So, she finally made it, she shook the tree, and got her $48.6M from Sir Paul. “I’m so, so happy with this,” Heather Mills told the many reporters following the closed hearing. “I’m so glad it’s over, It was an incredible result in the end to secure mine and my daughter’s future and that of all the charities that I obviously plan on helping and making a difference with — because you know it has been my life for 20 years” she said. Oh…..so noble…. What she forgot to mention, was that she was offered this amount from McCartney in the past, but the greedy dancer wannabe refused to settle, and sought almost $250 million.
I just hope that we can now have a break from Heather Mills’ circus, and concentrate on what’s really important… American Idol…..
Here we go again. Three AI contestants’ racy pics and videos have been unleashed unto America and beyond, and the media is having a field day. Scandal when there doesn’t need to be scandal is the worst kind.
So, 24 year old David Hernandez was a male stripper, Ramiele Malubay gropes a gal pal once in a while, and Amanda Overmyer may be a nudie, but is this media attention necessary? I say not. Let their voices take center stage, not their personal lives.
This season boasts a huge crop of talent, and all this bad publicity just takes away from the integrity of the show. Here’s a quick note to future AI contestants for my “keep it clean” campaign:
Dear Talented Singers,
Please don’t publish racy photos and/or videos of yourself on the Internet if you intend to make the top 24. Take the photos off MySpace. Take them off Facebook. In fact, don’t take them at all. The media will find that poor quality video of you with your legs wrapped around a stripper pole and plaster your face on every entertainment show on cable television.
Do what you wish in the privacy of your personal life before American Idol…just make sure you erase the tape.
Yours Truly,
Keeping it Clean on the Television Screen
During the recent writers strike, we’ve been bombarded with TV shows that on normal days would never even be considered for American prime time TV or for any time actually. Now that the strike is finally over, and the writers are back at their desks, writing like there is no Mañana, and just before we are going to watch their recent creations, here are the four lowest levels of TV entertainment. Counting from worst to better:
Level 4: Reality TV: I know people are addicted to reality TV, and I understand that the desire to peak into other people’s lives might cause resistance to this post by those people. Nevertheless, Reality TV has the same features as Porn. Like porn it is being semi- directed, the participant are semi- actors, using semi- script. And the most important thing is: The viewers are convinced that they are watching the real thing. Well they are not.
Exceptions: One, The Biggest Loser. This show actually encourages people to take positive steps in improving their lives.
Level 3: Season long contests: This level is dedicated to some of the most watched shoes in the country, and includes but not limited to: American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, The Apprentice, and more. These shows are rubbish. The joy of looking at 3 judges, so full of themselves, criticizing and slaughtering the poor contestants who should have probably known better then to participate in the first place. Recent revelations regarding the new season of American Idol only emphasis how these shows are handled, by who, and for what purpose.
Exceptions: None.
Level 2: Substitute Game Shows: These are horrible, the worst of the worst. These shows were rejected by the networks, but still managed to film a couple of episodes. And just because something happened (like a writer’s strike,) they are being aired. Last night’s My Dad Is Better Then YourDad was and amazing example, in normal times, this show will not pass as a substitute for an infomercial. And don’t you start talking to me about Seinfeld, who started as a substitute, it wasn’t a game show.
Exceptions: None.
Level 1: Game Shows: There are all sorts of game shows, so excuse me for gathering all of them under one roof. Game Shows are what we watch when there is nothing else on, or when we are waiting for one of our favorite shows to start. It is often extremely boring, and may cause you to fall asleep earlier then what you had planed. But there are good sides to the genre: A. No need to follow up. You don’t need to wait a whole season to see who won. B: After a hard day, when your brains can’t take any more information, it’s a guarantee these shows will not make it harder on you.
Exceptions: One, Moment Of Truth. This show should not have been produced at whole, absolutely terrible.
I’m all for people thinking they can do everything. Just not actually the doing of everything. Take “Heroes” Hayden Panettierre. The girl has a contract with Neutrogena that she practically ripped from Mischa Barton’s squeaky clean, non-pore existent face and hands (not to mention the gal’s popularity) and she’s the star of a hit show on NBC. Did I mention she’s also dating Steven from “Laguna Beach”? Ok, so he’s more of a consolation prize/Kristin Cavalieri’s sloppy seconds/Lauren Conrad’s even sloppier thirds, but everything being equal the girl has a lot going for her right now. So why ruin an absolutely good thing by attempting to sing on July 4 in our nation’s capital? Never mind the fact that the audience embraced her. She’s an “American Idol” third round elimination at best.
If anyone was, for some reason, still thinking that the source of American Idol’s success stemmed frrom showcasing fresh talent, they got their rebuttal today when reports leaked that American Idol might be getting rid of female host Paula Abdul to hire Nobel prize winner Britney Spears as a judge for the show. There is not much one can say when hearing this crap. But for for Spears, maybe the road to redemption goes through Simon Cowell.
As much as I tried throughout the time this blog has been up and running to avoid mentioning the tedious term American Idol, my morning commute with dozens of local radio stations with only one thing in mind (ratings) were in a constant blabber about the 2 hour special Event. And in the end, all this focus on the the songs the final contestants will sing tonight drew me unwillingly into the commotion. I will never understand this rush after complete mediocrity. All I know is that nobody is going to watch this “Event” in my house, and while my lovely wife devotes herself to a 2 hour Lost, you’re humble servant will watch… South Park.
Jason Priestley is all about watching his former “90210″ alum co-stars’ careers go down the D-list celebrity tube. He just don’t wanna be anywhere near that sinking ship anytime soon. [Reality TV World]
First comes fame. Then comes money. Then comes nose job. Then comes domestic partnership for “DWTS” Karina Smirnoff and “Extra” boy toy Mario Lopez. [People]
Is it Sanjaya or Liberace? (said by judge Bruno to which contestant?) [Entertainment Weekly]
If everyone performed “perfect 30s” last night, how’s this show any different than “Thank God You’re Here”? [The Mercury News]
Wait. So you mean to tell me Bruno Tonioli is straight? Or just over-compensating by pretending to be hot for Laila Ali? Or perhaps just European. [Orlando Sentinel]
Remember freak shows? For a quarter, voyeurs from small towns would eagerly gawk at the bearded lady, the World’s Fattest Man, midgets, Siamese twins and Zippy the Pinhead.
“Oh wow, lookit that, Ma!”
“Not so loud, Timmy. It can hear you. Pass the popcorn.”
But we’ve moved on from those barbaric times. We’re civilized. Who goes to nasty old circuses now? That’s so twentieth century. Besides, why stare at physical deformities when it’s more fun to peel off a loser’s emotional scabs in front of everybody? Now that’s entertainment!
Today, the freak show comes to you.
Hey, isn’t American Idol on tonight?
Oh, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s just a big and loud talent contest where bad singers disfigure good R&B/Rock ‘n’ Roll songs and induce migraines. No, it’s an awful, mean-spirited carnival where pop music’s Axis of Evil gleefully crush the dreams of anyone foolish enough to step inside.
And how could you forget William Hung? Ick.
Is American Idol any worse than those daytime TV shows where you can watch the obese lesbian ex-nun having a incestuous relationship with her HIV+ step-brother who’s in jail for stabbing their blind grandmother to death?
Sure it is. At least Jerry doesn’t ask his victims to sing for their supper.
“Sweet Jesus, ain’t she terrible? Sounds like somebody’s torturing a cat, huh? Pass the popcorn.”