Lackluster

Again, they're touted as the best vocalists ever on IDOL? If you're telling me that those girls did any performance better than Jen Hud, LaToya, Fantasia, Kelly, Tamyra, Carrie, Locke, Vonzelle, McPhee, Jordin? Hell, even Trynece and DeDe DeGarmo turned in better, consistent vocals than those chicks have in 2 weeks!? I think that Alexandrea and Ramiele still have potential and will be around, as will Carly. Asia's and her "All By Myself" was indeed too large of a song for a singer who also has potential. Syesha? Bye'isha! (Thanks Eric.) Singing "Me & Mrs. Jones?" Of all the 70's songs? It was so unmemorable I can only pick one sure thing, rocker Amanda and her Sweeny Todd 'do is NOT connecting w/ audiences and will be booted soon. And I like Heart but the 70's Heart?! I hate those songs! I like my 80's Heart. Don't hate! I mean, what did you expect!?

I hope that Penelope, opening Friday, is good. ReeCee Witherspoon and CiCi Ricci!? I have high hopes.

ABC is picking up According To Jim for an 8th season. No, you didn't read that wrong. On a similar note, those big-brained execs at NBC gave us Quarterlife the other night. Yawn. And they'll likely keep American Gladiators, Deal or No Deal, LipStick Jungle, Bionic Woman, America's Got Talent and My Dad is Better than Your Dad, while canceling the amazingly superior Friday Night Lights. I can't say enough about how wonderful this show is. If it goes, NBC got it wrong - and so did America for not tuning in. (I still think the show wasn't marketed to teens enough.)  While eye-candy like Taylor Kitsch (pictured) is worth it, the writing and acting is stellar.

David, David. Yo, yo, David!

70's: This will be the shortest blog on IDOL ever (simply because there's nothing else to talk about regarding last nights Boy's Night). David Archuletta. That's all I got. Whether he wins or not doesn't matter. In 2 short weeks, he's proven that he's the one to beat and if by some strange twist of the competition he's booted, Clive Davis will announced he's signed the next day. My 2nd fave guy is Jason Castro. Still. He's got "it" about him. Best singer? No. An "artist?" Yes. Hell, John Mayer wouldn't last in this competition. But who wouldn't want his career? On a future note, I venture to predict that the guys will drop, drop, drop once 6 of them join the 6 girls. We could see David A vs 4 girls in the Top 5. 70's night and not one Manilow tune?! Do these kids not read Simon's press or Bio? He loves Manilow. Mistake. They need to look at the large list of cover-tunes his group Westlife have cut.

Did I jump in the Delorean back to 1984? Valerie Berinelli and Tracey Gold are the guests on THE VIEW?

I went to sleep with a migrane (pictured) and it's still dullishly here.

Janet's album dropped yesterday. After sampling, I. Have. No. Interest.

After Monday's episode, I could be losing interest in Terminator: Sarah Connor. Don't confuse me!?

Mariah's "Touch My Body" has officially grown on me. It's a slow burner but will be my Spring jam.

FALL

Here's the good news of the week! Read the Billboard review then buy the single at iTunes.

KIMBERLEY LOCKE "FALL" / With seven top 10 AC hits since September 2004, Kimberley Locke has become the format's consummate modern-day heroine. Current CD "Based on a True Story" has already locked in two chart champs on the AC and club charts, "Band of Gold" and "Change" (in addition to No. 1 AC Christmas release "Frosty the Snowman" in December). "Fall," a 2007 top five country hit for labelmate Clay Walker, is a stunning showcase for the versatile vocalist, as she delivers a powerhouse ballad—perhaps alongside "8th World Wonder," her most satisfying single yet—complete with production and melody bells and whistles that will leave listeners swaying as Locke serenades, "Go and fall apart, fall into these arms of mine, I'll catch you everytime." The track builds to a diva-worthy climax—making upcoming dance remixes all the more propitious. Locke has proved her charms over and again. How could we not "Fall" with her? —Chuck Taylor

I caught up with the last few Nip/Tuck episodes. I love that show. It is so over-the-top unbelievable that it's near-fantasy. The minds of those writers are warped! It is very deliciously damn good and oh-so entertaining. Coming up on FX: Dirt and The Riches. And I can't wait!

What's better than Sally Field in Brothers & Sisters?

I'm not fully recovered from allergy/drunken induced froggy, smokey Brenda Vocarro voice brought on by drinking and yelling over a dozen queens at my Oscar viewing. It was a fun night. A somewhat boring show, made exciting by my dear friends and my homemade Turkey Chili and Corn Muffins.

Your Best Celebrity Friend

Mike (aka Deb G) is visiting from SF this weekend.  While I wanted to hit my fave Happy Hour at Eleven Bar last night, it was closed for a party so we had to take in libations at Fiesta.  Over our Chicken Nachos, as he always does, he created a game: Your Best Friend Celebrity List. Who would you want to be your celebrity best friend - not for the perks but just because you want them to be in your life because they NEED you and you NEED them....  Pick 3 ladies and one straight guy who is really cool with you but one day you get that fantasy-come-to-life make-out session.  His choices: Alicia Keys (shocker), Parker Posey, Jean Smart (because you should chose 1 'senior' for life advice) - and his guy: Eric Bana.  WOW!  Mine: Jennifer Gardner-Affleck, Natalie Maines-Pasdar (pictured), Streisand (shocker, I know - but I didn't say Cher!?) -- and James Marsden.

SNL is back!  And Amy Pohler is everything.  I can't wait for her feature film with Tina Fey, "Baby Mama." I mean, c'mon!?  And I'm a #1 Carrie Underwood fan, but she needs a stage-coach fast!  Not the horse & wagon, but someone to teach her how to work it better.  She was holding onto that mic stand for dear life on both of her tunes.  Kick it up, Carrie!

Proving I'll basically see any film, we're off to "Definitely Maybe."  

In Comes "Company"

LA TIMES goes on record stating that IDOL will likely be a 2-Guy-Race between Michael Johns and David Archuletta, giving the likely crown to Davey.  Interesting.  And it could come true. Will this be the first 2-male finale since Ruben vs Clay in season 2?  If you count Clay as a dude, then yes!

COMPANY, my favorite Sondheim musical will air on PBS tonight (2/24) as part of Great Performances.  Filmed in HD from it's Broadway stint last year, the simplest of Sondheim's musicals contains his best songs, Being Alive, The Ladies Who Lunch, Side By Side, Another Hundred People.  It's never been caught on tape.  A docu of the original 1970 cast album recording sessions is available on DVD, featuring a breakdown by a then-boozing Elaine Stritch (now sober).  You must see it. 

MARY J BLIGE has her own Storytellers on VH1 Monday February 25.  Dramatic, high energy and inspirational are a few words that come to mind when seeing Miss Mary live.  Tune in.

Friday TidBits:

Movies: "Vantage Point" is getting not-so-good reviews, which upsets me.  "Charlie Bartlet" is getting good reviews, so I'll be seeing that.  If you've seen all the Oscar films you need, (and want to avoid our LA rain), stay home and rent "Gone Baby Gone."

Idol Results: I'm fine with the 4 that got the boot.  We gotta get rid of the lower tier to get to our top 12 somehow.  I think Colton is a better vocalist than a couple who remain, but he wouldn't have lasted much longer.

Interestingly enough, Paula Abdul chimed in on her choices.  Her 3 guys are my choices. "You can't deny David Archuletta, Jason Castro and Michael Johns and Alaina and Sayesha and Ramiele and Carly... I could go on and on."

Best Picture:  The race is between No Country and There Will Be Blood.  I loved them both equally but I feel Country will take it (as will the Cohens for Directing).  My problem lies i the remaining noms: Atonement, Michael Clayton and Juno.  I would have like to have seen any of these there instead:  Sweeny Todd, Gone Baby Gone, American Gangster and Superbad.  Yes, Superbad.  I don't think Clayton and Atonement deserved the nod.  I think the Seniors liked Clayton and the period-piece-pushers checked Atonement.  While I loved Juno, it lucked out with the Miss Sunshine factor.  Juno is totally enjoyable but it's no Sunshine.  And I feel if they wanted a feel-good, true-life comedy, Superbad (now on DVD) is the better choice.  But some of its raunch-factor turned off voters.  At it's core, it's a wonderful coming-of-age love story between two guy friends.

Idol? I'dull.

Idols Gurlz Nite: First things, i think the producers, host and judges decided to hype this season as the BEST singers ever simply because they got so much s**t for allowing untalented kids through last year (Sanjaya).  These are truly not the best. At this point, it's too early to really crown someone or throw-in-the-towel.  So, I tend to judge them on my "I really won't mind seeing them on my TV for the next few weeks" theory.  Here's who I liked: Alexandrea (Spinning Wheel) gives me shades of Mary J meets Lauren Hill at 17; Amanda (rocker chick with skunk stripe). While in need of a make-over simply because she's 23 and looks near 40, she rocks (but that might get tired); Ramiele (dubbed the singing Jasmine Trias, sorry) - I love smokey vocals a la Gladys, Anita Baker, Kimmie Locke.  Syesha (Tobacco Road) and Asiah (Piece of my Heart) are both equally good, which could prove to be a problem later; Carly (Shadow of Your Smile) has most potential in (a) her vox getting better once she's not sick and (b) her makeover could be ultimately dramatic.  Get that girl's hair on a defibrillator, STAT!  I think Amy Davis (Where the Boys Are) and plus-sized Joanna could be going home.  I think Brook White is good, but she's could be too Sheryl Crow for this competition.  As for Simon calling her out for being too happy and nice, I say "because Carrie Underwood was such a witch?!"  I think Simon wanted her to have some edge.  I agree.  It's okay for blonde, pretty, country Carrie to be a good girl.  It's not okay for fledging R&B/Pop star Jordin Sparks.  Edge is needed in that world.  If Kelly Clarkson didn't get edgy on her "Breakaway" album, she coulda been gone quickly.  In closing, let me rewind on "Spinning Wheel" by Alexandrea; Paula loved it because she 'made it her own' because its a girl doing a guys song (which 98% of the time works).  Simon didn't like the Blood Sweat & Tears tune because, just like Country night, he's NOT American!  Kids, when you're in these theme nights, try to chose a UK hit.

(Additional note:  My friend Eric is claiming he's got David A signed to his (fictitious) label.  See you in court.  I have the texts sent to Gizicki weeks ago that he is MY discovery first.)

  

One Black Guy: There's only one black guy competing in Idol this year: Chikesie.  Being that Usher, Chris Brown, J Holiday, and Mario are pretty damn popular, you'd think more brothahs would be there.  In contrast there 4 black females.

Best Actress: It's either Frenchie Marion C for La Vie En Rose or Julie Christie for Away From Her.  I've yet to see either but I hear they're both incredible.  I think it'll be Julie though (who won one in 1964.)