Tuesday... Celebrity Family Feud

So, the first thing that bugs me a little bit about this is that these "families" aren't always families. Kathy Lee Gifford brought her family, as did that Dog guy. That's what I thought it was going to be all the time. But tonight's episode featured The Office, American Gladiators, and My Name Is Earl cast members. I get the idea, both playing for charity and promoting NBC shows at the same time.

The cast of Earl, on both sides, stayed in character. Randy (Ethan Suplee) played dumb, saying licorice sticks make more noise as they get older. Catalina said her "go-go boots" did the same thing (????) Camden's group seemed to play characters, but still give relatively smart answers. That is, until the final round when Tim Stack (who supposedly plays himself on the show, although I'm sure he isn't really a drunk) ignored his teammates to give ridiculous answers to the question that would have stolen the point bank.

The Office cast members did not play their characters, and even used their real names. Which of course made The Office win easily over The Camdens (though who knows if they would have won if Tim actually played the game).

I had to think it was planned. But I bet the charities of the "Earl" gang were pissed.

Tuesday... American Idol... Top 8 Guys

Quick thoughts this time:

Blake is fun, but dude, stop with the beatbox stuff.

Sanjaya needs to go. NOW. The only way he can possibly make it is if that vote for the worst website bombarded the phone lines for the full two hours. That song is boring enough and he made it worse.

Sundance made the Pearl Jam sound kind of boring too. I don't agree that he screamed it.

Chris Richardson usually does the hip-hop stuff, but his country sounded pretty good, although awkward at times.

Jared was boring too. If he makes the top 12, I don't think it'll take long for him to go.

Brandon - again, boring. The song was upbeat, he should've been all over that stage. He looked stiff.

Phil's song was one of the worst I've ever heard, even on the bad audition episodes. I can't believe how nice the judges were. Wow.

And I'm surprised the judges didn't like Chirs Sligh more. He entertained more than the others and sounded better than most.

Apparently 4 of 10 deserve to make it in. I can't believe Paul didn't say "aww, all of them!" I don't even remember the judges telling 4 people good things. I know Randy liked Sundance though.

Right now, after tonight, I'd get rid of Sanjaya and Phil.

BUT, I have a bad feeling. My predictions are actually going to be Sundance and Phil. Sanjaya will be this year's dirty penny.

Tuesday... American Idol... Top 10 Guys

As average as the top guys seem to be so far, at least we don't have a Scott Savol in the mix.

Ok here we go. Count how many times they dedicate a performance to their parents.

First up is Phil Stacey. First impression: Tight pants. Did he steal Amy's when she went home? Will that give him bad luck? He sounds better than he looks though. I could probably hear him on the radio already. And I swear to you, Paula just stole my line. She must be reading my blog from the future, live as I type it.

Why do the contestants keep putting up as many fingers as their vote number? If we're deaf and blind or illiterate, I doubt we're watching American Idol.

Jarrod is dedicating his performance to his parents. That's one!

$15,000 says Randy will make some comment about the song being too big for him or not being able to do something with a song from a guy like Marvin Gaye.

Ok, I lose. I'll be paying myself that money slowly, in small increments.

Paula makes a joke at Randy, a sexual joke, and she's drinking her vodka through a pink straw.

Fingers!

AJ's A Baldo makes us 2 for 3 on parent dedications. And he's whispering. why do I think someone should be stripping to this song?

Randy seems easily pleased tonight. I'm not impressed. Don't forget, he's #3.

Please tell me that is NOT Sanjaya as a kid. He was in the top 4 last week. Wow, I wonder if he can fall that far because he looks and sounds ridiculous. He looks like he is reading the lyrics off a teleprompter. BRING HIS SISTER BACK, NO ONE WILL EVEN KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!

Simon: Did you like him or not?
Paula: I don't like you.

Chris said "crapshoot". I think he meant "sometimes Sanjaya sounds like crap, shoot!"

25:55 I'm surprised I haven't heard a Justin Guarini reference yet...

I'm not really digging the song, digging the song, digging the song. It's repetitive. But I still like Chris.

Haha, Simon said he was too saved by a woman. I can't believe Ryan hasn't gotten a gay joke in there. "You sure it was a woman, Simon? Hyuk Huk!"

Chris kept his hands behind his back! Good job, buddy. Don't wave that hand around showing me what five looks like!

Nick has been with his girlfriend for "quite awhile now." I can just hear her saying "HOW LONG?" This song could put me to sleep, and not in the good way. Simon is snapping his fingers? Hmm. He never does anything! But apparently, Nick lacks charismar.

Charismar this!. And he said Vote for Pedro. Ugh. I knew that wouldn't take long.

Blake dedicates the performance to his parents. That's 4 if you count Sanjaya's grandfather. I'm not really liking it. But hey, he brought the beatbox back. Maybe he knew his singing was rough. Randy likes everyone but Simon feels me. Lucky Number Slevin.

It's a little funny to me that Chris is going to sing "geek in the pink" and Brandon is sitting there wearing a pink shirt. Brandon looks EXACTLY like his grandmother. Weird. Man, he looks like he is reading the words, too. And it's like they took the original song and slowed it down to 1/3 speed.

Simon is going off into a rant about his mom's birthday and puppies. Funniest part of the season so far.

Brandon showed the fingers, but it was covered up by the phone number graphic. Oh no wait. he did it again.

Another grandmother from Chris R! What's that, 6 of 9 I think? I lost count. Hmm, I'm actually liking this one. I'm surprised. I have a feeling Simon is going to ask "what the heck was that song?" Nope, but he thinks his grandmother was thinking that! I feel so psychic today. He thinks Chris was the best by a mile. Not sure about that one, but i haven't been thrilled with many of them tonight.

Hey, there's a switch from Sundance Head. A dedication to a kid! I know this is mean, but remember Scott Savol? The kid kinda looks like him!

Oh no. Not one of the most popular karaoke songs in the world! At least he isn't bombing it. And the backup singers are waxing on and off pretty nicely. Holy crap, that was a high note!

Ok, I'm not as confident in my picks as I was last week, but here goes...

Sanjaya and A.J. will be going home. I was really tempted to pick Nick instead of AJ, but we'll see.

I wish Jeff Foxworthy would go home. Who are all these young girls around him? If ya have five wives under the age of 30, you might be a redneck. Did you know he has his own line of beef jerky? Me neither, but it's on Wikipedia.

Tuesday/Wednesday... American Idol... Top 24 Perform

I think we Idol watchers were spoiled in the first season with the runaway favorites. Kelly and Tamyra were just that good. I think if this were the first season and this was the same 24, the viewing audience might be closer to that of Dancing with the Stars. The guys weren't good and the girls were only better by comparison. As I was watching Stephanie start out the show on Wednesday, I made a comment to my girlfriend predicting Randy would say something like "The girls are ON TONIGHT!" As the show went on, it was clear they really weren't. Although at the end, in comparison to the guys, I believe Randy might have said they did have it "going on," or "brought it down" or something like that.

Ryan accused Simon of being more negative Tuesday night, but was he? Randy called a lot of the performances rough, and Paula was more often making comments about picking the right song or taking/not taking risks. Simon just happens to be more blunt about it, and makes more references to weddings/theme parks/ etc.

Speaking of Ryan and Simon, their bickering used to be fun. Now, it's just painful. It's as if Ryan wants to have more of it and Simon, rightfully so, is bored with it. And Ryan is becoming RUDE. "Thanks to Randy and Paula, the band, and you, America." Wow, we get it. I actually hope that GLAAD finally makes a formal complaint because of all the gay-bashing they joke around with.


If I gotta pick my top three favorite girls and guys right now, I guess I will.

1. Sabrina Sloan
2. Stephanie Edwards
3. No clue. Lakisha was good, but we've kind of already seen a variation of her a few times, and she never seems to win. She is from Michigan though. So, represent.

I wish I thought Leslie Hunt was a better singer. Gina Glocksen, the funnest name to say this year, might become my #3 if she does well next week.

1. Blake Lewis
2. Chris Sligh (he looked a little awkward on stage though)
3. Brandon Rogers

Sabrina was right, there are too many ballads and hopefully some of the guys will do something different next week, and maybe I'll update my list.

I don't think I'll make my season-long predictions until they narrow it down to the Final 12. But this is probably going to be one of the worst final 12 they've had. I fear it may come down to "who I can stand" between the final 2, kind of like how I was rooting for Diana DeGarmo in Season 3 (Fantasia went on to make such hits as .... her life story in a TV movie). Wow... looking back, I don't see a lot back then either. I was a Jasmine fan.

My picks for the elimination... Simon warned me that the performances wouldn't be memorable, so I'm having a hard time remembering who was bad enough to go. So I guess I'll have to make my picks more on the random side.

Guys to be eliminated: Paul Kim, Phil Stacey. Although, Rudy and Sundance may have been worse than those two. Chris Richardson might have been my least favorite performance, though.

Girls to be eliminated: Antonella Barba, Amy Krebs. I guess. I don't have the highlights to wath back right now. So, there you have it.