Midnight Gem--Stylista: Jason Freaks Out

OK, so I don't really remember hearing much about this new show on The CW called Stylista. But I did some research.  The premise is this: eleven hopefuls are given jobs as interns for Elle magazine; each week, they compete in various tasks until one is left.  The winner gets a job with Elle, a fierce apartment in Manhattan, and a shopping spree at H&M.  Interesting...  

Anyways, this clip is great.  One of the gaytestants, Jason, completely freaks out.  He's nervous about his team members ratting him out or something like that...  I don't know the details, but I know that it's amazing.

This is a new "tag" I'm trying out...  It's called "Midnight Gems" and it's clips/news stories/thoughts/etc. that come to me late at night, just before I tuck myself into bed.

This clip is hilarious.  It's from Mad TV and it's a spoof of So You Think You Can Dance?  The clip alone is pretty good, but once Crista Flanagan (as judge Mary Murphy) starts laughing, I couldn't contain myself.  Pretty funny.

Anderson Cooper with Kelly Ripa

OK, watch this clip and then think about the following questions...

1. Why is Anderson giggling the entire time?

2. How come he looks like he's so in shape (read: fierce arms) but has zero flexibility?

3. Why won't he just DO what she's SAYING?  I don't get it...

4. Does this workout really work?

5. Anderson Cooper: Hot or Not?

This is the stuff dreams are made of...

Well, something new actually happened on reality TV last night.  That's right, Ladies and Gentleman, there was a group HIP HOP routine on Dancing With The Stars.

Honestly, what more needs to be said? 

Watch it in all its glory HERE.

Monday bits & pieces...

Danity Kane is really falling apart.  It's being reported that Shannon has decided to leave the group amidst all the drama, cat-fighting, and name-calling.  This means that only two girls remain--Dawn and Aundrea.  Sad times for sure; the end of an era, even.  I wonder what Diddy will do with the name and image of Danity Kane...  I mean, it's obvious that this group is over, unless they try to rebuild the group during the next season of Making The Band.  Who knows.

Two of the pro dancers on Dancing With The Stars have come under heavy scrutiny this season for their apparent "weight gain."  That's right, people are saying that Cheryl Burke and Lacey Schwimmer need to drop the pounds.  And it's not just people in the media or jealous fans; apparently the male pro dancers have said some truly nasty things in regards to these ladies.  I think it's ridiculous.  

Final Thought: Happy Birthday, Kelly Osbourne!  You used to look crazy but now that you're 24 you don't look so bad.

When horrible things happen to fierce people...

I saw the "breaking news" of this story a few days ago, but the details are so tragic...  And, it hits close to home for me...

Jennifer Hudson's mother and two other family members were shot and killed in their Southside Chicago home on Friday.  To make matters even worse, a young boy, Jennifer's nephew, has been missing since the family members were found dead.  There's currently an Amber Alert in Chicago (which I saw a few times on the high way driving back into the city today), and people are being asked to call 911 with any information.  Law enforcement is looking for a 1994 white Chevy Suburban with IL plates reading X584859.

What terrible news.  I just hope for the safe return of the boy...

"I would rather be hated on every damn day of my life than loved for something I'm not."

So, American Idol loser and future Celebrity Rehab superstar Nikki McKibbin blames her drug/alcohol problems and bouts with depression on Simon Cowell.  She says that during her time in Idol, the comments from Simon made her sneak a bottle of vodka into the house and, if she wasn't too tired, "have one or two drinks."  My first question is this: one or two drinks means you're an alcoholic?  I'm in trouble...  Second question: does she think she's the only one who Simon was ever mean to?  Because she isn't.

What are some of your other favorite Idol alums up to?  Check it out here.

Unless you've been living under a rock, I trust that you have heard about the dismissal of Aubrey and D. Woods from Danity Kane.  I just don't get it, to be completely honest.  I mean, I understand that Diddy has the final say and everything, but it just doesn't make sense.  It took two seasons of the show to find the right girls, and each of their personalities adds something very unique to the group.  Why is he throwing it all away?  Whatever.  I'm sure it won't take long for Aubrey to put out a solo album.  Here's what she said about the group and her dismissal--she's fierce.

That's all for now.

Saturday Night Stories

It's definitely not a spinoff...  J. Alexander and Jay Manuel of America's Next Top Model are getting their own show on The CW, in which five women from one town all get makeovers and do some sort of competition until a winner is chosen...  Interesting.  It's called Operation Fabulous.  Good one.

How many more spin-offs can they come up with?  This time it's Daisy from Rock Of Love's turn to try to find her one true love.  I'm sure some guy who loses on her show will end up with his own show, and so on and so on.  It's a vicious cycle and I LOVE IT.

Dancing With The Stars has come up with a Plan B.  So far this season, like five people have been injured on the show, including Misty May-Treanor who actually had to leave the competition.  Well, the producers have come up with this idea...  If a member of a team is injured during rehearsals and doesn't feel up to dancing live on the show, they can opt to show (probably edited) rehearsal footage.  Reality TV is so real!  

This should be good: Sarah Palin has reportedly signed on to guest star on Saturday Night Live's October 25th show!  In all fairness, I hope she does a good job.

I can't wait to hear David Archuleta's debut album, due out November 11, a week before champion David Cook's own album drops.  David A. has finally landed a manager and all the pieces are coming together for the cutest crooner to hit the Idol stage. 

Final Thought:  Seacrest out.  He's so funny.

All is not well in the Land of Danity Kane! And other things...

The rumors have been circulating for a while.  Though no official announcement has been made (yet), it looks like Danity Kane will be saying auf Wiedersehen to Aubrey!  Diddy made this known during last night's show, saying that Aubrey is no longer a part of the group.  !!!  I am a little shocked, to be honest; I mean, Aubrey was the stand-out from day one, and her vocals are among the strongest in the group.  But then again, I'm not that shocked because it seems like she (more than any of the other girls) has always tried to stand out a little...  Did you know that she was on Broadway this summer in Hairspray?  Interesting.  Be ready for something of substance regarding this matter next week on the season finale...  Can't wait!

OK, here's a question: what do you get when you combine one of my favorite singers EVER, two of my favorite dancers EVER, and a little men's gymnastics thrown in for good measure?  You get the results show of Dancing With The Stars!  Dancing together on the show for the first time (I think) were Juliane and Derek Hough.  Jennifer Hudson joined them, singing her hit single "Spotlight."  And Derek threw in some tumbling...  So amazing.  Was this segment created specifically for me?  I'd like to think so...  In any event, it's amazing and you must check it out.

Speaking of DWTS, they revealed on the results show that no couple would be going home this week due to the absence of Misty May-Treanor.  Instead, they announced that chef Rocco DiSpirito and his partner had the lowest score and would have gone home should Misty have remained in the contest.  Interesting.  And probably a very fair way to handle it.

Final Thought: Yeah, I'm obsessed with DWTS.  Do you remember this clip from the finale two seasons ago?  It's one of the best performances ever by two of the best people ever (Sabrina Bryan & Mark Ballas).  :)  (PS--apparently they're "just friends" these days...  sad)

Life as a reality star...

...must be difficult!  And by "difficult" I mean "pretty not bad."

Anyways, I watched The Hills last night.  Even though I really don't like the show, it's only a half hour long, and watching those crazy girls' "real lives" helps to make me feel like mine is somewhat normal.  I think the only one I really have any empathy for is Lauren; I mean, she is constantly drawing the short straw in life, constantly being the under-appreciated one.  Heidi looks like she has a makeup artist following her 24-7, constantly ready to give her touch-ups. Audrina just doesn't do it for me; something about her face is just not right.  And Lo?  Ugh, don't get me started.

Well, it's official: Hugh and Holly's relationship is over.  :(  Holly spent some time chatting with a TMZ reporter and, at the end, she mentions that she has no pull with Hef any longer, since they're not together.  There's still going to be another season of Girls Next Door though, which Holly promises will be better than ever.

**Update**

In case you are still skeptical, Holly has released a statement via her blog regarding her relationship with Hef (as well as Bridget and Kendra), her current living arrangements, and her plans for the future.

Reality Birthdays:

American Idol champ (ha) Taylor Hicks--32

Matt Roloff from Little People, Big World--47

Singer turned Dancer Toni Braxton--41

American Idol Judge Simon Cowell--49

The View's Joy Behar--65

Monday Morning--what's going on?

Well, it's officially Fall here in Chicago, but apparently it's still pretty warm out in LA, where Dancing With The Stars is filmed.  Check out Derek Hough after a long (and intense?) rehearsal... Ugh, he's cute.

This really comes as no surprise because all parties involved are uneducated idiots: Heidi Montag endorses Sarah Palin (and therefore John McCain).  Duh.

According to one of her cast-mates, Misty May-Treanor is definitely leaving the cast of Dancing With The Stars.  Brooke Burke let it slip this morning on a radio show.

Sunday news breaks...

This is sad.  Misty May-Treanor and her partner, the uber-hot Maksim Chmerkovsky, have had to drop out of Dancing With The Stars!  Misty apparently broke her ankle during a rehearsal for the upcoming week's show; I wonder how this will affect the voting--will they eliminate someone? Or maybe they'll bring back Kim Kardashian who was eliminated last week; it's not like she has anything better to do.

Here's the latest Governor Sarah Palin skit from Saturday Night Live, this time poking fun at her recent debate with Senator Joe Biden.  Good stuff.

Tonight's line-up on TV looks good!  Too bad I'll be at work.  :(

Since he's been out for a week or so now, Clay Aiken is super dramatic; he has taken to his own blog and let us hear it!  In his entry, he talks about the fame that comes with American Idol, why he chose to never directly comment on his sexuality until recently, and other gay snippets.

That's all.

Miscellany--

OK, so, The View.  It's a whatever show, to be completely honest.  But every now and then, the bitches make a point.  Today's point is this: Elizabeth Hasselbeck is an idiot and Sarah Palin is not fit to be the President of the United States.  Watch and learn.

I mean, I am not politically-savvy enough to really commentate on the inadequacies of Sarah Palin, but my lady friends on The View really stuck it to Elizabeth as well as John McCain and the rest of the Republicans...  What are they thinking???  She's the Governor of Alaska.  I could be the Governor of Alaska.  It just doesn't make sense.

Basically (and I haven't said anything about this thusfar), it's time for everyone to Barack Out with your C*ck Out!

DWTS

I haven't gotten to watch too much Dancing With The Stars so far this season, but thank God for YouTube!  Today I checked out a few of the live performances that have happened so far and want to share them...

First of all, Jesse McCartney performed his hit "Leavin'" and, to be honest, I am quite impressed. He sounds good and, as usual, looks hot.  

This one's a gem--it's Jessica "I'm A Country Singer" Simpson belting out her hit from a few years ago, a cover of Robbie Williams' "Angels."  Something has happened to Jessica because she used to be pretty fierce live...  It sounds like her range has diminished, too, so she's having trouble with those top notes.  Oh well.  At least Maks was dancing during it.

Kim Kardashian was eliminated on the results show last night...  No big loss, really.