Driving on the Sidewalk

News and Junk: March 18th

jenny_fromtheblog@yahoo.com (Jenny from the Blog) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:02:00 +0000

by Jenny from the Blog

Here's some news and junk. Because you don't have enough news or junk in your life:

Katherine Heigel leaves Grey's Anatomy for real this time, probably:
Click Here

Jennifer Love Hewitt breaks up with what's his face: Click Here

Idol's Lilly Scott blames YOU for her suckiness: Click Here

Robert Pattinson: "I'm like James Dean." James Dean: "No, you're not.": Click Here

"Lady Gaga is definitely a woman," says Lady Gaga's crotch: Click Here

Chris Brown wants his badly battered career back: Click Here

©2010 DOTS

GIVEAWAY on the Sidewalk WIN a Brand New Rothco Messenger Bag--Be a Twitter Winner!

jenny_fromtheblog@yahoo.com (Jenny from the Blog) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:21:00 +0000

by Jenny from the Blog

So I've found yet another wonderfully affordable website to find really awesome stuff: clothesoutsale.com. You're welcome. Clothes Out Sale boasts a wide variety of high quality clothing and accessories, totally discounted for regular people like you and me. You'll find all the top brands: Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Tiger Woods Golf (ok, you might want to stay away from that one), Dickies, Columbia, Champion, Hanes, Rothco, Timberland and more! COS buys craploads of the best stuff just for you so you can have them at ridiculously reasonable prices. That's awfully nice of them, isn't it?

Clothesoutsale.com and the Sidewalk want to give YOU a brand new Rothco Heavyweight Messenger Bag (pictured in the left side margin--the prize bag is tan) for FREE! This marvelous bag is perfect for the busy student or just about anyone else on the go and it will look great jazzed up with your own personal flair. Plus, we'll even throw in a 15% off coupon to use on a future purchase at clothesoutsale.com (we just know you'll be back).

This time, we're letting you use Twitter to be a winner. Here's all you have to do:

1. Login to your Twitter account and start following @sidewalkdriving here: http://twitter.com/sidewalkdriving (if you're not already)

2. Then, reply to any of our tweets with the phrase "Rothco Bag" by April 1st for a chance to win! One lucky winner from the bunch will be chosen at random.

Good luck!!

©2010 DOTS

8 Totally Overrated Music Acts

jenny_fromtheblog@yahoo.com (Jenny from the Blog) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 23:28:00 +0000

by Jenny from the Blog

Have you listened to the radio lately? You know, the radio? That thing in your car that music comes out of that you used to record songs off of with casette tapes in the 1990's? Are you too young to know about those? Well, casette tapes were these tacky plastic things with two eye holes and forty yards of ribbon inside that played music. Then after casette tapes, there were these round, shiny things called C--oh forget it. I can't explain how music used to be. You just had to be there. It was good times.

There's another thing music used to be: good. Back in the last century, musicians needed something more than buck teeth, a semi-famous dad or a Disney contract to be famous. Unfortunately, those days have sailed and now I present to you eight totally overrated music acts who need to go away like...yesterday:

Justin Bieber: Picture Aaron Carter. I know, I know it's painful. Just do it for a second. Now, picture Aaron Carter with brown hair, no drug addiction and some sort of inexplicable career. That's Justin Bieber. This kid is so popular right now and why, I just can't understand.
Why He Sucks: Never mind that the 16 year-old's songs are mainly about text messaging and playing video games with P. Diddy, it gets worse. He also sounds like a squirrel who's got pine needles stuck in his testicles. He's annoyingly cocky and thinks he was born and raised in the projects even though to him the projects is probably the upper-middle class Jewish side of LA.
Where He'll Be in 10 Years: On Celebrity Rehab season 23, exposing his genitals to invisible thug-bunnies while yelling, "Somebody get me some Tab and a cigarette!"

Taylor Swift: She sings country music, dates Jonas brothers and wolfmen and wins lots of awards that should go to people who are way better at their job than she is.
Why She Sucks: Taylor Swift, despite her popularity, is not very good. She's not as talented vocally as some of her peers and she's--oh let's be real here. Taylor Swift's singing voice is about as enjoyable to listen to as a cat who's vomiting up all its internal organs. For someone who isn't talented enough to make it as one of Santa's singing, tap dancing elves at the mall, Taylor Swift sure gets a lot of unnecessary praise.
Where She'll be in 10 Years: Working as the girl who gets coffee for Santa's singing, tap dancing elves at the mall.

The Jonas Brothers: Three guys who are brothers, who are definitely not gay and will definitely not have sex with you.
Why They Suck: Geared toward an audience of pre-pubescent girls whose hearing has not yet fully developed, the Jonas Brothers sing Disney censored crap songs about how difficult it is to be a virgin and some nonsense about going to the Year 3000 where they'd probably still be virgins. These boys also wouldn't be able to sing in key if their key bit them on their neglected shalopuses.
Where They'll Be in 10 Years: Hiding out in the bushes at Disney's Magic Kingdom, popping out to scare young children and asking for spare cash to ride "It's a Small World" again.

Colbie Callait: She's kind of like Jennifer Aniston if Jennifer Aniston sang barely audible guitar songs about hugging boys and drinking champagne sometimes.
Why She Sucks: Colbie Callait's style is a bit boring. It's so boring iddakjdien............oh sorry, fell asleep for a minute there. Anyway, Colbie Callait is so boring she's like dnfijkl. ....................................
Where She'll Be in 10 Years: What happened? Where am I? All I remember is listening to Colbie Callait and typing and then eijjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

John Mayer: That singer who thinks he's the greatest thing since sliced bread and sleeps with everyone on earth then sings crappy songs about it. He also cries a lot on stage and has a racist penis.
Why He Sucks: Because he's John Mayer and gives Tiger Woods the silver medal as the least likeable person in the world. Plus, he sounds like Kermit the Frog singing out of his frog butt.
Where He'll Be in 10 Years: Doing sexual favors for male politicians in exchange for peanut butter sandwiches and Netflix subscriptions.

Kesha: A girl who likes to sing about clocks and spells "Tick Tock" totally wrong.
Why She Sucks: Besides being a white girl with an annoyingly pronounced (Keh-sha) culturally awkward name, she also comes equipped with a valley girl, nails on a chalkboard voice that makes you want to run over numerous living things with your car.
Where She'll Be in 10 Years: Bartending somewhere at a tavern in Wisconsin, saying, "I'm Kesha who sang that one song once."

Miley Cyrus: The kid who plays Hannah Montana. You know, Billy Ray Cyrus' kid? You know--Miley Cyrus?! Oh, crawl out of your hole already.
Why She Sucks: Unfortunately, we don't have enough bandwith here at sidewalkdriving.com to talk about all the reasons why Miley Cyrus sucks. Let's start with the fact that she doesn't have talent for any of the things she's famous for, especially singing. I sure hope I'm not the only one who was waiting for her to choke on the fake rain water while she screeched away in the video for "The Climb."
Where She'll Be in 10 Years: Pregnant with Kevin Federline's fourteenth child, asking her dad to massage her aching feet.

Nickelback: The uncoolest band since those guys who sang, "Everybody Wang Chung Tonight."
Why They Suck: Nickelback sucks because they can't write a song that doesn't make me spit out my Mountain Dew in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. And those are just the songs about death and despair. Their lyrics are so unbearably cheesy, all the songs sound the same and the front guy needs a haircut.
Where They'll Be in 10 Years: I don't care, as long as they're out of my life. Although I have a sickening feeling they'll be showing up to sing beside the cream puff stand at my state fair someday.

Is there anyone who made our list that you actually enjoy? If there is, we hate you.

©2010 DOTS

Celebrity Fit Club: Kevin Federline AND Bobby Brown? Somebody Hold Me.

jenny_fromtheblog@yahoo.com (Jenny from the Blog) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:03:00 +0000

by Jenny from the Blog

I love Celebrity Fit Club. It has all I'm looking for in a show: fat people who are kind of famous, loud and scary black men and a reason for me to feel better about myself. Celebrity Fit Club was made for me, I'm convinced. Past seasons have brought us fun flabbers like Dustin Diamond, the girl who was Marcia Brady, one of Ricky Nelson's kids and a whole bunch of other people who are so ridiculously forgettable my brain would probably fall out if I tried to think of them off the top of my head.

This season of Celebrity Fit Club is by far the best for two reasons: Kevin Federline and Bobby Brown. They're both fat and they're both on the show this season. It's like angels in douche heaven fell out of the sky and assembled this year's Fit Club cast solely for my entertainment. Thank you, douche angels, thank you. To top it off, they've also thrown in Shar Jackson, Federline's ex-girlfriend who he abandoned for Britney Spears. It's every trash talking blogger's dream. I'm all tingly just thinking about it.
Adding Bobby Brown to the mix makes it even better. Bobby Brown, famous for being that kid with a big gap in his teeth from the group New Edition and for being married to Whitney Houston once, has recently packed on the pounds, probably due to cutting down on crack and stocking up on alcohol. Bobby Brown is such a relentless bumbling idiot, Kevin Federline has officially become the most likeable person on this show.

Brown and Federline aren't the only "celebrities" shaking their jiggles in our faces on this season's Fit Club. Meet the rest of the cast:

Nicole Eggert: A chick from Baywatch who has obviously stopped jogging on the beach in slow motion.

Shar Jackson: She bonked Kevin Federline.

Sebastian Bach: ~~She~~ He was in a band from before you or I were born.

KayCee Stroh: The chubby girl from High School Musical.

Tanisha Thomas: A really loud chick who was on The Bad Girls' Club once.

Jay McCarroll: The season's random gay guy.

Happy Fit Club watching!!

©2010 DOTS

The Douchebag of the Day Award Goes to {{Drumroll Please}}

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:05:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

Itawamba County School District!!

{{wild applause}}

Like so many 18 year old high school girls, Constance McMillen was looking forward to her senior prom. Not like so many 18 year old high school girls, she was hoping to wear a tuxedo and take her lesbian date.

These days, that's not really as big of a deal as it used to be... but in February the school board decided it'd lay out what the rules were - just in case anyone was thinking of bringing any new fangled (read: tolerant) ideas to their neck of the woods. They sent out a memo saying that the date had to be of the opposite sex.

I wonder if they put the caveat in there it couldn't be anyone you were related to? Cousin - sure. Gay or lesbian date - no way!

Sounds like Mississippi to me.

Now sure, that is all enough to make the Douchebag headlines - but what really makes this award worthy is that when the ACLU got involved with this one, the Itawamba County school board reacted thusly:

They canceled the festivities all together.For everyone.

Citing it'd be too much of a "distraction", the school board decided it would be best if private citizens hosted an event instead.This virtually turned poor Constance into the Scrooge Who Stole Prom, just because she wanted to take who she wanted to take and wear what she wanted to wear.

First of all, what's with all these "distractions"? Every time a school board does something that makes them sound like what they are - (small minded bigots) - they always want to toss that word around. As if our children are so mentally incapable of dealing with something different they must be shielded by the almighty school system.

From long hair to gender specific clothing, the entire thing has gotten to the point where our kids may be exposed to more "sophisticated" ideas at an earlier age, but they're less prepared to deal with any of it because we're too worried about their being "distracted".

Again... if something like this is going to distract someone, then they're going to forget about it within the first five minutes and move on.

You know... like normal people.

Second of all, what a wussy way to handle the whole shebang. They wash their hands of the controversy and set it up for someone else to take the fall.

The ACLU has now switched gears to force the school to host its prom but here's what I hope will really happen.

I hope Ellen Degeneres or someone of her caliber gets wind of this and hosts the biggest freaking prom of their small town little lives - with guests like Adam Lambert and Lady Gaga.

Maybe Katy Perry can perform.

The possibilities are endless.

People can wear what they want, where they want, with whomever they want... and it'll turn Constance from persona non grata into the biggest freaking hero of their lives.

But I think we really should include a memo that the school board would not be allowed in.

I really fear they'd be darned distracted.

©2010 DOTS

Idol Chatter: Season 9 Top 8 Guys 03/10/10

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:58:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

Tonight the guys took to the stage to sing for their Idol lives so they can make it to the Top 12 and the Big Stage.The good news, there was no standout performance that stunk. The bad news - there was only one standout performance that was amazing. The problem with the guys isn't that they're less talented than the girls, the problem is that they're all kind of middle of the road talented with each other.

Leading that charge is Lee DeWyze as he took on "Fireflies". I'm just going to be honest here and tell you all that I'm going to deduct points for plaid. I've developed a most likely irrational hatred of it but when you're trying to sell me that you're an *Idol*, you won't come on the stage looking like Farmer Joe who just stepped off his John Deer.

Other than that, Lee just doesn't blow me away. Hate to say it, but that's the truth. He's like Elliott Yamen before him, someone I keep hearing is so great but I for the life of me can't see it. Most likely a nice guy but as for as an Idol? Not for me.

Randy said it was a strange song choice but he made it his own. Ellen talked about all the crushes she'd been hearing about. Kara thought he had grown in confidence, but it was not his best. Simon summed it up with nothing to rave about.

7/10

Alex Lambert followed with "Trouble", and again I just love his voice. I love his look, love his unique sound and think he can benefit a lot from this competition. Reason Number 1 I root for this kid.

Randy thought it was a good song choice but there was no wow factor. Ellen likened him to a mushy banana, saying that he was consistently getting better. Kara wants him to just be himself and loosen up a bit, and Simon thinks he needs to relax and have a good time.

8/10

Tim Urban tried his hand at Idol favorite "Hallelujah", and I was afraid for him. These are some big shoes to fill and I wasn't entirely sure he could fill them. I'm happy to report that he wow'd me. I didn't even know he could sing that well and I was really impressed with his heartfelt delivery.

Randy thought he did a pretty good job. Ellen was so impressed she had to run onstage to give him a hug. Kara stated he was "kinda in it" now and thought he could be the top of the boys. Simon, of course, took credit for his doing so well.

9/10

Poor Andrew Garcia. I could turn the judges critiques on him into a drinking game. Every time they evoke that Paula Abdul song, just chug it down. He tried to recreate some of the magic with Xtina's "Genie in a Bottle", and while I wanted to love it I didn't. It was just a'ight. Whether it's subliminal messages from the judges or not, he is slipping further down my list of favorites week after week.

Randy thought it was an interesting song choice that didn't quite work. Ellen liked the song choice but thought it didn't get great till the end. Kara evoked the great Straight Up performance (take a drink) and told him he had peaked early on. Simon punctuated the critique, saying it sounded "a bit desperate".

7/10

<3casey James<3 came next, singing a Tim Urban tune "You'll Think of Me". I like the suggestion of this, but I was already thinking about him anyway. This is his kind of vibe and while it's not exactly my cup of tea he's mighty pretty to look at. It's not as exciting as I like my music to be, but it definitely fits his voice - and that's what they keep telling us counts most.

Randy called it a safe choice. Ellen thought it was great, and called it "his vibe". Kara was "kinda" back on the Casey train, but while it was "honest", it was missing a spark. Simon felt it was his second best performance, and praised its sincerity.

8/10

Aaron Kelly took on the mature "I'm Already There" by Lonestar. While I agree this is more his style, his voice did not shine in those lower notes. He can't count on the glory notes to save him every time - and unfortunately demonstrated a pretty significant weakness on a night where none could be afforded.

Plus he was wearing plaid. STRIKE!

Randy thinks he has the makings of greatness. Ellen liked his confidence but thought it was too much song. Kara immediately attacked the song choice as being too mature in content for someone his age to sell, but Simon quickly jumped to his defense and pointed out that was the kind of thing that confuses these contestants. He concluded that it wasn't a great vocal but had plenty of emotion.

When I heard that Toderick Hall was going to tackle Queen and Freddie Mercury, I was immediately concerned. Hearing it was "Somebody to Love", even more so. Freddie Mercury has arguably one of the greatest voices in rock music, and this song demonstrates his crazy range in a way that you can't even begin to match if you're not a great singer.

Toderick is not a great singer. He missed the mark on this song, for me, by a mile... but somehow the judges weren't hearing the same version I heard.

Randy declared, "Toderick is back!" Ellen said he was a "brave, brave" young man to choose that song but liked his gospel spin. Kara said the singing was good and Simon was quick to clarify it was "good in parts". He did say that Toderick finally showed us who he was in that performance, and that was a Broadway singer.

6/10

The show closed with Big Daddy Michael Lynche in the pimp spot singing "This Woman's Work". I grade my contestants using a ten point criteria where every point represents a factor I think makes a great performance. All this night, with the exception maybe of Tim, I was missing the "wow" factor until this performance. This was a great vocal. This was a heartfelt performance. This was a person who not only wants to hit that Top 12 - but win the entire thing.

Randy exploded with, "That was HOT!" Ellen told him that was a beautiful performance and he was the one to beat. Kara was so overcome she was in tears, and Simon said it wasn't just the best performance of the night - it was the best performance of all the live shows.

10/10

So I'm not really sure who's going home tomorrow for the guys. I wouldn't mind losing Toderick and Aaron, but I think we could actually see someone like Andrew finally get cut as well.

All I can really do is say this is the Top 10 I want to see in concert:

Crystal Bowersox
Siobhan Magnus
Big Daddy Lynche
Casey James
Alex Lambert
Lacey Brown
Tim Urban
Didi Benami
Lilly Scott
Andrew Garcia

©2010 DOTS

Cop Out: Thank You, Baby Jesus for Bruce Willis

jenny_fromtheblog@yahoo.com (Jenny from the Blog) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:15:00 +0000

by Jenny from the Blog

(Rated R)

Bruce Willis is so cool. If I'm to ever be reincarnated, I hope I come back as Bruce Willis. That's how cool he is. I don't know why--he just is. Willis stars alongside Tracy Morgan in this hilarious action flick about a police duo who take on an elite Mexican gang to retrieve Willis' stolen baseball card valued at several thousand dollars which he needs to pay for his daughter's wedding. Crazy story, I know, but it works because it's Bruce Willis. Obviously.

The Good News: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan and eventually, Sean William Scott, create a comedy dream team that will have you laughing until you rip vital organs. Don't worry, though. It's totally worth it. Lots of action, violent but not too gory and just a rip-roarin' good time.

The Bad News: People who aren't fans of pervy humor may not appreciate Cop Out for what it's worth. Also, despite its awesomeness, you've seen this film before as basically every other Bruce Willis movie ever made. And, it's directed by Kevin Smith which is a drawback. Oh well, they can't all be Guy Ritchie.

The Grade:
B

©2010 DOTS

Alice in Wonderland: Pretty Wonderful

jenny_fromtheblog@yahoo.com (Jenny from the Blog) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:04:00 +0000

by Jenny from the Blog

(Rated PG)

Mr. Irresistibly Sexy himself, Tim Burton directs his own totally wacky version of Alice in Wonderland, starring his baby mama, Helena Bonham Carter, the wonderful Johnny Depp and a bunch of other people. The story is of 19 year-old Alice's second trip to Wonderland where she sets out to save her old friends like the Mad Hatter (Depp) from the wrath of the big-headed Red Queen (Carter).

The Good News: Like any Tim Burton film, the dark yet light, scary yet not atmosphere of Alice is an acquired taste. Burton puts his own spin on Alice's Wonderland, filling it with familiar characters including the crazy smiling cat, the manical white rabbit, the adorably orange Mad Hatter, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and that terribly wise, bong smoking blue caterpillar (voiced by the amazing Alan Rickman).

Anne Hathaway is pleasantly sweet as the White Queen, though not nearly as fun as Carter's evil Red Queen, she adds a fairytale essence usually affiliated with a story like this.

The Bad News: The characters are what make Alice so enjoyable. It is the story (or lack thereof) that falls short here. There really isn't much to it and it seems as though the film's amateur plot was written in about ten minutes by Disney, Tim Burton and the blue bong smoking caterpillar. Also, Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is just about as interesting and animated as Kristen Stewart trying to read off a teleprompter at the Oscars after hitting the pipe with Mickey Rourke back stage.

The Grade:
B

©2010 DOTS

Idol Chatter: Season 9 Top 8 Girls 03/09/10

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:49:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

The stakes are now set. This week is the most important one in the competition thus far. After the next four contestants are booted on Thursday, we will finally have our Top 12. Which girls showed they were willing to put it all out there, and which folded under pressure? The answers may surprise you.

Last week we lost Michelle Delamor (as I predicted) and Haeley Vaughn (as should have been - but I didn't expect). This week we started with Katie Stevens in the dreaded opening spot. You really have to bring it if you expect anyone to remember you, and her version of Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" ceased to impress. Her normally impressive voice was off and it was very palpable how uncomfortable she was as she tried to incorporate the notes she'd been given and please the judges.

Randy thought the song was too big and Ellen didn't feel it was believable. Kara said she didn't know the kind of artist Katie is yet, and Simon gave her props for at least trying to listen to their advice - he just felt it was the wrong type of song.

4/10

Siobhan Magnus followed up with "House of the Rising Sun" by the Animals, as a surprise for her dad. She braved an a capella opening, then let her voice off the chain toward the end. I think Siobhan is the closest we have to an Adam Lambert this season; she's unpredictable and demonstrates a showmanship that only one other female seems to have down pat.

Randy loves how she takes risks and chances, Ellen praised, "You are why I love music!" Kara loved the a capella opening and thinks Siobhan is "unique". Simon was the only buzzkill, saying, "It was all a bit weird." Kara continued her suck-uppage by changing her tune slightly to agree with Simon, saying that we do not know what kind of artist Siobhan is yet.

(I disagree to both)

10/10

I was nervous for Lacey Brown. Though I wanted to root for her, I found her style off-putting in weeks past and was really amazed that she had lasted this far. Then she pulls "The Story" out of her pocket and sang like I never even imagined she could sing. If she can keep that up, I would definitely like to see her make the Top 12... because this performance earned it.

Randy thought it was her best performance in a long time, and Ellen agreed calling it her "best performance to date". Kara told her performances like that were how she got thus far, and Simon, while he didn't "love, love" the song - liked how she sang it.

6/10

Katelyn Epperly channeled Carol King for "I Feel the Earth Move". I've never been a fan of this song, and I certainly wasn't a fan of the karaoke way she sang it. It's a shame because I like her sound usually and I like her look - but this performance was, to borrow a word from Simon last week, corny.

Randy thought it was "nothing special", and Ellen worried that the song wasn't enough to do what needed to be done tonight. Kara didn't feel Katelyn was in a competition and Simon brought out one of his weird analogies to liken her performance to "request night in a restaurant".

5/10

Didi Benami has survived twice nearly being cut from the competition, as well as a brutal bashing from the judges last week. This week she tried her best to impress with "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac. Again I'm not that much of a fan of her vocal styling and wasn't that crazy about the arrangement in the song - but could hardly fault her voice or her performance.

Randy didn't feel there was a wow moment, but Ellen gushed, "Yes indeedy, Didi!" Kara said it was her favorite moment in the show this season and Simon felt it was head and shoulders above anything else performed before her.

7/10

Paige Miles tried to brave her way through Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" in honor of Michael Jackson, but her emotions totally wrecked her normally powerful voice. It's a shame, because she tried to please the judges instead of do her thing she is probably in real jeopardy this week.

Randy and Kara thought it didn't work and was all wrong. Ellen thought her performance of the song was actually sad and depressing instead of uplifting. Simon called it a horrible choice of song with an awful arrangement.

3/10

Crystal Bowersox decided to use an electric guitar for her version of Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason". It's three for three perfect performances for me and I'm definitely a huge fan.

Randy exclaimed, "This is what the show is all about!", and Ellen told her she was running out of adjectives to describe how awesome she is. Kara loves that Crystal knows who she is as an artist, and Simon called her, "The One to Beat."

(And I agree)

10/10

Lilly Scott closed the show with an interesting song choice - Patsy Cline's "I Fall to Pieces". I thought she'd do something more interesting with the song and was disappointed that she didn't bring anything really new to the performance. Upon reflection I think she actually might have more trouble than Crystal trying to fit into the upcoming theme weeks.

Randy thought it was hot, and Ellen loves her voice, her originality and style. Kara felt she made Patsy Cline "current". Simon thought it was a brave song choice but it didn't have a "wow" factor.

(And I agree)

6/10

Crystal and Siobhan remain my favorites, and I think that they will probably effortlessly sail to the Top 12 (if not the Top 2). Lacey also ranked slightly under these two with her performance tonight. I never would have guessed she had that kind of range, and I think she's got a lot of potential I hope the voters recognize and vote her through.

Paige definitely faces elimination tonight, and poor Katie could feel the Curse of First with that off-key performance in the beginning. But I think Katelyn night also be at risk because she's always been a bit forgettable.

Tomorrow the guys perform and we get to see Casey's hair... I mean, um... Good luck, guys!

©2010 DOTS

Oscar Night: James Cameron Wins Nothing; Jesus Loves You After All

jenny_fromtheblog@yahoo.com (Jenny from the Blog) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:48:00 +0000

by Jenny from the Blog

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards were held last night. It was a great event as usual: a bunch of badly dressed celebs crammed in a room, recognizing movies we've never really heard of, a few we have and positions in the film making industry we didn't know existed. Also, James Cameron won a bunch of crap for his movie, Avatar.

Actually, he didn't. Remember how I wrote a few weeks back that James Cameron is king of the world and he'd sweep the Oscars with his stupid blue lizard people movie and there was nothing on earth you could possibly do that James Cameron hasn't already done better and you should just drown yourself in a giant pool of melted butter and let James Cameron eat you because you'll never amount to anything remotely useful as long as he's around? Well, turns out I was wrong. Sorry about that. My bad.

I'd like to now take this opportunity to apologize for previously ranting in my last article that James Cameron could squash you cold with his superhuman blue lizard person magic powers and beat you at everything until you have no reason to live. That's simply not true. You could have totally beaten James Cameron last night at winning Oscars.

A few weeks ago, James Cameron was ranting to the press about how none of his Avatar actors were nominated for the big prize. The Academy just started nominating black people like five years ago, do you really think they're going to make the leap and nominate blue lizard people over night? One step at a time here, James Cameron, one step at a time. Anywho, Cameron has bigger problems to deal with today. Like the fact that he spent the past month blabbing on about how he was going to win all of the Oscars and ended up winning none. Avatar took home a few prizes for being all sparkly and stuff, but Cameron won nothing. But that's ok because his ex-wife did.

James Cameron's ex-wife, Kathryn Bigalow became the first female director ever to win an Oscar and won best picture as well for her film, The Hurt Locker. James Cameron, as I mentioned earlier, won nothing. Oh damn, shut down. For those of you who are unfamiliar with James Cameron's reputation, let me clarify: he's a douche. Think of him as a love child that came from John Mayer's white supremicist penis and David Caruso's vagina. It was quite gratifying to see Bigalow, who was conveniently seated in front of Cameron during the ceremony, take home all of his awards just like she took all of his Terminator 2 money when they got divorced. Ah, Karma, you nasty bitch.

©2010 DOTS

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards - History in the Making

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:27:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

2010 will forever be known as the year women finally shattered the glass ceiling in the Boys Only club of Oscar winning directors. The Hurt Locker's Kathryn Bigalow cashed in not only as the first female director ever to win, but also walked away with Best Picture. Her film snagged six of the awards it was nominated for, sweeping the rug out from under James Cameron's feet.

Avatar only won three of its nine nominations, all for its technical accomplishments in Best Cinematography, Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. Jim had gone on record that it wasn't about a win for him, so he was probably happy that his crew was rightfully recognized for their outstanding achievements in this epic movie.

The show itself changed things around this year, by honoring their Best Actor nominees both with special recognition before the show and special treatment right before the awards were handed out. All ten Best Actor and Actress nominees were personally introduced by friends and co-stars, that was both touching and funny.

Plus there was Oprah!

Jeff Bridges did indeed take the prize for Best Actor, and gave some props to his late famous father, Lloyd. There was no real surprise here, nor was there really any surprise that Christoph Waltz and Mo'Nique won for Best Supporting.

The true test was Best Actress, that pit beloved Meryl Streep against newcomer Gabourey Sidibe and Sandra Bullock for her surprising turn in a deeply faceted dramatic role.

Yet it seemed hardly surprising when Sandy ultimately took the Oscar for Best Actress.

She had probably the best acceptance speech of the night, marrying her trademark humor along with surprising depth and humility.

Precious was no slouch at the Oscars despite the Best Picture and Best Actress losses. Screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher won Best Adapted Screenplay for his script, and was so overcome he could barely speak.

(And speaking of speeches, who was that crazy, near incoherent chick who jumped on stage to interrupt Roger Ross Williams' moment accepting his Oscar for Music by Prudence? This was the Oscars, not the Video Music Awards.)

Roll Call took a backseat to the emotionally charged tribute to the late John Hughes by the actors he had impacted, including the legendary "Brat Pack". The industry's love and admiration for a one of a kind filmmaker who shaped the lives of teenagers throughout the last three decades was evident, and sent many of us who grew up with his movies - and were inspired by his vision and his storytelling - reaching for the tissue. As someone who was not expecting anything more than a little extra footage as part of the In Memoriam segment, it was an unexpected honor that both left me wrecked and proud to be a part of that first John Hughes generation.

And I can say on behalf of many, we will never forget about him.

Hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin worked very well off of each other and kept the mood light and the pace moving. While I expected Steve to do well, I was iffy on Alec. Thankfully he proved me way wrong, and they complemented each other very well.

Despite Hairspray's Adam Shankman having a hand in the production, music and dancing were kept to a bare minimum - only trotted out for the Best Score category. Up won, and deservedly so. Up also won Best Animated, which was no surprise since it had also been nominated for Best Picture.

It didn't, however, take Best Original Screenplay like I had hoped. That honor went to Mark Boal for The Hurt Locker, which brings us back to the groundbreaking accomplishment from a small movie that ended up having big heart.

Congratulations, Kathryn Bigalow. You've set the standard for all of us.

©2010 DOTS

2010 Red Carpet Best & Worst Dressed

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:23:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

As Hollywood elite stepped out in their finest duds, there were some definite winners and definite losers on the Red Carpet. In many ways, this year could be dubbed the year that Good Ruffles Go Bad, as the flouncy trend was repeated both for good and ill.

The Good:

Any dress accented with Swarovski crystals is going to get a vote by me, and so did Jennifer Lopez who donned a Georgio Armani Prive number in iridescent pink. The dress itself fit to her generous curves, but the real star of the show wasn't her famous asset - it was the sparkling side train. Her hair was a glamorous up-do, and her makeup served best to highlight her natural beauty.

Prints, usually a rarity on the Red Carpet, make a couple of appearances on my "Best Dressed" list - thanks in no small part to their dramatic mixed color dynamics but also the styles that best suit them. For the always stylish Rachel McAdams in Elie Saab haute couture, it was a pastel watercolor print that criss-crossed across the bodice to fall to the floor in a full skirt. The most dramatic piece of jewelry - her earrings - also happened to be her only real accessory, keeping the attention more to the dress itself. She was a work of art in motion.

Maggie Gyllenhaal was a vision in a Dries Van Noten strapless print reminiscent of waves of water. It was more close fitting than Rachel's but the colors were a lot bolder. Maggie, too, wisely kept the accessories to a minimum, and allowed the dress speak for itself.

Helen Mirren shows the younger set how it is done in a lavender jeweled Badgley Mischka gown that was both sexy and age appropriate; bringing a touch of class, as always, to the event.

In Hollywood Glamor done right, Sandra Bullock wins Best Actress and Best Dressed in a sparkling gold dress by Marchesa. From delicately designed bodice to her simply styled hair, Bullock literally shined. She was also one of the few women on the Red Carpet to wisely utilize bright lip color.

The Bad:

Nicole Richie was the epitome of Glam Gone Wrong in her sequined Reem Acra. The pattern was busy and distracting, and her hairstyle was way too severe. The entire effect made her look way older than what she is.

Charlize Theron, usually quite stylish, chose a pink gown with roses designed on each breast of the bodice. Unfortunately, they looked more like deflated balloons, and took away from her normal classic beauty. That she wore shockingly bold lipstick did not help detract from this, and only added insult to injury.

"Up in the Air" nominated actress Vera Farmiga attempted some Classic Hollywood Glamor in a fuchsia Marchesa dress. Unfortunately there were a lot of busy ruffles that detracted glamor - and also probably kept the other folks cool as she passed by. She also tried to sell a bold lip color, but it only served to prove there is such a thing as too much fuchsia.

Everyone in fashion loves Sarah Jessica Parker, who can sell the most outrageous couture on Fifth Avenue and any Paris runway. Add that a Chanel dress and you're sure to have a winner, right? Wrong. This shapeless drape of a dress did nothing to help accentuate Parker in any way, nor did her sci-fi inspired hairdo that didn't quite stay in place once she hit the stage to present.

Diane Kruger strutted her stuff in a ruffled Chanel accentuated in bold black trim. This busy dress is clearly doing double duty for the actress that cannot decide exactly what look to go for. I'm personally surprised it didn't have feathers and more sequins.

The Ruffled:

Avatar's Zoe Saldano glittered in a sequined strapless top that I immediately loved, but the skirt couldn't quite figure out what it was doing as it filled out in flamenco ruffles in various different hues of purple. This Givenchy dress was a matter of too busy, but I guess we can count our blessings at the very least, it wasn't blue.

Demi Moore opted for a little more simplicity with her peach colored Atelier Versace gown. This strapless silk dress might not have worked on someone without the dark hair and youthful beauty, but on Demi the design shined.

Full figured gals made a splash on the Red Carpet as several actresses showed full curves can be both glamorous and sexy. Mo'Nique was a vision in a royal blue Tadashi dress, and her Precious co-star Gabourey Sidibe proudly showed off her Marchesa jeweled gown. And Queen Latifah accentuated her curves in a mauve dress with jeweled accents that went from one shoulder to cut diagonally under the bust line to her waist.

Young stars also stepped up their game. Twilight's Kristin Stewart opted for a Monique Lhuillier mermaid dress in fashionable midnight blue, and Anna Kendrick stepped out in a youthful pink Elie Saab that showed just a hint of sex appeal. On the arm of her luscious father Lenny, Zoe Kravitz looked absolutely stunning in a strapless cream dress with a striking red velvet accent.

Poor Miley Cyrus, however, was missing the top that went to the corset bodice of her gold Jenny Packham dress. The effect no doubt probably meant to make her appear older, but the thing that bothered me most was that she couldn't stand straight. This tall girl's posture is atrocious, and this is a big no no when it comes to wearing a strapless dress.

Thanks to Woody Harrelson and Robert Downey Jr., the guys also made notable appearances on the Red Carpet apart from the typical penguin look. Not so surprisingly, Woody's Burberry suit was made entirely of hemp, and Iron Man's RDJ rocked a blue bow tie and some hip sunglasses.

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the Red Carpet was director Kathryn Bigalow, possibly the most stylish Best Director winner - ever. But as she stood next to the average height Ryan Seacrest for a pre-ceremony interview all I could think was that now we know where Jim Cameron's penchant for seven feet tall women came from.

If only she had been wearing blue.

©2010 DOTS

Oscar Watch: Best Picture Nominee Up in the Air

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:22:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

Up in the Air is the story of Ryan Bingham (George Clooney), a man who is perfectly content in the world he created around an empty suitcase. Absent from this suitcase are the trivial things that so many people use to tie down and anchor their lives - everything from personal belongings to relationships.

Instead, Ryan decides his home is an airplane, taking him from place to place...and person to person. His works for a company that other companies outsource to do the most difficult job in the world: terminate long standing employees in a brutal economic climate.

He takes this job very seriously, so seriously in fact that when newcomer Natalie Kenner (Anna Kendrick) decides the future direction of the company is best served by telecommunication and video conferencing, Ryan stands up to his boss (as played by Jason Bateman) and challenges the new girl to the rigors of the road. He does this partly to defend the face to face interaction of his job (a tasty helping of irony), but also to prevent the worst thing that could ever happen to him.

Being grounded.

For a man who built a life avoiding true contact with other people, he ends up having to tolerate (and defend) his lifestyle from another point of view. There to ease his journey is casual companion Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), who connects well with Ryan because as she says, she's him "with a vagina".

That's the plot of this movie. What sets it apart is how deeply layered this story really is. The theme is our connection to each other (and sometimes the lack thereof), and how these connections mean more than any tangible thing we can fit inside a wallet, or place inside an empty suitcase.

And unlike any stories wrapped up in a pretty little package, it has a stark realism to it that maybe other Best Picture nominees reached for but ultimately failed.

You don't get to the end of this movie and think, "What's the point of that?", even though it probably won't end the way you want it to. It ends the way it should end, and that will leave you contemplative.

For that, Up in the Air earned 6 Oscar nods. Mostly for the performances, which were all spot on, understated, yet poignant.

The screenplay is also nominated, and rightly so. It was smartly written. It's funny, it never loses momentum with the pace, and every scene worked together to convey the deeper, underlying social commentary.

For that, I think Up in the Air will take home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The buzz is that Jeff Bridges will walk away with Best Actor, but George Clooney's performance here was definitely worth the nomination. His portrayal of this character and the emotions he goes through is remarkably well done. It was a metamorphasis that needed no grandstanding, and that subtle delivery could not have been more brilliant.

His co-stars, both Vera and Anna, were nominated as well in the Supporting Actress category. Both played very well off of Clooney's delivery, but I still think Mo'Nique will win this category hands down.

As for Best Picture - it is one of my personal favorites of the field, rating under Avatar and UP, and just a smidge above Precious and The Blind Side. With those five, I really don't see how they needed to expand the category to ten.

But Up in the Air definitely earned its spot among the best movies of the year.

©2010 DOTS

Festival Fever!

noreply@blogger.com (Terri) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:42:00 +0000

by Terri

Here in the UK, we love our festivals. Whether it being Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds or anywhere else come to that. Wherever there's good music, we'll be on it quicker than anything.With this in mind, I knew (along with the rest of the UK) that I had to get in quickly for my tickets for V Festival (and I am pleased to say that I have). The festival's been running for years now, and the demand for tickets is getting higher and higher as more and more acts sign up.

This year the lineup pleases me no end, with confirmed appearances from:
Kings Of Leon, Stereophonics, Paul Weller, Kasabian, The Kooks, Paolo Nutini, David Guetta, Florence, The Machine, Scouting For Girls, White Lies, The Prodigy, Calvin Harris, Cheryl Cole, La Roux and Chase, Status.

And that's just SOME of them. (There are currently 36 confirmed acts.)

The much anticipated event's tickets went on sale less than 48 hours ago - the main ticket outlets are already sold out and the fakeys are beginning to circulate.If anyone's visiting England between 20th-23rd August, and you wonder where half of the population's gone, (admittedly, that is a slight exaggeration,) then wander along to either Hyland's Park in Chelmsford, Essex, or Weston Park in South Staffordshire and you'll find them.
All we can do now is sharpen up on our tent-pitching skills and rummage through our stuff to find our Wellington boots.

Let's hope for it NOT to rain though, we all know what England's like.

©2010 DOTS

Oscar Watch: Best Picture Nominee Inglourious Basterds

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:40:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

In yet another war themed BP nominee, Inglourious Basterds tells the tale of group of Jewish-American soldiers that take the Nazis to task in a very Tarantino-esque brutal fashion.

At least, I think that was the core story. There's a lot going on in this movie, including revenge and a very interestingly cast Michael Myers. Too bad it's not an exciting movie with all the stuff going on - because it happens at a snail's pace...except, ironically, for the actual "action". That's brief, explosive and few and far between.

This is a two and a half hour movie you'll feel within the first twenty minutes, in an opening scene that was to introduce two main characters... SS Col. Hans Landa (Oscar nominated Christoph Waltz) and Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent), a Jew hiding out from the Nazis. The tension that should come from this German finding these refugees under the floorboards is completely offset by the excruciatingly slow pace the scene actually carries out.

Sadly these are characters that you'll forget over the next couple of hours because equally long scenes with other folks will drag in between.

Once Shosanna escapes narrowly with her life we switch over to the story of the Basterds themselves, headed up by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt and his not quite convincing hillbilly accent), which promises to be interesting (or at least more action filled), but soon we switch back over to slow scenes with other characters.

The truly interesting part of the entire plot was Shosanna and her ingenious idea for revenge, and that should have been the focal point instead of a barely broached subplot. It was her story and the movie loses a lot of steam because it isn't really treated as such with each and every scene that follows, possibly due to the duel plot lines.

Perhaps there is too much going on in this movie, which lends to the feeling that the story simply meanders along.

Humor and some action (including blood and brutality) help the plot lumber forward as we try to decipher exactly whose story is being told and why - because neither of these things are clear cut. Tarantino makes his presence known with some interestingly placed title cards to carry the story in almost a comic book type fashion, but the lack of true action and the slow pacing drain this story of any real urgency or excitement.

He also forces the audience to pay attention with the use of subtitles. If you run out of steam before the scenes blissfully end (as I did) you can't absorb much of the important details to further the plot.

This script could have definitely benefited from the old adage, "get in late and leave early".

For that reason, I don't see it winning the Best Original Screenplay, which was its only real shot at securing an Oscar this season. Best Director/Best Picture/Best Cinematography are sure to go to James Cameron as this film does not do much to threaten the King's throne.

There's nothing really all that new this story brings to the table, neither in theme, storytelling, direction, or even cinematography.

Oddly it garnered 8 Oscar nods for just those things.

I'm not necessarily an action movie fan but if an hour of Inglourious Basterds had actually had more gunfire, more fistfights and more - I guess, war - I would have found it more tolerable.

At this rate, I'm kinda missing A Serious Man.

But I will give props where props are due. If you can hang in there until the end of the movie - it is full of the action and the spectacle and the payoff that the ever so slow minutes beforehand promised.

Alas, a great ending does not a great movie make... nor a Best Picture.

©2010 DOTS

Oscar Watch: Best Picture Nominee District 9

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:38:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

District 9 is a grittier, more depressing version of the same basic tale we saw in Avatar. You have an alien race oppressed by humans, who - in effect - become the "bad guys". It's deeply layered with this social subtext, and brilliantly told through the eyes of a human who must go from being the oppressor to being the oppressed.

It's not a pretty story in the least. In fact, in many spots it's quite gross. Like The Hurt Locker, it's shot more as a documentary and this is effectively accomplished using unknown actors and a foreign setting, in this case, South Africa (for some not so subtle subtext).

The story revolves around Wikus Van De Merwe (Sharlto Copley), who is promoted within the unit responsible for containing (and in this case evicting) the aliens from District 9. On a hunt for illegal weapons, he happens upon a tube of strange fluid which ends up contaminating him and slowly turning him into an alien as well.

This makes him persona non grata on both sides. The humans want to use this stage of his metamorphosis for research - i.e. cut him up like a specimen. And the aliens, specifically Christopher Johnson, fear and distrust him.

When Wikus finds out that Christopher can fix what is happening to him, he begins to work with this alien up to even risking his own life to protect him.

District 9 is up for four Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Visual Effects in addition to Best Picture. While the story was good and the pacing and subtext superior to its prettier sister Avatar, and the effects were just as seamless (although considerably more grody) I'd be really surprised if it took home any of these awards in the field of players it happens to be in.

But - spoiler alert - it did leave itself open for a sequel, so maybe next time.

©2010 DOTS

Oscar Watch: Best Picture Nominee A Serious Man

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:13:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

There are two types of people in this world. Those who get the Coen brothers, and those that do not. After watching A Serious Man, you can now officially put me squarely in the "don't" category. This movie was somehow nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, and I'm speechless as to determine why.

There's the off the spine scene at the beginning of the film that has nothing whatsoever to do with the rest of the movie neither in tone nor content. There were the disjointed scenes that did not seem to have any purpose, essentially making 20 minutes of this 146 minute ride through WTF completely irrelevant.

This is the "story", and I use this term loosely, of Professor Larry Gopnik, whose life keeps going from bad to worse after his wife tells him she wants a divorce. My best friend likened it to a very subtle Very Bad Things, and as life keeps crapping on this milquetoast protagonist all you really hang in there for is to see him snap.

Or, like my best friend Jeff said, grow a set. "He should kick the wife and brother out, slap the kids and bang the hot neighbor TADA".

Now see, that would have been a movie.

If only it was that simple. No, the Coen brothers decide it'd be a lot more fun to drag you from scene to confusing scene scratching your head.

And - spoiler alert - they leave it on such a note which makes you wonder what the hell point there was to the entire process in the first place.

If this wins over UP for Best Original Screenplay, that scream you all will hear faintly that sends your dog into a tailspin will be my bloodcurdling wail of disillusionment.

If this is what you need to write in order to win awards in Hollywood, then I'm up a creek. I kinda like my stories to... I dunno... make sense.

The one positive - you'll never be able to tell where this "story" is going. It's completely unpredictable. If you like to be surprised by your movie-going experience, this will definitely hit the mark.

For folks like me who need their movies to have plots and themes that have a point, not so much.

Best Picture? Not even close.

©2010 DOTS

Idol Chatter - Season 9 Top 10 Girls 3/3/10

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:11:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

Thankfully Crystal was back after her hospital scare last night, so all ten girls performed. Had she not, then she would have been disqualified with only one other girl leaving this week. Fortunately it didn't happen that way, because that would have been a shame.

My favorite, Crystal Bowersox, went first, and took on CCR's "As Long As I Could See the Light" with a gospel spin. If this is how she performs barely out of the hospital for a diabetes health scare - this girl is f*cking amazing. Forget all my previous fears. Crystal FTW.

Randy loves that she's not trying to be anyone else, and loves her. Ellen thinks it's pure, raw, natural talent. Kara thought she hit a "new level", and Simon admitted that he underestimated her... and whipped out the Kelly Clarkson card to compare that Crystal is a really great artist.

(And I agree.)

10 of 10.

The other VFTW darling Haeley Vaughn went next and sang a Miley Cyrus song which I would put here if I cared enough about Miley Cyrus music to Google it. N' I don't. Looks like we'll have to endure her flower hair accessories for the indeterminate future. Or at least until she's voted off, and with a performance like tonight I don't see that taking very long. She was off key almost the entire way through - and that's coming from someone who has never heard that song before. But it was painful.

Randy "kept it real" and told her that it didn't work. Ellen told her to keep smiling, but that she didn't connect with the song. Kara likened her to Adam Lambert (really??!), but told her that her talent was inconsistent and essentially wasn't ready. Simon called it a complete and utter mess.

(And I agree.)

2 out of 10

Lacey Brown used one of her eight lives left on "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer - a Kara suggestion from last week. When she opens up her voice she actually has a really good tone. I'm not really crazy about the baby talk kinda vibe she always tries to cling to and tonight I figured out why. It's not authentic. Much better than last week - but still not sold on her.

Randy thought it was a good song choice, but felt her performance was karaoke. Ellen thought it was adorable. Kara likes her unique tone and styling, but she still has to step it up. Simon thought it was marginally better than last week, and thought she was competing and not showing us who she is as an artist. Then compared her to Crystal... and not very kindly.

5 of 10

Katie Stevens was next and she sang "Put Your Records On". Her pre-performance package actually demonstrated a youthfulness I think she absolutely needs to do well in this competition. She's a great singer but a bit of a paper doll at the moment with no defined personality. That helped. The song was also way better than the old fashioned stuff she had been doing. I think she'll easily make the top 10, she's an Idol Producer's Dream Come True for a star that can be molded.

Randy thought she could tackle harder songs. Ellen loves her voice, but still feels the song isn't young enough yet. Kara agreed and expressed her frustration, said she was still waiting for "that moment" with her. Simon also was frustrated that with the attempt to follow the notes she still hadn't expressed what kind of artist she really is.

6 out of 10

Didi Benami performed next with the Bill Withers tune "Lean On Me". She expressed that she didn't understand the context usage of "indulgent", which is how both Simon and I described last week's performance. For the record, Didi, what it meant is that you were indulging your own styling instead of truly singing/performing the song. In other words, you got more out of it than we did. This week was a lot better in that respect for me, but I think the reason she's in the competition at all is because of all that stuff I find annoying. (It's going to be SUCH a fun season if that's the case.)

Randy wouldn't have chosen a soul song for her, and thought it highlighted the imperfections of her voice rather than highlighted anything. Ellen wasn't crazy about the song choice either, but still loves her voice. Kara didn't like it, and said she was missing the consistency. Simon thought it was all over the place.

6 out of 10

Michelle Delamor took on Creed's "With Arms Wide Open", to follow the advice from the judges to take a risk. Every time I see her I like her a little more. I think she's absolutely commercial, and even with a rocker song she's still giving us a very clear indication of the artist she wants to be. I thought it was great, even though she lost steam there on those last few notes.

Randy didn't think she didn't do enough with the song and didn't think it wasn't different (?). Ellen disagreed and felt it was changed up enough to forget it was a rock song, but felt it "almost" worked. Kara said it was her favorite performance of Michelle's ever, even if it wasn't technically perfect. Simon agreed more with Kara, and felt she got 80% of it right.

(I love how the judges are acknowledging their contradictory advice. In a word - duh)

8 out of 10

Another fav of mine, Lilly Scott, chose the Sam Cooke song "A Change is Gonna Come". This chick is an old soul. There's no way I'd buy she's 20, she sounds like she comes out of another period in time. I also dig the fact she understood where her challenges lie in this competition - maybe more than anyone else who actually has them (except maybe for <3 Casey <3). But she's so secure in who she is I think that authenticity is what will see her through to the top 10. Randy loves that she's so unique and said it was his favorite performance of the night. Ellen says she has "it" and also said it was the best performance of the night by far. Kara felt it was her first "moment" of the competition, and felt that she changed the AI game for artists who don't quite fit the rigid pop idol model. Simon thought it was good, but wasn't crazy about it and felt actually Crystal's was stronger. (I kinda agree... but only by a smidge.) 10 of 10 Katelyn Epperly chose Coldplay's "The Scientist". I felt it was a little belabored until the end. Kinda boring actually... and was super surprised my husband - who hates the slow stuff - felt it was one of the better performances of the night.

Randy really liked it and liked her on the piano. Ellen felt it was so slow she nearly fell asleep. Kara "kind of loved" her. Simon thought it was a smart choice of song, but that she can get quite "corny".

5 out of 10

Paige Miles sang "Walk Away" by Kelly Clarkson. I like that she's very comfortable on the stage and it shows. She's got a chill inducing voice (in a good way), and she definitely knows how to perform. My biggest concern for her is the lack of name recognition.

Randy liked it but wasn't sure it was the best choice for her. Ellen disagreed with Randy and thought it was fantastic. Kara could see her having a hit with that song, but thought she didn't quite connect with the song. Simon felt she failed to choose the right song for the second week in a row.

8 out of 10

Siobhan Magnus closed the show with "Think" by Aretha Franklin. All I can say: FINALLY someone knew what to do with the pimp spot.

Randy thought she was bold and fearless and it was "dope". Ellen, "Oh man! That was good." Kara couldn't get over that last note. Simon finds her "interesting", and a strange person (but that was a compliment).

11 out of 10.

It's my math. I'll do it the way I want to.

I take back what I said about not being convinced this was a girl's year. Between Crystal, Lilly and Siobhan - I'm sold.

My husband thinks Siobhan is the winner.

The gals in the most trouble - I'm still going to say Lacey and maybe even Paige or Michelle. They're great but I don't see how the audience will have connected with them over the last couple of weeks. Haeley should probably go but she's got VFTW backing her.

After last week, though, anything's possible.

©2010 DOTS

Oscar Watch: Best Picture Nominee The Blind Side

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:10:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

To be fair, I rate football movies about a peg over war movies on my genre preferences - and if you read my review of The Hurt Locker then you'll know that this movie had a distinct disadvantage before I sat down to watch it.

But where The Hurt Locker failed, The Blind Side made up for it a hundred percent.

The Blind Side is the story about a boy named Michael Oher, who was homeless and basically without a future had a remarkable woman not taken him under her wing. The plot of the movie focuses on that journey, and how what started out as a random kindness ended up completing a family that didn't even know anything was missing.

Sandra Bullock has received accolades for portraying Leigh Ann Tuohy, the kind woman in question. She was hard as nails on the outside and tenderhearted on the inside, unable to leave a mere boy alone in the freezing cold. She and her equally remarkable family opened their home and their hearts to this virtual stranger in a way 99% of us do not.

She not only gave this boy a place to stay for the night, but also braved the opposite side of the tracks, the school board, her elitist friends, an arrogant coach and the NCAA to make sure not only did he get an education, but he got a future.

The tale just goes to show that you don't have to fight off death to be a hero to someone. All you have to do is be brave enough to care.

In this respect, it has layered dramatic themes that are universal. For this accomplishment, it earned the prestigious Best Picture nod. Had it been any other year, and any other field of players, perhaps this little picture that could would take home the Oscar.

Unfortunately, I don't see that happening.

What I do see is that Sandra Bullock will soundly walk away with Best Actress (sorry Meryl Streep whom I love). Her portrayal was deeply emotionally connected, and by the end of the movie it's almost a shock to see the real Leigh Ann in the pictures.

But Sandra did not earn this recognition alone. She had the help of Quinton Aaron, who played Michael, Tim McGraw, who played her husband Sean, and the spot on performance from Jae Head, who played S.J. Tuohy, her other son.

Plus there was Kathy Bates. And she just makes any film better. I think she delivered quite possibly my favorite line of the movie.

This is the kind of emotional engagement I'm looking for when I go to the movies. Even if it's a subject of which I have zero knowledge or interest (like football), I can get invested in the journey because I'm already rooting for the character. However he gets to his goal, I'm on board with it.

This is why screenwriters should always, always aspire to layering their story beyond the plot. Instead of asking what your project is about, ask yourself what it *means*.

The Blind Side accomplished this effortlessly.

It doesn't take you through the grime like Precious, and it's really not overly preachy or morally heavy handed (like Avatar bordered on being), and it didn't leave me flat like The Hurt Locker.

This is a movie that will make you cheer, make you cry and make you wish you were brave enough to do just what Leigh Ann Tuohy did.

And really, isn't that what a Best Picture should hope to do?

It may not win the Oscar, but it definitely earned its nomination and then some.

And a high recommendation from me.

©2010 DOTS

Idol Chatter - Season 9 Top 10 Guys 3/02/10

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:03:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

Due to an unexpected medical situation with Crystal Bowersox, the boys swapped nights and took to the stage first after a lackluster debut last week. We lost a couple, including my favorite Tyler Grady (let's pause for a moment of silence for 70s rock n roll), and Joe Munoz (as I predicted).

Let's see if Casey James (which I'm trying level best not to write <3 Casey James <3) can ease my Tyler-less Idol discontent. Big Daddy Michael Lynche went first and sang "It's a Man's World" by James Brown. This theater guy - slash - football player showed us yet another facet to his surprising personality. The more I see him, the more I like him. I think he's got enough name recognition now to sail on to the top 10, he's certainly proved he has the chops.

It earned a SO from Randy Jackson, and Ellen pointed out how diverse the song choice was. Kara said she didn't "get it" until tonight. Simon likened him going from a pussycat to a lion, and said that the song did not sound dated.

And I love his personality - he's an easy contestant to love.

10 out of 10

John Park went next with the John Mayer tune, "Gravity". While better than last week, still lacking the star power I'd like to see from someone at this level - especially with so many options with other contestants who have more name recognition and more charisma. Technically good, but dry.

Randy said it wasn't anything special or original. Ellen liked the song choice better than last week, but that he needed more soul into it. Kara said it was way better than last week as well, but Kara commented on the lack of connection. Simon said he thought he might be going home because of the lack of believability.

6 out of 10

Next up was <3 Casey James <3... um... ahem I mean Casey James, who sang "I Don't Wanna Be" by Gavin DeGraw, a tune that had done a few times on Idol before. He chose to do it with an electric guitar and brought the excitement I think Bo Bice would have brought had he been able to play an instrument.

I loved the humor he demonstrated by indicating that he knew that there were other contestants that were "better" than he was, and that he needed every advantage he could get. It showed he wanted to win, and I think that's going to carry him through.

He worked up the crowd with his guitar playing, which - if I'm being honest - is better than his vocals. But like Randy said, this was the kinda vibe where Casey just fits. Ellen loved the guitar and the song, but wants to see him get a little "looser" on stage. Kara stepped away from her infatuation by criticizing that he depended a bit much on his guitar and ignored the vocals. Simon agreed with Kara, and stated he was "trying" to be a rock star.

Even with the criticism he took it well and even agreed to an extent, and I think he'll be one to use it constructively. But no matter what I don't see him going anywhere.

10 out of 10 on the guitar

8 out of 10 on the overall performance

Alex Lambert took the stage next with the John Legend's "Everybody Knows", after a rather uncomfortable film clip. I still like his voice and his performance was better this week. I think the song fit him a lot more, and like many musicians he seemed a lot more at home behind his guitar.

Randy thought he was "way legit", and Ellen thought someone had put the unripe banana in a bag to ripen it at super speed. Kara thought there wasn't person out there that wouldn't root for him after his performance. Simon thought it was a million times better than last week, and that if he would get a "killer instinct" to win he could really do well.

(I agree.)

8 out of 10

Toderick Hall decided to go with another diva in Tina Turner. Incorporating the critiques from last week, he toned his performance way down to deliver a more sedate rendition of "What's Love Got to Do With It". I thought it was shrewd, and even dug his version of the 80s classic. He definitely has the ambition and the smarts to make it far in this competition. If he survived last week, I think he's absolutely safe this week.

Randy still wasn't crazy about the way he changed the song, and wants him to just sing a song the way it was supposed to be sung. Ellen didn't like the song and disagreed with Simon, thinking the dancing is his strength and he should go with those strengths. Kara wasn't crazy about the runs in the voice, and Simon simply advised him to move and not sing.

7 out of 10

A bow tied Jermaine Sellers followed with "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye. I still think he's the more vocally talented of he and Toderick, but I think Toderick is more open to change than Jermaine. When asked to bring relevance, he picked an even older song.

Randy said it was better than last week, but felt it was so close but so far. Ellen liked his style and that he likes to "rocks his onesie", but he was still trying too hard. Kara agreed he needed to pull it back. Simon said he was frustrated and disappointed because of the watered down version of the song, and that he didn't think Jeremaine would be around next week.

(And I agree.)

6 out of 10

Andrew Garcia decided not to use his guitar for his version of James Morrison's "You Give Me Something". From the first notes out of his mouth I'm reminded once again that I just love his voice. I do. It's distinctive, and that's so critical at this stage.

Randy didn't "get it" and thought it was pitchy, wanted to see him more with the guitar. Ellen disagreed, said that she liked it despite a couple of pitch problems, and said the real problem is they're not seeing the same level of "Straight Up" he performed in Hollywood. Kara agreed, and said it was too "safe". Simon also was frustrated, saying he hadn't chosen the right song.

(And again... I agree.)

9 out of 10

Aaron Kelly went next, thankfully ditching his Farmer Joe plaid of last week in favor of something a little more "classed up" to perform "My Girl" by the Temptations. Every girl between the ages of 8 and 12 went running to the phone to support that performance. I liked the humility he demonstrated in his pre-performance film bit, and I'd like to see a lot of more of that as he heads forward into this competition. (Because he will be going forward.)

Randy loved the first part, but thought the end kinda got a lil weird. Ellen liked how he performed, but thought the song was forgettable. Kara really liked it, and felt he was consistent. Simon didn't like the song, he felt it was "all over the place" - and thought he had taken a step back.

8 of 10

Next to the stage was Tim Urban. Every time I see him I get such a 70s flashback - like a David Cassidy/Partridge Family throwback with the big smile and the long, kinda shaggy hair. He's the VFTW darling, and even my husband has already likened him to Sanjaya. With those looks, I think he probably has the girl vote for ages 13 to 19, possibly splitting a few votes with Alex Lambert. He sang "Come On Get Higher" by Matt Nathanson and proved em all wrong, which pleased me greatly. He's definitely Idol material in looks and personality, and I thought he really came alive behind the guitar. The voice was a lot better not reaching for those falsetto heights he just wasn't equipped vocally to reach. Much, much better.

Randy "didn't get it", and thought it was karaoke. Ellen thought he should be on Glee and act (ouch). Kara liked the song choice but didn't feel he made it his own, and feels that *it* could be there. Simon disagreed with all three and felt it was a marked improvement on last week. He thought he listened to the criticism and was more relevant.

(And I agree.)

8 out of 10

Lee DeWyze closed the show with "Lips of an Angel" by Hinder. I'll be honest. I don't get the appeal with Lee. It just feels like we've been here before with his voice. I don't see a star when I look at him, even though I think he's a nice guy and a good singer.

Randy thought it was a bold move to get out of his comfort zone without the guitar, and he liked it. Ellen liked it even with some of the pitch problems, and thought it was a great performance. Kara thought it was a big improvement and can hear his voice on the radio. Simon feels that vocally he's head and shoulders above the other guys.

(And I don't agree.)

7 out of 10

Overall it was a much better night than last week, but no real standouts except for Big Daddy at the beginning. Lots of improvement, especially with Alex and Tim, so I think the people that are in trouble this week are John Park (I did forget his performance twenty minutes afterward) and Jermaine Sellers.

And I still miss Tyler.

So get well quickly, Crystal. Can't wait to see what you do tomorrow.

©2010 DOTS

Oscar Watch: Best Picture Nominee The Hurt Locker

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:37:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

In all fairness I must preface this review with the following admission: I'm not big on war movies. In fact, they rank slightly above Westerns on the bottom of my "could not care less" pile. I always found them a bit of a chore to endure for any male I happened to be humoring by sitting through one.

Apparently I don't have the necessary testosterone to appreciate such cinema.

But seeing as how a female director (James Cameron's ex no less) not only earned a "Best Director" but "Best Picture" nod for the endeavor, it moved quickly to my "must see" pile. The story is about an elite bomb squad in Iraq, who must work in probably the highest stress occupation in the world, in one of the most dangerous places in the world. Because of this, the almost built in tension is palpable.

Where this movie failed to reach me was a lack of conflict and purpose.

You might wonder how a war movie could be so slight on conflict. The conflict, as the tension, should be implied. It was dramatic, sure, which fit the need of the genre. The performances were good, the scenes were well directed. But the screenplay failed to do more than repeatedly put these men in the same situation over and over again.

They're a bomb squad. They diffuse bombs. They're driven by their own purposes. But what exactly was the plot, except for to survive? And if that is the plot... is it enough?

In this respect, it comes across more as a polished documentary than a movie. The fact that the primary characters are played by actors who weren't big name stars contributed mightily to this. But more than that, it's episodic in nature. The scenes do not build naturally or raise the stakes because the stakes were set in the first scene. If you fail to do your job, someone dies.

It's hard to raise it much from there. The smartest way screenwriter Mark Boel handled this challenge was to incorporate an ongoing time line of how much time these soldiers had left on their rotation.

Otherwise there would not have been a natural end to this story (and in fact in the movie itself the story does not quite end).

As with any war movie, the plot then becomes one of "will these guys get home?".

In that sense, The Hurt Locker isn't anything we haven't seen before.

It's gritty and realistic, sure, but it lacked a lot of heart. The one character you're drawn to, SSG William James (Jeremy Renner), a renegade who plays by his own rules, remains as distant to the audience as he does to his team. We never quite know what makes him tick. Had war changed him? Had he always been this way? What drove him? Was it an adrenaline rush to beat the bomb? Was it a moral imperative?

We get no closer to any other character. The Hurt Locker serves less as a story and more as a window. This is what it's like to serve on this unit. This is what it's like to risk your life day after day and not know if you're going to come home. This is what it's like to be in the desert, or in the city, and never know who you can trust - right up to your own crew.

It's full of tension and thankfully director Kathryn Bigalow decided to go easy on the gore. With a bomb unit, I'm not so sure other directors would have been so subtle. This works particularly well that when there does have to be a certain amount of gore, it's still shocking (as it should be).

The Hurt Locker, like Avatar, is up for nine Oscars, many in the same category, and is in fact the dark horse to sweep the rug out from under Cameron's blue over-sized feet. Granted the two are completely different movies, and to compare them would be like comparing apples to armadillos. Will the Academy choose the big budget splashy spectacle of Pandora, or the smaller more intimate, realistic portrayal of Iraq?

Personally, I don't see The Hurt Locker winning hardly any of the big categories in which it is nominated. What James Cameron achieved with Avatar seals the deal for me with Best Director and Best Picture, and I think UP was better written.

But it certainly blows the doors off of any preconceived notion that a woman director can't deliver, because I think what Bigalow did here is certainly worth the nomination itself.

As for winning, as much as it pains me as a sister filmmaker, I'm afraid you'll have to put me down for no.

©2010 DOTS

Oscar Watch: Best Picture Winner - I mean... Nominee Avatar

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:25:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

It took twelve years for James Cameron to take the helm of another high budget cinematic extravaganza. After “Titanic” it would have to take something equally as large to match this success – if anything ever would.

His previous masterpiece not only crushed previous box office records, but also walked away with eleven Academy Awards, firmly establishing when it came right down to it Cameron himself was “King of the World”. There were probably those who wondered if lightning could really strike twice with this director. Especially since this ambitious project was about an alien planet, seven feet tall blue folks that somewhat resembled cats and, to top it off, was filmed in 3D.

Wonder no longer.

“Avatar” is a story about Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paralyzed former Marine who was given the strange mission of inhabiting “avatars” to navigate the unusual, dangerous but beautiful planet Pandora. Scientists, such as Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), would “link” Jake's mind and all his human knowledge, thoughts and abilities into a body that was genetically created using both human genes, as well as those of the indigenous people of Pandora – the Na'vi.

Because these expensive body suits are created for specific humans, Jake ends up having to take the place of his dead twin brother – who just happened to be one of the scientists who trained extensively to understand the Na'vi; so that he could communicate with them and integrate with them.

Jake has none of this training, much to the annoyance of Grace. But what he doesn't have in knowledge, he makes up for in a true blue “Hoorah” Marine attitude, which interests Colonel Miles Quaritch, who from now on will be known as Colonel Bad-Ass (played to perfection by Stephen Lang). Colonel Bad-Ass doesn't much care for any kind of diplomatic measures to move the Na'vi from their sacred and revered Hometree, nor does he care much for the valuable material on which that Hometree sits. Instead he wants to see action and a lot of it, and chomps at the bit waiting to be let off the chain by corporately owned Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi), who cares only about the money and a good public image.

Since obliterating an entire race of people to get some mineral is bad press, he's willing to work with Grace to find a compromise – as long as it's a quick one.

Having only the one allegiance to do whatever it takes to get his legs back, Jake agrees to work with all of them. But the fun really starts when this man deprived of the basic joy of walking is linked with his fully functioning avatar, and is set loose in the eye-popping splendor of this strange new planet. Through a series of events he ends up stranded, where he is discovered by Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), the daughter of the leaders of that particular clan.

When it seems that the spirit the Na'vi worship, Eywa, send a sign that Jake is special... chosen... Neytiri is ordered to teach Jake the way of their people so that he may become one of them. And over the next few months as she does just this, Jake begins to see life and nature in a whole new way.

He suddenly begins to realize that every living thing is connected to something much bigger and much more beautiful, and that starts with the love he begins to feel for the exotic, beautiful and brave Neytiri.

He becomes one of the few humans heroic enough to do the right thing in an epic battle, even when it will cost him what he thought he wanted most.

The story is familiar. The script somewhat predictable. But as you sit there and watch this new world open up before you, one thing becomes undeniably clear.

James Cameron once again caught lightning in a bottle.

Which might be why “Avatar” has now garnered nine Academy Award nominations, and has earned more at the box office in three months than “Titanic” earned in the last twelve years.

I believe the word we're looking for is “epic”.

And though I haven't seen several other contenders for Best Picture at the time of this writing, I am willing to put money that “Avatar” will solidly win this particular honor. What Cameron has done with this movie I'm not quite sure has been as successfully done before, unless you count what Peter Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

He created a new world, with new people, new animals, new plants, new traditions, a new language – an entire spectacle that was so visually beautiful it literally brought me to tears on more than one occasion. It's going to wind a handful of technical awards hands down, as well it should. The CGI in this movie is seamless; you will actually believe such a place (and such a people) exist.

But even more than this, Cameron told this story so well that we actually turn on our own human race as the savages of the story, instead of the “hostile” Na'vi. Though his movie magic, we all become Jake Sully – which is an amazing accomplishment for any filmmaker.

This is probably why it already won the Golden Globe for both Best Drama and Best Director.

So will James Cameron sweep the Oscars again? Best Picture – put me down for yes. Best Director, I'm going with a very strong maybe. Best Score, I wouldn't be at all surprised. Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects... uh, yeah. It's nominated for nine overall Oscars, I safely predict it will most likely win at least six.

Either way, it's a clear win/win for James Cameron, who managed to surpass his previous success when a decade proved no one else could.

I personally can't wait to see what he does next decade. Because some things are definitely worth the wait.

©2010 DOTS

GIVEAWAY on the Sidewalk WIN a TCM Oscar Night Party Pack!!

jenny_fromtheblog@yahoo.com (Jenny from the Blog) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:59:00 +0000

by Jenny from the Blog

*This contest ended 3/5/10

It's almost Oscar time and you know what that means: a bunch of movies you haven't seen or care to see are going to win awards. Well guess what? Now it can mean something else--free stuff for you. That's right, Turner Classic Movies is celebrating the Oscar season with 31 Days of Oscar. The network is airing a different Academy Award winning classic film each night until the Oscars, commercial free and restored to the highest possible quality. Only the best for you, of course.

The Sidewalk and TCM would also like to hook you up with an awesome prize pack for you to enjoy this Oscar night and every night there after. The prize pack includes: popcorn, candy, coasters, a martini shaker and more! Never has being a movie fan been so affordable--because it's FREE!!

Just enter your name, email address and bday (sorry no participants under 13) in the form on the right hand margin of this page for your chance to win by FRIDAY, MARCH 5TH. For a complete lineup of TCM movies during the 31 Days of Oscar, click on the party pack badge on the top left of the page. This year's Academy Awards airs live on Sunday, March 7th. Good luck!!

©2010 DOTS

The Douchebag of the Day Award goes to {{drumroll please}}

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:20:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

Ben Stein!!

{{wild applause}}

President Obama held a Health Care Summit to get leaders of the two parties together to hammer out what they felt was necessary and doable when it comes to health care reform. CNN covered the whole affair, and Wolf Blitzer handled the commentary from several guests - one of which happened to be Ben Stein.

You might remember ol Ben as the monotone teacher from 80s classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, or even Glenn Beck's program where he has appeared as an economist - earning this distinction from the degree he got from Columbia University. This is probably why he went on to be the know it all you had to beat to "Win Ben Stein's Money".

From his boneheaded comment today on CNN I'm thinking the game show should have been called "Keep Your Grubby Paws Off Ben Stein's Money".

Ben made the mind boggling assertion the reason Republicans are fighting against HCR is because by and large they pay more taxes than Democrats, so they (Republicans) would be paying for it and Democrats would be benefiting from it.

The not so subtle subtext of this: good hard working Republicans would be doing all the work and lazy, good for nothing Democrats would be skating by for free. It's just the kind of narrow minded stereotypes teabaggers slurp up with a crazy straw, emphasis on "crazy".

Of course he didn't provide any research to back this up, and honorary douche Wolf Blitzer didn't seem to require any validation of such a claim. Thank God for Donna Brazile, a veteran Democratic strategist, who didn't let him get away with it and stopped that lazy thinking right in its tracks.

However this was more than just an off the cuff comment tailor made for soundbites via every other media outlet to keep Ben Stein in the news for a few days. Which, if you think about it, is not bad for one afternoon's work, he must have had a minor in marketing.

No, what this represents is the utter blatant disrespect Republican talking heads have for the Republican voter base.

I hate to tell you folks this, but your leaders think you're stupid.

In this last election there was a lot of sneering down the nose done for those fat cat "big city elitists" with those fancy college educations and their liberal ideals. *cough*Barack Obama*cough*.

Instead the Republican candidates wanted to appeal to "Main Street" instead of "Wall Street". *cough*Sarah Palin*cough*.

Pop quiz. Who exactly do you think ol Ben was talking about in regards to who pays the highest taxes?

Put your hand down. It wasn't you.

You've probably heard that the top 5% of Americans pay the largest chunk of the taxes. People like, oh, I dunno, Barack Obama therefore would pay more than say, oh, I dunno... Joe the Plumber back when, y'know, he actually was a plumber.

I may be going out on a limb here but I kinda think that President Obama votes (D).

This is the group I'm thinking Ben probably meant when he made this comment... but let's break down what he said. He said that Republicans would be paying for these changes BUT ALSO that Democrats would be benefiting from it.

Not only was he saying that the top 5% are Republicans, he's also saying the people who would benefit this (i.e. the poor folk) are the ones voting Democrat.

Let's just test these two assertions against some statistics, shall we?

The red states represented in this last election actually represent some of the states with the highest number of people living below the poverty line.

I know you don't want to take me at my word, and so unlike Douchey Ben, I will actually provide some stats to prove my point.

We'll keep it simple.

Ten states with the highest percent below the poverty level:

1. Mississippi
2. Louisiana
3. New Mexico
4. District of Columbia
5. Arkansas
6. West Virginia
7. Kentucky
8. Texas
9. Alabama
10. South Carolina

Now let's look at the 2008 election map to see how these folks voted.

Now I know you were taught to scorn book learnin', so I'll help you out.

1. Red
2. Red
3. Blue
4. Blue
5. Red
6. Red
7. Red
8. Red
9. Red
10. Red

Now I'm not sure how much ol Benny Ben knows about income tax when you're poor, but if you're below the poverty level, you ain't payin' any. In fact, most times the government has to refund any money you paid back to you as an overpayment.

So that means the highest percentage of people not paying taxes were in states that voted primarily Republican.

Now I could stop there but that would not be me.

Let's look at the ten states that had higher percentages of highest income per capita, thus arguably would be paying the taxes those red states aren't paying.

1. Connecticut 82.8%
2. New Jersey 76.4%
3. Massachusetts 73.6%
4. Rhode Island 69.2%
5. Maryland 53.8%
6. New Hampshire 52.4%
7. New York 48.4%
8. California 40.3%
9. Florida 37.8%
10. Delaware 37.3%

Let's refer back to our lil map and just see how they voted...

1. Blue
2. Blue
3. Blue
4. Blue
5. Blue
6. Blue
7. Blue
8. Blue (home of all them Hollywood Liberals...)
9. Blue
10. Blue

Vewy intewesting.

So his comment was essentially unsubstantiated (but we knew that). It also goes against their initial argument that rich, elitist Liberals are out of touch with your plight as hard working Americans, but anyone paying attention could plainly see this too.

What makes this award winning douchbagginess is that Ben Stein has now established his mindset publicly that something as deeply inherent as your political philosophies is reliant upon something as temporal as your pocketbook.

If you work hard and make it rich... you're going to vote Republican to protect your interests.

If you're broke then you're going to vote Democrat because in the end it'll benefit you getting a hand out.

Neither of which were proven true, statistically.

But how does it work in the Real World?

Consider someone like President Obama, who is in the top 5 percent of high income Americans, fighting so hard to pay more taxes to help out those people in all those red states who aren't paying any taxes at all, just so they can get health care.

Things that make you go hummm.

Ben Stein. Is he really a smart guy... or did he just play one on TV?

Bueller? Bueller?

©2010 DOTS

Idol Chatter - Season 9 Top 12 Guys 02/24/10

noreply@blogger.com (Ginger) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:26:00 +0000

by Ginger Voight

After a rather dull Top 24 opener for the gals, the top 12 guys took to the stage to fight for their place among the coveted Top 12. Going second may have a slight advantage for these guys, who saw first hand what mistakes their female counterparts made. There wasn't much they could do at this point regarding song choice and arrangement, but would they bring the star power?

I personally think more men than women these season are more self possessed when it comes to stage presence and overall identity. Some have had a lot more experience in front of a crowd that some of the ladies who had the misfortune of going first in these virgin performances in front of the nationwide audience.

For that reason I was slightly more excited about the guys show than the gals.

Will I be disappointed... or validated?

Let's get to the performances.

Todrick Hall went first, and my first thought was that the Idol producers wanted to get rid of this 24 year old Texan before the controversy spreads even more like wildfire. He had his own take of original Idol Kelly Clarkson's “Since U Been Gone”. One thing is for sure, he wasn't trying to sound like Kelly with this sort of rap/R&B version of the song. Having said that, I think he was long on presence and short on actual talent. It kind of left me flat with no emotional connection whatsoever with the song or the performer.

The crowd liked it but even Ellen spotted the flaws in the vocals. Randy thought he was “mad talented”, but both Kara and Randy didn't care for the extreme makeover of the song. Simon said that he came across as a dancer trying to be a singer, and that he was “stupid” to “murder” the original arrangement of the song.

Despite the Curse of First, the fact he took a beloved Idol's song and changed it into something completely unrecognizable, and is a bit of a lightning rod for controversy right now... I think he's probably safe for another week.

4 out of 10

Aaron Kelly, one of the younger contestants this season, chose to sing an ode to heartbreak with “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts. I'm always kind of put off by young kids singing about adult situations, but I like that he took a country direction in order to separate himself from the David Archuleta comparison as a young singer with a big voice. Again, I'm not really feeling this kid even though I can totally see how talented he is.

Simon thought it was a good performance, but encouraged him to find his confidence. Kara said he was her favorite kind of contestant because he didn't know how great he really is, and that they were going to see incredible things from him. Randy bragged on the big pipes despite some “pitchy” moments. Ellen said she thought he was going to be there a long time.

I disagreed with the judges that he didn't have confidence. As I stated previously I think the fact he's been in a competition before kind of gives him an almost too polished demeanor, and I think that's where I personally lose interest. But I do agree that he will be here easily to the Top 12, and think this competition is tailor made for him. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the finale.

7 out of 10

Jermaine Sellers, a 27 year old church singer from Illinois, picked “Get Here” by Oleta Adams to make his debut. I liked the humility he showed in his pre-performance interview, and he had no problem showing off his big voice in his song. I worry that he concentrated more on the runs in his voice than just rely on his natural talent.

Ellen said she was a huge fan but felt he was pushing the performance more than feeling the song. Randy loved the song and felt it was a weird choice, but thought he was trying to do too much with it. Kara felt he wanted to show his range, but that runs weren't not “special”. Simon didn't care for the song, and felt the over the top performance blew his “opportunity”.

I think he might be slightly more likable than Todrick, but if he comes back he needs to show he's more talented as well.

5 out of 10

Tim Urban, the unknown face who took the place of ousted contestant Chris Golightly, took the stage next. We got a fast forward introduction of all the stuff we missed because they thought he was originally cut. This 20 year old Texan sang "Apologize" by OneRepublic, and though I thought he struggled with the melody, I think he has a very commercial look that will have many girls running to the phones.

Somewhere Chris Golightly was screaming at his TV as Simon reiterated that they had made the right decision to cut him the first time around, and proceeded to rip him to shreds in what could only help Tim out after such a weak performance. Kara told him the music swallowed it up and felt he should have gone a little more acoustic. Randy thought it was the wrong song, and Ellen echoed the sentiment that he couldn't hit those notes but thought he was adorable and thought he would get the girl vote because of that.

4 out of 10

Another virtual unknown, Joe Munoz, took the stage next. The 20 year old Californian sang "You and I Both" by Jason Mraz. Not a fan of his voice or what he did with the song. I think it was a miscalculation amidst other singers who were more talented and memorable.

Ellen commented how comfortable he is on stage, but Randy wasn't crazy about the song choice but thought he "worked it out". Kara liked that he picked a song she never expected, and said he was the best vocal of the night thus far. Simon said he "kind of" agreed but he didn't believe that Joe was a worldwide selling star.

4 of 10

I'll try to be as unbiased as possible with the following review as I have to admit - Tyler Grady is my unabashed favorite this season. Dunno why that is, but there's something about him that stands out to me in the way of *star*. Maybe because he's completely comfortable in who he is that is completely different than anyone else. I've been waiting for this moment since week one. He evoked 70s FM rock with "American Woman" from The Guess Who, which seemed to surprise no one but the judges. I love the fact he included the LP slow start to the song, loved the fact that he has swagger and confidence that all rockers should have. Loved the fact he took the criticism as constructive and nothing personal. His good humor is a big reason I myself am so drawn to him.

And also glad he got a standing O. They apparently felt the excitement he was attempting to bring to the show.

Simon found it "cliched" and didn't think he spend a lot of time on his vocals. Kara wasn't crazy about the 70s "obsession", and advised he bring it into this decade. Randy felt it was style over substance, and Ellen felt he was going through the motions without feeling it.

But the judges also didn't care much for Constantine's and Adam's first rock impressions, if memory serves. Like those artists, I think Tyler was totally playing to his audience, and therefore I'm fairly confident we'll be seeing more of him.

8 out of 10

Lee DeWyze (and yes, I still say DeWeezy in my head - don't judge me), the 23 year old from Illinois, chose "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol. I thought he came across a little nervous at first, and though I'm unfamiliar with the song some of the notes felt flat to me. I think when it comes to the musician/singer niche, he pales beside fellow contestant Andrew Garcia in talent and in originality.

Ellen thought it was a good song choice but felt he kind of pushed his voice. Randy didn't like the song, but likes his voice and recommended something harder. Kara said the song had too small a range. Simon felt that it was the best performance by a mile (?) and felt he was a naturally good singer, then recommended he take the David Cook/Lionel Richie performance road.

4 of 10

John Park, 21 year old college student from Illinois, took the stage next and we were reminded how Shania Twain liked his "bottom end". He chose "God Bless the Child", and utilized that "bottom end" quite a bit. It felt a bit calculated to me, as if it was a song that was plucked from an Idol songbook under the heading "sure to bring down the house". Only it didn't - and I don't think it defined him as an artist. He needed to really establish himself as a performer this debut and I don't think he did that.

Simon thought he didn't have the voice to take on the song, and sang it with zero emotional. He called it a "pointless" performance. Kara agreed with Simon. Randy liked the runs that he did, but wasn't feeling the song. Ellen didn't know why he chose that song because it wouldn't get a lot of young girls to vote for him, but she liked the performance and thought he sounded great.

5 out of 10

Michael "Big Daddy" Lynche followed with "This Love" by Maroon Five, it was another choice that took me by surprise - which has happened with Big Daddy before. He is likable, but it wasn't my favorite performance. I guess I didn't get it. That said, I think he's got enough name recognition and likability to get through.

Ellen commented on all his personality, and felt it was a great song choice despite some pitch problems. Randy agreed with Ellen and even though he had hurt him and Ellen with the Big Daddy hugs. Kara said it was a little depressing in the joint until Michael hit the stage. Simon called him "the support act before the main act", and said he delivered "so little".

6 of 10

Alex Lambert (no relation) came next with "Wonderful World" by James Morrison. This 19 year old Texan has a definite sound that the kids in my house thought sounded a lot like Rob Thomas. He showed grace under pressure after the Mary Powers incident in group, and despite his being a student he has a very definite professional courtesy by thanking the band when he was through. (I loved Casey's lil contribution to the beginning of the song btw). I like his voice but not sure I like the music that it fits. I like him enough to hope he makes it through so I can find out what music that is.

Simon felt it was the most uncomfortable performance of the night, despite his voice. Kara wanted to give him a hug and told him he had great potential. Randy loved his tone and hopes he sticks around. Ellen liked him and supported his commitment to the mullet, then liked him to a banana that wasn't quite ripe.

5 of 10

Casey (hubba) James (hubba) came next and (hubba) decided to wear his luscious locks down (hubba). He sang "Heaven" by Bryan Adams, and was a little thrown by the activity at the judges table and missed his first cue. But those eyes (hubba) and that smile (hubba) and that hair (dubba hubba), I really couldn't even swear that boy was singing. I was pretty distracted. I think he finally felt the song toward the end - but at that point I'm not sure it even mattered.

Kara went first and feigned a bit of school-girly giddiness, saying that she thought it might have been pitchy, but wasn't quite sure. Finally she relented that he was eye candy but he was also ear candy as well. Ellen liked it and thought he'd get votes like crazy. Randy liked the song and liked his voice. Simon thought he chose the right song, thought it was honest and sincere, and it was the best performance he'd done all through the process.

8 of 10

Andrew Garcia closed the show, and I was very happy (and not very surprised) with his placement. He sang Fall Out Boys' Sugar We Are Going Down. I thought the subtext of that song was pretty brilliant on his part, but it didn't do much for me, nothing like what he had done with Straight Up. I still love his sound, his presence and his personality, even if I was disappointed by this "safe" performance.

Simon said he was looking forward to hearing Andrew more than anyone but was disappointed. All four judges wanted to see more of what he demonstrated with Straight Up, more originality.

8 out of 10

My top favorite performances were Andrew, Casey and Tyler, possibly because they're my favorite performers. And I don't see that changing in the near future, especially since I've decided I think I'm in love with Casey James.

There. I've said it, and I feel better having said it.

The ones I feel are in trouble... the field is pretty open right now. There were a lot of low scorers tonight. People like John Park already have a fan base where Tim Urban does not, but Tim is a cute kid who got raked across the coals which is sure to draw some sympathy votes. Toderick may indeed wear out his welcome with what he did with Kelly Clarkson's song (not to mention he went first), and Joe Munoz might disappear in the crowd.

I think it's probably too close to call.

But my official bottom two: John and Joe

So were the girls better than the guys? Depends on what you mean by "better". I think I have the same number of favorites on both sides, while the others kinda leave me flat. Not convinced we see anyone yet - on either side - with the star power of previous contestants who have done so well. Think back on the first performances by David Cook, Chris Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Adam Lambert - this is where the bar has been set, and it's kind of disheartening to realize we may not have one of those breakout stars this season.

I hope upcoming weeks prove me wrong.

The people I really like I fear are going to have the hardest time adapting to the rigors and challenges of theme week, even though I think they're pretty safe heading toward the top 12.

I just hope next week the remaining contestants bring their A game - otherwise it's going to be a very long season of American Idol.

©2010 DOTS

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