American Idol - Top Five - Neil Diamond Night

I'm not a big Neil Diamond fan, but I was looking forward to this show because I thought the potential for each remaining performer to re-work the songs was greater than in the previous few weeks.

I missed last night's show. From reviews I've read, though, I don't think I missed much (other than Paula's other-world 2nd song comment).

Not sure if they do a bottom three when there are only five left. But I'll say the two Davids are safe this week, and any of the remaining three could leave. It all depends on how big the fan bases are now, and it's my guess that Syesha has the smallest fan-base and is most at risk to go.


For the longest time, I thought "Forever in Blue Jeans" was actually "Reverend Blue Jeans" and was about some cool, hip minister who wore blue jeans.

American Idol - Top Five - Neil Diamond Night

I'm not a big Neil Diamond fan, but I was looking forward to this show because I thought the potential for each remaining performer to re-work the songs was greater than in the previous few weeks.

I missed last night's show. From reviews I've read, though, I don't think I missed much (other than Paula's other-world 2nd song comment).

Not sure if they do a bottom three when there are only five left. But I'll say the two Davids are safe this week, and any of the remaining three could leave. It all depends on how big the fan bases are now, and it's my guess that Syesha has the smallest fan-base and is most at risk to go.


For the longest time, I thought "Forever in Blue Jeans" was actually "Reverend Blue Jeans" and was about some cool, hip minister who wore blue jeans.

It's Been Bugging Me

I have a fear. An irrational fear. I fear that someday, bugs will be huge and will terrorize humanity. I get scared and nervous when I see microscopic images of bugs.

Imagine if this thing was, say, 9 feet tall:


Or this:



Seriously. Ugh and <shivers>!!!

I think these images more closely resemble what aliens will look like when they attack Earth.

These are no E.T.s.

It's Been Bugging Me

I have a fear. An irrational fear. I fear that someday, bugs will be huge and will terrorize humanity. I get scared and nervous when I see microscopic images of bugs.

Imagine if this thing was, say, 9 feet tall:


Or this:



Seriously. Ugh and <shivers>!!!

I think these images more closely resemble what aliens will look like when they attack Earth.

These are no E.T.s.

Thought for the Day - Monday, April 28, 2008

Try this:
Today as you walk from somewhere to somewhere else, imagine that you have two holsters hanging on your hips, each carrying a trusty six-shooter. As you walk, think of yourself as an outlaw (or a good guy) who's in a situation where you need to be ready to pull those guns out at any moment. Don't be afraid of the pending gun battle. You welcome it, because you know you will win.

Walk, even for a few steps, with this attitude. You'll find it empowering.

Thought for the Day - Monday, April 28, 2008

Try this:
Today as you walk from somewhere to somewhere else, imagine that you have two holsters hanging on your hips, each carrying a trusty six-shooter. As you walk, think of yourself as an outlaw (or a good guy) who's in a situation where you need to be ready to pull those guns out at any moment. Don't be afraid of the pending gun battle. You welcome it, because you know you will win.

Walk, even for a few steps, with this attitude. You'll find it empowering.

Life Lessons with Cameron & Rob - Doing the Wash

Okay, so I've bee putting off making this video for a few weeks now.
I'd been talking up an idea I had for an instructional video series called Life Lessons with Cameron and Rob, where I (playing Rob) teach my son Cameron (playing Cameron) all kinds of lessons of life.
So tonight, I finally got it done and present the inaugural episode of Life Lessons: Doing the Wash.
Keep in mind, it's all shot on a dying Canon A510 PowerShot camera's video function, without any lights (hence the over-bright contrast on a couple of the shots) and without proper sound.

Still, I'm pretty pleased with the way it's turned out.

Life Lessons with Cameron & Rob - Doing the Wash

Okay, so I've bee putting off making this video for a few weeks now.
I'd been talking up an idea I had for an instructional video series called Life Lessons with Cameron and Rob, where I (playing Rob) teach my son Cameron (playing Cameron) all kinds of lessons of life.
So tonight, I finally got it done and present the inaugural episode of Life Lessons: Doing the Wash.
Keep in mind, it's all shot on a dying Canon A510 PowerShot camera's video function, without any lights (hence the over-bright contrast on a couple of the shots) and without proper sound.

Still, I'm pretty pleased with the way it's turned out.

Thought of the Day: Friday, April 25

If I was able to re-design, or reconfigure, the human body and the way it works, one item on my agenda would be this: I'd have the digestive system and, um, refuse disposal system, work so that the farts came after expulsion of the fecal matter. So you would shit, and then you would fart. The farting would then help dislodge some of the remaining, um, matter, making clean-up a bit easier. Kind of like a wind-bidet.

The way it mostly works now, farting followed by shitting, is, well, ass backwards.

Thought of the Day: Friday, April 25

If I was able to re-design, or reconfigure, the human body and the way it works, one item on my agenda would be this: I'd have the digestive system and, um, refuse disposal system, work so that the farts came after expulsion of the fecal matter. So you would shit, and then you would fart. The farting would then help dislodge some of the remaining, um, matter, making clean-up a bit easier. Kind of like a wind-bidet.

The way it mostly works now, farting followed by shitting, is, well, ass backwards.

My Thought of the Day: April 24, 2008

Will this be a new feature here on the old The Annekenstein Monster? Probably not. But it'll do for today.

My thought of the day:

I've (not often but I'll say) often imagined myself in some situation where I am told that someone has died and I'll say "I didn't even know he was sick" and it will be the perfect situation for that line. I have no idea what that perfect situation could be.

Also, maybe someday I'll be at a convention of, say, grammarians and I'll be at some conference on something-or-other. We'll be waiting for the conference to start, but then get word (erroneous, it will later be discovered) from that the person who was to present the conference has just died. I will then say "I didn't even know he was sic."

My Thought of the Day: April 24, 2008

Will this be a new feature here on the old The Annekenstein Monster? Probably not. But it'll do for today.

My thought of the day:

I've (not often but I'll say) often imagined myself in some situation where I am told that someone has died and I'll say "I didn't even know he was sick" and it will be the perfect situation for that line. I have no idea what that perfect situation could be.

Also, maybe someday I'll be at a convention of, say, grammarians and I'll be at some conference on something-or-other. We'll be waiting for the conference to start, but then get word (erroneous, it will later be discovered) from that the person who was to present the conference has just died. I will then say "I didn't even know he was sic."

American Idol - Top 6: Andrew Lloyd Warblers

Last week: Mariah Carey theme night. Ugh.
This week: Andrew Lloyd Webber theme night. Ugh.
Next week: Sing The Phone Book theme night.

Why, oh why, are they giving me these shitty theme nights? Do they want me to stop watching? Because I will, I swear to god!

Alright, here are the reviews of the singers I don't really care about singing songs I don't really care about. This week, as an added bonus, I'm going to use a new feature of this ScribeFire blog writing program and post a picture for each singer.

Syesha


Does this dress make me look hot? Yes. Yes it does. It also makes your breasts look like they're about a mile apart. I missed this performance, visually, but heard it from another room. Sounded okay, but I'm regretting not seeing it.

Jason Castro:



Seriously, I've been saying it from day one, but Jason Castro is this generation's David Cassidy. He even sounds a bit like him. Not a good performance this week, Jason. I liked it at a rate of 75%. You better hope that your fans forgive you this unfortunate theme week and allow you to come back and sing the phone book next week.

Brooke White:


I've been talking the past couple of weeks about how I'm waiting for Brooke to have a complete on-air nervous meltdown. I thought it was happening this week when she stopped and started her song again. I cannot look into her pretty eyes, because they are no longer pretty and are now only two pools of panic and sadness. Does she not want to be there anymore? Anyway, a bland performance, unremarkable.

David Archuleta:


As good a voice as he has, I cannot for the life of me remember any of his performances. i think he's destined to win (he's the cutest), but his future holds nothing but Disney ballads. I've tired of you. You better sing the frig out of that phone book next week!

Carly Smithson:



How long will my career be? It will be *this* long, says the picture. I thought her JC Superstar performance last night was one of her best. But she just doesn't have the personality to push her into the top 3. Although, she was really pushing her *personality* after her song with her crazy t-shirt gag.

David Cook:


He was the best of the night. Again. Ever since his hair style, I've been becoming more and more of a fan. I'm even not being bothered by his Nickebacking Daughtrified voice as much. The guy's got talent and every week he's the one to beat. Unfortunately, I don't think he'll win because Archuleta has the votes wrapped up I'm guessing. But his success in the business will be greater and longer lasting than any of this year's crop. That's what I say.

Bottom Three: Jason Castro, Brooke White, Carly Smithson (Carly only because Syesha out-performed her this week)

Leaving: Brooke White

American Idol - Top 6: Andrew Lloyd Warblers

Last week: Mariah Carey theme night. Ugh.
This week: Andrew Lloyd Webber theme night. Ugh.
Next week: Sing The Phone Book theme night.

Why, oh why, are they giving me these shitty theme nights? Do they want me to stop watching? Because I will, I swear to god!

Alright, here are the reviews of the singers I don't really care about singing songs I don't really care about. This week, as an added bonus, I'm going to use a new feature of this ScribeFire blog writing program and post a picture for each singer.

Syesha


Does this dress make me look hot? Yes. Yes it does. It also makes your breasts look like they're about a mile apart. I missed this performance, visually, but heard it from another room. Sounded okay, but I'm regretting not seeing it.

Jason Castro:



Seriously, I've been saying it from day one, but Jason Castro is this generation's David Cassidy. He even sounds a bit like him. Not a good performance this week, Jason. I liked it at a rate of 75%. You better hope that your fans forgive you this unfortunate theme week and allow you to come back and sing the phone book next week.

Brooke White:


I've been talking the past couple of weeks about how I'm waiting for Brooke to have a complete on-air nervous meltdown. I thought it was happening this week when she stopped and started her song again. I cannot look into her pretty eyes, because they are no longer pretty and are now only two pools of panic and sadness. Does she not want to be there anymore? Anyway, a bland performance, unremarkable.

David Archuleta:


As good a voice as he has, I cannot for the life of me remember any of his performances. i think he's destined to win (he's the cutest), but his future holds nothing but Disney ballads. I've tired of you. You better sing the frig out of that phone book next week!

Carly Smithson:



How long will my career be? It will be *this* long, says the picture. I thought her JC Superstar performance last night was one of her best. But she just doesn't have the personality to push her into the top 3. Although, she was really pushing her *personality* after her song with her crazy t-shirt gag.

David Cook:


He was the best of the night. Again. Ever since his hair style, I've been becoming more and more of a fan. I'm even not being bothered by his Nickebacking Daughtrified voice as much. The guy's got talent and every week he's the one to beat. Unfortunately, I don't think he'll win because Archuleta has the votes wrapped up I'm guessing. But his success in the business will be greater and longer lasting than any of this year's crop. That's what I say.

Bottom Three: Jason Castro, Brooke White, Carly Smithson (Carly only because Syesha out-performed her this week)

Leaving: Brooke White

CBC's Short Film Face-Off

I, quite by accident, came across a new program on the CBC-TV. Short Film Face-Off is an hour-long program hosted by our pal, Matt Rainnie. It was my recognition of Matt's voice on the TV that inclined me to stop and watch.

I guess it's a contest kind of show, where the best short film of each episode goes on to the next round? But it seems the contesting aspect isn't a primary focus of the show, which is good. If last night's episode is indicative of the whole series, then each episode 3 short films are presented (with the each film-maker present in the studio) and a panel of 4 critics/judges/knowledgeable persons? provide comments. I'm assuming it's the same 4 panelists each episode. Matt keeps the proceedings going.

This is what I was expecting:
- people who were way too serious about film-making talking, preciously, about film.
- holier-than-thou proclamations from the panelists about the lackings of, or brilliance of, aspects of each film.
- boredom

This is what I got:
- people who seemed to enjoy films without being overbearing and pompous about it.
- proclamations from the panelists of likes and dislikes with little to no holier-than-thou-ness
- interest

It seems like a good mix of panelists, and I'm glad that they, each, are not shy about offering negative criticism, and do so with lots of "it's just my opinion, and not the gospel" kind of attitude, which is nice. I was glad that they allowed themselves enough time, after each short film was presented, to actually discuss the film. Just enough time to get into a bit of discussion without getting boring, and more than just blurbicisms (I may have just coined that phrase? quick, short criticisms like you hear the American Idol judges provide).

Matt's personable, offers a friendly face to the film-makers should the panelists be too tough, and does a good job of moving things forward. Although, there is the feeling that his hosting duties seem a bit superfluous to the whole proceedings. I would like to see him be involved more, but I don't know how, or what he could do.

I like that the film-maker is there to talk about their film before it's presented. And I like that the film-maker pretty much just sits there after the presentation and takes in the criticism. I don't want to see film-makers defend their decisions too much, so I was happy to have the panelists give their opinions and have the film-makers nod and take those opinions in.

Honestly, I didn't watch the end of the show. With about 15 minutes of the hour still left, I thought they'd present a fourth film-maker (15 minutes to each), but they didn't. Matt said that after the break, we'd come back and the panelists would decide which of the three films they liked the best. I wasn't interested in hearing 15 more minutes of discussion of these films from these people, so I didn't bother watching. So I can't comment on that part of the show. I suspect, however, that the final deliberation segment should be shorter.

Will I watch again? Probably not. Not because I didn't enjoy it, but just because it's on at a time (Wednesday's at 7pm) that isn't a time I usually watch television, and it didn't move me enough to want to seek it out. If I happen upon it again, though, I'd be more than willing to check it out.

CBC's Short Film Face-Off

I, quite by accident, came across a new program on the CBC-TV. Short Film Face-Off is an hour-long program hosted by our pal, Matt Rainnie. It was my recognition of Matt's voice on the TV that inclined me to stop and watch.

I guess it's a contest kind of show, where the best short film of each episode goes on to the next round? But it seems the contesting aspect isn't a primary focus of the show, which is good. If last night's episode is indicative of the whole series, then each episode 3 short films are presented (with the each film-maker present in the studio) and a panel of 4 critics/judges/knowledgeable persons? provide comments. I'm assuming it's the same 4 panelists each episode. Matt keeps the proceedings going.

This is what I was expecting:
- people who were way too serious about film-making talking, preciously, about film.
- holier-than-thou proclamations from the panelists about the lackings of, or brilliance of, aspects of each film.
- boredom

This is what I got:
- people who seemed to enjoy films without being overbearing and pompous about it.
- proclamations from the panelists of likes and dislikes with little to no holier-than-thou-ness
- interest

It seems like a good mix of panelists, and I'm glad that they, each, are not shy about offering negative criticism, and do so with lots of "it's just my opinion, and not the gospel" kind of attitude, which is nice. I was glad that they allowed themselves enough time, after each short film was presented, to actually discuss the film. Just enough time to get into a bit of discussion without getting boring, and more than just blurbicisms (I may have just coined that phrase? quick, short criticisms like you hear the American Idol judges provide).

Matt's personable, offers a friendly face to the film-makers should the panelists be too tough, and does a good job of moving things forward. Although, there is the feeling that his hosting duties seem a bit superfluous to the whole proceedings. I would like to see him be involved more, but I don't know how, or what he could do.

I like that the film-maker is there to talk about their film before it's presented. And I like that the film-maker pretty much just sits there after the presentation and takes in the criticism. I don't want to see film-makers defend their decisions too much, so I was happy to have the panelists give their opinions and have the film-makers nod and take those opinions in.

Honestly, I didn't watch the end of the show. With about 15 minutes of the hour still left, I thought they'd present a fourth film-maker (15 minutes to each), but they didn't. Matt said that after the break, we'd come back and the panelists would decide which of the three films they liked the best. I wasn't interested in hearing 15 more minutes of discussion of these films from these people, so I didn't bother watching. So I can't comment on that part of the show. I suspect, however, that the final deliberation segment should be shorter.

Will I watch again? Probably not. Not because I didn't enjoy it, but just because it's on at a time (Wednesday's at 7pm) that isn't a time I usually watch television, and it didn't move me enough to want to seek it out. If I happen upon it again, though, I'd be more than willing to check it out.

American Idol: Top Seven - Mariah Carey Night.

This is what I said, out loud, when I saw that it was going to be a Mariah Carey theme night on American Idol: "Ugh. This is gonna suck."

And I was right. Man, I dislike the type of music Carey makes. Sure, the girls can sing those five octaves. I just wish she'd sing some good songs. Her crap is tailor-made for Idol: sappy, sentimental pap with all kinds of chances for the big notes and tons of vocal runs. Like I said: Ugh.

Anyway, here it is:

David Archuleta: Is it me, or are all his songs sounding the same now? Didn't he sing this exact same song, like, the last three weeks? A really strong performance, granted, but your sound is stilted, David. I know it's hard not to sing a crap song like this when the whole library is stock full of crap songs, so I'll forgive you this week. But next week, you better sound different or else you'll be in danger of winning this whole competition but boring me. What do you want, David? To win the competition, or entertain me. I don't think you can do both. Pick wisely.

Carly Smithson: Was this a Mariah song? I thought it was Bonnie Tyler. Whomever it was, it made me realize that the height of Carly's success will be reached when she sings some Bonnie Tyler-type song. That's the upper limit she has to look forward to. A one-hit Bonnie Tyler power-note song full of 80's melodrama and memorable melody. Who's the modern-day Meatloaf? Maybe her second hit could be a duet with a modern-day Meatloaf. I cannot come up with a modern-day equivalent to Meatloaf and it's making me sad. An okay performance, but I found it all a bit screechy. And she's kinda boring.

Syesha Mercado: She sang some song and sang it okay, but for the love of life, I cannot remember a moment from her performance. Is she boring or was it the song? Both? Yep.

Brooke White: She's our little bundle of psychoses. She *will* have a mental breakdown someday. She might as well have it on American Idol. Voyeuristically, therefore, I hope she lasts a few more weeks. She started out ok, but got nervous and scared halfway through and it caused her to rush and lose focus. (Same thing I think happened during her vaunted "Let It Be" performance forever-ago, but nobody seemed to care back then). You're too delicate a nut to be under the scrutiny you're under, Brooke.

Kristy Lee Cook: Boring. Please be gone.

David Cook: Okay, the only close-to entertaining performance so far. I still don't like the sound of his voice, but I give him full marks for knowing exactly how to pull his sound out of all these songs. He is, as they say, ready for stardom now. Look for his CDs in the Sounds Like Daughtry / Nickelback aisle. You can look there, because I won't be. I'm starting to like David more, though, as, you know, a human being.

Jason Castro: Jason is starting to, this week and last, be a bit more serious in his attitude towards what he's singing. He's taking it seriously, it seems. That's a good thing. Of all the remaining contestants, he is really the only one I wonder what he'll do each week. The rest are pretty much in their own box now, and give pretty much the performance we expect. Jason's in his box too, but his box, I'm guessing, has a few interesting surprises in it.

So, boring was the main criticism for this week's show. I don't blame the singers so much as the songs. Ugh.

Bottom three: Brooke, Carly, Syesha.

Leaving: Carly

American Idol: Top Seven - Mariah Carey Night.

This is what I said, out loud, when I saw that it was going to be a Mariah Carey theme night on American Idol: "Ugh. This is gonna suck."

And I was right. Man, I dislike the type of music Carey makes. Sure, the girls can sing those five octaves. I just wish she'd sing some good songs. Her crap is tailor-made for Idol: sappy, sentimental pap with all kinds of chances for the big notes and tons of vocal runs. Like I said: Ugh.

Anyway, here it is:

David Archuleta: Is it me, or are all his songs sounding the same now? Didn't he sing this exact same song, like, the last three weeks? A really strong performance, granted, but your sound is stilted, David. I know it's hard not to sing a crap song like this when the whole library is stock full of crap songs, so I'll forgive you this week. But next week, you better sound different or else you'll be in danger of winning this whole competition but boring me. What do you want, David? To win the competition, or entertain me. I don't think you can do both. Pick wisely.

Carly Smithson: Was this a Mariah song? I thought it was Bonnie Tyler. Whomever it was, it made me realize that the height of Carly's success will be reached when she sings some Bonnie Tyler-type song. That's the upper limit she has to look forward to. A one-hit Bonnie Tyler power-note song full of 80's melodrama and memorable melody. Who's the modern-day Meatloaf? Maybe her second hit could be a duet with a modern-day Meatloaf. I cannot come up with a modern-day equivalent to Meatloaf and it's making me sad. An okay performance, but I found it all a bit screechy. And she's kinda boring.

Syesha Mercado: She sang some song and sang it okay, but for the love of life, I cannot remember a moment from her performance. Is she boring or was it the song? Both? Yep.

Brooke White: She's our little bundle of psychoses. She *will* have a mental breakdown someday. She might as well have it on American Idol. Voyeuristically, therefore, I hope she lasts a few more weeks. She started out ok, but got nervous and scared halfway through and it caused her to rush and lose focus. (Same thing I think happened during her vaunted "Let It Be" performance forever-ago, but nobody seemed to care back then). You're too delicate a nut to be under the scrutiny you're under, Brooke.

Kristy Lee Cook: Boring. Please be gone.

David Cook: Okay, the only close-to entertaining performance so far. I still don't like the sound of his voice, but I give him full marks for knowing exactly how to pull his sound out of all these songs. He is, as they say, ready for stardom now. Look for his CDs in the Sounds Like Daughtry / Nickelback aisle. You can look there, because I won't be. I'm starting to like David more, though, as, you know, a human being.

Jason Castro: Jason is starting to, this week and last, be a bit more serious in his attitude towards what he's singing. He's taking it seriously, it seems. That's a good thing. Of all the remaining contestants, he is really the only one I wonder what he'll do each week. The rest are pretty much in their own box now, and give pretty much the performance we expect. Jason's in his box too, but his box, I'm guessing, has a few interesting surprises in it.

So, boring was the main criticism for this week's show. I don't blame the singers so much as the songs. Ugh.

Bottom three: Brooke, Carly, Syesha.

Leaving: Carly

26 Sounds About Right

26

How many five year olds could you take in a fight?

26 Sounds About Right

26

How many five year olds could you take in a fight?

American Idol - Top 8: Inspirational Songs (ugh)

Last night, because this is Inspiration Week at Idol (what with the Idol Gives Back junk etc), the theme of the week was songs that inspire. Get ready for danger, Will Robinson!

Here they are, with hopefully brief comments from me:

Michael Johns - "Dream On", Aerosmith: Didn't see the performance, but saw the judges comments. Sounds like I didn't miss much. Seeing his brief recap at the end of the show, sounds like I didn't miss much.

Syesha Mercado - "I Believe", Fantasia: The second week in a row of picking a big song, and the second week in a row of just missing the mark. A good performance, but deemed irrelevant because it doesn't match the original. I'm starting to wonder about Syesha and how she talks herself up as being a wacky girl. I never see any of that. Maybe she needs to bring a bit of that to the stage?

Jason Castro - "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", as performed by Israel "Iz" Ka'ono'i Kamakawiwo'ole: It's rare that a performer on American Idol performs a song that I could see myself illegally downloading and having in my large library of songs so that it might pop up in shuffle mode once every three years. This was one of those performances. It was charming, as Jason always is, but this time there seemed to be something behind it, emotionally. The performance of the night, for me.

Krisy Lee Cook - "Anyway", Martina McBride: Anyway, she's still here. Good performance, but she has absolutely no stage presence.

David Cook - "Innocent", Our Lady Peace: His worst performance to date. Not good at all. His previous weeks have given him enough credentials to allow him a bad night or two, so no worries this week. Bad performance, though.

Carly Smithson - "The Show Must Go On", Queen: Didn't like this at all. Despite your big voice, I think you might be in trouble this week.

David Archuleta - "Angels", Robbie Williams: A good performance, solid and all that, but rather bland in the grand scheme of things. A great performance from anyone else, but from AI phenom Archuleta, we now except Wow! everytime. This wasn't Wow. Second favourite performance of the night, though.

Brooke White - "You've Got A Friend", Carol King: Not a very good performance, really. Is Brooke having an emotional crisis on stage? She seemed weirdly odd after the performance. What's up with that?

My bottom three of the night: David Cook, Brooke White, Kristy Lee Cook

America's bottom three as predicted by me: Carly Smithson, Brooke White, Michael Johns

Leaving, as predicted by me: Carly Smithson

American Idol - Top 8: Inspirational Songs (ugh)

Last night, because this is Inspiration Week at Idol (what with the Idol Gives Back junk etc), the theme of the week was songs that inspire. Get ready for danger, Will Robinson!

Here they are, with hopefully brief comments from me:

Michael Johns - "Dream On", Aerosmith: Didn't see the performance, but saw the judges comments. Sounds like I didn't miss much. Seeing his brief recap at the end of the show, sounds like I didn't miss much.

Syesha Mercado - "I Believe", Fantasia: The second week in a row of picking a big song, and the second week in a row of just missing the mark. A good performance, but deemed irrelevant because it doesn't match the original. I'm starting to wonder about Syesha and how she talks herself up as being a wacky girl. I never see any of that. Maybe she needs to bring a bit of that to the stage?

Jason Castro - "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", as performed by Israel "Iz" Ka'ono'i Kamakawiwo'ole: It's rare that a performer on American Idol performs a song that I could see myself illegally downloading and having in my large library of songs so that it might pop up in shuffle mode once every three years. This was one of those performances. It was charming, as Jason always is, but this time there seemed to be something behind it, emotionally. The performance of the night, for me.

Krisy Lee Cook - "Anyway", Martina McBride: Anyway, she's still here. Good performance, but she has absolutely no stage presence.

David Cook - "Innocent", Our Lady Peace: His worst performance to date. Not good at all. His previous weeks have given him enough credentials to allow him a bad night or two, so no worries this week. Bad performance, though.

Carly Smithson - "The Show Must Go On", Queen: Didn't like this at all. Despite your big voice, I think you might be in trouble this week.

David Archuleta - "Angels", Robbie Williams: A good performance, solid and all that, but rather bland in the grand scheme of things. A great performance from anyone else, but from AI phenom Archuleta, we now except Wow! everytime. This wasn't Wow. Second favourite performance of the night, though.

Brooke White - "You've Got A Friend", Carol King: Not a very good performance, really. Is Brooke having an emotional crisis on stage? She seemed weirdly odd after the performance. What's up with that?

My bottom three of the night: David Cook, Brooke White, Kristy Lee Cook

America's bottom three as predicted by me: Carly Smithson, Brooke White, Michael Johns

Leaving, as predicted by me: Carly Smithson

Sketch22 - Twenty-Second Second: Mr. Dressup'n'dresses

Inspired by some other site's idea, I thought I'd look at one of the Sketch22 videos we've shot and present an image from its 22nd second. The video is Mr. Dressup'n'dresses (YouTube Link), and this is the image from the 22nd second:


This video contains many favourite memories for me, and this moment happens to be one of them. It's taken during the theme song, and Mr. Dressup'n'dresses' (Graham Putnam) focus is entirely on the little soap line between his fingers. The soap line breaks at the perfect moment to coincide with 'ding' in the theme music (stolen from Mr. Dressup, of course). The moment provided, no doubt, through Graham's editing.
It's really a lovely image. The rainbow looks almost like a hat, his hand forms a "c" which could represent all sorts of things.
Mr.Dressup'n'dresses is one of my favourite characters that I've come up with. I love how he lives in a totally effed-up universe and somehow has a que-sera-sera, non-judgmental sort of attitude. Would that more people in our universe adopt such an attitude. Would that, indeed.


Technorati Tags: sketch22, Mr.Dressup'n'dresses, video, YouTube

Sketch22 - Twenty-Second Second: Mr. Dressup'n'dresses

Inspired by some other site's idea, I thought I'd look at one of the Sketch22 videos we've shot and present an image from its 22nd second. The video is Mr. Dressup'n'dresses (YouTube Link), and this is the image from the 22nd second:


This video contains many favourite memories for me, and this moment happens to be one of them. It's taken during the theme song, and Mr. Dressup'n'dresses' (Graham Putnam) focus is entirely on the little soap line between his fingers. The soap line breaks at the perfect moment to coincide with 'ding' in the theme music (stolen from Mr. Dressup, of course). The moment provided, no doubt, through Graham's editing.
It's really a lovely image. The rainbow looks almost like a hat, his hand forms a "c" which could represent all sorts of things.
Mr.Dressup'n'dresses is one of my favourite characters that I've come up with. I love how he lives in a totally effed-up universe and somehow has a que-sera-sera, non-judgmental sort of attitude. Would that more people in our universe adopt such an attitude. Would that, indeed.


Technorati Tags: sketch22, Mr.Dressup'n'dresses, video, YouTube

Jeff Goldblum's Had A Few Too Many

I'm amazed at how things happen sometimes. I mean, what were the circumstances that led to someone saying "Hmm, I bet if you slow down that old iMac commercial with Jeff Goldblum, it'd sound exactly as if he was a wasted boozey."

So, that's what someone did: Slowed down an old Jeff Golblum iMac commercial. And, yes, it sounds just like he's hammered.

What kind of hammered? Well, let's set a scene to better enjoy the video: Imagine a friend's hosted a Christmas party. Jeff Goldblum happens to be there. It's about 3:30 in the morning. Most of the party has ended, but there are still a few people hanging around in the living room. A couple of people are passed out on a chair and on the floor. Everyone is hammered but relaxed. A couple of joints have just been passed around and everyone has that inexplicable grin that won't go away.
For some reason, the topic turns to the new iMac. Jeff Goldblum pipes up with his opinions on the iMac:

Jeff Goldblum's Had A Few Too Many

I'm amazed at how things happen sometimes. I mean, what were the circumstances that led to someone saying "Hmm, I bet if you slow down that old iMac commercial with Jeff Goldblum, it'd sound exactly as if he was a wasted boozey."

So, that's what someone did: Slowed down an old Jeff Golblum iMac commercial. And, yes, it sounds just like he's hammered.

What kind of hammered? Well, let's set a scene to better enjoy the video: Imagine a friend's hosted a Christmas party. Jeff Goldblum happens to be there. It's about 3:30 in the morning. Most of the party has ended, but there are still a few people hanging around in the living room. A couple of people are passed out on a chair and on the floor. Everyone is hammered but relaxed. A couple of joints have just been passed around and everyone has that inexplicable grin that won't go away.
For some reason, the topic turns to the new iMac. Jeff Goldblum pipes up with his opinions on the iMac:

American Idol: Top Nine, Songs of Dolly Parton... or, From Breast To Worst

This week, I'm gonna do my recap a bit differently. I'm going to review them, as the title implies, from best to worst, rather than in the order they performed. I am only doing this so that my "Dolly Parton has big tits" quasi-joke in the title makes sense.

The theme was Dolly Parton songs.

Best: Michael Johns singing It's All Wrong, But It's All Right: Yeah, I know. I'm surprised by this too. I've not really been a fan of Michael and kept waiting for him to do something other than perform poorly or perform well singing Queen. He'd been riding the coat-tails of his good looks and lead-singer posturing. Last night was the first time I saw him as being Michael Johns. His vocal was really, really strong, and he commanded the performance. Well done. Best of the night.

2nd Best: David Archuleta singing Smoky Mountain Memories: Like Randy said, David is back with this performance. Really good, but still a bit of careful measuredness to it. While the performance was very good, I'm finding that David is starting to bore me, and I think what it is is he's a very safe performer. Yes, he nails the notes, and even takes risks in striving for trickier notes, but there's something a bit boring about his whole package (that's what she said). He always does seem to find the emotional connections to whatever he's singing. That's important. So, good performance, but watch out for becoming too safe and boring.

3rd Best: David Cook singing Little Sparrow: This is the first time I *liked* his performance. I've acknowledged some of them as being great performances, but I haven't particularly enjoyed them. This one I dug. I liked him going for those falsetto notes. I liked him more for hitting them.

4th Best: Carly Smithson singing Here You Come Again: A really strong performance of this ballad. I disagree with Simon's criticism. Actually, I found I disagreed a lot with Simon's criticisms last night (he says he likes country, but he doesn't). My only criticism of Carly's performance was with the smiling (which she jokingly pointed out she made sure she did) through the song. The lyrics of the song don't encourage smiling. Honestly, I only noticed a bit of smiling through the song, and it only slightly bugged me, but I mention it because she made a point of pointing it out.

5th Best: Syesha Mercado singing I Will Always Love You: Syesha came so close to having a capital G great performance. It started out really nice, soft and tender, and I had hopes. But she lost it when she went into the Whitney big notes. I'd have loved it if she kept it smaller and looked for other ways to convey the big emotion without the big notes. Because, you can't beat Whitney on that song. You just can't.

None of the rest of the performances I can consider "best" so I'll countdown from least worst to worst.

4th Worst: Brooke White singing Jolene: It was okay, but mostly it was just boring. You need to bring more to the song, Brooke. And I'm still not digging your little interjections during judge's comments.

3rd Worst: Kristy Lee Cook singing Coat of Many Colors: An okay country performance, but just too boring. You added nothing special to your performance. Just boring.

2nd Worst: Jason Castro singing Travelin' Thru: I've fallen off the Castro Wagon. He really needs to dig deep and challenge himself to find the emotion within a song. He's simply too casual in and cruising through his performances. There was one moment, near the end of his performance, where he actually looked like he was feeling it. We need much more of that, Jason. I'd like to like you again, but you gotta bring it brutha.

Worst: Ramiele Malubay singing Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?: No. No you don't. Only when I use my mind to think who was the worst performer. Just a bland, boring, uninteresting, uninspired performance. Which is a bit of an improvement over many of your other performances.

Bottom Three should be Kristy Lee, Jason and Ramiele. Is it true Ramiele has never been bottom two? She deserves to go this week, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's Jason.

Actually, I have no idea what the fan base is for these people, so I wouldn't be surprised if someone who doesn't deserve to go (like Chikezie last week) does go, so watch out Michael Johns and Syesha.

Leaving: Ramiele




Technorati Tags: American Idol, Top 9, Recap

American Idol: Top Nine, Songs of Dolly Parton... or, From Breast To Worst

This week, I'm gonna do my recap a bit differently. I'm going to review them, as the title implies, from best to worst, rather than in the order they performed. I am only doing this so that my "Dolly Parton has big tits" quasi-joke in the title makes sense.

The theme was Dolly Parton songs.

Best: Michael Johns singing It's All Wrong, But It's All Right: Yeah, I know. I'm surprised by this too. I've not really been a fan of Michael and kept waiting for him to do something other than perform poorly or perform well singing Queen. He'd been riding the coat-tails of his good looks and lead-singer posturing. Last night was the first time I saw him as being Michael Johns. His vocal was really, really strong, and he commanded the performance. Well done. Best of the night.

2nd Best: David Archuleta singing Smoky Mountain Memories: Like Randy said, David is back with this performance. Really good, but still a bit of careful measuredness to it. While the performance was very good, I'm finding that David is starting to bore me, and I think what it is is he's a very safe performer. Yes, he nails the notes, and even takes risks in striving for trickier notes, but there's something a bit boring about his whole package (that's what she said). He always does seem to find the emotional connections to whatever he's singing. That's important. So, good performance, but watch out for becoming too safe and boring.

3rd Best: David Cook singing Little Sparrow: This is the first time I *liked* his performance. I've acknowledged some of them as being great performances, but I haven't particularly enjoyed them. This one I dug. I liked him going for those falsetto notes. I liked him more for hitting them.

4th Best: Carly Smithson singing Here You Come Again: A really strong performance of this ballad. I disagree with Simon's criticism. Actually, I found I disagreed a lot with Simon's criticisms last night (he says he likes country, but he doesn't). My only criticism of Carly's performance was with the smiling (which she jokingly pointed out she made sure she did) through the song. The lyrics of the song don't encourage smiling. Honestly, I only noticed a bit of smiling through the song, and it only slightly bugged me, but I mention it because she made a point of pointing it out.

5th Best: Syesha Mercado singing I Will Always Love You: Syesha came so close to having a capital G great performance. It started out really nice, soft and tender, and I had hopes. But she lost it when she went into the Whitney big notes. I'd have loved it if she kept it smaller and looked for other ways to convey the big emotion without the big notes. Because, you can't beat Whitney on that song. You just can't.

None of the rest of the performances I can consider "best" so I'll countdown from least worst to worst.

4th Worst: Brooke White singing Jolene: It was okay, but mostly it was just boring. You need to bring more to the song, Brooke. And I'm still not digging your little interjections during judge's comments.

3rd Worst: Kristy Lee Cook singing Coat of Many Colors: An okay country performance, but just too boring. You added nothing special to your performance. Just boring.

2nd Worst: Jason Castro singing Travelin' Thru: I've fallen off the Castro Wagon. He really needs to dig deep and challenge himself to find the emotion within a song. He's simply too casual in and cruising through his performances. There was one moment, near the end of his performance, where he actually looked like he was feeling it. We need much more of that, Jason. I'd like to like you again, but you gotta bring it brutha.

Worst: Ramiele Malubay singing Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?: No. No you don't. Only when I use my mind to think who was the worst performer. Just a bland, boring, uninteresting, uninspired performance. Which is a bit of an improvement over many of your other performances.

Bottom Three should be Kristy Lee, Jason and Ramiele. Is it true Ramiele has never been bottom two? She deserves to go this week, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's Jason.

Actually, I have no idea what the fan base is for these people, so I wouldn't be surprised if someone who doesn't deserve to go (like Chikezie last week) does go, so watch out Michael Johns and Syesha.

Leaving: Ramiele




Technorati Tags: American Idol, Top 9, Recap

Tracey Ullman's New Show Not Ha-Ha Funny

I watched the most of Tracey Ullman's new HBO (??) show The State Of The Union. I always respected Ullman's talent, but never really enjoyed her comedy. The same holds true for this show. She's obviously very talented, but I just didn't find the show that entertaining.

Basically, the premise of the show is we take a tour of a day in America. We travel to many various parts of America and get a glimpse of what's happening. Many short scenes, and a full gamut of topics. Wherever we go, whomever we see, it's Tracey playing the main character (sometimes all characters). We go from a news desk in middle America to a motel room in Texas to an apartment in Washington to an office in New York to a home in Beverly Hills.

As I say, Tracey plays all the main characters. Some are "nobodies", like an any-woman hanging out clothes on a line, to "somebodies", like Ariana Huffington. All the characters are very distinct, and very meticulously-crafted (this is the "respect her talent" part). It's just that they're not that funny (the "don't enjoy her comedy" part) to me.

Maybe it'd be better if it wasn't so "all Tracey all the time"?


Technorati Tags: Tracey Ullman, State of the Unrion, HBO

Tracey Ullman's New Show Not Ha-Ha Funny

I watched the most of Tracey Ullman's new HBO (??) show The State Of The Union. I always respected Ullman's talent, but never really enjoyed her comedy. The same holds true for this show. She's obviously very talented, but I just didn't find the show that entertaining.

Basically, the premise of the show is we take a tour of a day in America. We travel to many various parts of America and get a glimpse of what's happening. Many short scenes, and a full gamut of topics. Wherever we go, whomever we see, it's Tracey playing the main character (sometimes all characters). We go from a news desk in middle America to a motel room in Texas to an apartment in Washington to an office in New York to a home in Beverly Hills.

As I say, Tracey plays all the main characters. Some are "nobodies", like an any-woman hanging out clothes on a line, to "somebodies", like Ariana Huffington. All the characters are very distinct, and very meticulously-crafted (this is the "respect her talent" part). It's just that they're not that funny (the "don't enjoy her comedy" part) to me.

Maybe it'd be better if it wasn't so "all Tracey all the time"?


Technorati Tags: Tracey Ullman, State of the Unrion, HBO

Prayers Do Work!!

Merciful Jesus, it's about time!!

Royal Canadian Air Farce Calling It Quits

It's not so much the show I despise (make no mistake, I *do* hate the show), it's that it's on national television. It's that it's so unfunny. It's that, by its very existence on the CBC, it's validated as some kind of national institution, even though the quality has been beyond suck for so, so, so very long now. I hate the privilege that they've been afforded and wasted for so long.

I despise Luba Goy and her unwarranted ego.

I despise almost everything about the kind of "comedy" they do.

I hate Royal Canadian Air Farce so hard.

They should have died years ago.


Technorati Tags: Royal Canadian Air Farce

Prayers Do Work!!

Merciful Jesus, it's about time!!

Royal Canadian Air Farce Calling It Quits

It's not so much the show I despise (make no mistake, I *do* hate the show), it's that it's on national television. It's that it's so unfunny. It's that, by its very existence on the CBC, it's validated as some kind of national institution, even though the quality has been beyond suck for so, so, so very long now. I hate the privilege that they've been afforded and wasted for so long.

I despise Luba Goy and her unwarranted ego.

I despise almost everything about the kind of "comedy" they do.

I hate Royal Canadian Air Farce so hard.

They should have died years ago.


Technorati Tags: Royal Canadian Air Farce