Friday's Notes

It's Friday y'all, and those of us in the Midwest are showing that we too can be survivors of a major natural disaster.  Stay strong, Indiana and Illinois, and let us together pick up the pieces and rebuild after that terrible earthquake last night.

Forgive my satire...

In REAL(ity) news, it looks like MTV might be interested in a new show starring Heidi & Spencer from The Hillz.  Booooring!  Dlisted makes a good point, though, because it seems like every show based on a couple ends with them breaking up--Jessica Simpson & Nich Lachey, Carmen Electra & Dave Navarro, Britney & K-Fed, Travis & Shanna Barker...  

Kristy Lee Cook from Idol is apparently engaged and has been for over a month.  Does anyone care?  The only thing you should care about is my next post, which will discuss the most recent episodes of Idol (and it's getting good!!!).

I found this great new website called GuyTVBlog and it has TONS of amazing articles.  The only problem is that I can't figure out how to link to specific entries...  Hmm...  In any case, the first story that caught my eye was a collection of pictures of VJ from America's Most Smartest Model.  He's looking good!!!  Here is a hot pic from his Myspace until I figure out how to link to GuyTVBlog.

E!'s Answer Bitch did some research and explains how contestants on shows like American Idol can survive financially while being on the show and away from jobs, families, etc.  I've always wondered what kind of compensation they get...

A Couple of Updates...

American Idol season two winner Ruben Studdard (I hoped I would never have to write about him) has been dropped by his record label. That sucks, you know? Maybe he will have to do some commercials in his home town like Melinda Doolittle did...

Also in Idol news, the ever-trashy Jessica Sierra has put out a sex tape! I won't be watching it, and I don't think Perez will be either...

Even more Idol news! Page Six is reporting that Fantasia is pregnant! She's had her understudy go on for her in The Color Purple on Broadway sooo many times lately; maybe it's because she's with child.

One more Idol tidbit. Simon Cowell has lost some weight apparently. He looks kind of good...??!!??

VH1 is bringing Bret Michaels back for another season of Rock Of Love. Personally, I don't really care because I don't know who he is and I have never watched an episode of that show before.

Heidi Montag is on the cover of USWeekly confirming that she and Spencer are NOT getting married. Apparently the ring wasn't her "dream ring" or something stupid like that. I mean, here's the thing--Heidi is never going to find someone more perfect for her than Spencer.

Tila Tequila picked the boy. That's dumb because she already has a boyfriend! She should have chosen Dani because she's cuter and would be more fun to add to her existing relationship. Do I smell a spin-off featuring Dani to come in 2008?

The Hillz are alive with the sound of Lauren

I missed the original airing of Lauren Looks Back, since it's MTV, I am catching the rerun a couple hours later. It's a pretty awesome clip/review show, catching up those of us who have missed a single episode of Laguna Beach or The Hillz. I've taken a few pages of notes, but I'll consolidate it all to one sentence per segment. Well, maybe two sentences. And a quote.

1. It's all about Stephen, but he's too busy with Kristin to really take Lauren seriously. Stephen!

2. Stephen is a huge man-whore, completely "not available" for Lauren. Prom and graduation bring an end to high school, but Lauren only survives design school in San Fran for one semester.

3. Enter Jason, complete with that ugly girlfriend of his, Jessica. Also, enter Heidi, who walked with Kristin in a fashion show (a sign of things to come?).

4. Lauren and Heidi move in together and, miraculously, Lauren scores the internship at Teen Vogue and meets Whitney (my fave!). As she says, she "came to Los Angeles to take chances!"

5. Lauren and Jason have all kinds of problems, including a SUPER dramatic scene on New Year's Eve. Then, Lauren makes the biggest mistake EVER by becoming, as Lisa Love says, "the girl who didn't go to Paris."

6. Lauren, already being SO trendy with dark fingernail polish, realizes she can "never be normal" with Jason. Spencer and Brody are brought to the forefront, and Heidi and her loser BF hook up slutty Jen with Brody at a party.

7. Basically, Spencer is an idiot ("He is a sucky person!" / Brody & Spencer break up!). Jason gets out of rehab and, after being super nice to Lauren, she finds out that he's engaged to some not-so-cute tennis player.

8. It's all about Brody. Heidi is around, but she's still a bitch.

The Opening Round: Beginnings and Endings

Well, last night was a complete shock (slash not a shock at all) when Mel B. was robbed of the title on Dancing with the Stars. I'm pissed! You know, when Sabrina was voted off a few weeks ago, I was seriously outraged, and this is not QUITE as bad, but it's still upsetting. There were many highlights of the finale results show, though, such as Marie finishing in third (gotta love her for trying, but let's face it, she's talentless in the ballroom); the return of all of the eliminated couples (SABRINA! YES!  ALBERT REED! YES!); some great one-liners from Tom (he's such a great host); Cameron with his shirt off (finally!); and some awesome, tear-jerking montages from this fabulous and dramatic season. I mean, how many times have we seen Marie faint or Jennie & Derek fall on their asses? And they're both still funny! Anyhow, it's a shame that what's-his-name the racecar driver went home with the mirrorball trophy, but I guess I can't be that surprised... After all, it's not like America hasn't done something stupid like this before (Jennifer Hudson's 7th place Idol finish, most notably).

This was the first season of DWTS that I watched regularly, and I have to say, I was very impressed. Yes, it's funny that most of the "stars" are actually way past their primes (or have their primes still in the future--SABRINA), but it is always entertaining to see people completely out of their element.  Also, I love watching good dancers; it's a well-known fact that my dream talent is to be a dancer of some sort.  All in all, wow, what a season; if you didn't tune in, check it out online at abc.com or go to YouTube and search for your favorite stars.

And now, on to Project Runway.  I didn't watch much of last season but I was a fanatic of the previous two, especially season one.  This time around, Heidi is even more German (or whatever she is) and Tim Gunn now knows how gay he actually sounds ("Designers...  Make it work.")  The cast is incredibly talented; never before have there been so many designers who have already enjoyed some level of success.  From lingerie to nymph-inspired cloaks, these designers have done it all, and it's way too early to pick any front-runners, at least for me.

The Redeye, a morning newspaper us Chicagoans enjoy while riding the El, did a preview of the designers a few weeks ago and they compared each one to a designer from past seasons.  Well, The Redeye was completely wrong; they said that Victorya was "forgettable" and wouldn't make it past week one, but she's won two of the three challenges!  I think her designs are nice, feminine, and pretty; nothing to write home about, really, but she's definitely good enough to be there.  Jack definitely rocked the menswear challenge with Tiki Barber tonight, and the male models Tim brought in definitely rocked my TV.  (Sidenote: throw in male models and I'm all about it).  As far as personality is concerned, well, you might not believe me, but I like Christian.  He's so ridiculouslyfiercelyinsanely gay, it's awesome.  I also love the relationship that he and Jack have--did you see Jack's rippling muscles barely flinch while carrying Christian in a tote bag back to Parsons?  Adorable.

You know, I haven't really watched Real World regularly since...hmmm...either Chicago or New Orleans.  I think that show was cooler to me when I was younger than the cast members; now, it isn't as unbelievable that a house full of beautiful college kids get drunk every night and barely do anything worthwhile (or perhaps nothing at all) during the day.  It's one of those reality shows that is basically the same from season to season, especially now that they pick the most ridiculous people they can find, rather than mixing it up with a few normals.  Anyhow, my roommate and I watched the new episode today, and I officially decided that I hate Parisa.  I'm sorry, I do.  Now, do NOT think that this means I am on Team Tricia, because that is clearly not the case.  Tricia is a closed-minded white trash Christian skank who needs a new dye job.  But Parisa is sooooo annoying!  Why did she EVER think it would be a good idea to be on the show?  Her personality just isn't right.  And I hate the way she is constantly acting so mature.  Get over it.  The funniest moment on tonight's show was when those two brown-haired sorority girls were leaning over the phone room and spitting on the window.  Was that really supposed to frighten Parisa out of Australia?  

The last show I'll be discussing tonight is Run's House.  This diamond in the rough showcases one of the most normal, down to earth families in the history of reality TV.  Seriously.  Run and his wife are both totally cool parents and all of their kids are full of personality and hidden talents...  Especially Diggy, who is a totally fierce dancer.  It's a low-key show that really pleases.

Final thought: Please download Heidi Montag's song "Body Language."  I know it's been out in cyberspace for a few weeks already, but it's priceless.  Especially Spencer's rap.