Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Dancing - Shannen's ouster


Shannen Doherty and partner Mark Ballas on Monday on "Dancing with the Stars." / AP photo

The internet is abuzz with speculation since Shannen Doherty's unexpected elimination last night on "Dancing with the Stars."
What it came down during the broadcast to was three surprises, two within the first minute of the show:

1) Buzz Aldrin was safe

2) Pam Anderson was in the bottom two

3) Kate Gosselin survived, and was not in the bottom two

I would not call Shannen's elimination that much of a surprise and will explain why here. Let's go point by point.

1) Buzz got sympathy votes. He clearly cannot dance, but he's a sweet old guy and people felt sorry for him. I would contend a better way to show him support would be to let him off the show - he does not know what he is doing - but he wants to be there, so I don't think I am right about that.

2) Think about this. Do we really think "Dancing with the Stars" demographic and Pam Anderson's fanbase are the same? Maybe we did before last night, but they are obviously not. I thought Pammie laid it on a little thick for both dances - but showed more talent in her foxtrot. The judges loved her both times. America's housewives didn't want to watch her exude her Pam Anderson-ness any more. If she's going to survive, she's going to need some Maxim readers, stat.

3) In this contest, we vote FOR someone, not against him or her. If the voting was against, I still think Kate and her tantrums and hair extensions would be out for sure, but there are some people out there who look at Jon with his Ed Hardy shirts and skanky girlfriends and think it's a wash, they're both awful - so it looks like she squeaked by for now. Plus, we love the drama. The tabloids wouldn't keep putting her on the cover if we weren't buying. Remember, "Jon and Kate" only became a real hit after their marriage hit the skids.

And that's what did Shannen in, too - drama, or more precisely, a lack of it. She and her partner were all smiles, she was doing it for her dad, she was crying and grateful - she was the anti-Kate. People made their choice. They voted off the woman who talked about her dad and got along with her partner, and kept the one who treated her partner like one of her kids and caused him to walk off at one point during the second episode (a first, host Tom Bergeron chirpily said).

If it's something different than that, prove me wrong.

Anybody else worried about Evan Lysacek about now?

Dancing with the Stars


My latest project is I have been following Olympic Gold medalist Evan Lysacek in his quest for the mirrorball on "Dancing with the Stars."

I have been Live Tweeting the episodes and they show up on this page on Monday and Tuesday nights. Also, I do a recap that runs in the Naperville Sun.

Here are the first two stories.

http://bit.ly/bz1AAJ http://bit.ly/9pc6e4

http://bit.ly/bz1AAJ

Sunday, March 7, 2010

It's the Oscars!

I am tweeting the Oscars for work, so I will updating my blog here from time to time.

Why is Amanda Seyfried at the Oscars? Because she looks like a dress hanger. Can't wait until her 15 minutes are over.

Sandra Bullock looks like an Oscar herself. She says she's always pessimistic - she should have been a little more about "All About Steve."

Ryan Seacrest just told Tyler Perry that Mo'Nique "is here." No way, she showed up? Why would she do that?

As I struggle not to throw up during Red Carpet coverage (I've already switched from E! to the TV Guide Channel), quick quiz - who saw all 10 Best Picture nominees? Yes, I did and yes, I am showing off.

Oh my God! Antonio Banderas has a grey beard!

So far, people who should not be allowed at the Oscars: Melanie Griffith, Sarah Jessica Parker, Miley Cyrus, Rachel McAdams....

Kathryn Bigelow is a FOOT taller than Ryan Seacrest! Hilarious.

More people who don't belong: Jennifer Lopez, her husband Skeletor, Demi Moore (the white haired freak on E! only wants to talk these people)

Nice try at lurking, Clooney.

More people who don't belong: Keanu Reeves (whoa) - on the screen on E! at the same time as Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. Nice.

More people who don't belong: Keanu Reeves (whoa) - on the screen on E! at the same time as Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. Nice.

Robert Downey Jr. Siiigghhhhh.............. That is all.

I saw a trailer "Tron Legacy" today and it looks awesome. (Sorry, Jeff Bridges was just on)

Anybody else want to stab Guiliana and the white-haired guy on E! in the eye yet? SO glad it's almost 7!

It was funny to watch the opening montage on ABC and see if any of the couples were still together. I don't think a single one was.

The parade of WTF continues: Cameron Diaz, Jake Gyllenhaal and his dumb video game movie, Zac Efron...

There may be a divide between the movies I am looking forward to and the movies "America" is looking forward to. Hence these presenters.

It's NEIL PATRICK HARRIS! I am cheering! Is anyone else?

Oh, and look, there's that damn Helen Mirren. ... Steve, that's DAME Helen Mirren.

Oh, is it too late? My big prediction is Josh Larsen @larsenonfilm will not like the Oscar hosts and I will love them. Every year.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz ("Inglourious Basterds") That's an uber bingo! His speeches are weird, but at least he writes a speech.

Best animated feature: "Up" The people who work on animated films seem so much happier than regular people.

Best Song: "The Weary Kind" by Ryan Bingham and T-Bone Burnett from "Crazy Heart"

This show is really moving along. Everyone is going to win their Oscar pool, the way this is going...

RDJ, what with the sunglasses?

Best Original Screenplay: Mark Boal "The Hurt Locker"

I love Mark Boal's story. Embedded reporter with an idea. It's the dream.

John Hughes tribute time. Matthew Broderick, cute story. I imagine he really does hear about Ferris every day.

I think the John Hughes character that I resemble most closely is Duckie. Think about which one you would be.

The animated short feature was actually pretty interesting. Perish the thought, learning something during the Oscars.

Animated short: "Logorama" Nicholas Schmerkin (which actually looks pretty cool)

Documentary short: "Music by Prudence" Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett

Live Action Short Film: "The New Tenants"

Ben Stiller's a Na'Vi! Ben Stiller's a Na'Vi! I really don't care what he does, I laughed the whole time anyway. DON'T TELL ME IT'S NOT FUNNY JOSH I DON'T CARE

These clips are reminding me of great moments from these films. Like "the parking lot" rabbi in "A Serious Man."

Best Makeup: "Star Trek" (I missed this earlier during Ben Stiller's silliness)

Adapted screenplay: Jeffrey Fletcher "Precious"

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique "Precious" The second leas surprising award of the night.

Art Direction: "Avatar"

Costume design: "The Young Victoria." Quick poll: how much do you hate it when a winner points out "wow, I already have two of these." Esp. when you haven't heard of the person.

Come on, salute to horror films. We still have 2 sound awards, score, cinematography, documentary, editing, visual effects ...

Sound editing: "The Hurt Locker" Score one for Team Bigelow

Ha, look at this sound guy. He looks like someone from one of the horror movies.

Sound mixing: "The Hurt Locker"

So now we can forever say Academy Award nominated film "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." @larsenonfilm did say it had good sound.

Cinematography: "Avatar"

People with dead careers talking about dead people. How fitting.

WHY IS THERE DANCING? Interpretive dancing "The Hurt Locker"? I believe the young people call this a FAIL.

Some things are controversial, but I have never heard anyone say "you know what I love? The dancing."

Original score: "Up"

Visual effects: "Avatar" Well, duh.

If you have not seen these films, these clips are awfully revealing.

Best Documentary Feature: "The Cove"

That's right Tyler Perry, they will NEVER say your name at the Oscars.

Film Editing: "The Hurt Locker"

Best Foreign Language Film: "El Secreto de Sus Ojos" ("The Secrets in Their Eyes")

This Best Actor intro is eating up a lot of time.

Best Actor: Jeff Bridges "Crazy Heart." If you ever wondered how many times you can say "man" during an Oscar acceptance speech and still sound cool, that was it.

Best Actress: Sandra Bullock ("the Blind Side") Sandra Bullock thanks her mom while her husband, the motorcycle man, cries. Ain't that America?

YEAH! Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow "The Hurt Locker." I wish her speech wasn't so dull.

Best Picture: "The Hurt Locker." I had a feeling about "the Hurt Locker" since I saw it in June. I've been pestering people to see it since then. it's just a great film. I don't want to say I told you so, but, well, I think I told you so. Good night, everybody.