The Jackson 13

Yay, main stage!  Awkward judge introductions!  Right off the bat live technical mistakes!

So, um, who's the unlucky contestant who sings "Billie Jean"?  And Kris obviously can't sing "Man In The Mirror."  Amusing that someone (can't remember who, they didn't make it through) was heavily criticized for daring to sing a Michael Jackson song and... it's Michael Jackson catalogue night!  Yay!

One request: let Adam Lambert sing "Scream."  He can sing both the Michael AND the Janet parts.

I think it would've been better to hold the Double Elimination episode for later.  That's just me.  Maybe it's a budget / airing duration thing.

Lil Rounds - "The Way You Make Me Feel."  Did she steal Paula's asymmetrical one-shoulder ruffle thing?  Whatev, Lil makes it work... ish?  She's a little intense with the camera stares a couple times.  This isn't a big song, vocally... but she finds a way to work with it.  And I kinda enjoyed her dancing?  Better than the Megan Corkrey... whatever she calls that hand swaying motion.  Great way to start the evening.  We've got a semi-lucid Paula, who compliments the glam squad then says it's like angels singing.  And we've got slip-of-the-tongue Simon who wants 5 minutes with Lil to sort her out (she'd be better with the same colors without that GODDAMN RUFFLE SHOULDER).  And Ryan has started to address the IDOLS00/IDOLS13 sex phone line controversy by saying "be extra careful."  Lulz.

Scott MacIntyre - "Keep the Faith."  I recently read something that said if Scott weren't blind, he wouldn't be in the Top 13.  After this performance (yay, piano), I kinda agree?  Glam squad... where are you?  DO SOMETHING WITH HIS HAIR.  Kara mentions that it's not the most obvious Michael Jackson song, but it's about the message... on that, I disagree.  It was too schmaltzy for me.  But I am impressed he learned the piano in one week, with everything else going on with being the Top 13.  Paula is lucid about the song's composer... and then loopy with remembering a conversation with Simon that didn't take place!  Loves it.

Danny "Stop Talking About My Dead Wife, Please" Gokey - "P.Y.T."  Now this is a Jacko song you can sing the crap outta.  Is it just me or is he kind of shouty-not-quite-gospel?  That said... it's awesome.  And boy is using the stage and the audience.  Energy!  On my feet!  Fun!  Wow!  WTF is Paula talking about?  Agree with Randy that the uptempo was a surprise... and a welcome one.

Michael Sarver - "You Are Not Alone." Sucks to follow that act, let alone without a commercial break!  Also, sidenote, I know there are a lot of contestants, but where are the REALLY BIG HITS?  This isn't going to be another of those stupid "using the other half of the same artist's songbook next week" like last season's Beatles disaster for the Top 11, is it?  Michael misses a couple notes throughout, unfortunately (surprisingly, Simon doesn't directly call him on that... though, yes, Michael is very heartfelt).  He's one of the mid-range people I just like... but this didn't do it for me.  By "one of the best so far," I assume Randy meant "better than Scott"?

Jasmine Murray - "I'll Be There."  Jasmine's mom seems so much more supportive and less of a stage parent than David Archuleta's dad was.  Back to Jasmine... I was hoping she'd do something uptempo.    But after last week getting the compliments that she can handle big songs, I understand her wanting to power ballad belt.  She's a bit pitchy, but I loved the falsetto note at the end.  If Jasmine makes it through (Randy's "Not that bad, really" is such a non-compliment), she MUST sing something modern and uptempo... and if the theme doesn't allow it, she MUST make a song modern and uptempo.  Listen to Simon!

Kris Allen - "Remember the Time."  OMG what's that thing on his cheek.  MAKE UP!  Chris's video package says he has a wife (of five months!  wow!)... and there goes the female fan contingent voting for the cute guy (only not because, women out there, you can totally steal him... :eyeroll:).  Anyway.  Guitar!  This is so much better than his "Man in the Mirror"!  Kris is growing on me as a dark horse.  He wasn't featured at all, but he can make this all very fun!  His voice isn't the best of the bunch, like Michael, and I don't see him winning.  But perform like this and he'll make it pretty damn far and certainly score some major-Indie contract.  I hope Kris sabotaged the other contestants.  What did he help them with??  OMG what is going on between Paula and Simon??  Randy: "Very well job done, baby."  Snerk.

Allison Iraheta - "Give In To Me."  Love the teased hair.  Allison is transforming herself into Rock Chick.  Yay, glad there's going to be one of those this season.  Question... where are the REALLY BIG HITS?  Love that Allison is responding to Simon's "it's a bit serious" with "it's not a very happy song."  Nailed him!

Anoop Desai - "Beat It."  Ah.  Here are the big hits.  I adore his parents.  He's got personality in his video packages... but honestly besides some showmanship walking around like a rockstar, his voice is pretty pain?  Patrick Stump did this song better in the Fall Out Boy cover.  I predict a "karaoke" critique?  OMG AND THE KARAOKE CRITIQUE COMES FROM PAULA.  PAULA GETS A BOO.  AND SHE RELISHES IT.  And the critique goes downhill from there.

Jorge Nuñez - "Never Can Say Goodbye."  The opening of this performance has the EXACT same tone and tempo as Elton John from last week.  PLEASE.  Someone call this out for hotel lounge/cruiseshippery, or at least, like, Barry Manilow opening actness.  I feel like the show has de-Latin-ed Jorge.  Where was the passion the judges loved from him.  Jorge said he had no choice for the week (which he means he was forced into a theme, as he later said he picked the song).  Hahah, Simon says "You sort of did" when Jorge says "I wasn't going to sing 'Bad' by Michael Jackson."  BRITISH WIT YAY.

Megan (Joy) Corkrey - "Rockin' Robin."  Fun but hokey.  I have nothing else to say.  Okay, the graphics on the background screen were SO retro-kitsch.

Adam Lambert - "Black or White."  Oh, sad, he's not doing "Scream."  Still, this'll be fun.  Dear lord, please let the best shot we have at an openly(ish) gay American Idol TONE IT DOWN from two weeks ago.  I'm so glad he's not wearing all black again.  Go glam squad!  Yay, making a big deal of the "equality" lyric!  Okay... he toned it down... a bit... Much less camera mugging for one.  Far fewer rock shriek intonations.  Adam is a consummate performer and I refuse to fault him for that.  Oh, don't make the pretty princess cry, Paula.  After Kara says "I hope Michael Jackson is watching tonight" Adam mouths "I love him!"  Aw, princess!  The show (er, Paula...) has now predicted, tonight, a Danny vs Adam finale.  We'll see... but that's a probable pairing.

Matt Giraud - "Human Nation."  Yay, piano!  Wait, I already said that.  There's a MARKED difference between Matt behind the piano and Matt not behind the piano.  Smooth, solid, but kinda unmemorable... maybe I just haven't turned on Adam Lambert's performance yet.

Alexis Grace (PIMP SPOT) - "Dirty Diana."  Glad they gave this slot to Alexis, since they couldn't give it to Lil/Danny/Adam again (yet).  She performed so long ago it's hard to remember her!  Wow, so all three of the women on the show (Jasmine and Allison are girls at 17 and 16...) are mothers.  I'm loving the purple/pink backlighting semi-silhouetting Alexis.  There are some moments where the backing vocals are too loud and it sounds like Alexis is off the beat (though she's not).  Kara: "You're a naughty girl, and I liked that."  Give out the sex phone line numbers!  IDOLS36... ok... lame...?

DVR cut off before the clip reel.  Whatevs!

Ringers: All did as expected.

Also: Allison gets this week's "top of the rest of the pack" award

Bottom three: Anoop, Jorge, Michael.

Going home... by performance it'd be Anoop but I just don't know.  I don't think so.  I also don't think Jorge leaves yet.  So... Michael?  He went early in the program and wasn't critiqued to the point that fans would vote for him thinking he was in danger (not that Michael is as good, but see Carly Smithson last season, after weeks of poor critique, she gets a good critique and is eliminated).

EDIT: I forgot about the double elimination.  Jasmine will certainly be in danger tonight, as well as the above 3.

Results

Well, DWTS was much stronger than I expected.  It actually did BETTER (5.9 average) than its last cycle premiere (5.3 average), which hasn't happened since, what, cycle two with the move from summer to regular season?  Maybe season three with its first fall premiere?  So... shut my mouth re yesterday's predictions that the 9:30pm half-hour would be lower than The Bachelor finale's 6.3!  DWTS got a 6.7

Overall from 10pm-11pm, Castle got a 3.3, which is above my line of "complete failure sure to be cancelled" but that was under the assumption of a low 5 rating, not a high 5 rating.  This is still very borderline as a result for the premiere.  Finals will drop because DWTS ran until 10:02pm.  But regardless, the 10:30pm dropoff is concerning (22% left, 3.7 to 2.9) and retention of 56% overall is never a good thing.  We'll see which direction the ratings/retention go next week (I'm 99.9% positive the DWTS lead-in will be lower...) and my guess for Castle based on these half-hours is down, down, down.

Unfortunately, the return of DWTS laid the smackdown on the other networks, with shows that were showing some great momentum losing it (Big Bang Theory at a 3.6, How I Met Your Mother at a 3.5).

Predictions?

Monday is the DWTS/Castle premiere on ABC.  Last week ABC hit off the charts with the finale of The Bachelor.  There's no way Castle is hitting the 6.7 A19-49 the After the Final Rose Special scored.  Frankly, there's not a shot in hell the final half hour of DWTS gets anywhere close to the 6.3 the Bachelor got at 9:30pm, though it will almost certainly have a couple million more viewers (closer to 21 than The Bachelor's 17.48)

So, what is successful for Castle?  Boston Legal "failed" in the timeslot and its season premiere after the last cycle's DWTS premiere did just shy of 10 million viewers and a 2.4 in the demo.  Castle, given the LARGE promotional push, must do more than that.  A good deal more.  ABC has mad marginal success at 10pm.  A 3.0 is a tough get on ABC at 10pm.  Yet, less than a 3.0 really must be deemed a failure here (I wouldn't be surprised to see 10 million viewers drop off, but for the demo retention to be better... so I'm not even going to pay attention to the overnight numbers... unless, of course, a bunch of the 50+ set looks at Castle and gets confused and thinks ABC brought back Murder, She Wrote).

I'm not sure the same barometer applies later this season to the Cupid and The Unusuals' premieres.  Cupid will have the lower rated DWTS Results show as a lead-in, which will be lucky to get 16 million viewers and a 3.5 on Tuesday, March 31st, and even if it does, it'll be number two or three in either measure (The Mentalist will be higher in both, and who knows what that Osbourne family special is going to do on Fox after Idol).  A 3.0 for Cupid would be a startling success (Eli Stone did, what, a 2.0 at the max?  Primetime has been in the mid-2s).  And The Unusuals... well, we all know Lost's audience doesn't stick around.

Meanwhile, the return of Desperate Housewives tonight could've given The Office a run for its "let's mine comedy out of some awkward situations until there's nothing left to mine... then let's mine some more!"

As soon as Bree invited Lynette to dinner at her place for Tom to meet her publisher, we knew Lynette was eventually going to put herself up for the job.  But the way it went down... Tom is an asshat.  Used to love him.  Can't stand him anymore.  Playing the C-card... that's lowest of the low.  Lynette's stories and problems have always been the most real-world, and the "Tom's restaurant closes because of the economy (and some other things)" has been no exception.  But it really doesn't seem to have much of a place in the far more over-the-top world of Desperate Housewives.

Also Orson's kleptomania is LAME.  Remember when Buffy had no idea what to do with Dawn's character so made her a kleptomaniac?  And it sucked?

But... yay, murder!

Hot Woman In Skimpy Fantasy Costume Alert

I quite liked Jessica Chapnik as Anna, Richard's ex from Hartland.  The show should find a way to add her into the rest of the regular cast.  She's attractive and different enough from Bridget Regan's Kahlan.  Plus, I'm always a fan of strong-willed female characters.  Oh, well, perhaps the people in charge of the show will realize this and create a way to bring her back into the mix.

A Thought on Dollhouse

So we're four episodes into this series (waiting for episode six to see what the difference is).  And a central, important question persists (okay, several do).

Why hire an Active?

Why not hire, say, an actual midwife?  Or an escort?  Or a hostage negotiator?

Why spend what is implied to be a LOT more money to hire an Active through the Dollhouse?

I understand, actually, when you're doing something illegal, because no memory would be left of the crime committed (I haven't actually watched a ton of last night's episode, yet, so I dunno what the rationale behind hiring Echo-as-safe-cracker was).  Or have, like, a rape fantasy you want to carry out so you give certain instructions for an imprint, rape the Active, 

... apparently, I'm a horrible human being with a very dark imagination.

Yay?

Thursday Ratings

Nice retention for 30 Rock out of The Office.  The Tina Fey show even won the 9:30pm half-hour in A18-34 (of course, no original Grey's)!

Fox is a big mystery until later today because of the (massive) Idol overrun.

And then there's CSI, which had a really big uptick from the last several weeks.  The culprit?  Taylor Swift.  There was a huge promotional push advertising her guest spot.  It paid off.  Kudos, CSI, for (temporarily) stopping the bleeding of the post-Grissom episodes.

Oh, And

It would be nice if, when something live airs, say, 10+ minutes long on the east coast, if Time Warner Cable would change the recording time for the west coast airing 3 hours later... that'd be great.

I'm talking to you, American Idol (which didn't even air the final TWO wildcard selects until the 9pm hour) and America's Best Dance Crew (which I couldn't record at 10pm, so started recording at 11pm, but the 10pm airing ran long... and right at 11pm was the "crowning moment" ... finale suspense ruined!)

Incidentally, sorry Beat Freaks!  You ladies kicked butt... however based on last week's two performances, it was Quest Crew.  And they've been amazing, too, pretty much all season.  We'll get a girl crew as the winner of this competition, yet!

Borat

OMG THE BIGGEST TWIST IN IDOL HISTORY!!!

Not.

But I'm alright with all four of the peeps who got through.  8 guys and 5 girls.  Feels a bit off after two seasons of 6-and-6.

Also!

Glee promo!  WOOOOOOOO!  And OMG I totally said "they're going to premiere it after the Idol performance finale."  AND THEY ARE.

EXCEPT!

They're saving the REST of the series for fall.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?

It's a risky move.  It has a lot of potential to pay off and a lot of potential to fall flat on its face.  I gotta hand it to Fox, though.  It's different.  And it's probably better than a summer season that would be ignored / treated as burn off.  This way, potentially, people fall in love with Glee on May 19th, Fox promotes it all summer, releases a DVD of the pilot in early September, and commits a significant amount of its fall launch muscle to relaunching the show in a regular timeslot (a thought... Tuesday @ 9pm, so that it stay in the same timeslot when Idol returns in January 2010? or if House is staying on Mondays @ 8pm, then Mondays @ 9pm in the fall, then when Idol and 24 return in January, it moves to either Tuesday or Wednesday after Idol).

LaFleur

Oh, yeah.  We haven't really visited the on-Islanders since Locke went down the well and Charlotte died.  Thanks a lot, Ajira 316.  Anyway.

STATUE.

STATUE.

STATUE!

I've been haven't some e-mail discussions with friends about when the on-Islanders are (how long ago did they skip to) and there's been some who thought it was 1954 (when the US Army came), some who thought the 1970s because of Jack/Kate/Hurley seeing Jin and the Dharma Bus at the end of 316, and others who thought it took them very, very, very far back.  It's looking like the "long, long ago" wins (sidenote: yay! I win!)

So Locke turns the donkey wheel (which had been going back and forth, much like Daniel analogized, like a needle skipping on a record player).  Presumably that "fixes" things.  But since we've seen Jin (and Daniel) in the 1970s, has everyone been launched to the 1970s?  Forever?

HAHAH, the well is filled in when Sawyer tries to jump in.  That was awesome.

So, the on-Islanders are going to wait "as long as it takes" for Locke (et al) to come back.  If time runs at a constant rate, then... oh, shut up, Travis and watch the damn show.  There's a "Three Years Later" card anyway.  Which brings us to the 1970s!  Dharma!  Pearl!  Not-Blowed-Up-Barracks!  LaFleur = SAWYER.  He shaved, he did!  REIKO AYLESWORTH!  I miss Michelle Dessler.

OMG, Charlotte died and her corpse was left in the Ancient Island Time.

The last two episodes were very linear.  I'm curious to see why the writers chose going back and forth between 1974 and 1977 instead of just doing a linear episode again.

"Thanks anyway, Plato."  Oh, Sawyer.  I've missed your nicknaming.

The Truce!  Is this is episode where we finally learn about Other/Dharma politics/history?

Damn, you've think Daniel, even in his grief-stricken state, would know to not cross a sonic fence when he saw one.  Love Juliet using her knowledge of the future to her advantage.  Go, character, go!

Touché, Reiko.  Touché.  Earplugs.  Genius!  Also kind of lame for a way to foil the sonic fence?

Love that Juliet, after 3+ years, can just jump right into natal specialist mode.  Also, I'm super curious to find out what happened to make it so that women can't bring babies to term in the future... present... past?

Jin speaks perfect English (finally).

Juliet delivered the baby.  She has hope!  Yay!  Now I'm even more super curious about what happens to make that nigh impossible (I'm using the word "nigh" a lot lately...)

Aw, Young Charlotte!  When do we see Young(er/ish) Ben?

Miles is very eager to leave.  Wasn't he all "I'm staying on the Island" at the end of S4?

What *did* happen to Jughead?  Officially?  It's buried and that's where the Swan was built, yes?  No?

We'll see how over Kate Sawyer is... won't we?  Also... Sawyer/Juliet!

Why is there no Lost next week?  Boo-urns, DWTS?  Also, funny that the ABC announcer says "back to the 70s" for a new Life on Mars.  Y'know, considering...

Let's Go Over This

Don't go into modeling unless you're down with Dorothy.  I really hope Branden's right-off-the-bat nervousness that his partner in the photo is gay and thus will make him teh geh was for show.  I mean... come on, fool (and, yes, you can get "more gayer than that").  I'm not seeing Bronnie happening this season.

I'm confused (perhaps because of a lack of casting / semifinals round the way Top Model does it, or the way this show did it last year).  Perhaps because the first thing that happens even before we know any of these people's names (and before THEY know the other people's names) is a photo shoot?

Who picked these people?  They totally suck!  They know nothing of finding the light for the camera.  Last season had such a range of guys and girls with experience and lack thereof, who were hot-hot or ugly-hot... this season I think MAYBE Salome and Sandhurst could be working models?  Amanda is girl next door hot.  Gabriel almost has that heroin-ed out ex-rock star appeal.  He looks similar to one of the models who won The Amazing Race 10 a couple years ago.

Nicole brings the photos to the contestants.  They, for the most part, love their pictures.  But most of the pictures SUCK.  Why is she not critiquing them?  She's supposed to be a mentor.

The winner of each photo shoot gets a go see.  That's a good prize.  Except Salome is apparently a retard when it comes to strategy.  Don't announce out loud that you're picking someone you think you can beat.  Also, this is before the contestants have done any runway walking for the judges.  They haven't gotten a critique yet.  This will be a problem for this go see.  And, shock, it is!  Double-edged sword, winning that first prize.

Yay, measurement time!  AMANDA HAD A SON 10 MONTHS AGO!?  Wow.  Hey, we're learning!  40" is the standard male model chest measurement.  A quick look at Branden's "bod" demands that he stop being so happy with it.  He wants to be a male model, he needs to get more cut.  He's paunchy.  Sorry, is it wrong to hate on the homophobe?

Ken, though his face is not quite symmetrical and his jaw juts out oddly so I honestly can't see him lasting in this competition, is my hero for saying that he doesn't want to be 175 lbs when he's told he's too big (not too fat... although by model standards, yes, he is).  MY HERO, DAMMIT.

Okay, I'm glad not all of the guys on this show at 5'11" with a 40" chest.  But shouldn't they have chosen people will bodies slightly CLOSER to the "supermodel" norm?  I know, I know, the title is "Make Me A Supermodel," but I'd always considered that to be, y'know, the audience voting and such (which obviously isn't happening this season.  See the lack of snow on the ground).

For the runway show, they are wearing clothes inspired by a set of überdesigners' collections.  Not the designers' lines themselves.  Okay...?  Oh, honeychild (by which I mean the show), the walks are not great.  Incidentally, I heart the dresses Amanda and Salome wore, and kudos to Kerryn for tolerating that headpiece thingy.

I can't understand the words that come out of Catherine Malandrino's mouth.  But she's right about Salome being very lucky having the standout dress, and it was an easy dress to wear and walk in.

Hm.  At the start of the episode I was lost and was thinking of turning the show off.  It's still not the fun guilty pleasure it was last year.  Hm.  Maybe after one more week of getting to know these characters?  I feel like the only character I've gotten to know, remotely, is "I'm uncomfortable with teh gehs" Branden.  Where are the big personalities?  Where is, um, ANY PERSONALITY?

Sigh.  Color me disappointed.

9 of 12

I'm cool with the voting results.  I think that Jorge was a surprise to the judges.  I think they expected Felicia.  A lot of people did.  I also think that if Felicia had gotten through Jorge would have been a wildcard contestant (in place of Jessie, who as the judges said, was a commercial break change... based on the voting results from last night).  Even though the judges said they finally noticed Felicia and that she proved she had a right to be there last night, they didn't give her the wildcard (again... they didn't put her through to the Top 36 or put her in a sing-off, so there's stuff they saw that we didn't... after all, she didn't get a ton of screentime... that didn't make them want to put her through).  Anyway.  /bitter (kinda)

Let's talk wildcard people.

Anoop - d'uh.  He was barely the 4th place vote getter behind Michael Sarver in Group 1.  And the judges love his vibe and personality.

Megan - Very pretty girl who didn't pick the correct song in the semis, but we've seen her be much better.

Jasmine - Very pretty girl who didn't pick the correct song in the semis, totally choked, but we've seen her be much better.

Matt - Good looking guy who, like Jasmine, previously wowed but choked with song choice.  Plus, he plays an instrument, which if he makes the Top 12, mixes things up.

Brady - Good looking guy who got no screentime, sang early in his Group semifinal, and got screwed.  An obvious choice for a second shot.

Jessie - IIRC, she was told by Simon that she wouldn't win the competition in her sing-off.  However she did surprisingly decently in her semifinal performance and she proved she knows music by being specific and asking questions.

We here at Travis Yanan Watches TV are cool with all six of the above wildcard picks.

And then there were the head scratchers (for me).

Von Smith - He shouts.  His style is lacking.  But Kris occupies the "cute male who is an extreme longshot but will get by for a while on a decent voice and his looks" category.  Also Kris is much cuter than Von and has a better fashion sense.  And compared to the other people in the middle of the pack from Group 3 (here comes the bitter), he would NOT have been my pick.  In fact, that he's the ONLY ONE from Group 3 who got a wildcard pick SHOCKS me.  We're clearly missing stuff about Von and about girls like Kendall and Kristen that puts Von over those two (not to mention Felicia).

Tatiana del Toro - I have to admit, she surprised by singing well in Week 1... she was the second best female out of a DEEP pool of SUCK.  But she didn't get voted through because she's SO GODDAMN ANNOYING.  A friend of mine lives on the same floor of her apartment in LA (I've discovered since her apparently temporary elimination) and the crazy, annoying Tata is COMPLETELY the real Tata.

Now.

Let's be honest.

The Top 12 right now has 6 guys and 3 girls.  The 8 wildcard picks are 4 guys and 4 girls (which is a potential reason any/all of Kendall, Kristen, and Felicia were passed over).  The judges won't be forced to pick 3 girls.  But, tomorrow night's performances unheard, I suspect that 2 of the people moving forward will be women, and the guy is going to be Anoop (unless he is epic fail, in which case probably Matt Giraud?)  Again, tomorrow's performances unheard, I'm guessing Megan and Jasmine.

What does the Top 12 need on the female side?

We've got Alexis Grace, the small girl with the big voice.

We've got Allison Iraheta, the young girl with the big voice.

We've got Lil Rounds, the R&B ringer.

We're lacking a country singer (would've been Kendall, but... Megan comes close?  I just don't think Jessie's going to make it).

We're lacking a pop princess.  Here's where I think Jasmine can fit in, though her wheelhouse sort of coincides with Allison (young girl) and with Lil (R&B).  Jasmine has to sing something Pop tomorrow night.  I recommend Beyonce's  "Halo" or "If I Were A Boy," or Rihanna's "Take a Bow".

We're lacking a rocker chick (would've been Kristen, but... well, no one based on what we've seen... oh, hell, I'll go there, Adam Lambert is our female rocker LULZ).  Okay, Allison is a little rock.

Models Inc.

TV is getting slightly more fabulous and about 1000% more catwalk/catfighty tonight with two-hours of Top Model and the second season of my not-so-secret guilty pleasure from last winter, Make Me a Supermodel.  There've been some changes to MMaS and the few things I've read seem to imply that the viewer voting element is out (by saying that the whole thing has already been shot).  Which stinks because that was what made it unique last season... even if it also caused a slew of problems because of the not-quite-live format.  We'll see.

Also tonight: Idol, Lost, and Damages.  Lordy loo that's a lot of TV.

3rd 12 of 36

Yay, the end is almost nigh!

Von Smith - Kris Allen has filled the "obscure white guy" role, thank you for playing.  Also, Kris is cuter.  Just saying.  Marvin Gaye's "You're All I Need To Can Get By."  Whatever, let's talk style.  Suit pants and jacket.  Red tinted sneakers to color match with an American Apparel red sorta-stripped V-neck shirt that IS NOT TUCKED INTO THE PANTS.  Oh, my (later: yes, Simon is right about style... never thought I'd say that...)  The only thing worse would be if he were wearing flip-flops.  I enjoyed the performance, and in last week's sh!tshow he may have had a shot... I doubt it this week.  But the judges loved it enough for wildcard.  I'm not getting a ton of personality off of Von.

Taylor Vaifanua - I remember this girl from auditions!  She's the one who needed to wash her hair.  "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys.  Nice song, but, um, the verses are pretty monotone / mellow, right?  This is a really pretty, soulful song when Alicia does it.  And I can tell from the first line that Taylor doesn't have the experience to understand WTF the song means and the emotion that should be behind it.  It's not a disaster like a lot of the performances from weeks 1 and 2 of the semis... but there's no glory in that song.  Not sure how I feel about those leather legging things (I think those alone say what it's like to go shopping with Taylor, Kara).  Were they connected to heel boots?

Alex Wagner-Trugman - Um, he obviously wasn't paying attention to Brooke last week!  Don't google yourself!  Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues."  Remember when song titles were that long?  Oh, lord, his video package is just screaming "please, teen girls, worship me!  Love me! ... please?"  Homeboy needs to learn to work a mic stand.  And a stage.  He has an... interesting growl note right before the first chorus.  Seriously.  Needs to work on working with that mic stand.

Ariana Afsar - WHOM??  And she's doing ABBA?  And "The Winner Takes It All," well, at least it's not "Dancing Queen..."  I don't get this choice, and there were some problems in the beginning (and a flat note or several near the end).  But I'm digging the dress.  That's a win, right?  Oh, wait, I saw straps.  I thought it was strapless.  Sigh, we have our first unqualified disaster and disturbingly silent audience.  I mean, Alex was bad, but I have to be honest I wasn't expecting much of anything and the judges were really disappointed with Ariana.

Ju'not Joyner - Plain White Ts' "Hey There, Delilah" is so not the song I expect to come from this guy.  And it's already a really slow song.  He makes it slower and softer than it needs to be, and I'd rather have an acoustic guitar than the piano.  I predict Simon will say he was put to sleep.  I kind of was, but at the same time I get that it was a different interpretation and that in and of itself warrants some positivity and getting used to instead of snap judgment.  What's with the handcuffs hanging from his pants?  Is that a thing now?  There are a lot of pitch problems.  But the judges were very happy with it.  Hm.  Ju'not is very, um... overshare (NOT "TMPI," Ryan...)

Kristen McNamara - "Give Me One Reason" by Tracy Chapman.  Holy hell, a *fun* retro song that my friends sing at karaoke!  This was the girl Simon completely disagreed with the other judges about in the "sing off" between her and some other blonde girl (because, y'know, they can only have so many?)  Those shoes don't go with that dress (yes, I know, I'm kind of in a sartorial place right now, please forgive me in the morning).  Kara... I'd love to see this girl sing "So What" by P!nk.  Paula remembers what this girl sang in Hollywood Week, gives cogent feedback, yet can't pronounce ABBA correctly.  Loves us some Paula.  I enjoyed this.  Hope to see more of her.  And when she comes back for the wildcard... sing "So What" by P!nk.  Oh, her post-performance / panel critique interview is precious.  PRECIOUS!

Nathaniel Marshall - DRAMZ DRAMZ DRAMZ DRAMZ DRAMZ DRAMZ DRAMZ DRAMZ.  I don't want to see goofy, good-natured, humble Nate.  You were put here for TEH DRAMZ.  "I Would Do Anything For Love" by Meatloaf!  WTF, Nate?  That's totally the other hammy queen's wheelhouse (seriously, Adam is so going to be belting out a Meatloaf song one of these weeks).  Good lord, I can't even talk about what he's wearing (including not wearing his nose ring).  I CANNOT.  I liked the opening... ish?  But as soon as it went more uptempo, the song overtook Nate.  Why didn't Nate sing The Killers?  Hm?  HM?  And now Paula is remembering something ELSE specific from Hollywood Week?  Did someone give her Adderall during the commercial break before Kristen sang?  Now *I'm* remembering Nate's "Disturbia," or at least the snippet we heard of it, and I remember being quite stricken by it in a good way.

COMMERCIAL BREAK - Jay Karnes is guest starring on House!  DUTCH!  And he was on Burn Notice last week!  DUTCH!

Felicia Barton - They really do need to explain Felicia's presence here... though they're going to have to do it in the context of "she was the 37th choice and someone got disqualified so she's in on a technicality."  Interestingly, she wasn't part of any sing-off.  Hm.  Odd, right?  Alicia Keys song number two for the night... alrighty then.  "No One."  This girl has the pain in her voice.  She sang the song the way Alicia does.  Until the chorus when she can't, apparently, because her voice breaks perhaps?  This girl has underdog written all over her sequined shirt and I want to love her.  I do.  It's probably top of the female stack for the night... thus far.  But the ringer hasn't gone yet.  Felicia's earned a wildcard performance, no?

Scott MacIntyre - Okay you guys, I know, I know.  He's blind.  But can someone fix his teeth PLEASE?  I mean, I know vampires are in and all but the FANGS ON THIS ONE.  And while we're at it... the hair?  PLEASE?  Bruce Hornsby's "Mandolin Rain?"  What song dat?  Alex should take notes from Scott on how to work a stage.  Scott's good, ya'll.  Looking forward to Scott being able to perform with the keyboard.

Kendall Beard - HOT GIRL HOT GIRL HOT GIRL.  We don't have a "traditional" hot girl in the Top 12 yet.  And she's got all the "aw, shucks" I can handle.  Martina McBride's "This One's For The Girls."  Yellow is clearly Kendall's signature color.  The babydoll works on her figure, but I feel like just about anything would?  I can't tell with country whether someone is flat, sharp, or just twang.  Vocally she loses it towards the end and I feel she kind of gives up?  But she has fun doing it?

Jorge Nuñez - Elton John "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me."  And a second Elton song!  The rules of "selections from the Top 100" baffles me.  Y'know how last season all I wanted was for David Archuleta to open his eyes while he was singing?  All I want is for Jorge to stop looking directly into the camera.  I'm horrible, he has a lazy eye, I know.  He's obviously got a good voice, but I don't know what this song says about him as an artist.  Where was Simon's cruise ship / hotel lounge comment?

Lil Rounds (PIMP SPOT) - So, um, not only am I predicting who has been getting into the Top 12... but I'm predicting performance order?  Go me... also, I'm scared.  Okay, not really.  They put the three ringers from auditions / Hollywood into the three semifinal weeks and then gave each the pimp spot.  Anyway.  The performance.  Mary J Blige "Be Without You" I LOVE THIS SONG.  GO LIL.  But if you were gonna sing Mary J for me, could you do "No Drama" next time?  Kthxbai.  SHE EVEN SELF-CENSORS THE CURSE WORDS.  She didn't carry the final note out, but, y'know what... WHO THE EFF CARES!

Top Female: Lil Rounds

Top Male: Scott MacIntyre

Next best... I want it to be a girl from this round to even the genders out a little more.  I'd love for it to be Felicia Barton, and I think she has the underdog element, if not the screentime fanbase, to pull it off.  We can get Kendall and Kristen (the show needs a female country singer and doesn't have it yet) in the wildcard round.  If it's gonna be a guy... Jorge or Ju'not.  But I'm hoping for Felicia.  I dunno.  This week there's only one standout in Lil, and no one even coming close.

Wildcard choice recap (we only get 8 or 9 total, but here's 4 from each week that I suspect covers the field)

Week 1: Ricky Braddy, Anoop Desai, Ann Marie Boskovich, Tatiana del Toro (lulz...?)

Week 2: Matt Giraud, Megan Corkrey, Jessie Langseth, Mishavonna Henson

Week 3: We'll see, but... Ju'not Joyner, Kristen McNamara, Kendall Beard, Jorge Nuñez

2 Hours of Nothing

What was The Biggest Loser this week?  I mean, a misleading promo from ABC about a character death is one thing, but a TWO HOUR episode of a reality show ending on a cliffhanger before we find out if (a) no one is getting eliminated, or (b) one person from each team is getting eliminated?  WTF.  Especially because they're all weighed in before the ceremony and brought up to the scale in the order of maximum drama.

Oh, and re last week's episode... Aubrey is officially an idiot.  How did she not vote with her old teammates?  Dane went home because of that instead of Zoidberg.  Not cool.  Not smart.  Especially because now she and Mandi are the only two people left from Jillian's original team versus three from Bob's original team.  They're effed in the A.  Dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb.  Can't these people do math?  Not even, like, exponents.  Percentages.  Addition.  SIGH.

The Jillian/Laura stuff was nice.  But I don't really care... it's all about Tara.

Chalk Up Another Victory For The Misleading Promo Department

So, wait, who died on Brothers & Sisters' 2-hour movie event that promoted a "shocking death"?

Um, no one.

Yeah.

Huh?

Thanks to the promo department I was expecting NOTHING to happen to Robert and for the whole thing to be one massive mislead until someone else bit the big one.  And then I was thinking that the incumbent governor spiked Robert's drink with something (yay, poison).  And then I was thinking that Holly would smother Baby Elizabeth Walker while "babysitting" for Julia as she was lured away to the hospital because of her husband's sister's adopted child's birth / her husband's sister's husband's medical incident.

Whatever.  The show itself, on its own merits and without the promo department evil, was better than the series has been much of this season, what with the big, overly dramatic musical montages and the constant heart-string-tugging.

Revenant

This episode of Legend of the Seeker would've been much better if I hadn't already seen it / something conceptually like it done MUCH better in Buffy season two ("I Only Have Eyes For You").

Finally some good news from Grey's

They're keeping Jessica Capshaw around!  Which means (a) potential for an appropriately structured Callie/Arizona relationship (versus "I have my lesbian glasses on and I can see the leaves"), and (b) Bailey should be officially specializing in peds, the Chief be damned.  Woot.

Larry King vs Tracy Does Conan

Two episodes with a plot about Tracy's guest appearance on a talk show.

Hm.

Dual Tuner

Hm, Idol seems to have extended into the 9pm hour, and DVR didn't record The Office if it was new.

Oddly, I'm not too sure I care...?  The season post-Holly (and much of last season) have been underwhelming to the point of tedium and apathy.

6 of 12

Yay!  OMG I'm so shocked that America didn't put Nick through but GO AMERICA!  YES, WE CAN HAS!  And, yay, my non-Nick #3 made it through, too!  I'm actually 6 for 12!  Woot!

Meanwhile, I'm stepping away from my ZOMG over Adam Lambert.  Girlfriend needs to step away from the overdone, Christina Aquilera-esque runs during his performances (as impressed as we are that he's got those pipes) and SING A F***ING MELODY.  And stop mugging for the camera.  During the group sing... oh, man, it was just Mug City.  And the "Yayz, Iz in teh Top 12, lulz" repeat of "Satisfaction"... come on, man!  Love that they made him sweat it out against Nick, who I think we can agree, people seriously thought was gonna squeak through as a spoiler.  Really looking forward to him singing something Bowie or Aerosmith

How awkward for Alexis, Danny, and Michael to sit through the whole show on those bar stools...

Of this group, I am hoping Megan and Jessie get a wildcard shot.  Maybe Matt Giraud.  Maybe Mishavonna.  Interesting... the "hot girl with mediocre (by finalist standards) voice" category is NOT getting through in the new format.

Kris' reaction to getting in won me over (but calling this group of semifinalists the best group... I question your taste, sir!)  And, like Michael Sarver last week, his moving-on-up performance is superior to the vote-for-me performance (he fixed the beginning pitch issues, IMHO).

Hey!  It's a retrospective of Idol-crowning moments... and here's Brooke White! (or should that be "and here's Brooke White...?")  Yay, she didn't start over ;)  I always felt Brooke was last season's "should be playing small venues of her own singer-songwriter music, but her range is way too narrow for this show" contestant.  This song is very smooth, and I love that she connects with it emotionally (hint, hint, this season's contestants... don't just sing technically, sing emotionally).

Next week... Lil Rounds owns the stage, Ryan makes us all feel awkward when he talks to Scott MacIntyre, and we all get so over Nathaniel "DRAMZ QUEEN" Marshall.

The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham

WHERE ARE WE?  WHEN ARE WE?  WHO IS THIS MAN?  DAMN YOU, LOST!  Oh, hey, that's totally the guy who was on Ajira 316.  Files on space-time...?  OMG and he knows Sayid's US Marshall Woman.

Glad there's actually plane wreckage... now how did Jack, Kate, and Hurley get separated from it?

And Locke is alive / resurrected / whatevered now that they're BAAAAAAAACK on the Island.  Not a surprise.  But welcome.

ABC just broke its own rule about the length of acts by having, including the "Previously on" section be under 4m30s.  They have this rule because the longest commercial pod they'll air is 4m30s, and they never want any section or the show to be shorter than a commercial pod.  But, hey, this is Lost.  "The rules" don't apply (and it's a silly rule, anyway... it's always bothered me that you can't do a 1 or 2 page teaser on an ABC show and cut to commercial when it feels right for the story).

So turning the frozen donkey wheel sends you to Tunisia all the time?  Does Locke no longer have use of his legs (even if the bone is sticking out of one) because he's off-Island?

I want to say "OMG, the terrorists have Locke" but that would be a terribly inappropriate thing to say, right?

Okay, so the format is now on-Island opening with Ajira 316 people, then flashback for the 'splainy?  It's kinda like the first season!  Only with more answers instead of character pieces!  And space-time file charts!

MATTHEW ABADDON!

CHARLES WIDMORE!  WAS A LEADER OF THE OTHERS!  AND TURNED THE DONKEY WHEEL!

LOCKE ASKED CHARLES WIDMORE THE QUESTION "WHY?" AND CHARLES KIND OF SORT OF ACTUALLY GAVE AN ANSWER.  MORE IMPORTANTLY, A CHARACTER ON THIS SHOW ASKED THE QUESTION "WHY?"!!!!

Did anyone else know this episode was 66 minutes long?

It's 1:40am, I'm shutting up (even though I'm certain there's going to be so much SQUEE) so Ican watch tonight and then get some sleep.

2nd 12 of 36

Seacrest is wearing a short-sleeved polo shirt.  I don't understand.  When did this become casual Tuesd--- Wednesday on the main stage?

Um, yes this group has an advantage.  Merely competent or safe ≠ moving onto next round.  Especially if you didn't have screen time before.  I mean, then you kind of just have to be like "I know I'm boned, so I'm going to make the most of this one shot and hope the judges pick me to be in the wild card round.

This week's theme is the Billboard Hot 100.  Did last week have a theme?  Better the semifinals have a theme like this than last season's 60s/70s/80s, since last year every comment was like "not current, dawg."

Jasmine Murray - I kinda expected her to bust out a Beyonce ballad (Randy says Rihanna, but let's be honest, Beyonce's songs are more range-y)?  But don't think Sara Bareilles' "Love Song" is big enough to show off her voice.  But she shows me generally wrong, going on some fun runs and using the stage.  Go, Jasmine!  But, honey, lose the coat.  Hopefully her screentime will get her through because I like this girl.  The young kids, thus far, have not had great song choice.

Matt Giraud - Why is boy not playing the piano on this?  I bet he's got a bang-up, slowed-down, piano-accompanied version of "Viva La Vida" somewhere in him.  He's way too breathy for me.  But I actually understand the lyrics coming out of his mouth, which is something I often don't do with Chris Martin.  Glad he didn't do Justin Timberlake because too obvious... but that probably would've worked better for him.

Wow, two favorites felled by poor song choice.  Apparently the second group of semifinalists did not learn from last week.  Or the first seven seasons of the show.

Jeanine Vailes - One of my "Who dat?" people.  "This Love"?  Really?  This is such a staccato song, but just because a song is your favorite doesn't mean it's appropriate for you.  If you want to sing this kind of song, yeah, sing Rihanna.  Not Maroon 5.  But you know what?  And she's got some great legs.  Yes, Paula.

OMG THIS IS THE EPISODE OF BROKEN DREAMS

Nick Mitchell - OMG.  He's performing as Normal Gentle.  I can't handle it.  I just can't.  He is staying.  He's totally through to the next round.  Sanjaya.  SANJAYA!  Well, Tatas didn't get through... a girl can dream.  You know what, this is the judges' faults.  Can this please be the time the producers step in and keep him off (actually I guess if the producers intervene they'd keep him on... buzz buzz buzz).  Nick/Normal/whatever is like the genre-savvy kid who calls everyone on the Starship Enterprise on the sci-fi bullshit.

Allison Iraheta - I love this girl's red hair.  I think it has it's own personality.  Please let her not hall prey to the poor song choices of the other young kids.  OMG.  Heart's "Alone."  YES!  YES!  Even if this song is owned on Idol by Carrie Underwood.  Still, we know the heights the song can soar to.  The first performance of the night as far as I'm concerned.  I'm worried the judges will say it's too old for her?  I'm so glad they didn't.

Kris Allen - Attempting a Michael Jackson song.  Can we get a David Cooke-"Billie Jean" style brillz perf?  Or is this going to be Steven Fowler?  And does anyone know who this kid is (besides being attractive)?  He had one great moment in the middle of song and after that it got better.  I don't think the beginning was as rough as Kara implied.  Simon's comment = wildcard round (I believe the wildcard round is judges picking 9 contestants... not necessarily from the Top 36, and giving them another performance... not sure if the viewers or the judges ultimately decide which three move on from there... give Ricky Braddy from last week another shot, judges!)

Megan Corkrey - She auditioned with and is performing the same genre of song.  OMG, shockingly appropriate choice!  But it's a boring song (and not very range-y)... as catchy as it is.  And I don't think she does as well with it as she should have (not that it was bad, per se).  Megan has no stage presence and NO idea what to do up there behind the microphone.  Paula's right on the Nelly Furtado... similar facial structure.

Matt Breitzke - Tonic's "If You Could Only See."  Well, I love the song itself.  Matt actually sounds kind of similar to Emerson Hart?  This isn't a big, showy song, though.  Matt's got a better voice than this performance.  He's got great pitch, but I didn't get any "wow" here.  Pretty bland.

WHY DO ALL OF THESE SEMIFINALISTS SUCK AT PICKING SONGS FOR THEMSELVES

Jessie Langseth - Her video segment was entertaining.  She's spunky.  I don't have any idea what this song is, which upon investigation on Google, I ought to (even if it predates me).  Honestly, between Jessie and Megan for Little Miss Raspy Voice... I think Megan wins.  Jessie talks back waaaaaay too much (and too much "mm hmm" when she isn't talking).  And she needs Nicole Kidman Forehead Reduction Surgery (yes, yes, I'm a bitch... it's almost 1am and I have three more performances and Lost to get through, then sleep and work in the morning).  Simon saying she has a good voice, and her sucking up to Randy with the Q&A session could give her a chance to follow through on his advice.

Kai Kalama - "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted."  I don't know why I'm saying this now, but none of the contestants this season have attempted reinterpretations (or less-traditional covers) of these songs.  It's karaoke town.  Back to Kai... he's got a totally competent voice.  But, just like Jessie... that song had, maybe, 7 notes he needed to hit.  But, Simon... why would anyone play this song at a wedding?  Maybe a bitter divorcée's settlement party?

Mishavonna Henson - "Drops of Jupiter" by Train.  I can't remember what this girl sang before, but I do know this song has more range than Maroon 5's "This Love" so I'm hoping for better than Jeanine.  Something is up with Mishavonna's facial expressions?  I loved the soft note she injected into a number of the verse lines.  This isn't a blow-me-away, wow-factor, but considering the crapfest tonight has largely been, it's nuanced and entertaining, well... it's still a weird choice.  I don't think this performance was nearly as tragic as the judges have made it seem.  The advice to let loose and have fun is spot on, though.

Adam Lambert (PIMP SPOT!) - I'm so happy Adam has the pimp spot.  As I've said before, he's either going to be glorious or I'm going to extremely sad because he's gone all musical theater over-the-top.  His hair has grown out a lot and even though it's flat-ironed, he looks like he has Hobbit hair in the video segment (I think it's mostly that tuft over his right ear from a full-frontal angle... it's far better once he comes on stage so yay).  "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones.  So, um, did he just make love to the camera?  I think he did.  He's certainly having fun with it.  Goddamn it, I hate tenors and their ability to hit all those high notes.  GOOD LORD, that wasn't even falsetto.  There's a lot of runs.  Perhaps too much?  But I don't think it pushed it into the over-the-top place.  And I disagree with the overly emoed out all-black clothing and ONE FINGERLESS LEATHER GLOVE (and Randy not-quite-namechecks-but-refers-to Pete Wentz, Edward Cullen, and Gerard Way... yeah).  Well, I guess that answers the question of whether there's going to be a standout performance in this round... go, Adam!

Top Female: Allison Iraheta

Top Male: Adam Lambert

Next best... well, we all know Nick Mitchell is getting through... but this is a tough one otherwise.  I'd have gone with Kris Allen and either Megan Corkrey or Mishavonna Henson (who I didn't hate like the judges seemed to even though their comments weren't really about singing ability or even singing the song, but it being the wrong song and her not showing the right personality).  Kris would be my first choice of those in the case of Nick not making it through.

Thus far the show has really utilized the pimp spot to feature the best of the bunch... and they've both been guys.  Can we switch it up next week and get a girl in the pimp spot?  Lil Rounds?

Rhys Coiro

No one does crazy like my hometown boy, Rhys.  Thank god his character was (one of) the mole(s) on 24 because except the moments Janeane Garofalo has had Keyboard of Death hackmatches against Chloe, she's been shockingly boring.

Also, he recovers quickly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Why does no one ever think there are multiple moles in TV government agencies?  I mean... the Bristows, Jack and Sydney...

But, please, Rhys.  Don't go back to Entourage.

Meanwhile, it would seem Renee Walker has never been in a situation with collateral damage before... seriously?  And now she's slapping Jack and crying onto his shoulder?

I should know better than to pay attention to Fox's promos for this show by now, y'know?  "The episode that changes everything"?  More like "the episode that happens two or three times a season where the plot changes directions as a villain/terrorist threat is replaced by a different villain/terrorist threat who was backing the early Little Bad."

I hope Bill Buchanan is the Big Bad of this season and it was all done to get CTU reinstated and Jack Bauer off the hook.  Okay, I don't hope that, but I'd be intrigued.

Oh, hey, Tony is still on this show!  And they Middle Bad is targeting the White House.  Because they already built those sets.

Oh, Kurtwood Smith.  How did you manage to be in both 24 and Worst Week?  I am impressed.

Oscars

I gotta admit, I just can't get it up for this year's Oscars.  I'm not even bothering with "predictions" (most categories are already locks anyway).  Blah.

LotS

WTF?  Is this episode a clips show?  The series has barely had half a season...

Hahah, okay, there was some "original" material, but plenty of clips throughout.  A little early to be doing an alternaverse episode, no?

Glee

I don't really know what to think about Glee (the pilot anyway).

It's High School Musical but a TV series instead of a TV movie (Finn, one of the main characters, the QB on the football team, is coerced into joining the glee club and SHOCK has to deal with pressure from his teammates about singing), and it expands into the adult world much more significantly than HSM (it's about a 60/40 mix, I'd say, the 60 on the adult side).  It's uplifting, heart-soaring, farcically campy and silly, at times touching, and just generally entertaining.  But I can see it not being to everyone's taste (the musical numbers at times reminded me of Idol's group sings...)

Actually I guess it's more like the bastard lovechild of HSM and Bring It On.

On the casting side... it's got (the original Broadway version of) Hairspray's Matthew Morrison and Spring Awakening's Lea Michele (yay!) meaning the teen female lead CAN ACTUALLY SING AND DANCE.

And Jane Lynch (who is not really utilized much in the pilot but the brief moments she's there... hilarity ensues), who by herself would be able to make me watch paint dry while she read the telephone book (do they still make those?)

The pilot is also about 12 minutes longer than can be fit into an hour of TV, so unless FOX works out a deal with the affiliates to bleed into the 10pm hour or does some significant cutting... it won't air as I saw it.  Which is a shame for all of the above reasons.

It might also be the most expensive television show of all time when it goes past the pilot.  Musical numbers take extra time to shoot right because of voice/lip synching.  Plus all the dancing.  Plus all of the music licensing (I mean, there's a LOT of music).

Which adds up to the sad reality that subsequent episodes won't have nearly the amount of magic the pilot has.

But, hey.  I have to say I am so very on board (much more so than for the script of ABC's Fame-esque pilot Limelight).

I'm not sure why this show hasn't been scheduled yet.  I can't believe Fox would take something this potentially amazing and relegate it to the summer (maybe it'll premiere after the Final Two Perform episode of Idol on May 20th?)  Sigh.

ABDC3's Battle of the Sexes

Hm.  Not sure how I feel about America's Best Dance Crew having a Chris Brown song for one of its performances (not only too soon... but, like, I really don't know if I'm going to EVER be able to listen to that guy's music again...)

Not only that, but Fly Khicks are performing a Rihanna song... oy!

I called 2 of the final 3 way back when... Strikers All-Stars screwed up tonight (but I have to say Fly Khicks have grown on me throughout the last few weeks so I'm alright with this turn of events).

Whatever, no one freaking touches Beat Freaks.

316

WHO PUT THE PILOT OF LOST ON AFTER THE PREVIOUSLY ON INSTEAD OF THE NEXT EPISODE OF SEASON FIVE.

Lol.

Seriously, though, Jack waking up in the bamboo jungle like in the pilot is what I, for a long time, expected would be the series' final image because of all of The Dark Tower references.

But this is the show that spits in the face of expectations, like, twice a scene lately, so... yay.

And, like, 45 seconds in, I'm more confused/excited/ZOMGed than ever.  I LOVE THIS M*****F***ING SHOW.  Who could've anticipated a flash forward to the Oceanic 6's return to The Island in the SIXTH EPISODE?  Not I.  But, y'know, we all knew they were gonna get back to The Island at some point (after all they had TO GO BAAAAAAAAACK) so I like that the writers are setting up more blanks to be filled in between, but giving us a sense of where things are headed (foreboding, woo).

Fionnula Flanagan rocks.  And a 'splainy for why the place she was in at the end of "The Lie" looked so much like a Dharma station!

"Is he telling the truth?" "Probably not." LULZ.

I feel like I'm in 2nd grade and my teacher is explaining long division... only much more complicated.  Or having "how to beat that last ship in Space Invaders" explained to me.

Oh, Desmond.  Don't you know how TV works?  You say "no" at the start of the episode and by the, for some reason, you're going to be saying "yes."  But I don't expect you to be on the plane.  After all, you weren't on 815 (and neither was Ben...)

AJIRA AIRWAYS!

OMG this is possibly the longest scene in Lost history, almost entirely expository... AND I AM RIVETED.

So, because of the back-on-The-Island flash forward (or I guess this makes the off-Island events a flash back?) we know Jack, Hurley, and Kate were on the flight.  3 of 6, 3 of 6, not bad.  Aaron?  Sun?  Sayid?  Locke?  Ben?  WAAAAAAAAALT!!!!!!!?

OMG, LOCKE IS PLAYING THE ROLE OF JACK'S FATHER IN A COFFIN ON THE FLIGHT.  Recreating the 815 crash as best as they can... heart the idea.

So Jack = Thomas the Apostle and Locke = Jesus.  Too religious for my taste for this show (that's not involving Eko).  Locke was a man of faith... but never religious faith.  Faith in The Island.  Faith in Fate.  Dammit we still need to find out WTF happened to Locke and what he said to all these peeps after turning the donkey wheel in the Way Way Back When last episode (timestream = confuddled after last week... other timeflashes all had pretty specific events and years attached to them).

Dear lord, do not let Ben go off and kill Penny.  I will cry.

Once again, I suspect that SOMEONE is going to be asking Kate WTF happened to Turniphead.  Because I demand to know.

Sidenote - the "I don't need you to be a doctor, I need you to be a god" part of the Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice was the worst part of those promos and now the promo is, in big letters "Doctor... of GOD?"  Oh, ABC.  Oh, Shonda.  Oh, vomit.

But back to Lost.

Oh, Ben.  Oh, Ben.  I will be so unhappy.  I will cry.  Oh, Ben.

Good thing rigor mortis hadn't set in on Locke's corpse.  Also, good thing those shoes fit?

Hm, are we going to have a whole slew of new characters aboard this plane to keep track of (or at least this guy who offered his condolences to Jack)?

Yay, Sun is on the plane!

YES.  YES!  SAYID IS BEING ESCORTED BY A US MARSHALL (who is this woman?)

Good call on buying up all the empty seats, Hurley.  Good call.  But how did he get out of prison...?

"The other people on this plane... what's going to happen to them?"  "Who cares?"  I love Ben.  But I hate him.  But I love him!  But no.  I must.  But I cannot.

FRANK LAPIDUS IS THE PILOT.  ARE YOU SERIOUS?  AND HE SHAVED.

"We're not going to Guam, are we?"  Nope.  Nope...

"How can you read?"  "My mother taught me."  ROFL.

Jack, that is NOT the proper way to open an envelope.

HOLY FORWARD MOMENTUM!

And the kicker is that the jumping through time is NOT done for our, um, did-not-leave-The-Island-ers and our Ajira 316ers have joined them (at least temporarily... at the very least they're back in the 70s and Jin is driving Roger Workman's VW Bus).

HOLY EFF.

3 of 12

Can I call it OR CAN I CALL IT, BITCHES!?

I think we'll be seeing more of Anoop, though.

Out of everyone, I think the poorest hand of this new elimination / advancement format was dealt to Ricky Braddy, who got no screentime prior to the performance and did well (not amazing, but very well), but went early.  And, yeah, no screentime.  Does not bode well for people in the next two sets of 12 who weren't featured.  They're really going to have to blow people out of the water to survive.

Based solely on what I remember about next week's performers and assuming no one screws the pooch, my expectations are Adam Lambert, Jasmine Murray, and... sigh... Normal Gentle (if Nick Mitchell performances as Gentle, I think he's a lock...)

Please Note

I will be away from my computer for a good portion of today, so if final nationals that were delayed because of Presidents' Day do come, they will be posted when I get back later this afternoon.

12 of 36

Now this is a change of format.  I wonder how the show put each set of 12 semifinalists together... note how not all of the ringers are in a single group.  Only 3 being put through in each set (highest vote getting male and female, plus next highest vote getter), plus the judges' 3 wildcards (um, but there are 4 judges...? maybe it's one per group of 12?)

Yay!  I love this part of Idol... we actually get to HEAR THESE PEOPLE SING.

Yay!  Simon vs Ryan!

Jackie Tohn - Loved this girl in auditions.  Great personality, amazing rock-chick vocal edge.  HATE her outfit.  The backing music is way too low key.  On the other hand, it's all about her voice (and those pants...)  I suspect if she doesn't make it through, she could get a wildcard berth because her voice is so wildly different from everyone else's.  I'm with Simon on the trousers (and the song choice).

Ricky Braddy - Who?  Oh, and he's singing one of the songs I'm incredibly sick of (thank you, Cupid pilot fifth act).  Ricky starts out very lounge-y (IMHO), but I actually liked him breaking into falsetto, and I have to say he won me over.  Very smooth.

Alexis Grace - Rut roh, singing Aretha.  Love the hair.  Love the lipstick (maybe a shade too red?)  But, um, wow?  I officially hate this "send three through" thing (provided everyone is as good as the first three have averaged out to).  When it was 12 guys sing, send two home, 12 girls sing, send two home... you could count on a couple screwing up and cracking under pressure or choosing wrong songs.  Oh, good, I won the battle with the plastic bag wrapped around my Pad Kra Pao.  OMG NPH and Ted Danson in da house!  When Ryan said "and your girlfriend..." I thought Alexis was a lesbian, but then, no, it's her dad's girlfriend.  I feel bad that she's in the first half-hour because it's the least watched.

Brent Keith - Hot guy alert!  But can he sing?  WOW.  Live on-air VIDEO PLAYBACK ISSUES!  Blanchester is totally a portmanteu of something and Manchester, right?  Eh, I'm not a country music kinda guy, so it might be that, but I don't see Brent going through.  Poor, forgettable choice (once again, I agree with Simon).

Stevie Wright - Who?  She's singing Taylor Swift... who is of course known for her vocal prowess?  Oh, Stevie.  Leggings are not pants.  Don't you read GoFugYourself?  Hard to do anything with that song because there's no opportunity to go on riffs.  It's all rapid-fire lyric.  Girl's having fun, but not a lot of stage presence.  And some FLAT notes.  So, bad song choice... because of responding to judges' critiques (at least partly due to that).  HAH!  Simon says "but they listen to me" in response to Paula's "America votes" when he said Stevie won't be through to the next round (um, d'uh).

Anoop Desai - I love it when guys sing songs from female artists.  This is such a great song.  I miss the 90s.  There's a lot of backup singing... isn't there?  I wish he wouldn't hold those notes out all the time.  Give us a run!

Casey Carlson - BUBBLE TEA!  That's all I can think about.  This girl looks like a mix between Mandy Moore and Annie from 90210.  Not sure if that's a good (Mandy) or a bad (Annie) thing... I don't get the song choice for her.  Thank you, Kara, for complimenting Casey while tearing her down and ACTUALLY ADVISING HER.  You don't touch The Police, dammit.  Poor girl is going to cry onstage.  The air is completely sucked out of the room.  Why didn't this girl sing, like, "Everytime" by Britney?

Michael Sarver - Woo!  Heart this guy.  Oh, splech, he's singing the theme song from One Tree Hill.  Okay, aside from that factoid, I do like this song (separate from OTH, which as we all know, I think is landfill).  This song was waaaaay more uptempo than what I expected Michael to sing (given the songs he's performed).  Dude's got chops, though.  Put him through, America!

Ann Marie Boskovich - Oh, THAT'S who she is.  Yeah, I totally forgot her from the auditions.  Girl's got, like, a hot Celine Dion thing going on?  Love the dress.  Not as good as Alexis' take on Aretha, but I didn't think she was as bad as most of the judges made her out to be.  Certainly the second best female tonight thus far...

Steven Fowler - I want him to move from the one spot he's shaking around in.  After the judges critiqued Michael Sarver on switching the microphone between hands... Steven did it a couple of times.  He may have remembered the lyrics, but I think he was flat for a lot of the time and the song was, as Simon so often puts it, utterly forgettable.

Tatiana del Toro - This girl was so annoying (and teh dramz... TEH DRAMZ!) throughout auditions and Hollywood Week, is there any chance people will actually vote for her?  Singing Whitney Houston... you better work it, girl.  Um, what?  From the first note, the annoying girl is gone.  Can someone just not let her talk to people?  No interviews?  No video pods?  She's got a pretty damn good voice (though some of those low notes were too deep for her) and it wasn't consistent.

Danny Gokey (PIMP SPOT) - I kinda like his interview hair.  OMG he's SINGING MARIAH.  Screw Anoop's Monica song.  This is balls, man.  BALLS.  And everything we've seen of Danny says he wouldn't sing it unless he can own it because I don't think Idol had a technical singer like him (certainly not a male one) since Melinda Doolittle.  HOLY SHIZ KEY CHANGE.  Damn, boy, you deserved that m*****f***ing pimp spot.

If the gods are just...

Top Female: Alexis Grace.

Top Male: Danny Gokey (anyone else think this guy is Robert Downey, Jr in a slightly-overweight suit?)

Next best... Michael Sarver and Tatiana del Toro (I AM SHOCKÉD).

Middle of the road options who, if this semi-finals section weren't like this, would get another shot: Jackie Tohn (for the fun of it), Ricky Braddy (he was good, but early, and not great), Anoop Desai (because according to the judges he's likable), Ann Marie Baskovich.

So, basically, I'd chop 4 of these people off instead of the 9 that will be cut, and give the other 8 another chance to earn their way forward.  Life's hard, bitches.

200 pounds of cheese

That cheese challenge might just be the most amusing thing since Charla was in a knight's costume walking horses in The Amazing Race All-Stars.

I like that The Amazing Race and American Idol are both featuring deaf contestants.

I missed the first 18 minutes of the show (including commercials, so really just the introductions and the first airport segment since teams were already divided in Switzerland).  Thank you, Time Warner Cable.

Also missed: The Simpsons' first HD broadcast with new opening (I'll catch it on hulu, but... sigh).  WTF, TWC?  Seriously, you recorded United States of Tara at 7pm.  You weren't off.  You weren't recording anything else.  You just decided to not record the two programs at 8pm I have series passes for (TAR is set to record next week... so, yeah, I don't get it).

Not.  Cool.

UGH!  And Family Guy, which has been in repeats for, like, years, wasn't going to record!  I caught it in the middle of the opening theme.  Jeez, this is disturbing...

Meanwhile, Desperate Housewives was recording as expected.

SNL: Alec Baldwin / Jonas Brothers

Pretty solid episode, actually.  Most of the sketches (except the interminable opening sketch) even had endings.  The digital short was amusing.  Even Keenan got some laughs from me for the Sir Mix-a-Lot's Photo Shop.  And you know I never get tired of Cougar Den or Vincent Price specials.

They really name dropped 30 Rock up the wazoo...

Wish I Hadn't Watched Caprica Before Watching the Rest of BSG

Just saying.  Should've known better.  Not that there were spoilers (er, thus far) in Caprica.  But with the information revealed on tonight's BSG, my impression of Caprica would've been different (certainly my assumptions and impressions would have been).

Anyway, tonight's BSG was super fun and expository and all of a sudden the numbers assigned the various Cylon models make sense (why was there a Number 8 if there were only 7 numbered models?)

Interesting that the colonies were able to develop FTL drives, but the Kobol tribe that went to Earth were able to develop resurrection and NOT faster-than-light travel...

Cavil is an annoying, whiny bitch.

I will get around to writing a Caprica review one of these days (as well as writing pilot script reviews).

End transmission.

Grrr Argh

Even if Dollhouse was disappointing (though, actually, with all the "it's going to suuuuuuuuck" buzz it was more engaging than expected... still... not awful to the point of turning it off halfway through but not great... I think the appropriate word is "intriguing" with all the positive and negative connotations that word implies) it's nice to see the Mutant Enemy company card on my television again.

Grrr argh, indeed.

The Return of Izzie Stevens

So, yadda yadda yadda Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice crossover.  Y'know what I liked the most about the GA episode?  The Izzie Stevens story.  I know, shut up.  But that was a return to why we fell in love with Izzie in the first place.  She's cheerful and amusing and does glittery art projects that have a point.  Why did that character go away for the first half of this season to have sex with Ghost Denny?  Stupid, stupid, stupid.  But, of course, that story is continuing because we get bookend reminders from Karev that Izzie is not fine even though she insists she is.

Are we shocked that the "Doomsday Sucker" surgery that the patient begged Derek to perform that night went wrong (considering the Archer Montgomery surgery, essentially, went miraculously)?  Yes, because it didn't go wrong.  Why didn't it go wrong?  Hello?  Old Grey's Anatomy totally wouldn't have let that surgery go so smoothly.  Oh, wait!  It did!  Yay!

Smokezilla's Back!

How much have we missed the monster?  How much?  Especially after Ben sicked it on the militant Freighter people to, like, no avail.

Smokey!!!!

And how much do we want it to kill blond French dude who said Nadine, as a woman, probably ran off from the group chasing a butterfly she saw?

But slowly.  Let us savor the kill.  Yes.  Good, Smokey.

DUDE!  DUDE!  DUDE!

Suck it, Lacombe (?)

This is why Jin is awesome.  He can barely speak English (though it's totally gotten better!) but he doesn't need a physicist to tell him he's traveling through time.

Oh, shiz, we're when the Others came to take Alex from Danielle.  Shiz.  And the sickness is apparently the monster and not some actual contagion like what's making Charlotte and Miles and Juliet's noses bleed.  How did Robert know the monster was a security system guarding the temple (oh, and it specifically guards the temple?)

This episode is too good to keep going "oh, shiz!" to.  Must pay attention.  Night, interwebz.

Top 36

Kinda really enjoyed the "sing for your life!" twist in tonight's Idol.  Kept me on my toes (though seriously, Seacrest didn't need to point out the "irony" of almost every single sing-off pairing... are we really so stupid we can't understand irony when it's in front of us without it slapping us in the face for comi-tragic effect).  Especially that last sing-off... I was like "really?" when we were made to think one of them was going home.

Wondering whether Tatiana or Nick "Normal Gentle" Mitchell is going to be the more annoying contestant.

Praising the judges for letting ZOMFG DRAMZ QUEEN Nathaniel Marshall through.  He's going to be entertaining as long as he lasts (not seeing Top 12 here) and the costumes.  THE COSTUMES!

Loving that the show played Embrace's "Gravity" under a section of rejections.  God I love that band, they need more American exposure.

I think the show did a decent job filling viewers in on a lot of the Top 36 who weren't featured in the audition episodes / ones who were featured in auditions but not so much in the Hollywood rounds, but there are several who I'm still like... "who are they, again?" (Alex Wagner Trugman? Anne Marie Boskovich? Arianna Afsar? Jeanine Vailes? Junot Joyner? Kris Allen? Meghan Corkrey? Mishavonna Henson? Rick Braddy? Stevie Wright?)

My favorites right now are Lil Rounds and Danny Gokey, next tier would definitely be Jasmine Murray and probably Michael Sarver (hence my "you're going to make him sing-off?  Really?").  Looking forward to Adam Lambert's performances (either going to be really musical theater, really cool and current, or really terrible), and Jackie Tohn rocking out.

Christine Baranski

Well, that was a highlight episode of Big Bang Theory last night!

Love that Sheldon and Leonard's mom are so compatible with their neuroses.  And hilarity!  Guest Emmy?

It Tingles

Oh, Friday Night Lights.  You bring a smile to my face.  What a great end to the Smash Williams story.  Skin-crawling happiness.  Where you at, indeed!

The end of the Zarek-Gaeta mutiny was fantastic.  I wasn't hugely into it last week, but on so many fronts I see why it needed to be told.  And I'm glad the line was drawn between Gaeta's moral convictions and Zarek's, um, insanity.  Although, what happened to Sam?  Did I pass out or did the Starbuck/Sam/Lawyer going to Cottle story not actually reach an end (which, y'know, I understand given the HOLY FRAK of the final two acts).

Crossover time

Lol, Mode magazine in Grey's Anatomy.  I didn't know this was an Ugly Betty crossover, too!

Y'know, I'm actually enjoying the Grey's part thoroughly (minus Derek = idiot re still not having proposed and Izzie trying to administer whatever test on herself post long-delayed realization something wrong with her... honestly the show could will Derek, Izzie, and George off in one fateful car accident and I'd be just dandy)... I'm gonna shut up and watch (unless I really have something ) say).  I don't expect the crossover to really begin until the last moments of Grey's anyway.

Hey, Kevin McKidd's a series regular now!

Introducing Peds to the show has helped immensely (not to mention giving Bailey a lot to play with).  Hard to not care when it's a little kid's life at stake.  And Jessica Capshaw is a hoot!

Serial Killers!

The Gravedigger is back on Bones!  So says episode info.  Yay!  So happy.  But I have much TV to watch first (because, well, no one at work watches Bones and I need to watch the watercooler stuff... what with tomorrow being the last day of work and all...)

THR Feed re pilot season

James Hibbard has a truly amusing take on the pilots that have been ordered by the major networks thus far here.

I've read many of these pilot scripts (or drafts of them) and, naturally, have my opinions.  As tomorrow is my last day of work for a little while, I should have plenty of time to, y'know, espouse said opinions.

Just a warning.

In reading (especially loglines) please remember that just because something is unique does not mean it is good.  Or that it will be unique/good for long.  Also, there have been some very entertaining cop-lawyer-doctor shows!  Just because they're part of a mold doesn't mean they're going to suck.

Now, off to writing Paging Doctor Detective McCoy, Esquire...

Chuck 3D / Heroes Vol. 4

Chuck - The most "meh" episode of the season as far as, well, comedy and drama goes, but the visual gimmick was fun... but count me happy to take those damn glasses off!  This was as good a "restatement of the show's premise in a fun, easy to get into way" as possible given the day-after-Super-Bowl airing.  Still... disappointed in the episode (compared to the rest of this season, which has been awesome).

Heroes - Shut up, I know.  I, too, was suckered in by promise of a reboot even though we all knew that Bryan Fuller doesn't have anything to do with the first five episodes of this arc.  Not that I expect his presence behind the scenes to make much of a difference.  Let's just say this entire episode was straight from Joseph Campbell's monomyth with countless characters denying their, er, heroic nature.  But I have to ask... if Nathan's plans are, in fact, insidious, WHY abduct Peter and put him in the same place with a bunch of other "extraordinaries"?  And, Peter, if you're on a plane that's crashing and you previously had the power of flight and just absorbed Mohinder's super-strength (he still had this?) shouldn't you fly out of the plane and stop it from crashing?  Just saying, Superman would totally do it.  Also, Peter, WHY ARE YOU SUCH AN IDIOT?  In short, boring.  The only real fun to be had in the episode was Sylar taking down Nathan's goons.  Someone wake me up if/when this series gets better or is cancelled.

Kthxbi.

Sigh, going to have to wait until tomorrow to watch BBT/HIMYM/House.  Damn you, DVR only being able to record two things at once!

Blair

When did Blair Waldorf become such a f***ing idiot?

Seriously, I think that the first 55 minutes of this episode were some of the worst episode the has done since the not-yet-addictive early days (IMHO, everything pre-"Hi, Society").  The characters are doing things that make no sense, even in heightened, campy, teen soap world.

And the Chuck story?  WTF?  I guess it's setting up a new long-arc storyline/mystery about Bart, but boy was that clumsy.

Meanwhile... finally, Dan and Serena are DUNZO.  God, I hate Lonely Boy.  He's such a dick.  But I'm suddenly giving a crap about Rachel Carr...

But, seriously, after all her dealings with the Chuck Basses of the world, Blair let herself get (almost) taken down by this young, wide-eyed ingenue teacher?  Really?  REALLY?

Post-Game

Post game running time: 27 minutes.  By my account, the game ended at (putting this all in Eastern time) 10:13pm, when the telecast cut to commercial after the game ended and the celebration began.  The Office began at 10:40pm.  NBC, you were cutting it cloooose.  Did we learn nothing from ABC's 2002 Alias fiasco?

Show itself...

The opening is hilarious.  Classic Dwight.  And the opening credits have EVERYONE IN THEM!  Nice!

Alba/Black/Leachman cameo... eh/ew (though nice shout-out to not illegally downloading content yay).

Second half (the revelation that Michael was what was stressing everyone out and the roast) were less yay.

Amy Poehler sitcom promo!  Wait, it's called Parks and Recreation?  I thought it was called Public Service.  Meh on the official title...

Jim/Pam was cute (for, like, the first time this season).

I miss Holly.

Overall... easy to get into for nonfans?  Yeah (you just have to accept les shenanigans and go with the characters' quirks).  Doesn't necessitate tuning in again, though, and it wasn't LMFAO enough to convince nonfans that they ought to watch the series regularly.  We'll see what, if any, effect this has on the ratings on Thursday (is this the week it beats Grey's Anatomy and CSI in the demo?)

Without knowing the future effect on The Office's ratings, I still feel like NBC screwed up by not giving Chuck the post-game slot (would certainly say "look, we have confidence in this series!") and capitalizing on the 3D episode (which potentially could have continued into tomorrow's 8pm episode... thus dragging viewers in and giving the show a much-needed, much-deserved ratings bump as the sophomore series resumes its run).

Game Day

So, wow, that was some football game, wasn't it?

Ads... not a lot of awesome (certainly not in comparison to the football on display).  In fact, I think the only one that I genuinely loved was the Hulu spot.  I enjoyed the Coca-Cola ad where people drinking Coke became CGI characters, too, but didn't love it.

Okay, also the Transformers 2 spot was effective because, while I truly had no intention of seeing this sequel, the prospect of seeing Shia LaBeouf get the crap kicked out of him is too much to pass up.  They had to write (Write?  In this movie?  Really?) the actor's hand injury into the, um, plot of the movie (or somewhere between car chases, crashes, explosions, and CGI machinery).  You know me.  I have to say the word schadenfreude at least once per day just so I can prove I know how to pronounce it.  Also I remembered they filmed part of the movie at my alma mater (even if it's substituting not as my alma mater, but as the college in my hometown).  So, yeah.

But, overall, the ads both sucked and blew.  I have the 3D glasses for tomorrow night's Chuck, but the Monsters vs. Aliens trailer and the SoBe spot left much to be desired (the latter, I'll admit, I wasn't a big fan of the dancing lizards last year either, so this wasn't a surprise).

Of the NBC show spots, the Heroes-play-football thing was the best of the Monday bunch (and, man, they sure pushed the f*** outta Mondays), but the (mid-halftime) Thursday night "LMAO" ad was better.  I was surprised NBC gambled so much on the Monday promos.  Nothing for Biggest Loser (hello, post-Super Bowl weight loss inspiration?)  Nothing for Friday Night Lights (okay, THAT was no surprise).  Nothing for Knight Rider (lolololol).  Actually, okay, I was merely surprised there were so few "watch The Office tonight after the game" (there were only 2 or 3 that I can remember) or "watch NBC Thursday comedies" spots.

And apparently that annoying Pepsuber thing from last night's SNL was actually an ad for Pepsi.  Interesting.  Definitely got me to watch last night instead of skipping through the ads like I usually do.

SNL

Dude, Will Tippin is hosting SNL next weekend.

Ugh, can't believe they did Laser Cats 4 tonight.  I hate the Laser Cats digital shorts.  The female cast members proclaiming their love for Steve Martin through love standards was funny, and I enjoyed the opening Obama sketch.  Richard Dean Anderson cameo in the MacGruber set from tonight was fun... in the first part.  But the whole Pepsi-sponsored-MacGruber thing was lame (even more than MacGruber usually is).  Abbie Elliot as Angelina Jolie during Weekend Update was amusing... I miss the repartee Seth and Amy had, but yay featured player doing an impression for a character that could continue (where is Casey Wilson's Rachael Ray and Michaela Watkins' Arianna Huffington?)