Category Archives: TV Series

May 14, 2013 · 4:39 pm

Our American Idol


American Idol Season 12 finalists Candace Glover and Kree Harrison

American Idol Season 12 finalists Candace Glover and Kree Harrison

Here I am again.  The finale week of American Idol.   Two really wonderful singers are about to compete for the title , Candace Glover and Kree Harrison.  Both great talents with some wonderful background stories. Either can take the title.  Whatever the result, both will have long careers, no doubt.

Big news announced, Randy Jackson will be leaving the show.   Only Ryan Seacrest will be left …and me.  We were there from the beginning.

American Idol has had such an impact on American television, pop and music culture.  It has been the source of water cooler talk over the years  It has been criticized in every which way and honored for the discovery of some of the best music and even acting talent in recent years.  It has launched several careers. There is no doubt of its impact.

While it has struggled with its ratings as of late , it still has drawn significant audiences.

It has given us Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Jordin Sparks, Scotty McCreery, and Phillip Phillips. It has also given us Clay Aiken, Daughtery, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson. Kelly Pickler, and many more singers, actors and entertainers. Grammy Award winners, Academy award winners, and winners and nominees from every entertainment category.

We also have seen it give 15 minutes of fame to numerous real no talents.  It was part of the ritual to discover these wannabees.

It has cemented in our psyche Simon Cowell as the ultimate judge and reignited Paula Abdul in a whole new era of her career life.  It made us rediscover J-Lo, Mariah, Steven Tyler and learn more about Nicki Minaj.  We even got a taste of Ellen in prime time.

We saw more artists and acts either mentor and/or perform on stage. We have seen some really good copycat shows emerge and other really bad ones come and go.

Idol has become part of Americana. We have and continue to participate in the phenomenon.  We discover our music legends.  It is still great TV. We return to it again and again, no matter how much we complain about it from time to time.

Get ready, America,  It’s  time to vote for your American Idol…again!

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November 29, 2012 · 1:01 pm

Big Talent Emerges From The Voice and X Factor


The two big music competition shows , The Voice and The X Factor,  have stand out talents as they near the end of each of their seasons and crown their respective winners.  My favorites are :

The Voice

Terry Mcdermott

Terry McDermott

Terry is the real deal.  He is a tru rocker that has stage appeal and a voice that brings life to the rock genre that appeals to all.  This Scottish music sensation has a real chance at the big prize.

Cassadee Pope

Cassadee Pope

Cassadee has come into her own and has a real strong country appeal more than anything else and is a real contender for the top prize. She is also beautiful and has real stage presence.  She has a powerful and pure voice.

Trevin Hunte

Trevin Hunte

At 18, Trevin is a powerhouse singer with such raw emotion that he is a prodigy at the very least.  With a a backstory that lends itself to the beginning of greatest one can see that no matter where this young man ends up in this competition , he is destined for a long music career.  He is simply awesome.

X Factor

Carly Rose Sonenclar

Carly Rose Sonenclar

She is the 13 year old prodigy that has a voice that is so rich and pure that it sounds so far beyond her years and experience.  She simply blows us away with every performance.  Yes, she is that good.

Tate Stevens

Tate Stevens

A country singer dedicated to his wife with a likability factor at a 10+ and a voice to match. Tate is a star to reckon with and is on his way to real stardom with great performances every week and is almost always the audience favorite.

Emblem 3

Emblem 3

Three young men with all the star power that already woos young girls hearts and voices to match.  They have the X Factor ever since the first audition and it shows every time they hit the stage.  They are the next new hit group discovery.

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November 8, 2012 · 9:04 am

The Voice Has Some Real Standouts


The popular music singing competition show , the Voice, is at the audience voting stage. Tonight , the top 12 will be selected based on that vote and on judges’ saves.   As the competition has heated up , there are some standouts in my opinion .  Here are a few of my favorites.

Dez Duron

Dez Duron

Pop Star looks with a pop voice, Dez Duron has stage presence and can easily fit into the current music scene.   This full package makes him an audience favorite , however, he does have stiff competition when it comes to singing voice.  Duron is at the Voice for the second time and it shows in his maturity and that determination and drive may take him all the way to the end.

Syliva Yacoub

Sylvia Yacoub

Egyptian native and college student, her powerhouse voice sets her apart.  Her stage presence is palpable and is commanding.  Yacoub fits comfortably in the same range of singers like her coach, Christina Aguilera.   She is that good.  It is up to America.

Bryan Keith

Bryan Keith

Keith comes from music pedigree but has forge his own path independently on his own terms.  The result is an accomplished and powerful music artist who not only has a voice but plays the guitar and drums.  He is real force to be reckoned with in this competition.

Terry McDermott

Terry McDermott

Terry is one of my favorites.  He has a voice that is rock and it is great! Originally from Scotland, this man has a career that will go way beyond whatever happens on The Voice.  He is the real deal!

Trevin Hunte

Trevis Hunte

Eighteen year old Trevin has the voice.  He is simply amazing.  He overcame difficult odds, including a teacher who told him he would amount to nothing, to now being the strongest contender to win this competition. His voice is uniquely his and it moves you.  He is a cut above the rest.

Nicholas David

Nicholas David

Here you have a voice on the most unassuming guy.  However, David has the smoothest R&B voice and his performance is just cool.  He is another strong contender for the title.  Adam Levine said of David , ” You make baby making music.”  Enough said.

Cody Belew

Cody Belew

Cody is my favorite overall.  He has soul at his heart and it comes out in his voice. He is personality plus and is totally himself.  He jokes about being a black woman inside.  Great performer. Great voice.  Belew is a winner in my eyes.

De’Borah

De’Borah

Unique.  She is the find of the season. There is no one like her.  She is a talent that I believe we will see on the charts long after The Voice goes into TV history.  Amazing.

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September 21, 2012 · 2:03 pm

X Factor Contestant Jeffrey Adam Gutt Delivers on “Hallelujah” and a Star is Born


X Factor contestant, Jeffrey Adam Gutt

There are some great contestants on the X Factor this year, but Jeffrey Adam Gutt, took the often used “Hallelujah”  in auditions and made it his own.  I have not seen such a soulful performance like this in a long time.  He literally established himself as a frontrunner in this contest and also as a first rate rock star.

Demi Lovato said, ” He is like the Josh Groban of Rock and Roll.”  To which Simon responded. “Better.”  I could not have seen it better.

 watch?v=tBKuWF-JQAQ&feature=player_embedded#!

Gutt is a 36 year old single dad with a four year old son, who is betting everything on his music career.  He says, ” Failure is not an option, at this point. I need that record deal. It is vital to my and my son’s life.”  This was the first time his son saw his dad performed.

The passion came out in his performance.  It was a TV moment.  Like L.A. Reid, exclaimed, “I am a fan.”

I am too.  The world just discovered Jeffrey Adam Gutt.

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September 6, 2012 · 1:22 pm

The Final Four on So You Think You Can Dance’s Exciting Season


Back L-R Eliana Gerard, Witney Carson, Tiffany Maher
Front L-R Cole Horibe, Chehon Wespi-Tschopp, Cyrus Spencer Photo by Fox

Last night gave us the dancers who America decided will compete for the Best Male and Best Female Dancer on So You Can Think You Can Dance on one of the most eclectic and exciting seasons ever. The competition has been fierce all season long. The finalists were chosen by America with no saves by the judges.

It was especially hard to see Cole Horibe eliminated in the male category. His unique style of martial arts and his adaptability to different styles of dance was remarkable.  He also had the acting chops and gave some of the most prolific performances of the season.  However,  it was the popularity of Cyrus Spencer with his likability and novel dubstep movements that endeared him to American audiences.  Spencer never was in the bottom two.  He was the least experienced dancer of all three men but his underdog position worked well to the audiences.

The other male finalist Chehon Wespi-Tschopp  is a wonderfully trained dancer, beautiful to watch, whose only weakness was in the latin dances.   If judged in both the technical and overall performance category, he should win the male competition. His challenge is winning the likability factor with the voters.

Utah‘s Witney Carson was eliminated last night.  However this 18 year old gave  her opponents , Eliana Gerard and Tiffany Maher , stiff competition. She certainly had the powerhouse talent.  I assumed the vote was close  between the women.  Gerard enters the final with such likability and such exquisite dance form. She is absolutely marvelous to watch.   Maher is equally wonderful to watch with her girl next door charm and amazing talent.  This is going to be such a close race between the girls.

America is going to see dancing at its best as this season comes to the close. Finalists compete Tuesday, September 11th.

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August 16, 2012 · 11:25 am

So You Think You Can Dance Selects Top 10!


SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Top 10 Contestants L-R Back: Lindsay Arnold, Will Thomas, Tiffany Maher, George Lawrence II, Witney Carson, Audrey Case, Eliana Girard, L-R Front: Cyrus Spencer, Cole Horibe and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp on SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE airing Wednesday, August 15 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. ©2012 FOX Broadcasting Co. Cr: Adam Rose

After a long break because of the Olympics, my favorite reality competition show is back, So You Think You Can Dance.   Last night the contestants showcased previously performed routines choreographed by Emmy winning , Mia Michaels.  There were a couple of strong stand out performances specifically, Lindsay Arnold / Cole Horibe  and Chehon Wespi-Tschopp/Witney Carson.

Cole Horibe and Lindsay Arnold

From a previous episode two weeks ago, America voted and 3 male dancers and 3 female dancers were in danger of being eliminated who had got the lowest votes.  Two of the dancers were saved by the judges after one more solo dance performance by each of them.

Now that the top ten are elected the contest is on to select the the top male dancer and the top female dancer.  The top ten will also be participating in a nationwide tour after the show completes its season.

A new app is also available for your smartphone for the program.

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July 25, 2012 · 11:31 pm

Chehon Weapi-Tschopp and Witney Carson’s Amazing and Moving Dance Routine


Chehon Weapi-Tschopp and Witney Carson

Set to the haunting and beautiful song by Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”  , So You Think You Can Dance Contestants Chehon Weapi and Witney Carson brought the audience to their feet with their moving contemporary dance routine tonight.  The choreography was directed by Stacey Tookey.

Chehon Weapi-Tschopp

Witney Carson

Chehon is originally from Zurich, Switzerland and is a trained ballet dancer who now lives in the United States.  Witney is a trained ballroom dancer and is originally from American Fork, Utah.

There will be a two week break before the show returns due to the Summer Olympic games.

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· 10:23 am

All The Right Moves – The Right Show To Watch


L-R Nick Lazzarini, Travis Wall, Kyle Robinso,n Teddy Forance

I thought that we would have our fill of reality shows, but newly debuting on the Oxygen channel is a fresh new great one called All the Right Moves which features the Emmy winning dance choreographer , Travis Wall; renown dance, Teddy Forance: Season One winner and also accomplished dancer, Nick Lazzarini;  and recently West Side Story Tour Cast Member, Kyle Robinson.   The show follows these group of four friends, two gay and two straight and the start of their dance company, Shaping Sound Company.   The first episode which I have included the link here is already indicating that this will be a show where the drama, the level of fantastic dancing and cast of characters will bring a reality show that is a cut above the others.

vid:18817830

The level of friendship and the normalcy of it, in spite of sexual preference, between the four friends, is so refreshing,  It speaks to what the world should be like.  The start of a company and the struggles of doing it in this economy, even with talent, is a great study for all entrepreneurs.  The cast is likable.

Tune in and watch one of the best shows to debut this summer!

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July 23, 2012 · 5:01 pm

Michael Buckley: Winning A Chance to Co-Host Live With Kelly Ripa


There has been a search for a co-host to fill Regis Philbin‘s spot, since he retired,  using many celebrity guests on the Live with Kelly show for months .  There have been rumors to those ones who have been shortlisted.

Well, I think they need to put one more person on that list.  His name is Michael Buckley.  He is the winner of the Coast to Coast Co-Host search for non- celebrity amateurs.  He is appearing tomorrow, Tuesday, July 24th on the show as a guest co-host. The Live show with Kelly Ripa has not seen this much energy since Regis Philbin retired from co-hosting duties.  He is so comfortable on set and has such great chemistry with Ripa.   He is openly gay and  handles all situations well with great comedic timing.  He is likable.

He is no stranger to being a public figure.  Buckley is a You Tube star having one of the most watched channels online with shows like “What the Buck?” and ” Buck News”  His frenetic and fast pace talking is hilarious.

I believe a star is born.  If his stint on the Live Show   does not land him a permanent gig there, I know it is jettisoning him to something big.

I hope you catch him and become a fan!

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· 3:04 pm

J Rome Wins Duets and Hearts


J Rome -Winner of Duets, Season 1

J Rome was the front runner all season in the newest singing competition show, Duets. The show added a distinctive angle since it paired competitors with seasoned performers who were also their mentors.  They would actually perform their songs alongside the professionals.  In J. Rome’s case , it was Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland.   Nettles also had the 1st runner up, John Glosson , who also amazed the American public with his strong voice and stage presence.

L-R: J Rome, John Glosson, Jason Farol

Jason Farol, who was mentored and who also performed with Kelly Clarkson ( who is no stranger to singing competitions being the winner to Season 1 of American Idol)  came in 2nd Runner up , and  was also the youngest competitor.

J Rome will wins a recording contract with Hollywood Records.

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