tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25177144196476190282012-02-01T10:57:34.550-05:00Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.comBlogger10231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-1577206351724747942012-02-01T08:11:00.005-05:002012-02-01T09:46:56.329-05:00

Though "Glee" remains as nonsensical and uneven as it's always been (Quinn got into Yale despite spending the first part of this season as a class-cutting burnout, and spending the second part of this season trying to get her baby back by destroying Idina Menzel's life? What the what?!?!) I've noticed an encouraging trend the last few episodes: a return to covering/re-imagining/butchering pop

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-73190281374204785862012-02-01T06:24:00.012-05:002012-02-01T10:57:34.559-05:00

What is up with the bad guys on "Justified" this season and the twisted games they play?(And I'm not even talking about whatever the hell Quarles is doing with the half naked man blindfolded, gagged and tied up to that bed; the fact that he was barely bothered by Wynn Duffy stumbling onto that sight made it 10 times weirder/scarier.)I apologize for leaving you recap-less so far this season, but I

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-35160944430392842592011-10-25T17:14:00.003-04:002011-10-25T17:16:06.481-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-20683248271004260612011-10-18T17:04:00.002-04:002011-10-18T17:09:35.297-04:00

I may have been out of commission the last two weeks — thanks to a Tampa Bay Bucs football game that pre-empted “Dancing with the Stars” and my vacation last week — but it’s been pretty obvious for a while now that the battle for this season’s ridiculous mirrorball trophy is between J.R. Martinez and Ricki Lake. J.R. and Ricki are SO much better than everyone else — especially with the

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-24049706902680119882011-10-05T16:22:00.004-04:002011-10-05T16:41:42.958-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-17077957386707310482011-10-04T17:32:00.007-04:002011-10-05T16:22:45.217-04:00

There was a lot to cover in Monday night’s two-hour “Sing-Off” extravaganza.We had the typically lavish, over-crowded group number (this time it was Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know”) and we had 12(!) competitive performances from six groups, with one unfortunate collection of singers giving us their swan song at the end.Round 1 featured each group singing a current radio hit, while the second

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-44659781525907596772011-10-02T12:35:00.003-04:002011-10-02T12:38:50.670-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-82477092581742722372011-09-30T16:07:00.005-04:002011-10-15T13:00:26.625-04:00

To coincide with today’s Blu-ray/DVD release of “Transformers: Dark of Moon” I’m making a dramatic comeback from my amateur movie critic retirement to review the alien robot blockbuster!Well, not exactly.I mean, this isn’t even a review of the Blu-ray (which I’m picking up after work today). I saw the movie in theatres way back in July a few weeks after its release. My plan was NOT to put off

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-4742424228311321102011-09-29T17:50:00.002-04:002011-09-29T17:57:01.625-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-53097616644385683012011-09-28T17:01:00.003-04:002011-10-03T10:59:54.486-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-7249478033979128042011-09-27T18:12:00.002-04:002011-09-27T18:15:46.425-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-19967266739904530852011-09-21T17:00:00.002-04:002011-09-21T17:02:58.515-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-12450095025447939822011-09-20T19:34:00.004-04:002011-09-20T19:41:59.652-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-18902213129157374942011-09-20T17:03:00.003-04:002011-09-20T17:10:50.344-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-43212506253754559632011-09-18T12:59:00.002-04:002011-09-18T13:02:00.171-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-28516091976117554752011-09-08T13:30:00.003-04:002011-09-08T13:56:30.044-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-10145528486386394392011-07-01T14:14:00.001-04:002011-07-01T14:16:09.776-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-1528070724709200382011-07-01T13:15:00.002-04:002011-07-01T13:16:49.819-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-23477676088689370332011-07-01T12:16:00.002-04:002011-07-01T12:17:08.099-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-83473856703103442792011-06-11T11:50:00.002-04:002011-06-11T11:51:57.674-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-86576350952169827312011-05-25T15:10:00.005-04:002011-05-25T15:25:24.961-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-16396318876706575352011-05-24T23:08:00.004-04:002011-05-25T07:22:18.855-04:00

I was already dreading having to sit through the season finale of "American Idol" after Haley Reinhart's departure last week.I'm not saying she deserved to win. (I can see that Scotty McCreery has been more consistent and WILL win.) I just wanted her in the finale so that Tuesday night's episode would at least have SOME semblance of excitement or unpredictability.The finale was just as bad as I

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-40522775932542048792011-05-24T21:04:00.001-04:002011-05-24T21:05:50.327-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-42890357289726397882011-05-24T15:55:00.005-04:002011-05-24T16:08:02.077-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-62446879429707338822011-05-19T16:49:00.002-04:002011-05-19T16:52:36.032-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-24214004233600837752011-05-18T15:48:00.001-04:002011-05-18T15:50:20.879-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-30586324483997349202011-05-17T17:05:00.002-04:002011-05-17T17:06:30.355-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-24282211540077122782011-05-13T16:34:00.002-04:002011-05-13T16:35:21.281-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-89963489353874376632011-05-13T15:19:00.005-04:002011-05-14T16:48:53.302-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]-->So apparently, Vin Diesel has been going around telling people that "Fast Five" could be an Oscar contender. The fact that I can’t tell if he’s kidding helps illustrate why I enjoyed this movie so much: I’m not 100% sure if the

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-17501663462132239572011-05-13T14:14:00.001-04:002011-05-13T14:16:15.766-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-45513578954271027592011-05-13T14:12:00.003-04:002011-05-13T14:13:48.992-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-34460175141726522022011-05-13T14:09:00.003-04:002011-05-13T14:12:00.390-04:00

Last night’s prom-themed episode of “Glee” gave me hope that the show just might close out its wildly inconsistent second season on a high (Auto-Tuned) note. Sure, there will always be things about this show that make absolutely no sense. Like the fact that glee club members are supposed to be social outcasts, but 5 out of 6 of them (Finn/Quinn, Puck/Lauren, Santana) were apparently

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-35620608188563966542011-05-10T15:06:00.004-04:002011-05-10T15:10:47.309-04:00

Maybe I’m wrong, but I remember Instant Dance week being a lot more fun the first time around. Last night the five remaining couples on “Dancing with the Stars” each performed a regular routine followed by an “instant” dance to a song they selected after their first performance. Although each couple knew what style they’d be dancing, they didn’t know what song they’d be performing to and had

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-63453720015772697262011-05-06T11:27:00.002-04:002011-05-10T12:50:17.482-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-28828229308538740612011-05-05T17:17:00.001-04:002011-05-05T17:19:30.451-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-27475781935363794072011-05-05T16:19:00.003-04:002011-05-05T16:30:59.376-04:00

I feel left out. I’m pretty much the only person in America who Randy didn’t declare was “IN IT TO WIN IT, YEAAHHHH!” during last night’s episode of “American Idol”. So, yeah…it turns out the “judging” on “American Idol” this year has been terrible all along. We didn’t notice at first because having Randy and new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez play critical kissy-face with the

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-51252345904399351082011-05-04T16:58:00.002-04:002011-05-04T17:02:07.514-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-23439487791493454172011-05-03T16:14:00.001-04:002011-05-03T16:16:12.822-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-5644959146575144762011-05-01T10:16:00.002-04:002011-05-01T10:16:57.087-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-77547066911222381412011-04-28T18:04:00.003-04:002011-04-28T18:06:20.402-04:00

Last night’s episode followed the contestants as they embarked on what amounted to be a free vacation in Morocco. In a related story, have we ever seen anybody complain as much during a free vacation as Molly did last night? Since this show hadn’t been on for two weeks, it was difficult to remember exactly why Molly was complaining so much. (I’m guessing her bottom 2 placement in the

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-78192017491383804932011-04-28T15:38:00.002-04:002011-04-28T15:42:54.367-04:00

What’s old is new…well, kind of. I’ve been slamming the producers of “American Idol” all season for their nasty habit of recycling themes from previous seasons. For nerds like me who have seen every episode of this show it leads to unimaginative and stale song selections/performances. Well last week we got Songs from the 21st Century. And last night a new theme made its “American Idol”

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-76007872000208123112011-04-28T13:40:00.006-04:002011-04-28T13:56:56.809-04:00

This is going to be hard. (Insert [You know what] here.) (Hey, Double “That’s what she said!”) As you probably already know from NBC’s emotional promos that have been making me tear up with their tinkly piano music, tonight will be Steve Carell’s/Michael Scott’s swan song on “The Office.” The U.S. version of “The Office” is one of my top 10 favorite shows of all-time (maybe Top 5).

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-89523291651306655592011-04-27T17:25:00.002-04:002011-04-27T17:27:51.748-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-5388810290740866442011-04-26T16:56:00.002-04:002011-04-26T16:58:04.241-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-27657678863167367582011-04-25T16:31:00.003-04:002011-04-25T16:33:02.923-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-88545643583948057002011-04-22T17:05:00.001-04:002011-04-22T17:07:10.301-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-23481415949804879282011-04-21T19:43:00.002-04:002011-04-21T19:43:51.759-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-7328172919306845282011-04-21T15:28:00.002-04:002011-04-21T15:31:35.674-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-32589531367490821402011-04-20T15:04:00.004-04:002011-04-21T04:51:27.990-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-29971982017274875622011-04-19T16:27:00.003-04:002011-04-20T13:35:07.415-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-9125251289781153812011-04-15T14:09:00.003-04:002011-04-15T14:11:09.288-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-29603662155703308322011-04-14T19:59:00.001-04:002011-04-14T20:00:36.374-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-51483509438742569862011-04-14T15:44:00.002-04:002011-04-14T15:46:47.323-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-77034135904450041592011-04-12T19:47:00.004-04:002011-04-12T19:52:53.691-04:00

Classical Week on “Dancing with the Stars” — with its 46-piece orchestra, mezzo soprano, excitable violinist and black-tie dress code — was such an upscale affair that I felt a little under-dressed watching from my couch. Not really. I was still wearing more clothes than most of the dancers. Here’s how everybody did with the Viennese waltz and paso doble, in order of appearance.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-66800404830350102122011-04-08T16:40:00.002-04:002011-04-09T17:56:07.796-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-74831221905025867482011-04-07T19:00:00.003-04:002011-04-07T19:14:39.786-04:00

It’s been an eventful week in the world of reality show meltdowns. (Well, more eventful than usual.)After learning that Meat Loaf is “the LAST F---ING PERSON YOU EVVVEER WANNA F---ING F--- WITH”, it was Brittani’s turn to totally lose her s---. (Cursing is contagious!)Things started out so promisingly for Brittani, as she was still basking in the glow of last week’s win at the start of the

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-72425644828407182182011-04-07T17:46:00.002-04:002011-04-07T19:13:31.641-04:00

I have a feeling there’ll be considerably less square dancing on stage at the end of tonight’s results show.Though the mood was downright exuberant at the end of last night’s entertaining Rock and Roll Hall of Fame episode — the third, strong performance episode in a row — I’m expecting things to be a touch gloomier after tonight’s sure-to-be-though results show.I’m not even going to complain

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-43726308363191889522011-04-05T15:30:00.004-04:002011-04-05T17:58:41.491-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-55187227317444300332011-04-01T13:44:00.004-04:002011-04-01T13:46:26.754-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-81429507251722097062011-03-31T17:17:00.002-04:002011-03-31T17:17:46.701-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-243247232704134962011-03-31T15:48:00.002-04:002011-03-31T16:01:27.595-04:00

<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]> <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-19492799631568197482011-03-29T14:39:00.002-04:002011-03-29T14:41:49.958-04:00

During the second performance episode of “Dancing with the Stars”, a couple of frontrunners faltered (slightly), and new contenders emerged. At least Wendy Williams and “Psycho” Mike Catherwood stayed consistently sucky! The 11 couples performed a jive or a quickstep to win our votes and avoid the harsh red light of elimination. Here’s how they did, in order of appearance. Sugar Ray Leonard and

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-48805514390381051472011-03-26T20:50:00.002-04:002011-03-26T20:54:27.760-04:00

Out of all the words that get bleeped out —and don’t get bleeped out — on “Jersey Shore,” it was fascinating to learn that the absolute worst thing you can call someone is an “Angelina.”I’m probably going to keep this season 3 finale recap short because — like every “Jersey Shore” season toward the end — I’m pretty much completely out of gas.Fittingly, this season finale was filled with goodbyes.

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-66642419915835279832011-03-24T19:17:00.001-04:002011-03-24T19:19:12.043-04:00

If you like hijinks then I’m assuming you’ve really enjoyed “Justified” the last couple of weeks.Anyone who reads this column knows I wasn’t a big fan of last week’s episode. And while I still stand by every word of that review I think that previous installment prepared me for (and made me more receptive of) this week’s “Save My Love.”It’s not that I consider this is a humorless show. Hell, dark

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-31158019559597654312011-03-24T18:20:00.001-04:002011-03-24T18:23:26.305-04:00

For a brief while on “America’s Next Top Model” last night, a modeling competition broke out in the middle of a CoverGirl commercial.The girls were tasked with creating a commercial for the second week in a row, only this time they had more creative input. (Cut to control freak Alexandria high-fiving herself.) For the first half of the episode, they were split into teams of three with one person

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-87349722024087352582011-03-24T16:19:00.004-04:002011-03-24T16:43:41.918-04:00

I had low expectations for last night’s episode once I saw that it was Motown (Again!) Week.Don’t get me wrong: Motown music is obviously fantastic and timeless for very good reasons. It’s just that with the rehash of “Songs from Your Birth Year” last week, and the umpteenth iteration of Motown Week this time around, it seems like the producers aren’t even trying to come up with fresh themes for

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-51145609734093769982011-03-22T17:35:00.003-04:002011-03-22T17:38:52.952-04:00

Maybe it’s just me, but it sort of feels like the newest season of “Dancing with the Stars” snuck up on us.Part of the reason for the relatively low-key launch of the show’s 12th season is certainly its sheer lack of Palin, but I was happy to have the show back all the same.During the premiere, I only counted two dancers who were actively horrendous, but, more importantly, I counted ZERO people

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-3053085956815806342011-03-18T15:44:00.004-04:002011-03-18T15:48:49.664-04:00

“You’ve changed, bro.”Once again, Pauly D had the line of the night with a succinct, throwaway comment. The gravely hilarious way he delivered this line to Vinny — who was acting as if he’d overdosed on douche pills after getting his ears pierced earlier in the episode — made it even funnier. It MUST have been the earrings. They surely had the same corrupting effect The One Ring had in Tolkien's

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-64315721726432026412011-03-18T12:45:00.001-04:002011-03-18T12:46:53.602-04:00

I can accept that coincidences happen in real life.And I can certainly accept that coincidences happen in movies and TV shows. I can even live with the fact that things often happen in works of fiction for the sole purpose of advancing the plot or creating conflict.I guess I expected a little more from “Justified.” The latest episode — “Blaze of Glory” — was WAY too contrived for my taste.I mean,

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-58135866702647034712011-03-17T16:29:00.001-04:002011-03-17T16:30:57.622-04:00

“America’s Next Top Model” needed to up the crazy factor after last week’s disarmingly blah makeover episode.So Tyra set the models on fire before having them walk down a fiery runway. Seriously. That happened last night.Ok, so it didn’t end up being quite as insane as it sounded, but the Geoffrey Mac fashion show did feature the models —except for unlucky (?) Sara — setting the palm of their own

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-33493092586380434202011-03-17T15:46:00.004-04:002011-03-17T15:54:00.372-04:00

I’m sure we all have incredibly fond memories of the songs we were rocking out to the year we were born.Oh wait, none of us remember that because it’s impossible!The “Songs from Your Birth Year” theme on “American Idol” is a sneakily terrible idea that has lasted a really long time on TV’s number one show. (I have it as a distant second in that category to “Randy Jackson as a judge”…but even

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-16529495083288833652011-03-16T16:56:00.002-04:002011-03-16T17:01:50.718-04:00

Oh “Glee”, just when I think I’m out…you pull me back in!If you read this column regularly, you know that I feel too much of the show’s second season has been bogged down by its crusades against gay teen bullying, alcoholism, etc., as well as “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy apparently deciding to believe every last bit of his own hype.In short, the bad has been far outweighing the good lately, and it’

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-43515572697088438032011-03-11T17:42:00.002-05:002011-03-11T17:46:04.861-05:00

The latest episode of “Jersey Shore” definitively answered one of pop culture’s most burning questions from this young century:We finally learned, “Who let the dogs out?” It was The Situation!I HATE to admit this because I share Pauly D’s thoughts on the Ronnie/Sammi saga (“If this relationship continues, I will kill myself”), but — after a couple of blah weeks — last night’s episode was

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-45234015664756310202011-03-10T22:17:00.004-05:002011-03-10T22:20:03.062-05:00

I’m a major multi-tasker.I shave while I shower. I talk on the phone while I cook. (Note: I do NOT text and drive. Ever.)I fold laundry while I watch “Justified”…well, not anymore after last night.Because I was so distracted with folding my towels and underwear, I missed two of the best moments in last night’s episode. Actually, I’m not entirely sure I would’ve caught them even if the show had my

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-20532310240512907312011-03-10T16:43:00.003-05:002011-03-10T16:45:16.024-05:00

The makeover episode on each cycle of “America’s Next Top Model” is an eagerly-awaited highlight for regular viewers of this ridiculous……which is why it’s such a shame that this one was so terrible!Things got off to a promising start when the models got back to the house and unveiled a tarp that revealed cryptic phrases like “Short Dutch Boy” written on a wall. (What does it mean?!)Unfortunately,

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-22568656845195370422011-03-10T16:03:00.003-05:002011-03-10T16:07:32.552-05:00

A belated Happy International Woman’s Day to you all!That wasn’t the only cause for celebration last night. The season 10 finals kicked off with the top 13 taking the stageThe finalists were tasked with performing Songs by their Musical Idols, which brings up the burning question: is Rihanna ANYBODY’S musical idol?! (I’m thinking maybe Willow Smith’s, but that’s about it.)I’m not usually

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-87904541727265347702011-03-09T17:16:00.002-05:002011-03-09T17:19:19.238-05:00

“Too Much?”I feel like Mr. Schue’s note to Holly Holliday in the middle of an intentionally over-the-top musical number accidentally summed this episode up.Except that I’d replace the question mark with an exclamation point.Here’s a quick rundown of the storylines covered during last night’s one-hour episode (which is actually closer to 45 minutes when you factor in commercials):- Rachel and

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-34468228280359299952011-03-04T18:04:00.002-05:002011-03-04T18:05:13.500-05:00

Last night saw the return of a wretched character that seems to have haunted “Jersey Shore” and dominated the narrative for the better part of this season.That disgusting toilet!It feels like that toilet has been clogged for six months, but last night the cast finally decided to get proactive (after an ill-fated attempt led by Ronnie) and called a plumber to vanquish that appalling beast. Well,

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-24416584599419008472011-03-04T17:09:00.005-05:002011-03-04T17:21:23.798-05:00

This is more like it!After a season-opening episode that was light on drama (or anything else that might be interesting), the latest cycle of “America’s Next Top Model” officially kicked off Wednesday night with an episode that featured raw chicken, dead siblings, and bees!I feel like we found out more about some of these girls in the first five minutes of this episode than we did in the entirety

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-89170995865614545012011-03-03T17:51:00.001-05:002011-03-03T17:54:17.857-05:00

Never try to keep a man from his estranged son’s birthday party.That’s the lesson we learned on the latest episode of “Justified”, and it’s especially true if that man is a desperate killer trying to put his life back together in a halfway house.When we first met Clinton, he was trying to get himself (if not the bathroom) clean and spiffy so that he’d be granted his day-pass to see visit his son

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-13004483595658568142011-03-03T14:54:00.003-05:002011-03-03T15:03:47.863-05:00

I’ve complained a few times about how the female singers in this year’s competition are neither as good nor as interesting as the fellas.Basically, I was setting myself up to be pleasantly surprised by Wednesday night’s All-girl performance episode…and it pretty much worked!Sure there were a few clunkers, but — based on yesterday’s performances — the judges have more than enough options to help

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-43750850473915451882011-03-02T17:33:00.002-05:002011-03-02T17:34:03.497-05:00

This is not going to be easy.Coming into Tuesday night’s performance episode — which featured the male half of the top 24 singing for our votes for the first time this season — I suspected that the guys would have a much harder time standing out because there generally seemed to be stronger, more distinctive voices on that side of the competition.I was sort of right.I count only three singers

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-71012382908162208362011-02-27T14:07:00.008-05:002011-02-27T21:44:23.897-05:00

Even though I just finished slaving away over my top 10 of 2010 list, I figured I'd try to sneak in some Oscar picks too.Truth be told, it was kind of fun because 2010 ended up being a pretty solid year for movies. (Whereas last year, it kind of felt like we had to strain to find 10 Best Picture nominees.)Anyway, I hope you don't mind if I just jump right in. Below you'll find my official pick

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-75415174066582484662011-02-27T13:17:00.013-05:002011-02-27T18:24:27.183-05:00

Yes, I’m a slacker, but I promise that’s not the reason I’ve waited until now to share my Top 10 Movies of 2010 with you.I don’t live in New York or L.A., so some of the year’s best movies — which the studios typically hold back until December — don’t come out in my area until January or even February. And that’s if they come out in the Tampa Bay area at all! (I’m still annoyed that “127 Hours”

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-6558220258045329762011-02-25T17:05:00.003-05:002011-02-25T17:08:46.136-05:00

“Hi, Sam.”With that casual greeting, Pauly D casually welcomed Sammi (Not So) Sweetheart back into the “Jersey Shore” house.(My reaction as she walked in was a LOT closer to this.)Even though we’re smack dab in the middle of the lull that seems to hit the second half of every “Jersey Shore” season — maybe each season should only have five or six episodes — I am NOT excited about the prospect of

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-73441048337194046762011-02-25T16:30:00.002-05:002011-02-25T16:33:00.555-05:00

On Wednesday night we learned the identity of five of the singers who will make up this year’s top 24 on “American Idol.”Last night — after many slo-mo walks, and many terrible Steven Tyler fake-outs — we learned who’ll be joining them.Although the two-hour show was unavoidably painful at times, I commend the producers for dedicating more time to the people who made it through and mostly zipping

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-71568681562511824912011-02-24T19:44:00.002-05:002011-02-24T19:46:02.926-05:00

Can a guy just have a quiet drink by himself?That’s what Boyd Crowder was undoubtedly asking himself throughout last night’s episode. After a bus full of criminals and drugs — mostly Oxycodone — was hijacked by another couple of crooks, Boyd was everyone’s #1 suspect. (The bus hijacking only featured a straight-up, brutal murder. The colorful capers we’ve seen from Boyd tend to involve an

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-89550046804257791392011-02-24T15:42:00.002-05:002011-02-24T15:44:10.531-05:00

I’ve been watching this show for WAY too long.About 25 minutes into this episode, I correctly predicted that ____ would go home. (Just because I figured it out almost immediately, doesn’t mean I’d spoil it for someone reading this recap that hasn’t watched the episode.) I’m not exactly throwing out my shoulder to pat myself on the back, because it was pretty obvious this “pretty” girl would be

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-22381296184043017902011-02-24T14:59:00.002-05:002011-02-24T15:01:57.873-05:00

You’re not going to believe this, but the contestants on “American Idol” once again took on the Beatles songbook again. (Again!)That opening sentence was only slightly more redundant than the show’s fixation on the Fab Four’s music. It’s not that I don’t respect the Beatles’ music, it’s just that I was naïve enough to believe that all the much-hyped new changes this season might include a more

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-86327031985260775592011-02-23T17:00:00.004-05:002011-02-23T17:09:13.902-05:00

By now it’s become pretty obvious that “Glee” will never again JUST be a show about a group of scrappy young underdogs who sing and dance because that’s when they’re at their happiest.Creator Ryan Murphy and Co. have decided to use the show’s popularity — and the influence it wields — to tackle topics that are clearly near and dear to their hearts. The most prominent example is the gay bullying

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-41629881640796767502011-02-22T17:18:00.003-05:002011-02-22T17:20:02.681-05:00

I pretty much completely panned the previous episode of “Desperate Housewives” because it was aggressively unfunny. (Sorry, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect laughs from a show that is billed as a comedy.)This week’s installment almost couldn’t go anywhere but up.But even with those lowered expectations, “Farewell Letter” managed to deliver both in the laugh department and with its

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-43390661764335431212011-02-20T14:04:00.001-05:002011-02-20T14:06:48.743-05:00

Silly me.When Sammi mercifully left the “Jersey Shore” house at the end of last week’s dramatic/traumatic episode, I foolishly thought she’d be, you know, gone from the show! Even though I’d seen that online promo that revealed she’d eventually return, I thought her recent departure would at least mean that she’d miss an episode or two.Nope!Even though she was gone from Seaside Heights, we got a

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-10690447383993895272011-02-18T16:55:00.002-05:002011-02-18T16:56:12.218-05:00

Last night’s episode of “American Idol” was half as long as Wednesday night’s Group Round extravaganza and only had a fraction of the drama.However, that’s not the worst thing in the world in what is allegedly still a singing competition. Even better, pretty much all the drama was confined to the stage. (Sorry, but I thought it was pretty easy this year to guess which of the two holding rooms

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-44310611459319306712011-02-17T16:57:00.001-05:002011-02-17T16:58:39.590-05:00

Damn you, plot summary on my cable system.Here was the description I read as I sat down to watch last night’s episode of “Justified”: “Raylan chases a pregnant fugitive who has fallen into the hands of human trafficke” (That’s not a typo…it cut off the last word.So as I watched Raylan and fellow marshal Tim Gutterson escort Jamie (guest star Sarah Jones, looking like Emilie de Ravin on “Lost”),

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-12963569332383015432011-02-17T16:17:00.001-05:002011-02-17T16:19:21.336-05:00

The Group Round during Hollywood Week on “American Idol” is never short on drama, and last night was no exception.Since it took almost 45 minutes of group-assembly drama and hotel hallway rehearsals (featuring potentially-meddlesome stage moms), I’m not gonna do you like that and instead jump right into my scattered thoughts on this two-hour extravaganza.- Why do we even have a group round? (I

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-10644541242967829552011-02-16T16:45:00.005-05:002011-02-23T16:17:34.152-05:00

Whether you want to admit it or not, everyone’s had a “Justin Bieber.” (Or they have one right now.)I’m not even specifically talking about the pre-pubescent heartthrob(s) or sexy female pop tart of your day. I’m saying that every single person out there has had a super-duper mainstream music obsession that they’ve mostly enjoyed in secret out of fear of being ridiculed.In that regard, Bieber and

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-85283131018830778652011-02-14T18:12:00.003-05:002011-02-14T18:15:35.859-05:00

I just don’t know where any of this is going.To say that most of the storylines on “Desperate Housewives” have taken unpredictable turns is an understatement. Unfortunately, I don’t mean that in a good, “I’m excited to be surprised” kind of way.What I mean is that I don’t see how the situations involving Bree, Susan and Gabby can possibly end in a satisfying (or even funny) way. (And I haven’t

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-29605881210534597902011-02-11T19:13:00.001-05:002011-02-11T19:14:46.393-05:00

It’s a general rule of thumb that pretty much nothing Ronnie says make sense.Well, that incoherent was taken to a new, scary level last night in what was undoubtedly the most intense, depressing, exhilarating episode in the history of “Jersey Shore.”There were so many twist and turns last night (me feeling bad for Sammi and wishing she would stay?!) and Ronnie’s mind-boggling, Xenadrine-fueled

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-52848618429812581462011-02-11T18:25:00.003-05:002011-02-11T18:27:25.377-05:00

After hearing, “You’re going to Hollywood” for almost a month now, I think it’s a relief for all of us that the show has actually arrived AT Hollywood.On Thursday night, we saw the contestants take the big stage for what is arguably the most emotionally-wrenching portion of the competition. (And we haven’t even gotten to the reliably dramatic group round yet!)Since we had so many singers thrown

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2517714419647619028.post-40184437342026438902011-02-10T16:28:00.002-05:002011-02-10T16:30:33.648-05:00

Let’s face it. By this time every year, we’re ready for the audition rounds to be DONE, no matter how good (or cluelessly bad) the talent is. I think even the people that tune out after the parade of bad/delusional/costumed singers ends have usually had enough by now.And so, “American Idol” made its final pit stop at San Francisco, City by the Bay. (What they don’t tell you is that the “bay” is

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03921223256023296742noreply@blogger.com0