American Idol Judging Disaster

Wow. What a difference a few months makes. At the end of May I blogged about the finale of American Idol. On that night it was a question in my mind if I would watch the show after Simon left. I was set to watch Season 10 with an open mind, especially since at least they would just be replacing one judge, even though it was their biggest one.

Then Ellen announced she was leaving the show. It's no real big loss even though I thought she did a really good job last season. With that in mind I figured that just means that there would be a three person panel, like the old days.

Then word came around that Kara got fired. She was not only good looking but very intelligent in the music industry and did a great job judging the show the last two seasons.

So now what? That leaves Randy Jackson and some random celebrities to make the new panel?

I'm trying to figure out now before January comes around again, do I care or not? Do I want to tune in? If I tune in and the judges are terrible, do I stick it out because I might miss something special? Do I just give up on a show that I've watched for 9 years and even went to a few concerts over the years?

These are the questions that I don't have the answers to. Hopefully I will by January when the show's 10th season starts up, but for now I just don't know what to do about a show that has been ranked as one of my favorite for the better part of the last decade.

Hell's Kitchen:Final Four (7/27/10)

Alot of people don't even realize that I'm a big Hell's Kitchen fan. I haven't missed a season since Mandy got me started on it when I moved here. I think Gordon Ramsay is awesome at what he does and this show is always entertaining. This season has been a wild one, random eliminations and just craziness all the way around. But after last night, the show came down to the final four. So much like I always do, here are my thoughts on them at this point.

1. Jay
This guy is my pick to win the show. He's improved majorly over the last few episodes and is finally developing himself as a leader. He communicates and hasn't had a bad service in weeks. He was a dark horse weeks ago but now he could win the whole thing.

2. Autumn 
How the hell has she made it this far? She's been on the chopping block too many times to remember, she's had some terrible service. In my view she doesn't belong here. Maybe Ramsey sees something we aren't seeing on TV, but at the moment she doesn't seem to really have a chance in hell of winning.

3. Benjamin
Oh Ben. I can't stand this guy. He's arrogant and annoying. I thought for sure with all the communications problems they have had with him this season, he would have been gone. Ramsey gave him an undeserved pass this week. I won't be surprised if it's Jay vs. Ben in the finale in two weeks but he can't lead and run a kitchen on his own, thus then doesn't deserve to win this show.

4. Holli 
Now finally, Jay's little "g/f". I think she's really good in the kitchen, definitely stronger than Autumn. The only problem I see is that she's not consistent enough. She seems to always come through in the end but she seems to choke when it starts up. I don't think she's going to win this show, but I won't be surprised to be honest if she makes it to the final 2.

WWE:NXT-Good Riddance to Bad Wrestling (7/27/10)

Last night the latest NXT rookie poll came out and the latest elimination went down. Overall, I wasn't surprised at all but said elimination but I will give my latest opinions on the rookies and where I think they will end up as we go on in the competition.

1. Michael McGillicutty
This cracked me up this morning because they made this big deal out of him winning the immunity last week and he ended up not only not needing it, but ended up jumping to the #1 spot. It doesn't really surprise me, he is undefeated and word is finally getting to the fans that he is Curt Henning's son. He deserves to be here.

2. Kaval
Former #1, dropped down a spot. Weirdly I don't mind him dropping because it adds major realism to the ranking system. He's my personal favorite and the dark horse for this competition. I just wish he'd win more often.

3. Alex Riley
Ah, Michael Cole's favorite rookie. The guy that alot of people have ranked to win the show. I give this guy credit because he had a near-death concussion three weeks ago at FCW and is still not only wrestling but putting on very good matches. I won't be surprised if he becomes a major force to be reckoned with.

4. Percy Watson
Showtime is so entertaining. The problem I have is that he tries WAY too hard to get his gimmick over. He's a good wrestler and great on the mic, he's just got to turn the energy level down a tiny bit. Being too over-the-top might turn off alot of people at home and lead to an earlier exit than expected.

5. Lucky Cannon
The only issue I have with Lucky is the fact that he's boring. He doesn't have a great personality or even that good in the ring. I hope he improves but right now he has no chance to even be a dark horse.

6. Husky Harris
I was sooo hoping he was going home this week. I don't like this guy. He tries to be the "everyman". He says he's overweight and not in shape as part of his gimmick. I think it's pathetic. Also he's extremely sloppy in the ring and he's going to really hurt someone one day.

7. Eli Cottonwood
If Husky wasn't going to go home, I'm glad it was Cottonwood. He doesn't belong in a WWE ring. Go back down to FCW and get better please. He's sloppy in the ring, he can't talk and he's just blah. I'm happy to see him go and I'm glad the fans are realizing we have to start trimming the fat and getting to the GOOD wrestlers, not the crappy ones.

New Look, New Attitude, New Future

Yesterday, Lou Lamoriello dropped a stunning bomb that completely changed the face of the New Jersey Devils.


Ilya Kovalchuk signed a 17 year contract worth $102 million. 17 years? That part is still going through my head.


17 years is such a long time, it's just hard to even clinch how far ahead that is.


But this is turning point for this franchise, and in my opinion about time. This is the first time since the salary cap era started after the lockout that the Devils did something like this, and Lou again showed how much of a genius he truly is. He took the hottest free agent in the league and made him a $6 million cap hit. That means that they can very easily sign RFA Zach Parise sometime before July 2011. This means that Lou is looking ahead to the future. This means that for the first time, that little team in New Jersey are actually on the center stage with more than just an all-star living legend goalie.


For the first time, the Devils have multiple offensive threats and even after Elias's contract expires in 2012, they will have two stars who can guide and lead this team into the future in this wide open league.


In a sport that is more prone to parody then any other than football, is it time for the Cup to come home to New Jersey for the first time in 8 years? I hope so! I want a reason to celebrate!!!!

2010 Emmy Nominations

The 2010 Emmy Noms came out today and I figure I'll do my predications early, mainly because I have nothing to really write about lately and it's definitely worth having some fun with.

OUTSTANDING COMEDY
Glee-My Pick
Modern Family
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Nurse Jackie
30 Rock 
The Office

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Lea Michele (Glee)-My Pick
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Toni Collette (The United States of Tara)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (The New Adventures of Old Christine)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Matthew Morrison (Glee)-My Pick
Steve Carell (The Office)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) (but he really deserves to win eventually)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Chris Colfer (Glee)-My Pick
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) (won't go home empty handed)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
Jon Cryer (Two and A Half Men)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Jane Lynch (Glee)-My Pick (is there a doubt?)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)
Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
Holland Taylor (Two and A Half Men)

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Mike O’Malley (Glee) (tough call, won't be pissed either way)
Neil Patrick Harris (Glee)-My Pick
Fred Willard (Modern Family)
Eli Wallach (Nurse Jackie)
Jon Hamm (30 Rock)
Will Arnett (30 Rock)

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Christine Baranski (The Big Bang Theory)-My Pick
Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives)
Kristin Chenoweth (Glee) (doesn't deserve it)
Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live)
Betty White (Saturday Night Live) (would be awesome but won't happen)
Elaine Stritch (30 Rock)
Jane Lynch (Two and a Half Men)

OUTSTANDING DRAMA
Lost-My Pick
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Mad Men
True Blood
The Good Wife

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Mariska Hargitay (Special Victims Unit)
Glenn Close (Damages)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
January Jones (Mad Men)
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)-My Pick

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)
Hugh Laurie (House M.D.)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Matthew Fox (Lost)-My Pick

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA
John Slattery (Mad Men)
Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad)
Martin Short (Damages)
Terry O’ Quinn (Lost)-My Pick
Michael Emerson (Lost)
Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age)

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA
Sharon Gless (Burn Notice)-My Pick
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)
Rose Byrne (Damages)
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men)

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Beau Bridges (The Closer)
Ted Danson (Damages)
John Lithgow (Dexter)
Alan Cumming ( The Good Wife)
Dylan Baker (The Good Wife)
Robert Morse (Mad Men)
Gregory Itzin (24)-My Pick

OUTSTANDING GUEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Mary Kay Place (Big Love)
Sissy Spacek (Big Love)
Shirley Jones (The Cleaner)
Lily Tomlin (Damages)
Ann-Margret (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)-My Pick
Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost)

OUTSTANDING REALITY SHOW HOST
Ryan Seacrest (American Idol)
Phil Keoghan (The Amazing Race)
Tom Bergeron (Dancing with the Stars)
Heidi Klum (Project Runway)
Jeff Probst (Survivor)-My Pick

OUTSTANDING REALITY SHOW COMPETITION
Project Runway
Top Chef
The Amazing Race-My Pick (safe bet)
Dancing with the Stars
American Idol

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM
Antiques Roadshow
Dirty Jobs
Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution
Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D List
Mythbusters-My Pick
Undercover Boss

OUTSTANDING VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
The Colbert Report
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
Real Time With Bill Maher
Saturday Night Live
The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien-My Pick (why else would it get a nom if it's not going to win)

MINISERIES OR MOVIE
The Pacific (HBO)-My Pick
Return to Cranford (PBS)

OUTSTANDING TV MOVIE
Endgame (PBS)
Georgia O’Keeffe (Lifetime)
Moonshot (History)
The Special Relationship (HBO)
Temple Grandin (HBO)
You Don’t Know Jack (HBO)-My Pick

Downfall...A New Game Show Concept

Last week ABC debuted a new show after Wipeout called Downfall. I was curious because the show is hosted by WWE's Chris Jericho and since I didn't know anything about the show, I DVRed it and watched it.

It was intriging. The concept is insane. You answer questions and play for a million dollars a section at a time, $5,000, $10,000, $25,000 and so on. The categories are fun. But the crazy part is that there is a moving belt hanging over a building over a backalley in L.A. and you have to answer the questions as fast as you can before the prizes fall off and if the money falls off you lose everything. Did I mention that there you are wearing a harness? And you get two "lifelines" persay where you can hit the panic button and then you have to put either a personal item on the belt or your guest that you brought with you? Confused yet? Try watching it.

While I will continue to give the show a chance, it can get confusing and right when you are getting into the flow of the show, an item falls off the belt and they cut to it and you lose your train of thought. I know I found myself yelling at the TV a few times because I wanted to know the answer to the questions but they were obsessed with showing the damage of the items instead of showing the answers.

I don't know if people are actually watching this show yet, or if it will even catch on. Jericho makes a great game show host but overall it might be too confusing for someone to keep up with even in the short term. I hope I'm wrong.

WWE NXT:6/29/10 (Surprise Elimination!)

When the new NXT season started I was going to limit my discussion about it till it got to it's first elimination. This was supposed to be a few more weeks away. So it was a major surprise when I tuned in this week to watch the show to see the first poll come out and find out that they moved the elimination date up, unadvertised and unexpected. So thus now here I am. To make it easier, I'm going to go through the top eight till the elimination and  talk about wrestlers one by one.


#1 Kaval
This is the one guy I personally voted for on Tuesday night. He's one of the only guys I've seen wrestle in the past and is a really good one at that. I'm also glad they gave him his first victory this week so he didn't have Daniel Bryan disease. His interaction with Laycool has actually been really entertaining and I think it's hysterical that he's wearing that terrible pink shirt every week now. This doesn't surprise me at all and I'm glad he's ranked this high.

#2 Percy Watson
This surprised me, but in an entertainment factor, it makes sense. This guy is extremely funny and will get over fast as long as they give him the time to do it. It also helps that they showed a package video for him while the voting was going on so he was fresh in people's minds.

#3 Michael McGillicutty 
a.k.a. Joe Henning, he's a really good performer, you can tell he takes after his dad. Deserves to get the credit he's getting and is a real treat to win this show.


#4 Alex Riley
This really surprised me. I had him at #2 on my rankings, and even maybe #1 if the anti-face voters got in. This guy is great on the mic, his interaction with Miz is amazing and he's one of the few that can just straight up wrestle. If you don't believe me, find the Kaval-Riley match from a couple of weeks back, it was fantastic, especially for a NXT match.

#5 Lucky Cannon
This guy earned immunity this week by winning the awful keg carry competition (seriously, who's idea was it to bring that back???), so he was safe no matter what. My only issue with him that he can get over, but he's got to stop using all the cliches all the time. Just talk from the heart and he'll be fine down the road.

#6 Eli Cottonwood
I honestly had this guy going home. He's super tall and while he's not as robotic as Great Khali, he's still not that agile. He also didn't deserve the win over Kaval. I'll be shocked if he makes it past the next elimination.

#7 Husky Harris
I figured he would have been safe because of the storyline he's in with Cody Rhodes and Matt Striker, I guess I was wrong. He has the tools on the mic to be a very good heel, but his ring skills really have to improve in order to not embarrass himself every week. Then again if Miz can improve, I don't know why he can't too.

#8 Titus O'Neil 
And finally the guy who was eliminated first, Titus O'Neil, Zach Ryder's rookie. I honestly think he was good on the mic and had a chance to be good in the ring. He never got a real chance to shine and I was actually ready to give Ryder the benefit of the doubt as a pro. Oh well, so much for that.

Overall, an okay show. I just hope this surprise elimination thing doesn't become a normal thing. The ratings were terrible because all the casual fans thought it was just going to be a normal show. They have to advertise these things. Still, I have to admit, I'm looking forward to next week's show more than I did for most of season 1.