Tuesday, March 31, 2015

The Voice, Ep. 8.11

Knockouts, Part 3

Tonya Boyd-Cannon vs. Barry Minniefield - Team Adam
I'm so glad Adam put these 2 against each other...I just wish he could get rid of both.

Tonya - "I Wish" by Stevie Wonder
Boring, boring, yuck, yuck. I've never been a fan of hers, and this didn't help. She did absolutely nothing fun or exciting with this song.

Barry - "What You Won't Do For Love" by Bobby Caldwell
Tonya's song was bad enough, but this one was absolutely horrible. Hated it! Never been a fan of Barry, and this also didn't help.

WINNER: Tonya

Kelsie May vs. Brooke Adee - Team Blake

Kelsie - "Tim McGraw" by Taylor Swift
She sounds really off for most of the song. What a stupid song. I don't think that song did her any favors. I've heard her do a lot better. You can just see it in her face as she's singing, and even just standing there after Brooke sang...she knows she wasn't very good tonight.

Brooke - "Electric Feel" by MGMT
I really liked this performance. This is a great song. I think she sang it really well and had a lot of really nice moments. As good as this was, Kelsie is more country, so he will likely choose Kelsie.

WINNER: Brooke

Joe Tolo vs. India Carney - Team Christina

Joe - "One of Us" by Joan Osborne
This was an interesting song choice. I like what he did with it. I think it was a really good performance. I don't see how in the world he's going to be beat the powerhouse India, though...no matter how well he does.

India - "Big White Room" by Jessie J.
This started out really boring. She finally let loose. I don't care for her vibrato, she always sounds like Elmer Fudd on a juicer (Seinfeld reference). If she could tone that down, she would be really good. I don't see any way she loses this to Joe.

WINNER: India

Jacob Rummel vs. Lowell Oakley - Team Pharrell

Jacob - "Life of the Party" by Shawn Mendez
I normally wouldn't like someone like him. There is just no denying that voice. He is just so good! He had maybe a couple notes that were a little off, but I'm hoping it's enough for Pharrell to keep him. I think he deserves to move on in the competition to the live shows. I think he played it a little safe and didn't really go for it full out, so I'm a little worried.

Lowell - "My Girl" by The Temptations
As much as I love his voice, I don't like his style and song choices. No thank you. His falsettos were really on-point. His voice sounds so good. I think he deserves to move on also, so I have no idea what Pharrell is going to do. He might go with Lowell just because Jacob was a steal.

WINNER: Lowell

Rob Taylor vs. Treeva Gibson - Team Christina

Rob - "Love and Happiness" by Al Greene
Hate the song choice, but man can he sing! I was really bored with this performance. I expected more based off what he was showing in the rehearsals. He threw in the high falsetto notes, but it didn't feel like the song went anywhere.

Treeva - "Chasing Pavements" by Adele
This is such a great song for her. She is incredibly talented for her age. She really did this song justice. It's not an easy song, and it's easy to try to sound like Adele. She had parts where it was a lot of Adele, but she also put a lot of herself into it. Hands down, it should be her.

WINNER: Rob

Joshua Davis vs. Lexi Davila - Team Adam

Joshua - "Arms of a Woman" by Amos Lee
Josh has got one of those great voices. It's sometimes raspy, sometimes a little gritty and gravely. He started this out so soft and tender, it was truly beautiful. I wish the song would have built up a little bit more...it seemed kind of flat, but otherwise, it was really, really good.

Lexi - "Anything Could Happen" by Ellie Goulding
She seemed a little too tentative at the beginning. Once she got to the chorus, she really let it rip. Her falsetto was really good. She transitioned really flawlessly from the falsetto and back to her chest voice. She really nailed the ending.

WINNER: Joshua
STEAL: Lexi goes to Team Christina

And with that, the Knockouts are completed. The teams are all now full, and we move to the Live Playoffs.


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Monday, March 30, 2015

Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 20.3

Week 3: Latin Night
Word of warning...it sounds like there were some injuries this week.

Rumer & Val - Salsa
That outfit! My goodness! I love the disco vibe! I think I'm just going to call this now...she is winning this season. There seems to be no stopping her and her charisma on the floor is like no one else this season. Those lifts were incredible. She looks like she's been doing this all her life. Great choreo from Val as usual. That was fun! Injury #1 of the night: Rumer plows into Val's face and busts his lip in rehearsal.
Score: 33

Charlotte & Keo - Rumba
First of all, let me say how awfully the house singers botched Shakira's song. She looks stunning in that outfit. Her flexibility really lends itself to this dance. It was beautiful, and Keo taking off his shirt didn't hurt. The only thing lacking was the chemistry...there was nothing happening between them. Her lack of concentration during the dance really reflects her lack of concentration in rehearsals.
Score: 22

Michael & Peta - Salsa
I love her outfit and her hair this week! Gorgeous! This was a very fast Salsa, with so many lifts and really fast moves. He kept up really well. I thought he did a great job. You could tell he was really trying to slow down the lifts--in rehearsals, his strength was kind of scary and he was throwing her around like a rag doll. He dropped her a little too hard, several times. I agree with Carrie Ann that it was a little choppy and it didn't always flow very smooth from one thing to another.
Score: 24

Riker & Allison - Salsa
I am just loving him more and more every week! Great job on the twisty arms! He really brought the fun of the Salsa...and he brought the sexy too! He was so worried about that, and she even ripped his shirt open at the end! Way to go Riker! I was a little bit worried about the lifts at the beginning and I wasn't sure if their timing was off or if it was just so fast. He threw in some breakdance moves, and the choreography was just so cool! Allison did not hold back, I think the difficulty of this was off the charts. I loved this so much!
Score: 34 (three 9s!, come on Len, 7?!)

Suzanne & Tony - Samba
Is it like a rule that at we have to hear "Copacabana" at least once every season? I was so distracted by the song and that hideous fruit hat, and really ugly feathers, that I couldn't really tell if she was dancing well or not. Not my favorite...I wish Tony would have done something else with this.
Score: 25

Chris & Witney - Argentine Tango
I feel so bad that he was at the bottom of the leaderboard...and 5 points below Charlotte...he didn't deserve that low of scores last week. I'm so happy that he came out and destroyed this Argentine Tango! This was hot! The lifts were great, and their chemistry was hot! So happy for him this week! I just hope he sticks around for another week because there are people who should go before him!
Score: 28

Robert & Kym - Rumba
Injury #2 was Robert. He was having trouble breathing and was having a lot of back pain. What an absolutely stunning dance! The song was beautiful, and the dancing reflected that. Their chemistry is so obvious. I didn't know how he would do at a dance like this, but he actually had some really graceful and smooth lines. Nicely done!
Score: 29

Patti & Artem - ChaCha
Artem asks Patti if he could lift her...oh dear, be careful Artem! Did Patti lose like 25 pounds this week? She looks so much thinner! He gave her a little more choreography to work with this week...but not much. She had some hops and a little shimmying, but not much else. Poor Artem...not impressed Patti. I don't care how many standing ovations she gets. She is not as good as everyone thinks. Seriously, people...compare her to everyone else this season...she just doesn't have it.
Score: 22

Willow & Mark - Paso Doble
Injury #3 - Willow. She hurt her rib cage on his quad. The more they rehearsed the worse it got. She couldn't breathe in rehearsals and was out flat on the floor. She came out like fire though...literally! She was fire and he was ice. That intensity in her eyes! She means business on the dancefloor. The music was erratic and so were Mark's loosy-goosy legs! Overall, while the music was a little distracting, she totally killed it! Great, great job!
Score: 32

Noah & Sharna - Argentine Tango
New challenge this week--he's trying to adjust to using a prosthetic arm. He doesn't use one normally, so trying to learn how to use the arm, and learn how to do the dance at the same time. It didn't work, so they scrapped the arm. I think he would have been far too uncomfortable with it and it would have affected his dance. I think he got by just fine without having a full frame. Sharna has quickly learned how to choreograph every other dance around it, and this was no different. I mean, he even did an over-the-head lift with one arm! Wow, absolutely incredible.
Score: 30

Nastia & Derek - Samba
Injury #4--they fell and Derek fell on her thumb...and they had very limited rehearsal time. Oh yes...Derek is shirtless! This dance was moovin'! Holy crap, Derek! He just doesn't hold anything back with his choreography...this thing was loaded with incredibly difficult moves. Like, a ton of them! And to think she has to switch between rehearsing with Derek and with Henry just because of how crazy their schedules are. They have to be right on, or it doesn't work, and I don't know how she can be that connected to him with the little rehearsal time. I loved this!!
Score: 34

Week 3 - Results

In Jeopardy: Chris & Witney, Charlotte & Keo, Noah & Sharna
Going Home: Charlotte & Keo

I love Keo, but she didn't have the best attitude and work ethic (at least from what we were shown). She was really starting to annoy me. Chris worked his butt off this week, so I'm glad he gets another week on the show! Instead of being clear at the bottom of the leaderboard, he is nicely in the middle this week.

The Judges' Leaderboard - Night 3

Nastia & Derek - 34
Riker & Allison - 34
Rumer & Val - 33
Willow & Mark - 32
Noah & Sharna - 30
Robert & Kym - 29
Chris & Witney - 28
Suzanne & Tony - 25
Michael & Peta - 24
Charlotte & Keo - 22
Patti & Artem - 22


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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

American Idol, Ep. 14.22

Top 9: 80s Week, with Guest Mentor Boy George
So, after the judges pulling a fast one on us and using their one and only save last week on Qaasim, we will be losing 2 people tonight.

Daniel Seavey – “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Hall & Oates
Right away, this is so much better than last week. He looked a little awkward at first without his guitar, but then he leaned the mic down and looked at some girls. It was going good, and then he seemed to mess up the words a little bit...and then his voice cracked. There was an oddly placed falsetto hoot, and a strange kick at the end. That was a real rollercoaster. It was kind of good, but kind of bad and cheesy. Not sure what to think about that one.
My Score: C+

Quentin Alexander – “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins
When I saw he was going to be singing this, I was really interested to see how he would do it. Will he do it close to the original, or will he make it even more haunting? It starts out a lot like the original. I really love it so far. I'm just kind of mesmerized...not even typing as he's singing...just staring at him. I think his vocals sound great. I had him going this week...not because I wanted him to go, but because I thought his time might be up. As long as Clark doesn't go home instead, I'm glad he's still around. He keeps things so interesting! And he's so talented!
My Score: A

Joey Cook – “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
Someone needs to give that girl some chill pills! I think someone electrically shocked her chair when her name was called the way she jumped. So, this week, she's "Madonna in space" (her words). Me being somewhat impressed with her started and ended last week. This week is another train wreck. I hope this train wreck wakes America up and bulldozes her down to the bottom of the pack where she belongs next week. The Joey of old is back. She starts out so off key, and she looks like a little kid just jumping around sporadically. This was so painful to my ears. The squeaks, shrieks and wails on every note just grind on my every last nerve. I don't consider this singing. And not to mention the assault to the eyes. That pink on top of her head: is it a big bow or is it more hair? Whatever it is, it totally clashes with her off-blue, bad dye job normal hair. Not enough can be said about how awful this was and how much she just does not belong in this competition. I'm so glad Harry wasn't feeling it.
My Score: F

Tyanna Jones – “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” by Whitney Houston
I have a feeling Tyanna will be back to herself with this song. This was a much better song choice for her than last week. Her vibrato sounds really beautiful on this song.  She had some really big notes, and I think overall this was a really strong performance for her. It should bring her back into the good graces of the fans after last week's misstep. I didn't quite get the outfit choice for this song, but she always does do her own thing wardrobe-wise.
My Score: A-

Jax – “You Give Love A Bad Name” by Bon Jovi
I'm really excited to see what she does with this song. I love that she is on the piano again. She didn't rearrange the song too much, but that's OK. It sounded enough like "Jax" and enough like the original that it really worked. I really liked this performance. I think some people might not like it. I didn't care for the screaming at the end, but those tender moments where she was almost whispering, were so good!
My Score: A

Nick Fradiani – “Man In The Mirror” by Michael Jackson
He ditched the guitar again, and this time he's slowing it down. I wasn't sure about this song for him, but it's really working for him. When the key jumped up, man was that good! I really like Nick, I hope people keep voting for him. I thought he might be in trouble this week, so I'm glad he's around for another week.This was a really strong performance. He's had 2 really good weeks back to back.
My Score: A

Clark Beckham – “Every Breath You Take” by The Police
Whew! WHY do they keep waiting until the very end to call his name?! Giving me a heart attack every week! He's back at the piano tonight. This was so tender and powerful at the same time. I will admit that he might not have hit every note, but in the whole of the performance and the emotion behind the notes, it still worked. And oh, how I loved how he changed the ending of the song! Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!!! Then he threw in his little signature head flip, and just took it home. Loved it! Keith is loving it too :) Got the goosies on that one! Way to go Clark!
My Score: A

Qaasim Middleton – “Addicted To Love” by Robert Palmer
I can hardly wait to see what he does with this song. It could get a little crazy. Ooh look at him...he's actually singing this week! And he's singing well! And then there's that signature stank face. I really wish he would get rid of that! I have to say, I don't think he has ever sounded better. This was a great song for him. He didn't change it too much, he just sang it. He of course put in some of his wild dance moves, but his singing was the showcase tonight. Gotta hand it to him, he showed everyone why he was saved. He needed to have a good week after using up the season's one and only save.
My Score: A-

Rayvon Owen – “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears for Fears
He sings like he's dead inside. You look into his eyes and there is nothing there. Harry has told him he needs to connect with the lyrics, and he just seems to sing them. I don't feel anything listening to him. This definitely wasn't great. There were parts that were OK, but I just didn't think it really worked. I'm glad he didn't just rely on his falsetto this time, but his full voice wasn't that great. At the end it sounded like he was panting, trying to catch his breath. This was not a fast song and he wasn't running around the stage, so why was he out of breath? Did he breathe at the right time or what? It was just weird. I love that Harry said that he would love to hear him not go to his falsetto on every single song.
My Score: C

Bottom 3: Adanna, Rayvon, and Maddie
Going Home: Adanna and Maddie

Next Week's Predictions

Should Be Bottom 3: Daniel, Joey, Rayvon
Should Go Home: Joey

Will Be Bottom 3: Rayvon, Quentin, Joey
Will Go Home: Rayvon

In case you haven't noticed...I like to take a stab at my predictions right after the show airs, because all the performances are fresh in my mind. However, I often come back and update my predictions for who will be in the Bottom 3 and who will go home, based on polls and other searches I find online. So, for now these are what I'm feeling, but I'm sure they will change as we get closer to next Wednesday. I really do feel like Rayvon will be the one going home next week, but I'm not so sure about the Bottom 3. Rayvon was in the Bottom 3 and was the only one saved since 2 went home. That means he was next in line. I don't think this performance was enough to move him up past any of the other singers.


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Survivor, Ep. 30.6

Nagarote Camp
Shirin is reeling after the uber shock of Max getting blindsided. In him getting blindsided, she was also blindsided. Shirin asks Carolyn if she is going to work with her or not. Carolyn said her and Max treated her like crap and spent all their time together.

Hali is truthful with Shirin and said they voted out Max because he did some annoying things and her name came up as doing annoying things as well.

Shirin has a boo-hoo pity party for herself and relates how she feels to how she felt growing up in the OC around rich people. Oh, such a poor thing.

Escameca Camp
Dan is back at it again...he relates his story to his new tribemates regaling his story of how he lost his underwear. Rodney is annoyed at hearing the same stories over and over. He bonded with Joaquin and said they need to stick together to keep each other sane. They bonded with not going to church every Sunday, having fun partying, etc. Mike isn't like them, so they know they only have each other. They have an east coast connection and want the money to stay on the east coast (Rodney--Boston, Joaquin--Miami). It's official, Season 30's first bromance.

Reward Challenge
This challenge is crazy! So much going on. Reward is getting taken to a turtle sanctuary to watch the turtles come out of the water back to the beach to begin laying their eggs. Then they will have a feast.

Escameca sits out Dan.

Rodney flies through the obstacles and he and Joaquin are up the first wall. Rodney is ready to launch sandbags at the targets. Will for Nagarote is lagging far behind and holding them up. Jenn is launching for Nagarote. She scores a point before Rodney does.

Rodney scores to tie it up. Joaquin takes his place. Hali scores for Nagarote. Joaquin ties it up.

Sierra hits on her first shot and puts Escameca up 3-2. Mike scores, it's 4-2. Carolyn connects and it's 4-3. Shirin scores and it's tied 4-4.

Joe finally connects and it's 5-4 with one target left. But now Will scores and it's tied again! Who knew this would be so close!

Jenn hits and Nagarote wins. Lookie there, the underdogs pulled it off. Then they did a little celebratory song and dance to rub it in a little bit.

Reward
The team is bonding, and as Carolyn put it, they are even tolerating Shirin.

After their meal, it was dark and it was time to grab the flashlights and watch for the turtles. And then we get to see the miracle of baby turtle eggs being laid.

Escameca Camp
Rodney is bummed...he really wanted that mac and cheese.

Joaquin talks to Sierra about her beef with Dan. He sees her as ammunition. He said what I feared...Joe is too strong and we don't want to keep him around too long. Joaquin said he can handle Rodney, while she thinks he's a hot head and loose cannon. Joaquin said they need 4, but she doesn't know if she can play the game with him. Rodney strolls up and hopes that Sierra isn't still mad at her. They talk about her like she's not even there. Joaquin wants to keep it a secret that they are working with Sierra. Rodney is cool with their 4, but when the time is right, he can flip. He thinks he's so smart, he thinks he's like Rocky Balboa because he thinks he's going to win the whole thing. Anyone else think this is foreshadowing for his impending blindside?

Rodney tells Mike that Joaquin is his puppet and he will do whatever he says. Rodney wants to throw the next immunity to get Joe out. Noooooo! Oh man, he just did the second worst thing. First he's overly confident and now he wants to throw a challenge. Red flags are going off all over the place here.

Mike's real alliance is with Kelly on Nagarote. He thinks throwing challenges might be a good idea because it would keep her safe. Oh man, I'm not liking this at all!

Immunity Challenge

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

The Voice, Ep. 8.10

The Knockouts, Part 2

Cody Wickline vs. Corey Kent White - Team Blake

Cody - "Til My Last Day" by Justin Moore
Thoroughly predictable as usual. He has his sound, and he doesn't sway from that. For being about as country as you can get, I would say he is pretty good. It's not my cup o' tea, but he's definitely got talent. While he has a classic country sound, he doesn't sound like every single male country singer on the radio today.

Corey - "Live Like You're Dying" by Tim McGraw
Corey is much more my style of country. He doesn't have an overly noticeable country twang. He leans more to the pop/rock side of country. I really like the tone of his voice. I really hope Blake picks him...which you know what that means...he'll pick Cody.

WINNER: Corey Whoa! Didn't see that coming!

Blaze Johnson vs. Deanna Johnson - Team Adam
Haha...Johnson & Johnson...and I totally typed that before Blake said it!

Blaze - "You Found Me" by The Fray
I love his song choices. He's right, you don't expect someone like him to be singing The Fray. I didn't love this for some reason. He sounded like he was forcing it too much. He really strained the high notes at the end and they were cracking a little bit. I don't think this was his best.

Deanna - "Listen to Your Heart" by Roxette
I love this song and it is so perfect for her! Her voice is so powerful and so raw. I absolutely love her tone. I can't say enough about how much I loved this. It totally gave me goosebumps.

WINNER: Deanna Woohoo! There was no way he could not keep her after that performance!

Hannah Kirby vs. Caitlin Caporale - Team Pharrell

Hannah - "Higher Love" by Steve Winwood
There are things about her voice that I love, but there are also some weird things she does. I'm torn on this song choice. I think the way she sang it was just a little awkward. I'm not quite sure how to describe it. She kind of overprounced the words, and I don't know, it was just a little weird. I think the notes and everything were really strong, but the dynamics of the song were just a little much.

Caitlin - "Warrior" by Demi Lovato
She has such a pretty voice. Her voice just cuts like a knife. This was a really good song choice. Those long notes were gorgeous and so strong. I would absolutely pick her over Hannah. I love the way her voice just floats from note to note. Stunning!

WINNER: Caitlin Yes!
STEAL: Hannah goes to Team Blake...actually she is going BACK to Team Blake


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Monday, March 23, 2015

The Voice, Ep. 8.9

The Knockouts!
Each coach will pair 2 singers against each other, 1 moves on and 1 goes home. Each coach also has 1 more steal.

Nate Ruess from the band Fun. is going to be helping out all of the coaches. I'm interested to hear his critiques and suggestions. It's going to be tough to top Chris Martin and Taylor Swift.

And just in case you didn't know...this is the point in the competition where favorites are paired with non-favorites and the favorites tend to go home. Just FYI. Just watch all the people I like in my recaps below, and watch how many of them go home...it's going to be a bloodbath.

Ashley Morgan vs. Sonic - Team Christina

Ashley - "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar
I've really liked Ashley since the beginning. I think her voice is just so crystal clear. I think she nailed this song. I don't know that we've seen her with this much power before. The a capella part at the end was so pitch-perfect.

Sonic - "A Woman's Worth" by Alicia Keyes
I haven't been as much of a fan of Sonic. I didn't care for this song choice. I think she sounded decent, but it was a bit too whiny for me. Those high notes were really up there!

WINNER: Sonic

Brian Johnson vs. Sarah Potenza - Team Blake

Brian - "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You" by James Morrison
I love James Morrison! Awesome choice Brian! His voice is just so smooth. I wouldn't have compared him to James Morrison, but with this song, I do see the similarities in their styles. Very nice performance. It's going to be hard to make more of an impression than Sarah though. I would love to see him continue...not going to happen though.

Sarah - "Wasted Love" by Matt McAndrew
I was so ready to just vote for Brian because he's awesome, but she had to go and pick this awesome song from Matt last season! What a compliment to him and his awesomeness for her to do his song. Guaranteed her version won't even compare to his, though. I like that she was a little more subdued this week. She let it slowly build, and then she let it rip. Still not my favorite by any means, but man can she blow. Just please get some new glasses...please! Seriously, I'm so over them!

WINNER: Sarah
STEAL: Brian goes to Team Adam! I can't believe Adam used his one save on Brian! One of the Ohioans is moving on!

Clinton Washington vs. Nathan Hermida - Team Adam

Clinton - "Wanted" by Hunter Hayes
I'm so glad that Adam stole him from Christina. Adam needs someone like him on his team. He sounded great on this song. His talent is so incredible. He was so on-pitch. I loved the vulnerability and kind wavering in his voice at the end. So good!

Nathan - "Leave Your Lover" by Sam Smith
I'm not a fan of this song, but he sang it really well. His performances are always so effortless. He makes the jumps up to falsetto and back down so seamlessly. Really nice performance. I still like Clinton better though, however, Adam really seems to like Nathan.

WINNER: Nathan

Mia Z vs. Paul Pfau vs. Sawyer Fredericks - Team Pharrell
The reason why this is a 3-way battle is because Anthony Riley is not continuing for personal reasons. So, for the first time in The Voice history, one person would be left without someone to battle with. 2 will be moving on, and 1 will go home.

Mia Z - "Hold On I'm Coming" by BB King
Very, very interesting song choice. I'm not loving this choice, but dang, that girl can sing! She just let it fly! So many dynamics in this song. And those ridiculous high notes! One big negative: I don't think I understood one single word of what she sang...not...one. It was all a lot of mumbo jumbo.

Paul Pfau - "I Don't Need No Doctor" by John Mayer
This was a really cool and groovy performance. I really want to like him, but I guess I just don't care or his music style choices. It started with his audition of "Fly Me To The Moon"...that lost me immediately. He was a little better in the Battle Round because the song was chosen for him. Now that he's back to choosing for himself, we get this. Normally John Mayer would be a good choice, but this is a remake of an older song, so, I wasn't really feeling it.

Sawyer Fredericks - "Collide" by Howie Day
Yes, yes, yes! A Howie Day song! I knew I liked this kid! How will he do without the guitar though? His voice makes this song sound so different from the original. Normally I wouldn't really go for a voice like this, but there's something about him that I just can't describe. I really hope Pharrell keeps him because this competition needs someone like him. The end of the song was just phenomenal!

WINNERS: Sawyer and Mia Z

Meghan Lindsey vs. Travis Ewing - Team Blake

Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 20.2

Week 2: My Jam Monday!

Chris & Witney - ChaCha ("Time of My Life" by Pitbull)
And finally, the offbeat and counting problems that I suspected are becoming evident in his rehearsal video. He definitely had a couple times where he either didn't start on the right beat or was on the wrong foot or something. But, overall, I was really impressed again! He really made this ChaCha work! He looked like he was having a lot of fun.
Score: 21 I can't believe how low those scores were! They had some negative feedback, but not enough to warrant 5s! Geesh! Poor guy!

Suzanne & Tony - Jive ("Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" by Jerry Lee Lewis)
There's a lot of shakin' goin' on for this 68-year-old! Tony really whipped her around, and I don't think she missed a beat. Wow! That was a fast jive for anyone, let alone someone her age. She could have been a little bit sharper maybe, and she might not have been 100% in sync with him, but it was still really entertaining.
Score: 28

Robert & Kym - Foxtrot ("You Make Me Feel So Young" by Michael Buble)
He's got really nice form. His bubbly personality came through just as much in this dance as it did in his more upbeat dance last week. He looks like he just loves dancing with Kym...hence the song...hence the dating rumors...
Score: 28

Charlotte & Keo - ChaCha ("California Gurls" by Katy Perry)

Thursday, March 19, 2015

American Idol, Ep. 14.21

Top 10 - Movie Night
Special guest mentor: Nile Rodgers (who?)

Adanna Duru – Jennifer Hudson’s “Love You I Do” (Dreamgirls)
Ugh! J-Hud/Dreamgirls...yuck! Horrible song, but she sang it well. I don't think it was one of her best, though. She had some questionable notes. The song didn't really go anywhere. There were no dynamics, it was pretty much all at the same level. I agree with J. Lo, the emotion didn't seem genuine. She does tend to come across a little fake sometimes. Not as fake as Loren Lott, but still not completely genuine.
My Score: B

Daniel Seavey – Adam Levine’s “Lost Stars” (Begin Again)
The high notes at the beginning weren't too good, and he seemed almost lost. The slower pace of this song really showed off the flaws in his voice. Rather than excelling on the falsetto notes, they were strained. He even tried some high notes in his full voice, and they sounded really forced. When he's singing something happy and upbeat, you don't notice (or don't care) as much when it's not perfect. This song brought the bad notes to the forefront, and they were really noticeable. He had some really great moments, too, but there weren't as many good moments as there were cringeworthy notes. It pains me to say that this wasn't that great. I think he'll still stick around, even if this ends up being the worst of the night.
My Score: C-

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Survivor, Ep. 30.4 & 30.5

This is going to be a long one, folks! We're in for 2 hours of Survivor awesomeness! 2 episodes this week! The previews looked nuts, so I can't wait. Let's get to it!

No Collar Camp - After Tribal
Hali said Nina got what she had coming to her. Hali told Will his name came up twice only because they were playing safe in case Nina had the idol.

Blue Collar Camp
Mike killed the tiniest snake, and Kelly helped him skin it. And we had to see the whole thing! Yuck!

Reward Challenge
Whoa, you know this is going to be big when we are at a challenge only 4 minutes into the episode!

Callback to an old challenge. 2 blindfolded teammates with callers up on platforms. The blindfolded teammates have to dodge some really painful obstacles. 2 other blindfolded teammates have to pulley the items up to the caller.

Winner: chickens and roosters. Runner-up: eggs

White Collar sits out Tyler and Blue Collar sits out Rodney and Mike

I'm not ready for this...we know from the previews that there's an injury. Everyone cross your fingers that no one we like gets hurt.

Callers: White--Carolyn, Blue--Sierra, No--Joe (Yay! That means that Joe isn't the one who gets hurt!)

Shirin takes a hit to the groin! She and Max get their first item. No Collars get back with their first item. No Collars get their 2nd item back. Blue and White simultaneously get their 1st items. Shirin gets nailed again! No Collars get their 3rd.

For Blue, Dan just lets go of his rope and the platform plummets hard to the ground. Jeff yells at him to be careful. For No Collar, Will does the same thing several times and he hits himself every time. Jeff yells at him to be careful and it's on him to be careful. Blue drops the platform again, and this time it nails Kelly on the head...really hard! She gets up and there is blood everywhere! Jeff yells "STOP!" and calls for the medic. Medic checks her out, and she's fine. He patches her up and they continue.

No Collars have all their items, and they are after their flag. Blue and White are fighting for 2nd. "Blue Collars platform is askew!" yells Jeff. White Collar gets the last item up and they are looking for the flag. Here comes Blue Collar. Shirin walks right into the obstacle. Is it her fault or Carolyn's for poor directions? I'm not sure.

And it's No Collar for the win and White Collar with 2nd place. Too bad No Collar's win had to come in a Reward Challenge and not an Immunity Challenge.

No Collar Camp

The Voice, Ep. 8.8

The last of the Battle Rounds continue - Part 4

Jeremy Gaynor vs. Rob Taylor - Team Christina
"Animals" by Maroon 5
Very interesting song choice for these two. They did better with this than I thought. I wasn't really sure how this would be based on the rather underwhelming rehearsal. Rob hit all of those high notes and it was really incredible. I don't know who I would give this one too, because Jeremy was just as good. Wow.
WINNER: Rob

Noelle Bybee vs. Sawyer Fredericks - Team Pharrell
"Have You Ever Seen The Rain" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
I wish Pharrell would have picked a different song, but I'm still entranced by Sawyer's voice. I really want him to move on, but Noelle's voice is so beautiful too! They sound so great together! Personality-wise, this performance was a little sleepy on both their parts, but Noelle did a little better in that department. Sawyer's solo part at the end was really great. I'm really hoping for a steal on this one. I don't want to lose Sawyer, but I think Noelle might have one of the prettiest voices of any of the girls in the competition.
WINNER: Sawyer

Koryn Hawthorne vs. Vance Smith - Team Christina
WINNER: Koryn

Bay Brooks vs. Brooke Adee - Team Blake
WINNER: Brooke

Bren'nae DeBarge vs. Lexi Davila - Team Adam
WINNER: Lexi

Corey Kent White vs. Jacob Rummell - Team Blake
"I Want Crazy" by Hunter Hayes
Obviously this country song is going to suit Corey much better than Jacob. Nice sabotage Blake. This is the point in the competition where being the "unique" person on Blake's team will be the disadvantage. Blake wants to work with who he can help, and that will always be the country singer. Sorry Jacob, I can tell you're screwed before you even get started.

This performance was a lot better than I thought it would be. These two are so different, but Jacob really made it work. Even though their voices aren't really similar at all, their harmonies were really beautiful. Wow, I'm really, really impressed with that! I liked hearing Jacob sing some parts a little lower. His high voice can sound like a girl, but he does have the capability of singing a little lower too. This is too close to call, which means it's going to be Corey all the way, I'm telling you.
WINNER: Corey --what did I tell you...classic Blake move
STEAL: Jacob goes to Team Pharrell -- Thank you Pharrell!! He is going to be perfect for Team Pharrell


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Monday, March 16, 2015

Dancing with the Stars, Ep. 20.1

Welcome back to the ballroom for Season 20! Woohoo! All hail the new and improved GOLDEN Mirrorball Trophy!

In case you're not familiar with this season's "stars", be sure to check out the cast bios.

Willow & Mark - Cha Cha
Gotta love the Hunger Games opening with Mark "volunteering" to be her partner. "May the odds be ever in your favor." LOL! This little lady's got some moves! She had so much confidence for being the youngest ever, and the first to take the floor on Season 20. Major props, girl! She didn't miss a beat. Her legs were a little sloppy, but that's nothing to sneeze at.
Score: 25

Robert & Kym - Cha Cha
It's so nice to have Kym back! I am not familiar with Robert at all, so I wasn't sure what to expect. He's got a silly side, but he actually had some moves! He showed more promise than I expected him to have. It was actually a pretty decent routine.
Score: 28

Riker & Allison - Jive
What a cool way to start -- crowd surfing! I think these 2 are going to have a blast this season. You can immediately see Derek in his dancing (they're second cousins). It almost isn't fair, is it? Who cares...He's got skills and I like watching him...so there! I do wish he would do something else with his hair though...it's a little bit unruly. I'm anxious to see what the judges think, but I think his technique was really good! He definitely had a boat load of energy, that's for sure. He might be a rebel in Len's eyes this season.
Score: 31

Charlotte & Keo - Jive
I'm so glad Keo is getting another chance. I LOVED their meeting and their play on Austin Powers with the round objects in place of her boobs. That was pretty funny! Honestly, I can't ever help but just stare at Keo and his natural charisma. I think she must not have messed up, but I can't speak about her technique...I was too distracted by Keo :) There might have been a couple of places where she was just looking at him to know what to do next, but she covered it pretty well.
Score: 22

Patti & Artem - Foxtrot
Again, I have to say, I feel so bad for Artem. She's already acting like a diva. He always gets the "older" stars, and now she's got to rest because she might throw up. Honey, it's only the first week and your "older" fans are going to keep you in the competition at least 3 weeks or so...so get in shape fast! Probably one of the slowest foxtrots in history, but she did it with grace and it was nice and smooth.
Score: 25

Chris & Witney - Jive

The Voice, Ep. 8.7

The Battles continue! Part 3

Briar Jonnee vs. Caitlin Caporale - Team Pharrell
"Fallen" by Alicia Keyes
Both have really strong soulful voices. They harmonized really beautifully together. Caitlin really nailed the signature big hook moment of the song. I think Caitlin might have the slightest of edges in this one. I think she showed a little more range than Briar did.
WINNER: Caitlin

Barry Minniefield vs. Jack Gregori - Team Adam
"Feeling Alright" by Joe Cocker
Could I care less about this battle? I don't think so. 2 of Adam's weakest choices. Although I loved Jack's "Ring of Fire" it wasn't enough for me to want to see more of him. Adam what were you thinking with these 2? I am bored to tears with these 2. Can he get rid of them both? Does someone have to win? This is so not for me. I actually fast-forwarded through some of it just to get through it.
WINNER: Barry

Katelyn Read vs. Treeva Gibson - Team Christina
"Addicted to Love" by Florence and the Machine
Those dreaded words "Florence and the Machine" = I'm not going to like it. It is a remake of a song that I like, so it's got that going for it, but I was right...horrible version. This version is so boring! These 2 just show no life in their rehearsals...they couldn't even let out a scream. I'm glad that their actual performance was better than what they did in rehearsal...it was actually quite a bit better once they put more of themselves into it and less Florence. I think if I had to pick, I would pick Treeva. Katelyn does some weird things with her voice. I'm glad they showed a little bit of personality and playfulness in their performance. I was really worried the whole thing was going to be a snoozefest.
WINNER: Treeva

Kimberly Nicole vs. Lowell Oakley - Team Pharrell
"Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton
I just can't even with this song right now. Ugh! I mean, I know he's a crooner and she's soul, but yuck! I didn't care what either one of them did with this song at all! Both talented at what they do, but not my cup o' tea. So Pharrell is having such a hard time with this decision...just pick Lowell already! I can't stand Kimberly and her bright lipstick, ugly tutus and ugly big hats.
WINNER: Lowell
STEAL: Kimberly goes to Team Christina ...of course someone was going to steal her...and with her last steal of all things, really?

Brenna Yager vs. Kelsie May - Team Blake
"Fancy" by Reba McEntire
These 2 are so young, and so country. This is a hard song, and they really nailed it. They struggled with their harmony in rehearsals, but they were perfect tonight. Another perfectly matched pair. They are so equal, I don't know who I would pick. Kelsie might have a slight edge, but boy it's close.
WINNER: Kelsie

Clinton Washington vs. India Carney - Team Christina
"Stay" by Rihanna and Mikky Ekko
I absolutely love Clinton's voice! I could listen to him sing to me all day! India's voice is very good as well. I'm actually kind of impressed with her voice, especially for being such a deep voice. This song was a perfect choice for them. I like some of the changes they added to the song. OK, so I don't like her extremely fast vibrato that sounds like she is sitting on a washing machine...that's a bit much. Other than that, it was a very beautiful duet! I have no doubt that Christina will go with India, because she's a girl.
WINNER: India
STEAL: Clinton goes to Team Adam
I am so happy! Clinton absolutely deserves to stick around. He would be the perfect addition to either Team Adam or Team Pharrell. It's shocking that Christina was the only one to turn around for him in the Blinds. Adam really needed him because his team is really hurting in my opinion.


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Thursday, March 12, 2015

American Idol, Ep. 14.20

Top 12 Perform...again
They've got me so confused with the added Detroit round to get to the Top 12, and then going down to just one episode per week. Now, they're doing 2 eliminations in a row? I read that one singer will be leaving tonight, based on votes from yesterday. Which reminds me...I forgot to vote last night! Yikes!

We get our first look at Randy Jackson's replacement: Scott Borchetta. Let's hope he has some real advice for these singers and can help them grow and improve...unlike his predecessor and Jimmy Iovine before him.

We are also introduced to "the chairs". The contestants are sitting on stage, and their chairs are all lit in red. When their name is called to move on, their chair turns green. I kind of like this!

Tonight's theme is: Party Songs

American Idol Season 14's Top 12

Let's meet the Top 12 of Season 14, shall we!

Age: 18
Hometown: Diamond Bar, CA
Occupation: Student
Age: 18
Hometown: East Brunswick, NJ
Occupation: Musician
Age: 23
Hometown: Woodbridge, VA
Occupation: Busker
Age: 17
Hometown: Ankeny, IA
Occupation: Student
Age: 19
Hometown: Columbia, TN
Occupation: Musician
Age: 16
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Occupation: Student
Age: 22
Hometown: White House, TN
Occupation: Street Performer
Age: 15
Hometown: Vancouver, WA
Occupation: Student
Age: 29
Hometown: Guiford, CT
Occupation: Musician
Age: 19
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Occupation: Student
Age: 21
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Occupation: Retail Associate
Age: 23
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Occupation: Singer/Vocal Coach

Photos from: AmericanIdol.com

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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

American Idol, Ep. 14.19

Top 12 are revealed! First of all, let me say, I'm so glad they are out of Detroit! I don't know what it was about the place they were performing, but it just felt so depressing. I don't think any of the singers were at their best in the last 2 weeks performing there. Part of that was the awful theme - Motown. This week will be better, as the theme is Audition Songs. They will sing the song they auditioned with.

Sarina-Joi Crowe - "Love Runs Out" by OneRepublic
Ouch, I think she started out really out of key and off-pitch. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like she ever got it figured out. The chorus got a little better, but her pitch still seemed off and she seemed off-beat. That's such a shame, because she was becoming my favorite girl. Apparently the bigger venue kicked in the nerves. The competition amongst the girls isn't very tough, so I'm willing to stick by her for one more week.
My Score: C

Rayvon Owen - "Wide Awake" by Katy Perry
Still, the only guy I would like to lose, and somehow he makes it through again. He is just so boring to watch. He just stands there and does nothing. His voice is so good, I just wish he would do something a little more exciting, or change-up the song a little so he's not so predictable every week. This was fine, but again, so forgettable. There are so many better guys to choose from. Who keeps voting for him? Ok, so that last note that he held for what seemed like a lifetime was pretty spectacular and so spot-on...but one moment in the song isn't enough.
My Score: B+

Daniel Seavey - "Straight Up" by Paula Abdul
Oh Daniel, such a cutie! He ditched the guitar this week. I love his little looks to the audience. He really knows what he's doing. And to figure this out at such an early age...just watch out! Most of his vocals were pretty good. He had a little slip-up when he messed up the words, and his voice cracked on a couple of the high notes. Honestly, it's not going to matter because the girls LOVE him. This could have been better, and I'm hoping next week that he can have a breakout performance vocally. He's got it in him, he just gets so excited!
My Score: B-

Maddie Walker - "Suitcase" by Gwen Sebastian
I want to like Maddie...but something is preventing me. She had some nice moments, but she also had some really wobbly, unsupported notes. She has potential, I just wish she could break through because she is still pretty forgettable.
My Score: B+

Tyanna Jones - "Wings" by Little Mix
This is such a great song for her. I remember her audition and it was really good. I actually think her a cappella version in the audition was more compelling. She is still one of the top 2 girls in my opinion. She, unlike Maddie, is very memorable. She has her own signature, and you just know she's always going to be great. She's one of the youngest, but she performs like she's been doing it forever.
My Score: A

Nick Fradiani - "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel
I absolutely love him singing this song. He's another one that I really remember his audition, because he really stood out. This was just another great performance for him. He's so solid and consistent. He just doesn't have a bad performance. I love watching him sing. I just realized that when he gets a little bit of grit in his voice, he reminds me a little bit of Chris Daughtry. He even looks a little bit like him.
My Score: A+

Jax - "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles
I really like when she's at the piano. She's so good when she sings so softly. When she doesn't overdo that quirky, indescribable thing with her voice, she's incredible. It often borderlines too much. If she can keep that reined in, she will go far. She changed it up a little and did a little bit of the song more upbeat, which shows just how versatile she is.
My Score: A-

Qaasim Middleton - "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder
His audition was incredible. I remember wondering if he was a joke or if he was serious. Now knowing him, he was totally serious....but was bringing the funny! He started out really subdued...but just wait for it...there it is...there goes his leg! He threw in some beat-boxing which was really cool. And then he hit this ridiculous note! He always has so much fun, and I love watching him. He is always one that I look forward to. Are his vocals always spot-on? Um...no...but it is so fun and entertaining. At this point, you have to be remembered, and he certainly is. I know the vocals are there, and when he needs to really be perfect vocally, I know he will be. He is the complete opposite of Rayvon. I'll take Qaasim any day.
My Score: B+

Clark Beckham - "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World" by James Brown
Yes! I was getting worried about my Clark! This was such a great audition, but he's actually gotten so much better since the audition, so I can't wait to hear him do this song now. I've never, ever liked this song, but I will listen to him sing anything. I'm going on record right now and saying that he has the best voice in the competition. He is so insanely good! I.am.in.love. Swooning right now...holy crap. That last note...I can't even! Clark, Clark, Clark...is it getting hot in here?
My Score: A+

Joey Cook - "King of Spain" by The Tallest Man on Earth
Hearing this in the audition was one time too many. And now we are forced to listen to it again. At least she didn't bring her squeezebox this time. Her voice = nails on a chalkboard. Her voice = making me want to rip off my ears to escape the pain. I'll admit that this version of the song was slightly better than her audition. I just...I just can't even handle any more of her. And I'm so annoyed with how nervous she still is, and how shocked she appears to be every time she makes it through...it's not cute anymore (was it ever cute?). Get over it and gain some confidence already.
My Score: D+

The judges' picks for Wild Cards:

Quentin Alexander - "Royals" by Lorde
I'm a little surprised he didn't get voted in. He was a no-brainer for the judges' pick. His version of "Royals" is mindblowing. This wasn't his best performance, but he's still one of the best voices in the competition. Awe, he actually got emotional at the end of his song. This clearly means so much to him. He had J. Lo in tears too!
My Score: A-

Adanna Duru - "You And I" by Lady Gaga
Her audition was really good, and I like her singing this song. She hasn't always had the best song choice, and that's prevented me from jumping on the bandwagon. She rocked this one out. There were a couple of sketchy notes as she really tried to force it too much. Overall, it was a pretty solid performance.
My Score: B+

Based on the 5 people left, I'm not surprised at all that Adanna was the last judges' pick. I would have said either her, Mark or possibly Adam. I'm so glad Loren didn't make it. And there was no way it was going to be Alexis, especially after last week.

Going Home: Adam Ezegelian, Mark Andrew, Alexis Gomez, Loren Lott


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Survivor, Ep. 30.3

No Collar Camp - After Tribal
I still can't believe Vince is gone! Nina is going to flip out being in an alliance all by herself. Joe was surprised that Will flipped and decided to vote for Vince. He said he doesn't know if he can be trusted. So basically, Will took a for-sure alliance with 3 that could have gotten the upper hand 3-2...and is now #4 in a 4-person alliance. Not the smartest move.

Nina cries and tells them they might as well vote her out because she knows that they are all going to stick together. They told her not to give up because nothing is decided. She whined about her hearing again. You know, they wouldn't make it an issue if SHE would stop using it as an excuse.

White Collar Camp

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

The Voice, Ep. 8.6

The Battle Round continues

Anthony Riley vs. Travis Ewing -- Team Pharrell
"Get Ready" by The Temptations
Going into this, everyone would think that Anthony has the edge. But Travis came out swinging! He didn't back down and he showed just how good his voice really is. I'm surprised at how good they sound together. I really like them both, but I have to go with Travis on this one. I'm guessing Anthony will get picked though.
WINNER: Anthony
STEAL: Travis goes to Team Blake! Woohoo! Thank you Blake!

Ameera Delandro vs. Sonic -- Team Christina
"Masterpiece" by Jessie J.
This battle is epic and is a masterpiece in its own right. I was not a fan of Sonic's blind audition, but she sounded really good tonight. Ameera was so amazing as well. Their voices are so perfectly matched. This song was absolutely perfect for both of them. It had some fast raps, some soft, tender moments and then ends with so much power. I don't know who's going to win this one, but I will be shocked if there isn't a steal on this one.
WINNER: Sonic

Hannah Kirby vs. Sarah Potenza -- Team Blake
"Gimme Shelter" by The Rolling Stones
Talk about bringing the house down...these 2 tore the house to shreds! Another perfectly matched pair. They couldn't be more similar. I wouldn't have thought that going into the battle, but they battled it out like 2 raging bulls and neither one was backing down. I tend to think singers like this way overdo it and scream the song. I think both of them had the perfect combination of singing/screaming. What a performance! There will absolutely be a steal on this one because there is no way to pick a winner. And that ending...wow!
WINNER: Sarah
STEAL: Hannah goes to Team Pharrell (Adam also tried to steal)

Blaze Johnson vs. Michael Leier -- Team Adam
"Rude" by Magic
I really dislike this song, but it couldn't be more perfect for these 2. Because of Blaze's background, the raggae style really suits him better than Michael, but he totally made it work. I have to give this one to Michael I think.
WINNER: Blaze

Cody Wickline vs. Matt Snook -- Team Blake
"How Country Feels" by Randy Houser
Well, this was definitely country. It's hard for me to pick which one  I like better because they are both so country. I can appreciate Cody's unique old-fashioned country sound, but I don't always like it. Matt sounds more like what all male country singers sound like right now. It's a toss up. Both are extremely talented, and even I can admit that they sounded really good together.
WINNER: Cody

Meghan Lindsey vs. Paul Pfau -- Team Pharrell
"Don't Let Me Down" by The Beatles
What an interesting pairing. It really shouldn't work, but somehow it does. I was right about Paul--once you get him singing a different song, he's amazing! Meghan really put her heart and soul into that performance, but she just doesn't quite do it for me. I feel like I really want to see what else Paul can do. I feel like Meghan would be the same every week, and I think Paul can do a lot of interesting things.
WINNER: Paul
STEAL: Meghan goes to Team Blake (Christina and Adam also attempted to steal)
Big surprise for her to choose her old friend.

Gabriel Wolfchild vs. Joe Tolo -- Team Christina
WINNER: Joe

Deanna Johnson vs. Nicolette Moretti -- Team Adam
WINNER: Deanna

Josh Bastone vs. Nathan Hermida -- Team Adam
WINNER: Nathan


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The Voice, Ep. 8.5

We have a last few spots to fill on the teams and then it's right into the Battle Round!

Last of the Blind Auditions

Team Adam

Nathan Hermida, 17
His voice was surprising because he didn't look like he should have a voice like that. I wasn't so sure about him at the beginning, but as he sang more, I could tell he's got a really good voice.
Chair Turns: 2 (Adam and Christina)

Team Blake

Hannah Kirby, 29
Wow, I don't know if I like her voice or not. She sounds like she is singing from the back of her throat. She seemed a little too loud and forced.
Chair Turns: 1 (Blake was the only one with a spot left...the rest said they would have turned)

Team Christina

Vance Smith, 22
Really nice voice, but not a standout for me. It took me forever to recognize the song because it was done in such a weird key.
Chair Turns: 2 (Christina and Pharrell)

Team Pharrell

Paul Pfau, 26
Awful song choice, but he has a great sounding voice. I'm excited to hear him sing something current. Adam was really kicking himself for not having any spots left. And then Paul tells him he met him 10 years ago and was too shy to give him his demo...he just happened to have it with him.
Chair Turns: 2 (Blake and Pharrell)

Caitlin Caporale, 23
Wow, she has such a strong voice! Beautiful tone and so polished and clear. Christina was dying to push her button but couldn't because her team was full. Then she dueted with her....so good...so ridiculously good!
Chair Turns: 2 (Blake and Pharrell)

THE BATTLE ROUND

Ashley Morgan vs. Mia Z -- Team Pharrell
"Put the Gun Down" by ZZ Ward
I love this song! And it is so perfect for them. Their harmonies are so good! Each on their own were very strong and so evenly matched. I can't call this one...they sound so similar! Just when I think one pulls ahead, the other one totally matches her. Wow.
WINNER: Mia Z
STEAL: Ashley goes to Team Christina
All 3 of the other coaches pushed to steal her.

James McNeiece vs Tonya Boyd-Cannon -- Team Adam
"PYT" by Michael Jackson
I wish they had a better song, but they definitely rocked it. As good as Tonya is...I absolutely have to go with James. They were surprisingly better together than I thought they would be. Unfortunately for James, Tonya kind of took over and over-powered him. He held his own, but she was just such a loud force.
WINNER: Tonya

Brian Johnson vs. Joshua Davis -- Team Blake
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan
These 2! They are so good as individuals, but as a duo, they are amazing! I have to root for my fellow Ohioan, Brian, but Joshua deserves a steal, no question. Joshua has such as amazing bluesy voice, and I don't even know how to describe Brian's.
WINNER: Brian
STEAL: Joshua goes to Team Adam


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Monday, March 9, 2015

The Bachelor, Ep. 19.21: Finale & After the Final Rose

Tonight's the night we get to see if the spoilers are correct! Plus we follow up with the "happy" couple and find out if they are still happy 4 months after the proposal.

Chris starts out back in Iowa. Becca and Whitney will be meeting Chris's family. Recap of where we're at: Whitney has said she loves Chris, Becca's relationship with Chris has moved a lot slower and she hasn't pledged her love yet. He is torn and could go either way.

Whitney

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Dancing with the Stars Season 20: Cast Bios

Season 20 of Dancing with the Stars is just around the corner! This season marks their 10th year! Wow! Expect to see lots of special things to mark this anniversary. They supposedly wanted to include everyone's favorite pros and some really great stars. Well, for the pros, for the first time in awhile, there are no first-time pros. All of the pros have done at least one season.

I'm glad to see Keo coming back. He really got royally screwed last season, for his first season, when he was paired with the awful Lolo Jones. Not only could she not dance at all, but she had the absolute worst attitude I've ever seen on the show and couldn't even put on a fake smile. It was not a surprise when she was the first one voted off. We didn't get to see what Keo could do, other than some brief guest spots in the dances that either close or open a commercial break. From what we saw of him, he looks to be a really great dancer and a cool sense of humor. I hope we get to see more of that this season.

And who could not be excited to see Derek back?! He had said he was taking the season off because he is performing with the Rockettes in New York City. Well, apparently, he just couldn't pry himself away from the show, because he is going to pull double duty. Yes, that's right. He's going to rehearse with Nastia (who is attending NYU) in New York...and do his show...and then they will fly to LA for the show every Monday. Yikes! This guy just doesn't know how to say "no"...and he is such a glutton for punishment. He's been stretched thin in the past, but this is going to be a real challenge I think, even for him. I just hope his body holds out. He's had so many back and neck problems in the past, so I hope he can last for a long time. With a gymnast for a partner, he's sure to make at least top 4.

Again, Tony and Artem draw the short end of the stick and end up with the oldest contestants. I really feel bad for them. The producers never even give them a chance.

As usual, I'm not super excited for this cast of stars. Half of them I've never heard of, which, for someone like me who watches a lot of TVs and follow a lot of celebrity news, the fact that I've never even heard of some of these names before tells you just how low on the celebrity totem pole they are. However, I'm not worried. I have these same thoughts just about every season, and then each season ends up being better than the last. So again, I'm sure I will grow to love most, if not all, of these unknown celebrities.

The fun begins at 8:00 PM on Monday, March 16, on ABC.

Season 20 Cast and their Pro partners:

Thursday, March 5, 2015

American Idol, Ep. 14.18

Top 8 Girls

Tyanna Jones — Bobby Day/Michael Jackson’s “Rockin’ Robin”
Oh how I hate this stupid song. That said, she definitely "rocked" it. Get it?!
My Score: A

Loren Lott – Michael Jackson’s “I Wanna Be Where You Are”
Still annoying. When she "sang" it wasn't bad. It got bad when she did those annoying "ah" in her weird nasally/throaty squeals. I don't even know how to explain how she sounds...it's just nails on a chalkboard for me. Her dance moves were so overexaggerated. I just don't get what people see in her. Her overly excited squealing and jumping around before and after singing is just beyond annoying. Take it down a notch!
My Score: C+

Maddie Walker — The Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There”
Is her mic even on? I can barely hear her. I'm still not sold on her. She's OK, but she just doesn't stand out to me. She needs to work on consistency throughout a song. Parts are good, but then she kind of falls off in other parts. Her pitch seems a bit weird at times.
My Score: B

Joey Cook — The Miracles’ “Shop Around”
I was so afraid this was going to happen...the ONE person out of the entire top 24 that I didn't want to make it...has made it through. Happens every year, there's always one. This was by far one of her most painful performances, and that's saying a lot because there have been a lot of terrible ones. There was nothing good about this...at all...and I'm not exaggerating. One thing she had going for her was that this song was barely recognizable. I hate this song, and I still hate it after hearing her version...but at least it was different. I can't stand how shocked she always is that she makes it through, and there's always so much crying...ugh!
My Score: D-

Sarina Joi-Crowe — The Miracles’ “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me”
She is quickly becoming my favorite girl. Last week she shocked the pants off of me, and I wasn't sure if she could match that again. But, she did! This was really good! Her voice is so pretty! I love how she has such soft moments, and then she can belt it out. Her vibratos and runs are perfectly timed and not overdone. This was perfection! I don't agree with Harry, I don't think she was flat at all.
My Score: A+

Adanna Duru — Lionel Richie’s “Hello”
Her too? America is killing me! This was one of her best performances. She really kept it under control and just sang the song. Nicely done, I'm impressed. Again, though, just like last night, I'm reminded of a much better version done by another Idol. David Cook's version was so amazing--relive the awesomeness here.
My Score: A

Jax — Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”
First of all, is she wearing the famous #TheDress that broke the Internet last week with the debate on the colors? I seriously think it is...how did she manage that?!? Second of all, this was an absolutely cool version of this song! This has never been one of my favorite songs, but I love what she did with it. We got the good Jax tonight. Wow, Harry and J. Lo definitely didn't agree with my assessment of this version of the song.
My Score: A

Alexis Gomez — The Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”
Wow, out of the girls that were left, I was dreading that Shi was going to get the last spot...thank goodness she didn't! This song does not work as twangy country...yikes. No Motown song was going to work as country, so she was kind of screwed. I liked her early on, but her last couple of performances have not been so great. I hope she can come around.
My Score: C+

We say goodbye to these 4:
Katherine Winston
Lovey James
Shannon Berthiaume
Shi Scott

Of those 4, I'm really, really bummed that Lovey and Shannon didn't make it. There aren't many girls that I liked, and those were 2 of them. I honestly don't know why they didn't make it. Their voices are amazing! So much better than some who made it. On the plus side, at least we are done with Shi! No more Shi! If we can just get rid of Joey next week, I will be a happy girl.


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Wednesday, March 4, 2015

American Idol, Ep. 14.17

Top 8 Guys

Daniel Seavey – Marvin Gaye’s “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”
I don't know how, but somehow, he gets even cuter every week. That smile is just so infectious. He gains confidence every single week, and it's just fun to see him grow. It was a good performance as usual. No one's saying he's got the best voice in the competition, but he's got so much more going on for him.
My Score: B+

Mark Andrew – The Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rolling Stone”
Another fun performance from Mark. I have to admit, I thought he might not make it to the next cut. The guys are just stacked with talent, and as good as he is, he wasn't necessarily a stand-out. This performance didn't blow me away, but it was solid. I liked the originality of the arrangement.
My Score: B+

Rayvon Owen – The Temptations’ “My Girl”
Of course...the one guy I would have been OK with losing...and he makes it through. I'm even more nervous now to find out who isn't moving on. He gave a very predictable performance. Nothing that stood out, again. Sang beautifully, albeit very boringly.
My Score: B-

Adam Ezegelian – The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back”
As much as I like Adam, I'm getting REALLY worried for some of my favorites. This was not my favorite performance, but he couldn't help it with this awful genre of songs to pick from. He did the best he could with an awful song and he made it interesting, just not one of my favorites.
My Score: B+

Clark Beckham – The Miracles’ “The Tracks Of My Tears
Woohoo! I breathe one sigh of relief for one of my favorites! Go Clark! He really can just make any song into a "Clark" song. What an interesting version of this song. He just gets so into his songs...I love him! He might have strained a little bit on a couple notes and they didn't quite land like he normally can do. I loved this performance, but if I'm being honest...nothing and I mean nothing compares to Adam Lambert's version of this song. No one will ever sing it as good as he did. If you don't believe me, watch that epic performance again here.
My Score: A+

Nick Fradiani – Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”
Nick is another one I wasn't so sure would get the votes. I'm glad he did because I think he has one of the best voices in the competition. Another good performance...only hindered by the song. Sorry Stevie Wonder fans, but I've never liked that song.
My Score: A

Qaasim Middleton – Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish”
Love me some Qaasim! The one you shouldn't really like but do. He's my guilty pleasure. I so enjoy his comedic moves...he always puts on such a show. It's not always all about the singing. Those crazy legs! He looked a little bit like he was having a seizure at times, but man, good times!
My Score: A

Quentin Alexander — Stevie Wonder’s “Master Blaster (Jammin’)”
What a great performance. I really enjoyed it! I don't think I've ever heard this Stevie Wonder song. He killed it!
My Score: A-

We SADLY have to say goodbye to 4 of my favorites:
Michael Simeon
Riley Bria
Savion Wright
Trevor Douglas

I have to say the one that surprises me the most is Trevor. Of course, he's my favorite of the 12, and of course he's going home. I really thought, based on the "performers" with lots of personalities, that he of all of them would be safe. He has been one of the most entertaining through the whole audition and Hollywood rounds. I just have to think that his slightly poor vocal performance last week might have been what did him in. That's such a shame that he had to have his worst performance the first time America could vote. I really, really, really hope he comes back again next year! Trevor is my big loss in this round, but the other 3 were at the top of my list as well. Last week, I knew it was going to be so difficult to say goodbye to any of them and I wasn't sure who I would even lose if I had to pick.  Well, I can tell you now, the 4 I would have dropped would have been: Rayvon, Mark, Savion, and it's a tie between Michael and Adam.


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Survivor, Ep. 30.2

Blue Collar Camp
Dan lost his "manties"...OMG! He said he had them around his leg...doing his business, when a huge wave came and, well, now they're gone! As bad as they were (or what little of them there were), now he's resorted to using his shirt to cover himself up. Lindsey thinks this is just a ploy for him to appear funny. She actually thinks he lost them on purpose.

Mike thinks they need to be up moving around and doing something instead of just sitting around. They make up a basketball game...how creative! In 30 seasons, I don't think we have EVER seen a tribe doing something recreational like that. With as much down time that they have, I'm sure they aren't the first to actually do it, but I think this is the first time we've seen it. Mike, however, didn't really approve of their choice...he thought they should be working, doing things like getting firewood. Rodney was tired of Mike telling them what to do.

White Collar Camp

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

The Voice, Ep. 8.4

Blind Auditions #4

Team Adam - 11

Lexi Davila, 17
Her age kind of shows, but she has some potential. Definitely some things to work on, but her voice is really pretty.
Chair Turns: 2 (Adam, Blake)

Josh Bastone

Jack Gregori, 37
OK, I'm a sucker for "Ring of Fire" if it's done right. Wow, he was good! His "normal" singing voice was so solid, and then when he dipped down into the low notes...it was ridiculously good!
Chair Turns: 1

Team Blake - 11

Bay Brooks

Brenna Yaeger, 19
Very gutsy singing a Miranda Lambert song in front of Blake. I was surprised how sweet her voice was. Very pretty voice. Best part was when she sang "you don't know me from Adam" and Adam immediately pushed his button and said "she said my name!". lol Adam almost had her all to himself, but finally, Blake turned around too. I so want to be her, because Adam gave her the nicest long hug and danced with her...oh my...I...would...die. She would be a great win for Adam, but it was clear from the beginning that her heart was set on Blake.
Chair Turns: 2 (Adam, Blake)

Brian Johnson, 24
Another Ohio singer! Wow...where are they all coming from! He wanted Adam to turn and all he had to do was sing "Ooh" and he did...wow! I can see why, this guy is amazing! I really wanted to like him, because of his story about bullying and struggling with his weight and his image. The more he sang, the more I liked it. He was so good!!! He was really feeling what he was singing. Such a great performance. And then he chose Blake!
Chair Turns: 2 (Adam, Blake)

Corey Kent White, 20
I really like his voice. I'm not crazy that he's so country. I think he would sound great doing pop/rock. The coaches debated all day about whether or not to turn around for him, and at the absolute last second Adam and Blake turned. Things got serious when Pharrell took his jacket off. Ha!
Chair Turns: 2 (Blake, Pharrell)

Team Christina - 11

Koryn Hawthorne, 16
I love this song and I think she did a really good job with it. She has such a deep, full voice. I wish she wouldn't have sung it in such a low key. I think she could have sung it in a higher key. She hit some higher notes, so it was possible, and I think it would have sounded even better.
Chair Turns: 2 (Christina, Pharrell)

Katelyn Read

Ameera Delandro

Jeremy Gaynor, 30
He was OK, but pretty boring...maybe it was just the song choice. He had a nice falsetto.
Chair Turns: 4

Team Pharrell - 10

Ashley Morgan
Really strong voice. Great pitch and tone. Her voice was just really pure. I don't know that she stood out as very original or unique, but she definitely has a good voice. The second half of the song was really good.
Chair Turns: 2 (Blake, Pharrell)

Briar Jonnee, 20
She has a very sweet and tender voice. She did a good job with a Rihanna song. When she got to the chorus, she really did some great things with the song. She really ended strong. I really liked it. I was pleasantly surprised by her.
Chair Turns: 2 (Blake, Pharrell)


A Note on a No-Chair Singer:
Jess Gallo, 20
Another Ohioan! I knew right away when they showed her working at her family's restaurant washing dishes and after hearing her name that I had seen her before. I was pretty sure it was on American Idol. I checked, and sure enough I was right. I don't remember anything about her singing on Idol, just her story. So, when she sings, I can't believe I wouldn't remember her because her voice was so strange. It was really closed off and weird. I love the song she did, but it was really weird. Too weird for all of the coaches.


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