Random Thought for Thursday 5/27/10

You can call it karma, you can call it irony, you can even call it something more nefarious ... but after picking on Idol for the last few weeks, the power went out in Chicago last night at 8:22 local time -- which means that I missed most of the end of the finale. Mind you, Wrigley field, which is in just spitting distance of my apartment, miraculously had power restored within 15 minutes (as did the el tracks next to my bathroom window) -- proving the point that power controls power -- but my electricity didn't return for about an hour.

Happily, I did get to observe the following in the first 82 minutes (and so here's a one post only Idol theme week reprise) ...

Best use of lazy choreography technique: Alanis Morisette and Crystal prowling the stage

Best use of family values friendly lyrics/best swap out for ON and IN: "did he go down WITH you TO the theater?"

Clearest sign that the shark's been jumped: inviting folks to audition through MySpace

Ubiquitous Lazarus award: Bret Michael's appearance on yet another reality show

Worst commercial for the Idol Live concert: painful group performances that just invited the consumer to choose Glee:Live! instead for its polishedness

Most missed lead singer: Chicago without Peter Cetera

Double-take of the night: Is that Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake (or Andy Dick) or the remaining BeeGees?

Song that was probably good if we could just understand the lyrics: Xtina performing ... something

Most unpredictable but should have been so predictable moment: the Kanye moment where the fur lined idiot took the mic from Dane Cook

You've come a long way baby award: clips from the first season with hotel tables with hotel table skirts

Congratulations: to Lee DeWyze.

Here's to several months without the Idol bee in my bonnet -- months the producers should use to salvage this once enjoyable show and months I'll use to stop obsessing ...

PLAYING BALL IN THE DARK:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7464260

LOOK HOW FAST THE SONY MACHINE WORKS:
http://www.leedewyzeofficial.com/news

Random Soapbox for Saturday 3/6/10

I don't mean to go off on a rant here, but as IDOL theme week comes to a close, let me just say, "Mr. Seacrest, you did not originate the concept of the 'beat' as dramatic pause, and you are close to being banned from using it further as you continue to disrespect this oratory effect." THIS ... ... ... ... is my RANDOM post for today. Between that and the Jersey-Shore-visiting Guidos and Guidettes already doing their part to "beat up the beat" on the dance floor, it's time we gave those notions some protection. And while we're at it, Mr. Nigel Lythgoe -- stop rehearsing the kids for your inevitable summer tour with those horrible group performances on elimination night shows. The only redeemable thing about the top 20 singing "I Got a Feelin'" the other night was that it allowed us to laugh at the kids with no rhythm as they participated in a choregraphed routine that was pretty much just walking around the stage with some manufactured ill-placed swagger. [It's not like last year where we always on pins and needles to see how creatively the visually impaired singer would be incorporated, and if anyone would forget to watch out for him.] I can't be the only one in 30 million with these opinions, so think of the overall numbers who might boycott a show if you don't fix things! [And, of course, by boycott, I mean that I'll still DVR every episode but continue to take pride in the fact that I've never voted.]

Random Flashback for Friday 3/5/10

Who: A group of HOBY alum from up and down the coast; What: An impromptu sing along to the B-52s Love Shack (if memory serves me right); Where: the Hard Rock cafe in Washington DC; When: around this time of year twenty years ago; Why: Why not? [Spontaneously breaking into song with the staff and literally stopping the restaurant in its tracks with our craziness fits the American Idol theme week, no?]

Random Thought for Thursday 3/4/10

[We return to IDOL theme week, already in progress.]

I know that sex and violence sells, but the kids' performances are getting masked by all the steamy tension this year. Ryan and Simon still flirt regularly, Kara's been seen getting closer to Simon to try to recreate the Paula Abdul magic with him, Ellen's now in the mix and possibly crushing on Kara, Ryan's creepily rubbing the shoulders of all the contestants irrespective of their gender and then there's that whole comment from last week about Kara gushing for Casey James. Yep, the word they used was gushing (it was going to be yesterday's wordplay for Wednesday). Poor Randy is not at all living up to his name or his go-to nickname (think about it ... wait for it ... gotcha!), and is more like the eunuch in the corner watching the party in front of him. (I apologize in advance for the image I just placed in your mind.) I miss the old days when we just had to deal with Paula Abdul denying Corey Clark's accusations and voicemails! [The link's not much, but the pic says more than the text.]

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/03/simon_cowell_and_ryan_seacrest.html

Random Tune Therapy for Tuesday 3/2/10

In spirit of the Idol theme week, I thought I'd try out a new recurring feature. Each week, I'll provide "healing sounds" for the song that was most mangled the week before by the contestants. Up first (and this is from last week since tonight’s episode !surprise ,it's the boys! is still on the DVR) -- poor Timmy's rendition of Apologize. Even Simon thought he was adorable, but his attempts to hit anything in the higher register was ... deplorable. At least the Simon in the group below (with Alvin and Theodore, naturally) does the song justice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yHhBlNISiY

Random Memorial for Monday 3/1/10

Gone but not forgotten: Brian Dunkleman on American Idol.

[It's really busy at work right now, so another TV-related theme week is in order.] Back before I started watching (I only joined America doing so during the finale of the first season -- and I'll carry it as a badge of honor that I've never ever voted), back before the sum total of the filler overpowered the celebrity guided karaoke as Fox chose to milk the ratings, back before Kara was added as a negotiating tactic to keep Paula from making too many demands, back before Ellen replaced Paula when she made too many demands, back before Ruben, Fantasia, Carrie, Taylor, Jordin, David and Kris joined Kelly in the winner's circle (you just know that that's going to be a party game a few years in the future) ... there were once two hosts of this talent competition.

White guy with dark hair designed to be a contrast next to gold skinned boy with highlights, you are missed (at least until your Showtime comedy special airs later this year)!