American Idol S10 Top 12 Guys

THIS is A-MER-ican Idol!  I did miss that, Ry.  I said it with you while looking at your face in 40 in HD for the first time.  That is some shiny ass product and gel you’ve got going there. 

During the second episode of this season, I noticed that the credits don’t just have the winners anymore.  They now include Chris Daughtry, Adam Lambert, and Jennifer Hudson.  Good thing, because they’re more famous than some of the winners! 

Oh RyRy, I truly hope you actually dropped the f-bomb there, because for reals, you going off on a curse filled tangent in Knocked Up was hot.  Notice they didn’t give Steven much time to talk.  That bleep sign is actually sort of cute.

Here we go with the top 12 boys!  7 of them will be cut along with 7 girls on Thursday.  Wild cards (2, I’m assuming) will be chosen by the judges. 

Clint-  Superstition.  Fittingly, that is a karaoke song, but he has proven that he’s no amateur.  But seriously?  How many damn times has that song been performed on this show??  And man is he trying to throw out the Lambert-esque wail.  Steven, you’re a bit effusive with the praise there.  The other two were right.  Good, but nothing special at all.  Sorry you got dreaded first spot because no one’s going to remember that. 

Jovany-  I’ll Be.  AHHHH.  AWWW COME ON.  AHHHH.  Yeah, that was my exact reaction to the first couple chords of this sappy overfilled crapfest of a song.  If they pull out Against All Odds, I’m screaming bloody murder.  Holy shipyards, Steven?  Really?  Huh.  Wow, when did Randy become the voice of reason??  Maybe he really did listen to Simon besides parrot him.  In any event, this guy’s voice is good, but it’s nothing to go shipballs over.  This is more than just a good first effort, J-Lo.  These kids don’t get a couple more weeks to prove themselves; it’s essentially now or never.

Jordan-  O.M.G.  His voice got swallowed up at the beginning.  I don’t even know this song, which makes me old, but he was good once he started relaxing.  But are the girls paid to scream already?  Or is his bod actually just that hot?  Ok, so this is being panned by the judges who are talking about how he’s not like this, and he agrees.  So you try to be someone different on your one chance?  Not too brilliant there, dude.  What’s sad is that I barely remember him from Hollywood, and I know he was featured a lot, so I couldn’t even tell you whether this is a departure from his normal style.

Tim-  Come On Over.  I really grew to like this guy by the end of Hollywood.  It might be because his name Tim Halperin reminds me of Jim Halpert.  Not loving this song on him, damn.  Hey, the judges agree with me!  It only took them 4 contestants.  I think this guy deserves a chance though.  Maybe I’ll figure out who he looks like….wait!  I got it!  He smiled, and I realize he looks like Adam Pascal with bangs.  Same purty mouth and sleepy eyes.

Brett-  Light My Fire.  Oh underage honey.  This is such a sexy song; you shouldn’t be trying to get my pants aflame!  Same arrangement as Michael Johns’s version years ago.  Like the hair tosses.  He’s very androgynous.  Really can’t wait to hear what Steven says, because I think he has a nice mellow vibe and good wails.  Ooh!  ST likes.  J-Lo thinks he’s outdiva’d her and Beyonce, which is really an insurmountable feat.  14 hair tosses?  Get this boy a Pantene commercial. 

So, I just literally LOL’d at him running into Ry’s arms.  God I’m so happy that the show has been revamped so I wouldn’t miss gems like this.  Seriously, I was ready to quit after having obsessively watched from seasons 3-9, gone to the show concerts and alum shows, watched Rewind for seasons 1 & 2, almost blew up my hard drive with mp3s, and even got the board game.  But thank god they got my all time favorite musician in the world to be a new judge.  You don’t realize how obsessed I’ve been with Aerosmith since I was 13.  I’ve seen them 4 times in concerts and saw Idol 6 times.  That is mind-boggling, and I am so glad both worlds collided. 

James-  You Got Another Thing Coming.   Ah, the kid who has a Lambert-Tyler scream and a lot of issues.  Naturally, he was a producer’s fave.  I haven’t typed much about this because I was too busy watching ST’s reaction.  Thank you for clarifying it was Judas Priest.  I’m now going to have to turn in my hard rock devotee card.  Maybe I didn’t type much about this because I actually enjoyed it!  How about that!  Yeah, Steven won’t let this guy go anywhere. 

Robbie- Arms of an Angel .  I can guarantee that my mom would have loved him.  He reminds me of someone I was in a film camp with years ago.  Lovely voice, but I’m already snoozing.  I’ll just focus on his nose.  I like big noses.   Ok, I googled, and that’s Sarah McLachlan.  Oh wait, that’s that damn animal commercial that I can’t watch!  Great dude, now when I think of Robbie, I’ll think of homeless puppies.  J-Lo and ST are calling him special and all, but Randy’s saying it like it is.  I won’t declare this Bizarro Night because the first two are still new and haven’t had time to feel comfortable being bitchy yet. 

Scotty- Letters From Home .  Slow deep drawling.  Gee.  Sur-priiiise, sur-priiiiise.  This kid may be fine in the country world, but I’ll admit 95% ignorance of that world.  Just glad he knows yet another song!  I do agree with Randy, it’s old school country.  Ok, seriously, my fingers do not feel right typing agree + Randy. 

Stefano- Just the Way You Are.  More slow tempo.  Ugh.  He has a pretty tenor.  Oh, I actually know this song now!  Amazing.  Steven and Jennifer are just kinda boring with their generally positive reviews.  Yet, I truly do think Steven means what he says, because he truly appreciates all music.  But this praise was more deserved than the last two, for sure.  Oh lord Ry, nice producer pimp.  I think this guy is sweet.

Paul- Maggie May.  Ooooh, I really liked him in Hollywood.  His Blackbird was just so lovely.  He’s my favorite coming into tonight.  I like that he’s singing something that has not been done before (as far as I can see in my memory rolodex of Idol songs).  His voice is so truly unique, and he’s endearing with a gorgeous smile and good energy.  I’m totally won by him tonight.  ST is the king of character within the voice and stage presence, so that’s quite a compliment.  J-Lo is doing her own version of a Paula drool….joy to the world when he smiles?  Oh boy.  I’d like to embrace this kind of singer too, Randy.  Indeed.  Indeeeed. 

Jacob- A House Is Not a Home.  Did Randy call his God Bless the Child the single best ever on Idol?  Oh boy.  Nope, no hype there, Jackson.  Tonight, this is definitely a good choice for his style and voice.  Nice suit.  I appreciate a little spiffiness sometimes, especially for a classic like this.  That was a kickass final note, even Steven swooned.  Divine intervention?  Sheesh, that’s a little over-the-top.  Ok Jennifer, Randy, he did it in Vandross style for sure, but this was a Bacharach/Warwick original, and I can certainly hear that influence as well.  Come on now. 

Casey- I Put a Spell on You.  Oooooh.  I LOVE this song.  I LOVE his passion right now.  That is a performance!  I don’t even care that he’s not technically the best singer.  He is SELLING THIS SHIT AND I AM BUYING IT ALL.  Loved his bass performance in Hollywood and was looking forward to seeing him, but I sure as hell wasn’t expecting this!  Oh lordy, that was awesome!  It’s so much fun to watch Steven’s face during performances.  Sometimes he’s quietly grooving, other times he is swooning.  Right now he’s just really giving a real talkback, and I appreciate that.  Casey is Seth Rogen-esque, but J-Lo’s right:  He’s sexy.  He works it.  

My predictions:

Who should be giddy in anticipation of a summer concert paycheck:
James, Casey, Paul, Scotty, Jacob

Who should start repacking their suitcase:
Brett, Tim, Clint, Robbie

Who should already be in the airport terminal:
Stefano, Jovany, Jordan

If I had my way, the 6 guys for top 12 would be Paul, Casey, James, Brett, Tim, and Stefano.  But that’s just me! 

I was bored by a lot of song choices tonight.  A lot of them did not bring their best to the table, and that’s stupid because if they’re voted out, they may not even get a chance for wild card.  Here’s hoping the girls bring it tomorrow, because it is so time for a lady win again! 

Therapy: Like going to the gym for your brain**

I'm happy to report that I am now seeing a therapist to help with the grieving process.  I feel there should be no shame in something so necessary.  Therapy and counseling has been an integral part of my life since my father died in 1991.  However, I was kinda burned with the process in 2000 and never really went back.  I always debated whether to find support groups or books about being a caretaker or MS, but I never quite made that step.  I had support from the lovely hospice group with my stepfather back in 2004, but I never made the extra leap.  I figured, what better time than now!  Lord knows that my emotions will go on a continuous roller coaster if I put this off.

My doctor recommended me to a very nice woman who works with the local hospital hospice group and runs her own private practice.  She loves him too, so that was a big plus for me (I adore my doctor, he's just the greatest man).  Our first session went well, and I look forward to this journey.  I'm not going to hide the fact that this is very hard for me to deal with.  I've never been apart from my mother, and this is just truly throwing me for an emotional loop.

It may sound weird, but I've been reading books from my "young adult" years again.  That's something that I do every once in a blue moon, but it's been pretty intense lately.  I don't see it as a sign of regression, simply revisiting my childhood years.  And quite frankly, so many of these authors encouraged me to write.  I don't know what I would have done without the presence of Judy Blume, Ann M Martin, and Lois Lowry in my young adolescence.  I've found blogs, boards, and groups online where people discuss childhood books and lovingly snark on them and dig through thrift stores to find old copies they don't have.  I've been thrift store hunting myself and have gotten some amazing finds (for .35 cents!).  So many books I read were through the library, so my bookshelves are not as packed as one would think.

Anyway, I'd really like to discuss some of these on this blog.  I don't intend to make it a huge focus, but it's fun to revisit old well worn books that I used to devour. (no, really, some are in tatters and quite fragile.)  I actually think that this is me trying to find myself as a writer.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a manuscript that is easily readable and understandable while remaining entertaining.  In fact, I think it takes a very talented author to pull this feat off.  I'd love to some day have a book that is in well-read tatters in somebody's room.

**The title was a quote from an Alan Cumming article many years ago.  Don't ask me to quote dates or publication, though back in 2000 I might have been able to....

Should I fax this to Future Chris?

I was trying to rewrite parts of my resume, because let's face it, I'm extremely disillusioned with my current job.  Anyway,  I was trying to word my position title so that it didn't include the company jargon.  I realized that I really couldn't say "assistant supervisor," as I don't have other privileges over the other girls.  I just happen to work full-time and know how to assume the supervisor position when necessary.  Then I typed "assistant to the supervisor."  And then I had a depressing realization....

....I am Dwight K. Schrute.

Bears.  Beets.  Battlestar Galactica.

I don't believe you. Continue.

Dear lord.  This is a terrifying thought.  As much as I love Rainn Wilson's performance of such a scarily ambitious, socially inept farmer/salesman, I don't want to be anything like the character!!  I don't want to insist that I hold a position that I really don't!  It's good to highlight your attributes and make them sound attractive, but you can't embellish too much.  At least I can't...I don't BS too well.  I can't even fly through a paper in one night anymore.  I'm just too antsy and nervous. 

However, there is one bit of weird confidence I can take from Dwight. 

Fact:  I have the strength of a grown man and a little baby.

Let's do that with my own name!

Creative
Helpful
Reliable
Independent
Sincere

That's not too bad.  I'll have to remember that (silently) whenever I get an interview.  Fingers crossed that our luck will change soon!

In here, life is beautiful...

Today isn't exactly the greatest for me  I don't feel like going into it, but my body is really worn out, my head hurts, and I just need to distract myself.  The extremely awesome Amanda found an old Cabaret video and posted it on Facebook for me this past weekend, and it got me very nostalgic for the 1998 Broadway revival. 

As you may have gathered by now, I am a theatre geek.  I don't get up to NYC nearly as much as I used to (2001-2008 were the glory years), but I had an utter blast during that time period.  Can't even tell you how many shows, concerts, gigs, workshops, and benefits I attended.  I truly treasure those memories and met some of the greatest people during those years who I'm proud to call dear friends. 

Cabaret is what really kicked everything off.  Well, I should say my former obsession with Alan Cumming led me to everything, but Cabaret changed my life.  I saw the show 45 times at Studio 54 between October 14 2000 up through the final performance on January 4, 2004.  I met so many people and brought all of my best friends at least once.  I found new actors to adore and had quite memorable stage door experiences.  The cast was constantly revolving, and I saw so very many actors, both famous and up-and-coming.  My Emcees were Matt McGrath, Raul Esparza, John Stamos, Neil Patrick Harris, Jon Secada, Adam Pascal, and the understudies Vance Avery and Derek Isetti.  My Sally Bowles' were Lea Thompson, Gina Gershon, Brooke Shields, Molly Ringwald, Jane Leeves, Deborah Gibson, Melina Kanakaredes, Susan Egan, and the understudies Milena Govich, Heather Laws, Lori Eure, and Katrina Yaukey.  Part of the reason the show remained infinitely interesting to me is that there was always a new interpretation of character, singing, and actions.

For the record, my favorites in order: 
Esparza, McGrath, Pascal, NPH, Avery, Stamos, Isetti, Secada
Egan, Laws, Kanakaredes, Gershon, Thompson, Gibson, Leeves, Govich, Yaukey, Shields, Eure, Ringwald

I greatly respect the original Hal Prince vision of the show and think Joel Grey is truly fabulous, but I just prefer the Sam Mendes and Alan Cumming revamp.  I love how it's a combo of the 1966 OBC, the 1972 movie with Liza, and its own truly dark interpretations taken from their London Donmar production.  Thank goodness it came overseas...thank goodness.  It's a brilliant show where half the score is in a nightclub setting, it's decadent Weimar republic history, it's burlesque, it's foreshadowing of the dark WWII that was about to occur...I own the original Isherwood novels, the play I Am A Camera, and the original 1966 libretto.  I really should get the Kander & Ebb book already. 

Some videos out there are truly bad quality (but special to hardcore fans like me), so I'm just going to share some especially fun clips right now from performers I saw.  There's more footage out there, shame it's not on youtube. 

Raul Esparza-  "Willkommen"

Molly Ringwald-  "Don't Tell Mama."  8 years later, and I still can't stand her stiff ass.

Susan Egan-  "Mein Herr."  Fiercest Sally, and yet all her vids suck.

 Raul Esparza-  "Two Ladies"

Gina Gershon-  "Maybe This Time"

Neil Patrick Harris- "Money"

Neil Patrick Harris:  "Entr'Acte" and Kickline.  Give it 30 seconds till the picture comes up, and it's really only 6 minutes.  Unless you want to see the glorious acting of Tom Boosley.

John Stamos-  "If You Could See Her."  8 years later and I realize he's really not that bad. 

Adam Pascal-  "I Don't Care Much"

Jane Leeves-  "Cabaret"

Deborah Gibson-  Montage of songs

Holy crap, I never saw this!!  Melina Kanakaredes singing Maybe This Time on Regis & Kelly.  She was one of my favorites.

A fun little bonus for Michael C. Hall fans, as he was Alan Cumming's successor as the Emcee:

Milena Govich singing a special comedic rendition of "Cabaret" for charity. Cute!!  Very vegetarian.  ;-)

The commercial.  Yes that's Jennifer Jason Leigh as Sally:

Alan Cumming and Joel Grey performing at the Kennedy Center Honors.  CHILLS as always.

Cabaret at the 1998 Tonys.  I'll never stop loving this.  Cheeky imp.  Why did he turn into a douche?

Alan Cumming on Conan, 1999.  Best Cabaret interview ever!

2010 pop culture highlights

It may be a week late, but I still want to post my 2010 Favorites list.  I found this survey from the lovely Jane.

My favorite film
Well, I don't get to the movies a ton....these are the ones we made the effort to go to together this year: The Wolfman, Alice in Wonderland 3D, Date Night, Nightmare on Elm Street, Dinner for Schmucks, My Soul to Take 3D, Due Date, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.  Out of all of these, I enjoyed Date Night and Harry Potter the best.  Pairing Carell and Fey was a total nerdgasm treat for me, and I'm just obsessed with the HP world.

 

My favorite book
Anything by Jen Lancaster!!  This woman is my new goddess.  After plowing through every last glorious page of her first four books, I put her most recent (My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict’s Attempt to Discover If Not Being a Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto) away so I would still have something new left to read.  Though, her blog is timely and hilarious, so I’m sorely tempted to just devour the last book.  Based on the title alone, how can you blame me?!

My favorite album or song this year
“Speechless" and "Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga.  Good lord, do I love that woman.  I just freakin adore the entire Fame Monster album. 
 

Couldn’t get “Right Round” by Flo Rida out of my head because we always turn The Hangover on when it’s on cable, and that’s the song in the amazing end montage. 

I also enjoyed quite a few of the Glee mp3s that were out there, but my ultimate “repeat” song was their rendition of “Run Joey Run.”  Sheer brilliance, as was the video.

Me and L started creating our own parody called “Run Charlie Run” about the assassination of President McKinley by Charles Guiteau.  But that’s also because I’m a musical theatre nerd and worship the Sondheim show Assassins.  In any event, "Daddy please don’t, it wasn’t his fault, he means so much to meeeeeeeeee!" 

Totally adored the Fallon/Fey/Glee/Hamm “Born to Run” Emmy’s opening. 

The Lonely Island still remained awesome, and I particularly enjoyed “Great Day.”

Also, Mindy Kaling’s (or should I say Subtle Sexuality’s) song “Male Prima Donna” on The Office was positively hysterical.  Looks like I liked a lot of silly songs this year!  

My TV boyfriend of the year

There are 3 categories:  The Hello-come-here-take-me-nowwwww, which Matt Morrison falls into.  The Dear-Lord-Are-You-FUNNY-on-top-of-gorg is where Jon Hamm reigns.  And then there's the OMGOMG-How-could-I-have-hated-you-for-so-long-when-you-are-sublime-perfection category known as Kyle MacLachlan.  Between Desperate Housewives, How I Met Your Mother, that SVU episode that’s often repeated, and my Twin Peaks obsession, that man will forever be my TV bf.  And for the SatC fans…Schooner.  Hahaha!  Once again, I love someone I used to “hate.”  I really do need to write a scientific theory called The Esparza-Schwartzman Theorem. 

My TV girlfriend of the year
Tina Fey is my constant….but I’d have to say Mariska Hargitay can enter this category now.  She’s delightful.  Also, Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) from Big Bang Theory is just insanely adorable. 

 

My biggest anticipations of the year
Well, I thought Hedwig was supposed to be revived on Broadway…how’s that going, JCM??  *bites nails*

My favorite new website of the year
These aren’t exactly new, but I enjoy poring over the TWOP sitcom forums as well as the Twin Peaks recaps at work.  I also really like this review site I was led to called The Life and Art of Vern.  Cupcakes Take the Cake is a fabulous blog that I stumbled upon. 

My favorite pop culture news story of the year
Everything involving the late night wars with Conebone69 and Leno.  I am so glad Conan has a venue where he can do what he wants, but I hate how it had to happen.  Such bullshit.

My favorite actor/actress of the year

I really started loving Anne Hathaway this year, but I’d have to say that James Franco wins this category.  Not for any movies, not for his art or writing and 8 bazillion classes and hobbies, not even his winking performance art of General Hospital…no, it’s all thanks to SNL and the Tizzle Wizzle show.  “I’m wearing PAJAMAS!!”  Has a simple line ever been uttered with more gusto, goofiness, and charm?  That’s right. 

(It is not lost on me that I chose the two upcoming Oscar hosts as my favorites.  Apparently I am proving that there are younger viewers in want of younger hipper hosts.) 

 

My favorite TV drama of the year

I got addicted to Law & Order: SVU in a hardcore way.  I can't imagine my evenings without Stabler and Benson anymore!!  Haven't been watching quite as many dramas as I used to, especially medical shows like House and Grey's.  L watches NCIS and Burn Notice, and those are very good too.  I especially love Abby!

My favorite TV comedy of the year

Big Bang Theory is the one show I always tried to watch "live" no matter what.  I just love those guys, and while the situations are a touch heightened at times, they're still realistically hilarious.  We're always quoting from the episodes.  How I Met Your Mother still kept me laughing, and I really enjoy Glee.  There are times it annoys me, but I love waiting a few weeks and watching a marathon.

My favorite TV reality show of the year
I was rather tired of reality this year.  I stopped watching Biggest Loser, and Idol is breaking my heart.  Top Chef was good (especially All-Stars), but I didn’t watch Masters or Desserts.  I watched Cupcake War, but I wouldn’t call it a favorite.  I guess I’d have to say Project Runway…despite the annoying-ass win, I thought Tim Gunn was on top of his game, and Mondo was delightful.  Being back in NYC was a thrill as well.  On that note, I am forever a slave to What Not to Wear.    

 

My favorite TV channel of the year

I don’t really favor any one in particular…I’ll often leave on Bravo, USA, Food Network, Hub, VH1 Classics…

"You're dressed like you're going to Burger King....do you want to go to Burger King?"

I had a very Liz Lemon night yesterday. 

Liz: I have plans tonight.
Jack: Let me guess, a meatball sub with extra bread and a bottle of Nyquil? Tivo'd Top Chef? A little Bonnie Raitt and lights out?
Liz: No ...
Jack : Oh, so you won't mind me saying that Casey gets voted out tonight.
Liz: You monster! Why must you be like this?!

L went to have his normal Friday Nerd Pack night, but he decided to stay over this time since I had to work the next morning.  As I left work Friday (our later night), I ordered a pepperoni and mushroom stromboli, grabbed a can of throwback Mountain Dew, mismatched unflattering pjs, and settled into bed with my feast and two DVR'd episodes of Top Chef: All Stars.  Funny enough, Casey did get voted out on the second episode.  Then I fell asleep with all the lights on before I could get to my saved What Not to Wear.  10 pm- 6:45 am, woke up, and fell back till 8:45 am since I got to go in late.  And let me tell you, friends, it was GLORIOUS. 

I love spending so much time with L now that we live together, he's my love and my best friend.  But sometimes, we both need a night to ourselves!  There's absolutely nothing wrong with that.  In fact, it's going to make our snowy weekend all the sweeter!  We want to get some fun shopping done (as opposed to food shopping, ha), clean a little, and then just settle and snuggle in front of the TV on the couch.  We have lots of DVDs, video games, DVR...I love living a simple and fun life.  It's the little things that make me happy.  When I was younger, I used to spend all my weekends trying to have fun adventures, and while I still enjoy that now and then, it's not my main focus.  I am very happy living in domestic bliss!

"I brought muffins!"

One positive thing is that I've finally been able to indulge my need to play hostess this year.  I never had a party in my life, sleepovers were infrequent at my house, and any get-together was usually taken care of by a family member in the past.  From Labor Day on, I have realized that I can have these events occur more frequently.  And now the sofa bed downstairs can be fully used more often than my grandmother's visits.

I often called my domestic goddess tendencies as going into "Bree mode" after the amazing character Bree Van de Kamp Hodge on Desperate Housewives.  I'm not as crazy as her, but I do love baking and making sure everyone has an excellent time when over, whether through food, activities, you name it.  One of my friends who flew down and stayed over for the funeral last month said our house looked like A Very Merry Martha Stewart and Tim Burton Christmas.  I'd say that's downright accurate!  We are cozy and creative with a definite twisted flair.  I like to call the house our humble nerd abode.

It was just so weird how I kicked into gear on New Years Eve when I got home from work, calmly beginning to make and set up all the snacks and appetizers and drinks, get the dinner order ready, make sure those who wanted alcohol knew what and where to partake...it was quite nice.  I enjoyed it greatly.  I like being generous, especially the older I get.  It's more fun to watch people get excited over something I came up with. 

Tonight, I've been lying down, re-reading the best Judy Blume book ever, napping, and cleaning up from the previous night.  Sounds lazy as hell, but sometimes we just need those kinds of weekends.  I'm not going to let myself feel guilty for something like that.  Just don't let me look at the kitchen sink.  Bree-mode doesn't kick in when piles of dishes are involved!