Showing posts with label McPheever. Show all posts
Showing posts with label McPheever. Show all posts

The Great Thing about Tiny Lister (and other random thoughts)

So, I read that "The Expendables" is possibly heading to a sequel.  Man, I hope so, cause that movie is the most craptacular spectacle that exists on His green Earth today.  Its a testosterone overload.  The movie, of course, was a rousing success, with Sly Stallone and Jason Stathem in the lead, and guys like Jet Li, Randy Couture, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Dolph Lungren.

What's the plot?  Doesn't really matter... something about an arms dealer in a South American island, which is where they usually are. 

Anyway, I bring this up because I was reading on the movie's Wiki page about a possible Part 2, and those who might star in in... those names include:  Jean Claude Van-Damme, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T., Carl Weathers, Vin Diesel, The Rock, Charlie Sheen, Lorenzo Lamas, Chuck Norris and yes, it lists Ryan Seacrest (!).  Now, with the addition of Seacrusty to that list, one must assume this is a very tentative list, as the words "action star" and "Ryan Seacrust" go together like "Obama" and "concern for the American citizen", but there it is.  Wiki isn't known to be 100 percent accurate, but they are fairly close most of the time. 

Of course, Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger shared screen time with Sly Stallone in a quick scene that was highly praised as "the three biggest 80s starts at the same time", and sources say that Bruce is hoping to reprise his role as "Mr. Church", possibly being the main villian.   Ahnold was also thought to be in a bigger role, but after his baby-daddy scandel the last few months, that might not happen.

Its targeting a August 2012 release date.  I'll be there.

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So, went to the doctor with The Lovely Steph Leann.  Why is it that there are fifty chick mags in the office, all lying around, like "Parenting" and "Women's Health" and "Good Housekeeping" and "Ebony Baby Mama", but for the men, you usually have two options... "Field and Stream" is always one of them.  My dad read that magazine when I was a kid, and I have a hard time believing it still exists.  The other is "Sports Illustrated", though its a rule that doctors offices cannot have any issues that are anywhere close to recent.

Go to the doc's office and find an SI, and you are likely to see something on the front cover like "Saints Win Super Bowl" or "Will LeBron Pick Cleveland?" or "Favre Becomes an NYJet".  To be fair, if you see a People Magazine, you'll also see something like "Elizabeth Smart Found!" or "Jesse and Sandra!  Happy Together!".

Can they not subscribe to Entertainment Weekly or Newsweek or something?  Seriously?

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Being a Sunday afternoon, a lazy Sunday afternoon, we are just flipping channels and watching whatever is on.  "Ironman 2" was finishing, as The Lovely Steph Leann dozes and I type.  We both were awake at the end, though, when the Hammer Droids were all defeated, but rigged to blow up (hope I didn't spoil it for you... whoops).  Anyway, this little light starts blinking and goes, "Beep... ... ... ... beep ... ... ... ... beep ... ... ... beep ... ... beep ... beep ... beep .. beep . beep beep beepbeepbeepbeep", which simply led me to observe, "If we are standing around destroyed battle droids and a little red light starts blinking and starts beeping at a progressively increased rate, perhaps I would start to run."

The Lovely Steph Leann just says, "Yep."

Hasn't Gwyneth Paltrow seen "Predator"?  This is exactly what happens.

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Speaking of "Iron Man 2", we were just chatting as the credits rolled, and I noticed something kinda funny... you know, like, at the end of movies when you see the American Humane Society logo, and it says "No animals were harmed in the making of this film"?  I've often wondered what happens if an animal is, in fact, injured, and that claim is no longer valid.

Well, the end of the credits, the American Humane Society logo pops up, and beside it simply reads, "Animals were monitored during filming".  Guess there's your answer

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Yeah, so I guess we'll have to baby proof The Cabana.  Kid coming and all.   Very weird feeling.

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Judging by the flannel, I am assuming this is
Tiny Lister as Deebo in "Friday"
So, this post extended into Monday morning... and usually in the morning, there's not much on worth watching.  First World Problem and all... anyway, right now, there is an action movie currently on, called "Blast!" from 2004, and it's starring Eddie Griffin, Brecken Meyer and Vivica A. Fox. Those are actually the names along the top of the DVD box, along with action mega-star Vinnie Jones (and that, of course, is sarcasm).  

That's the first indication that the movie is a bit unknown, when anytime your DVD box sports those names as your title stars... the second is what I just found out--you have to actually put forth an effort to find this in Wikipedia and IMDB.  I mean, when you have to work to find the Wiki page, no bueno.  

Oh, lest I forget, someone who didn't make the DVD box, but is worth mentioning none the less, is Tommy "Tiny" Lister, the big, lazy eyed black dude from such Oscar winning films like Hulk Hogan's "No Holds Barred" and for winning a Golden Globe as Deebo in Ice Cube's "Friday" series.

(Can poke some fun at Tiny Lister, but can't knock him too much... on 1999, he gave his life to Christ when Benny Hinn prayed over him and told him that he could use his acting career for the Kingdom.  Lister is a member of The Light of the World Christian Church in California.  Word.)

Truth be told, its on right now because Samantha Brown's Walt Disney World doesn't start until 10 on the Travel Channel... and that's where I'm headed.  Samantha + Disney = me enthralled.

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And finally... so, I don't watch "Glee" all that much... The Lovely Steph Leann is giddy when its on and Gleek personified, but for me, its not a bad show, I just don't watch it.

However, NBC has a similiarly styled show next year called "Smash".  It won't take place at a high school, but will instead focus on the competitive nature of Broadway and those trying to make it.  And, it stars not only Katharine McPhee, but also Debra Messing. 


McPheever and Debra?  I'm in.

Unfortunately, its NBC, so it will probably get scheduled against American Idol.  Then they'll blame the show and its stars, they'll screw it up and cancel it.  Then replace it with something like "Law & Order:  Latta's Rule".  How do I know this?  Its NBC.

Summer of Blogging Day Fourteen

The 100 Coolest Things of 2009... 80 to 71

We continue our countdown of the Coolest Things of 2009... and looking at the next ten, this might be the "Guilty Pleasurest" block of ten in the five year history of The Coolest List.  Not all of them, but some.  Several.  And if you are on Facebook, flip on over to The Clouds and see the blog in its better glory. 

80... Kate Winslet Gets an Oscar
Beyond The Goddess, beyond Amy Adams, whom I'm in love with, a founding member of my own Colin Firth Club that The Lovely Steph Leann keeps tucked away is none other than British actress Kate Winslet.  She'd been nominated six times for an Academy Award, but on Sunday, February 22nd, she finally got hers... in my running diary, I posted this:


1032p... KATE!!! KATE!!! KATE!!! KATE!!! KATE!!! KATE!!! KATE!!! KATE!!! KATE!!! KATE HAS AN OSCAR!!! KATE HAS AN OSCAR!!! KATE HAS AN OSCAR!!!!!! KATE WINSLET WINS AN OSCAR!!!! KATE!!! KATE!!! KATE!!!

1035p... We knew Kate Winslet would win this, but that doesn't make it any less freakin' awesome. KATE KATE KATE!!!

Needless to say, I was excited.  Still am.

79... Pickler's New Album
For anyone who has read this blog longer than a few days, you'll realize a few things.  First, Mama Gilmore is much more attractive than Daughter Gilmore.  Secondly, Hootie & the Blowfish rocks.  Third, I love stupid movies.  Fourth, I eat lots of food.  Fifth, I believe the Dixie Chicks only deserved a small part of what they got.  Sixth, He Who Must Not Be Re-Elected is a one-term president.  Seventh, if back massages were on Facebook, I'd hit the "dislike" button.  Eighth, I will only watch "A Christmas Story" on Christmas Eve, and refuse to buy it.  Ninth, Erin the Marine Wife is to be commended.  Finally, I think Pickles is awesome. 
 
Her first CD, "Small Town Girl", was pretty good for a post-Idol debut, better than even Kat McPhee's decently good CD.  So, when Pickles second album came rollin' out, I went to Best Buy and I bought it.  Yeah, I might be the only person you know that owns a Pickles CD, but hey, I dig it.  Favorite track?  The great, soarin' vocals of "Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You".   I would post a pic of Pickles here, but 1) I'm running out of good pictures to post for Idol blog references, and 2) not enough room for the above picture of Kate and the below picture of...
 
78.. Jon Thompson

One of the four guys I took with me to Walt Disney World (that trip to be ranked later), this dude cracked me up the entire time.  Example... with five guys in a single room with two beds, I had to sleep next to someone.  One of the guys slept on the floor.  And Jon had to sleep with one of them.  The one that Jon had to sleep with decided he would just sleep naked.  Naturally, Jon had a real problem with this... so much so that he leapt out of bed, and started yelling things like, " Why would you do this?  Why!  Why can't you keep your shorts on?  What the crap, dude?"
 
And, being guys, we all turned it around on him--telling him things like, "Settle down, go to bed" and "Seriously, its not a big deal."  Personally, I totally agreed with Jon--who wants to sleep next to a naked guy?  The Lovely Steph Leann doesn't even want that, and I'm her hubby! 
 
He ended up sleeping next to his "bed-mate" who agreed to wear shorts.  Later, I discovered that said bed-mate actually de-shorted during the night and re-shorted before Jon woke up.  I think I laughed for quite a while as all this was going on.
 
He kept the riot going on the way back, marveling at the luck and blessed life of one Tyler Campbell, the bro-in-law, who won a randomly won a car and gave swimming lessons for like, $70 an hour.  Jon?  He worked at a screen printing shop that, after three years, "I'm somehow making less money than when I started!  While I'm on the other side of the tracks, Tyler is over there living in the bourgeois!'.  Course, bourgeois actually means "social middle class".  Who knew.  Jon rocks.
 
77... Hank Azaria in "Night at the Museum:  Battle of the Smithsonian"

Out of all the movies I saw in 2009, I would rank this one somewhere in the middle.  It was good, but it wasn't great.  It had its moments, but like my original review, "...with this movie, you know what you are going to get... lots of historical figures making pop culture references, lots of funny action and Ben Stiller doing what he does best."
 
This movie itself doesn't make our list, but one of the two standout performances does--first, Amy Adams, whom I'm in love with.  Secondly, and more importantly (for this movie, anyway), its Hank Azaria's absolutely hysterical performances.  He "not only plays Kahmunrah to the hilt, leaving you convinced that he had a blast playing this part, but he also does the voice of the Brooklyn-accented Thinker sculpture and of Abe Lincoln, fresh out of the Lincoln Memorial."   His Kahmunrah voice is especially great, slightly feminine and non-threatening, and he makes for the best part of the movie that doesn't include a redhead. 
 
76... The Muppets Do Queen
Kermit, Miss Piggy, Beaker, Dr. Bunson Honeydew and the gang are making a comeback...
 
\
 
...and its awesome
 
75... "Hey" by Mitchell Musso
Uh... a fun song.. makes me kinda bouncy and... uh... its... um...
 
74... "High School Musical"
Um... I saw the movie off and on... we, uh, at The Happiest Place in the Mall we played... and... I really like the them song and... well... uh...
 
73... "The Hoedown Throwdown" by Miley Cyrus
Uh... its... the movie was terrible but this... I like this song and uh...
 
Boom clap, boom de clap de clap, boom boom clap, boom de clap de clap, come on y'all, boom clap boom...
 
Everybody!  Boom de clap de clap...
 
Boom boom clap?  
 
Anyone?
 
(silence)
 
(crickets)
 
Let's move on, shall we?
 
72... ESPN's "30 for 30"
The concept is brilliant, really.  To celebrate ESPN's 30th Anniversary, they brought in 30 different directors and/or directing teams from all walks of life, all lifestyles, all film styles, to direct 30 different sports documentaries on subjects near and dear to their own hearts.
 
The results thus far have been golden.  First up was "King's Ransom", a mildly entertaining film about Gretsky's trade from the Oilers to the Kings, which I never knew was such a monumental, watershed moment for both Gretsky and the NHL... Peter Berg directed.
 
What followed was "Muhammed and Larry", chronicling the fourth bout between Ali and Homes, directed by Albert Maysles... "The Legend of Jimmy the Greek", about the slow rise and quick fall of a commentator legend, directed by Fritz Mitchell... "The Band That Wouldn't Die", an awesome look at the Baltimore Colts marching band that kept playing for over a dozen years after the Colts fled for Indy, directed by famed director Barry Levinson ("Diner", "Good Morning Vietnam", "Rain Man"). 
 
The only one I really didn't like as much was "The U", directed by Billy Corben, scanning the Miami Hurricanes teams of the 80s... it showed the teams, the successes, but didn't really spend too much time into the real issues of the team's problems.  Personally, I wished it would have talked about the crash of the program, not just the rise, but alas, I didn't direct it.
 

 
The two I loved, though?  "Without Bias", directed by Kirk Fraser, about the incredible impact that the death of Len Bias had on the Boston Celtics.  Two days after the NBA Draft, Bias dropped dead of a cocaine overdose, he not only altered our perception of casual drug use and became the tipping point of America's drug crisis in the mid-80s, but he practically ruined an already floundering franchise right as it was about to find a guy who they could build around. 
 
Secondly, "Small Potatoes: Who Really Killed the USFL?", directed by Mike Tollin which showed the success of the USFL, attempting spring football, leaving the NFL in the fall--and they were doing pretty good with it... but it took a dive, due to over-expansion, bad management, and one Donald Trump who bought into the league, and wanted to immediately move it to the fall, taking on the NFL head-to-head.  After a monoply & anti-trust lawsuit against the NFL, the verdict came back in favor of the USFL... in the form of a check for $3.76.  The USFL went belly up.  The documentary is made even better by the interview with Donald Trump, who ends up walking out on Mike Tollin.
 

 
Ahead are films on the legend of Steve Bartman... speedskater Johan Olav Koss... NASCAR driver Tim Richmond and the little disease that killed his career... and even one featuring Michael Jordan's suspension from the NBA for gambl... um, I mean, his retirement for two years to try out baseball.  Oh, and Ice Cube puts his touch on a film about the Raiders.  Good times.
 
71... Read the Rules, Shankapotomus
The Lovely Steph Leann prefers the one where the buddy "flexes the golden pipes", but personally, this is my favorite commercial of the year... 
 

 
Coming up... An Idol goes Kanye... The Best Greek Film of the Year... and later, noddin' my head like yeah, movin' my hips like yeah...

The Complete Rat Package... Idol goes Standard

Tonight... another night... another night of music... another night of dreams... another night of dreams broken... another night of song... another night of The Ambiguously Gay Screeching... what is this, you say? Its a talent show. Its an entertainment show. Its a variety show. Its a competition. What is this?

THIS

IS

AMERICAN

IDOL

Two phone numbers for each contestant, now that they are down to only five. Our judges, Randy the Diggity Dawg, Kara the New Hotness, Paula the Flake and Simon the Cowell are sitting front and center, and Ryan the Seacrest introduces the theme... Standards from the Rat Pack era. Dean, Sammy, Tha Chairman... and those other guys that no one can remember... the mystery mentor this week? Kris Allen says, "The theme is Rat Pack... and all those people are... dead...?"

Jamie Foxx, an emblem of the 1960s standards and Rat Pack era music (I say this in all sarcasm), is the mentor. Personally, I think he was awesome in "Collateral".

Up first is The Lovely Steph Leann's Next American Idol Kris Allen. She is bummed by the fact that our friend, KT, doesn't like him. KT didn't like My Last Next American Idol Brooke White either, so pooh on her.

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I don't care what you say, KT... I loved My Last Next American Idol Brooke White. Her new single, "Hold Up My Heart", is pretty terrible, though.

He's taking on "The Way You Look Tonight", which I personally dig Frank's version of it. Tony Bennett's version is a little too slow for me, though I think Kris will emulate that version. Not that that is a bad thing.

Its a song from the film "Swing Time", and actually won the Academy Award for best song that year.

The Lovely Steph Leann is a currently a puddle on the couch. Jamie Foxx says that if things don't work out, "you and I can definately do something together, man." Not a bad compliment at all.

And the version kicks up a little in tempo... well done, The Lovely Steph Leann's Next American Idol Kris Allen, well done.

Randy the Dawg says he is looking to see who's in it to win it... "Dude. I personally think this is your best performance to date." Kara the New Hotness says, "You have set the technical standard so high for this evening." I tell The Lovely Steph Leann that I thought it was good, and she just smiles. If that were Colin Firth singing the same song in the same way, I think The Lovely Steph Leann might have been kissing the screen, a la 1988 Kirk Cameron.

Paula the Flake babbles. Simon the Cowell says, "It was a little bit wet." What does that even mean? He says that he's not sure that The Lovely Steph Leann's Next American Idol Kris Allen can even win this competition. The producers are wondering now... should they continue their course of The Ambiguously Gay Adam Lambert and The Gokenator... or should they throw in an underdog? Hmm...

Speaking of Next... here comes My Next American Idol Allison Iraheta, who has just turned 17! She's a year away from legality! I kid, I kid... if I was into jailbait, I'd be all about Emma Watson. Not that I am. Moving on.

Jamie Foxx is actually not a bad mentor... what he is telling the Idols makes pretty good sense. My Next American Idol Allison Iraheta is singing "Someone to Watch Over Me." It's a song from 1926, a Gershwin tune from the musical "Oh, Kay!". This song was done masterfully in Idol Season Five by My Girl McPhee, who went on to be Vice-Idol with Taylor Hicks. Not a great season of Idol, aside from McPheever... and Pickles!

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Yay! I love Pickles!

By the way, My Next American Idol Allison Iraheta was awesome. Randy the Dawg says, "You look like Britney Murphy, looking dope, you sing like P!nk, only with 9,000 more octives!" Kara the New Hotness loves her too. Paula the Flake uses the words "Alluring" and "Tender". Simon the Cowell asks My Next American Idol Allison Iraheta if she thinks she can win. Simon the Cowell doesn't think she feels like she can win, and has a sinking feeling she might be in trouble.

Matty G says he's all stoked about this week, saying he loves the jazz part of it all. He's singing "My Funny Valentine". Jamie Foxx gives Matty G lots of love and props... something tells me he's going to drool over The Goke and The AGAL...

Did you know this song is from a 1937 musical called "Babes in Arms", and has appeared on over 1300 albums by over 600 artists?

I liked the song, though it wasn't as good as the first two. Randy the Dawg agrees. Kara the New Hotness agrees. Paula the Flake blubbers and drools on herself. Simon the Cowell disagrees with Randy the Dawg, and says it was "the only believable, authentic song I've heard tonight. I thought you were brilliant."

Up next is The Widower Danny Gokey (which, of course leaves The Pimp Slot for The Ambiguously Gay Adam Lambert) and he's singing "Come Rain or Come Shine". Its a song that was from the 1946 music "St. Louis Women", but like many of tonight's songs, the tune has long outlived the musical from which it came.

This song was also done by Kat McPhee back in Idol Season Five.

Trombone assisted, The Goke starts. Emmy Turnbow is sitting next to Cindy Jo Warner on the Goke-Wagon, and agrees with The Lovely Steph Leann that he looks much like Robert Downey Junior. Robert Downey Jr Junior, if you will.

And The Goke tosses out a pretty good song... The Lovely Steph Leann says, "For me, for him, that was the best I've ever heard him do. Ever." I would agree that it was pretty good...

Randy the Dawg says that The Goke could have an album with songs like this tonight... Kara the New Hotness commends "The Rat Pack Swagga..." and Paula the Flake says "Stellar." Simon the Cowell says it was great.

New show called "Glee" on Fox. The Lovely Steph Leann is so hyped about this show.


Mentioned Jamie Foxx earlier, being in the Michael Mann movie "Collateral." Excellent film. Tom Cruise as a bad guy, frickin' awesome. This video is probably Emmy Turnbow Safe, which means its NSFW, probably because of language... it is Rated R, but not for boobies (I don't remember any) but just for language and lots and lots of dead people.

And finally, its The Ambiguously Screechy Adam Lambert in the Pimp Slot. He's taking on "Feelin' Good", and he's already screeching in rehearsals with Jamie Foxx. Its actually from a 1965 musical called, "The Roar of the Greasepaint--the Smell of the Crowd", but its mostly known from Nina Simone's definitive version of the song. One of my 100 favorite songs of all time, just so you know.

Here comes the screech... wait for it... wait for it... and... bingo. We have screechage. This guy is a chump. The Gay Chris Isaak smiles, and the judges are speechless.

Randy the Dawg says it was a bit dramatic... but loved it anyway. Kara the New Hotness uses about 58 adjectives for him. Paula pees herself. Simon the Cowell loved it as well.

My Next American Idol Allison Iraheta... The Lovely Steph Leann's Next American Idol Kris Allen... The Widower Danny Gokey... Matty G... The Ambiguously Gay Adam Lambert


Here's Nina's version, complete with the scatting at the end. Masterful. Turn it up. Enjoy.

I Left My Idol in San Francisco

Though I didn't plan on watching any of The Messiah's coronation, I DVR'ed it... you know, in case anything happened. No, no, I wasn't hoping for something, I wasn't wishing for a big whatever to happen, but I wanted it on tape in case... well, things went bad.

I got home from a full day at The Happiest Place in the Mall, and also a shift at Starbucks, and before I watched American Idol, I figured I would flip through some of the inauguration ceremony. After throwing up in my mouth twice, peeling back three fingernails and getting a migraine from rolling my eyes during President Obama's speech, I decided it was time for something else.

Just so we're clear... Condi Rice, Thomas Sowell, Clarence Thomas and Colin Powell paved the way for our first Half-Black President... and they were skewered in the media. They were slaughtered in the papers. They were called "Uncle Toms" and "Whitey Lovers" and more. So... Barack Obama doesn't impress me. Furthermore, I've tried to root for him. But I cannot. To root for Barack Obama to succeed means wishing that all he stands for will succeed. And I want everything he stands for to utterly fail. Because if he fails, that means conservatism, and America, will succeed. I wish the man well, I hope our country doesn't fall apart, but I cannot and will not cheer for the accomplishments former (very few) or future of President Obama, not because he's black, but because what he stands for is wrong.

Sorry. I had to rant for just a minute. Whew.

This.

Is American Idol!

Here we are in The City By the Bay, that being San Francisco! Already, the previews look less than promising, with a silly laughing girl, another struggling to get out "larynx" and still another heartwarming (re: sob story) tale of a guy who "needs this!".

But, on the flip side... McPheever started here in San Francisco. Kat McPhee, one of my favorite idols. She's no Pickles, though. I love Pickles!

Randy, Simon, Kara and Paula are ready, and here comes said silly laughing girl, in a silly flowing dress with a Mexican accent. Her name is Tatiana. She just saw a psychic who told her that she would make it to the Top 12. And they play her laugh over and over... its pretty bad.

"I desire to be the American Idol more than anyone wanted anything," she says. Thats a pretty broad statement. I mean, I am sure Erin the Marine Wife wants her husband home, I'm sure KT would love to NOT be at work right now (I'm assuming that is when she's reading this), I'm pretty positive that The Lovely Steph Leann would rather be asleep... and I had Zaxby's for dinner, so I'm pretty sure I would like to visit the bathroom, all more than Tatiana wants the Idol crown. Where was I even going with this?

Tatiana comes in and hands off her portfolio photos and music. And she's taking on Aretha. The way the show was setting this chick up, I expected her to be terrible... and she's actually not that bad. However... Simon doesn't like her--and so without another word, Tatiana starts singing Whitney. Simon starts talking again, and she starts singing again. Paula pipes up to say yes. Randy says yes. Kara says no. Paula says yes, Tatiana gets the Golden Ticket. And she laughs on the way out. That's quite annoying, actually.

Nick, a bad beatboxer (and I mean bad like really crappy, not bad as in early Michael Jackson), totally bombs out. Dean Anthony Bradford, a self proclaimed "failed entrepenuer", is wearing this gawd-awful jacket, hoping to impress. He seems like a funny enough guy... but can he sing? Let's find out!

The answer? No. The Lovely Steph Leann is actually upstairs asleep right now as I watch this on DVR, so I will reach over and grab the blanket and cover my own face. The judges show mercy upon America and reject DA Bradford.

Jesus Valenzula is up... I mean, his name is Jesus! Hay-suess is how we Mexicans pronounce it, though. Though it might be cool to see him get through to the Top 12, just to see people hold signs that say "Vote for Jesus!" He comes with like, 27 people, which I'm sure all are in the same car... hey, hey, yes, I made a joke... I'm half Mexican, so I can riff on the stereotypes, okay? But YOU can't. So there.

Simon says no way. His kids come in with him at the request of Paula and Kara, and one of them is holding a sign that says "Make No Excuse, Its Hollywood for Jesus!" That's kinda funny. Randy, Kara and Paula send him through. He doesn't make it past the Hollywood round, that's my prediction.

Dalton has this talent for doing the Rubik's cube really fast. Bailey Turnbow, the son of The 47th Coolest Thing of 2008, can do it better. I've seen the kid in action. He actually showed me his Rubik's Steroid Monster last week, its like a 12 sided cube that...

Oh, so Dalton is doing his Rubik's thing, and finishes in 24 seconds. I used to peel off the stickers to impress Janet, the cute girl that lived upstairs in our Austin, TX, apartment building. She was a year older than I, and I haven't actually seen her in about 27 years and I'm saying this to distract myself from the butchery of "Baby Baby" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Wow. Terrible.

Another bad voice, with one guy who keeps going after everyone tells him to stop. Idol now shows us clips from The Summer of Love, 1967, how San Fran played a big role in the music scene.

But now... here in San Francisco, Simon and Kara go at it like Simon and Paula. Aaaaaand here comes Akilah, who has a folder full of papers showing training plans for singing, maps and charts of the human vocal system, which includes "the lar-nax" and the "tray-chee-uh". Or "tray-she-uh". And there is a "distinctive sound to my voice". This will be frightening. I feel bad for the pretty blonde sitting next to her in line.

These are moments that I want The Lovely Steph Leann next to me on the couch. Her reaction right now would be priceless.

Akilah has an original song called "Make Sweet Love". Okay... um... I'm going to take an entire paragraph to try to relate what I'm seeing, but here goes... so you know, in the movie "The Ring", this underrated horror flick from like, 2002, where Samara the dead girl is coming out of the television... she does this weird stop-motion kind of walk thing, like they removed the frame of film between this step and that step, so its not a fluid walk, its like she immediately moves from one step to the next... Akilah's jaw is doing that. Its weird.

Like, I want to laugh, but at the same time, I'm terrified. What if Akilah's jaw comes out of the television and renders me dead like Samara did with that Noah guy? The song "Make Sweet Love" is terrible... and she's not really all that bad... until she does "Natural Woman". Aretha belongs up there with Whitney, Mariah and Stevie. Don't. Just don't.

They shut her down, she begs for more music, and Akilah's jaw begs for help. The charts don't help, and apparently her lar-nax is not helping her tray-chee-uh. Please, for the love, get her off the screen! She tries to sing another one!

Akilah's jaw just said, "I shouldn't have let Simon, Paul and Randy, and Kira, though I don't even know Kira, whoever she is, I shouldn't have let Simon, Paul and Randy era... era... e-rack-ti-tate me." Eractitate. I don't know what that even means, but I think I'm going to use that. She wasn't being "true to my own true self".

Finally! They show someone good... singing Stevie! Another good one, singing Aretha! Another good one, digging on some Dusty Springfield! Yay!

Annie Murdoch is trying on "Summertime" from "Porgy & Bess", a show I know very little about. But to all you aspiring Idol'ers... you should never, ever, never, ever sing this song. You will ALWAYS be compared to Fantasia's performance in Season 2. Of course Annie is just terrible so it doesn't matter.

If David Cook and Rob Thomas had a love child together, it might be this kid coming up, Adam Lambert. He's singing "Bohemian Rhapsody", and nailing it. Randy likes him. Kara likes him. Paula likes him. Simon likes him. Off to Hollywood for Adam Cook Thomas.

Oh geez, backstory. Here's Kai Kalama, the last of the day. He works as a musician at night, because he takes care of his mom during the day, his mom being afflicted with a seizure disorder. Mom feels a little guilty because Kai is sacrificing, and in the background, we hear Israel Kalawoeaookale'loeoalleo'owele's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Tears all around.

Kai is going to sing The Platters' "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"... and predictably, he's good. I couldn't imagine, after that story, this guy sucking. The judges tell him a big yes, but tell him to work on showmanship and be more confident.

After all that, only 12 get the Hollywood call... and tomorrow night, its off to the races as Idol, and Clouds In My Coffee, goes to Churchhill Downs, Kentucky, home state of The Goddess!

It's Idol Time 2009, Part II (guest starring The Lovely Steph Leann)

Its the next night of the "2 night premier", which is really Fox's way of saying "we're going to have 2 episodes, but make sure we lump them together so that you can't miss a minute of all of it for more ad revenue!"

This.

Is American.

Idol.

Kansas City, home of David Cook... I'm here, its late, we're watching it on DVR, "we" being Yours Truly and The Lovely Steph Leann, blanket in hand, ready to cover her face when appropriate.

By the way, its Missouri, not Kansas, so get it right. The Dreadlocked One, Jason Castro, is here, because his brother is auditioning today. KT thinks he's legally handicapped, but The Lovely Steph Leann loves him.

Backstory! Right outta the gate... its Chelsea, talking about how powerful her voice is. And... The Lovely Steph Leann gasps. And I gasp. And Chelsea is awful, slaughtering Mariah's version of "Without You". Simon squints. "Make her stop" is the call from across the room, said at a painful whisper. Then, loudly, "PLEASE!!!" I kinda feel back for this chick, cause really, with her backstory she was sharing, it had us fooled... we thought she might be pretty good. And... no.

How does she have all these chick friends waiting for her, surprised she didn't make it! What were they telling her??

Ashley Anderson sings Leona Lewis, "Footprints in the Sand" though she sings "footsteps". Clever girl, as the song was co-written by Simon Cowell. Of course, if you change a comma to an apostrophe, you get a "co-written" credit. And she gets through, as well she should.

And we're back, with a commercial/ad with David Cook. Erin the Marine Wife is going nuts right about now.

Simon says, "I like Kansas alot". Remember what I said above.

Casey Carlson sings, "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton, and really good. One of my top 100 favorite songs ever, by the way. Shut up Wookiee, its a good song. Though when I sing it, I have to add in the piano tunes as well. It used to be my ringtone, actually. I said shut up, Wookiee! Casey makes it. I think she'll make the Top 12.

If Joey Fatone, the cool N*Sync'er not named Justin, gained about 40 pounds, he'd be this next guy. Complete with bad chest hair and strange leotard thing going on. Brian, his name, though it doesn't really matter, is destroying "Think" by Aretha. The Lovely Steph Leann has her face partially covered. It was terrible. Entertaining, but different. He actually says people compare him to Josh Groban and Michael McDonald... and of course, he starts singing, hoping against hope that they will say, "Whoa!? That's awesome! We change our minds!"

Now, a montage of crying contestants who sucked. One girl is screaming and stamping her feet. And screaming. And screaming.

Has "The Simpsons" really been on for twenty years?

And now people come up, trying to take familiar favorites and put their own twists on them... a'la David Cook doing Bon Jovi. Randy hides his eyes while some guy that I'm sure I saw Chris Hansen nail on "To Catch a Predator" kills X'tina's "Reflection".

Backstory! Von Smith, who attempts things no one attempts to sing--his words, not mine. "Over the Rainbow" is his song of choice. He clears his voice, clears it again, and then belts it out. This guy is no Kat McPhee. He's going for a "look what I can do!" instead of a "I can sing!". The Lovely Steph Leann pipes up, "Gah, I would have hated to be in that room." He actually sounded decent when he wasn't screaming. The judges love his instrument, as they call it. So, dope voice and all (Randy), he goes to Hollywood.

Now, The Brother of The Dreadlocked One comes up for audition. Michael Castro, short hair, all spiked and pinkish... Melissa Clark, the Official Clouds in My Coffee Stylist, would be horrified. "In Love With the Girl" by Gavin DeGraw is his choice. Not too bad, he sounds like he could rock it out if he had to, perhaps when his vocals will be overtaken by the band. Simon says "good-ish". And just like that, The Brother of the Dreadlocked One gets through to Hollywood.

Here's another series of bad contestants. Guy in a yellow suit singing "Do You Want a Banana". That's an example.

Backstory! Gotee'd, bald dude with a wife and kid, he sings, he plays guitar, he's ready! Matt is a welder, and like everyone else in the entire world, he's been singing since he was a child. But he admits he wants to be successful to provide for his family. "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers... one of my 100 favorites. And, truthfully, I like this guy. Great version. Very raspy, though I can't help but picture Hugh Grant walking through Notting Hill in the film of the same name, in one of the best scenes ever. Though Randy says no, Simon and the chicks say yes, so Matt heads to Hollywood.

This chick is something something, but goes by the nickname Jazz. (Jasmine is her name). The Lovely Steph Leann says about the death of "Over the Rainbow": "She's scary". And she is. The Lovely Steph Leann twitches, which was honestly kinda funny. So, would the things at the bottom of her arms be called... "Jazz Hands"? Just fyi. The judges are silent, Jazz leaves.

Jessica, with guitar and a backstory, is actually kinda cute. Glasses, personality, old strange grandmother (though KT has my fave grandma of all... dementia does that). I want her to be good... please, please, please... "Crybaby" by Janis Joplin is her weapon of choice. She's really not singing it so much as she's talking loudly, in rhythm. Screaming worked for Von, so it works for Jessica Paige Furney too.

Lots of people in line just met, another lots of people came together... including the sisters who are auditioning together. And... they are rapping together. They say they are talented. India and Asia are their names... they are actually kinda funny, entertaining... rapping about a song called "Steal Your Cookies", dedicated to Randy. The jokes over, Asia sings for real... well, not for real. India sings next, much much better. By the way, they are funny together, because one is really big, one is really small. And India gets the yellow ticket. And dey mama just molest Ryan she did.

Jamar Rogers is up next, doing "California Dreamin'", another one of my favorites. Screaming again. This is where my tone hard of hearing comes in... I ask The Lovely Steph Leann, "Is he any good?" and she sighs and says, "I think they'll like him.". She's relieved when Kara says he was a big over the top--but he goes through.

Now, Jamar's best buddy Danny comes in. "Oh no, there's a backstory," I groan, and The Lovely Steph Leann chuckles, "Of course there is a backstory. Its American Idol." Danny has had an emotional sacrifice... his wife died a month ago. What? Holy poo... this is rough! He's on camera, tearing up, the few people around him are tearing up... "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye is what he belts out... and I like him better than the other guy, Jamar. And they love the guy.

And he goes the wrong way to get out. The Lovely Steph Leann: "Is it so hard to go back the way you came in? I mean, the door is right there!"

Someone who looks an ugly Ambre Lake kills some song so bad Simon just laughs. Another one kicks Mariah Carey in the face. Another guy... wait, its a girl, belches out something. Oh, its old school Loretta Lynn's "Not Woman Enough (to take my man)".

"Thank You" by Boyz II Men is what Anoop Mamood Admadeinjad is singing. Or whatever his name is. Yes, I heard Pastor Calvin's lesson, shut up. Anyway, he's really good. And they are calling him Anoop Dogg. There's a nickname I don't have to make up, at least.

A pasty white girl is taking on Stevie. And another girls teeth almost came out of the screen and tried to kill me.

Can you imagine how hard it is for a producer on this show? All the people go through the producers first, and they make the decision to who to send in front of the judges... good and bad. You have to show impartiality, possibly making people who can't sing thing they can because they made it through. I'm thinking when I started putting syringes between my fingers, they'd notice something was up.

Oh, its a montage of costumes... ninjas, rabbits, cowgirls, pimps, chickens... and cheerleaders. They are doing a cheer for the next contestant, Andrew. This cannot be good for his prospects, at least with Simon. He's going to be singing "My Girl" by The Temptations. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it wasn't great. Randy says yes, then Paula asks him to sing something else... he sings "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", Paula tells him he's too theatrical, and then Randy changes his vote. That has to be a first...

Asa is a band director, musical and ready to go. Backstory! Kind of remindes me of the teacher guy, Anwar, from years ago. "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson (again, good, not as creepy MJ) is his song, and he's getting it on. Go Asa! One of my favorite contestants so far this season...

Michael Nicewonder is coming up, wearing a medal that he won in vocals in elementary school, with a fortune cookie fortune slip taped to the back. "My mother doesn't think I can sing, but I'm gonna prove her wrong". He's going to sing an original song. I just chewed my tongue. The Lovely Steph Leann pipes up, "Generally if your mom tells you you can't sing... she's showing you love..."

And he's crying. He's seriously crying. The tears don't make it past his cheek, though, as his front teeth's gravitational pull draws them in.

Dennis is going to sing "With You" by Chris Brown. And it was boring and goofy and terrible. And Simon says he didnt like it, so what to do? Well, sing another one. Of course. When that fails, tell them its your dream, and how you can sing much better when you aren't so nervous. Simon says no, Paula says yes. Randy says yes. And Kara says yes. This guy won't make it past Hollywood ("and neither will Bikini Girl," says The Lovely Steph Leann)

Another montage of people who didn't make it. A few are crying, a few are not. Then more who did make it, cheering and laughing. And then there is Mia. We know she doesn't make it from the "You gonna be sorry Simon, cause I was gonna be the next American Idol!" before the break. And now, she's executing "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton. I mean, brutal. The Lovely Steph Leann looks up and me, closes her eyes and shakes her head. When Simon says no, she keeps singing, all the way up to the high pitch note. And even though they all say no, emphatically, she goes after Simon in her post-interview. "You made the wrong choice, and God's gonna get you". Then she curses.

Backstory! I haven't heard her sing yet, but I can tell Lil Rounds is going to make the Top 36. Lil lost her house in a tornado, so her family has been staying in a Weekly Suite place. She treads onto dangerous territory, doing Stevie, and she does it... well. Very well. They love her. I thought she was great too.

Thus ends another night of American Idol recaps. And they ruin the moment by using Fantasia's screeching voice as the background music. Twenty six are going to Hollywood from American Idol's stop in Kansas City.

By the way, I love love love Hollywood Week. Seriously. Its so freakin' nuts.

Off to bed with ya now.