fan, but this was the kind of emotional performance that Brooke White was praised for last year, so it only seems fair to give Katie props. As the only contestant so far this year to sit on a piano bench, Katelyn stood out. Granted, it didn’t seem like what she was playing was extremely difficult, but it’s not a piano-playing competition and what she played was sparse, appropriate and effective. I’m surprised Seacrest wasn’t all over her after that.
What the judges said:
“It was great until the very last couple of notes,” Randy
“I fell kind of asleep; it was so slow,” Ellen
“I kind of love you; you’re seriously good,” Kara
“I think you may have put yourself back in the race here,” Simon
My grade: B+
Paige Miles
“Walk Away”
Paige, we hardly knew ye! I don’t know why the idea of Paige covering Kelly Clarkson strikes me as so unusual, but I thought it was a brilliant, unexpected choice and she did a great job with it. Kara gives her grief for not being angry enough (co-writer Kara intended the song to have an angry edge) but who cares? First off, it’s not about you, Kara. And, also, you’re always telling the contestants to bring their own interpretations to the songs they song, so back off.
What the judges said:
“I liked it; I wasn’t over the top in love with it,” Randy
“I loved it. You had fun, which is really important,” Ellen
“I could see you having a hit with that song,” Kara
“I’m afraid two weeks in a row you have failed to choose the right song,” Simon
My grade: B
Siobhan Magnus
“Think”
Seacrest said something to Siobhan about “not over thinking” her performances. Would it be mean to suggest that I’m not sure the songstress is really capable of over thinking anything? (Last week she didn’t know what the term “dark horse” meant). I think Siobhan is kind of naive and simple, but those seem to be assets in a cutthroat contest where the rest of your competition is constantly strategizing and obsessing over things like meaningless and contradictory judges’ comments. Like everyone else in the free world, I got a hurty feeling in my gut when they announced that Siobhan was taking on Aretha Franklin, but dang if she didn’t bring it. Pretty awesome stuff.
What the judges said:
“You are so bold and so fearless; it was dope!” Randy
“Most people would say don’t take on such a big song, but they also said don’t mix sleeves with a blanket and look at the Snuggie — it’s huge,” Ellen
“I don’t know how you hit that note,” Kara
“You are interesting and very, very talented,” Simon
My grade: A-
Should go: Haeley Vaughn, Didi Benami
Will go: Haeley Vaughn, Lacey Brown
Agree? Disagree? Sound off!
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: American Idol, Entertainment, Reality TV
Rob Balon leaving Fox 7 for KVUE
Rob Balon, the Austin food critic who has voiced his opinions on Fox 7 for the past decade is headed over to KVUE, Austin’s ABC affiliate. His reviews will be broadcast during the Daybreak and Midday news shows on Fridays beginning March 12.
Balon, whose last Fox 7 appearance was December 18th of last year, called his time at Fox 7 a good run. “Eleven years in television is almost like dog years,” he said.
Former Fox 7 General Manager Danny Baker recruited Balon, who was then doing (and continues to do) reviews on KLBJ radio, to put his face on TV. “He and I were kind of joined at the hip; we were great friends,” Balon explained. Baker retired in 2008 and Balon didn’t renew his contract. “Things just kind of floated and then we decided mutually — it was very cordial — that it was time to move on.”
Balon said the move won’t affect his continuing appearances on KLBJ-AM. “That ‘Food Friday’ show is just a riot,” he said, “and I’ll still fill in for Jeff (Ward, afternoon drive host) now and then.
“I’m just tickled silly to be with KVUE,” Balon added. “It’s a great opportunity for me.”
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‘American Idol’ week two: Top 10 guys
So the “Idol” guys did a little better this week, but that’s damning with faint praise, like saying Jay Leno isn’t quite as bad on “The Tonight Show” as he was on “The Jay Leno Show.” There were no horror shows like last week, and most of the guys hovered around the average mark.
Maybe having one less day to muck around with arrangements and go scarf-shopping was a good thing (the girls were scheduled to perform tonight, but a medical emergency involving Crystal Bowersox led to a switcheroo).
Here’s the rundown:
“This Is a Man’s World”
There are two things you can count on in any “Idol” show (well, three, if you count inane, stupid banter between the judges) … whoever goes first and last will turn in pretty decent performances. We don’t get to see all the rehearsal, but the producers sure do and they want to make sure they don’t put, say, Tim Urban first so that you switch over to CBS. That said, Lynche turned in another strong performance this week with a slower, soulful rendition of this James Brown number.
What the judges said:
“That was the one to beat,” Ellen
“Dawg, I gotta give it to you,” Randy
“I did not get it … until tonight. You owned it tonight,” Kara
“From a pussycat to a lion in one week,” Simon
My grade: B+
“Gravity”
Here’s my theory: sometime during Hollywood week, Park (the lead singer of a choral group called Purple Haze, we learn) got replaced with a wax dummy that Kara operates from the judge’s table with an intricate series of wires. If he hopped on the huge Michael Lynch’s lap (seriously — the man makes a guitar look like a ukulele), they could probably do a pretty decent ventriloquist act on Simon Cowell’s new “X Factor” show. Decent vocals, no spark. That’s good, ‘cuz it’d probably melt the wax.
What the judges said:
“I think Purple Haze may get their lead singer back,” Simon
“Way better than last week,” Kara
“It wasn’t as good as the original,” Randy
“There could have been a little more soul in it,” Ellen
My grade: C+
“I Don’t Wanna Be”
Hey, Casey’s got another guitar in his collection, a nice electric axe that he’s wringing some good licks out of. Speaking of licks, I wonder if Kara’s licking her lips this week, watching Casey in full-on rock star mode. We’re almost spared all of the awful, useless banter about how sexy Casey is and how much Kara lusts after him. Almost. But then Kara refers to herself as a cougar. Sigh. Let it go, Kara, you’re embarrassing yourself and embarrassing ones’ self is Seacrest’s job.
What the judges said:
“Tonight, I gotta say, you took two steps backward,” Kara
“I want you to just play on stage and move more,” Ellen
“I didn’t know you played the guitar like that. Dude, that was hot,” Randy
“You turned into … somebody trying to be a rock star,” Simon
My grade: B+
“Everybody Knows”
Did you notice how nice the “Idol” set looked this week? They touched up the paint a little. That machine that shakes up the paint was broken, though, so they just handed the cans to Alex after he walked offstage last week. The shakiest (shot)gun (microphone) in the west was a little more relaxed this week, but that’s like saying that Jay Leno is … oh, never mind. Started confident, really started to lose it halfway through. All in all, a marked improvement.
What the judges said:
“That was a million times better than last week,” Simon
“What you have is an incredible, recordable voice,” Kara
“I really enjoyed that, actually, man,” Randy
“It’s like somebody took the unripe banana and put it in a paper bag,” Ellen
My grade: C+
“What’s Love Got to Do With It?”
Okay, Todrick went from Weirdsville to Dullsville, with a loungey rendition of this Tina Turner tune. Vocally better than last week, but it lacked the train wreck factor we look to Todrick for.
What the judges said:
“I don’t think it was the right song at all,” Ellen
“A great song doesn’t need a different, wild arrangement,” Randy
“When you started moving, it actually got better,” Kara
“This is not working out at all for you,” Simon
My grade: D+
“What’s Goin’ On”
Oh, Jermaine. Not even your buddy Jesus is going to be able to help you when you force a comparison between your over-the-top yet perplexingly weak voice against that of the great Marvin Gaye. We hear what’s goin’ on, and it’s just kind of okay.
What the judges said:
“It just didn’t work for me,” Ellen
“It was just so close, but so far at the same time,” Randy
“The problem is, you’re always doing too much,” Kara
“We’re frustrated and disappointed. You water down the songs,” Simon
My grade: C
“You Give Me Something”
Hey Andrew … did you hear that your doppelganger, Danny Gokey, is going to be performing on Thursday’s results show? Maybe y’all can do that acting class thing where you face each other and mimic one another’s movements, pretending that you are mirror images of each other. On the other hand, some cataclysmic alternate-universe event might take place if the two of you occupy the same stage at the same time. Better play it safe, like you did with this bland and surprisingly off-key performance. I think you just knocked yourself out of the frontrunner slot.
What the judges said:
“It’s just okay, and you’re better than okay,” Simon
“Today, you played it too safe,” Kara
“Dawg, honestly, that wasn’t a vibe for you tonight,” Randy
“I like that you take chances,” Ellen
My grade: C+
“My Girl”
Wow, this performance could not have been cheesier. It was like a grilled cheese sandwich without the bread, with extra cheese sprinkled on top in a Wisconsin cheese shop with a side of Cheez-Its. Did I mention it was cheesy? I may start calling Aaron Chester Cheetah. The vocal was average, but I kept scanning the audience, looking for that pig-tailed, little blond girl with the pink shirt who wept uncontrollably whenever David Archuleta opened his mouth. I wonder whatever happened to that girl? These are the things that drift into my mind when Aaron sings, which can’t be a good sign.
What the judges said:
“It was all over the place. I think you actually went kind of backwards,” Simon
“I liked it. I mean I really liked it,” Kara
“Dude, you can really sing,” Randy
“I think the song was a little forgettable,” Ellen
My grade: C
“Come On Get Higher”
Sure, Tim did better than he did last week, blah blah blah. As the weeks go by, Tim reminds me more and more of that “Brady Bunch” episode where Greg was going to become a rock star and that jive producer took him into the studio and pulled all kinds of weird, electronic shenanigans on his voice. At the end, you couldn’t even recognize it. Turns out the producer wanted Greg because he was good-looking and “fit the suit.” That’s Tim in a nutshell. He fits the suit. Now, if only we could apply some electronic shenanigans on his below-average voice.
What the judges said:
“Congratulations, I thought you did great,” Simon
“You didn’t make it your own,” Kara
“It was kind of very karaoke for me,” Randy
“There’s no charisma; there’s no stage presence,” Ellen
My grade: C-
“Lips of an Angel”
Lee did pretty good, even though he really missed his guitar (he should borrow one of Casey James’ … that guys got a whole collection!). I like Lee, but I wish his voice was as good as it gives the illusion of being — he misses a lot of notes but he’s got a really appealing vocal quality. I didn’t think he looked as nervous as the judges did, but the way he was clutching that microphone stand he reminded me of that janitor from “Scrubs.” You know, the guy who plays the dad on “The Middle” now. I think this performance lifted Lee right out of the middle. Dewyze song choice, too.
What the judges said:
“There was so much passion and intensity,” Ellen
“I liked it,” Randy
“I can hear you on the radio right now. Good job,” Kara
“Vocally, you are head and shoulders above everybody else in your side of the competition right now,” Simon
My grade: B-
Should go: Todrick Hall, John Park
Will go: John Park, Jermaine Sellers
Agree? Disagree? Sound off!
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: American Idol, Entertainment, Reality TV
Tonight on TV: ‘Parenthood,’ ‘Independent Lens’
NBC kicks off night two of Post-Leno 9 p.m. with the debut of “Parenthood,” the new one-hour drama series from “Friday Night Lights” show runner Jason Katims. You can read my column about the show, a re-imagining of the 1989 film, by clicking here.
Also tonight, KLRU presents “The Eyes of Me” on “Independent Lens.” The film looks at four blind teenagers — two freshmen and two seniors — over the course of one year at Austin’s Texas School for the Blind. Viewers can find more information about the film at the PBS Web site.
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Reporter/anchor Matt Flener leaving KXAN
KXAN reporter and anchor Matt Flener is leaving Austin for Denver’s KUSA.
“It’s so good to finally be able to announce it,” said Flener, who came to Austin in May, 2007. “It’s a station that I’ve had my eye on ever since I started doing broadcast journalism. It’s one of those stations that has just a huge legacy of great storytelling. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to even have the chance to work there. I’m just ecstatic about it.”
During his tenure at KXAN, Flener covered big stories including Hurricane Ike and last week’s Echelon building plane crash (Flener’s reports from the site were picked up by MSNBC, resulting in a pat on the back from his future employers at KUSA).
“It’s one of those stories where you’re standing in the news room and you get the call and you just go,” he said. Flener did 15-20 live shots that day, just describing what he saw, which was not as tragic as he’d assumed on the drive up. “I went on that turn ramp from Mo-Pac to 183 and I looked at that building and I said, ‘there have to be dozens of bodies in that building’.” Fortunately it didn’t turn out that way.
Flener said that the story — “one of those that you’ll remember forever” — really helped boost his confidence in his live reporting skills. But he also enjoyed reporting the smaller stories featuring those who he said “don’t always make it onto TV.”
He remembers one in particular: After receiving a tip from the person who helped him locate his first apartment in Austin, Flener arrived on the scene to find a cat that had been stuck in a drain for three days. “We went live at noon,” he recalled. “All of the other stations showed up after they saw the report at noon and then the fire department showed up — they had almost given up on rescuing this cat” (part of the story can be viewed in Flener’s resume reel, embedded below).
Flener imagines he’ll be covering the same kinds of stories he covered in Austin utilizing a variety of emerging technologies. “I’ll be shooting and editing and writing an tweeting and Flip camera-ing and all kinds of different stuff, trying to tell the story on as many different platforms as possible,” he said.
He claimed that his wife is even more excited about the prospect of heading off to Colorado with their two girls, who will turn 4 and 2 next month, than he is. When I suggested that they won’t remember Austin, he said, “I hope they do because … it’s a magical city. I’ve had the best experience here in Austin, getting to know people; getting invited into their homes.”
Flener will leave your homes in May and begin his new job in June.
Watch Flener in action:
Matt Flener Resume Reel from Matt Flener on Vimeo.
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Gatlins line up appearances on Fox channels
Fans of Austin’s Larry Gatlin have several chances to catch the singer on cable news channels over the next couple of days.
Gatlin will appear on Fox Business Channel’s “America’s Nightly Scoreboard” at 6 p.m. tonight, and then on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” at 8, according to a release his publicist.
On Wednesday, Gatlin and brothers Rudy and Steve will appear on Fox Business Channel’s “Imus in the Morning” (5 a.m.) to perform and talk about their new album, “Pilgrimage.”
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It needs to R.I.P. The concept has run its course. Perhaps remake it as a dynamic government official that has 24 hours to save the housing market???
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