We start this week with your American
Idol update...and big changes have been afoot since we spoke last
week. We left off with the Wild Card round as we thought we were
going to have a top 12...but we had a top 13 as Megan Corkery,
Jasmine Murray, Matt Giraud, and Anoop Desai get into the big dance.
So last Tuesday night was Michael Jackson night. Most of the
performances were ok, and after the performances we were promised a
rule change that would "change the game". And when they say
something is big...it usually isn’t. This rule change was tested on
Season 6 of Nouvelle Star (the French version).
What happens is this: We have a vote as per normal and someone is
eliminated. In this week’s case it was Jorge Nunez and Jasmine
Murray. They both sing their song and if the judges unanimously
decide they can save a singer. This can happen once, and only
through the round of 5.
Now, some people may say that this is a "jump the shark" moment. I
don’t. I want to see how it’s executed. I am not thrilled with the
move, but I am not panicking. I see that when the immunity idol...I
mean veto...is cast...the next week the American people will be even
more inspired to flip the bird at the judges when the double
elimination the week after happens.
Fans of the Price is Right this past
week got more than a bird on Friday, March 6...they got the worst
show of the Drew Carey era. Not only was no game won that day, but
we had a worthless celebrity crossover in the form of Jack Wagner of
"The Bold and the Beautiful".
Wagner claimed that "the noise was too loud" and couldn’t rehearse
his love scene. So in 4, count them, 4 appearances...we saw him
complain, come back in a lipstick stained shirt, then "flash" Drew
and then do a "loud noisy showcase".
And the reaction of the golden-road.net fanboys was in my opinion,
UNDERRATED. This was a show that would make me go to Television City
with protest signs calling for the cancellation of the show.
This show was a perfect example of what’s wrong with the crew at
Studio 33. Combine lame uninspired humor, and an appearance where it
TOOK AWAY from the gameplay and have people going nuts.
The biggest problem is that Drew can host. When a contestant last
Monday explained she was in a near death car accident and her
inspiration was to walk and be on Price, Drew called her "a miracle
and inspiration". And when she won her prizes...the hug she has with
Drew was the most emotional moment of the Drew era.
But the flashes of brilliance mask inconsistency in hosting and
execution. And this past Friday’s episode was the most egregious
example of that.
A quick note on Jeopardy’s Tournament
of Champions which started this past week from the new set at the
Consumer Electronics Show...if I didn’t want an HDTV set as bad I do
now...this didn’t help. The set is GORGEOUS.
Dancing with the Stars started up
this past week, as we had two high profile replacements due to
injury. Jewel won’t be dancing with her husband and Nancy O’Dell is
out as both had leg injuries. Joining the cast were Holly Madison
from the E! Reality Show "The Girls Next Door" and Melissa Rycroft...the
recent Bachelor dumpee. We will have our first eliminations this
coming week. And I don’t think the show is in trouble at all. The
ratings this past week were monster!
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the eighth edition of ABC's
"Dancing With the Stars" had the most-watched premiere in the show's
history, dramatically reversing a two-year slide.
The "Dancing" kickoff was seen by 22.5 million viewers -- a larger
audience than Thursday's "American Idol." The dancing competition
earned a 5.9 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and 15 share -- up 9%
from last fall's premiere and 5% from last spring. This is first
time a "Dancing" premiere has climbed in the ratings since 2007.
The Amazing Race also had a rule
change this week, as the U-Turn feature just got more
interesting...To explain, a U-Turn happens during a Detour. A Detour
is a choice of one of two challenges that a team must complete
before you get the next clue. A U-Turn forces a team to complete
both halves of the detour before you get the clue.
Up until this season, you had to post your picture along with the
team you were U-Turning. Now this year it becomes the Blind U-Turn.
No one knows who put you up there. And in the case of Kris and
Amanda...Margie and Luke’s use of the U-Turn cost them the race.
This is a pretty cool new twist...and the previews for this week’s
episode show that Margie and Luke may rely on the U-Turn too much
and karma may bite them in the backside. Can’t wait to watch.
Random Newsbits:
– The Chopping Block premiered this past Wednesday to horrible
ratings and maybe on the chopping block sooner than they think.
– NBC greenlights "Great American Road Trip" where seven families
will drive cross-country to such popular destinations as the Grand
Canyon and the Washington Monument. Against the iconic backdrops,
contestants will compete in challenges that will eliminate one
family at time. Sounds like the horrible Amazing Race: Family
Edition.
– In the Rose D’or Nominations: Britain has notched up 33
nominations, followed by Canada with nine. The U.S. received four
nods and all of them are from Endemol. One nomination is in the
pitch pilot category for "20Q" The others are "I Survived a Japanese
Game Show," "Wipeout," selected for the entertainment prize; and
"Estate of Panic," nominated in the game show section. Congrats to
Endemol.
– Make Me A Supermodel teams with Maybelline.
– Gordon Ramsay sells his restaurant in West Hollywood.
– WCG Ultimate Gamer debuts on Sci Fi.
– America’s Best Dance Crew ends it’s season with it’s highest
ratings to date. Expect a Season 4.
– Fremantle debuts it’s IPhone App for American Idol. And Carrie
Underwood sings "Home Sweet Home" as the exit song for this year’s
Idol Top 13.
– Alex Trebek is racing for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, part of
the 35th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
– Jeff Probst becomes a real life hero as he helps a camerawoman
survive her seizures until help arrived. He was at an awards
ceremony.
– Sharon Osbourne denies being sued by Megan Hauserman.
– GSN is touring the country to find the best undiscovered game show
hosts in the "GSN Live Play Every Day Tour,"
– Drew Carey is back in action after a bout of pneumonia.
– Bravo is casting for the 3rd Season of Shear Genius.
– Jenna Morasca of "Survivor" is joining Total Nonstop Action
Wrestling.
– and The Cast of Pros v. Joes 4 is released.
Jason Block looks flattering
in green, but is anything but a leprechaun (seriously, he's a tall
drink o'the water). E-mail him at
jiblock@yahoo.com.
