Whine & Cheese

They're The Ones That I Want

Well, may that's going a bit too far... and perhaps I should not even admit to still watching NBC's reality competition show, Grease: You're The One That I Want, but here are my picks:

Max, you are Danny. Laura, you are Sandy.

I am a bit surprised that Max is my ultimate Danny pick.  I always thought, if anything, he was more of a Kenickie type... but he has grown on me over the weeks.  I had favored "Wholesome Danny" Derek for much of the series, but he has been fading of late and was sent packing last night.  Max's competition is "Hot Danny" Austin.  While Austin is quite competent (having had actual professional stage experience), there is just something about him that doesn't quite fit the role... a tad too "pretty"... many sense perhaps too.. ahem... light in the loafers... as a romantic leading man, but Todd suggested last night that he's too robotic and I think that's it... no soul and when he does it feels like he's trying to hard.  Max, while certainly not a traditional choice by any stretch, really is a natural performer (and okay, it does help that he's homegrown... living just across the highway from us).

Unlike Max, Laura has been my Sandy from the start... though I'll admit an initial (but short-lived) mental blind spot in thinking that Sandy had to be blonde.  Having one of the better voice amongst the gals put Laura high on my list, but it didn't take long to figure out she has the perfect personality (or acting ability) mix to be Sandy... mostly innocent, but enough to pull off the sexy transformation in the end.  While Laura's competition Ashley certain looks like a Sandy, she has come across to me as more of a "Mean Girls"/cool girl clique.. and that's just not Sandy.

The final voting pleas were just hilarious... well unintentionally s... it was a "can you top this?" sob story extravaganza!  Ashley had "oh, I'm not jealous anymore" (yeah, right) kinda white-trashy sister whine about not being able to afford a plane ticket to LA to see the show (voila! "fans" pay for her to be in the audience last night),  Laura postponed her wedding due to her success on the show, Austin recalled his transformation for chubby 10-year old to 30-year old hunk who needs to land a lead role before it's too late, and Max tearfully shared his battle with Bell's Palsy which, as a youngster, paralyzed half his face.  Oh, the drama!

So, we'll see who lands the lead roles of Grease on next Sunday's finale.  The three judges picked Max and Laura as well, so it may be all anticlimactic... but whatever the result, I do not think anyone should plan on clearing shelf space for some Tonys.

Grease Is The Nerd

A bit under the weather today (sidenote:  when exactly are we over the weather?!).  While not having contact with the outside world may seem like one of drawbacks of working from home, one of the good things is that you tend to get sick less often.  But every so often, it does happen.  On Saturday, I had that little nasal tickle/itch... by the nasal passages got a bit more angry with stuffiness and face "hurt"... and this morning, getting out of bed, was the head "glug, glug, glug."  Now at mid-morning, gravity is kicking in... so things are a tad better (though certainly not prettier).

However, before entering the fog of Expectorant Land last night, it was time for the first Danny and Sandy elimination on Grease: You're The One That I Want.  Even without any drugs in my system, I was pretty hysterical for the last few minutes of the show. 

First, I should back up just a bit.  For lack of a better word last week's first live performance show was, for lack of a better word, bad.  The height being the assigning of silly nicknames to each finalist... dubbed such things as "Emotional Sandy" or "Bellhop Danny" or "Spiritual Sandy."  Without even a hint of tongue in cheek, the hosts refer to them finalists by these names.  To the left, host Billy Bush (did he really call guest judge Sir Andrew Lloyd... World Wide Webber?)  is pictured with two of the front-running Dannys... "Hot Danny" (Austin, red shirt) and "Wholesome Danny" (Derek, my personal favorite).

There's tons of other stuff (i.e. overall production value) that make this show pale in comparison to the king of this genre, American Idol (some of which I discussed in a past entry), but last night there was an "upgrade" of sorts, I found the show so bad, it was good... a theater-reality show geekfest train-wreck of a show!

As with many of these reality talent shows, the public make the eliminations.  This show heavily publicized this "You pick the leads for the Broadway revival of Grease!"  Well, not exactly. In a "surprise twist," we learned the judges would make the elimination amongst the the bottom 2 vote-getting Dannys and Sandys and have to compete in ... drumroll please... a sing-off!   To make a long story short, the two lowest vote getters were "saved"... which was actually okay, since sympathy votes would have kept in the couple that really did deserve to go.

The fun started with the sing off.  Th four eliminees stood in a line and took turns singing the appropriately worded "Tears On My Pillow."  Based on this performance, the judges made the decision  (though the pretty much 'fessed up to being more influenced by personal favorites and past performances). 

Humiliating fun, but little did I know what lied ahead.  The two "saved" contestants had to perform their song for this week's voting... which seemed pretty mean given that they were just told that America hated, or worse were indifferent about them.... but then, then the pièce de résistance!

Taking a cue from Idol, the two eliminated contestants had to sing for us "one last time."  But unlike Idol, they don't reprise the song and performance that America voted them out judges hated. 

The eliminated Danny, huddled by the surviving Dannys, had to sing the Grease song "Oh Sandy." With his puppy-dog eyes, he told the viewers that "we hurt him real bad" and finally our outgoing 'lil Zuko wondered "why, oh, why"... cut to Ed,  convulsive laughter. 

But we ain't done yet... off to stage right, where the remaining Sandys similarly circle "Sad Sandy"... who must now eke out the plaintive version of "Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee" (you know, in the movie, right before "Sweet Sandy" turns to "Slutty Sandy").... "there's something more than what you see" she warbles ... and then dissolves into tears as her fellow Sandys serenade that "you must start anew" ... by this time, I am nearly in tears myself (granted my tears are 180 degrees from Sad Sandy)... and I wave to the TV screen as they reach the song's last line... "Goodbye to Sandra Dee." 

Oh boy, I just hope they do this every week!

Not So Electrifyin'

My advice to Grease: You're The One That I Want... You better shape up!

Holy "Look at me I'm Sandra Dee!"

The problem: this show does not even try (in the least!) to stray from the American Idol play book... and unfortunately it does pretty much everything worse.  It just gave me a whole new respect for American Idol.  Idol has been one of my guilty pleasures, it looks like Shakespeare compared to... well...umm... Grease!

First, the judges... the all too familiar judging triumvirate (apparently Schoolhouse Rock was right, 3 really is the magic number!) of two men and one woman... and a complete and utter snore.  And Billy Bush makes me re-examine my theory that Ryan Seacrest perhaps does have an iota of talent beyond good hair and white teeth.  Did Billy Bush really compliment himself on his own good hair?!

Beyond the "on camera" talent, kudos as well to the Idol editors who are at least able to create coherent "back stories" for the contestants.  It was an A.D.D. dream (or nightmare!) last night as we jumped from contestant to contestant... an totally uneven balance of "Sandys" to "Dannys"... seeing someone in the "dance" and not the sing (or vice versa).  When it got around to the eliminations it was hard to care ... or even figure out if we had seen the person before?!    And I have a suspicion folks around the water coolers this morning won't be uttering the tagline... "You're the one that we want.... to go to Grease academy!"

Lastly, the talent wasn't exactly poodle-skirt shaking either. Often Idol wanna-bes are criticized for being "too Broadway"... but those voices didn't seem to show up here.  And dare I suggest, the whole one-hour practice "dance" audition is just a convenient way for the producers to weed out the non-Caucasian, weight and "looks"-challenged before it gets around to a public vote.  Me thinks the new millennium Danny and Sandy will not be terribly different from their predecessors.

All that said, I will likely continue watching.  I am sure it will get "shape up" when it gets around to the finalists.  We just have to suffer through the next couple of weeks... and sitting through "Hopelessly Devoted To You" about 87 more times.

tags:  you're the one that i want, grease

You're The One That I Want

If you are around my age, you are probably a big fan of the movie Grease. 

Heck, years later in college we would have drunken spirited sing-alongs to Summer Lovin', Hopelessly Devoted To You, Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee... (hmmm... maybe that's why none of my friends were "surprised" when I came out...)... and of course, You're The One That I Want.

Well, that last song is now giving its name to yet another reality, talent, singing competition coming to your television and TiVO box... as America votes in the next Danny and Sandy for a Broadway revival of Grease.

Needless to say, I am all over this one!   

So, while I wouldn't be doing a special blog entry just to promote another reality show (okay, I probably would)... this promo commercial was just too much fun not to share (and especially since a lot of us don't watch commercials anymore!)....

I haven't heard about judges (I assume there will be judges... and three of them!)... but c'mon they HAVE to get Olivia Newton John?!

Are you going to be watching?

UPDATE:  Well, the official NBC website is now online... unfortunately no Olivia... the trio of judges will be Jim Jacobs, David Ian, and Kathleen Marshall.

tags:  the one that i want,  grease

Sexual Healing

Our TiVo has been remarkably empty of late... as I type, there is only 1.5 hours worth of unwatched programs... and a remarkable 115+ suggestions. That's just not normal.  But I guess that'll be coming to an end, it was a bit of a shock to see Prison Break pop up already -- I am guessing one of the earliest fall debuts on Monday, August 21st.

One program that is on the TiVo is the 3rd episode of Showtime's new reality series Sexual Healing.

Ok, I'll admit my reason for giving the show a tryout was not quite "educational"... but after seeing the first two episodes, it has been just that and quite fascinating too (this ain't HBO's Real Sex, that's for sure). 

Each episode features couples in therapy with "world renowned sex educator and therapist" (and quite attractive and very fashionable!) Dr. Laura Berman.   I think it takes a lot of courage for a couple to go to therapy period.  To put themselves on television is just beyond my comprehension... add in cameras in the bedroom and occasional nudity... well, that's just off the charts.  Though again, despite all this the show avoids having a tawdry, exploitive or titillating feel to it. 

In the last episode we watched, there was this pretty attractive guy (with a cute ass... sorry, serious intention or not, if you put it out there I'm lookin') who... ummm... let's say... wasn't lasting very long.  His outspoken girlfriend wasn't very happy about that (understandable)... but when she quite vocally tacks on that she's used to having... ahem... "bigger" men... all together now... "Houston, we have a problem." 

The gal thinks they are going in to solve his problem, but the therapy unveils that there is more work on her end... including some serious control issues and a sad and abusive sexual past.  Somehow they get through this with some degree of success, though the show is wise enough to not feel the need to tie everything up, in this instance and others, with an "all's well now" neat and tidy bow.

So definitely a nice little summer suprise show... no shocker that all the featured couples have been heterosexual, though the opening sequence does feature a gay couple... so we'll shall see.

And all this reminds me that I should download Marvin Gaye's song "Sexual Healing" from iTunes... no, the show does not use it as its theme song.

tags:  sexual healing, showtime

30 Days: Outsourcing

So did you catch the second episode of Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days?  I am going to keep on asking... anyone, anyone (Bueller, Bueller..)?

Thanks to TiVo this Wednesday night show is a Monday one for us... so, once again, if you missed this one you are out of luck until the series repeats (which I assume it'll probably do at some point).

This episode was all about outsourcing... as a 37-year old guy who lost his job to outsourcing moves to Bangalore, India for a month to see where his job (and millions of other American jobs) has been re-located and also to land a job for himself.  This episode wasn't quite as riveting as the immigration one... but I think it was more educational than confrontational.   But it was still very interesting...

As with last week's "Armida," my attention shifted from the "guinea pig" to the secondary "character" of Suni.  We all know about the impact of outsourcing on Americans, but it was interesting to explore how outsourcing, and the "wealth" and opportunity it brings, is affecting Indian culture and traditions. (I put wealth in quotes, since I am guessing most viewers would find the living conditions of "middle-class" India to be pretty unacceptable).

The very first time I see Suni on the screen I say aloud "she doesn't look very happy."  Moments later this is more than confirmed.  Suni lives with husband Ravi's family... and, as is still the tradition, it is an arranged marriage.  Suni is expected to take care of her husband and his family... and she does dutifully wait on them like a servant.  But soon we learn that Suni is studying to get a job in a call center (a prestigious Bangalore gig)... Ravi is not too happy about this... and some of the neanderthal-ish stuff that comes out of his mouth made my jaw drop.  But this is just the way it is... and the way it has been for a very, very (very!) long time.

The role of the Indian young woman has shifted from 50's "white-picket fence America" to 70's "feminist movement America" just within the span of a couple of years.  While this is no surprise, it wasn't an aspect/impact of outsourcing I had given much (any!) thought to.  When we Suni outside the house (in a very comical moment, she says to her American houseguest "what's up dude"), she is a totally different person... like a weight has been lifted off of her.  At show's end, we learn Suni has been hired.  Now she'll have two jobs... at the call center and still as the traditional caretaker. 

It was very encouraging... you had to feel happy for Suni's ambition and success... but you were still left with a feeling it is going to be a very hard road for her... and that she won't quite have the life she dreams of... but perhaps her daughter (or grand-daughter) will!

Next week... I think we are headed back for some confrontation... as an atheist moves in with an evangelical Christian family... for 30 Days.

30 Days: Immigration

So did you catch the first episode of Morgan Spurlock's 30 Days like I asked? ;-)

Well, if you didn't you missed a pretty compelling hour of televion on the issue of immigration (in the first run of the series, the episode is not yet scheduled to repeat).  The premise for last week's episode (just got to it last night!) was a Minuteman (and Cuban legal immigrant) moving in with an illegal immigrant family of seven living in Los Angeles (two of the five children were born in the U.S.).

The show definitely has a liberal/left bent... so, of course, the Minuteman (Frank) was the "bad" guy in this little social experiment... and personality-wise, being kind of jerk didn't lend much sympathy to his cause in the opening segments of the show (i.e., turning a high school graduation celebration into a heated debated about immigration). 

But, as the show (and days) progressed there was a noticeable change in Frank... shockingly enough, the immigrant family were "real people" ... very family-oriented, hard working, and quite pleasant.  However, the major momentum shift occurred when Frank visited their extended family back in Mexico.  Here Frank (along with us viewers) saw the poverty-stricken conditions that caused the Gonzalez (a pseudonym to protect their identities) family to seek a better life in America.  That "better" life being a $15,000 income and a tiny 500 square foot apartment in LA. 

The show was filled with heartbreaking moments... the mom recycling cans and cartons to save up for Christmas gifts for her children (she received $5 which brought her tally up to $38 for the year), their inability to visit/see their family (even on their deathbeds) for the very likely fear that they would not be able to get back into the country... and the "star" of the episodes, 17-year old "Armida" who so eloquently quizzed Frank on his stance... and her strong desire to have the American dream and be the first member of her family to attend college.

That said, it wasn't an hour of the pollyanna pro-immigration... any reasonable person (and I am including myself) certainly couldn't find fault/disagree with all of Frank's beliefs.  The show started very "black and white" and left everyone (the participants, viewers) feeling very "grey."  There has to be some middle-ground solution... not amnesty or "ship them all back where they came from."  What that solution is... or how the heck we'll ever get there, I really don't know. 

Somewhat embarassingly, I don't know what it takes to gain U.S. citizenship. I am guessing the barriers are so high that is why that would-be immigrants see the illegal route as the only viable alternative... but I also understand, there have to be some limitations/restrictions as well... and/or countries that have so many people who want to leave have to figure out a way to improve living/working conditions (again, easier said than done) for their citizens.

It was a very emotional end to the show.  Frank was sad about leaving the Gonzalezes and you sensed really had sincere empathy for their predicament... and the Mom cried as she hugged Frank goodbye... the man who 30 days prior told her, pretty much to her face, that she needed to be shipped back to Mexico...  and dare I say, that many folks sitting in the comfort of their homes also had a lump in their throats... this viewer certainly did.

BBC Shipwrecked: Episode 1

Ok, I don't plan on blogging about every episode of BBC America's Shipwrecked, but I just thought I'd give you a little taste of what you're missing...

Nice scenery... huh?  I'm hooked.

Okay, we'll get to the eye candy in just a bit (and there was plenty of it!)... but first a little about the show.  As I mentioned in my teaser post about the show, it is kind of seemed like it would be a rip-off of Survivor.  But besides being stranded in the middle of nowhere, there are not many other similiarities.  Shipwrecked is definitely more sociological that survivor-ish.  The teams have been given supplies (for shelter and food) and there are no head-to-head competitions per se... no one is getting voted off the island... all of them are there for 5 months (take that Survivor and your measly 39 days!).  What they do need to do is attract new strandees (one every week) to their island ... the island/team with the most members at the end of the game will split prize money of 700,000 British pounds (approx 1.3 million $US).  So you see the challenge... more people (the goal) = less money.

The premiere episode introduced us to the two teams of five members... the first new strandee arrived near the end of the episode, that person will visit each island and pick a team in next week's episode.

So here are the boys:

These are the "Tiger" boys... you saw their backs above... and here we have Crawford and Chris... for you Survivor fans, these two are clearly the Alpha males.  They immediately took to building a shelter (and fairly well), but have already started to annoy their 3 fellow Tigers... Chris B. is bisexual (and self-announced horny) and has predictably gravitated to the gals, Katie (fresh from an all-girls boarding school) and Charlie (token lesbian, but pretty fun so far).  They have not taken too kindly to Crawford & Chris bossing them around and assigning them cooking duties and menial tasks like weaving palm fronds for the roof of their structure.

The "Shark" men...:

... are John and Geoff.  This team is clearly more dysfunctional than the Tigers.  John and Geoff are not quite the handymen that C&C are and by episodes end they had yet to make any significant progress on the shelter.  John is unlike any Survivor contestant I have every seen... running around in Izod-ish shirt and collar and preppy-ish shorts... but this is BBC America after all!  Geoff suffers from ADHD and is the main "personality challenge" on either island.  The team is rounded out by 3 gals... Niff, who has tried (unsuccessfully so) to establish herself as the leader... Laura, a pretty gal who has yet to make an impression on me... and Lou, the break-out gal of the first episode... a brassy, blue-collar gal who hasn't quite figured out these "middle class" compatriots.

So definitely a fun show... and I have to admit just hearing them talk just made me smile... just imagine those Survivor verbal smackdowns with British accents... it is really quite charming!

If you want to catch the show... you have to do it on Wednesdays... unlike some other shows on basic/extended cable, this does NOT re-air on other/multiple days during the week.... on our cable system, the first episode aired a 6pm, 9pm, and 1am... and that's it, until a next week's new episode. 

I'll leave you with more Crawford and Chris... after the jump...

TiVo Must: 30 Days

Ok, get thee to you DVRs immediately and set up a Seaons Pass for...

Morgan Spurlock's FX series 30 Days.

This was one of my favorite programs of last summer (last year!) and I was thrilled to see that it was coming back for another go-round.  It is a fascinating look at clashing cultures... where folks live their lives with their polar opposites... or Spurlock does a "walk a mile in my shoes" look at the under-belly of American Society.

This summer's six episode run looks to be as interesting as last year's:

Immigration - A minute-man lives with an illegal immigrant family.

Outsourcing - A man who lost his job to out-sourcing visits Bangalore, India.

Atheist - A female atheist lives in household of evangelical Christians.

New Age - An overworked, over-extended father enters the world of "new age" hoping to reduce stress and seek inner peace.

Abortion - A staunchly pro-choice feminist (who has had an abortion) moves in to a Christian, pro-life maternity home.

Jail - Living life on minimum-wage last year, Morgan Spurlock puts himself in jail... experiencing life in a 10 by 8 foot cell.

Episodes are occasionally tied-up with a bow (a little too nice and neat) by the end of the hour, but it is still presented in a very entertaining and high palatable manner.

The premiere episode is this Wednesday (July 26th) at 10 pm EST/PST... and repeats air throughout the week.

Trust me... good stuff... and some "reality" that you can be proud of!

TiVo Tryout: Shipwrecked

Despite not planning to watch a whole lot of summer programming, we still have our fair share of it.  Of course, Big Brother: All Stars is dominating our schedule with 3 hours/week... but things will lighten up a bit as Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List finishes up this week and Last Comic Standing is down to the final 5 and audience voting. 

So browsing next week's TV Guide, this show caught my eye... BBC America's Shipwrecked.

Ok, the accompanying picture caught my eye... not this exact one below, but you get the idea...

I think the guy on the right is happy to see me!

Now, I know what you are thinking... a British knock-off of Survivor and you're basically correct (though I am pretty sure Survivor was a knock-off of maybe this show or something similar)... heck even if it was exactly the same, I would give it a shot just to listen to the British accents... but it is a bit different:

In this new reality competition series, two groups of 18-23 year-old castaways are left stranded, divided across two islands in the Aitutaki Atoll in the South Pacific. Each week a new castaway arrives. The two island tribes try to woo the new castaway to join their tribe. The island with the most inhabitants at the end wins a huge cash prize to be divided among the group. The trick is to have the most tribe members, but not so many as to divide the cash prize too many ways.

So we'll see how it goes... but young, shirtless men are a good start.  As you can see, it debuts next Wednesday July 26th... and repeats multiple times on BBC America.

There are two more of my returning favorites from last summer coming up... one next week and the other in August... so stay tuned and get those DVRs fired up!