through the looking glass

Article: Time Travel Flicks

Fri, 25 May 2012 23:15:39 GMT

I had fun writing this one:

Time After Time: Movies Focusing on Time Travel

The Magic Mix to Win "Idol"

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:56:34 GMT

All those weeks of performances and voting came down to one result. Who would win "American Idol," Season 11?

Jessica and Phillip

After the requisite opening montage about the finalists, the finale for Season 11 of "American Idol" started with the rest of the Top 12, all dressed in white, singing "Runaway Baby" by Bruno Mars. It was a high-energy performance, and they seemed to be having a blast, all wearing white with silver accents. Joshua Ledet did a split, which was impressive, until he fell on his butt! Four dancers in black suits came down, then, and did some impressive hip-hop moves, with a little breakdancing thrown in. Then a couple who did swing dancing joined in. Just a little preview of what fans might see on the summer tour. [TOP 12, SANS PHILLIP & JESSICA]

Host Ryan Seacrest was in a tuxedo with black tie. He revealed that a total of 132 million votes had come in for the two finalists, Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez, who came in then, also wearing white.

In the first celebrity duet of the evening, Phillip performed with John Fogerty from Credence Clearwater Revival, starting with "Have You Ever Seen the Rain." They sounded good separately (though not so great together), Philip playing his guitar and wearing a light brown shirt over a brown V-neck, while Fogarty wore a blue plaid shirt. This is the sort of music Phillip ought to be doing. Of course, because he was performing with the guy who wrote the song, Phillip couldn't take too many liberties, but he did play with the melody a little bit in the middle verse.

After that, Phillip introduced "Bad Moon Rising," which they also performed together. Again, this kind of music is Phillip's wheelhouse, and he seemed to have a good time playing with a musical legend. Afterward he turned towards John and, in a very classy move of respect, applauded him. [PHILLIP & JOHN FOGERTY PERFORM]

Next was a montage of wacky moments from the season, including some moments from the auditions that we'd had months to forget.

Then, Joshua performed an Elton John song, "Take Me to the Pilot," wearing a shiny silver jacket over a black button-down shirt and black pants. He was joined by "the biggest inspiration in my life, Fantasia Barrino." She had really long extensions and was wearing a body suit covered in black and red sequins. They jammed out together, then moved into the audience to get the audience worked up, walking down the aisle and singing directly to people. After hugging her near the end of the song, Joshua kind of brushed her aside and shook Jimmy Iovine's hand. Then the two singers continued jamming into the commercial break. [JOSHUA & FANTASIA PERFORM]

Ryan announced, then, that Jimmy had a "special love letter" to share with Jennifer Lopez. There was a montage of him repeatedly calling Jennifer "Jessica" by mistake.

The ladies of the Top 12 sang a medley of Chaka Khan songs together, then, all wearing glittery mini dresses. At times, it was pitchy. Their medley led into a performance with Chaka Khan, who was helped down the steps by four dancers, who then took her jacket with them. She was wearing a skin-tight brown body suit with sequins on the chest; not a great look. Her singing made up for it, though, on "I'm Every Woman," although near the end it got a little shouty. [TOP 12 GIRLS WITH CHAKA KHAN; NOTE: I apologize for the poor video, but "American Idol" did not post it for some reason.]

This week's Ford video was a combination of highlights from the season, showing the contestants' names in the order of elimination. They had Jessica last. Does that mean anything? We would find out later.

Afterward, Phillip and Jessica presented cars to two people who have inspired them (his brother-in-law and her musical mentor). Ford also presented cars to the two finalists, a 2013 Ford Fusion.

Next on the stage was Rihanna, performing "Where Have You Been" on a smoke-filled stage, emerging from a large black cube pushed on by dancers. The performance included green lasers and lights sweeping across the ceiling as if it was the night sky, as well as dancers crawling and moving. Rihanna wore a black bikini top and a skirt that was more like a floor-length black loincloth. There were some great dance sequences, involving very tribal moves, in the musical breakdown, which is a much better place to insert those kind of moves than in the middle of a singing passage. [RIHANNA PERFORMS]

Performing "Turn on the Radio," Skylar Laine took the stage then wearing a black satin jacket with white ruffles. She started in the audience next to Steven Tyler and then marched onto the stage and introduced Reba McEntire, who came out to sing with her. Their voices blended well, and they had good on-stage chemistry. [SKYLAR & REBA MCENTIRE PERFORM]

Ryan had taken over Jennifer's seat at the judges' table, and he introduced a montage about Steven and his dressing room, which was filled with Playboy bunnies, a pet sloth and pet monkey, pirate gear, and a white organ. "My first manager, Quetzalcoatl," Steven joked, pointing out a skull on top of the organ.

Jessica Sanchez had to follow that silly piece with a reprise of "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. It was lovely, and so was she, in a floor-length one-shoulder bright-blue evening gown with some keyholes at the top near the shoulder. She got a standing ovation by Season 10 competitor Haley Reinhart. [JESSICA SINGS "I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU"]

The guys of the Top 12 (except Phillip) performed next, doing a medley of Neil Diamond songs. Colton and Heejun both sounded great. All of them wore black and gray. They then launched into "I'm a Believer," written by Neil for The Monkees. Ahh, Davy Jones, we miss you. Colton announced Neil Diamond, who strutted down the stairs singing "Sweet Caroline," wearing a black shiny jacket over a black shirt. He did it William Shatner style, talking much of it until the chorus, when the guys jumped in. There was an all-female brass ensemble onstage. Awesome. Shot of "Glee's" Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) in the audience. [TOP 12 GUYS WITH NEIL DIAMOND]

Then came a montage of Randy at various moments using one of his favorite phrases, that "you can sing the phone book." In honor of that, the Top 12 a clever song derived from the yellow pages, wearing choir gowns and holding phone books like hymnals. Brilliant. Can we retire the phrase now, Randy? Scotty McCreery, in the audience, presented Randy with a phone book wrapped in a red ribbon. "Get some new material for next year," Ryan urged Randy, before asking him to help announce a performance by Jennifer.

Jennifer Lopez performed next, wearing a sparkly tank top with baggy sparkly pants and a bedazzled baseball cap. She took the mike away from her mouth while the first phrase was still ending (lip-synching, for sure) and did a dance routine with some dancers dressed like her. The performance also used green lazars and sweeping lights.

At the conclusion of the first number, she stripped off the tank top to reveal a sparkly bra. She was joined onstage with two rappers, Wisin y Yandel, who swung out on what looked like giant ski poles, which were then pulled away. [JENNIFER LOPEZ PERFORMS]

Lauren Alaina and Taylor Hicks were in the audience. Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo, the "first American Idol couple," came up onstage. She was still wearing her favorite color, pink. They've moved in together, and Ace felt this would be the perfect place to ask a simple question. Ryan had the lights dimmed, with the dramatic music used for results. Ace said, "We have conquered Broadway together and created music together." He dropped to one knee. "I love you to death. You're my best friend. I want to make this last forever... Diana Nicole DeGarmo, will you marry me?" She said yes and gave him a big kiss, through tears! Viewers might remember she lost Season 3 to Fantasia Barrino, but she's since won Ace's heart. [ACE YOUNG PROPOSES TO DIANA DEGARMO]

Hollie Cavanagh performed next, doing a standard, "You'll Never Walk Alone." She introduced Season 6 winner, Jordin Sparks, who picked up the song partway through and walked down the steps in a silver gown, with long extensions in her hair. They were joined onstage by a full choir for the inspirational song. [HOLLIE & JORDIN SPARKS PERFORM]

Ryan spoke about the fact that Robin Gibb, who performed on the "Idol" stage two years ago, had passed away over the weekend. The Top 12 guys (without Phillip, again) sang some Bee Gees songs in tribute to him.

Shot of Harry Hamlin and wife Lisa Rinna, big "Idol" fans, in the audience.

Another celebrity duet, with Jessica Sanchez performing, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," with Grammy winner Jennifer Holliday, who originated the song in the Broadway production of "Dreamgirls." In this case, Jennifer started the song, with Jessica strutting out, wearing a black floor-length sleeveless dress. You could really see how much Jessica has patterned her singing on singers like Jennifer Holliday when they sang together, down to the growling and arm gestures. I loved the diva face-off with the stank faces. Awesome. Did anyone else get "goosies"? [JESSICA & JENNIFER HOLLIDAY PERFORM]

Jennifer and Randy jumped to their feet to applaud, with Randy exclaiming, "Crazy." Steven was missing: getting ready for his performance?

Aerosmith took the stage next, with guitarist Joe Perry rocking it out and Steven taking control of the stage while singing their new single, "Legendary Child." It sounds a lot like some of their earlier hits, and while it took a while to get going, it ended strong. Then they wisely went for a well-known hit, "Walk This Way," with Steven strutting around the stage in his floor-length leopard-print jacket. High-octane rocking out. [AEROSMITH PERFORM]

Then, the finalists, Jessica and Phillip performed a duet to the Joe Cocker song, "Up Where We Belong," both receiving huge applause from the audience. Phillip sat on a stool, and Jessica walked over to him. He was dressed in black with a jacket, and she wore a burgundy gown. Their voices complemented each other well. [JESSICA & PHILLIP PERFORM]

As Ryan called them up for the final results, the show officially ran long. Asked for final thoughts, Phillip said it's been an honor and thanked the band and the fans. Jessica thanked the whole crew and the fans, as well.

"After a record-breaking 132 million votes, the winner of 'American Idol' Season 11 is... Phillip Phillips!" Ryan declared. No surprise there. Immediately, Heejun ran out to congratulate him, followed by the rest of the Top 12. Scotty presented him with an official trophy (is that a new thing). Ryan handed him a guitar and congratulated him as he sang his single, "Home." As he sang and the confetti started to rain down on him, he began to tear up and stopped singing while the background singers continued. He handed his guitar to one of his fellow finalists and walked into the audience to be embraced by his family. [PHILLIP'S CORONATION]

As the credits roll on another season, some may be asking, "With such a talented group of finalists, how did we end up with another WGWG (white guy with guitar)?" Now is the time that I reveal a piece of information that I kept under my hat until now. While I was watching his audition, I said to myself, "There's the Season 11 winner." Why did I think that? And why was I right?

From the start, Phillip exhibited the perfect mix of qualities required for success on "American Idol." While not the strongest traditional vocalist, he was talented. He was original: performing an acoustic version of a Michael Jackson song that the judges raved about. More than that, he was humble. (Did you EVER hear him brag, the entire season, or take the judges' praise for granted?) The "guy next door," he was friendly and supportive with his fellow competitors. (Did you EVER hear anyone accuse him of giving someone the evil eye or being dismissive of someone else? Or do you remember, instead, funny moments of him interacting with them in a fun way, especially with best friend Heejun Han?) He was willing to take risks and bounced back from his mistakes by trying harder. Most importantly: he grew throughout the season, peaking at the right time. Only some of these qualities were evident at his audition -- the musical skill, the originality, and the pleasant personality -- but it was enough for me to envision him getting the "Idol" crown. On top of that, he kept doing his best -- and succeeding -- even while enduring painful medical problems (fighting with kidney stones all season long, leading to various hospitalizations and doctor's visits, with an upcoming surgical procedure scheduled).

Of course, this is a story about two strong finalists. A Jessica win would have been historic on "American Idol" for multiple reasons. She would have been the first woman to win since Jordin Sparks, way back in Season 6. She would have been the youngest winner, the first winner who was neither white nor African-American (being Mexican and Filipino), and the first winner to take the crown after being saved from elimination by the judges. These emotional factors, in addition to her talent, gave her a bit a boost. Sadly, though, her final performances didn't deliver the "moment" that her duet with Jennifer Holliday did on the finale show. Add to that the fact that Phillip went second and therefore, his version of "Home" was stuck in viewer's minds, and a Jessica win would have been a real upset.

The takeaway from this: you don't need to be a "white guy with a guitar" to win "American Idol," but you do need to learn from this season. To win "American Idol," viewers have to not just like your performances, but they have to also really like you. That's the true magic formula to win.

Moral:
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it's never just about the singing.

Article: 'Smash' Cast Shake-up

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:16:56 GMT

Wrote this on quick turnaround yesterday:

'Smash' Cast Shake-Up Should Be Good for Season 2

Article: Double Casting in Movies

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:10:55 GMT

Here's my latest Yahoo! Movies article:

Seeing double: Two (or more) actors sharing movie roles

Opposite Styles, Same Dream

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:50:06 GMT

An opening montage to the final performance show of Season 11 on "American Idol" showed the two finalists on their journey so far, reminding viewers that they started out on opposite coasts but with the same dream. These performances would decide which one will get the "Idol" crown.

Host Ryan Seacrest pointed out there were 7,000 fans in the audience for the finale at the Nokia Theater. Round one would be creator Simon Fuller's choice, round two would be the contestants' choice of a reprise from the season, and round three would be an original single. Since Phillip won the coin toss, he would be going second.

The Top 2 with Ryan Seacrest

1) Jessica Sanchez kicked off the program singing "I Have Nothing," which was Simon Fuller's choice for her, wearing a coffee-colored floor-length dress with a white ruffle at the bottom she had to gather up to walk down the steps. Her big voice was a perfect match for the Whitney Houston standard. She's one of the few "Idol" contestants who could do that song justice. Her last note was controlled and sweet. [JESSICA'S 1ST PERFORMANCE]

Ryan announced that we would hear from the judges at the end of Round One. There would be no padding in this one-hour final performance show.

2) For Phillip Phillips, Simon Fuller chose the Ben E. King classic "Stand By Me," a much simpler song, vocally. Phillip sat at a microphone stand, playing his guitar, wearing a light blue shirt over a white T-shirt. Some background singers and percussionists accompanied him onstage. The first part of the song was pleasant. The transition into the chorus was a little rough, and he was underneath the notes for a bit when he tried to play with the melody a little later. [PHILLIP'S 1ST PERFORMANCE]

Asked to judge round one, Jennifer Lopez said it was a tough one because it was "the battle of the opposites." She liked the power and control demonstrated Jessica and likened Phillip to "a modern-day crooner" (really?). When asked who won round one, Randy Jackson said it went to Jessica.

After the commercial break, Ryan asked Jennifer if she agreed on who won the first round, and she said she did. Steven Tyler just sat back, silent. Maybe he thought he was at home watching. Either that or Ryan was sitting on him, due to timing.

Then, Jason Derulo debuted his new single, "Undefeated," written with the help of viewers. He danced with a group of dancers in street clothes, and his neck brace was finally gone. The first verse wasn't too impressive, but the chorus was catchy. Coca Cola, Ryan said, would give away free downloads, but only 10,000 of them. I clicked immediately, but no luck.

3) Singing Celine Dion's "The Prayer," the song that earned her a spot in the Top 24, Jessica stuck with a ballad for Round Two. Wearing a floor-length pink dress, she was surrounded by smoke. This choice may have been a misstep, for while it was a song that means something to her, it's not a song that the viewers would recall fondly from her having a moment with it. After all, nobody but the judges got to see her full performance the first time she sang it. Then again, maybe it was smart, since people won't compare this performance with her first version of it. Either way, she was strong vocally, as she always is, but there was no moment in this. [JESSICA'S 2ND PERFORMANCE]

4) Phillip's favorite song from the season was "Moving Out" from Billy Joel Week, which must have been a personal favorite, because it wasn't one of the songs that viewers and critics had raved about. Phillip wore a black long-sleeved shirt and played his guitar, with some other backing instruments onstage with him. The relaxed vibe on the stage made it seem about 110 percent cooler than Jessica's performance had been. Once more, he wrenched the melody around to suit himself. [PHILLIP'S 2ND PERFORMANCE]

Asked about round two, Steven said, nonsensically, regarding Phillip's performance, "You don't always have to be a good egg. Hatch or go bad." He thought that Jessica took round two. Randy said it was a dead heat. Jennifer thought Jessica blew it away in the first round and Phillip succeeded in this round. "That was authentic Phillip right there."

5) Performing the single she would release if she won, Jessica sang, "Change Nothing," written by Joleen Belle and Harry Sommerdahl. She started the song sitting on the piano, wearing a mustard-yellow blouse with white jacket with ruffles on the front and black leggings. It was a typical "Idol" single, bland and generic. She did the best she could with it. [JESSICA'S 3RD PERFORMANCE]

Randy didn't love the song but liked that "you made something more out of the song." He complimented her for having a Beyonce vibe and said she brought the song to life. Jennifer thought she sang the song well. It was a pop ballad, but she would have liked her to do something with soul or blues. Steven didn't feel the song was the proper one for her to sing (as if it's her fault!).

Ryan asked how Jessica felt about the single, and Jessica said that she would rather do something more urban, but she'd also wanted a single that showed her voice. She said her album would be "a lot more me."

* 6) Phillip's single "Home," written by Andrew (Drew) Pearson and Greg Holen, sounded much more like him, starting out with guitar picking. "Just know you're not alone, because I'm going to make this place your home." This is one of the best singles that a finalist has been given. Talk about good luck. A drum line came out on stage near the end (shades of what they did with Lee Dewyze). It's a song I'd listen to on the radio on my favorite station, WXPN. Standing ovation from the judges. [PHILLIPS'S 3RD PERFORMANCE]

Randy loved the song, the production, everything about it. "That's your best performance of the night," he said. It reminded him of Mumford and Sons or Fleet Foxes. Jennifer thought it was "a Phillip Phillips song" and that there's nothing that sounds like that on the radio (clearly, she's not listening to WXPN, a.k.a. Adult Alternative Radio). Steven heard a little Paul Simon in there. He loved it, too.

Ryan asked the finalists if they wanted to say anything to each other. Jessica said that "he's an amazing artist... I love him so much. I'm so glad I'm here with you." Phillip said, "She's an amazing person, and ... one of the best singers I've heard in a long time. She's got a huge future ahead of her."

For the last three minutes, Scotty McCreery sang "Please Remember Me," the good-bye song that had been used each week. He wore a white button-down shirt with a brown vest and dark jeans. His deep, rich voice got the audience waving their hands along, as a montage of season highlights played on the screen behind him. [SCOTTY MCCREERY'S PERFORMANCE]

Kudos to Phillip for stepping it up on the single and to Jessica for strong vocals throughout the night. Now it comes down to how viewers will decide the winner. Will they go for Jessica, the 16-year-old vocal powerhouse who came back into the competition via a judges' save and could not only make "Idol" history but also break the WGWG (white guys with guitars) winning streak? Or will they vote for Phillip, the guy-next-door who's given his all every week despite health issues, and whose winning single was the most listenable in "Idol" history?

Based on the buzz online amongst fans, don't rule Jessica out. She has a strong following, and Phillip seems to have more detractors. Whatever happens, I predict it will be a squeaker. This is Phillip's contest to lose, based on previous "Idol" history, but I wouldn't rule out a surprise Jessica win.

Moral:
Song choice can make even a strong vocalist seem kind of boring.

Article: AGT Recap

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:28:32 GMT

Here's my "America's Got Talent" recap from last night:

Night of Laughs at New York Auditions for 'America's Got Talent': Recap

Articles: AGT Recap

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:25:34 GMT

Here are my two latest articles on Yahoo!

Whatcha Gonna Do? 'America's Got Talent' New York Auditions Bring Surprises: Recap

Wackiest Movie Rulers Command Laughter

Please check them out!

LJ Idol Season 8 - Week 28: Heart Mosaic

Mon, 21 May 2012 23:26:42 GMT

This is my entry this week for therealljidol. I invite you to read and vote for the many fine entries. This week's topic is "Walking on Egg Shells."

A mosaic made of colored eggshells on a white paper background.
First, there's an outer band of small colored dots in rainbow colors. Then there is a circle of interlocking hearts, with the bottoms inward. The hearts are red, yellow and blue, and where they intersect they make the secondary colors orange, green and purple. An array of four dots in gradually decreasing size leads to the center of the circle from each heart, following the rainbow colors starting with each heart (i.e. red heart, then orange, yellow, green, blue dots). At the center is a yellow starburst which has a small circle of red, purple, and yellow dots. At the very center is an orange circle. The mosaic was created on paper, colored with marker, and then the colored eggshells were carefully laid on top with clear Elmer's glue, which gives it a glistening, jewel-like look. Click on the photo to see it larger.

Shifting nervously in the plush upholstered dining chair, Emmett glanced once more towards the door. His father would be here soon. Holding the phone against his ear like a lifeline, Emmett wished the voice on the other end were sitting next to him.

"Khalil," he said, "Tell me again why this is important."

Soothingly, Khalil responded, "Because family support is an important factor in personal growth. And because truth, as hard as it may be, is the first step." Ever since he had met Khalil at the campus chapter of PFLAG, the two had grown close. Khalil, a tall guy with a cafe-au-lait complection and short dreds, had spent hours with Emmett, talking over coffee and helping him make sense of his emotions.

Emmett sighed and looked around the room. Of course, when he'd told his father that he wanted to go out to dinner together, just the two of them, his father had made reservations at the Carle Hotel. Everywhere Emmett looked evoked a memory: the piano player who had graciously placated him with children's songs when he was an antsy toddler; the corner where his dad had thrown him a graduation party; the fireplace where his dad had announced he was running for reelection, to remain State Rep. Corbin Hall for a fifth term.

With a sigh, Emmett said into the phone, "Why did I ask him to meet me at a restaurant? This place is filled with people he knows. He's going to freak out."

Khalil said, "It's less likely, since you're in a public place. And besides, this way you know your mom won't walk in."

His dad arrived and waved briskly. A dignified figure with his salt-and-pepper hair cut short, wearing an impeccably tailored suit, the elder Hall made his way slowly to the table, greeting friends and neighbors along the way.

"I've got to go," Emmett said. "I'll let you know how it goes." As he hung up, he hugged the package on his lap, for comfort.

Loud enough to be heard in the next county, his dad boomed, "Emmett! Have you grown in just four months? I sent a teenager to college, and I'm welcoming back a man." At his dad's urging, Emmett stood up and accepted a big bear hug. His father was always more effusive when voters were near, not that he was ever cold. But if they'd met at home, his father would have simply leaned over and tussled his hair and kissed his cheek, without all the pageantry.

That was exactly what made this conversation so difficult. Emmett knew how much of his father's life was invested in image. Having the perfect family was not a prerequisite for office, but it certainly helped. Many times, he had stood on the stage with his parents at mind-numbingly boring official events.

The waiter arrived, and while his father chatted with him, Emmett tried to still his nervous jitters by sipping on his water. The light-colored room, with its berber carpets and blonde wood accents, began to swim like a desert mirage. His father babbled on and on. "Can't you see I have something important to say?" Emmett wanted to yell.

As soon as their orders had been placed, Emmett swallowed heavily and, before someone else could interrupt, placed his gift on the table. With a bemused smile, his dad asked, "What's the occasion?"

"I made in one of my classes." Emmett was a Humanities student with an undeclared major and was enrolled in an Introduction to Art class.

His father unwrapped a small, framed art piece and gave it a quizzical look.

Emmett said, "It's a heart mandala, using every color in the rainbow. I made it out of eggshells."

Placing the piece gently on the table, his father regarded him with questioning eyes. "It's beautiful, Emmett. What does it mean to you?" That was a politician's way of asking, "Why did you give this to me?"

Breaking his father's gaze, Emmett stared at the phone in his hand, which for him represented Khalil's calm support. "I've been doing a lot of thinking, making sense of things that I always knew in the back of my mind but didn't want to admit. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had someone to talk to, but fortunately, I met a friend at PFLAG who helped me to cope with my feelings."

"PFLAG?" his father repeated, his voice dropping to nearly a whisper.

"Parents and Friends of Lesbians and..."

"I know," his dad said abruptly. "I am a state representative. Just what was it that your friend helped you make sense of?"

He was actually going to make him say it. Slowly, Emmett raised his eyes to meet his father's. "He helped me to make sense of you. Dad, I know. I know why things are strained between you and Mom, why she complains you don't kiss her enough. I know that you've put your feelings on a shelf for years because you thought it would be better for everyone involved."

His father opened his mouth as if to say something and, instead, began to tear up.

Leaning in closer, so he couldn't be overheard, Emmett said, "Dad, I know you're gay. And I also know why it's not easy for you to be open about it. I can't force you -- and I won't force you -- to do anything you can't do right now. But I just want you to know that I love you."

"I love you, Emmett. I love you so much." His dad began to weep, grabbing a napkin to wipe his eyes. "But -- I can't... there's too much to lose. I can't..."

Emmett put his hand on his father's. "Hang this somewhere you can see it every day. In your office, or your bedroom or your kitchen. When you look at it, remember, no matter what else happens, you'll never lose me."

His father only nodded.

As the waiter brought their food, his father collected himself. To the waiter, he said, "I thought I wasn't going to cry until my kid got married some day. Who knew how emotional I'd get just seeing him home from school after four months?" He dabbed the last vestige of tears away.

The waiter responded that he, too, had a son in college and that it was hard to be apart from him. The two began chatting about college loans and his father's views on state funding of education.

Emmett took the opportunity to text Khalil: "I did it! Fill you in next mtg. Thanks 4 everything."

The piece above is fiction. Any resemblance to real persons is completely coincidental, although there are many people who, for their own reasons, choose to remain closeted.

I'd like to thank unmowngrass for encouraging me to write a fiction piece this week.

Article: 'Celebrity Apprentice' Finale

Mon, 21 May 2012 13:29:17 GMT

I wrote Yahoo! TV's recap for the "Celebrity Apprentice" finale:

Clay Aiken Trumped by Arsenio Hall on 'Celebrity Apprentice' Finale: Recap

I still kind of wish that Clay had won, and he probably would have if he'd done like Arsenio did and had an emotional final appeal. But Trump is always concerned about his image, and he probably knew that Arsenio had such a strong personal story and emotional appeal that Trump would probably look like a jerk if he declared Clay the winner.

ARTICLE: Recap

Sat, 19 May 2012 16:50:28 GMT

Paula Deen Uncovers Family Secrets on Season Finale of Who Do You Think You Are?

Wrote this one, too.

Posted via LiveJournal app for Android.

Article: Grimm season finale

Sat, 19 May 2012 16:37:18 GMT

I wrote the season finale recap for Yahoo! TV about "Grimm."

Worlds Collide on Season Finale of Grimm

Posted via LiveJournal app for Android.

Articles: '30 Rock,' Cannes

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:44:03 GMT

I've been busy again this week. Here are my latest articles:

30 Rock Season Finale Lacks Magic

Cannes 2012: On the Road Finally Makes Trip to Big Screen

Cronenberg, Cosmopolis to Court Critical, Audience Approval at Cannes and Beyond

I think that's it for now, although I submitted a story last night on the wackiest rulers in film (since "The Dictator" is premiering this weekend). That might go up sometime today.

Down to Two

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:45:09 GMT

The results show for the Top 3 performance week on Season 11 of "American Idol" kicked off with a montage showing highlights from the three contestants' trips home, with music from Simon and Garfunkel, "Homeward Bound." Only two people would continue on, as the titles reminded us. Who would it be?

Joshua gets a hug from Jennifer.

The three kicked off with a jazzy performance of the Beatles song, "Got to Get You Into My Life." They stood on podiums in bright colors, with color block lights behind them. In contrast, they all wore black and white. It was a very '60s sort of staging. Of the three, Jessica took the most liberties with the song, which makes me wonder if she was familiar with the original.

In this week's Ford ad, to the song "Cinema," the contestants were silent movie stars, with Jessica playing a burglar who opened a safe while Joshua, as a cop, slept at the desk. Once more, Phillip was not included in the video, presumably due to health issues.

Host Ryan Seacrest asked the Top 3 how they were feeling. Jessica Sanchez said she was nervous and excited and just wanted to know who the top two are. Phillip Phillips said that it was an honor just to be there. Joshua Ledet echoed the sentiment, saying that if he didn't make it, he would be voting for both of the others.

Joshua was called first to center stage for a review of last night and music mentor Jimmy Iovine's reaction. Jimmy said that the judges were very generous on "I'd Rather Go Blind," which was just in the middle. He wouldn't have given it a standing ovation: "I think I was lying down at the time." About "Imagine," Jimmy said he believes Joshua is the most exciting showman in the competition. He said that, because of the simplicity of the song, Joshua overcompensated with riffs and runs, which didn't work. "It's kind of like putting a Ferrari on the racetrack and leaving it in first gear." About his third song, "No More Drama," Jimmy said that last night there was something missing, and he knew it was the material. The song didn't have enough melody, he said, and he would take 100 percent responsibility for that. But did Joshua belong in the finale? Jimmy said, "100 percent he should be in anyone's finale."

In a taped segment, the characters from "Ice Age: Continental Drift" were calling Jennifer Lopez looking for "Shira," a saber-toothed tiger who is voiced by Jennifer, looking for tickets to the "American Idol" finale. Cute. Then singer/songwriter Ester Dean asked them (including Hollie Cavanagh, who was in the Top 4) to sing on back-up on a track she wrote for "Ice Age: Continental Drift," sung by Jennifer, Drake and Queen Latifa.

After the taped segment, Ryan introduced some "rock royalty," Lisa Marie Presley (the daughter of Elvis), singing her new single, "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet." It was a Goth number with a rockabilly beat. My God she looked like her father, wearing a floor-length black dress on a dark stage with smoke and pin lighting. He certainly lives on in her: especially in her eyes and nose. Her rich alto voice, combined with the retro-sounding song, could spell a hit. [LISA MARIE PRESLEY'S PERFORMANCE]

Next, Ryan brought Jessica center stage for a look at her songs from the night before. About "My All," Jimmy said that everyone needs a "shock and awe" moment. The song has tenderness and Jessica is a powerful singer, but he still didn't think it was enough. About "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," Jimmy said that he was looking for more than he heard in that song. To win, if she makes it to the final, she needs to have "the most magical moment she's had so far." About her final song, "I'll Be There," Jimmy said that Jessica often reminds him of Michael Jackson's voice. He apologized for this song choice, because he forgot that Jermaine had sung the chorus and the song required two voices. But he said that, if she doesn't make it into the finale, she should sing at the Grammys.

Asked to respond to the Queen of Disco, Donna Summers' death earlier that day, Ryan spoke in the audience to Rita Wilson and Carole Bayer Sager, as well as Jimmy. All three praised her work and said that, according to Jimmy, "Everyone in the dance music business today owes something to Donna Summer." "American Idol" fans might remember that Donna was a guest judge in Season 3 and performed on the Season 7 finale.

Next up, Adam Lambert, the runner-up for Season 9, performed his single, "Never Close Our Eyes," wearing a gray velvet jacket with black leather pants and a bright yellow T-shirt. This song wasn't his best, but it was fun to see him on the "Idol" stage again. A giant eyeball on the back screen keeps watch during his performance.

Finally, it was time to break down Phillip's performances. About "Beggin'," Jimmy said that Phillip did a great job: it was entertaining and fun. He thought that Phillip is becoming more and more original. About "Disease," Jimmy said that he likes that Phillip's willing to risk everything just to experiment, but this song choice was a "snooze fest." He said it's not a strong enough song to sing at this point in the competition. About "We're Got Tonight," Jimmy said that Phillip won the night with that song, and that it was the best performance he's done of the entire season. "He hit notes that I didn't think he could hit... He was flawless." He said that there was a dark mood and aching soul that he pulled down and brought up. There was a depth to it that he hasn't seen all year from Phillip.

Ryan brought all three to center stage and asked the judges to set up the stakes for "this massive moment." Randy said they are three of the best "we've ever had," all talented in different ways with big careers in front of them. Jennifer said it's been such a journey from the very beginning. "To lose any one of you tonight is heartbreaking for me and, I'm sure, most of America." Steven said that "I love you guys so much because you have the courage to have a dream. And if you don't have a dream, there's no way to make one come true." Deep.

Finally, after a break, it's time for the results. The first person to compete in the Season 11 finale, after nearly 90 million votes, Ryan announced, is Jessica! Reaction shots of the judges, the rest of the Top 10 and Jessica's family. The person going head to head against Jessica is... Phillip. He looked a little bemused as he hugged Joshua. This meant it was good-bye for Joshua. Ryan told him he was an incredible talent and it had been amazing to watch him.

Probably accidentally, Joshua stepped out of the light while watching his good-bye montage, so his reaction shot was removed. Of course, his swan song was "It's a Man's Man's Man's World," and the audience responded with cheers when they heard the first strains of it. Joshua gave hugs to his fellow contestants and made his way to the judges' table, where Jennifer insisted on a hug. Then he walked into the audience, grabbed his mother by the hand, and brought her up on stage. That's sweet, especially since he credited her for helping him find the emotion in that song.

Why didn't Joshua make it into the Top 3? This is one of the most unpredictable races to the top I've seen in all my years of watching the show. Joshua consistently received standing ovations for his performances from the judges, and Jimmy said he should definitely be in the finale. Definitely, Joshua was strong in terms of his singing and performance. However, that may also have been the problem.

Joshua did so well every week that he set an almost impossibly high bar for himself. At this point, he would have had to do better than he did with James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" in order to impress viewers. What's worse: anything less than that was considered to be not up to par. Since the judges gave him standing ovations so often, their jumping to their feet no longer met anything and had little ability to influence voters. There has also been a historical backlash against any contestant who is perceived as being "pimped" by the judges.

Other factors include:

The show line-up. Joshua went first, meaning that the other contestants got a chance to make a stronger impression on viewers. If his position with Phillip had been reduced, it's entirely possible the results may have been different.

The fan bases of his competitors. Jessica may have once been at the bottom, but ever since, she's had people pulling for her. Yesterday, her official performance videos received twice as many hits as either Phillip or Joshua. This meant that, while Jessica was practically a lock-in, the competition for the final slot was between the two guys, who would also be expected to split the very powerful southern vote.

Likability. Despite bonding with his "bestie" Hollie, Joshua has been perceived as being "remote" and "snobbish" throughout the season. While he and Hollie were good friends and shouldn't be blamed for bonding, it might have helped his perception with viewers if he'd shown more warmth towards the other contestants, during results shows, video segments and any other opportunity. Historically, "Idol" voters favor "nice guys" with humility. And finalist Phillip's "aw shucks" personality has probably helped him at least as much as his performances.

Marketability. While Joshua has undisputed singing skills, the sort of songs he's sung, and the way he's sung them, has not had as much mainstream appeal as Phillip. If you need proof, go to AmericanIdol.com and listen to Phillip and Joshua's performances from this week without watching the screen. Then consider which of those artists you'd be more likely to hear on current Top 40 radio. I'm wagering the answer will be Phillip.

Song choice. While neither the judges nor Jimmy was probably deliberately sabotaging Joshua -- and he certainly wasn't sabotaging himself -- this week's song choices were either too dated or not a great fit for his vocal skills and style. Despite Randy's assertion that a great singer "can sing the phone book," it still helps to have a good song.

While Joshua didn't make it into the top two, he shouldn't despair. Millions of people were exposed to his talent, and Jimmy has already promised to sign him. He may not have won Season 11, but something tells me his career is far from over.

Moral:
It's always about more than the singing.

Competing for Votes

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:10:29 GMT

Only three contestants remained on Season 11 of "American Idol," and the audience would not stop cheering at the beginning of the show, after the judges were introduced. Host Ryan Seacrest alerted viewers to an important scheduling change: next week, the performance show will be on Tuesday, with the finale on Wednesday.

Each of the final three had gone to their hometown to be welcomed with parades and other celebrations. While normally, that video would be seen on results night, this time it aired in conjunction with the second round of songs. The first round would be songs chosen by the judges. Round two would be chosen by the contestants, while round three would be selected by the season's music mentor, Jimmy Iovine.

The Top 3

1) For Joshua Ledet, judge Randy Jackson had chosen an Etta James song that he felt would work with his soulful style, "I'd Rather Go Blind." Joshua wore a black jacket with visible stitching and a red rose in the pocket. He had a red button-down shirt underneath, along with a dove gray vest. The song was definitely in his wheelhouse, and he sang it like a pro: nurturing the song like a flower at the beginning of the song and embellishing it where necessary, all the time singing into an old-fashioned mike that I'm guessing is specially designed to deal with the sort of workout he gives it! Yet another standing O. from the judges. Once upon a time, standing ovations used to mean something.

Steven Tyler called it "another Joshua moment" and said it's "so surreal to hear someone sing those old songs and deliver them" and hear the audience screaming. He told Joshua that he'd sung like an American idol tonight. Jennifer Lopez said that the judges had struggled when it came time to choose a song for Joshua, but "you are such a throwback" and "always bring down the house with those numbers," which he'd done again. Randy called him a "classic stylist" and said this song "fit you like a glove." He expressed his wish for Joshua, once he records an album, to bring a lift to R&B because it's "ailing and aching right now." [JOSHUA'S 1ST PERFORMANCE]

In a funny bit of synergy, the Kraft commercial immediately afterward used the same song!

2) For Jessica Sanchez, Jennifer chose a power ballad, "My All" by Mariah Carey, because "there is a tenderness in the song that Jessica will kill." She was gorgeous in a deep purple evening gown with black details on the ruffles. Her performance was solid, but the lower parts were a little hesitant.

Randy thought it was absolutely beautiful and one of the best times a Mariah song has ever been performed on TV. Jennifer acknowledged it was a hard song but liked how Jessica did it her own way, bringing tenderness to it. Steven said that, when she sings, he makes people hang on every note. He added, "You'll be the last one standing there." [JESSICA'S 1ST PERFORMANCE]

3) Phillip Phillips did a high-energy song with his guitar, "Beggin" by Madcon, chosen by Steven because the song had a strong melody he wanted Phillip to sing. The song was another good choice, paying attention to what Phillip does well. He wore a gray button-down over a blue V-neck and took some liberties with the melody, like he likes to do. It was a little different from his usual performances, giving him a chance to stretch his skills.

Jennifer teased him about playing with the melody, since that was one reason they'd chosen it. Still, she liked it. Steven said he's looking forward to Phillip writing his own songs, because "you could be a new Springsteen." Randy said it had felt like the "Phillip Phillips concert." He liked that Phillip has a good time and thought it was "another incredible performance." [PHILLIP'S 1ST PERFORMANCE]

Asked who won round one, Randy thought Josh had a slight edge, while Jennifer gave it to Phillip and Steven was on the fence.

4) Before the round two songs, we saw video of the Top 3 on their journeys home. Joshua said that the most amazing thing about his trip home to West Lake, Louisiana, was that the arena was sold out, and he believes it's the first time it has ever been sold out. He brought back some fun props for Ryan and the judges: a big chunky necklace for Ryan, wacky glasses for Steven and Randy, and a multicolor boa for Jennifer. While riding in a limousine with a police escort, Joshua joked that "they're acting like I'm Barack Obama." In his father's church, the congregation was thrilled to see him again, including his youngest fan, a newborn baby. He invited his little niece to ride with him in the parade, which included marching bands and dogs in costume, plus more infants, one of whom was presented to him to kiss. At his high school, the windows were decorated for him, and the gym was filled with screaming students. He performed a bit of the call-and-response from a Ray Charles song and then sang, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" for the crowd in a stadium later. [JOSHUA'S TRIP HOME]

For his second song, Joshua selected the John Lennon song, "Imagine." Unlike the David Archuleta version from a few seasons ago, Joshua sang it with a little bit of a gospel feel, which was perfect for him. He wore a simple black suit for it and kept the song simple but poured a lot of emotion into it. You could really believe that he meant every word. As he finished, there was a shot of his bestie, Hollie Cavanagh, applauding in the audience.

Steven called it "another thank-you God moment with you." He said that every time Joshua sings he "puts it over the top," because he's that good. Jennifer said that it was almost like he was preaching while he was singing, but she thought that was a good thing. He has a great instrument, she said, and his ability to dig deep for his performance, paying attention to the meaning, is something she loves. Randy asked him why he chose the song. Joshua said he was driving to the rehearsal and didn't know what he wanted to sing but then heard this song on the radio. Randy said that "everything you sing should touch you and should mean something to you," but I don't think he meant that this song didn't mean something to Joshua. Randy liked that Joshua digs deep and found it "another stellar performance." [JOSHUA'S 2ND PERFORMANCE]

5) It was strange for Jessica to go home to Chula Vista, California, she told Ryan, because she's been homeschooled without many friends. Back home this time, she said, guys were chasing her car. She rode in a helicopter to the stadium where the Padres play, so she could sit again in the seat where she'd waited for her chance to audition. Later that night, she greeted fans in the Chula Vista Stadium and then finally got to hug her family and be greeted by the adorable family dogs. Her little brothers rode with her in her parade, and at the high school, crowds of supporters cheered for her. Chula Vista declared it Jessica Sanchez Day, and she also visited the USS Midway, where she received a souvenir shirt and sang a song which she dedicated to her father, who's in the military. [JESSICA'S TRIP HOME]

For her second song, Jessica chose the Aerosmith song, "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," wearing a brown wide-legged pants suit, paired with a chunky turquois necklace. She was joined onstage by violinists. This is another song that's been sung before on this show, but she brought her own flair to it.

Steven loved her rendition of it, even standing up for her (though the other two judges remained seated). He told her, "You just sang a great song and made it grater." Jennifer thought she did really good and that the note at the end "sent everyone into the heavens." Randy called the song choice bold. Though he said it started slow, he said that "you delivered." [JESSICA'S 2ND PERFORMANCE]

6) Phillip's trip home to Leesburg, Georgia, included a guy holding up a sign saying that Phillip owed him $10 and a restaurant which has named a dish after him. His dad was happy to see him, to give him lots of hugs and kisses, too. In what must have been a strange moment, his father's pawn shop had a crowd of people in front. Of course, there were lots of hugs and kisses for the rest of his family, and his parents rode with him in a parade, where girls had to be pushed away from the car by security. Phillip broke down in tears, overwhelmed with emotion. He gave a performance to a crowded stadium of supporters. [PHILLIP'S TRIP HOME]

For his second song, Phillip chose "Disease" by Matchbox 20. He strummed his guitar and sat on stacked speakers while a female saxophonist and bongo player accompanied him onstage. It was an interesting choice for him, and it's probably a song he already knew very well and clearly enjoys singing. But did it give him enough of a moment?

Jennifer loves Matchbox 20 but didn't feel this song was a "wow" performance. Still, "of course it was good." Steven agreed: "You don't have a disease," he said. Randy wanted to check with his fellow judges that they didn't love it. Randy thought it was weird, because "we all disagree," because I didn't like it either. He said it was too subdued, that Phillip can do this sort of thing in his sleep. [PHILLIP'S 2ND PERFORMANCE]

7) In the third and final round, the contestants sang songs selected by Jimmy, with the news delivered to them on new AT&T phones. The song that Jimmy picked for Joshua was "No More Drama" by Mary J. Blige. His family, who were with him when he found out, were confident he'd do well on that. In the audience, Jimmy explained to Ryan that he thought Joshua could use another "moment," and that Mary J. Blige does a similar thing with blending gospel sounds with R&B (shot of Colton Dixon over Jimmy's shoulder in the audience). Joshua wore a black zippered jacket with sequins on his shoulders, along with a black V-neck and black pants. He bounced as he sang, and he seemed to be having an emotional catharsis. At the height of the song, he stripped off the jacket as well as his earphones for the in-house sound (maybe they got tangled in the jacket?) I felt like I was watching a play, in a good way.

Randy said that "at this point, it doesn't matter what you do, what you sing... people should just stand up and vote for you anyway." He called Joshua a great performer and a great artist. Shot of Hollie giving him a standing O. in the audience, sitting next to Shannon Magrane. Jennifer loved his performance and the spontaneity: "You don't know what's going to happen, but you know it's going to be out of this world." Shot of Deandre Brackensick watching, too. Steven had three words: "over the top." Heejun Han stood along with Hollie and Shannon to applaud. [JOSHUA'S 3RD PERFORMANCE]

8) For Jessica, Jimmy chose "I'll Be There," because it would appeal to an older audience but still highlight how young she is. She performed it wearing a coral cardigan with bedazzled pockets and black pants, with video of a Ferris wheel rotating on screens behind her. This song has always been a favorite of mine, and it was nice for her, because she is a lot like Michael Jackson: a young performer with almost preternatural skills.

Steven said, "Perfect song, perfect vocals. You nailed it." Jennifer thought it was a good choice from Jimmy and she almost sounded like Michael. Randy liked it but didn't love it. He reminded everyone that we're at the end of the competition, and he thought there wasn't a moment. [JESSICA'S 3RD PERFORMANCE]

9) For his final song, Phillip received "We've Got Tonight" by Bob Seger. Jimmy explained that he wanted to find a song that could appeal to both guys and girls. It's emotional with a melody that's so great that "Phillip will want to stick to it." Sitting on a stool, wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and nervously rubbing his thigh, Phillip concentrated on the melody. The song might have been a touch high for him: his voice sounded a little pinched. Or maybe he was just that nervous.

Randy said it was his best performance on the show, ever. He said it was a "giant moment." Jennifer said that there's "about 20 million girls out there who wish you were singing that song to them" (though the show only have 15 million viewers total). Hollie in the audience was fanning Shannon. Guess she's one of those fans. Steven said something that was bleeped, which might have been "You came out here and sang like you didn't give a sh*t." He added, "You just showed you got all that passion wrapped up in you. It doesn't matter if you hit the notes or not. You just nailed it." [PHILLIP'S 3RD PERFORMANCE]

Really, kudos to everyone tonight, who made the best of what they were given. I think the votes are going to be close, and based on both the performances and the chatter right now in the fan community, I'd say that Jessica is the only one who should be considered safe. But then again, anything can happen. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Joshua will be the one headed home, if only because he seems to have fewer vocal fans. I'd personally like to see a Jessica-Joshua finale, but Phillip's performance this show put everything into question. We'll see what happens!

Moral:
At this stage, it's anyone's game.

Article: 'AGT' Recap

Wed, 16 May 2012 21:43:30 GMT

My "America's Got Talent" recap from last night is up:

Howard Stern Finds His Heart in San Francisco on 'America's Got Talent'

In other news, I participated in a webinar by Writer's Digest today called "How to Blog Your Book." It gave me some food for thought, and I think I might start doing something like that with the idea I had about writing a book of parenting essays.

Recap: 'AGT' Season Premiere

Tue, 15 May 2012 22:54:33 GMT

I've been asked to write recaps of "America's Got Talent" for Yahoo! TV. Here's the first one:

Plenty of Promise in Season Premiere of 'America's Got Talent'

LJ Idol Season 8 - Week 27: Memory's Snowball

Mon, 14 May 2012 23:54:39 GMT

This is my entry this week for therealljidol. I invite you to read and vote for the many fine entries. This week's topic is "Once Upon a Time."

Photos representing highlights of my life so far are
viewable in a montage I created for this entry, Memory's Snowball, viewable on GetLoupe.com.
Some, but not all, of the memories mentioned below are depicted in the montage, as well as many others.
You can hover over any photo to see a larger version of it.
If you click on any photo, it takes you to the original page, where you can read a caption about it.

Love swells within me for the tiny baby. I must stand on my tip-toes and reach down far to hold his hand as he lies in the crib. He is my baby brother, and I am his big sister. His hand is amazingly soft, and he peers up with bright, blue eyes.

This memory, like many, is underscored by a family photo: in this case, blurry and taken at an angle, as if taken suddenly. Sometimes I wonder if I really remember that moment, or if I have created a memory from looking at the photo, a story to tell myself about my life.

Nevertheless, I pack that memory tight against others from around that time period: sitting in a swath of sunlight, playing with my dolls; making up stories for my brother from a book that he doesn't know I can't read; dancing and singing for my parents on my "stage," a wide landing on the living room steps. These memories are packed densely, the beginnings of a snowball.

From diapers to big-girl clothes, and I savor memories of cooking classes at the Salvation Army. I ride tricycles with my brother. At age 5, I lose my plastic Mickey Mouse ring, white with red sparkles, while watching Dad mow the lawn. Dad offers to replace it, but we cannot find another one. I mourn that Mickey ring as much as the family dog I accidentally kill by opening the gate, allowing him to run into the street. I pack these memories tight.

Rolling further ahead, I am seven when my mom births my little sister. If possible, she is even cuter than my brother: a perky little elf with vivid blue eyes and wispy strawberry blonde hair. When Mom finally lets me hold her, her tiny face wrinkles and turns bright red; I'm not her mama. I make up for it over the next 10 years, playing Barbies with her (making sure our Barbies are independent career women), creating a special club for her and her friends when the boys start a no-girls-allowed clubhouse, playing dress up and encouraging her to sing and write, to color and dance. These memories, packed tight, form a crystal layer over the last days of my childhood.

At college, I meet a zany crew of like-minded geeks who love me as I am. For once, I no longer worry whether I'm wearing the latest trends correctly (the answer was always "no"). I let down my hair -- literally, to the middle of my back -- and parade with them through a world of Spam, Spam, Spam, Diner stickies and Spam. The student radio station gives me 15 minutes of fame; I'm Dr. Johnny Fever, as a girl. Now at last, the quote from my high-school yearbook makes sense: "I've never been so strong / now I'm where I belong." I pack these memories tight, to make room for more.

Like the proverbial groundhog, spooked by real-life's shadow, I return to school for six more weeks (or three years, who's counting?). As I earn my MFA, I pack in memories of poetry readings, running around campus with LARP vampires, and meeting my first husband, a dream-seeking hippy. These memories, packed on, make the ball grow tall as my waist.

I pack on post-graduate memories of a whirlwind marriage, including a trip up the Mississippi for an encounter with a bear who breaks our car window and steals our food. Later I dream of a bear goddess climbing in my window and thanking me for the bread. I pack on memories of ill-fated relationships with one boyfriend who's worth forgetting (except for taking some amazing black-and-white portraits of me) and another boyfriend who couldn't say "I love you" but yet loved me enough to direct me to a counselor who helped me make sense of my previous bad relationships.

The ball is so big now, and I realize that it is rolling downhill. I think perhaps it always has been, but I didn't notice.

More memories, and the ball whizzes faster and faster. Meeting my second husband through my beloved college buddies, flirting with him by asking him to autograph a banana (an in-joke that is funnier to us than to anyone else), wine festivals, plays, movies, silliness. Our space-age wedding, our Disney World honeymoon, where the real-life Mickey poses for a picture with us (and finally makes up for that long-lost ring).

Then, when things couldn't get any better, I pack on memories of my growing belly, my son who bears my red "V" birthmark and his father's eyes. I pack on an endless progression of firsts: crawling, pulling up, eating, walking, babbling, speaking, dancing, running. We kick soccer balls together and share in-jokes: such as getting on all fours and mewing loudly at our bemused kitty. Many, many more memories to pack on.

And all the time, the ball whirls faster and faster, accumulating more and more. There are so many memories now, it is no wonder I no longer have room for phone numbers or, say, the exact location of my keys. Like Albert Einstein, I want to save my brain for the important things: my magnificent growing snowball, spinning faster and faster as it grows ever bigger.

ETA: If you have any problems with the photos, please let me know. I just realized that most of the Facebook pics were originally set as "friends only," so I've tried to make them all public, but I might have missed a couple.

Happy Mother's Day, Tough Moms

Sun, 13 May 2012 18:09:43 GMT

My Mommy's Day gift to all the awesome moms on my list:

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My Mommy's Day gift to all the awesome moms on my list: <a href=" <a href="http://tinyurl.com/bncflxk">http://tinyurl.com/bncflxk</a> ">Tough Movie Moms Fight for Their Kids</a>Posted via <a href="http://m.livejournal.com/android/link">LiveJournal app for Android</a>.

Article: Jessica Sanchez on "American Idol"

Fri, 11 May 2012 22:07:34 GMT

One more article:

Jessica Sanchez Deserves to Win the 'American Idol' Title

Article: Poetry Profile

Fri, 11 May 2012 21:55:29 GMT

And my last article of the day (I think; I've lost count!):

Gwendolyn Brooks: The Most Influential Poet You've Never Heard Of

Article: 'Parks and Rec' Finale

Fri, 11 May 2012 21:10:21 GMT

Yes, I've been busy today...

Here's another of my articles, just published:

'Parks and Rec' Finale Delivers on Promises: Recap

Articles: Mother's Day, Vampires, Graduation Advice

Fri, 11 May 2012 17:03:17 GMT

Here are some recent articles:

Baby Boot Camp: First-Time Movie Moms Learn to Cope

Let the Sun Shine In: A Tribute to the Grooviest TV Moms

Today's Movie Vamps More Human Than Monstrous

And a brief piece for a special "graduation advice" page they're putting together:

Graduation Advice: Go Easy on Yourself

Building a Top Three

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:33:54 GMT

At the top of the results show for "American Idol," host Ryan Seacrest reminded viewers that the survivors of this elimination would each get a chance to go home for a special hometown hero's welcome. Who would survive?

Hollie sings her swan song.

The Top 4 performed the Mamas and the Papas song "California Dreamin'," sauntering out together wearing "summery" clothes: Hollie in a blue and white mini-sundress, Joshua in a T-shirt with yellow, blue, red and green stripes, Jessica in a blousy halter top and Phillip in a short-sleeved checked button-down over a maroon V-neck. The song was a pleasant hint of what it might be like on the summer tour.

Before airing this week's Ford commercial, which is about the electric car and how it's good for the environment, there was "making of" video, featuring Hollie, Jessica and Joshua. Once more, Phillip was excluded, probably for health reasons (he's scheduled to have major surgery after the finals, to deal with his kidney stones). The video itself showed them, to the strains of the Jennifer Lopez song "Feeling So Good," driving through a gray world into a bright, shiny tomorrow with magical flowers everywhere. Groovy.

The first to hear results this evening was Phillip Phillips. In recorded comments, singing mentor Jimmy Iovine said about his first performance that this was an acoustic song, so it was an odd choice to him not using the guitar and opting for a saxophone player instead. But he thought it was a great way to assert his own identity. On "Volcano," Jimmy felt that Phillip "finally delivered on the promise" that had been there all year. He said if he'd heard that performance in a club, he would have signed him right there.

After 70 million votes, Ryan said that "the nation has decided that you will be heading... back to the couch. We'll find out in a little bit what happened." Those weren't final results, though, Ryan said.

Next, Hollie Cavanagh was brought to center stage. On "Faithfully," Jimmy said that her over-singing actually worked. About her choice for her second song, "I Can't Make You Love Me," Jimmy was less enthusiastic. He said that evidently, she didn't have the personal or professional experience to take on that song. He thought she'd crashed and burned.

David Cook, Season 7 winner, debuted his song, "The Last Song I'll Write for You," dressed all in black, strumming a black guitar. I do love hearing him sing. He can take anything and turn it into a worthwhile track. I especially liked the chorus.

Then, Ryan called Joshua Ledet center stage to hear his highlights and Jimmy's comments. Jimmy said that the first song didn't work for him: "'You Raise Me Up' let him down." He would talk Joshua out of putting gospel-inflected songs like that on his album. About his second song, "It's a Man's Man's Man's World," Jimmy said, "James Brown and Joshua Ledet came together last night and created a type of magic rarely seen on the 'Idol' stage." He compared Joshua to Prince and Bruce Springsteen and said it was captivating. Now, he said, the challenge is to come up with an original song as good as that for his album.

Finally, Jessica Sanchez came forward. Jimmy thought she did a good job with her Etta James number, but that the growling was an old trick that wasn't really working for her, since she uses it too often. About "And I'm Telling You," Jimmy said that she brought "all her artillery in the right proportion," including her growl, dynamics, etc. "She murdered it," he said, adding that music executive Jimmy Mottola e-mailed him immediately after the performance and said, "I'm going to her first concert." He said that any one of the Top 4 could win, given the right song.

After a break, judges Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler joined Ryan in the audience to introduce "Dance Again" by Jennifer Lopez, which was prerecorded. She started out in a "chair" made of four nearly nude male dancers, then walked slinkily across the stage in a low-cut sparkly midnight-blue leotard and black tights, her hair in loose waves. She performed (and lip-synched) with a small crew of shirtless male dancers, and it was a very danceable number. [JENNIFER LOPEZ'S PERFORMANCE]

Before the final results, Ryan asked the judges to talk about the Top 4. He asked Steven how Phillip has evolved, and Steven said that Phillip has gone from "not caring" to showing us who he is "and not caring." Heh. About Hollie, Jennifer praised her for getting over her nerves and noted that it's a tough journey. About Joshua, Randy said that when they met Joshua, he had "mad potential," and he's grown by leaps and bounds. Apparently, like Hollie, he had been turned down the previous year. He predicted that "the sky's the limit: you are ready for anything." About Jessica, Ryan asked Jennifer to respond to Jimmy's remark about her using the "trick" of growling. "What trick?" Jennifer asked. "The really good singing' trick?"

The first one into the Top 3, Ryan announced, was Jessica! She looked stunned. The next person to return to their home town, Ryan said, was the pride of West Lake, Louisiana, Joshua. Then it was down to Phillip and Hollie. One would be in the Top 3, but first they'd have to endure another commercial break. [RESULTS, PART ONE]

Tension reigned as Phillip and Hollie waited for the news. Phillip would be the one going home for a hero's welcome. Hollie would just be going home. [RESULTS, PART TWO]

She sang the Miley Cyrus song "The Climb," and the camera focused on Joshua, who looked upset. She walked over to the Top 3 and hugged them. It was after that that Joshua collapsed on the couches, a tear rolling down his cheek as he listened to his best friend's swan song. Don't worry, Joshua, you'll see her again in a few weeks when the Top 10 starts working on the summer tour.

The question about Hollie is not necessarily why did she get eliminated now but what got her in the Top 4? Early in the season, due to some uneven performances, Hollie was discounted, and she's landed in the bottom three several times.

In recent weeks, however, she turned it around, showing a newfound confidence that impressed the judges and voters alike. She said that she had finally internalized the good comments from the judges and producers, which is great news. That sort of self-confidence is what's going to help her reach the next level as a performer. Hopefully, she will hold all of those remarks close to her heart and focus not on the fact that she was eliminated now, but that she made it this far.

Moral:
It really is about the journey.

California Dreaming

Thu, 10 May 2012 23:29:53 GMT

This going to be a quick-and-dirty one: basically, just my unedited notes from last night, with the song titles and videos added. I'm not going to have time to check the links, so if you notice problems, please comment!

"American Idol" was down to four contestants, and as has become a habit this season, an opening montage played up the drama. Each contestant performed two songs. The first was songs by California artists and the second was a "song I wish I'd written."

The Top 4

1) Phillip Phillips kicked off the show with Credence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," standing at the mike with the female saxophonist and a guy playing an organ on stage. He wore a black V-neck shirt with a rumpled blue button-down overtop. The screen behind him played images of surfers for some strange reason. He stuck closer to the melody with this song than he has in recent weeks, but it was fairly unremarkable. [PHILLIP's 1st PERFORMANCE]

Steven Tyler told him he was proof that "the road to success is always under construction." Jennifer Lopez complimented his "Joe Cocker quality" to his vocals, which she claimed she never heard before. Randy Jackson said it was a bit rough in the beginning with the pitch. But by the first chorus "your whole vibe lightened up" and it was "sensational from then on out."

2) Hollie Cavanagh performed Journey's "Faithfully," on a stage full of pinlights and smoke, wearing a red sleeveless shirt that hung down further in the back, along with black leggings and turquoise dangling earrings. This song was very tepid, and the wind machine didn't help her add more drama to it. [HOLLIE's 1st PERFORMANCE]

Randy repeated a previous assertion that Hollie is peaking at the right time. I was momentarily distracted from his words, though, wondering about his coral plaid jacket, his contrasting plaid tie and the pin on his pocket reading "YO." Jennifer, dressed like the mother of the bride in a sequined long-sleeved top that went all the way up to the neck, praised Hollie's evolution as a singer. Steven said that her choice of song was "over the top," in a good way. He used a flower analogy and said that she "makes it flower every night."

Hollie admitted to Ryan that she initially wasn't sure of the true meaning of the song but that "I'm living that song right now." If you say so.

Then we saw a video of Jason Derulo recording the new song he wrote with help from "Idol" viewers. He urged people to continue to vote and upload more lyrics for the song, "Undefeated."

3) Joshua Ledet was dedicating his song, "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, to his father, who "helps everyone." He wore a simple white shirt with a tan jacket with banded collar and a soft white scarf wrapped around his neck. The song, sung in the middle of the stage at the microphone, was a simple emotional song from the beginning. Halfway through, he was joined by background singers and violinists, as the song intensified. And then he pulled back, before building to a final big moment, as the stage he was standing on literally raised him up a couple feet. Nice literal turn on the song; a bit cheesy, but it worked. [JOSHUA's 1st PERFORMANCE]

Jennifer said "we have such amazing singers and great artists on this show." She called it "another great performance," and she liked the drama at the end (pronounced to rhyme with "banana"). Steven said, "You sang your little tush off today again." He said that the world is accepting him "like nobody's business." Randy called him an "amazing artist with a ginormous career ahead of you."

4) Jessica Sanchez sang a bluesy song by Etta James, "Steal Away," wearing a very young outfit of white jeans with a black stripe on the side, paired with a blousy white and black shirt and a black bolo leather jacket with pointy shoulders and bright blue stripes. She grooved on the song and used a bluesy growl in parts of it. A great performance. [JESSICA's 1st PERFORMANCE]

Jennifer said that Jessica is one of the best. Steven liked it because it showed "the other side of your voice." He complimented her for growing. Randy liked the soul and heart of it and added "your vocals are ridiculous." He thought she could sing the phone book.

5) Phillip and Joshua performed the Maroon 5 song "This Love" next, with Joshua starting out standing on a piano. Phillip came up and sat down on some steps in front of them, and Joshua joined him, without even looking at Phillip. Do these guys hate each other or what? The collaboration wasn't as awkward as the previous week's, and by the end, they were even looking at each other and dancing together. [PHILLIP & JOSHUA's PERFORMANCE]

Steven said, "Best song, best vocal, best duet" and that "whoever picked that song was brilliant." Nigel Lythgoe, producer of "Idol" was in the audience and took credit for it. Jennifer said it reminded her of Adam Levine and Usher getting together to sing, and found it an "unexpected treat." Randy said it's a great song, and they brought a "little something else to it." He liked that they had fun with it.

6) Singing "Eternal Flame" by the Bangles, Jessica and Hollie sang while swinging in large white swings, over a smoky stage. That's got to be one of the strangest stagings of "Idol" history. Perhaps because they had to concentrate on staying upright in the swings, they were a bit strained at the beginning. The harmonies were a little rough near the end, as well. [JESSICA & HOLLIE's PERFORMANCE]

Randy found it a little strange. He never felt like it went high enough for Hollie. "What's with the swings?" he asked. "And who are these kids in the swings?" Phillip and Joshua, meantime, had commandeered the swings, swinging quietly in the background. Steven said that "four months into L.A. you turn into our favorite swingers." Oh, boy.

Ryan joked that there was a bromance between Phillip and Joshua and that together they were now known as Jillip.

Then, there was some video footage from a visit by Adam Shankman, director of the movie musical "Rock of Ages," to their mansion. They have a gym and a "disco." And of course, a grand piano in the living room. But the real reason he was there was to give them a preview of the movie.

Ryan, who is dating Julianne Hough, star of the film, punked her, saying he wanted to ask her a question and pulling something out of his jacket. "Would you give this note to [movie co-star] Tom Cruise? I'm a big fan." She looked both relieved that it wasn't a proposal on live television and annoyed at the prank.

7) The Top 4 sang together, Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You." Of course, when they got to the chorus, the girls sang "for a guy like you" and the guys sang "for a girl like you." But despite the wrenching of the lyrics, it was a pleasant performance. [TOP 4 GROUP PERFORMANCE]

8) For Phillip's second performance, "Volcano" by Damien Rice, Jimmy Iovine worked with him and told him that he's turning into a butterfly. Phillip played his guitar, barely lit, wearing a brown jacket and dark shirt. His version of "Volcano" was simple and melodic and just what he needed to do. He proved that he's more than just hype: he can really sing. [PHILLIP's 2nd PERFORMANCE]

Steven said that he heard the musician in it and "I never heard you sing like that before." He said he could listen to that on headphones over and over. Jennifer said that very few people could have pulled it off, which is "a testament to who you are and who you want to be as an artist." She found it a beautiful, poignant moment and gave props to the background singer who served as a duet partner. Randy said it was one of his best performances of the whole season. Sometimes, he said, a simple statement has more volume.

9) Hollie did "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt, and Jimmy advised her to feel it and not oversing it. He called her a dark horse and said she has to do magnificent. No pressure! She wore a black sleeveless pantsuit with a black belt and lots of cut-outs at the shoulder and back. She wondered forward through a smoke-filled stage lit with orange lights (which they must think is the most flattering for her strawberry-blonde hair). She clutched her chest a lot as she sang, as if pulling those emotions from inside her chest. It was pretty good, but I don't think it met Jimmy's criteria of being magnificent. [hollie's 2nd PERFORMANCE]

Steven agreed that, with a song like that, you have to feel it: "It's not so much how you sing it as how you say the words." He felt that she'd his her "dynamic range." Jennifer said that, for someone like her, she could have brought more to it by thinking of her own personal meaning (like trying to make voters love her). She thought there was too much vibrato. Randy thought it wasn't so much her lack of maturity as just the song. While it's a great song, she's a different kind of singer from Bonnie Raitt and needs a song with a bigger moment.

10) Joshua sang "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" by James Brown. Jimmy, who had seen James Brown record in the theater, told Joshua he sang the "heck out of that song." He wore a shiny black suit, strutting from the back of the stage to the front, between violinists. Based on what he said to Jimmy, he had found a good way into the song, thinking not just about how much he admires his dad, who's a strong man, but also how his mother is a big part of his success. Because this is a James Brown song, it's almost impossible to oversing it, provided that it's aligned with the emotion of the song. In this case it was. Although I was skeptical of the song choice initially, he killed it and wiped the floor with it. And yes, one more standing o. from the judges. [JOSHUA's 2nd PERFORMANCE]

Randy couldn't stop saying "yo" while the audience was also cheering wildly. Steven said, "Neither man nor woman has ever sang that good with that much compassion on this show ever." He said he'd never heard anything like that in his life. Jennifer said that the people at home probably thought they'd seen everything he can do, but "we hadn't." It was so good she had to speak Spanish, she said. Randy said, this was the greatest song for him and one of the greatest performances in "any singing show, including ours."

11) Jessica's second song was "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" by Jennifer Holliday from "Dreamgirls," and Jimmy liked it in rehearsal. She wore a black miniskirt with a bright blue one-sleeved top with a purple arm (more noticeable because of how she flapped it around. She laid it all on the stage, growling at the end as she embellished the heck out of it. The judges gave her a standing ovation. [JESSICA's 2nd PERFORMANCE]

Steven called it "another winning performance," then joked, "Tell me how you really feel." Jennifer said that, with a performance like that, "I don't know who's going to win." She said there was nothing to say, because her vocal ability is "not something you see every time." Randy said that she was finally "in it to really win it." He said that this was one of the hardest songs to sing and she slaid it. He gave a shout-out to Julian Lennon, saying, "This is what Idol's all about. What do you think?" Julian nodded and made a prayer gesture towards the stage, to honor her.

Kudos to Joshua and to Jessica. I predict Hollie being in the bottom two, but the way things are going, I'm not sure who will join her. It should be Hollie's night to go home, since her performances were good but not fantastic.

Moral:
It only gets harder to imagine who's going to go the better they get!

Article: Women's Fate on Reality Singing Competitions

Wed, 09 May 2012 21:20:41 GMT

As my Kung Fu Panda naps and as my loud cat demands attention ("He's asleep! Quick, pet meeeee!!!!"), here's one of three articles I wrote today:

It's a Man's World on Reality TV Singing Competitions