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Gearing Up for Mad Men’s Second Season

Posted by Veronica Santiago
Categories:

Mad Men

For those of you still unsure about joining the bandwagon, there are several ways you can sample the series before the program returns:

  • Rent Season One. (It was just released on DVD earlier this week.)
  • Watch the marathon airing on July 20.
  • View the first 15 minutes of the pilot episode after the jump. (You watch the full show here.)

Already a fan? Well, then I have a few interesting tidbits for you after the jump.

Click to continue reading Gearing Up for Mad Men’s Second Season

Read More | Mad Men

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American Idol Review: Top 10 Girls

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Editorial, Features

American Idol logo

So it seems that, largely, 70s week was a bust for the contestants. The theme of both the Tuesday and Wednesday performances seemed to be “pick a better song next time.” But for four of them, there will be no next time.

Carly SmithsonCarly Smithson ended last week’s performances, slating her in the first place position Wednesday night. I loved her black outfit and the power she put into “Crazy On You,” but there were times when everything didn’t quite sound in key. called her performance “good toward the end,” but said that she “over-hit” some of the notes. Paula told Carly, “you are an amazing singer” which started off the tone of her mostly generic comments for the rest of the evening. Simon liked Carly’s performance better than last Wednesday’s, but thinks she hasn’t quite found the right song. He did give her one piece of praise, saying none of the other girls in the competition “can touch you vocally.”

Click to continue reading American Idol Review: Top 10 Girls

Read More | American Idol Official Site

American Idol: The Top 12 Women Perform

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Editorial

American Idol, Top 12 Women

I’ll go ahead and admit it: American Idol, while it’s my primary television obsession, has truly disappointed me. For weeks I listened to promos and comments that this was the best season ever, the most talented performers to date, blah blah blah. Then, I saw the Top 12 men perform. I was not blown away. Not even close.

So it was with great trepidation that I sat down to watch the women take the stage, fully expecting that Wednesday night’s performances surely would not disappoint. It started out pretty rocky, but the girls pulled it together at the end.

Click to continue reading American Idol: The Top 12 Women Perform

Read More | Baltimore Sun

American Idol: A Bittersweet Beginning

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip

American Idol final 24

Way before ’s seventh season started, fans were treated to a PR blitz that capitalized on how different the show would be this time around. They believed; they watched; they weren’t disappointed. Season Seven certainly does have a different feeling and tone at times than previous episodes, and Wednesday’s final decision night struck a few sad notes.

One by one the fifty contestants were carried toward the judges who so menacingly waited. One by one they were told to take that long, disappointing ride back down without happy news to report. Enter Carly Smithson, devastating diva from Ireland who missed her Idol chance in season 5. She was the first female to win a Final 12 slot, and I breathed a sigh of relief. This talented lady has definitely earned her place. I was also pleased to see husky-voiced Amanda Overmyer and 16-year-old sensation David Archuleta join the final group. Poor blonde Brook White cried her whole way up in the elevator and grinned with relief the entire way down. 

Click to continue reading American Idol: A Bittersweet Beginning

Read More | Associated Press

New Style for ‘American Idol’

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Ratings

American IdolWeeks before of started, judges and producers came forward to talk about the show’s new direction. Lackluster record sales and a bit of sag in the last year meant a change had to happen. Instruments will be added this season (at some point), and this year there’s much more focus on the singers instead of celebrity guests. More back story, more tears, more focus on the contestants. So…how’s it working out for Idol this year?

The reality show is consistently winning at the ratings game, though some of this is no doubt due to instead of entertainment value. But there is a subtle difference this year in the Idol auditions. Sans celebrity judges, the camera does seem to be finding contestants instead of stars. Early promises before the season started said viewers would see more talent than ever before…perhaps even the best Idol season ever. This week’s auditions ended in Miami (with Atlanta to begin next week). Have viewers already seen the next American Idol?

Click to continue reading New Style for ‘American Idol’

Read More | LA Times

American Idol: Simon Cowell on Season Seven

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip

Simon CowellThe audition portion of - arguably the best part of the whole bloody show - will begin airing next week, and judge (my personal favorite) will no doubt light into singers with his usual acerbic tongue.  But Cowell says even his criticisms are meant to be constructive.

Speaking from London (don’t worry - he’ll be Stateside in time for Idol’s seventh season), Simon explained it all in an interview: after listening to bad singers for seven years, it can all get rather trying - and sometimes, words probably do come out a little harsh. Really? Tell me more.  I can’t wait to listen to the Dreamcrusher at work.

The host said this year’s crop of talent is strong, young and more interesting. Than who - ? That’ll be hard to beat. Cowell called the cast “fresh” and “memorable,” but admittedly they don’t have a tough act to follow.

The judge went on to say that he might be finished with Idol when his current contract expires in two more years.  Good - maybe then he’ll do his own show.  That’s something I’ve been waiting on for years.

Read More | LA Times

Debut Review: American Gladiators

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Prime Time, Reality, NBC, Renewals

American GladiatorsZap. Nitro. Lace. Gemini. I’m not just being random here, I’m naming the original . For those of us whose memories stretch back that far, American Gladiators was a great show to watch - and it‘s even better to remember. Original, inspiring and chock-full of muscle-bound beauty, Gladiators ran from 1989 to 1996 and won viewers from a wide range of demographics. Young, old, scrawny or buff, everyone likes to see a single contestant best all the power that strength has to offer.

But I have to make a confession: when I heard was bringing this one back, I rolled my eyes and made a crack about this network’s sheer desperation to find programming. (Frankly, I stand by and maintain I’m not far from wrong. We are talking, after all, about the network which brought back and …I mean, come on).

But I was wrong. There, I said it. I’ll give this one - just this one - to NBC. It was a good idea to bring back , and after Sunday night’s two-hour debut I’m already hooked. and are the perfect hosts, both personable and professionally known for their musculature, and the new gladiators are just as ripped and menacing as the former muscle-bound group who once sent challengers toppling. 

Click to continue reading Debut Review: American Gladiators

Read More | NBC

Corbin Bernsen to Host on GSN

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Games, Prime Time, Reality, Cable, Gossip

Corbin+Bernsen will host a new original for , the Game Show Network, starting in 2008. The , How Much is Enough, pushes contestants to find out just how strong their own greed is. Four competitors will face off against a ticking clock, each vying to win the biggest bucks with their secret buzzers.

The network ordered forty episodes of the game, which will start airing January 8 at 9 pm ET. will be part of the channel’s regular lineup Tuesdays through Saturdays. The show marks Bernsen’s first game show hosting attempt. Bernsen currently stars in , though most fans will remember him for his role on .

Read More | GSN

Six-Year-Old Tricks ‘Hannah Montana’ Star

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Kids, Music, Cable, Gossip

Miley CyrusA young fan won the contest of a lifetime when she submitted her essay about her father’s tour of duty in Iraq, which culminated in his demise. The six-year-old won four highly coveted tickets to a Miley concert and even got a makeover as part of the package. There’s just one problem: the essay wasn’t true. Okay, so maybe the child’s mother thought is was a creative writing contest. That’s easily confused…right?

When asked by contest officials if the essay was true, the child’s mother admitted outright that it was not. Because of this admission, the six-year-old will no longer attend the concert.  Her award has been withdrawn and will be offered to another contestant.

Read More | TV Guide

A Challenge to Watch Psychics

Posted by K.C. Morgan
Categories: Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, Cable, Gossip

Lifetime America’s Psychic Challenge is suddenly starting to make John Edwards seem extremely gifted…and the show has barely started. Sixteen psychics (by their own personal claims) compete in the Lifetime show to win $100,000, working their way through different events. One challenge put a celebrity hidden behind a screen, calling psychics to guess about the personality dwelling therein. The psychic who won the event said the celeb was “a little demanding” and “working on a book.” Another winning psychic, taken to an LA neighborhood and told to guess at the crime scene, said they sensed a gun. Somehow, I feel as though I could compete in America’s Psychic Challenge, and I personally think it’s hooey.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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