Is it just me, or was the audition round of American Idol just flat this year? The great auditions weren’t all that great. The bad auditions weren’t as funny as in the past. I don’t know if they ran through the very best and the very worst and we’re left with something in the middle or if it is just a case of “we’ve seen it all before”. Either way, the show has left me nonplussed so far this season.

I go way back with Idol.  Season 1 far back.  Justin and Kelly far back.  It’s been a fun ride, but I think the writing is on the wall and the end is nigh.

The end has been in sight for a while now.  It started when the judges inexplicably put Sanjaya through to the top 24.  The very notion that he was one of the 12 best singers that the judges could find just screamed that they weren’t looking all that hard.

But life, and American Idol, went on.  Simon was mean.  Randy called everyone “Dog”.  Paula babbled incoherently.  And the singers kept coming.  The occasional Sanjaya or Kelly Pickler couldn’t ruin the show.

Now Paula is gone.  For reasons that I cannot fathom, the producers replaced a very replaceable cog with… Ellen DeGeneres, who has no connection whatsoever to the music industry.  If the previews for the Hollywood week round are any indication, she’s going to be less useful than Paula, which is a little bit like being less hairy than Howie Mandel.  It isn’t easy.  The one bit of Ellen’s wisdom that the advertising gurus at Fox chose to show us is her telling a contestant to get some shoes because Hollywood is a disgusting place.

Now the word is that Simon will be leaving after this season to focus on his next British Import – X-Factor.  Early rumors point to Howard Stern as his replacement.  If that’s the case, this is surely the last season for me.  Even if they choose a less odious replacement, I think I may be done.  Let’s all hope that X-Factor fills the void that Idol will leave behind.

Tweet This Post

Last time, we talked about the Golden Globe winners for Drama TV programs. This week, let’s talk about the comedy TV winners.

Best TV Series – Comedy
Glee

I’ve always included Glee in my previous Couch Tuber articles as one of the best shows that came out in 2009. However, this time, I’m not totally sure about the Best TV series win. I was rooting for The Office or Modern Family to win. I still think The Office has one of the best comedy writing in TV today. And Modern Family just gets funnier and funnier as it gets more absurd. But Glee was able to infuse comedy and music together on TV successfully, so I think they do deserve that award. The new season of Glee starts in April 2010.

Wednesday, 9/8c, FOX Read the rest of this entry »

Tweet This Post

Lost is coming back to a TV near you.  In less than a week, the nearly nine month layoff will be over, and the show that leaves us dazed, confused, and, well, lost will be back on the air.

As much as I’m going to miss it when Jack, Sawyer, Kate and the rest sign off for good in May, I applaud the show makers for leaving on top.  This is not a show that could continue to be good for another five years.  I’m sure that ABC was willing to back dump trucks full of money up to the producers’ homes in order to keep the show on the air, but they opted to bow out with some dignity.  Good for them. Read the rest of this entry »

Tweet This Post

Over the past few years, pop culture has been obsessed with plastic surgery. This was especially evident in the E! reality show, Dr. 90210, a series which followed a flamboyant Beverly Hills plastic surgeon (Dr. Robert Rey) as he went about his personal and professional life. From eye lifts to getting rid of love handles, he did it all. Ever since the very first episode in 2004, the show was a smash hit.

Why haven’t there been any new episodes? The last new episode ran on October 13, 2008. Considering that the show was still a ratings smash, why haven’t there been any new episodes in over a year? Is Dr. 90210 cancelled? Read the rest of this entry »

Tweet This Post