As I expected….AI’s last night of auditions switching between NYC and San Juan was just too rushed! We didn’t get to see even one-third of all those ticketed to Hollywood! Unlike the last few auditions, looks like NYC had a ton of talent, handing out 26 passes to Hollywood….San Juan only had 9 contestants getting their tickets punched, so they replace San Francisco with the lowest # moving on….thank goodness, how embarrassing would that have been to the city by the bay!?

So….of the 35 moving on last night…….why oh why it wasn’t at least a 90-minute or two hour show is just incredible….here’s Eddie’s thoughts….

· Jorge Nunez….He's got a very good voice, but it's a definite ‘Spanishy’ sound that comes out …he moves on, but I wasn’t impressed! Will NOT make it through Hollywood!

· Melinda Camille…..The girl with a shaved head, who loves to dance naked. This girl's kind of a weirdo.….but I bet my cousin Greg liked her!! ;-0 Surprisingly she does well, and Kara says she’s like a ‘vitamin boost’…..OK….but she’ll not make it through Hollywood!

· Jackie Tohn…..She’s been entertaining for 10 years, says she started in the music business as a little kid with her dad. She sings some Jason Mraz, another over-done artist in AI auditions! Raspy, unique voice that will stand out in Hollywood! Potential dark horse for the Top 36, but will NOT go too deep in the competition!

· Nick Mitchell….AKA Norman Gentle, an effeminate funny guy, who is pretty good at singing ‘Amazing Grace’, but….please….this was a joke putting him through!. Wasting money sending this duck to Hollywood!

OK……FAST FORWARD time for what seems to be some pretty good contestants who received tickets to Hollywood…..

· Ashley Hollister….21 year old from NJ, sounded good….but who knows!!?? Not enough for me to say how good or bad! L

· Kenny Hoofpauer….Gotta love this local kid, a 16 year-old from Havertown, PA who sings Jason Mraz (AGAIN!!) and does sound pretty good. Hope he makes it through Hollywood so the local Fox 29 Station in Philly has someone to follow!

· Kendell Beard…..Very pretty 23 year-old girl from Austin, TX…..sounds really good and looks great….She’s gets 4 yes’s from the judges and is a lock to get through Hollywood and into the Top 36 for sure, and could go much deeper in the competition! Keep an eye on this pretty blonde!

· Monique Garcia Torres….Back to San Juan for the chubby babe with the cute little brother who she drags in front of the judges for support and sympathy! It works…..but she BARELY makes it through, thanks big time to Simon’s deciding vote! But….NOT Top 36 potential….sorry!

· Patricia Lewis Roman….Last audition of the night from San Juan. She gets the benefit, like some others, of doing two songs, one Spanish…and makes it through to Hollywood….NO THANKS to Paula, who emphatically and quickly said NO!? Doubt she has the voice and stage presence though to make it through Hollywood though!

The bottom line….It’s really too bad, that with 35 tickets punched to Hollywood, this wasn’t a longer broadcast! We were all deprived the opportunity to see more talent, and instead, had to put up with all the buffoons that get paraded in front of the cameras!

FAST FACTS: With auditions now officially OVER…..it’s FINALLY time for Hollywood Hell Week…..time to get a bit more serious! There should be at least two or possibly three nights of AI next week in Hollywood before we are all introduced to what, for the FIRST time, will be the TOP 36 contestants!

So…..what next? Well….I’m going to look through my recaps of all the auditions and come up with my BEST candidates for the Top 36 before Hollwood’s first night….and then, after I see all the others that made it to Hollywood, I’ll develop and break it all down further and round out who I feel will move on to challenge for the AI top spot this year! Until then, a great Super Bowl weekend to all….enjoy the great commercials, THE BOSS at half-time….and oh….yeah….the game too……GO STEELERS!!

See ‘ya all next week in Hollywood….’Eddie Idol’…….OUT!!

Okay gang -- let's all give Cheers to Eddie Idol's amazing coverage of the AI Auditions!! Thanks a bunch Eddie!

Another night of AI auditions last night as Idol visited Salt Lake City, home of last years runner-up David Archuleta (and yes Kimmy…I do LOVE saying and typing that!), the Mormon religion, 3% beer, High School Musical, and……The Osmond Family. As with the last few auditions, not a ton of talent at all….only 13 contestants got tickets punched to Hollywood, so San Francisco is still safe with the lowest # at 12.
(Kim's note: Eddie, I'm a little scared for ya, even I didn't know SLC was the home of High School Musical!)
Of the 13 moving on….and as every other show we only got to see a few….here’s my thoughts from the land of shiny, happy people…..
· David Osmond…Another Osmond breaks into the musical spotlight! He’s the son of Allen Osmond, an original Osmond, and one of MANY in the family. He’s also battling MS, as the dad has for the past 21 years! Having NEVER been an Osmond fan, have to feel good about the kid battling MS and trying all this. Thought he was pretty talented, looks good and sounded good, so with the Osmond name behind him, he’s in my Top 24….after all….it’ll equate to RATINGS points for FOX-TV and AI in February thru May! (Boy, Eddie knows his Osmonds!)
· Frankie Jordan…. Stay at home, 23-year old mom, very confident in her singing ability, who sings an Amy Winehouse song, and sounds just like her! This girl is HOT, and even looks like Amy Winehouse, just way more attractive….but let’s hope not as odd as we get to know her better in the coming weeks! I think she could go very deep in the competition….a lock for my Top 24! (Eddie, for the record, saying a girl looks like Amy Winehouse is NEVER considered a compliment!)
· Megan Cokrey…..Another young mom who just went through a divorce, cute girl with lots of support. She’s got a ‘sassy jazzy broadway voice’ that’s quite unique, memorable in a good way I guess. She’ll make it through Hollywood into the Top 36…maybe even Top 24….I’m just not totally sold on her nearly as much as Simon seemed to be.
· Austin Sisneros….A 17-year-old with a minor lisp, who is the senior class president at his school. Sings a very good ‘Train’ song, which I thought he did very well, unlike the judges, though all put him through, even Simon, who I really believe was quite annoyed by this kid. Certainly a nice, motivated HS kid, but think he’ll struggle mightily making it through Hollywood next week!
· Jarrett Burns….Thanks to Fox’s stupid producers, we only see about 5 seconds of this kid! Seems like he has a BIG voice, but sings Eddie’s ‘Least favorite -most hated-way overused’ song ‘Girl Put Your Records On’…..not even sure this kid got a ticket to Hollywood or not!? I’m hoping that after the song choice…..NO!!!
· Taylor Vaifanua….A BIG girl (tall, she’s a 5’11” giant from Samoa) who’s family moved back to Utah so she could get noticed for her singing. Don’t worry, at 5’11”, you can’t miss this chick!! She’s 16, but looks 26, probably because she’s so TALL! She sings a very spiritual/religious song about God, which is odd for auditions, but has a decent voice and all the judges, esp Kara, liked her. Doubt she’ll go far, but she’ll certainly be noticeable in Hollywood next week. Did I mention that she was TALL??!! :-0
· And THE BEST OF THE NIGHT IS…….drum roll please……ROSE FLACK! Final contestant of the night, a hippie-looking, 17-year old chick. Tough life too…..her dad, a hippie, died when she was only 13. Two years after her dad died, her mom died in a car crash. Ouch!! Only immediate family is her brother, who's still around and seems supportive. She currently lives with her best friend and her best friend's family. She's really cute, and quite likable. Simon thinks she looks terrific. She sings "I Feel the Earth Move," by Carole King. Not your typical voice, but memorable, with great tone, and she knows how to sing. If she can get by with the hippie look not being too much of a distraction, think she has the whole package, and she's only 17. She gets four YES’s, and she's going to Hollywood. Top 12 for sure IMHO! Keep an eye on this girl!
The bottom line….Though only 13 were ticketed for Hollywood, I think this audition will be remembered for all the ‘unique and memorable’ voices, and I think several of the chosen few in Utah will go deep in this competition!

FAST FACTS: President Obama provided some solid competition for "American Idol" in the prime-time ratings for the week of Jan. 19-25, but still was trumped by AI. ABC's "Neighborhood Ball," was seen by 12.6 million people, according to Nielsen Media Research. It competed directly against AI. "Idol" won easily, but its Tuesday night audience of 22.8 million was clearly affected by interest in the new president. Television's most popular show rebounded to draw nearly 26 million people the next night!
So…..as if the one hour audition episodes aren’t RUSHED enough, tonight we get to see two city’s auditions get squeezed into 60 minutes. NY City and San Juan, PR, take center-stage tonight Should have been at least a 90-minute show…..but I’ll wait and see what the talent is like and how many get thru to Hollywood before I complain any longer! More of ‘Eddie Idol’ chatter to come tomorrow……..after the last two auditions before Hollywood Hell Week next week……so until tomorrow….’Eddie Idol’…….OUT!

Sorry this is so late everyone -- it's my fault not Eddie's! BTW Eddie, loved your description of Taylor ... but is she tall?

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I checked in with Top Chef a few minutes late last night, because Lost went over 10 pm.



Anyway, they got to the Quick Fire right away! In honor of the upcoming Superbowl, the cheftestants were made to fill their names on a simulated football pool grid, knowing only the categories of "food groups" running down the side. Across the top their main ingredients were later revealed.



Everyone's main ingredients turned out to be oats, since Quaker was sponsoring the challenge.



Fabio made an egg plant fried roll out of oats and vegetables.

Stefan did a banana mousse with oats and dairy.

Carla went with pasta using oats, nuts and grains.

Jaime cooked up shrimp with a fruit sauce from her oats and fruit.

Leah made crusted fish out of oats and seafood.

Hosea whipped up schnitzel and potato salad from oats and meat.

Jeff went with chicken poillard from his oats and poultry.



I missed who the guest judge was, but he didn't look familiar, so it's no big deal. Leah, Fabio and Jeff were chosen as the bottom three, while Carla, Jaime and Stefan were tops. Stefan was chosen the winner -- again -- he's won 5 challenges now.



(I'm gonna go out on a limb now and bet on Stefan to win the whole thing. He pretty well seems like a lock, however, so did Richard last season, until he completely blew it in the finale... )



At this point in the game, the winner does not receive immunity from elimination, but Stefan did receive a "useful advantage" for the challenge.



On to the Elimination Challenge (which is what we've been waiting for since last week's preview)!

The Top Chef Bowl brought on contestants from prior seasons (called the All-Stars) to go head-to-head with the remaining seven cheftestants. Returning along with Spike and Andrew were Josie, Andrea, Camille, Nikki and Miguel. Other than Spike & Andrew, no one to get excited over.



For his "useful advantage" Stefan got to choose his competition. He picked the Dallas Cowboys and Andrea, thinking he would be safe because she wasn't nearly as skilled as he was (in his mind). The groups were given their choice of NFL Teams and five minutes to decide which player would be on which team. Teams were tasked to cook something native to that region.



According to which NFL Team they picked, that's how they were paired up with an All-Star.



Jeff-Josie each picked the Miami Dolphins, because that's where they're from.

Fabio-Spike each chose the Green Bay Packers, thinking the ingredients would provide for an easy win.

Hosea-Miguel went with Seattle Seahawks.

Leah-Nikki chose the New York Giants.

Jaime-Camille picked the San Francisco 49ers.

And Carla-Andrew got the New Orleans Saints, which delighted Carla because she's a huge fan of Andrew!



Each player was given two hours to plan their dish. Remember, each cheftestant is going up against the All-Star they were paired with.

Fabio, of course, was very confident -- "If they gonna give me monkey ass to fill, it's no problem!"

Back at the apartment on the day of the challenge, Hosea's stressing, while Fabio's musing about sleeping on the top "bunky bed." Fabio wants to win it for his Mama, while Carla's off getting "centered."

The chefs take center stage in a room filled with the other eliminated chefs and the Top Chef judges. Judges will award 7 points (touchdown) to the player whose dish they deem best, while 3 points (field goal) will be awarded by audience vote. Whichever "team" (Cheftestants or All-Stars) garners the most points wins. Any single cheftestant that doesn't beat their All-Star will be up for elimination.

Josie's hot shrimp and bean ceviche with mango glaze beats Jeff's rock shrimp ceviche with sangria sorbet.

Fabio's venison with salad and cheddar is defeated by Spike's venison w/cherries.

Hosea's salmon roll/salad triumphs over Miguel's cedar plank salmon.

Nikki's sauteed chicken livers are bested by Leah's seared steak and salad.

Jamie's crab plows over Camille's miso sweet potato mash.

Andrew's crawfish crudo with spicy lime is beaten by Carla's gumbo and grits.

And Stefan's salad, prime rib and pork is shut out by Andrea's Tex Mex chili, chips and guacamole.

The Cheftestants win! But that also leaves Stefan, Fabio and Jeff in the elimination round.

Stefan declared he was in love with Andrea, "call me", then called himself a "douche bag!"

Hosea, Carla, Leah and Jaime are called from the "Stew Room" to stand before Judges Table. Carla is declared the winner.

As for the "losers:"

Fabio defended his meat as being "medium rare," saying it sat too long.

Stefan apologized for his disappointment, while the judges criticized him for picking Andrea, thinking his win would be "easy." Padma declares Stefan's salad "abominable!"

Jeff is humiliated after judges emphasize that he was beaten by a hot bean ceviche. Oh the horror!

Jeff -- please pack your knives and go!!!

Up Next: The Elfman's favorite guest judge is back -- that friggin' tip-lipped Frenchmen Eric Ripert!! Set your DVR now Elfman!

For more info or to watch Top Chef visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php

**** SPOILERS ****

Do not read any further if you haven't watched the latest episode of Lost yet! Go, right now to http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index and watch.

I'm not going to write an entire recap, because the folks over at Lostpedia do a much more thorough job. So if you can't watch online, visit here http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Jughead and read the synopsis!

So last, night ABC re-aired last week's final hour of Lost with pop-up windows, giving extra info for viewers.

Note to self: Must remember to watch re-run, I only watched the last five minutes last night and there was some useful info given!

For instance, the hooded lady at the end was identified as Eloise Hawking, and she was the woman I remembered from Season 3 that wouldn't sell Desmond a wedding ring in her curio shop!

Anyway, other revelations last night included:

Daniel's in love with Charlotte.

The Others speak Latin.

The Island and its inhabitants were experiencing the year 1954.

Penny and Desmond have a son and he's named *tear* Charlie.

Charles Widmore funded Daniel's career.

Richard visited Locke when he was a child, because Locke told him to.

Widmore told Desmond that Daniel's mother is in Los Angeles .... could she be the

mysterious Eloise afterall?

But the biggest revelation was saved for last, of course --- Charles Widmore, himself, was an Other, living on the Island in 1954.

He and Locke came face to face after Locke surrendered himself before Richard at the Others camp. Locke escaped harm by telling Richard that Jacob sent him and explained that he and Richard meet in the future ...

Lost yet? Join the club!

Well….this will be short and sweet….as last night’s AI One-Hour Show with auditions from sunny and warm Jacksonville, FL was filled with many rough auditions, and much like what we heard and witnessed from San Francisco, was a rather forgettable evening. Only 16 contestants got tickets punched to Hollywood, but still better than the LOW of 12 that san Francisco posted.
Of the 16 moving on, and let me say that I don’t think the producers at Fox do the show justice by hurrying through a handful of ticketed contestants….but here’s my thoughts from sunny FL…..
· Joshua Ulloa…who Likes it when people compare him to Justin Guarini ….sang a Marvin Gaye song which I thought wasn’t very good, but was complete with many sound effects (reminded me of Blake Lewis). This kid won’t make it through Hollywood!
(note from Kim: Guarini, by the way, happens to be on CMT's Gone Country 3 this season -- which screams success *sarcasm* -- and Eddie, be nice to Blake!)
· Julissa Veloz…. ‘Miss Latino FL’ …….who sings OK but is very irritating otherwise, esp with her annoying laughter! UGH!! Another one who will not make it past Hollywood Hell Week!
· Sharon Wilbur…..Cute girl who I’m sure many will love because of her adorable little shitzu, Sasha, who sat on Simon’s lap while she sang Karen Carpenter’s “Superstar.” Not crazy about the song pick, but this girl has potential! I can see her making it through Hollywood…..but leave the pooch at home! (Sorry Kimmy! L) (Kim: AI is no place for a pooch!)
· Jasmine Murray….One of the better contestants who is on her way to Hollywood. Hated the Fergie song she did, but she’s 16, very pretty, has plenty of family support from her sister’s and mom, and has the ‘package’ to make it through this competition….keep an eye on this kid, she’s Top 24 potential for sure!
· TK Hash….A repeat AI contestant who auditioned last year, this time supposedly better!? He was truly all over the place (and botched the lyrics too!) on John Lennon’s “Imagine,” but it was good enough to have the judges put him through. I’m not as big a believer, and think he may have the talent to be Top 36 or possibly sneak into the Top 24, but don’t see him as a serious contender for the long haul at all!
· Ann Marie Boskovitch …..BEST OF THE NIGHT! Only thing I wasn’t crazy about were the judges telling her to come back as a ‘different person’….say what??? WEIRD!! But…back to Ann Marie…Very pretty girl with a really nice voice, sang Colbie Caillet’s ‘Bubbly’ , and did it very well….a nice package that will go DEEP in the competition, Top 12 for sure! Keep an eye on this girl!
The bottom line….not nearly the talent we saw in Louisville, but a few diamonds out of all the rough auditions. Other than the contestants singing, or attempting to, the real ‘highlights’ of the night were shots of Randy Jackson slapping his guitar with Journey while “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” plays in the background, and of course….Paula’s fake attempt at kissing Kara…..causing Kara to show a little more cleavage afterwards than she may have wanted to! But….I’m sure all the guys watching the show loved it!! :-0

FAST FACTS: David Cook has his announced his nationwide ‘Declaration Tour’ starting on Feb. 14th and locally will be playing in Carlisle, PA on March 3rd, The Borgata in Atlantic City on March 20th and 21st, and York, PA on March 24th!

OK…..tonight we head west to Salt Lake City, UT……home of last year’s runner-up David Archuleta! More ‘Eddie Idol’ chatter to come tomorrow……..after the break!


Kim: Boy Eddie, you just loved writing "last year's runner-up David Archuleta", didn't you! Sorry, couldn't resist!

Just a quick note to let you know that yesterday, pushed by the Obama administration, the Senate approved to delay the transition to digital television signals until June 12. The date was originally scheduled to be next month, Feburary 17.
That means the transition - expected to leave millions of households at least temporarily without TV pictures - will take place after the TV season is over, not during the all-important February sweeps!
So thatgives anyone who needs it more time to geta converter box for your analog television or sign up for cable or satellite service.
For more on the digital television transition visit http://www.dtv.gov/

OK, it's Wednesday ... you know what that means ... LOST and Top Chef, two of my current favorite shows! And they're not on at the same time, BONUS!



Anyway, just a quick preview for any who are interested.

Tonight on ABC at 9 pm Lost continues with their 5th season, after coming back last week. Tonight's episode will center on Desmond's search for Daniel's mother (who I think is the same lady who's running the show for Ben, seen at the end of last week's episode). Oh no, I hope that doesn't lead Penny right to Ben, who vowed to her father, the evil Charles Widmore, that he will kill her.


Yeah, Desmond

Anyway, any episode featuring Desmond is just fine with me! I totally love him. And don't forget, last week Daniel, during a blast into the past on the island told Desmond that he's different from everyone else and the time travel "rules don't apply" to him.... hmmmm what the hell does that mean? Unfortunately, we still have two more seasons till we get "all" the answers ...

Last week's final hour of Lost repeats at 8 pm, just before the new episode.

For more info on LOST visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index



After Lost, I'll be clicking on over to Bravo for another rousing episode of their culinary giant Top Chef New York (10 pm). Tonight hijinx will feature former contestants playing against this season's hopefuls, including fan faves Spike and "I've got a culinary boner" Andrew. Yes, Top Chef's original Bromance will be hand to shake things up. Should prove to be very interesting, although I hope they're not just there for the QuickFire Challenge as has been the case with past contestants' cameos ...

For more on Top Chef visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php

Elsewhere: Hoping to capitalize on Lost's good ratings, ABC is bringing back its new series Life On Mars at 10 pm, right after its Wednesday night behemoth ... Life follows the story of New York police detective Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara), who gets hit by a car in 2008 and finds himself unexpectedly catapulted into the year 1973, where he's working for a less-PC NYPD. It's based on a popular BBC series and has gotten pretty good reviews.

For more on Life on Mars visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/lifeonmars/index?pn=index

The Biography Channel offers up some sweet beefcake tonight with back-to-back episodes of, what else, Biography, from 8-11.
Up first, it's this year's Academy Awards' host and Wolverine Hugh Jackman at 8, followed by Batman himself, Christian Bale, at 9, and the late Heath Ledger at 10.

Enjoy!



In other news: What the hell is going on on Nip/Tuck? This show is becoming a hot mess -- and I don't mean that in a good way. During last night's episode it sunk to new lows, with newly "reformed" breast cancer survivor Christian Troy insulting women during a cancer survivors support group. He basically told them that any woman who doesn't get reconstructive surgery after losing their breasts is a victim, not a survivor. Then he quickly picked up the hottest looking broad there (who didn't even have cancer), took her back to his place and, well you know Christian ...
Then, when he refused to remove her breasts -- both her mother and sister had died of the disease, so she feared it was only a matter of time -- she went to their practice and used some of electric saw to cut them off herself!!
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww.
Then the lovely Portia de Rossi, who plays Julia's lover, got a face lift from Sean, but didn't tell him she was on antidepressants, and later died!! Oh, you can bet Julia's not happy with Sean.
Christian decided to try a relationship with lesbian Liz ... eewww.
And, if all that's not ridiculous enough -- Portia's TV daughter Eden, showed up to collect her mothers ashes from Julia, who didn't want to part with them, and decided that her mother belonged with Julia afterall, throwing the ashes all over Julia and Sean!! Major Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

I told you we need The Carver back stat!!

Ok, so after being a blogging fool last Friday, I thought I deserved yesterday off. Sorry, I just wasn't inspired ... except for 24. Hope y'all remembered to watch another action-packed episode last night. But WTH, if you didn't, thanks to the miracle of the internet, you can watch it here or just take a few minutes to read Fox's awesome episode recap http://www.fox.com/24/


On to Tuesday night: Fox kicks off American Idol Final Auditions Week tonight at 8 pm. Yes, it's another hour devoid of trainwrecks! Have I mentioned how disappointed I am in Fox's decision to show less bad auditions and more good ones? It's totally ruined one of my fave guilty pleasures! And I told them so ...
I'm on an email list for Fox's survey panel and got a survey last week about AI and my viewing habits. So I let them have it, complaining about the lack of lame auditions! Anyway, if you, like Eddie Idol, are in it for the serious contenders, there will be more "final" auditions on Wednesday and Thursday nights, both at 8 pm.
For more on AI visit http://www.americanidol.com/

Following AI is another new episode of Fringe at 9. Yeah, I forgot to watch this last week and I'm not too hopeful for tonight either. But if you are, a serial killer is turning victims' brains into liquid across the country, and the case has a special urgency for Olivia.
For more on Fringe, visit http://www.fox.com/fringe/

Those raunchy Real Housewives of Orange County hit the road on Bravo tonight at 10. Jeana and Vicki are visiting Chicago. That should be interesting, since Jeana and Vicki haven't been getting along all season. For more on the OC Wives visit http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives/season/3/

Nip/Tuck returns on F/X tonight after being MIA last week. I have to say, not excited so far this season ... anyway, Julia is back and Sean's trying to reconcile his feelings for her ... WHERE, OH WHERE, is the CARVER??? Come back, this show desparately needs you! For more on Nip/Tuck visit http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/niptuck/


Ted Allen and The Food Network's newest reality competition Chopped has an all new episode at 10. Sorry, haven't been able to remember to watch this one yet ... even though I blogged about it and was interested. I guess I'm still yawning over Ted's last show Food Detectives. Don't get me wrong, I really like Ted, but I don't think he's capativating enough to anchor his own show ...
For more on Chopped visit http://www.foodnetwork.com/chopped/index.html


My pick for the 10 p.m. time slot tonight is over on TLC. Toddlers & Tiaras debuts tonight and, boy do I love watching over-the-top conceited Moms dress up their toddlers like Miss America hopefuls for these extravagant pageants!
Who are these people, who sometimes forego feeding the rest of the family just to buy that one-of-a-kind child-sized sequin evening gown (to be worn only once, mind you), for that coveted crown?
I don't know which I like better, the screaming kids getting spray-tanned, their overzealous mothers or the ambiguously gay pageant coaches who help them achieve their dreams! All I know is I'll be there watching with a big bowl of popcorn!
For more info visit http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/toddlers-tiaras/about-toddlers-and-tiaras.html

And the really big news, according to Entertainment Weekly, is that Dr. Doug Ross is back!!! Oh yeah, baby, George Clooney's long-rumored return to ER is apparently happening, and he's taping his part this week, and here's the photos to prove it.

ER ends its run during sweeps in May and apparently is lining up many former players for the finale. Along with Clooney, expect to see Noah Wylie, Eric LaSalle and Julianna Marguilies. Now I just might have to tune in for that!

I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with my Dad this past weekend, and we went to see Clint Eastwood's latest, Gran Torino. And can I just say that at 78 years of age, Clint is still one of the most intimidating people on the planet.

In the film, which he also directed, Clint plays Walt Kowalski, a senior citizen version of Harry Callahan, if you will. And Clint plays him to the hilt, just the way we love him -- you can almost hear the words "Go ahead, make my day" in several scenes as the flick plays out.

It starts off with the funeral of Walt's wife, followed by a reception at his home, where Walt makes it clear that he's displeased with his disrespectful sons and their families, and his neighborhood, which has been overrun with Asian people. We learn very early that Walt is a Korean War veteran.

When his neighbor Thao, a young Hmong teenager under pressure from his gangmember cousin, tries to steal his prized possession, a 1972 Gran Torino, Walt sets out to reform the youth. He's drawn against his will into the life of Thao's family and is soon taking steps to protect them from the gangs that infest their neighborhood.

It is an excellent film and I highly recommend it. It has just the right blend of drama, humor, a little suspense and sadness. It's Clint at his best and, unlike a lot of his other recent films, it's not too long!

And call me a softie, but it just melts my heart when, out of the corner of my eye, I see my ex-Marine father discreetly wipe a tear from his eye ...

The Obama administration has apparently sought a delay for the upcoming switch to Digital TV. The analog TV signal was (and still is at this time) slated to be turned off on February 17, but the government program to provide coupons for converter boxes needs more money. The new administration hopes to enact legislation to provide for an extension of analog service through June 12.

It is currently estimated that more than 6.5 million households are not prepared for the switch over. Those folks who rely on a rooftop TV antenna are the ones who will need converter boxes in order to continue receving programming. If you have cable or satellite service, you should go uninterrupted with the changeover.

For more information visit http://www.dtvanswers.com/

Yeah, I know that's a Monty Python reference, but this blurb has nothing to do with that. Just something strange that perked me up this morning while settling in ...

The cremains of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and his wife will spend eternity together in space.

Celestic Inc., a company that specializes in "memorial spaceflights," said yesterday that it will ship the remains into space next year.

According to the Associated Press, the couple's remains will be sealed into specially made capsules designed to withstand the rigors of space travel. A rocket-launched spacecraft will carry the capsules, along with digitized tributes from fans. The craft will travel ever deeper into the Final Frontier and will not return to earth.

After Gene died in 1991, his wife commissioned Celestis to launch a part of his remains into space in 1997. She died Dec. 18, 2008.

No word on whether Celestis will fashion the transporting spacecraft after the USS Enterprise -- now that would be cool!!

OK….so I’m a day late with my recap on Wednesday night’s AI auditions from Louisville, but not for lack of the talent level that city came up with! Churchill Downs, already known for big horses, big bets and even bigger hats, will also be known for a few big voices after Wednesday night’s show!! 19 Contestants got tickets punched to Hollywood…..and I believe there may have been more potential possibilities for the TOP 24 (heck….Top 12 and maybe the Final 4!!!!) from this audition than any other so far!

Of the 19 moving on, and again not all were given much face time, here’s Eddie’s thoughts…..
****Joanna Pacitti….BEST YET! This beautiful brunette could win it all, if she doesn’t suffer from lack of votes from folks who will hold it against her that she’s had past albums on several record labels, and quite a resume of industry past-experience! In doing some checking, here’s the skinny on her… Not only was she with A&M Records, as Kara pointed out, but Geffen records also released an album by her.
The soundtracks of “Legally Blonde,” “Bratz,” “First Daughter” and “Nancy Drew” all sported singles by her, and she was featured in an MTV show called “First Year.” What Pacitti is best known for though, drum roll please…….is her famous rise and fall from fame at age 11 when she won the lead role in the 20th anniversary production of “Annie,” only to be replaced by her understudy two weeks before the show’s Broadway debut! How ‘bout them apples! All in all….this girl is very talented and can sing!!!

(Note from Kim: Damn Eddie -- you really know your sh-t! Now watch CMT's Gone Country 3 and give us the scoop!)

· Brent Keith Smith….another contestant with past experience! He’s a former contestant from Nashville Star 2, had a song on the “Dale” soundtrack (a movie about Nascar legend Dale Earnhardt…glad I missed that one!! Kim: actually it was pretty good) and is a featured artist on the CMT’s website! First contestant that I’ve known who did a ‘Bad Company’ song very well! Good looking kid with a very strong voice! Lock for The Top 24…or Top 36…..at least so I’ve been told that it will be expanded to TOP 36 this year…so Ray was right…which only means more contestants will just have to be kicked off the shows each week!
· Matt Giraud….Sense a pattern developing here??!! Another one who actually has two albums of his own out there, too! Dueling piano player (if you’ve never been to a place with dueling piano players….do it!! It’s a riot!!) from Kalamazoo, MI who Simon said sounded like Elliott Yamin from AI Season 5….I know Ray’s smiling now!! Lock to move through Hollywood Hell Week!
· Alexis Grace…..Supposedly singing since she was two, she sings Aretha Franklin's "Dr. Feelgood," and Simon wasn't impressed. I wasn’t either….but the others put her through and tell her to work on her ‘stage presence’…..whatever! Welcome to Hollywood, but she won’t make it any farther! Take the Elevator of Shame baby!!

Some of the MORE talented contestants who, like in San Fran, did not get a lot of face time but looked and sounded really good for the little bit they were on screen…..these three stood out:
Kris Allen…..Kid from AR who performed ‘A Song for You’…..nice voice!
Ryan Johnson…..Railroad worker from Cincinnati, OH….like him…..so much that I forgot what the hell he even sang!? :-0
Felicia Barton….buxom brunette, bar singer/mom who did my least favorite and most overused AI track ‘Put Your Records On’, but did it probably the BEST I’ve heard from someone…..Possible Top 24 candidate here and my dark-horse (no pun intended) from the Churchill Downs auditions!
And The Sympathy Vote of The Night Goes to…… Leneshe Young, tough life for this 18-year old girl who grew up poor and homeless, in and out of shelters, but her mom is behind her 150%! Yeah for mom!! She sings a tune she says she actually wrote called "Natty," and it's pretty good. Simon loves it and eyes her like she's the next coming of Beyonce’! Kara praises her for doing her own thing….yeah…OK….Anyway, Leneshe's on her way to Hollywood, and I’m sure she’s a lock for the Top 24 (screw the Top 36…I’m trained already like Pavlov’s dog to think ‘Top 24’!) or even farther!

Idol Random Thoughts….Given that Idol is supposed to be all about giving everyday people like you and me a unique chance to be discovered, I’m not sure how I feel about them putting through someone, like Joanna , who’s already had several real shots at fame. Same could be said last year though with David Cook, Carly Smithson, Brooke and a few others who had past albums and records. But….there’s no denying that Joanna, Brent and Matt are all good enough for this competition and now that they are in it, all the Idol hopefuls should beware!

Interesting FACTS: Contestant Mark Mudd, who I’m sure we’ll see someday on the Post Office Wall’s ’10 Most Wanted" List, had his great-great-whatever-grandfather who was Samuel Mudd, the doctor who fixed (and later served in prison!) John Wilkes Booth's broken leg after he shot Lincoln and jumped off the balcony. Hence the saying…’Your name Is Mud(d)’!!

(Kim: Wow Eddie, you've really upped the ante! And bonus on the Mudd facts!)

Sooooo…..Louisville’s deep talent pool more than made up for all the loonies and losers in San Francisco….and next Tuesday it’s off to Jacksonville, FL. Until Tuesday’s auditions….. and Wednesday’s….and then Thursday’s….3 Nights of AI, can we all handle it!?.....Cheers and a great weekend to all…..Eddie Idol……OUT!

OK, I got the chance to watch the season premiere of LOST again last night. And, I just don't know where to start!



I mean, I totally loved it. It was thrilling, gripping, gut-wrenching and, most of all, confusing -- but that's what we Lostees have come to expect. And the writers didn't disappoint.



If you haven't seen it yet, stop reading and go to http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index and watch now. Start with the clip show to catch you up on what's going on. Trust me, there's always something you forgot!



Season 5 started out minutes from where Season 4 left off, but in it's usual style the opening scene featured characters we've never seen before. A man and woman waking up to a crying baby. We later see that they are apparently members of the Dharma Initiative and on the island. So we're back in time already -- and here's my theory -- that baby was Charlotte, one of the stranded scientists on the island from the freighter.



So here's my take on what's happening. Let's start with the island shall we?



Time Manipulation: The island and its occupants are hopping thru time every couple of hours with no rhyme or reason (at least that we know of yet). Daniel, who shows up back in time with the Dharma Intiative, is there because he supposedly understands all this. And at least we all know now that Dharma was only really interested in time travel.



Charlotte's nose is bleeding ... and how was she ever born on the island anyway, when all babies and their mothers never make it to the second trimester?



Locke, who we last saw on the island becoming leader of The Others, is suddenly left with no one after The Others disappear in time ... at least he's better off there, in the real world, he's still lying in a coffin ...



Day turns to Night, Night turns to Day -- my head's spinning, but hurts so good!



Locke sees Mr. Ecko's brother's plane crash and gets shot by Ethan (who's is also dead, but we're back in time, remember), then just as Ethan's about to kill him -- swoosh -- time travels forward and Ethan's gone (dead).

Locke's left stranded with a bullet in his leg, and someone's coming. Fortunately for him it's Richard (the mysterious Other, who never seems to age -- could that be because he's always jumping thru time?) and tells Locke that he has to bring the Oceanic 6 back to the island. When Locke asks "how", Richard replies, you're gonna have to die.

*goosebumps*

Island continues to skip thru time ...

Shirtless Sawyer, Juliet and the rest are running around the island looking for supplies when they come across the hatch ... somewhere in time. Daniel reaches out to Desmond in the hatch and tells him that he's not part of all this and "the rules don't apply to you," urging Desmond to go and find Daniel's mother in Oxford, England, in the future. Des doesn't understand, of couse not, he thinks he's nuts!

Desmond wakes up in the future on a boat with Penny and tells her he has to go to Oxford ...

Damn, at 10:04 Sawyer put a shirt on ...

Sawyer, Juliet and the gang are trying to make camp back on the beach when some guy we've never seen before, Neil, starts bitching about their situation. Quicker than you can say Oceanic 6, Neil's shot with a flaming arrow. Really, who uses flaming arrows anymore?

The castaways are under fire from hostiles we don't know of yet and Sawyer and Juliet get attacked in the jungle. Just as the hostiles are about to cut Juliet's hand off, they are shot by ... Locke.

On to the Oceanic 6:

Men in black show up at Kate's door and want blood samples from her and Aaron to determine their relationship. We already know that Kate's lying about being Aaron's mother. Claire, who's still trapped somewhere on the island with her dead father, is Aaron's real mom. Kate gets rid of them and flees with Aaron.

Jack and Ben steal Locke's body after Jack agrees to help Ben get the Oceanic 6 together for a return to he island. He confesses that Locke told him that everyone on the island would die if he didn't go back. Ben flushes Jack's pills.

Hurley and Sayid are on the run because Sayid killed the guy stalking Hurley at the mental hospital. Hurley's still seeing dead people, i.e. Ana Lucia, who tells him you've got a lot of work to do," and "Libby says hi."

Sun gets detained at the airport by none-other-than Charles Widmore, who wants to talk to her about their "common interest" -- killing Benjamin Linus.

Kate receives a mystery call from someone who turns out to be Sun. At her hotel, Sun tells Kate that she doesn't blame her for what happened to Jin (he died on the freighter when it exploded). Kate cries.

In a flashback, we see the Oceanic 6 on Penny's boat agreeing to lie about everything to keep those left behind safe. Hurley's reluctant and we realize that's what's been eating him ...

Back in the present, Ben tells Jack that Jack's never coming back and takes Locke's body to some deli. Anyone recognize the lady in the deli? I can't remember her at all, but she's obviously in on everything and agrees to keep Locke safe.

Sayid's passed out from some sedative delivered by an assassin that he took out. Hurley goes home and his dad (Cheech) takes Sayid to Jack for help. Jack tells Ben he has Sayid, while Hurley spills the truth to his mom. She says she believes him even though she doesn't understand him.

Ben shows up for Hurley, telling him he has to go back to the island. Hurley's so distraught at the mere thought he tells Ben "Never Dude" and runs out of the house straight into the undercover cops who are waiting outside, confessing to the murder (altho he didn't do it). He is immediately taken into custody, thereby foiling Ben's plan ... for now.

Are y'all still with me?

The whole thing ended with Ben visiting a mysterious, cloaked, white-haired lady in some kind of shrine. She warns Ben he only has 70 hours to get everyone back. To which he replies, "What happens if I can't get them all to come back?"

"Then God help us."

OK, I'm pretty sure this the same woman who showed up in a Desmond time-travel/flashback, where he was in England and ran into Charlie on the street. Talked to her on a bench and she was also in a curio shop. Someone else pointed out to me that her photo was also on the desk of the head monk at the Monastery where Desmond spent some time...

Anyway, could she possibly be Daniel's mom that he had asked Desmond to look up?

I remember her as the creepy woman from the Nicole Kidman thriller "The Others."

And I definitely think Locke's going to be resurrected -- somehow, probably on the island. We all know, as Locke said in last season's finale -- "It's a place where miracles happen."

OK, let's hear it -- what did you think? Anyone else have any theories. I love me some Lost queries!

Next Week: Looks like the smoke monster returns. Yay! We missed ya smokey!

In a cheap move to make even more money Warner Bros. is rereleasing The Dark Knight into theaters this weekend -- because $997 million worldwide box office gross apparently just isn't enough.


Actually, I think their bigger plan is to unseat Titanic as the domestic box office champion. And that just ticks me off!!

Sorry Dark Knight, you're no Titanic! I'll admit it's a well done film and yeah, I love me some Batman, but never, ever mess with my Jack Dawson!

The Dark Knight's been out on DVD for over a month, so greed can be the only factor in rereleasing it into theaters now. Hell, it didn't even get nominated for a Best Picture Oscar, so really, there's no other excuse.



Released in 1997, Titanic became the first ever film to gross a billion dollars worldwide and for good reason. The film is a masterpiece! I personally paid to see it 19 times in the theater, and not just because of some fangirl crush on Leonardo DiCaprio.

The story was heartbreaking and the effects were like nothing we had ever seen before. Hell, I even bought a big screen TV when it was released on VHS (yeah, those were the early days of DVD), because my 27-inch set just wasn't BIG enough for this HUGE flick!

It went on to win 11 Academy Awards, tying All About Eve for nominations (14) and Ben Hur for wins. It's worldwide gross stands at $1.8 billion dollars and it's closest competition is Lord of the Rings: Return of the King as somewhere around $1.2 billion. Yeah, I know my Titanic film trivia ...

So Cheers to Titanic (my all time fave film, in case you hadn't guessed) and Jeers to Warner Bros.' greed for rereleasing The Dark Knight into theaters.

According to www.movieweb.com, Titanic's final domestic gross stands at $600,788,188, while The Dark Knight grossed $529,143,070 during its first run. Yeah, that's right "first run." So WB, even if by some miracle it would top Titanic, at this point, James Cameron's massive box office behemoth would still be the highest grossing single-run film!

TAKE THAT!!

Sorry guys, had to get that off my chest!

So I watched Grey's Anatomy over on ABC last night and it looks like beloved character Denny Duquette is dead and gone, again -- possibly for good this time!

While I'll admit that the episode was probably the strongest of an otherwise weak season ... WTH?? If you watch, you already know that doomed Denny, played by the handsome Jeffrey Dean Morgan (who can't seem to stay alive on TV, but that's another story), died a couple seasons ago. He showed up at Seattle Grace desparately needing a heart transplant. Sex-crazed intern Izzy Stevens fell madly in love with him and even stole a heart for him.

Unfortunately, all this wasn't enough to save Denny :(
So he died, and Izzy spent most of the next season trying and failing to get over him. Even the $8 million check he left her didn't help ... she ended up donating the whole thing to open a clinic in his memory. (Yeah, I could've killed her myself for that. Really, who donates all of $8 million w/o keeping a little for themselves?)

Well Denny had the nerve to show up during November sweeps last year and he's been hanging around with Izzy ever since. And he keeps saying, "I'm here for you." Yes, he's dead, but Izzy can still see him and touch him and do all sorts of steamy things with him.

Fans all over were scratching their heads at this storyline. While we love Denny, how long are we expected to believe that this can happen? Obviously we all thought that the "I'm here for you" could only mean one thing -- Izzy's going to die and her beloved Denny is there to escort her to the afterlife ...

Not so said Grey's creator Shonda Rhimes back in November, promising us that the storyline wasn't going to play out that way ...

Well, after last night, it seems Denny was there for her, and when asked by Izzy what that meant, he just kept saying -- "You're a doctor. Figure it out."

GAAAAAAHHH! *rips hair out while standing in front of TV*

Long story short, apparently there's something wrong medically with Izzy and Denny's there giving her a choice. (Well, why didn't he just say that?) She can either do nothing and die or choose to stay here and get treatment. She chose to stay and Denny left. We still don't know what the problem is ... I guess that'll have to wait till next week.

Yeah, I feel cheated ... but at least I got to spend some more time with Denny, and isn't that what we all wanted anyway?

Grey's Anatomy returns in two weeks with a major CROSSOVER EVENT (geez, the networks really do love that phrase) with Private Practice ... well that would put us into February and that only means one thing -- SWEEPS! Should be interesting ...

For more info or to watch Grey's Anatomy visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/index?pn=index

Saturday night at 8 p.m. over on CMT begins another season of their hit(?) reality show Gone Country. Season 3 to be exact. And while I've never watched it before, judging by the contestant line-up, I might actually take the time to tune in ...

Gone Country is apparently a singing "competition" that pits "celebrities" (yeah, I put it in quotes because last season had the likes of Sean Young on ... can she still be considered famous? -- and a very drunken Sean Young at that) against each other singing country songs. I don't know what the "prize" is, probably just possible publicity for these has-beens.

Anyway, this season boasts the best line-up of out-of-work former famous people I've seen ...

Sheila E. -- give her credit, at least she's a very talented percussionist.

George Clinton -- OK, considering he's "The Godfather of Funk," he might still be famous.

Micky Dolenz -- I'm dating myself here, but I actually know who he is! And he was my favorite Monkee.

Tara Conner -- partying/drunken former 2006 Miss USA. I remember seeing the youtube clip, but don't particularly remember her.

Taylor Dayne -- I think I might actually have a CD of hers somewhere ...

Justin Guarini -- where do you go after losing American Idol -- to CMT, of course! I actually voted for this guy! And c'mon guys, he's a Philly native ...

But the biggest reason I'll be watching ...

RICHARD GRIECO -- Boy, where have you been all these years? Last time I saw him, he was dating/engaged to Yasmine Bleeth and busted for drugs ... but back in the '80s, I was a fan. This is the guy who replaced Johnny Depp on 21 Jump Street, Fox's first-ever hit show ... Yeah, I know it seems like Fox has been around forever, but it hasn't.
I followed him over to his next show Booker and I even went to see his movie If Looks Could Kill. According to IMDB, he's been pretty busy with a lot of D movie work. Sorry, Richard, Johnny's a hard act to follow, maybe they can squeeze you into the next Pirates sequel. I'm sure they'll need somebody to swab the deck!
If not, there's always VH1 and their next season of Confessions of a Teen Idol.

Grieco ... then

Actual country celebrity John Rich hosts.

For more info on Gone Country 3 visit http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/gone_country_3/series.jhtml

Sunday night at 8 pm TNT presents the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. The show has quickly become Hollywood's 3rd biggest (Oscars, Golden Globes outweigh it, heavily), with most of the nominated stars showing up for the red carpet glitz.

This is the awards show where the actors honor each other, only actors get to vote on the nominees and decide the award winners. The award itself is aptly named "The Actor."


Geez, why are they always naked!

Red carpet arrivals start at 6 p.m. on E!

For a complete list of the nominees visit http://www.sagawards.org/PR_071220

Eddie Idol checked in with me yesterday and promises to have a recap of Wednesday night's auditions from Louisville, KY, later today. And he said it was a good one! I, of course, completely forgot about AI, as I was completed ensconced in LOST!

I'll post as soon as I get it!

Just a quick note: I'm planning on offering up my thoughts on last night's awesome opener for LOST!

However, as is my norm, I want to go back and watch again first, because I usually pick up a few more things the second time around... I couldn't last night because I had to watch Top Chef!

However, if any of you want to offer up your thoughts ... hit the comments and I'll check it out before I post!!

Thanks -- Kim

Yeah, I know it's not Chicago, but I liked this banner and decided to post it anyway!

Well, Top Chef presented it's most popular challenge last night -- Restaurant Wars -- and the episode was hot and heavy, and I'm not just talking about the Hosea/Leah hook-up!

Right at the beginning, we see Hosea in the cheftestants' apartment talking about his girlfriend (no, that wasn't foreshadowing or anything). A little musings about throwing Arianne under the bus followed, and then it was off to the Quickfire Challenge.

And, finally, a guest judge that I actually recognized! Philadelphia restauranteur Stephen Starr, owner and creator of Morimoto, El Vez, Parc and Butcher & Singer (his latest), as well as other successful dining digs in New York City and Atlantic City, was brought on by Padma to participate in a quickfire tasting.

Padma announced that the next challenge would be the revered Restaurant Wars and the Quickfire Challenge was about creating one dish to showcase a theme for your restaurant. And the chefs were off and running, eager to impress Starr. As Fabio put it, "In love and in war you are allowed to do anything!"

Leah chose Red Snapper and quickly declared that it "smelled like ass," while Fabio had trouble opening the freezer doors!

Restaurant Themes:
Carla - Homey, Rustic
Hosea - Seafood, Mediterrean
Leah -- Asian
Stefan - American
Jeff - also American
Rhadika - Latin
Jaime - Seasonal
Fabio - Meditterean (would we expect anything else from him?)

After sampling all, Starr chose Rhadika's pan-seared cod with corn, spinach and chorizo as the winner. Leah came in second, so both were deemed leaders in the "war" and got to pick their teams.

Rhadika chose Carla, Jeff and Jaime, reiterating how much she dislikes Stefan ...
Leah picked Hosea (obviously), Fabio and Stefan.

Back at the apartment, where teams were left to come up with menus and names for their restaurants -- Sahana for Rhadika's team/Sunset Lounge for Leah's -- Leah and Hosea got a little too close and made out on the couch (oh no they didn't -- oh yes they did!). The next morning both admitted to the camera that it was a mistake because they are both in relationships (hmmm wonder if they still are after last night's ep aired). Then they continued to whine about it throughout the rest of the challenge ... yawn!

Each team was given $3,000 to start their respective restaurants, with six hours to prep their dishes. They also got $5,000 to shop for linens, furniture, accessories, etc. at Pier One. While shopping, Fabio declared, "This is the feeling my wife have all the time!"

Keep it up Fabio -- I love the stuff that man says!

Rhadika took on the task of manager, supervising the front of the house and kitchen, for her Middle Eastern-themed restaurant. While Fabio, wearing a Team Fabio shirt (where can I get that?), eagerly stepped up to play host for the Asian-themed Sunset Lounge. Jaime decided to make scallops -- AGAIN!!

Teams got to work, cooking and decorating their restaurants. Fabio walked in all decked out in a suit, to the cheers of his teammates, and delivered his best line yet -- "I run the front of the House. We can serve monkey ass in empty clam shell! We're gonna win this one. I'm running the show in the front!"

And much to his credit -- they did!

I don't know if this was an oversight or on purpose, but apparently, no one checked to make sure that the freezer was working properly and it made for chaos among both teams. Carla's yogurt sorbet turned to soup and Stefan's desserts had problems as well.

Diners arrived in swift fashion to both restaurants and the service began ... people complained right away about Rhadika's lack of finesse out front. The judges were particularly disappointed, purposely getting up to leave to see if she would bid them a proper farewell (never knew this was soooo important!).

But it was quite the opposite at the Sunset Lounge, where Fabio absolutely shined!! Starr declared Fabio "Fabulous!"

Judges weren't too impressed with either team's dishes, but decided that Fabio's fabulous demeanor and Stefan's delicious desserts were enough to win the challenge for the Sunset Lounge, with Stefan taking the top prize.

Team Sahana was really called to the carpet for their disappointing dishes and service at Judges' Table. Leah's cod was a "disaster." Carla was called out on her soupy yogurt, which she defended, saying that she knew it wasn't good, but sent it out "with love" anyway. Head judge Chef Tom Colicchio wasn't buying it, saying her explanation was "nonsense" and asking Rhadika why she, as manager, didn't do something about it!

And then -- horror of horrors -- Tom announced to team Sahana that the judges "walked out without a goodbye!"

To no one's surprise, Rhadika was asked to pack her knives and go ...

Next week: Top Chef All-Stars Challenge! Several former cheftestants are being brought back to compete either with or against this season's players, including Spike and Andrew, who made the most popular Top Chef quote of all time --- "I have a Culinary B-ner!" and I know there's a T-shirt over on bravo.com with that on it!


Andrew


Spike

For more info or to watch Top Chef visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php

The Associated Press reported early today that apparently a backlash has started against 10-time Academy Award nominated film "Slumdog Millionaire."
Apparently, it's title is not such a hit in Mumbai, India, the same place where the film is set. The film is a rags-to-riches romance set in Mumbai's notorious slums.
Residents hit the streets in protest.
"I am poor, but don't call me slumdog," said Rekha Dhamji, 18, one of about two dozen slum residents who protested outside the home of one of the movie's actors, Anil Kapoor.
"I don't want to be referred to as a dog," she said.
Other protesters held up banners reading "Poverty For Sale," and "I am not a dog." One of them carried a puppy.
Nicholas Almeida, a social activist who organized the protest, said he planned to file a lawsuit on Friday to get the name changed.
The film, which tells the story of Jamal Malik, a poor youth who becomes the champion of India's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" television program as he searches for his lost love, has also been criticized for focusing on India's poverty.

Congratulations Danny Boyle -- it's official -- Slumdog Millionaire is a hit!

This morning a little after 8:30 a.m. the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences announced the nominations for the 81st annual Oscars.

As expected, Heath Ledger received a posthumous nod for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as The Joker in The Dark Night. However, I never expected Robert Downey Jr. to pull off a nomination for his performance as "the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude" in Tropic Thunder!

Another surprise was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, leading the pack with 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Director and Actor for Brad Pitt (BB was shut-out at the Golden Globes), while Slumdog Millionaire followed with 10 nods.

Here's the official list:

1. Best Picture: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “The Reader,” “Slumdog Millionaire.”

2. Actor: Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”; Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”; Sean Penn, “Milk”; Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler.”

3. Actress: Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”; Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”; Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”; Meryl Streep, “Doubt”; Kate Winslet, “The Reader.”

4. Supporting Actor: Josh Brolin, “Milk”; Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”; Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”; Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”; Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road.”

5. Supporting Actress: Amy Adams, “Doubt”; Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”; Viola Davis, “Doubt”; Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler.”

6. Director: David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”; Gus Van Sant, “Milk”; Stephen Daldry, “The Reader”; Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire.”

7. Foreign Film: “The Baader Meinhof Complex,” Germany; “The Class,” France; “Departures,” Japan; “Revanche,” Austria; “Waltz With Bashir,” Israel.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”; John Patrick Shanley, “Doubt”; Peter Morgan, “Frost/Nixon”; David Hare, “The Reader”; Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire.”

9. Original Screenplay: Courtney Hunt, “Frozen River”; Mike Leigh, “Happy-Go-Lucky”; Martin McDonagh, “In Bruges”; Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”; Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, “WALL-E.”

10. Animated Feature Film: “Bolt”; “Kung Fu Panda”; “WALL-E.”

11. Art Direction: “Changeling,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Duchess,” “Revolutionary Road.”

12. Cinematography: “Changeling,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “The Reader,” “Slumdog Millionaire.”

13. Sound Mixing: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “WALL-E,” “Wanted.”

14. Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight,” “Iron Man,” “Slumdog Millionaire,” “WALL-E,” “Wanted.”

15. Original Score: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Alexandre Desplat; “Defiance,” James Newton Howard; “Milk,” Danny Elfman; “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman; “WALL-E,” Thomas Newman.

16. Original Song: “Down to Earth” from “WALL-E,” Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman; “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman and Gulzar; “O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam.

17. Costume: “Australia,” “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Duchess,” “Milk,” “Revolutionary Road.”

18. Documentary Feature: “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon),” “Encounters at the End of the World,” “The Garden,” “Man on Wire,” “Trouble the Water.”

19. Documentary (short subject): “The Conscience of Nhem En,” “The Final Inch,” “Smile Pinki,” “The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306.”

20. Film Editing: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Milk,” “Slumdog Millionaire.”

21. Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army.”

22. Animated Short Film: “La Maison en Petits Cubes,” “Lavatory — Lovestory,” “Oktapodi,” “Presto,” “This Way Up.”

23. Live Action Short Film: “Auf der Strecke (On the Line),” “Manon on the Asphalt,” “New Boy,” “The Pig,” “Spielzeugland (Toyland).”

24. Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Dark Knight,” “Iron Man.”
———
Academy Award winners previously announced this year:
Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (Oscar statuette): Jerry Lewis
Gordon E. Sawyer Award (Oscar statuette): Pixar Animation co-founder Ed Catmull

The Academy Awards will be presented live on ABC February 22, but you can get your "star" fix this weekend over on TNT Sunday night at the presentation of the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Last night’s AI One-Hour Show (thank God it was only an hour!!) with auditions from San Francisco could easily have been called the ‘Gong Show’ or ‘AI’s By the Bay Freak Show’! It truly was one of the most disappointing auditions ever, and the talent level from that city was just terrible! Only a dozen folks (Yes….ONLY 12 from the city by the bay….and most of them were folks from Southern CA!!) got tickets punched…..guess that’s why Simon was sooooo crabby and feuding with Kara all night long, I’m sure all a stage show?!
Of the 12 moving on, I don’t think AI even did the show justice by showing us who the ‘best’ of those were, but from what was shown…..here’s my thoughts…..
· Tatiana Del Toro….Good looking, model type who has a laugh as scary as a hyena! She’s NOT AI material IMHO…..but nonetheless she’s moving on. No way she gets to the Top 24….mark it down!
· Jesus’ Valenzuela….No relation to Dodgers Fernando….but please….this kid would not have been going if not for his CKWS (cute kids with signs) coming in to the audition to show support, make the judges get out the sympathy vote, and bail his butt out! Another ‘loser’ who will not make it past Hollywood Hell Week!
· Annie Murdoch….Not to be confused with Annie Lennox, but she did look as stoned as Annie often does….another loser from the Bay area, and one that didn’t deserve the face time that others who got ticketed to Hollywood should have received!
· Adam Lambert….One of the better contestants who is on his way to Hollywood. Putting his own spin on Queens ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, thought he sounded great….keep an eye on this kid, he’s Top 24 potential for sure!
· Kai Kalama….Promoted this kids story all night long….takes care of his sick mom at home, so like Danny Gokey last week, get out the sympathy vote for this kid, except in this case, I really like the kid and think he’s genuine and has tremendous love for his mom! Better yet, he’s VERY talented, one of the BEST so far through the first three audition episodes, and a lock for the Top 24!!
Two contestants who did not get a lot of screen time (SHOULD HAVE!!) but looked and sounded pretty good…..
· Raquel Houghton…..Very pretty and had a nice voice, sang ‘Son of a Preacher Man’….a nice package that could move her through Hollywood, my dark-horse from San Fran! Keep an eye on this girl!
· John Twiford….Good looking, 27-year old music teacher from CA….kid looks good and sounds good, and should have replaced one of the bozos who received more face time! Possible Top 24 candidate!
Bottom line….no Katherine McPhee’s for me to pick out from last nights contestants…but it was good to see Kara stand up to Simon and call him on his rudeness and irritability last night! Their relationship will be something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
FAST FACTS: The ratings for Tuesday's "American Idol" took a hit thanks to live coverage of the many inaugural balls going on and being shown in some TV markets, yet the singing competition still came out on top. "Idol" averaged 22.4 million total viewers, easily besting the 12.6 million during the 8 p.m. hour for ABC's "Neighborhood Inaugural Ball," according to early data from Nielsen Media Research, but I’m also sure that many people probably DVR’d it as well.

OK…..I’m leaving my heart and all the loonies in San Fran….and tonight it’s off to Churchill Downs and Louisville, KY……a great place to hopefully have more winners than losers! Until tomorrow…..Eddie Idol……OUT!

Well Lostees -- this is it! The night we've all been waiting for ... at least since last May! Tonight LOST returns. And if you missed the re-airing of last season's finale last week (and again on Sci-Fi Channel Monday night), lucky for you there's a clip-show recap at 8 p.m. on ABC.

But the real "fun" begins at 9! Two whole hours, promising us some answers, to be replaced, I'm sure, but a whole lot more questions!! Why do we put ourselves thru this trauma?

Anyway, tonight's episode titled "Because You Left" deals with the aftermath of the departure of the Oceanic 6 from the island, which itself departed to parts unknown ... and don't be late (9 pm sharp!) because I'm told the first scene is a real shocker!

This season will deal with quantum physics and some of those characters who are dead or left for dead will be turning up once again -- in flashbacks? We'll have to wait and see.

Tonight, Jack shaves (seriously, the beard did nothing for him), and he and Ben try furiously to reunite the Oceanic 6 for a trip back to the Island, a necessity, not a request! Most will have to be dragged kicking and screaming. I've also heard rumor that Locke's not really dead (you don't say), while those left behind will be dealing with the rigors of living on a time-travelling island!

But one thing's guaranteed -- Sawyer spends the whole two hours shirtless!! Yummy!! Here's a sneak peak for all the ladies!


That's all I could muster, except for talk of Ana Lucia returning ... even my fave Lost spoiler site www.lostpedia.com doesn't have anything to offer except episode titles.

Get ready for heated discussion tomorrow!

For more info on LOST visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index



Also on tonight (like anything else matters) is On the Set fave Top Chef (Bravo, 10pm). Tonight's episode is the fan fave Restaurant Wars challenge, where cheftestants are divided up into two teams, given an empty room, a kitchen and a budget and tasked with creating their own restaurant. Things should get heated (as they have in the past) when some chefs are taken out of their kitchen comfort zones and challenged to manage, serve, host, etc.

And if that wasn't enough -- it looks like things are getting cozy between Hosea and Leah, who says on the promo that she's never before cheated on her ..... oooh "Watch What Happens!"

Top Chef recap tomorrow! For more on Top Chef New York visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php

Another audition episode of American Idol debuts at 8 on Fox. I don't know about you, but I thought last night's ep was a big yawn!! I'm still waiting for Eddie Idol to chime in ...



And lastly, tomorrow 8:30 am sharp, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announces the nominees for the Academy Awards!!! I'll be posting as soon as I can get them!
For more info visit www.oscar.com

On this historic day, I'm inspired to look back at my favorite TV/Movie presidents of all time ... here's my Top 5.



5. President Bill Mitchell -- Kevin Kline (Dave, 1993): Mitchell is the philandering and distant President of the U.S., while David Kovic is a sweet-natured and caring Temp Agency operator, who happens to be an exact doppleganger for the Prez. When the Prez suffers a severe stroke whilst having a trist with one of his aides, Dave finds himself stuck in the role indefinitely. A funny and heart-warming tale sure to please all who watch.



4. President Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet -- Martin Sheen (The West Wing, NBC): C'mon, how could he NOT make the list. Sheen was one of the most beloved TV president's of all time on an equally loved show. His everyman appearance, whilst dealing with world turmoil made this show worth watching every week. Bartlet represents, in many ways, an idealized president, endowed with a fierce intellect, great (though not infallible) personal intregrity, toughness tempered with essential compassion for the less fortunate and a sense of humor. Kudos to Sheen for making him so likable!



3. President James Marshall -- Harrison Ford (Air Force One, 1997): Ford, ever the champion, shines in the role as our Commander in Chief. After announcing during a speech in Moscow that America will undertake a new offensive against terrorism, Ford finds himself and his family the victims of terrorists who take over the President's official ride Air Force One. Gary Oldman leads the terrorists, who believe the Prez left in an escape pod, only to find that he's undermining their plans a-la behind the scenes Die Hard-style! Best Moment: Out the back of the plane when Ford, after defeating Oldman says -- "Get off my plane!"



2. President Thomas J. Whitmore -- Bill Pullman (Independence Day, 1996): How can you not cheer a President who takes on aliens and wins (granted Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum got most of the credit)!! A former Persian Gulf War fighter pilot whose approval ratings early in the film indicate the nation's dissatisfaction with his performance, Whitmore gives the most rousing speech in war film history (at least in my opinion), declaring that "should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be an 'American' holiday ... today we celebrate our Independence Day!" Then he gets in a fighter jet and dukes it out with his own troops against the aliens! Commander-in-Chief indeed!



And my No. 1 TV/Movie President of All Time is ...

1. President David Palmer -- Dennis Haysbert (24, Fox): The first ever African American President portrayed on TV, Palmer began as a senator marked for assassination during 24's first season, giving us all a reason to cheer on the show's hero Jack Bauer (Keifer Sutherland). He was elected prez and went on to become a central figure in the show, eliciting class and dignity along the way. This was a man who garnered respect despite the corrupt government surrounding him, including his conniving wife, Sherry (let's not even go there girlfriend). His role was often vital to the successful foiling of terrorist plots. Palmer was seen as a good leader who makes difficult decisions without much hesitation (just what we all want, huh?) On several occasions, his intervention as President and the execution of his Presidential powers helped Jack's Counter Terrorist Unit.

Unfortunately, during the opening moments of Day 5, Season 5, while Palmer was discussing his memoir with his brother Wayne in his penthouse apartment, a sniper from the adjacent building shot through the window, hitting Palmer in the throat (at precisely 7:02 a.m.), killing him instantly, much to the dismay of 24's fans. RIP Prez Palmer ...

Fortunately, Dennis Haysbert scored another hit and currently can be seen on CBS' The Unit and several Allstate Insurance commercials.



Honorable Mention: President Andrew Shepherd -- Michael Douglas (The American President, 1995): Another great little film about a single President seeking a girlfriend, which he finds in Annett Benning. Ironically, this flick was written by Aaron Sorkin, who created the West Wing. Rent it, it's a keeper.

All Hale the Commanders'-In-Chief and God Bless America!!

What do you think? Did I miss your faves, let me know!

Well, I would certainly be remiss if I didn't mention all the Inauguration coverage on TV tonight! Not that I'll be watching ...

So here goes: ABC presents A Moment in History at 10; NBC's Dateline is all about the festivities, also at 10; Larry King joins in the fun at 9 on CNN; CBS presents Change & Challenge/Inauguration of Barack Obama at 9, and so on. You get the picture. If you, like me, had to work today and couldn't sit home watching, there'll be plenty on TV tonight to satisfy your curiosity!

Me, if I'm not watching either Saw V or Repo: The Genetic Opera, which I'm expecting from Netflix today, I'll be tuning in to more shallow fare ...



Like American Idol, which tones the auditions down to only an hour tonight on Fox at 8, followed at 9 by the return of Fringe. I lost interest a little in J.J. Abrahms latest thriller last year, but think I might tune in tonight to see what's going on ...
For info on Fringe visit http://www.fox.com/fringe/

At 10 p.m. the Food Network offers up the second episode of Ted Allen's new foodie competition Chopped. Sorry guys, totally forgot about this one last week, but I'm gonna try to check it out tonight.



Of course, also at 10 p.m. Bravo's Real Housewives of Orange County will continue their decedant debauchery with the aftermath of last week's alleged hook-up between a drunken Gretchen and Tamra's son Ryan -- ooooohhh, you know I'll have to get to the bottom of that one!!
For info visit http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives/season/3/

The Biggest Losers continue to, ah, lose over on NBC from 8-10. Might have to take a peek just to see of trainer Bob loses it again this week. Anyone catch his expletive-filled tirade last week? It was one of the higlights of E!'s The Soup last weekend. Sorry Bob, no matter how many f's you let fly, you're still not too intimidating ...
For info visit http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/



TLC offers up a Duggar Family marathon tonight, beginning at 7. If you don't know the Duggars, the best I can tell you is that Mrs. Duggar is about 40 years old and has been pregnant, literally half her life. The Duggars have 18 children ... and counting ... again. Tonight's line-up includes 16 Children and Moving In (about the big new house the family built), Raising 16 Children and 17 Kids and Counting (about the impending birth of baby 18). Mr. Duggar, please give that woman a rest...



And for those of you just looking for shallow entertainment to pass the time, FX is airing 2004's beefcake supreme Troy. Oh yeah baby, or as I like to call it -- Baywatch for Women. Not the greatest retelling of Helen of Troy, but man, oh man, it's hard to top the masculine bravado in this flick (unless you break out your DVD of 300 and you know you have one). Starring Brad Pitt as the warrior Achilles, this film also boasts the talents of Eric Bana, Sean Bean, Orlando Bloom (as the whimp Prince Paris), some young Brad Pitt look-alike and, oh yeah, Diane Kruger as the famed most beautiful woman in the world, Helen.

In other News: Everyone keeping up with 24? Last night's episode was, again, action-packed, just they way we like it. I can't wait to see how they're going to get away with killing the Prez' husband. Anyone else have any thoughts?
I won't go into details, because Fox's comprehensive episode guide does a far better job. See it here http://www.fox.com/24/recaps/season7/index.htm

Good News for Mad Men fans: AMC has renewed the show for its third season (hard to believe there was ever any doubt), and has pumped up production so it can be back for summer.

Also, someone asked in the comments about TNT's Raising the Bar. It should be back for a second season sometime this summer. For info or to watch last season visit http://www.tnt.tv/series/raisingthebar/

And back to American Idol for a moment, the final 12 contestants will be living together a la Real World-style with producers hoping to catch some compromising and/or backstabbing moments. They also reveal there will be a big surprise coming when the final 12 are decided that will catch the contestants off guard (whatever that means).

Till tomorrow ...

Yeah, I couldn't resist putting it that way! And how 'bout this one -- Thank Frakkin' God!!

After a looooooong wait, the most successful show in Sci-Fi Channel history, Battlestar Galactica is back tonight at 10!! And for those of you who watch, you know what I mean. It was June when we last saw the Galacticans, exiting the starship, finally making it to earth. Only to find that earth was not what they had hoped, left in nuclear ruin.

The show returns with its last 10 episodes, and promises we'll see what happens to the characters when their one dream has been hopelessly shattered.

*SPOILERS*

Admiral Adama's already reeling from the news that his trusted pal Saul is a Cylon and takes it the hardest and finds solace in booze. His son Lee steps in to take charge. Nuts girl Starbuck must face the possibility that she's the "harbinger of death" as prophesied by the Hybrid. And the final Cylon will be unmasked early on in one of the upcoming episodes. Be warned, exec-producer Ron Moore tells TV Guide, "The revelation itself doesn't answer every question." ... like we expected it to?

Personally, I'm a bigger fan of the original '70s series. I like my Cylons all chrome and shiny, with one red eye pulsing back and forth, and that voice *shivers* -- "By Your Command"
For info visit http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/

On Sunday, those wacky housewives on Wisteria Lane will time travel yet again, this time back to its first five years on Desparate Housewives (ABC, 9 pm).

*SPOILERS*



The show will open on the day its ghostly narrator, Mary Alice Young, killed herself, which was the opening scene of the series' premiere episode. It will use flashbacks and new scenes to go back even before the pilot to show each woman's development. Promising to reveal how Gabrielle started being so selfish; how Bree's business career began' when Lynette gave up the idea of a full-time career; and why Susan went from being idealistic to a little cynical about love.

Hope it's better than the other new episodes so far ...
For info visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/index?pn=index



HBO's polygamist hit drama Big Love returns Sunday at 9 pm also. Tune in and see how Bill and his wives deal with the latest family crisis.
For info visit http://www.hbo.com/biglove/

HGTV debuts a new season of its most popular show, House Hunters, at 9 pm Sunday also. For info visit http://www.hgtv.com/house-hunters/show/index.html

Don't forget to keep entering that Dream Home competition!! http://www.hgtv.com/dream-home/index.html

Showtime offers up a new 1/2 hour comedy(?) Sunday night at 10. Produced by Academy Award winner Diablo Cody (screenwriter, Juno) and starring Toni Collete, The United States of Tara, will deal with multiple personalities with humor. Is that possible? I guess I'll have to check it out and see.
For info visit http://www.hgtv.com/dream-home/index.html

And, of course, if there's nothing else you find interesting Sunday night, you can always head on over to VH1 for all new trainwreck-guaranteed episodes of Confessions of a Teen Idol (8) and Brett Michael's Rock of Love Bus (9). Yeah, you know I'll be tuning in ...

For info visit http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/confessions_of_a_teen_idol/series.jhtml
or http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/rock_of_love_bus_with_bret_michaels/series.jhtml

Have a Great Weekend!



Oh, I almost forgot -- Go EAGLES!!! Sunday 3 p.m. the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Arizona Cardinals for the NFC Championship on Fox!!

One last thing -- I watched CSI last night, and I must have missed something. Since it hasn't aired since before Christmas, can someone fill in the blanks and tell me when/where did Grissom actually announce he was leaving and did he give any reason??

*SPOILERS*

I did, however, like very much the way they ended the show. I call it the "George Clooney ending", you know, when Julianna Marguilies left ER and ended the show walking out on the dock to some guy standing at the end ... and when said guy turns around it's -- George Clooney, and everyone watching was all "aaawwwww!"

Yeah, the CSI ending had pretty much the same effect on me!

Recapping the Kansas City Auditions…..
Overall, I felt like last night, the FOX crew tried to give us a kinder and gentler Idol , but it was also a bit on the BORING side! But the ‘high’-light (key word here is HIGH!) of the night right off the bat was seeing Jason ‘I still look stoned’ Castro there to greet Paula and the judges as they arrived! And this time…he brought his brother Michael with him to try out….great….Stoney Jr!
OK, enough of the Stoney Twins….on to those who captured my eye as having some talent, as 27 more tickets were punched for Hollywood, and of those that recd serious air-time, think these were the BEST of day #2! Drum Roll Please………………
· Ashley Anderson ….Jersey-girl who has that AI look and has great range on the voice….she just needs to make sure that she remembers the right words* to the song *(It’s Footprints, NOT Footsteps Ashley!)
· Casey Carlson ….nice job on Vanessa Carlton song, not an easy choice, and a bubbly personality that will win her votes down the road! I really like this chick!
(Note from Kim to Cindy: Hey Girl, she totally sang our Jam!!)

· Von Smith ….OK, so he’s a bit of an odd duck, and the judges made him sweat out their decision….but the kid has some pipes! ‘Over The Rainbow’ rendition was probably heard somewhere over the rainbow the way he belted it out! Will be interesting to watch this kid as the show develops.
· Michael Castro ….Not a pretty-boy like his brother was (Pink/Red spiked hair vs. dreadlocks) and Stoney Jr says he’s only been singing for 20 days….yeah, OK.…….sure…we believe you!? Maybe it was just that I liked his song choice (Gavin Degraw’s ‘In Love With A Girl’) but he wasn’t too bad….certainly a better voice than his brother!
· Jessica ‘JJ’ Paige Furney ….homely looking chick who sings a Janis Joplin (JJ) tune ‘Crybaby’ and nails it…big voice on this girl!
· Danny Gokey ….Promoted this kids story all night long….so get out the sympathy and courage vote for this kid, who’s spouse passed away about a month before the auditions….he was OK, not great….but good enough. Something about him though just didn’t sit well with me, thought his emotion was a little on the fake side….maybe it’s just me being unsympathetic Eddie?!.....but I bet there’s a story here we haven’t heard yet.
· Anoop Desai ….’Noop Dog’ as Randy coined his name did pretty well, but he’s got that ‘geek look’ and is a bit of an odd fellow, but well spoken and can certainly sing, surprisingly better than expected!
· Asa Barnes …..Middle School band director who did a difficult Michael Jackson song and did it pretty well! One of the better performances of Day #2!
· Lil Rounds ….23-year old Memphis mom (who looks MUCH older!) of 3 who had her house destroyed by a tornado….last performer but certainly not the least on my list, she was awesome and WOWED all 4 judges! Great voice, nice personality….probably the BEST of the first two days of auditions! This girl can go far….a LOCK for the Top 24!
The lowlights and contestants that I disagreed with the judges choices……
· Jamar Rogers ….. STOP!!! I didn’t like this kid’s rendition of ‘CA Dreamin’ at all…..I can scream any song just like him, probably better….the only reason he was put through is because he’s Danny Gokey’s buddy!
· Asia and India Girl Duo ….. PULLEEEEEZ!!!!!! This was a joke….they’ll not make it through Hollywood Hell…if they even find their way there!!
· Matt Breitzke …..have to agree with Randy here, he was an OK karaoke bar singer….nice kid, nice family guy….not cut out for the long haul!
BEST part of the show, other than the talent, were the David Cook highlight moments (KS City his hometown) and the new AI commercial with him in it. Talented kid who will be a force for years to come in the music industry! Otherwise, a pretty mellow and uninspiring night to say the least, but the talent pool was a bit deeper and better than Phoenix IMHO. Thought it was a bit odd that they hyped Hollywood Hell Week at the end of the show as much as they did, showing contestants from upcoming weeks shows already put through to Hollywood, esp. considering there are 6 more cities left to audition yet!? OK……….until next week…….

Eddie Idol…….OUT!!

Tonight's a sad night for me. As I've mentioned before someone is leaving one of my favorite shows.



Tonight at 9 p.m. on CBS, it's a very special CSI ... Gil Grissom (William Petersen), the leader of the pack, is leaving :(

Not for any particular reason, just the fact that the actor thinks its time to move on. At least he won't be ceremoniously killed off like Warrick was last September in a very teary-eyed episode. Or simply cast aside like Sarah last season. Grissom's exact reason for deparure is still a close-guarded mystery.

CSI debuted on CBS on Oct. 6, 2000, in the same time slot it still holds and quickly became the most-watched show on TV, stampeding past former ratings top spot holder ER. The show's title, which stands for Crime Scene Investigation and pounding theme (The Who's Who Are You?), quickly became staples in households across the country.

The show went on to inspire two very successful spin-offs: CSI: Miami and CSI: New York. Both are still on the CBS schedule, but neither has achieved the status of the original.

A typical episode centers around corpses and the various scientific techniques the CSI teams uses to determine the culprit and fashion of the slaying. But it was the characters that the audience really embraced. And at the top of the list was the bug-loving investigator Gil Grissom. I'm getting more bummed by the minute writing this, so I won't go on much more, only to say, that I think after tonight, I won't be watching anymore -- :(

Grissom's replacement, critically-acclaimed actor Laurence Fishburne will do a fine job, I'm sure, but to me, Grissom was the true heart of the show and without him (much like when David Duchovny left the X-Files) what's the point in continuing ...



Thank you William Petersen -- you made my Thursday nights intriguing!

For more info on CSI, visit http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/



And while we're saying good-bye to one beloved character, here comes another new one -- Patrick Swayze makes his Prime Time debut tonight over on A&E with his new cop drama The Beast. According to TV Guide, he stars as an unconventional FBI agent (is there any other kind on TV?) paired with a rookie partner -- who may have a hidden agenda (you don't say ...).

The Beast airs at 10 p.m., for more info visit http://www.aetv.com/the-beast/

Elsewhere on TV Tonight:

Those wacky, sexually uninhibited docs over at Seattle Grace are back with another new episode of Grey's Anatomy on ABC at 9. This week, Emmy-award winner Tyne Daly shows up as McDreamy's mom and has some words with gloomy Meredith. And there's a continuation of the serial killer/death row inmate storyline -- looks like he's going to donate an organ to that dying kid. And I'm totally getting the sh*ts of the whole Denny-Izzy-Karev triangle. Now, don't get me wrong, I love seeing Jeffrey Dean Morgan in any incarnation, but really -- this is just ridiculous!!
For more info visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/greysanatomy/index?pn=index


Jeffrey Dean Morgan, why do we love this guy?

Raging chef Gordon Ramsay is back with an all new episode of his hit show Kitchen Nightmares on Fox at 9 as well. You know I'm a big fan of Ramsay, but this is just not a good time slot for me. I've been lax in keeping up with this show. Lucky for me it repeats over on BBC America.
For info visit http://www.fox.com/kitchennightmares/

Golden Globe Winner for Best Comedy Show, 30 Rock also offers up a new ep at 9:30 on NBC. I like this show a lot, but I'm finding it harder to keep up with because of the time slot.
For info visit http://www.nbc.com/30_Rock/


Sam & Dean

Although I'm still wallowing in Grissom's departure, I'm equally excited that my Winchester Boys are back tonight!! Yes, Sam and Dean continue to chase down demons for the CW's Supernatural. Again, another show airing in the 9-10 time slot, I always make time for this one! Partly for the supernatural storyline and partly because the Winchester bros are HOT!!
For more info visit http://www.cwtv.com/shows/supernatural

And wrapping up tonight's highlights VH1 offers up Celebrity Rehab presents Sober House at 10. Recovering addicts from Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, who obviously needed more help, spent three months in a sober house to hone sobriety skills. Hmmm wonder how that went. Tune in if you're the least bit curious ...
For more info visit http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/sober_house/series.jhtml

So I watched AI last night and while, again, not enough craptastic singers for me, I must admit I see an early leader -- Anoop! Oh yeah, me likey this Middle Eastern-American kid and can't wait to see what he offers up!
Reminds me a little of a former fave Sanjaya (I can hear Eddie Idol groaning now!) -- yeah I liked Sanjaya, mostly because everyone else didn't. It was most fun teasing Eddie every week that Sanjaya squeaked thru! And, being the stylista I am, I looked forward to the hairdos and don'ts!!
What did you think? Please hit the comments and let me know.
Also Kudos to Eddie Idol on his first posting ... looking forward to more! And Ray, you'd better get on it ... I'm looking forward to hearing from you to!!

Anybody watch the Lost season finale last night? I couldn't hang around for the whole thing, what with Idol and Top Chef, I could only surf during commercials. But I did happen to see the preview for next week's premiere and, hey, it looks like Desmond and Penny didn't waste any time reuniting and already have a baby!! Oh my, what will Ben think of that?
Of course, watching the show reminded me how curious I am over Richard. I mean, really, what's his story?? I'm dying to know ...


What's the story Richard?

Tomorrow -- Galactica is Backtica!

As last night's epsiode of Top Chef opened last night I was pleasantly surprised to see something I could get the Elfman for Valentine's Day -- that "I 'heart' Padma" T-shirt that Stefan was wearing!!

The perfect gift!! No one I know 'hearts' Padma more ... And it's conveniently available at http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php

On to the Quick Fire Challenge: The Return of Hung!! Just what I was waiting for. Hung was the winner of Top Chef Season 3 and, as Padma said, "The fastest chef in Top Chef history."

Hung was on hand to help Padma judge the challenge which gave the cheftestants 15 minutes (in honor of Hung's being so fast) to make something delicious from ordinary cupboard staples. Ordinary meaning Spam, garbanzo beans, canned chili, and other ingredients that our "chefs" aren't used to cooking with. You know, the crap we cook with everyday!

Our chefs buzzed around the Top Chef kitchen and here's what they came up with:

Jamie - bruschetta with garbanzo beans and smoked fish
Stefan - Baked bean soup with Spam
Hosea - Sweet pea soup with pork rinds (Hung was excited about the pork rinds!) and Spam
Fabio - Mac & cheese with roast artichokes and chili pepper
Arianne - Open-faced turkey Spam sandwich (eewww!)
Carla - Asian salmon cakes w/mayo (homemade, of course)
Rhadika - Red bean dip w/bread
Leah - Waffles, strawberries and sausage
Jeff - Baby conch (remember Hung is big on fish) w/coconut sauce

After tasting the bottom three were determinied: Leah, Rhadika and Jaime
Top 3: Hosea (pork rinds), Stefan and Jeff (conch).

Hung picked Stefan as the winner, which ticked off Hosea, because he had shared his Spam with him. Stefan got immunity.

For the Elimination Challenge the cheftestants were tasked to go Back to Basics and create a seasonal meal, family-style lunch including dessert. They drew knives dividing the teams into Pig (Jeff, Fabio, Rhadika), Chicken (Stefan, Jaime, Carla) and Lamb (Arianne, Leah, Hosea).

Back at the apartment, the teams rallied together to come up with their menus. A heated exchange erupted between Jaime and Stefan with Jaime leaving telling Stefan to do "whatever you want." This only endeared her to Stefan more, "She's so cute when she's pissed." Hey Stefan, she likes her own gender, give up already!

The following morning they packed up and headed for the Whole Foods Store, or so they thought. Actually they were taken to the country to a place called Blue Hill at Stone Barns, owned by chef Dan Barber (yeah, I know, never heard of him either). The farm specializes in growing local produce and raising their own meats, hence Pig, Chicken and Lamb. The chefs would be cooking for the farmers.

Pork team decided to roast pork loin, with sausage ravioli and a basil pesto sauce, roasted vegetables, with creme brulee for dessert.

The Chicken team made roast chicken and chicken cutlets w/tomato salad, chicken consumme and a nectarine/strawberry tart.

Team Lamb went with a duo of lamb, heirloom tomato salad, rosemary garlic potatoes, and a berry trifle.

In the kitchen, Fabio became frustrated when it took Rhadika almost an hour to peel and cook corn -- "what?" he stated. Arianne was having a hard time tying up the lamb, so Leah stepped in to do it. And the Pork team was worried about meat getting done on time.

As time was running out, Arianne declared the lamb "perfect."

At the tasting: Team Chicken's consumme came into question - why serve soup on an 85-degree day? The chicken entrees went over well and the tart was considered good.

Judges declared the lamb a "mess," saying it was sliced wrong, with the grain. They also didn't like the aggressive pesto, and found the trifle "unappealing." Uh-o.

Team Pork's dishes were overshadowed by the "overwhelming pesto", while the tomatoes were well received. Unfortunately the creme brulee was deemed too sweet.

Team Pork were the first called to Judges Table and declared the winners of the challenge. All three actually won, and were promptly sent back to retrieve the rest of the cheftestants, who weren't so lucky.

Team Pork: Jeff admitted to taking off the pig fat, which the judges didn't like because it ruined the flavor. Fabio was criticized for his overwhelming pesto. And Rhadika was asked if making the salad and dessert was enough?

Team Lamb: Judges immediately asked who made the lamb, to which Arianne owned up and admitted not knowing how to tie it up properly. So why was she the only one working on the lamb, judges asked? Head judge Tom Colicchio said her "butchering was a big problem." Hosea, who said he roasted the potatoes, admitted he could've broken down the meat. Colicchio replied he should have said something ...

After sending the chefs back to await their fate, there was some interesting discussion around Judges Table. As pointed out by the Elfman, new judge Toby Young had quite a few conflicting views with Colicchio -- all valid points. However, Colicchio stood firm saying Arianne "really did a disservice to the lamb." Padma stuck up for her, while Young said she can't cook. Padma replied that actually before he came in, she did some really great cooking. To which Young replied, that he thought they were supposed to be juding on what was done in that particular challenge! Colicchio concurred!

In the end, Team Pork was deemed safe, because Jeff recycled the green tomatoes he found on the ground, and that was a big part of what the farmers stood for.

On Team Lamb, Leah was chided for not doing enough, and Arianne was sent to pack her knives and go, calling Hosea a "wimp."


Luv this gif of Carla!

Sorry to see her go, thought she'd definitely outlast Carla (not my fave). And for Jan vs Jan, who asked, Fabio is my fave this season. I think a final 3 showdown between Fabio, Stefan and Hosea would make my Top Chef!! Also, I like the new judge. Toby Young definitely has some interesting insight, and I also like the way he debated Tom last night!

Next week it looks like the Hosea/Leah hook-up might be happening, but more importantly it's -- THE RESTAURANT WARS CHALLENGE!!!

If this is your first season, don't miss next week. The Restaurant Wars Challenge is legendary Top Chef stuff. It can literally make or break a cheftestant. Back in Season 3, Hung's only real competition, Trey, was sent packing after his disastrous turn running the restaurant.

It works like this -- the chefs are divided up into two teams, each tasked with opening their own restaurant. They are usually given an empty room and kitchen and they have to come up with a theme, menu, layout and decorations, all on a certain monetary budget. Each team must also elect a restaurant manager (Trey's downfall), head chef, server and hostess, taking some of the chefs out of their element. It's usually the most interesting episode of the season, don't miss it!!

For more on Top Chef visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php

Introducing our American Idol guest blogger -- Eddie Idol:


OK….so AI Season 8 is off and running, although it was Fox’s lowest rated opening show since 2004…..surprising! New this year is Judge Kara....and I like Kara. She's nice, but not sugary nice like Paula is, and when she has to, she doesn't mince words, though the standoff with the bikini babe was a bit over-the-top! But…best of all, she truly knows the craft of songwriting, so I think she’s a nice addition!

Soooo….aside from all the ‘looney tuners’ on these city-touring auditions (although I must say I loved the background music choices for all these losers!) I like to concentrate on finding the ‘real talent’ the show has….and who just might make it into the Top 24 and make a run at being this season’s American Idol! Granted…all the people ticketed for Hollywood aren’t all shown, but of the ones that were…..here we go!

I really liked pink-haired Emily from California, reminded me of my son Jon….and if everyone can somehow look past her tattooed body, face piercings, and pink hair….this girl can flat out sing!! And beneath all that crazy look that she has going on, she’s a very pretty girl! Also liked Adopt-a-Grandfriend 16-yearold cutie Arianna from San Diego, but hated her song choice! Nice kid though, she gets the ‘likeability vote’! Cody Shelton from Detroit was ticketed for Hollywood by all four judges, and this kid has talent….and his horror-film freak persona is OK by me! Also liked spunky Stevie ‘Nicks’ Wright, nice voice and super sweet personality, though agreeing with Simon…she has to be a little more aggressive if she wants to move on! Bikini’ clad Katrina gets my vote for the ‘hottest’ looking contestant on AI so far….and we all know that she’s moving on because of much more than her voice! The standoff with Paula and Kara was a bit much though, think they felt a bit threatened by her! :-0 Last but certainly no least is Scottie McIntyre, a truly courageous lad who is legally blind and sings pretty well, but plays the piano much better! He’ll get the sympathy vote for sure, if he makes it to the Top 24 and moves on, and his musical talent may carry him…..time will tell….but I almost fell off the couch when Ryan went to high five the kid as he came out of the audition! He’s such a dork, and that was the by far the dumbest thing on last night’s show for sure! All-in-all….a solid opening night for Season 8…..looking forward to see what Kansas City (home of David Cook!) has in store tonight! More news from Eddie Idol………….after the break!!

Hey, I told you he was a DIE-HARD AI FAN!!

What do you think, hit the comments and give Eddie Idol some love ...

Yes, American Idol returned with great anticipation last night on Fox. And for those of you who are hooked, there's another two hours tonight beginning at 8! Last night's show was conducted from Phoenix, Arizona, while tonight it moves to Kansas City.


I must admit I was a little disappointed because there weren't too many trainwrecks last night. Yeah, that's why I watch baby! I love to see those people making asses out of themselves -- that's great television!!


Nothing tickles my funnybone like seenig judge Randy Jackson sitting at the table with a piece of paper in front of his face because he's cracking up over some baaaad singer!


OK, highlights: Let's start with the kid with the REALLY DEEEEEEEEP Voice!! James Earl Jones called -- he wants his voice back. I felt a little bad for this kid, because he was sweet, I'm sure he takes a beating with that voice, and the judges weren't too kind.


The crying rocker had to go though -- really man, get a band .... or hop on over to VH1, because Brett Michaels says this is his absolute last season of Rock of Love!


And let's not forget bikini girl -- like you guys could! I don't think I've ever seen Simon Cowell so excited! But girlfriend got her groove on and even sassed new judge Kara DioGuardi with this exchange:


Kara, "Honestly, you don't have the chops to sing that song, sweetie."


Bikini Girl, "But your demonstration wasn't any better."


Oh Snap!!



For those of you who enjoy rehashing Idol each week, I'm hoping to put together something interesting here. Like the Elfman, I have a couple of friends who are Die-Hard Idol watchers and each season I get emails from them that seriously critique and sarcastically comment on each episode. I've invited them to join me here. Should be informative and hilarious! Keep your fingers crossed ...


For more info on American Idol visit http://www.americanidol.com/


What else is on tonight? Glad you asked ...




Over on ABC they're re-airing last season's Lost finale -- you know the one that shows exactly how the Oceanic 6 got off the island. It was an edge-of-your-seat finish and if you missed it or ever wanted to join in the Lost discussions at work, here's your chance to get your feet wet before next week's season premiere.
The broadcast boasts a few never-before-scenes as well as pop-up commentary to get you up to speed. For more info on Lost visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index




On Bravo at 10 p.m. Top Chef Season 3 Champion Hung returns to judge the cheftestants. Can't wait. Hung was the most dangerous player they ever had on the show, and he never copped to any of it. Remember the Breakfast Quick-Fire Challenge in the apartment. "Hung you just broke the truffle oil on the floor."
Hung -- "No I didn't," as he flung himself across the room. Hung was always running behind everyone else, with knife in hand. He was also one of the most interesting players. Looking forward to seeing him.

Stop back tomorrow for the Top Chef Recap.

For more information on Top Chef visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php


And on MTV, The Real World serves up another episode at 10 from Brooklyn, NY. Last week, the guests arrived to meet & greet and fight with each other. Trust me, you didn't miss anything, except MTV's first ever post-op tranny! However, I'm sure we'll be in for the usual shenanigans soon. For more info on season 17 visit http://www.mtv.com/ontv/dyn/realworld-season17/series.jhtml


Later on, if your curious, fresh from his Golden Globe for Best Actor Drama, Mickey Rourke stops by to chat with Jimmy Kimmel at 12:05 on ABC.


In Other News:


Last night's episode of Nip/Tuck barely kept me awake. Looks like the writers are happy about their Christian-Breast Cancer storyline as most of the ep centered on that. Julia showed up briefly, as did Kimber, if only to mock Christian's circumstances, calling it "karma, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner."

Sean hooked up with the med student, but promptly blew that opportunity. Liz did sleep with Christian, but he only did it to prove he still could, which severely ticked the lesbian off! I think the best part was the androgenous couple that was staying at their practice for surgery, with the "wife" showing the 17-yr-old Indian whiz kid med student her appreciation in an x-rated way. Although "she" wasn't quite what she seemed ...




I erroneously reported Monday that Patrick Swayze would be hitting Jay Leno's Tonight Show to promote his new series on A&E, The Beast. Seems Mr. Swayze has been in the hospital since his interview with Barbara Walters aired, being treated for pneumonia. His camp says the actor is doing fine and recovering well. Best wishes to you Patrick!


And while all the glitz and glamour returned to the Golden Globe Awards Sunday night, not all the audience did. Ratings for the gala show were estimated to be 14.6 million, which was way better than the 6 million that tuned in for last year's star-deprived awards announcement, but was also down from the 15.7 million people who tuned in for the 2007 broadcast.




Fox reports that this will be the last season for Prison Break. Thanks! I loved this show's first season and was still intrigued during the second. The first season was brilliant, but ended with the prisoners escaping (thus, no more "prison break"). They spent the second season on the run and most ended up in a Panamanian prison for the third season -- forging another "break."

This season, however, they've been hired by someone (the gov't, maybe, who the hell knows), to recover a device called Scylla that has all "the company's" info on it. I lost interest after four episodes, but might tune in to see how it all ends.

The final episodes will air on Friday (Friday?) nights, beginning April 17. Well, if it wasn't already dead, putting it on Friday night was the final nail in the coffin.

For info on Prison Break or to catch up visit http://www.fox.com/prisonbreak/



ONLY 7 MORE DAYS TO LOST!!



Up tomorrow, Top Chef Recap, The Beast teaser and saying Goodbye to Gill Grissom

Yeah, it's back!! As has become the norm for January, Fox unleashes its ratings bohemuth American Idol! America's best/worst will be showcased for two hours tonight and tomorrow night in what has become a household ritual for me. I just LOVE th auditions!! There isn't anything funnier on TV. From the horrible contestants (who have to have some inkling how BAD they are), to the judges' expressions, as well as the comments, and Paula's mindless gazing, the audition process is just one huge laugh-fest for me!

Anyway, for my buddy Crazy Eddie (who hangs on every musical moment), the fun starts tonight at 8 and continues Wednesday, same time, same place!
http://www.americanidol.com/

And, as if anything else on TV tonight matters, here's the rest:

On CBS at 9 it's another new episode of their fledgling hit The Mentalist. Check in to see sexy Simon Baker work his mental magic to solve another case.
http://www.cbs.com/primetime/the_mentalist/

NBC presents episode two of the Biggest Loser: Couples from 8-10.
http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/

90210 continues to assault mindless brains on the CW at 8 p.m.
http://www.cwtv.com/shows/90210

Over on Bravo, the Real Housewives of Ocean County will mix it up when bitchy Vicki goes to visit family.
http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives/season/3/

And for me, it's back under the knife at 10 on FX for Nip/Tuck. Only seven more episodes and then we get the final season -- in 2011!! Why, oh why, such a long wait -- who do they think they are, HBO?
http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/niptuck/

ONLY 8 MORE DAYS TO LOST!!

Yay! After almost two years, Jack Bauer's finally back to chew bubble gum and kick ass -- and he's all out of bubble gum!

The following takes place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.:

Fox's popular hit 24 came back with a vengeance Sunday night with a 2-hour premiere, followed by 2-more hours last night! And vengeance was the name of the game -- the government wanted tried to extract their vengeance on Jack (Keifer Sutherland) by cross-examining his torturous motives from last season with a full Senate subcommittee hearing. In a you-can't-handle-the-truth kinda way, Jack set them straight about how far he is willing to go to stop terrorism!

Unfortunately for the Senate, the FBI interrupted because Jack was much needed for a matter of National Security!! Is there any other kind ... ooohh I feel another bad day coming on!

Within the first 20 minutes of the show, we find out that the reason Jack is sooo needed is because the person orchestrating this latest threat is none other than ... wait for it ...

TONY ALMEIDA!! Jack's formerly dead BFF and CTU partner who died two seasons ago -- Yes, DIED!!


Welcome Back Tony, we missed ya!

A clearly emotional Jack accepted the challenge and along with a sexy female FBI agent, went about the task of finding Tony. Tony appears to be in charge of a group that has acquired a suspicous CIP device (WTH?) with the capabilities of crashing airplanes all over the country, and demonstrates this ability by causing a near-miss (wouldn't that be a near-hit if the planes never actually touched?).

By the end of Sunday night's show, a clearly broken-hearted Jack captured his former BFF and Tony was taken into FBI custody, thereby setting up the tension for last night.

The following takes place between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Jack offers to torture Tony so the FBI might have a chance to find the CIP device. Tony tells Jack, "Deep Sky," which obviously means something to him.

(Sorry, I'm not going to get into too much detail, because Fox provides awesome episode rundowns, much better than I ever could, but I'm just trying to give an overview).

Jack, recognizing this as a former CTU code, calls a phone number and gets thru to -- OH Yeah!! -- his former boss and head of CTU, Bill Buchanan. And Bill just happens to be with -- are you sitting down? --- Jack's former super IT-geek Chloe!


Nobody scouls like you, Chloe

Bill convinces Jack that Tony is not a terrorist, just working under deep cover to bring down the cell. Next, he asks Jack to break Tony out of custody -- which he does, of course. Bill picks them up and explains everything to Jack (refer to Fox episode guide for more info). Anyway, Tony is on the good side and the Jack/Tony Bromance is back on ...

The gang is all back together and seeking to disband the terrorists, but first, they must get Tony back in. Tony tells Jack he works for a man named David Emerson, who is putting everything in place for Colonel Dubaku in Sangala. OK, here's where watching 24: Redemption would come in handy.

Col. Dubaku is the one who gave Jack all that trouble in last fall's TV movie. Things are going to Hell in Sangala, and the US is trying not to get involved. However, innocent lives are again being threatened, the Prez's son didn't commit suicide, he was murdered, and somewhere in her administration and the FBI there's a leak .... and I'm as totally into it as ever!!!

Tony gets Jack in with Emerson's crew and everything's fallin' into place for another exciting season!

tick, tock, tick, tock
11:59:56
11:59:57
11:59:58
11:59:59
12:00:00

Till next week ...

Visit http://www.fox.com/24/recaps/season7/index.htm for detailed episode guide and/or to watch the entire episode.

Had to pass on this little snippet the New York Post's Page Six reported yesterday ...

Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta are still making waves in the entertainment industry. Last month, trouble-maker NeNe Leakes was unceremoniously booted from her home mid rumors of failing to pay her rent. NeNe replied that she and her hubby left on their own for better digs.

Sheree Whitfield

Now comes news that the other mega-biotch of the show, Sheree Whitfield will be debuting her clothing line at NYC Fashion Week in February. Whitfield, who divorced former New York Giant Bob Whitfield last year, will unveil her She by Sheree line, which had some problems during last season's show. The basic cost of putting on a fashion show is at least $50,000, which could explain why Sheree is taking her ex back to court, claiming the $1 million he gave her in the divorce was not enough!

Maybe her BFF Kim could get Big Poppa to cut her some slack and fund the venture!

OK, continuing with the new January TV season, here's a few highlights of what's on:



Fox continues to assault us with another two hours of Bauer Power tonight beginning at 8 p.m. I'm reserving my thoughts on the new season of 24 until after tonight's episode. I will say up front that 24's one of my all-time fave shows and I couldn't wait for Jack to come back last night! For those of you who missed it you can watch it online or read up on their comprehensive episode guide here http://www.fox.com/24/recaps/season7/index.htm

As stated in the previous post, E! dishes up the Golden Globes tonight at 10 p.m. on Fashion Police. I'll be tuning in to see Miss Jay and Christian Siriano's opinions on who wore what last night.

CBS gives us all new episodes of the Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men and Worst Week from 8 to 10 p.m.

Over on ABC, it's more from The Bachelor (I can't believe this show is still on) at 8, Samantha Who? at 9:30 and their new reality show True Beauty at 10. A colleague has recommended True Beauty to me and I just might have to take a peak. It features, here's a shocker, "beautiful" contestants living together in a mansion in LA, and, of course, there's always a catch. This one being that they think they're vying for some "most beautiful" title, when actually they're being judged on their "inner beauty." For more info visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/truebeauty/index?pn=index

The Superstars of Dance and Momma's Boys (sorry, I lost interest in this one) fill out the scheduled at NBC from 8 to 11.

I might have to take another look at MTV's Bromance tonight. After seeing a hilarious clip on E!'s The Soup this weekend, Brody and the boys seem to be quite entertaining, giving the term Bromantic true meaning ...

But I'll defniitely be making time for Lifetime's new reality show at 10 -- Dietribe. You couldn't miss the commercials this past weekend for this show that features five friends trying to lose weight before one's wedding. I think they're trying to lose something like 30 lbs. in 90 days -- and, of course, they have a superhot/stacked trainer helping them. Yes, the voyeur in me can't help but tune in.



Sci-Fi channel continues its LOST mini-thon tonight from 7 to 11. And, yes, there's only 9 more days till LOST returns!!! Yeah, I'm totally pumped for this!! Even more than I was for 24. And, according to TV Guide, Sawyer spends a full hour shirtless -- yay! In case you need a refresher, ABC is re-airing last season's finale from 8-11 this Wednesday.

In case you missed Patrick Swayze with Barbara Walters last week, he sits down with Jay Leno tonight.

And can I just mention that, after catching Top Chef again over the weekend, I just love Fabio. He and his comments totally make the show for me. I'm really hoping he makes it to the final!

Till tomorrow ...

Last night Hollywood did the red carpet proud on its second biggest night of the year. (The Oscars, of course, being the biggest night.) After scaling down last year's broadcast, and that's putting it mildly, due to the writer's strike, the Hollywood Foreign Press' Golden Globes shined bright with tons of celebrities dressed to the nines!

Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner bringing home four trophies, including Best Picture Drama, while HBO's John Adams took home four in the television categories. Kate Winslet won two awards for Best Actress Drama (Revolutionary Road) and Best Supporting Actress (The Reader). The late Heath Ledger got a standing ovation from his peers when he was awarded the Best Supporting Actor globe for his stellar performance as The Joker. And Mad Men and 30 Rock won Best Drama and Comedy, respectively.

No, I'm not going to bore you with all the winners. For a complete list and lots more photos visit www.goldenglobes.org

So on to the real reason I look forward to the Golden Globe Awards -- the FASHION!! For me, it's all about those glorious two hours prior to the actual show, when we get to see the celebrity arrivals, ooh and ahhh over what everyone's wearing and hear the snarky comments from the "interviewers."

Salute to Joan Rivers: Without you babe, none of this red carpet stuff would be so largely broadcast. Say what you want about the woman, but all the credit for red carpet coverage goes to her! I miss you Joan, you were the most entertaining red carpet afficionado ever! Isaac Mizrahi runs a close second!

Anyway, for me, it's all about the arrivals! So here's just a few of my thoughts, along with some pics ...

Worst Dressed: Renee Zellwegger. I hated this dress! I think it's horrible! I like Renee, and she usually does the red carpet proud. But this dress just made her look frumpy and old -- and we expect that of Meryl Streep, but not from you babe! Honorable Mention to Best Actress-Comedy or Musical winner Sally Hawkins, who wore an equally drab black number that looked like it came off the same rack as Renee's.



Drew Barrymore -- loved this dress! I'm pretty sure Miss Jay on E! said it was a John Galiano original and it's just beautiful. Loved the hair too. Miss Drew looks stunningly feminine in this soft pale shade. And boy did this dress flow nicely. She floated down the carpet in it!



Eva Longoria-Parker -- Lady In Red!! This dress was spectacular! The color, the mermaid shape and the fit were absolutely perfect! It helps when you're as perfectly shaped as Mrs. Parker too. Anyway, I think she looked stunning!



Eva had my best dressed until this lady arrived -- Jennifer Lopez!! Va-Va-Voom!! This shimmering gold number had people reminiscing about that certain green Versace dress she wore to the Grammys a few years back (probably longer than I think). Again, stunning! This backless wonder also featured a plunging neckline and only Ms. Lopez could pull it off. WOW!



What did you think? What were your faves, please let me know ...

On to the show! I actually had a few highlights I'd like to share, beginning with Sting. I saw him on the red carpet with Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Cruise and only recognized him when I saw his wife Trudy Styler -- WTH? Gone is the blond hair, now a darker brown with a full goattee as well. Hey, he looked good.

Colin Farrell, while presenting, blamed his sniffles on a cold -- "It's a cold, not what it used to be," joked the randy Irishman, referring to his alleged drug past.

Which reminds me, I must see Colin's film In Bruges, since he did win his own Globe last night for Best Actor-Comedy or Musical. Who saw that coming? Certainly not him. However, I remember Colin used to be pretty critically acclaimed, before his public partying persona got bigger than his acting roles. It was nice to see him cleaned-up last night, and he also gave a very heartfelt acceptance speech.

Tina Fey gave the best acceptance speech, getting a few laughs while bashing her online haters!

Steven Speilberg got a special Golden Globe and during the video presentation of his works I learned something new. I don't think I ever knew that little Stevie directed the legendary Joan Crawford in the feature film version of Night Gallery. It's one of my all-time faves. Joan plays a blind woman who pays a drunken bum Tom Bosley for his eyes. Of course, she will only be able to see for a few hours after the operation and low-and-behold when the bandages come off -- there's a blackout! Hilarious!

Sigourney Weaver should have worn a bra. That's all I'll say about that ...

Mickey Rourke, another one whose acting was heavily over-shadowed by his personal demons, won Best Actor-Drama last night and tripped on the steps to the stage. Isn't that why we watch these shows -- just hoping to see someone trip on their way up the stage! Anyway, his speech was pretty entertaining as well, thanking everyone from his dog to Axl Rose, and saying "balls" twice! Way to go Mick! He also thanked The Wrestler director Darren Aronofsky for casting him despite not being able to get any much backing by using Rourke.To which Aronofsky gave him the finger from the audience! Oooops, Standards & Practices missed that one!



And hey, didn't Kate & Leo look cute on the red carpet together. I think it was sweet that Titanic's star-crossed lovers arrived and did press together, just as they did 11 years ago. Kate's hubby, Revoluntary Road director Sam Mendes joined his wife inside and both were on hand to help her compose herself after her double wins! BTW, I couldn't find a full photo of Kate's gown, but I did think she looked exceptional in her strapless black sheath. I don't know what her secret is, but she just keeps getting better looking!

All in all a pretty fun and glamorous night. The Golden Globes are always more relaxed than the other, stuffy awards galas. Now it's on to the SAG Awards!

But first up, all the entertainment shows tonight will be featuring all the fashions (which will be copied by the end of the week) and after parties. I think I look forward to the night after wrap-ups more than the actual awards. And don't miss E!'s Fashion Police tonight at 10 p.m. America's Next Top Model and E! correspondent Miss Jay will be on hand with Project Runway's fave pixie Christian Siriano to dish on who wore what! I'll make the popcorn ...

VH1 presented the Broadcast Film Critics Awards last night in Hollywood. The show repeats this weekend or you can watch it online here http://www.vh1.com/. Another precursor to the Academy Awards, this awards show has come a long way in the past few years. Last night's broadcast was a full two hours and featured most of the nominated stars, complete with red carpet coverage.
The biggest Critics' Choice winner was Slumdog Millionaire, which took 5 awards: best film, best director, best young actor, best writer and best composer.
For more info visit http://www.bfca.org/

A complete list of winners follows.

Best Comedy Movie: Tropic Thunder
Best Acting Ensemble: Milk
Best Young Actor/Actress: Dev Patel
Best Writer: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Action Film: The Dark Knight
Best Composer: A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Song: Bruce Springsteen, The Wrestler
Best Documentary: Man On Wire
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Best Supporting Actress: Kate Winslet, The Reader
Best Foreign Language Film: Waltz With Bashir
Best Animated Feature: WALL•E
Best Movie Made for TV: “John Adams”
Best Actress: Meryl Streep, Doubt and Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk
Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Don't forget Sunday night's the second biggest night in Hollywood, when the Hollywood Foreign Press presents the Golden Globe Awards. The show airs on NBC at 9 p.m. preceded by red carpet arrivals at 8 p.m. Arrivals will also be covered on E! beginning at 6 p.m.
For more info visit http://www.goldenglobes.org/

Taylor Lautner

OK Twilight Fans -- a message was finally released this week regarding the casting of Jacob Black for the sequel New Moon. Fans of the books already know that young Jacob undergoes quite a transformation in New Moon (no spoilers, I promise), and it had been debated that 16-yr-old Taylor Lautner might not be physically up to the task. Lautner portrayed Black in Twilight.

Anyway, a message from New Moon's director Chris Weitz follows:

Dear Twilight Fans,

I'm very happy to announce that Taylor Lautner will be playing Jacob Black in NEW MOON, and that he's doing so with the enthusiastic support of Summit Entertainment, the producers, and Stephenie Meyer.

The characters in Stephenie's books go through extraordinary changes of circumstance and also appearance; so it is not surprising that there has been speculation about whether the same actor would portray a character who changes in so many surprising ways throughout the series. But it was my first instinct that Taylor was, is, and should be Jacob, and that the books would be best served by the actor who is emotionally right for the part.

I think that fans of TWILIGHT, the book and the movie, will be surprised by the Jacob Black that Taylor will bring to the screen in NEW MOON; and I'm looking forward to working with him and the rest of the cast in realizing the film.

Very Best, Chris Weitz


I'm glad to see this. Though I'm definitely Team Edward, I was impressed with Tay's performance as Jacob and look forward to seeing him in New Moon. The film already has a firm released date of November 20, with filming set to begin sometime in March.

Of course, Twilight's leads Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are already firmly locked to reprise their roles in the next two sequels! Now, you know this just gives me another chance to post a hot photo of Pattinson! Enjoy!

Dancin' with the Stars supreme stud Maksim Chmerkovsky is engaged!! Oh no he didn't!

Actually, yes he did. And the lucky lady is ... co-star and fellow pro-dancer Karina Smirnoff.



Maksim, 28, popped the question on New Year's Eve, according to E! News. The two have been working together on the DWTS tour. Not long ago, Karina, 30, was dating her star partner from 2006, Mario Lopez. But the couple broke up last summer after a two-year fling.

No date has been set yet for the nuptials -- so I still have time!

Forgive me, I've been meaning to post this for the last week ...

According TV Guide, those of us who can't get enough of Top Chef can check out Bravo's web site for Top Chef: After the Knife. This weekly Web series follows the show's dismissed foodies into the eliminatd-cast house.

As the catch phrase for Bravo goes "Watch What Happens!"

For more on Top Chef visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php

And, hey, I really need to check these sites I recommend more carefully -- seems my cutie-bear Chef Tom Colicchio has his own blog over there as well. Oh la la -- lucky me!

Also, if you're a big fan of Padma's, like our very own Elfman, you can check out her looks from week to week in her Photo Gallery -- oh behave, Elfman!

Well, the chefs were back last night and trying to get their game on, unsuccessfully for some.

Last night kicked off back at the apartment with fan fave Fabio cooking a hearty breakfast of Spam, pork and beans -- "The breakfast of champions," he beamed! Yes, folks, a Top Chef contestant actually enjoys SPAM! I see an commercial endorsement up ahead for Fabio.

On to the Quick Fire Challenge, or should I say the Diet Dr. Pepper Quick Fire Challenge: The cheftestants were tasked by the luscious Padma and guest judge Jean-Christophe Novelli (don't ask me, never heard of him, but apparently he's a big deal, the players were impressed) to create the Ultimate Sweet Treat in 45 minutes without using any sugar!

Jeff created a spring roll baklava with frozen yogurt; Jaime made a Napoleon; Hosea did roasted green figs and peaches (which weren't a hit for Fabio); Carla did another baklava w/bananas; Rhadika made a tasty bread pudding; Eugene made some kind of bilinis w/bananas; Ariane did healthy whole wheat crepes w/ pears and almonds; Fabio made a granola-oat tart (??); Melissa opted for a yogurt-stuffed burrito; Leah made crepes and Stefan created a cherry/chocolate mousse.

Novella didn't like Carla's, Ariane's or Jaime's, landing them in the bottom 3. Tops went to Rhadika, Leah and Jeff. Rhadika was chosen winner and received immunity in the Elimination Challenge.

Chefs were given the night off to relax before tomorrow's DOUBLE Elimination Challenge.

Hottie-bear Chef Tom Colicchio arrived bright and early at the apartment to hand out the challenge. They were tasked to create a Family-Style Meal for a Blind Tasting (meaning they wouldn't know who the other judges were). Everyone was given the chance to cook whatever they wanted -- a signature dish, if you will.

Players were split into two groups, with different cooking times, so as not to overlap at the tasting. By drawing knives, they were divided into Team A: Melissa, Hosea, Fabio, Eugene and Jaime; and Team B: Ariane, Stefan, Jeff, Melissa and Carla.

Because she had won the Quick Fire, Rhadika got to choose which team she wanted to be on. She chose Team A to get away from Stefan!

Each player got $100 to shop for ingredients to make enough for 12 diners.

All were told that in addition to Novelli as a guest judge, Tom and Padma would be joined by Gail's replacement, notorious British food critic Toby Young (again, never heard of him, but after last night, I think he'll make his mark here).

The catch: Each team got to be the blind tasters for the other team. The team serving got to watch the tasting team's reactions to their entrees.

Rhadika decided to make a spicy cod bisque, which she boasted was a big hit at her restaurant, and crab salad. It came out bland.

Fabio decided on an old family recipe for ravioli, mushroom sauce and lamb, cooked in sealed plastic in boiling water. The lamb didn't cook enough.

Jaime went for scallops -- again, which bothered Fabio immensely, leading him to the best line of the night -- "For Christ's sake, it's called Top Chef, not Top Scallops!" Fabio, we luv you man!!

Eugene made Red Snapper with daikon fettucine, which was just about a disaster with the judges.

Melissa made tuna tacos. Tacos?? on Top Chef? -- again, judges weren't impressed.

Over on Team B:

Stefan made a traditional dish of red cabbage and duck, which went over well.

Jeff opted for Tapas (3 small servings of appetizers). Judges thought there was too much happening, although snarky Brit Young thought it was the most interesting dish served. He actually likened it to Tom Cruise's cameo in Tropic Thunder, the unexpected stand-out of the whole movie.

Carla wanted to make a vegetarian pea risotto, but decided to add some protein in the form of scallops. Bad move -- her dish would've faired better with just the risotto, which Tom called an entree, not a garnish!

Ariane made pan-seared skate (a form of fish), which Novelli called "fabulous!"

And Leah made fried fish over bread. The American judges weren't impressed, however, Young appreciated it greatly (he's British, remember, fish & chips anyone?)


Just a little eye candy -- Tom & Padma

At Judges Table, Stefan, Jaime and Ariane were called out first and to their relief, the judges thought their dishes were the best. Jaime finally won a challenge over Ariane, making her very happy indeed!

Melissa, Eugene and Carla were the bottom three. And for the first time this season, judges had to decide which one to keep and rid the show of the other two.

Tom cited Melissa's Tuna Tacos as a "failure of imagination." While Young disagreed with their "unpleasant smell."

Eugene had the most visual dish of the three, but the fish was "overcooked," as well as having too mild flavor and lacking punch.

Carla, desparately trying to save herself, declared that, "if you take the scallops off my dish, it would be perfect."

In the end, Melissa and Eugene were told to pack their knives and go and Carla got the reprieve.

Coming up next week: The Return of Hung!!

Here's a quick run-down of what new on TV tonight:

On CBS, beginning at 9 p.m., it's the 35th annual Peoples Choice Awards. Hosted by Queen Latifah, the first show of Hollywood's Awards Season professes that winners are be determined by the general public's votes. Perhaps, but it's also one of those awards shows where just about every celebrity in the audience is either presenting or winning, because that's the only way they get them to show up.



If you missed the return of Scrubs last night, ABC is graciously showing it again tonight from 8-9 p.m. Stay tuned, because after an all-new 20/20 at 9 p.m., featuring a search for a missing daughter, Barbara Walters presents another of her "specials," during which she interviews Patrick Swayze.



If you didn't know, Swayze (he of the beloved '90s-mullet) has been heroically battling pancreatic cancer for about a year. I'm still a huge fan of his, and expect to watch with the tissue box nearby. BTW, FX took time out during Nip/Tuck last night to promo Swayze's new show, The Beast, which debuts Jan. 15 -- I'll be watching!



And speaking of FX, Damages returns for its second season tonight at 10. Although I have season one on DVD still in shrnk-wrap on my shelf, I know that this show is to the legal profession what Nip/Tuck is to plastic surgeons! Starring Glenn Close in her Emmy-winning role as litigator from Hell, Patty Hewes, I think I'll be taping this to watch later, because ...



You all know what returns tonight at 10 on Bravo -- another fun-filled episode of Top Chef, that's what! Tonight's show will introduce a snarky new judge in the form of Britian's Toby Young, and the cheftestants don't look too thrilled! And, of course, my fave hottie-bear chef Tom Colicchio and Elfman's fave hottie hostess Padma Lakshmi will be on hand as well. Be there and check back tomorrow for a full rehash!

There's a new Time Lord in the universe! Matt Smith has been cast as the replacement for David Tennant in the BBC's sci-fi series Doctor Who.

Smith will be the 11th actor to play the most popular Time Lord known to earth. So who is Matt Smith? The 26-year-old British actor is best known to BBC audiences from The Ruby in the Smoke (??) and BBC2's Party Animals. Neither of which has been shown here on the other side of the pond.

But here's a photo in case you're curious.



Well, at least he's got the Doctor's signature tossled hair! Should be interesting to see what they come up for the younger doc.

According to Britian's Telegraph, Smith has the personality to be the Doctor. Unassuming and "normal," this boy from Northampton isn't a product of a starry acting school. In fact, as a teenager, Smith wanted to be a footballer before an injury sidelined him, and he did a stint at the National Youth Theatre instead. The Evening Standard called him "funny and charming," based on a prior interview.

I can't find anything as to when the good Doctor will reappear on U.S. TV, but I'll be looking forward to the next Christmas special (which doesn't usually air around Xmas time here) to see the Doctor "regenerate" from Tennant to Smith. Based on 2008's schedule, the Sci-Fi Channel should pick it up sometime in the spring.

Well FX's wildly popular Nip/Tuck returned last night with the first of eight episodes and did not disappoint! If you haven't yet watched, check out the episode guide here before reading this http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/niptuck/


Sorry, FX doesn't show entire episodes, bummer.


I would've never believed that so much excitement/drama could be squeezed into an hour-long episode (with commercials too). Actually, the show went a few minutes over, maybe because of all the self-promoting that was going on during commercial breaks. If you tuned in last night you got to see familiar vixen Kimber (Kelly Carlson) undertake hostessing duties before the episode began (still as gorgeous as ever Kimber).


The show kicked-off with the requisite prior season review, leading up to Dr. Sean McNamara's (Dylan Walsh) stalker agent Colleen (Sharon Gless) stabbing him in the back while he was operating on his daughter, who had been in a car accident with Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon) -- keeping up, so far?


Leaving the daughter on the table, Colleen managed to drag a severely weakened Sean down the hallway to another room, one that locked, of course. Ever faithful anesthesiologicst Liz walked in to find Sean's daughter in cardiac arrest, slipping on Sean's blood all over the floor. She yelled for Dr. Troy and the two of them got the daughter back under control, before Christian found the blood trail to the locked room.


In the meantime, Sean was able to get the knife and stab Colleen to death while she was trying to give him CPR before he could bleed to death.


Four months later ...


Sean's in a wheelchair and emotionally unable to get back to the operating table (as a surgeon, not a patient). So Liz offers to have her breasts reduced (what a pal), on the condition that Sean and Christian work on her together ... Sean refuses, saying his hands are not ready yet. He's currently teaching at a medical school, and, surprise, already has a young female student interested in him. Enter the 17-yr-old whizkid Indian student ... who Sean sends over to his practice to help out Christian.

While examining Liz prior to her surgery, Christian finds a lump. He goes with her to her biopsy appointment, where it's determined to be benign. Christian quips to Liz's doc about a lump he has, and -- here we go -- the doc suggests he get checked out because men die every year of breast cancer. Oh no, they're not going there with Dr. Troy -- are they?

Oh yes, they are!! We soon find out that Christian has stage 2 breast cancer -- Mr. Beautiful!! The randy one who beds everything he meets -- oh the horor! (Mind you, I'm not poking fun at breast cancer, just the cheesy way it's being handled here.)

Then in the middle of the show, I get an answer to a question that's been bugging me ever since it became fashionable to stretch your earlobes with those black discs ... low and behold a patient shows up at McNamara/Troy: "Tell us what you don't like about yourself?" the doc asks with the show's trademark line. The dude says he was thrown out of the band and needs to get a real job, taking the discs from his lobes!

Here comes the obligatory bloody surgery scene -- cutting and sewing the lobes back together again ... think about that next time you want to stretch your lobes!

In the meantime, Sean has some bonding time with estranged son/loser Matt, who is actually Christian's son. I don't have time here to go back and explain all of this, you'll just have to trust me. Anyway, Matt has decided to go pre-med; Sean's so proud. Really? After his drug-addled life, Matt gets to become a doc? Yeah, we'll see ...

Up next, Sean takes a depressed Christian to a bar where they -- wait for it -- quickly pick up two chicks and go back to their place for the requisite sex scene -- and this one included -- ready? -- wheelchair sex!

Summing it all up, Christian asks Liz to take care of Wilbur if anything happens to him, she agrees; Sean goes to Colleen's memorial service and sees him in the coffin while she hovers nearby (it's a dream) and Christian undergoes breast removal surgery, as Sean promises to rebuild it for him ... oh, and Sean wakes from his dream and walks!! It's a miracle!

Overall, a fine episode from this way over-the-top-show!! Can't wait for the other seven episodes which will bring back Julia and her lover (Portia de Rossi); Kimber and her daughter w/Matt, Jenna, and it looks like lesbo Liz and Christian are going to hook up(?)!

Stay tuned ...

Trying to make up for lackluster ratings from TV's traditional "new season" back in September/October ... the networks are offering lots of new programming this January. I'll try to highlight as much as possible here, but the next two weeks are going to be murder!


McNamara/Troy returns tonight!

Starting tonight, we've got the premiere of Scrubs on a new network. Yes, the medical-based sitcom is jumping ship from NBC to ABC beginning at 9 tonight with 2 back-to-back episodes.

The Biggest Loser: Couples debuts a new season over on NBC with a two-hour premiere beginning at 8 p.m. Just in time to make us all feel guilty about all those holiday treats!

The Mentalist returns with an all new episode at 9 p.m. on CBS. Jane quite the CBI to follow lead on Red John. I'll be tuning in ...

90210 returns to the CW (does anyone care? Even I'm giving up on this one) at 8 p.m., when Annie overhearsa phone call that raises suspicions.

As mentioned in the prior post -- VH1 offers up the debut episodes of Confessions of a Teen Idol at 9, followed by Brett Michael's Rock of Love Bus at 10.

I'll be taping the Real Housewives of Orange County on Bravo at 10 p.m. Tonight the wives get catty at the race track!

Because the crux of my evening will be the season premiere on FX of one of my Top 5 TV Shows of 2008 -- Nip/Tuck! Tonight picks up where we left off last season with Dr. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) getting stabbed in the back, literally, by his stalking, murderous agent played by Sharon Gless! Apparently, the dashing and promiscuous Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon, come to Mama!) will arrive in time to save his life ... thus keeping him around for the next 7 episodes!!


The Dudes from Pineapple Express

But if you can't find anything worth watching, hit your local DVD store and rent a copy of Pineapple Express, out new today! It's the latest from Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin, Superbad) and stars Seth Rogan and James Franco as a couple of stoners getting into various mishaps. I haven't seen it, but I plan to. It looks funny.

Is it wrong to look forward to VH1's Rock of Love Bus, starring '80s rocker Brett Michaels?

If so, I'm guilty.


Nothing says Pretentious Jerk like a bus with your pic on it!

Sunday I made sure dinner was over, dishes cleared and cleaned, laundry was done, along with the rest of the post-holiday cleaning, all so I could sit down in my PJs and watch the premiere of Season 3 of my favorite trainwreck (9pm)! And, as a bonus, I treated myself to VH1's newest foray into reality programming -- Confessions of a Teen Idol (8pm). Oh the cholesterol I gained thru this cheesefest was sooo worth it!

Starting with Teen Idol: What can I say about a show that gathers together guys that were once so hot they couldn't walk down the street without women literally throwing themselves at them?
Hosted by former teen idol's Scott Baio and Jason Hervey, from the Wonder Years, (really, he was a teen idol?), this show brings together the "idols" to -- what else -- live in a house together and do what? The show doesn't seem to have a plan for how these guys might recapture their missing fame, but it does provide therapy sessions with a shrink who -- wait for it -- specializes in "fame." WTH??

Can I get one of those degrees -- PhD/Fame?


MTV Real World's Eric Nies?

Anyway, if you're curious, here's the line-up: The Blue Lagoon's Christopher Atkins, TJ Hooker's Adrian Zmed (in case you've been wondering what he's been up to lately), Fame's Billy Hufsey (took me awhile to remember this guy), Beverly Hills 90210's Jamie Walters (I guess he never "talked to an angel" afterall), The Real World's Eric Nies (oh, how I loved him!) and because it was such a HUGE hit, Baywatch has two former teen idols, David Chokachi (I still remember that shot him getting out of the pool in the intro) and little Hoby, Jeremy Jackson (who's not so little anymore).

I know it sounds lame, but I couldn't turn it off! Nies is looking more like JC than the hottie I crushed on, Walters looks like a serial killer, and actually, even though he's the oldest, Zmed looks better than everyone!


Yo Adrian!

The first episode gathered the idols at a nightclub where they were supposed to be meeting fans. After standing behind a curtain, hearing their names announced and the accompanying screams from "fangirls," the curtain opened to reveal the shows host and no one else. The screams were all pretaped. Chokachi felt so played that he stormed back home, packed up and left. Something tells me he'll be back next week ...


Missed Ya Brett

On to the Rock of Love Bus! Oh yeah, baby! I was a huge fan of VH1's original trainwreck, Flava of Love and didn't think Brett Michaels could fill Flav's shoes. But somehow, this show is just as compelling. There's something about the chicks that are attracted to appearing on this kind of show that's, hmmmm, what's the word, oh yeah -- SKANKY!



Honestly, I've never seen such an array of aspiring playmates/pets, strippers and one porn star since, Season 1 and 2! Seriously, what do these chicks do in the daytime?

The premise, as if you couldn't figure it out, is pretty much the same at The Bachelor. 20 "babes" vy for Brett's undying love, with him sending one home every week until there are just 2 left. Then Brett gets to choose his "true love" -- again! Yeah, this is season 3 and our single rocker vows that if he doesn't find true love this time, he's done! Hmmm what are the chances ...

So the "ladies" all arrived to find out that there won't bea huge mansion to live in this time around. Everyone will be travelling on buses following Brett on his "tour." Only this time, instead of arenas, Brett's playing bars. Which serves this show well, as all the ladies are more than happy to get drunk -- I know, you're shocked! And what happens when skanks drink? Catfights!!

The shenanigans got off with a bang Sunday night, with the ladies getting drunk before even meeting their future love. Catfights ensued and one girl offered Brett a shot by putting the glass where glass should never be put! Yeah, even a veteran rock star like Brett was taken aback by that one! And she wasn't even the porn star, who BTW, isn't doing porn anymore and trying to move on with her life (by appearing on Rock of Love Bus? good move).

Is it any wonder that these broads need Charm School afterwards?

Did I mention that it's very important to Brett that his "lady" can fit into his "rock and roll lifestyle." So important, that he mentions it again and again. I think we should make a drinking game out of it -- like I did with Survivor: Gabon. Every time he says "rock and roll lifestyle," everyone drinks!

If you're interested, both shows repeat tonight on VH1 -- Confessions of a Teen Idol at 9/Rock of Love Bus at 10! Enjoy!

Sorry, I couldn't let this pass without comment. For those of you who haven't heard, John Travolta and Kelly Preston's 16-year-old son Jett has died after suffering an apparent seizure and hitting his head in their townhome while on vacation in the Bahamas.

Tragic, tragic -- is there anything worse? Yes, and that's the entertainment media jumping on the Scientology-bashing bandwagon, claiming that the couple weren't medicating their son for his seizures because of their religious beliefs! How truly awful!

It's not horrible enough that their beloved child has passed, but now they have to endure public bashing over how they lived with him. Shame, shame on the media!

Yes, I'm a fan of Big John. I've enjoyed many of his films and have always had a soft spot in my heart for him. And his long-term marriage to the gorgeous Preston has been a bright light among the usual short-term Hollywood unions. I was thrilled when his career was revived by the genius of Quentin Tarantino in Pulp Fiction.

I vividly remember when Princess Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris in 1996, seeing John Travolta on TV emotionally offering support to her two sons, Princes William and Harry, whom he never even met. He had me in tears then, and my heart goes out to him and his family now!

I'm not a fan of Scientology. I've read Dianetics, and if I were ever to choose a religion based on science fiction, I'd choose Jedi.

But, really, to kick a family when they're this far down is just bad form. Again, shame on the media!

So, so sorry John & Kelly -- thoughts and prayers are with you.

For a personal message from the family, visit http://www.travolta.com/

To all you Top Chef fans who've been asking and wondering -- Where is the affable guest judge Ted Allen? I found him -- quite by accident on New Year's Eve.



While watching a marathon of the Next Food Network Star (on the Food Network, of course), I couldn't escape the myriad of self-promotional commercials for the network's new food competition show -- Chopped.

And guess who happens to be the host -- Yes, our fave food-luving Queer Eye guy Ted Allen. So I guess that means we won't be seeing him on Top Chef anytime soon. Which is a shame, I like to see him mix it up with the other judges. However, since Gail's gone for the rest of the season too, here's wishing good luck to Ted on his new venture.

According to their web site, "Passion and expertise rule the kitchen on the fast-paced new series, Chopped. Hosted by Ted Allen (Food Detectives), the series challenges four up-and-coming chefs to turn a selection of everyday ingredients into an extraordinary three-course meal. After each course, a contestant gets 'chopped' until the last man or woman left standing claims victory. Each week, a rotating panel of culinary elite judges including Alex Guarnaschelli, Aaron Sanchez, and Geoffrey Zakarian (who???) will decide whose dishes shine the brightest and award the winner $10,000."
Hey, sounds a lot like the Top Chef Holiday Special from last year ...



Anyway, the new reality-based show comes with its own soon-to-be imitated catch phrase --- "You Are Chopped." Not quite as good as "Please Pack Your Knives and Go," "You Are Out," "You're Fired," "The Tribe Has Spoken" ... or, my personal favorite from Flava of Love -- "Will You Take This Clock?"

I'll be tuning in on January 13 and 10 p.m. to check it out. For more information visit http://www.foodnetwork.com/chopped/index.html

As sure as the ball drops in Times Square, it has become tradition with my family to watch HGTV's Dream Home presentation every New Year's night.

For those of you who don't watch, every year Home & Garden Television builds some awesome, state-of-the-art home somewhere in the United States and gives it away to one lucky viewer. Viewers can go on line beginning Jan. 1 and enter to win, once a day, thru Feb. 19. Every New Year's night HGTV runs a one-hour program showcasing the home's features.



This year's grand estate was built in the world-famous valley and phenomenal town of Sonoma, California. The Victorian-style home, part of a $2 million grand-prize package that includes a 2009 GMC Acadia, will be awarded in March. Until then, online users can see a photo gallery and a 360-degree virtual tour at HGTV.com.

The 3,600 square foot two-story home incorporates the charm of the old with the lure of the new. Filled with the innovative ideas, architecture, art and design that make HGTV Dream Homes so exciting and unique, it includes three bedrooms, three-and-a-half bathrooms, a home office with fully stocked wine closet, gourmet kitchen and a two-car garage. Outside, the house welcomes visitors with front and back porches and a landscape designed with outdoor entertaining in mind.

In a word -- FABULOUS!!

To see more and enter to win this fully-furnished prize, visit http://www.hgtv.com/dream-home/index.html