It’s appropriate that Episode 2 of American Idol‘s eighth season focused on the ‘Show Me’ state, since the producers actually focused on Hollywood-bound contestants for a change — can I get a big, enthusiastic "holla!" up in here? — and spent a lot less time chasing trainwrecks. During the two hour telecast, we got to see 13 of the 27 Kansas City hopefuls who received Golden Tickets, and while I can’t say that any of ‘em rocked my world like Paris Bennett’s "Take Five" from back in season 5 (yeah, that one tops my list of Idol’s 12 Greatest Auditions Ever), there were a lot of solid singers on display, and better still, many appeared to have been plucked from day-job obscurity (i.e. welder Matt Breitzke), rather than pre-selected from lists of artists who’ve recently been dropped by major labels (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Anyhow, weigh in with your thoughts on tonight’s episode, then be sure to check back around 6 a.m. for my full TV Watch episode recap. On that note, I’d better start frantically hunting and pecking; it’s after 10 p.m., and I don’t know where my opening paragraph is.
Archive: January 2009 (211-220 of 354)
David Archuleta: Why is he performing in a flower shop???
I was on the Yahoo! homepage earlier today when I spied a lil’ picture of David Archuleta in the lower right-hand corner with the headline "See David’s special performance of ‘Crush’ in an L.A. flower shop." Because I refused to believe that this was actually real, I went ahead and clicked, expecting to be guided to The Onion‘s website…or perhaps the Funny or Die homepage. Alas, it’s real. And it’s weird. And like all things Archuleta-related, it’s slightly creepy with a twist of awkward. Take a look:
I’m rendered somewhat speechless by this. I’m no Archie hater — he’s a swell kid with a nice voice, even if I’m not really interested in learning his oeuvre. But what in the world is going on here? Anyone care to venture a guess?
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees '09: Metallica, Run-D.M.C., and more
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2009 inductees this afternoon, and the lucky five legends are Metallica, Run-D.M.C., Bobby Womack, Jeff Beck, and Little Anthony & the Imperials. Seems like a pretty strong list to me, covering a nice variety of eras and sounds. It’ll be fitting to see Metallica honored after the blockbuster year they’ve just had. And I’m particularly happy to see Run-D.M.C. in there. They’ll become only the second hip-hop artist to enter the Hall, after Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 2007. Now, I know that not everyone agrees with me on this, but as far as I’m concerned Run-D.M.C. made as much of an impact on the past 25 years of music as any recent inductees. More, in many cases. So please spare me the kvetching about how rappers don’t belong in a "Rock and Roll" museum. Any canon broad enough to encompass the Everly Brothers, Van Halen, and Miles Davis can make room for Rev Run, D.M.C., and the late Jam-Master Jay, can’t it? But you tell me. What do you think of this year’s slate of honorees?
More on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and this year’s inductees:
EW Gallery: 24 Metallica Career Highs and Lows
Run-D.M.C.’s Raising Hell is one of EW’s New Music Classics
PopWatch mulled over who got snubbed when the ’09 nominees were revealed
I found some of last year’s inductees a little underwhelming
Motown's 50th Anniversary: What's your favorite song?
In honor of Motown’s 50th anniversary, we sat down with the Four Tops’ Duke Fakir and had him name the songs from the label that would make his ultimate playlist. (He also shared great stories, like how he actually begged Motown founder Berry Gordy not to release the Tops’ No. 1 hit "Reach Out, I’ll Be There," what it was like to watch his bandmate Obie Benson and Marvin Gaye pen "What’s Going On," and what joke he and Stevie Wonder used to play on the Supremes.)What’s your favorite Motown song? There are so many to choose from, from the Tops, Gaye, Wonder, and the Supremes, to the Temptations, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, the Jackson 5, the Commodores, solo Lionel Richie, Johnny Gill (oh, you know you love "Rub You the Right Way")…. But if you ask me what track I never get tired of hearing, it’s the Contours’ "Do You Love Me." Watch the video below and see the crowd go crazy. (That’s why I love going to oldies’ concerts — that moment when the audience explodes is amplified by 30 years of memories.)
After the jump, watch a video for the Commodores’ "Sail On," just because it’s that good.
Bikini Girl: The reason I'll watch (at least one more) 'American Idol'
Three words sum up my excitement from last night’s American Idol: Ka. Tree. Na.
You may not recognize that name, or the surname Darrell, with all the haters (cough *Slezak!* cough) simply referring to her by her attire. But as a casual non-viewer of American Idol, it’s the Katrina Darrells and the Sanjaya Malakars that actually get me interested. I didn’t watch last night, but after I heard about Bikini Girl this morning, you bet your ass I fired up the clips online and enjoyed the hell out of the whole thing. I can’t decide what I liked most: 1) Hot girl shows up in a bikini, spins around, jumps up and down 2) Randy and Simon’s jaw-dropping, "She’s a YES for me!" 3) Paula and Kara’s equally vehement dislike for her 4) Hot girl shows up in a bikini.
Katrina may not be around long, but solely because of her, I will watch at least one more episode of American Idol in the juvenile, prurient hope that she does something as inappropriately sexy once again — and you better believe I won’t be the only one. Hey, it’s fun, silly, unpredictable, and hot. All things I like. Kudos, Bikini Girl. Can’t wait to see you again.
Who’s with me? Bikini Girl was hot, right? Anyone else like the curve ball these much-hated American Idol goofs bring to the mix?
More ‘American Idol’:
Michael Slezak’s American Idol recap
Profile: Kara DioGuardi, the New ‘Idol’ Judge
12 songs that should be banned from Idol forever!
The 16 best Idol performances ever
The 10 worst Idol performances ever
Amy Wilkinson’s Biggest Loser: Couples recap
John Mayer has (maybe) a TV show (again)!
News out of winter TCA today that CBS has given singer/professional boyfriend John Mayer the green light for a variety show pilot…and scoff all you want, PopWatchers, but this is a really, really good idea. Like, a better idea than Rosie Live. Okay, that’s not saying much. But seriously: As I’ve noted in this space before, I find John Mayer — when he is not releasing generic AAA blues-pop or trading endless licks with guitar legends — to be a fascinating and hilarious human being. I embed a clip from the lone episode of John Mayer Has a TV Show that aired on VH1 in 2004 as proof. Long live John Myers and the bear suit! (Check out the clip if that reference makes no sense.)
What do you think, PopWatchers? Good call, or bad idea jeans? And how should Mr. Myers fill the time? I’m sure he’ll read this — maybe he’ll even blog about it! — so let’s hear those programming suggestions.
Brendan Fraser set to star opposite Harrison Ford
My prayers have been answered: Brendan Fraser has signed on for another major drama — this time opposite Harrison Ford in one of CBS Films’ first releases. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fraser will play the desperate father of two sick kids who turns to Ford’s "irascible doctor" character to help save them. Filming on the as-yet untitled project starts in April. I know he’s got Inkheart, based on the Cornelia Funke books, coming out on Jan. 23, but I’ve got to say that I’m mostly looking forward to this new pic. He’s made his name (and serious bank) doing blockbuster action films like the Mummy series and silly roles like George of the Jungle earn him cred with the kiddie set, but it’s in quieter little films, like Gods and Monsters and The Quiet American, that he gets to show off his real chops and be more than a square-jawed hunk. He’s more than capable of holding his own with Harrison Ford — for God’s sake, he shared the screen with Ian McKellan! But if nothing else, his pairing with Ford could lead to some good on-set discussions and Fraser can glean his secret to longevity.
What do you think? Will this upcoming papa-in-despair flick be worth turning up at the theater for or will you catch it on TV…maybe on CBS?
More Brendan Fraser:
Brendan Fraser still does it for me. How about you?
A look at how Brendan Fraser became a billion-dollar man
EW’s review of Journey to the Center of the Earth (by Owen Gleiberman)
EW’s review of ‘The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor’
Steve McQueen biopic producers should give Damian Lewis a call
If we can all agree that Steve McQueen is the coolest actor in the history of ever, then this just-announced Steve McQueen biopic should be the coolest movie in the history of ever, right? There are a thousand things that can go wrong between now and whenever this movie gets released — bad writing, horrible direction, shooting in Smell-o-vision, etc. — but here’s the one thing they need to do right:
Cast Damian Lewis (far left) as McQueen.
That was the first thing that struck me upon seeing him as Dick Winters in HBO’s Band of Brothers miniseries, how much he looked like the man. And then watching him work the detective beat in Life sealed it. No, he’s not a movie star, he’s just a damned good actor who’d be the spot on choice.
Okay, let’s pretend I’m wrong (which I’m not, but go on)…who would you cast?
Which TV show's fans do you secretly kinda hate? (Mine's 'Lost'...Ducking!)
Earlier this week, when I used the "I think this line’s mostly filler" lyric from the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode in the headline for a recap of a boring Brothers & Sisters, a quarter of the comments on the post were from fellow Buffy fans appreciating the reference. That made one reader, named Shannon, issue a smackdown: "Good grief people…get over Buffy…she is gone…the actress hasapparently disappeared too….it was a good show…but good god!! getover it!! Brothers and Sisters is sooooo much better…that is if youare over the age of 18…mentally that is."
Reading that got me thinking about how Shannon obviously didn’t get the show how you can appreciate a show and yet, kinda hate its fans. So ‘fess up: Which TV show’s fans annoy you? I trust we’ll all be respectful (because on some level, you have to appreciate anyone who’s as passionate about TV as you are). If I had to choose a show, it would be Lost. Before you crucify me: It’s not that I dislike its fans as much as it is that I dislike the feeling that if I want to be a fan, I can’t just watch an hour of quality TV; I have to start decoding Sprite commercials and go see Cloverfield. I know that intricate, never-ending web of clues is precisely the reason why so many of you love the show, but I just don’t have it in me to care that much over multiple platforms.* (Also, I used to fact-check Doc Jensen’s Lost features for EW and lived in fear that I would let a mistake slip through: You know you would have sent a letter, which, again, is why I respect and fear you.)
Your turn. Play nicely.
* If you think that makes me inferior to you, instead of just different, then I do dislike you. But just a bit.
More blasphemy:
Which seminal band makes you seminauseated?
Your pop-culture relationship deal breakers?
Twilight: A hater’s guide
'The Biggest Loser: Couples': The dreaded week 2
Following a twist-filled first week where nine contestants were sent home to sweat solo, the remaining 11 came face-to-face with the fickle mistress that is week 2. While the cool coquette showed her love to a few lucky contestants, many had to settle for single-digit weight losses. Also, a blister on the sole of the BL gang: "Silver bullet" Joelle, pictured (more on that to come).
This week, Alison presented the group with their first temptation challenge, and it was a doozy. Donuts and cheeseburgers — while tasty — are fleeting, but cold, hard cash is forever…unless you fritter it away on donuts and cheeseburgers. The contestants lined up behind a white line and were offered $5,000 to cross it, the catch being that once they crossed the line they were eliminated from the show for good. When no one budged, Alison upped the ante to $10,000. If Joelle were a cartoon character this would have been the moment slot machine cherries, dollar signs, and stars would have whizzed through her eye sockets as she contemplated the house she could buy for $10K in Michigan. Part of me can’t blame her — she does live with her mother. Joelle’s toes drew ever closer to the line as Alison finally bumped the total up to $25,000, but in the end, all 11 players walked away.
Perhaps hearing my plea last week for a real challenge, BL producers put away the sandbox and dropped the players onto the high seas (or maybe just the nearest big lake — whatevs). After making their way to shore in pedal-powered kayaks, they were faced with a steep mountain hike before crossing the finish line. At stake was immunity and for the first four finishers, phone calls home. The last-place finisher would also receive something — a penalty pound added to his/her weight during weigh in. Go-getter Tara took first place while Dan finished in last place. That additional pound would be Dan’s undoing during the elimination round sending him below the yellow line with Jerry. But it was the lovable grandpa who was sent home (and didn’t he look fantastic in the after video with wife and partner Estella?).
How the rest of the episode unfolded, and my favorite player so far, after the jump.
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