Whine & Cheese

Feeling Dense

WARNING: Spoilers from the latest episodes of Scrubs and Survivor below...

Ok, I admit to totally not getting that it was Brendan Frasier's character that died mid-episode on Scrubs. I just watched Tuesday's episode last night but, thanks to this TiVo Community Forum thread I knew something was up with this episode...as the show usually does not usually elicit two pages worth of posts by Wednesday morning. So a little baffled after watching the show, I went there
and learned all the things I totally missed.

So when Cox returned to the hospital it was Frasier who was dead, not the old guy Cox told JD to keep an eye on. This explained why Cox was so wacko, Frasier appeared as a "ghost" for the remainder of the episode (the clue I was supposed to get was that he no longer had his omni-present camera), and Cox was talking about going to the funeral and NOT his son's birthday party as he was earlier in the episode. Hopefully, I was not the only one who felt (feels!?!) that a big whoosh went right over his head. I saved it on TiVO, so I will probably re-review given what I know now.

Also, I guess I am so desensitized ... yes, even in this Miss Jackson/post-Super Bowl world... that I could not figure out what in last night's Survivor earned an "may be inappropriate for younger viewers" pre-immunity challenge warning from the scaredy cats over at CBS. At first I thought it was the standoff between Boston Rob and Ethan...with passion in their eyes, it had all the makings of a juicy homo-erotic moment until Rob just about slammed the curls off poor Ethan's head.
Yeah, pretty cross-my-legs violent ... but considering the number of people who got knocked to their asses in last week's challenge... it did not seem all that bad.

But then the naked (of course!) Richard Hatch brushed his exposed immunity idol across the backside of Sue Hawk apparently long enough to get Jeff Probst all pissy (not that it takes all that much to do that!)... So this is probably what got CBS shaking...especially given next week's previews where Sue looks to delivering another rant that will surely enter the Survivor history books.

Are You Kidding Me With This?

Bush to Limit Interview with 9/11 Panel to an Hour
Hmmmm...a whole hour... that should definitely be enough time... probably about the same amount of time (if not more!) he spends at a $2,000/plate fundraiser.

Lawmakers Write to 'West Wing' Character
Granted it was done tongue-in-cheek...and yes, I want a Democrat in the White House as well... but did Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. John McHugh just have too many Cocoa Puffs for breakfast when they shot off a letter to Josh Lyman?

Surviving Elizabeth

Remember cute little Elizabeth Filarski from the Survivor: The Australian Outback?

Well, now as the newest "young one" (and going by her married name - Hasselbeck) on ABC's The View we are definitely learning more about her. Let's just say she is definitely off my Christmas card list...we got a cute little raging Right-winger! I suspected as much during discussions about the President and the election... but she has really shown her colors during recent "Hot Topics" involving gay marriage. Hasselbeck's "Marriage is a between a man/woman and I ain't budging" views make me think this little spitfire I think is now auditioning for a job in the Bush administration!

But, I guess the whole point of the show ...is to have different views... but it does not make Hasselbeck's thoughts any less infuriating. Interestingly enough the other co-hosts are all fairly tempered or supportive of gay marriage (perhaps realizing that besides women, gay men probably are the show's biggest fans). On this issue, I find that Star Jones (glad you landed a man just like your Sex and the City gals) is the most interesting person to listen to. I think she is opposed the idea from a religious/personal angle, but as a lawyer (and perhaps more so as a black woman) she is able to offer plenty of thoughtful support for it. A really wonderful example of "head" over "heart." I wish there was more of that out there.

This debate has really gone from 0-60 mph (well maybe more like 30-120 mph) - and it certainly seems to be on my mind more than ever. In the not so recent past, I had the PollyAnna-ish stance that "everyone has the right to their own opinion... blah, blah, blah" but over the past few days, the "anti" arguments feel more and more like a personal assault than ever before.

Idol Group 3 Results: Pink Prevails & An Arrested Development

A couple of surprises at last night's Group 3 results show...judge favorite Leah "don't call me Vladowski, but I ain't no Patti" LaBelle failed to even make the top 3, while perhaps the teen-girl vote catapulted a sketchy Jon Peter Lewis into the #3 spot for the week.

Thankfully LaToya London was not put under the characteristic results show torture - getting up to the final chairs and being declared the #1 vote-getter in fairly quick fashion.

America loves pink hair...Amy Adams joins past-bleachers Nikki McKibben and Vanessa Olivarez, as a finalist. Amy's encore performance of "The Power of Love" was very shaky last night...hopefully it was just her self-proclaimed nerves.

I am sure we will see Leah's return in the wildcard show...and with the support of all three judges and barring a total meltdown she will probably be in the finals.
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The American Idol Rap Sheet has a new member!

Donnie Williams was arrested Monday on suspicion of drunk driving. Apparently it is more than just suspicion... scheduled to perform with Group 4, the 20-year old Williams looks to be off the show (and the official website) and replaced with Heather Piccinini.

UPDATE: Zap2It article about the ouster: First 'Idol' Contestant Disqualified

Back to the Lighter Side...

(or a quick laugh...before you hit the below rant)

Had the following Yahoo search hit today:
how do you become sexy like nick lachey

Believe me, I couldn't make that one up! Hey search buddy... if you find the answer let me in on the secret...okay?!

Congratulations You Are Reading the 1,000,000th Blog Entry About Gay Marriage!!

Since I spent all this time this afternoon hopefully putting together a thoughtful comment on LiberalEric's Right to Be Left site -- I thought I would go ahead and publish it here as well. I guess a lot was stewing within me since Bush came out (ha ha! really bad pun!) to support an Amendment opposing gay marriage.

My apologies to those who I may have borrowed from... however, at this point,I doubt there is truly an original thought left regarding this issue. Here it is:

Marriage is a legal union, this whole thing is that it is getting terribly mucked up as by the religious aspect of the institution. If a church, synagogue, etc. does not want to perform a gay marriage (and they probably never will) that is their right to do so. If anyone wants to get married outside the church, by say the less-sacred Elvis impersonator, they should have that right as well. This argument is based on a selective uses of the word "separate"... it is okay that civil unions are "separate but equal," but the there is no attempt at separating church from state.

Sure I am gay and have an obvious bias (and while I am at, have been in a relationship for 10 years)...but to tell you the truth when this was just a kernel of controversy months ago, I a) had no desire to "marry," b) thought civil unions were just fine, and c) thought it was the wrong time/place to start a debate/fight on the issue. I do not believe any of those things now.

The last time I checked the Constitution was there to expand and give rights to Americans...not to take them away or exclude a group of individuals. Amendments have been passed to correct the wrongs of the past... and I think this country is a far better place thanks to people who "violated the law" in their own attempts to get onto the road and pursuit of happiness.

Bush is going to use this for all its worth. Sadly I think there are enough people out there who have been waffling on him over Iraq, the economy, etc., etc., etc., who will probably come back into the fold soley based on this issue.

Sure there is widespread support for his view, but there is also a significant "minority" who do not. Being uncomfortable with a certain segment of the population is not reason enough to discriminate or exclude. Gay people who wish to marry are doing so to harm or desecrate marriage? They honor, respect, and value it SO much that they are brave enough to fight for it...and fight for it now.

American Idol Group 3: LaToya Is Indeed All By Herself

Just re-reviewed the tapes this morning and here are my thoughts about Group 3... as with Group 1 a little disappointing that more of these contestants will not make it through to the finals...with just a couple of exceptions, I think ANY of last night's contestants would have been easy winners last week.

Bottom 3
Was not impressed with the Hawaiian, Jonah Moananu. I think the song is largely to blame...too "talky" and lacking any qualities to show off a singing voice. I also thought Jonah could not get the timing down... stopping, starting, slowing down and speeding up.

There was a very strange quality to the voice of Jon Peter Lewis. Watching last night I thought... Pee Wee Herman ... had this breathe-in/nasal thing going. I think Randy nailed it when he said there was a "cartoon" quality to it. Paula said he had passion, but I thought his performance lacked any kind of spark.

After starting the night, I thought Elizabeth Letendre was a sure thing to advance on. But I ultimately I think it was just the reaction that she was pretty much better than any of the Group 2 performers. The talent bar was high and I felt Elizabeth just kept on slipping down the ladder as the night went on. It ended up being just another Whitney Houston knockoff...a good one, but not special enough.

Pretty Much Everyone Else
It is going to be a tough season for the guys...but Eric Yoder was the best male performance of the evening (and perhaps of the competition thus far). A little shaky at first, but definitely improved as the song went on. As Simon said, he is a little low on personality -- but I thought a pretty good performance.

Again, like Elizabeth and Whitney...it is tough to sing Celine Dion and not come up short. I think Amy Adams did a better Celine than Elizabeth did Whitney...but neither are near the league of the original divas. But Amy has an incredible voice and I think deserves to move on.

I had some disagreements with the judges over Charly Lowry and Leah Labelle. I liked Charly (one of my early faves) but the judges gave her pretty tepid reviews, while I was a bit taken back by the praise heaped on Leah. I thought Charly had spunk, a unique voice and look...and wasn't trying to be a Whitney or Celine or Mariah. While I thought Leah was very good overall I felt there were some shaky moments in her Whitney song.

The Next American Idol?
What else is their to say about the blockbuster performance from LaToya London?! Where have they been hiding her all this time? When she was ready to perform, I said out loud "I don't know who this chick is." But that thought certainly exited my head when she opened her mouth...incredible voice, amazing control, genuine emotion...and physically beautiful to boot. If this was a just a taste of LaToya, there is little doubt in my mind that she IS the next American Idol.

Predictions
After LaToya, I think it is a virtual toss-up...kind of like last week, but this time with deserving candidates...with the nudging of the judges it may be Leah... though I would like to see more from (and in order) Amy, Charly, and Eric.

Alternate & Future "Sex"

Thanks to USA Today and Entertainment Weekly we now know the other ways Sex and the City might have ended.

SJP says all three endings involved (not surprisingly) Carrie's return to Manhattan. One involved Petrovsky coming home after her (ick!), while the other had Carrie returning home alone. Chris Noth elaborated on the latter during an appearance on Monday's Live With Regis & Kelly... Big tells Carrie that she's the "one"... with Carrie responding that it is "too late" and walking away.

Given those options, I definitely think that the creators aired the best (though most predictable) ending...though as mentioned yesterday, I would not have been totally upset with Carrie flying solo in the end. SJP also said that the alternate endings were "silly" and said to not expect to see them aired (or even on DVD).

All parties involved seem to be open to the widely reported big-screen Sex movie...Michael Patrick King is said to currently be writing it with SJP tauntingly offering "I think we would to do it sooner rather than later."

"Sex": The Morning After

A quick review of Web shows that folks seem to be pretty pleased with the Sex and the City finale. I would count myself in...it was hard not to be "happy" for everyone... but what fun is a blog without at least a little whining! Overall, I thought things were a bit rushed and that, for the most part, each storyline was tied up nicely all with ribbons and bows. But I am sure if they left things open, I would be bitching about the lack of closure! But somehow I think the gals must have gained access to the "epiphany toilet" seen on last week's episode of Scrubs!

SPOILERS BELOW...so come back later if you haven't watched yet...

Samantha: Well who wouldn't give up casual sex for the likes of Smith Jarrod? Smith is pretty much Sam's "Aidan" -- much too good to be true -- but I guess it really took something as big as cancer to finally shake up everyone's favorite female sexaholic and have her finally settle down. An appropriate final scene of Samantha "back in the saddle again"...

Charlotte: Charlotte gets her baby despite the false alarm from the young Carolina hicks...I would have been satisfied to end it here...with Charlotte realizing that that baby was not meant to be and reversal of roles where she was the one to comfort Harry that their baby would come along...

Miranda: Personally the most emotional part of the finale. I figured the Miranda/Steve storyline was pretty much wrapped up...so the whole Steve's mom storyline was quite a surprise. Although, I knew Miranda was going to suggest that she move in... my heart broke over the no-win scenario. My parents took care of my grandmother for the last five years or so of her life...and it had to be the equivalent of one of Dante's Circle of Hell. Our resident cynic might just have the biggest heart of them all... very touching last scene with Magda.

Carrie: Heck I think if Berger showed up Carrie would have wrapped her legs around him and been on the first flight back to NYC. I always suspected Alek was much too chilly for our Carrie, but they sure made him into a real jerk in Paris. I liked the scene where Carrie broke down in the lobby upon seeing Big...from there, I felt the implied full-on reunion was a bit much. I would have preferred Carrie to return to NYC with Big but say she needed time to sort things out (since she obviously should be questioning her decisions of late), would give him another shot, but no promises. Nice touch though to bring Big's "Abso-f*ckin-lutely" line full circle. Oh yes, we learn Big's first name! Predictably ordinary, but why else would he need a nickname?

Again, despite the above quibbles, I really was satisfied with the finale. Just as in real life, I just want everyone to be happy.

Thanks for the ride ladies... Sunday nights won't be the same!

Vegas, Gorgeous Decorators & Mr. Hung (the last two not related, that I know of)

Zap2it report that NBC Studios has just signed a two-year, seven figure deal to keep Gary Scott Thompson, the writer-producer of Las Vegas, on board. The show has already received a pickup for next year as well. Ummm...has anyone at NBC actually been watching this show lately? It started off pretty good (in a fun, campy sort of way) but it has really spiraled downhill...but my love of the city, casinos, and Mr. Duhamel will probably keep me watching nonetheless.
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Fire up those TiVos (and even you folks w/ VCRs)...on Tuesday's Oprah (Feb 24th) it's The Gorgeous Men of Decorating... will the likes of Nate and Carter finally overtake my Idol Google hits...even just for a day?! If you don't know who these guys are...do yourself a favor and tune in...
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And since I mentioned Idol (surprise, surprise)... isn't William Hung, now dubbed "The Hong Kong Ricky Martin," on about his 18th minute of fame? Before you "bang" me, I was amused as anyone with his audition tape and backstory...but I think it is getting a bit out of hand. I am just hoping Hung is laughing along with everyone else (and his sincere naivete makes me believe it is NOT the case) as his story continues on...