A Yawn-Night at Idol

While not as loopy as seasons past, I think our Miss Paula was the loopiest last night than she's been all season. I'm sure it's because she added a combo of decongestants to her pills of-the-norm, as she sounded a bit under the weather. But her more-than-usually run-on comments combined with her ode-to-the-80's ripped Leather & Lace dress brought to mind the "Hey Paula" we love! Anyway, yes Seyesha's vocals were amazing, but I just feel as soon as she goes back to an uptempo, she'll falter, Most vulnerable: Chickeze, Ramielle, Brooke and Carly. I really feel audiences are not connecting with Carly. With her tattooed arm (yet to be EVER covered up), her frumpy clothes (what is she really hiding under there?), and her Our Miss Brooks hair and face, she just seems like my nephew's 2nd grade teacher, not a star and certainly not the rock star she's sees herself as. It's like she wants to be Pink with Felicity Huffman's style. Choosing a somewhat obvious Total Eclipse was both brave and dumb. Taking a large, bombastic song known for its climatic build and trying to sandwich it into 2 minutes never works. And that ending note!? She's just letting me down and is clearly in need of a strong arm of A&R'ing. My goal tonight backstage, other than my pic with Baby D, is to give my number to his father to call me every week for song guidance. "You're the Voice"? Enough with your message songs Archuleta! Are you in a pop star competition or the presidential campaign? Brooke was ok, but it's again too obvious that she jumped back to the piano with a ballad just as she did for her best night with Let it Be. David Cook? Amazing. The hair still bugs but if he shaved that near-comb-over, the Daughtry comparisons would be louder than they are. But he is now on a consistent roll. Jason Castro: step up your game or you'll be gone by #5! As noted by some friends, all Kristy Lee Cook needed to pull out was either a fire-baton or sign language. Did Jon-Benet Ramsey do this tune at age 5? So pageant. Very shameful I feel and yes, as Simon said, the most "clever" song choice ever. KL Cook is unfortunately and wrongfully safe.


So, I'll be there today, all day. I'll try to dig as best as I can. Be sure to tune in tonight! And if you haven't bought Kimberley Locke's "Fall" at iTunes, do so or send it to a friend. This is the time we need to see sales jump.

Quick Bits

A busy week this week so here are some things to note:

I watched Dan In Real Life (Steve Carell) and The Brave One (Jody Foster) on DVD this weekend. There were just ok. Enjoyable enough for DVD.

George Michael is going on a US Tour! He plays LA Forum on 6/25!

Idol's Josh Gracin and Phil Stacey drop their country albums in April. And Clay Aiken's new album of originals is out in May, which I find shocking. I didn't think they'd keep him.

The rooftop at Fiesta Cantina is superfun! They DO need to invest in some new furniture & decor there though.

I just uploaded Paula Abdul's Greatest Hits into my iTunes. Truly enjoyable, mindless pop. She was the original J-Lo -- the first of the non-singers really. She's got that Crazy Cool Vibeology.

Dolly Parton's off bed rest from back surgery so expect a big media push for her Backwoods Barbie CD which dropped about 2 months ago.

CD Sales, Mask, & More

Rick Ross sold 188,000 albums to enter at #1 this week. Who's Rick Ross, Jerry? I have no f**king clue. Additionally, Danity Kane, late of Making the Band three years ago, will enter at #1 next week with around 270-290,000 sold. (100,000 more than Janet.) Which brings me to this: music and music tastes are in the toilet and clearly, I'm old.

Ahhhh. Cher as tough biker chick raising a facially deformed son. Yes, I'm having MASK memories. Cher was wonderful in the film, which at the time was quite a tear-jerker. Now, you can see it in all it's musical glory! Yes, Mask: The Musical has set-up shop in Pasadena. I love legendary song writers Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil so there just may be some good music there. Reviews should hit shortly, but for now, check out the pix: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/116102.html

Meet The Browns, Shutter, and Drillbit Taylor open today in theatres. So, unless you're under 18 with these on your must-see list, I suggest, once again, that you go see THE BANK JOB.

It's gonna be GORGEOUS in LA this weekend but if you need a DVD viewing, check out I Am Legend, Why Did I Get Married?, Gone Baby Gone.

Didja know Edie Brickell released a new album last month? Under the "group" name of the Heavy Circles, I've always loved her voice so I'll check it out soon. Also, good news to look forward to; the amazing Wynonna is set to issue a covers album later this year. She's cut Maria Muldaur's playful "I'm A Woman" already. I hope this pushes Wy to the forefront she deserves.

Adele, Overmeyer, Mamma

Lotsa buzz over new singer Duffy.  She seems a bit TOO Amy Winehouse'esqe so I don't hold high hopes for her to take over radio and have massive sales.  But expect critics to line-up.  Adele, another UK newcomer will be release here this summer.  Already a London hit, her "Chasing Pavement" single is really remarkable.  A great old school sound in a new way.  The horns on the chorus remind me of the wonderful, under-appreciated James Morrison song, "You Give Me Something."  That song not being a US hit made me officially declare that radio is deaf.

I like Ruben Studdard's "Celebrate Me Home" single.  Cheesily used on Idol, the Kenny Loggins classic has always been a favorite.  Get it at iTunes.

Over the Overmeyer:  I think her demeanor killed her.  She seemed so unlikable and it seems this show was getting in the way of her rockdom. Ya know?  Did you see how the bottom 3 girls were embraced but Mandy O was stiff and not touching the Carly or KL Cook.  Cold.  We all know the Cook shoulda gone and while Mandy was good TV, she wouldn't have lasted another week or two.  As for that PAINFUL Beatles medley?!  It was, well, painful.  A big wish: don't do Beatles at all next season.  That's wishful thinking though.  I guarantee it'll happen again.

MAMMA MIA!  Check out the new movie trailer.  It looks pretty cheesy, more so than  the stage play.  See, on the stage you can play big with extra cheese.  On the screen however?  I'm sure I'll personally love it, but I'm concerned.  And I still feel the fab Meryl is a bit to mature by 10 years for the role. (Pictured)

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/justthefacts_mammamia.html

Dancing: Brava to Pricilla Presley! She was wonderful, as was Marlee Matlin. Still this show, at 2 hours, is a bit too much for me in the beginning but entertaining nonetheless.

Pop-Boys Grown; Idol's Beatles Bore

Remember Ryan Cabrera?  His first album was really damn good pop rock, which included basically his only real hits "On The Way Down" and "True." Well, he's now long-free of Ashlee Simpson, has grown out his 'do and 'stache and has released a new tune "Say," on Papa Joe Records (at iTunes now). Yup, he's still repped by Ashlee's dad. Anyway, this song is an infectious, perfect, spring ditty. Better than Gavin Degraw's new stuff. I hope this takes off 'cause it's just truly enjoyable. Check it out: www.myspace.com/ryancabrera

Jesse McCartney, another former teen (via Disney) who had a few pop hits a while back, has returned with a more mature face (acne's gone, new teeth fit his handsome face better).  Well, his new song from his upcoming "Departure" cd is indeed a departre.  I liked his last single "Right Where You Want Me," which flopped.  The new once sounds just as good as an Usher/Chris Brown tune.  But I don't know if whitey-boy will fly.  Check it out "Leavin'": www.jessemac.com

Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love" is the top single at iTunes following her US introduction on Oprah Monday.  Great song.  Big star in the making.  Huge.  Clive says so.  Cowell says so.

IDOL TIME - Ok.  First, I think we all agree that the producers made a HUGE mistake I hope they're regretting: two weeks in a row of Beatles.  It made it all-so lackluster.  That said, who didn't do well: KL Cook, Raimelle, J Castro, and Brooke.  I'm hoping KL Cook hits the road tonight, but in my gut, something could go awry.  I love RamRam's voice but it hasn't lived up to her potential.  Brooke bombed with her take on "Here Comes the Sun," but she's my current front-runner female so I have faith.  JJ Castro sang an otherwise unmoving "Michelle." But he's so f**king cute - and still has the IT factor (with tight, hot jeans).  I had an odd premonition it'll be Archuletta vs Castro in the end.  I don't know why, but it's my gut --- this week.  Carly was great but she just doesn't fit her body.  The hair, the wardrobe, the personality vs the average face, the tats, the Tracy Turnbladt hair, the big, edgy voice.  It just doesn't come together.   David Cook's "Daughtry" schtick is already boring me.  And while Saiesha was lovely with "Yesterday," she's proven she can't do an up-tempo or a power ballad that becomes too big for her.  But her intimate take of that tune was certainly one of the most memorable we've seen this year.  Interesting that we're down to one African American guy and girl only, isn't it?

Golden, Games

I took in "Funny Games" last night.  The indie flick with Naomi Watts is so disturbing, I can't write much about it without going back to that odd, scary, empty feeling I had during and after viewing.  It's one of those I can't quite recommend either.  It was just frighteningly based in reality... an ugly, this-can-happen reality.

Dancing With The Stars: As I mentioned, I usually don't stick with this show, but I'll say Jason Taylor, Mario and Christian were the stand-outs and should last a while.  Are you as nervous for Pricilla as I am?

They're bringing back new versions of 90210 and the short-lived Cupid.  With these revivals, dontcha think a modern version of The Golden Girls should come around?  Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore, Valerie Harper... any of those 70's broads are primed to tackle a newer Golden age with the internet, cell phones, dating at age 60+ in the 2000's!?  C'mon!

New music this week: WHO CARES!?  It's all been crap.  And we're in mid-March.

Are you watching DIRT on FX?  A great guilty pleasure, as is the Riches which starts tonight. Also tonight, "What Perez Says..." on VH1 with a Kimberley Locke interview.

Locke on Idol, MC's Hot Bod & More

Kimberley Locke returns to IDOL to sing "Fall" on March 26 wearing a fierce Christian Siriano (Project Runway) original.

Mariah Carey looked amazing in her new trim bod on SNL, right!?  The best she's looked in YEARS!  You'll see the Hot MC on "Idol" this week.  I predict a HUGE first week of sales when her new album drops in April.  Her 2nd single is already going to radio.  Yes, much like she did with her "Mimi" CD, she'll have two singles out there before street-date.  If you recall, "We Belong Together" was the 2nd single released a few weeks before the full album.  It'll be the summer of MC, causing possible tears to Janet & Maddy.

I saw "Miss Pettigrew" this weekend.  It was completely enjoyable but perhaps it's one of those you'll love on an airplane or cable.  Frannie McDormand is wonderful and I love Amy Adams, but it's time to change it up from the doe-eyed dingy she's played in Junebug, Enchanted and now this.  I think this would have been a wonderful cable movie actually.  (If you need to see a film, I beg you and demand you to see The Bank Job!)

The Gay CVS was full of hotties this past Sunday.  I finally felt what my friend Paul feels constantly: embarrassed to buy toilet paper.  But instead of driving to El Monte to do so as he does, I braved it.

Dancing with the Stars begins tonight.  I always try to stick with this show, but it just becomes too-gay-much.  It feels like it's on 5 days a week for 3 hours a night.  But as long as Christian de la Fuente's (pic) on network tv (sadly missed on "The Class"), I'll be there!