You Know It's True

The husband says it's mean, but I don't care. It might be mean, but it's also true.

The blind guy on American Idol just isn't that good. His voice is mediocre at best and he probably wouldn't be here if he wasn't blind. Can we just get over that already and let him go home?

Or at a minimum get a haircut? He probably won't notice and his crazy hair is driving me nuts.

Kris Allen, on the other hand, is an adorable little monkey. 

I want to put him in my pocket and carry him around. 

He can hang out there with Bob Costas. Have you ever seen a more perfect pocket-sized man than Bob Costas? Kris could sing to me and Bob could tell me how the scenery is majestic and the athletes are triumphant. 

It would be awesome.

Again?!?

My TiVO has now fucked with me two nights in a row.
Yesterday it didn't record American Idol.
I made sure it was set to record American Idol today.
I made it through all 2 hours of the drivel filler that they add to the finale.
And the winner is...
David...
*Boing*
The recording is done.
Are you kidding me?
You have 2 frigging hours and you can't announce the winner within the allotted time frame?
Damn you, American Idol!

But, on the positive side David Cook won.
Yay! He has been my favorite for quite a while.
He is the more deserving of the two and much more likely to be successful.
Archuleta is a talented kid, but he scares me a little bit.
His dad is kinda crazy. I don't want that kid to go all Britney on us, so maybe it's better for him that he get to grow up a little bit.
I will cop to Imagine melting my cold, cold heart into a little puddle.

However, over the whole season, David Cook has been better... no question.
Always be my baby
Hello
Billie Jean
Eleanor Rigby
All I really need is you
etc.

versus

Angels
Imagine

I can't believe I watched a whole frigging season of American Idol only to miss the final performances AND the announced winner!!

Stupid TiVO!

I started watching American Idol this year, because there was nothing else on really.
With going to the gym pretty much every night I don't really have the time to be invested in a lot of television, but Jeff and I have been watching American Idol all season.
Last night was the first part of the final two.
David versus David.
I was excited to see it when I came home from the gym.
What I found, was that my TiVO had recorded Reaper instead of American Idol.
Well fuck.
Stupid Reaper.
I don't give a shit what is happening on that show right now.
I guess it's my fault for not checking the to do list and make sure that American Idol was set to record, but it has been recording American Idol for the whole season with no problems.

It's just so... disappointing.
The whole season has been building to this point and I missed it.
Boo. :(

Awww... now I feel bad

So, Syesha's dad is a drug addict? And Syesha being on American Idol is helping keeping him clean?
Well, fuck.
And I couldn't be bothered to think she was anything but boring?
Most of the season I couldn't be bothered to remember that she existed at all.
I feel bad.
Wait! What do I feel bad about again?
Syesha who?

Yay for the Davids! I heart them... but mostly I heart David Cook.

Final Three

American Idol

David A.
First Song: Good, but good Lord it bored me to tears.
Second Song: I actually liked him with this song. It was pretty obvious that he was actually having fun singing it, instead of just being chained down by all this older music that really isn't his thing (personally, I don't mean musically).
Third Song: Is it really any surprise that the producers chose some sappy, ballady drivel for him to sing? This is why I appreciated what he did in round 2. Something different. He's a good singer, but we don't need to hear another ballad every week.

Syesha
First Song: Well sung, but how was that different from the Alicia Keys version? It wasn't. So way to be a copycat Syesha. Laaaaame.
Second Song: Does she even want to make it to the finals? Why the hell would she sing that song in the Final Three on American Idol? Simon was spot on, it was hideous cabaret.
Third Song: Hmm... that was horrible. The question is, is that good news or bad news. People might sympathy vote her now, because it was so awful. She SO does not deserve to be in the final.

David C.
First Song: Pretty good stuff. I liked how it built at the end.
Second Song: Randy was right. It was a little pitchy. But, fuck that, it was also AWESOME! I really enjoyed the way it built to the end. I was pretty down with that song.
Third Song: They chose Aerosmith for him, huh? It definitely suits the tone of his voice. It's unfortunate that they didn't pick a song he could re-invent, since this song is sort of already in his style, but still he rocked it out. LOVE HIM!

Overall, tonight was pretty much what I expected. David C was my fave. David A was good. Syesha is lucky to have made it this far.
Hopefully, we'll see both David's into the finals.

Hell's Kitchen
Man, even when that guy is happy, Matt has the worst kind of bitch face.
I can't believe Roseanne has lasted this long. She doesn't cook very well, if she sends out raw seafood more than once.
Jen pouted her way through service. Ramsay got fed up with her wah-wah and told her to shut it, so she sulked the rest of the night. Dude, you've got to get over it. He yells at everyone. Just get the job done.
Man, Ramsay is not a fan of Ben. But, I kind of agree with him, Ben is lame. He just loves to bitch and moan, but I haven't seen that he's anywhere a decent enough cook to talk the way he does.
So, I guess that's why he went bye-bye.
Here's what I don't understand, how is it strategic for Ben to offer to nominate himself. Let's face it pal, Ramsay called you out more than anybody else tonight. Plus, he's never really been a fan of you anyway. If you go up there at all you have to know there is a good chance you are going home. So, see ya!

Lingering Thoughts

Idolatry
I was glad to see Jason Castro go last night on American Idol, even though a part of me wishes it had been Syesha. If it had been Syesha, although that would have been slightly unfair to her since she sang far better than Castro, it would have pretty much assured the two Davids into the final. Plus, I think her comparing her "hardships" on American Idol to the struggles of the civil rights movement is just so... arrogant? Is that the right word? Hubristic, maybe... which according to dictionary.com is actually a word.

Chef-iness
On to Top Chef, after last week I was feeling more friendly towards Spike, but I have since swung back to my original position of "Shut up Spike." I had read on-line that Spike took time out of cooking last week to really take care of the kid he was working with when the kid cut their finger open. That was sweet. However, this week he's back to being the same old douche bag, so that was the end of that.

I still don't like Antonia. So, with all of your "experience" you "know" crispy chicken is a bad idea and you still let him do it? Basically, you are just setting him up to throw him under the bus if your team loses. Classy move there, chica. You seem like a talented enough chef, so if you could stop acting like such an asshole, I might be able to like you. But, then again, based on your behavior so far, probably not.

It was past time for Nikki to go. IMHO, the only reason she has lasted this long is because she has sucked, ever so slightly, less than everyone who was kicked off before her. You have a challenge where Italian (which is your specialty) is the main event and you don't take the lead? Spike and Lisa were ready to fall in line behind you and you just left everyone out to dry. You suck. I should have known when she was going on about their similar palettes that she was going down. Remember her specialty of mac-n-cheese anybody?

I can't hate Dale. Even though he is an arrogant, whiny baby who slams things around, I can't hate him. I sort of love the spectacle that is Dale.

That reminds me though, I miss Hung. Dale is no Hung, certified public asshole or not. I missed Hung during the relay race. I am coming to appreciate more and more the awesomeness that was Hung breaking down those chickens.

Yay Richard and Stephanie! I like Richard more and more as the weeks wear on. He's so adorably a food geek. But, (unlike Antonia) he shows a classy streak by giving the win to Stephanie because he admired her for putting it on the line and making a cake. The dude gives credit where credit is due, whether it is Stephanie or Dale.

Wait a minute! Richard is married? Huh? I wouldn't have guessed that he is married. Okay, I can roll with that I guess.

Top Four

American Idol

David Cook
1st performance - liked it, didn't love it
2nd performance - loved it... he's so my favorite. Yay DC.

Syesha
1st performance - very screamy. totally agreed with Simon
2nd performance - boring and yucky
She annoys me. Not. a. fan.
She'll probably get through to the next round because she cried. Stupid tears.

Jason Castro
1st performance - I'm not familiar with Bob Marley, so I wasn't offended by it like Simon and Randy.
2nd performance - didn't hate it, didn't love it. He totally forgot the words though... ha!

David A.
1st performance - I love Stand by me. I thought it was a good performance, but I didn't love the way he switched up the song.
2nd performance - He totally rocked this performance. Okay, whatever Archuleta love has been drained away over the last few weeks has been restored. Loved it!!!!!!!

Bottom two: Syesha and Jason Castro -- I will be surprised if it is one of the Davids. I will be surprised if one of the Davids doesn't win AI.

Hell's Kitchen

So, apparently Corey is a bitch and a slut. Even if she successfully "targets" Louross, what does she expect to get out of him? It's a cooking show. There are no secret plans or plots. There are no alliances, really. There is no information to get out of the boys. AND she made remark about Shayna's weight. Fuck off Corey.

Matt has the worst kind of bitch face.
Kudos to Bobby for stepping up to the plate to avert disaster. Wow. That maybe the first time the "four-star general" has actually lived up to his name and acted the leader.

Bye Shayna. I couldn't pick you out of a line-up as actually being on this show. Hope you enjoy life at home with your baby.

Idol's Kitchen

American Idol
What a weird show.
It felt really fast and hurried. I think Ryan Seacrest's head was about to explode trying to keep the show on track.

Paula is, literally I think, on crack.
She thought Jason Castro sang twice after the first round of songs? She was pre-reviewing his song?
Okay, whatever you say, lady.

Jason was solid, if (as Simon says) a little forgettable.
David Cook was just okay in the first song, but totally kicked the second songs ass. Loved it, loved it. Might download it... we'll see.
Brooke saved herself with the second song. I was cringing a little bit during the first one, almost hoping that she would get kicked off just so I wouldn't have to feel her pain next week. But the second song totally reminded me of why I like Brooke in the first place. Yay!
David A... listen I love this kid, but I don't think that this was his week. The thing is that he sang two very recognizable Neil Diamond songs, and he sang them pretty much the same way. With most other artists I wouldn't be able to say this, but I just didn't feel the richness in David's voice that I hear in Neil Diamond's. It just wasn't that great for me.
Syesha. Does anyone think that she is as great as she thinks she is? She has decent vocals, but is SO boring!

Hell's Kitchen

Roseann's dream is to ride in a helicopter? Dream big, sweetie! Seriously, there hasn't been an opportunity to ride in a helicopter in all your 33 years before now? That makes me sad... for you. Just for a moment though. I'm done now.
Plus, her tap-tap-tap-a-roo made me laugh. Ramsay is ruthless sometimes.

I was pretty neutral towards Ben in the beginning of the season, but methinks he is kind of a jackass.

The men are just kind of a mess.... ooh but so are the women.
I can't believe the women put up my girl Christina up for elimination! Bitches!
Every time I think the women are going to be able to pull it together and just whoop up on the men, they pull these moments of absolute bitchery.
She is not the worst cook in the women's kitchen, by a long shot.
I can't believe Jen is such a back-stabber. She is now officially on my list of women who suck on Hell's Kitchen... along with Cory (the annoying) and Rosanne (the whiny).

HK better hope that Christina doesn't go home soon, she's the only one I would go so far as to say I like thus far.

Ouch

Well, I was never really a fan of Carly.
I'm not sure why.
But for some reason she rubbed me the wrong way and I never took to her.
In spite of that, I kind of felt bad for her when she was eliminated last night.
She definitely wasn't the worst performer on Tuesday.

If it went by performance alone, Jason Castro and Brooke should have been in the bottom two.
I think people just felt sorry for Brooke.
Maybe Jason has a larger fan base than I thought, because he really wasn't that great this week.
He's been middle-of-the-road for me in most weeks, but not enough to call myself a fan.
And yet, neither Jason, nor Brooke was in the bottom two.

It came down to Syesha and Carly.
Which I was initially happy about, because ideally I'd like to see the both of them go.
But, ideally, I'd like to see them both go on nights when they are boringly competent, but the others really had performances that let them shine.
Not on a night when they have clearly done better than some of the other performers.

Oh well, what are you going to do? As Seacrest loves to say, "America has spoken."
Bye Carly. I wasn't a fan, but if it makes you feel better I recognize that this week at least, you totally got the shaft.
Too bad.
Try not to hurt yourself.

Think of me...

American Idol

Syesha - Who? I refuse to acknowledge that she exists.
Jason - After reading Ash's blog before I watched I thought he would be horrible. Maybe it's because I don't know the song he sang, but I didn't hate it. I didn't love it by any means, but it wasn't that horrible. Also, I'm inclined to give him a break because Andrew Lloyd Webber is clearly not his genre.
Brooke - Poor, poor Brooke. Our little bundle of sunshine may not be long for this show, which is too bad. Watching her get voted off is like sending away an orphan child's beloved puppy... sad, sad, sad.
David A. - Not bad, but mostly just made me want to listen to the real version of Think of Me, which is one of my fave Phantom songs.
Carly - My heart clutched when Carly "threatened" to sing All I Ask of You... I'd say one of my fave Phantom sings, but really they are all my faves. I love Phantom. I've seen it twice and it's truly beautiful music.... Thank the Lord, she passed on to Jesus Christ Superstar, a song I don't like that much anyway. Butcher away Carly, butcher away.
David C - I love you. He didn't even try to rock it out, he just flat out sang it. I love it that my boy proved that he can just straight up sing, not just rock, but anything.

Get ready folks, I think it's going to come down to David v. David.
Booyah!


Hell's Kitchen

Cory is lame.
I'm going to let her in on a little secret.
Tattling doesn't mean the girls are threatened by you.
It means that they are annoyed that you acted like a selfish ho bag and went to bed before the cleaning was done. So, shut it already.

Family Night at Hell's Kitchen... what a bad idea.
I love, love Gordon Ramsay, but dude has a potty mouth!
Potty mouth + kids = Awkward
Normally I love his bleeping mouth, but I just kept hoping that the kids couldn't hear him.

Yay, the ladies won! Even if that means Cory is going to be sticking around for another week

I loved the elimination part.
Ben promises to give 100% if he stays.
Matt promises to give 125% if he stays. Way to one up him... well you sold me.
Craig says "I don't know percentages, but I'll give you over that."
Um... okay, so you can't just pick a number greater than 125?
Ha, funny dude.

Bye, Craig.
You were incompetent, so I can't really feel bad for you.
You can't break down a chicken or cook pasta or "know percentages"... *sigh* this is going to be a long list, maybe it would be easier if you tell us what you can do. Plus, you were kind of a whiny, defensive bitch, so see ya.

Milestones

Today is a milestone for me. I have officially lost over 65 lbs. Yay for me! I try not to focus on the weight loss so much as the health stuff, but still it's hard not to have at least a mini-celebration for each increment of five that you pass.
I also managed to run at 6.0 mph for the entire 28 minutes on the treadmill. Double-triple-quadruple yay for me on that! The best part is that my lungs and legs still felt really good at the end of the run, which is a first. I got home late tonight because I was out buying a shower present for Alexis, so I didn't eat dinner before I went to the gym. I may have to do that more often. I had a snack before I went to the gym, but not a meal. It was still hard; it's always hard, but I felt really good about it.

American Idol - I knew that David Cook and David A were safe from the start. I watch American Idol on TiVO after I get home from the gym on Tuesdays, so by the time I cast my "votes" it's a good hour/hour and a half after the broadcast. I got a busy signal for both David's when I called.
Can't say I'm sorry to see KLC go, it was long over due. Ironically, I liked her best this week out of any week though. If I would have had my own personal preference, it would have been Syesha or Carly. Oh well... what are you going to do?

Ding-dong the pig is gone

American Idol

Before I get to this week, a moment about last week. Michael Johns getting kicked off the show was complete bullshit. He is a far better singer than many of those still left on the show (Carly, Syesha, Kristi Lee Cook, even Jason Castro and maybe Brooke, I'm looking at you!) Hopefully he goes on to bigger things because he was way better than 8th. It's really sad to think that he'll always have to live with the fact he was kicked off before Kristi Lee Cook. Sigh. Poor Michael Johns. I'd at least consider buying your album, Buddy. And Ryan Seacrest, try not to be such a dick next time you kick some one off. You were just mean!

Tonight was Mariah Carey night. Not a big fan of hers, but it wasn't too bad a night considering.
David A - was good. He's always good. But he didn't kill me. I didn't want to run out and buy it or anything. But still, he IS cute as a button.

Carly and Syesha back to back? Yuck!
Carly didn't hit the big notes at all. She was singing, but she wasn't really giving it her all. I don't like her anyway though. The judges liked Syesha, but frankly, she felt a little scream-y to me.

Surprisingly, I actually dug Kristi Lee Cook's performance tonight. Not enough to make me a fan, but I liked it better than the judges did.

Brooke, Brooke, Brooke... I love her. She's a little package of happiness, but I didn't really like this performance that much. I even like the song Hero. Maybe that's why I didn't like this performance. I liked the way she did it, but I didn't think the vocals were good enough.

David Cook is my favorite. I honestly think he would make the best American Idol, if the American Idol should be the one who is most likely to make it as a singer. I can see myself buying a David Cook album. In fact, I probably will buy a David Cook album. I love David A, too. But, I'm not sure what kind of album he would make and I would really have to like it to buy it. He's ten ways of adorable, but I'm not sure about the album he would make.

On a side note about David C, his brother who has brain cancer was in the audience tonight. When David C teared up, I can admit it got to me a little. You had me at brain cancer...

Don't really remember Jason Castro's performance. I remember thinking it was mildly pleasant at the time. Definitely liked it better than Carly, Syesha or KLC. Meh.


Hell's Kitchen!!!!

Have I mentioned that I love Gordon Ramsay? Cause I do.
Moving up on my list of people? Christina. I love it that she actually nominated the weakest link instead of Corey. It was a grown-up decision. If Corey want to play in the dirt on the playground, let her. Christina is better than that.

Ah, the chicken challenge. If they had actually killed those chickens I would have had to become a vegetarian. That would suck, so I'm really glad they didn't.

The challenge they had made me laugh though.
I kept thinking if Hung were on Hell's Kitchen he would have kicked all these amateurs asses. Five minutes to butcher a chicken? Hung would have broken down that chicken... perfectly I might add... in about 30 seconds.
I think in a head to head competition, Top Chef would kick Hell's Kitchen's ass. Not Gordon Ramsay's mind you, but Hung would be out cooking all these suckers like nobody's business.

Now, I've saved the best for last. The pig is gone. I was ready to throw things at the television every time that stupid, sexist, tub of lard opened his mouth. I was so sick of hearing all his junk. Buh-bye loser! Man, I didn't even realize dudes like that still existed. I mean I knew, but I thought they were smart enough to not come on national television with their men are far superior than women crap. And just so we're all clear, it is a bunch of crap!
Yay! I am so glad he's gone! It makes me so much happier to watch Hell's Kitchen next week!
All Gordon Ramsay, no sexist pig to detract from my mad Ramsay love! :)

Decompression

American Idol
Tonight was inspiration night on American Idol, but it was only okay for me.
David A was amazing as always. I have to admit, I'm not as in love with him as I used to be. I still love him, don't get me wrong. Tonight was another great performance. But, I'm okay with him being on the show, as opposed to keeping him in my pocket so I can pull him out to sing for me whenever I need a dose of adorable.
I thought Michael Johns was better than they gave him credit for.
I love that version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and I enjoyed Jason Castro's performance. Sorry Ash, but I dig him.
David Cook was a disappointment this week, but I still love him. He's the only one who's inspired me to buy his songs off of iTunes. Yep, that's right I bought Eleanor Rigby, Billie Jean and Hello. Michael Johns inspired me to buy songs, too, but I just bought the original versions instead of his versions (Bohemian Rhapsody and Dream On).
Syesha, Carly and Kristy Lee Cook can just go away now. They are boring. In a way, I feel sorry for Carly. She has a decent voice, if she didn't just reek of desperation (and hadn't sang the wrong words to Come Together) I might have liked her, but probably not.

Hell's Kitchen

I hate Jason. He's a sexist pig.
I love Gordon Ramsay, but if that sexist pig wins this show I'm going to have to stop watching. Maybe.
I may love Gordon Ramsay more than I hate "sous-chef" Jason.
Who am I kidding? I definitely love Gordon Ramsay more than I hate Jason.
Gordon Ramsay is right up there for me with puppies, Christmas and chocolate.

What was with Petrozza? "I'm done. I'm done." Whatever. Shut up. You didn't know how hard this would be? Where did you think you were going? Have you not seen Hell's Kitchen before? Dumbass.
Nice job stepping up, Four-star General Bobby. That's the first thing you've done on this show that makes me think you are not completely worthless.

Ha! Way to fuck yourself over Corey.
I had hope, after last week, that the women could come out and kick the tar out of the men (especially Jason.... have I mentioned I hate him?)
But after that display of complete and total bitchery, my team loyalty may depend on how long Jason sticks around. Although I like Christina so far, so I'm still leaning towards the women.

Formerly a Hater

I used to hate reality tv. I still do in a way. I won't watch Survivor or Big Brother.
I've made an exception for food related reality programs (Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen) and there was nothing better on this year, so we've been watching American Idol. (Totally a stretch, but I still have my principals here, people!)

American Idol
Mostly a boring evening, I wasn't even that impressed with the best performances. I probably won't buy any of this weeks performances on iTunes.
I totally called Syesha butchering "I Will Always Love You"
It's an awesome, awesome song, but when you sing it you will be compared to Dolly and Whitney. That's just a given, and that is almost never going to be a flattering comparison.
I totally LOVE Dolly Parton though.
If Nonnie (my grandmother) had been a country star, she would have been a lot like Dolly Parton.
She just has that wonderful Southern way about her.
There were the real compliments (David A)
There were the Southern-not-really-a-compliments (Kristy Lee Cook) ("Well, she made it her own" ha... so not a compliment)
Ha! She was awesome!

Hell's Kitchen
I love Gordon Ramsay.
I love watching him run around and yell at everything in sight.
He even threw chicken tonight! HA!
One of the guys is a total jerk he said apprx "I'm not going to lose to the women. The only thing I might lose to a woman is an ironing contest."
One of the guys is totally delusional "He may be the captain, but I'm a four-star general. To me, he's just a private"
Um... okay, crack baby, whatever you say!
Jeff and I were giggling like crazy through the entire episode.
It's funny. We watch Top Chef together too and it doesn't affect us like this, but we can't help but laugh during HK.


On a personal note...
The treadmill totally kicked my ass tonight. All things in balance I guess. I finished it, so I guess I have that going for me, but Thursday had better go better than tonight did. I don't want to embarrass myself in front of Tats again! :0)