Wednesday, April 09, 2008

American Idol Top 9

Last night’s show was full of really fine performances. If it wasn’t for Randy being such a wet blanket I would have enjoyed them even more, But the judges aren’t there to tell everyone how great they are. So most of the singers got some kind of knock.

The theme was Inspirational Songs. So you’d expect a lot of show boating going on. Surprisingly, however, there wasn’t much of that. Just a lot of big voice stuff from the usual suspects. 

First off was Michael Johns who decided Aerosmith’s “Dream On” was inspirational. I’m still scratching my head over that one, but I have to say he did it very well. The audience loved it. But Randy was very critical and Simon more or less agreed, though he gave some props to the singing. They just felt it was too much like a Steven Tyler imitation. Iffy safe.

Syesha Mercado did “I Believe” by Fantasia. I never heard the song before, but she did an amazing job with it and I liked it a lot. Probably one of her best efforts. But once again Randy said it was too much of an homage and not original. Or, to put it in his vernacular, “I didn’t feel it, dawg.” Paula did her usual cheer leading. I thought it was good, but based on her being in the bottom before, I’m not sure she’s safe.

Jason Castro did a very cool version of “Over the Rainbow” on the Ukulele, which he played himself. He got universal praise for that. Safe.

Kristy Lee Cook did an very solid cover or a Martina McBride song and based on the response she got, she’s probably safe.

David Cook did Our Lady Peace’s “We’re All Innocent”. I’m not familiar with the song, but it got a very lukewarm reception from the judges. He also tried to make it very showboaty, so he make be in trouble tonight. Possibly.

Carly Smithson did Queen’s “The Show Must Go On”, which a song of theirs I never liked. It’s a bad idea on this show to do anything somber, and the song has a somber string section in it. The judges were unimpressed. She’s probably in trouble this week. I hope she makes it though though. She’s good enough to stay till the final 3.

David Archuleta did a song called “Angels” which I am not familiar with. He did his usual solid performance. Not earth shattering, but the judges liked it and he’s safe.

Brooke White finished off the show with a pleasant and peaceful version of “You’ve Got a Friend”. A personal favorite song of mine, and apparently, Paula’s too. It was a nice contrast to all the big songs the others did. And it was a nice way to cap off the show, Which Simon more or less agreed with. Safe (or she should be).

Over all, I really liked last night’s show. But tonight we have to suffer through the Idol Gives back charity stuff. Which includes people like Teri Hatcher singing. The last time they did one of those it was full of lots of really cheesy celebrity crap. I expect more of the same tonight. I may just read other people’s recaps online and download it if it sounded good.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Vista 3000

Here Comes McCain Again

I can’t tell if these ladies are kidding or not with these videos, but they make me laugh. The McCsin girls are kind of a parody of the Obama girl. Their first video ws “It’s Raining McCain”. This one is even funnier.

If McCain is elected, I suppose their next one will probably be “Blame it on McCain”.

Monday, April 07, 2008

Ain’t Hiking Fun?

Try this hiking path for fun sometime.

Guide to Super-Villiany

If you needed instructions, here they are. And there’s even more here.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Geek Dujour

Yes, we are legion. And we’re everywhere. 

Building Watchmen

Gizmodo has a film about the building of the Watchmen movie sets. It looks like they’re doing it justice. Let’s hope the script’s as good. 

RIP: Charlton Heston

He was the star of many sci-fi films of my youth, from Planet of the Apes, the Omega Man to Soylent Green. And who can forget the 10 Commandments and Ben Hur. He was reviled by lefties for being a conservative and a gun rights advocate (and former head of the NRA). Michael Moore tried to make home look bad in his bogus Bowling for Columbine crockmentary, but it was later revealed that most of that film was either taken out of context or fabricated nonsense, including the scenes of Heston giving NRA that Moore claimed was in Columbine right after the tragedy there.  It wasn’t.

Some people like to mock his acting, but I liked him. I especially love Planet of the Apes. It was so revolutionary when it came out. I still think its a great film,

Failed Scifi Shows

Man, some of these really stink.One of them is Dr Strange,

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Mike Wallace Interviews

From 1957-1960 Mike Wallace has a national TV show where he interviewed famous people of the day. This site has a bunch of them. Theres’ quiet a few interesting ones I never expected to see, like Fred Otash, a detective who worked for Confidential Magazine, an early Hollywood tabloid which was the basis for “Hush Hush” in James Ellroy’s Hollywood Confidential. There’s also an interview with Phillipe Wylie, who wrote the Gladiator. One of the most definitive super-hero stories every written (it was a prose story before comic book superheroes were created.