Watch THIS: Dance on Thursday, Friday on Sunday

Two favorites of mine, should be favorites of yours. I'm not just saying that because I'm obsessed with television. These are shows that you should watch. So we can talk about them.


So You Think You Can Dance
Premieres tonight (Thursday) on Fox.


Friday Night Lights
Returns on Sunday on NBC.

Thank you.

Whatever, Jordin Sparks

Seriously. Whatever.

Blake, make a damn CD so I can buy it.


(Oh, and Chris Richardson, call me!)

And the "Winning" Song Still Sucked

I think the American Idol judges are confused. They keep saying their show is a "singing competition." I like to think of it more a singers competition. From where I'm sitting I want the person who's album I'm going to download to be the front runner.

Got a good voice? Great.

Keep me interested and curious about what you're going to do next? Even better!

The most memorable performance (minus closet-case Sanjaya) of the season game from Blake Lewis. His cover of You Give Love A Bad Name made it into the finals this evening and he knocked it out of the Kodak. It was entertaining, energetic, and, if I hadn't already put my money where my mouth is and downloaded the song from AmericanIdol.com's download store, I would have done it now. That to me is an American Idol.

There is no question Jordin is the better singer. Heck, if it was a singing competition, Melinda would have been there and won and Sanjaya wouldn't have made it past the Hollywood round. Thank God, it's not. It's a competition that uses singing to showcase personalities, creativity, stage/screen presence and general interest from the millions and millions of weekly viewers.

And, hello! If being an American Idol meant being the best singer, then why is Britney Spears one of the performers I have spent more money on than almost any other hit-maker I can think of?

While Jordin may win the title, Blake is my man.

And Chris Richardson is my lover.
And Ryan Seacrest can watch.
And, yes, I'm apparently a little randy tonight.

And that's got nothing to do with Randy Jackson.

He Gave Us 'Something To Talk About': Idol Will Continue Sans-jaya

I've been waiting to say this for weeks. I feel relieved I can finally take American Idol seriously again and actually write a post about it. The William Hung that could. The megastar Sanjaya Malakar, who for the past weeks seemed invincible showed up in the bottom three contestants (out of the seven who were left) this week. And, appropriately, he was sent home. Now we can get down to business.

Sans Sanjaya.

Adios.

Now, once we get rid of Phil Stacey, who will stick around for the top? The competition is on, folks. Next week Idol pulls an Oprah-Angelina-Madonna and "gives back" to the children of Africa. Trendy, but still an amzingly good cause. Watch. Donate. Vote.

Lost Has Found It's Way...Let's Hope It Stays That Way

Lost is still a successful network television show as it nears the end of the it's third season. It feels as if it has been on forever, but that's another story. There have been some weak moments both creatively and schedule-wise over the last season and a half and it has worn on many once loyal fans. Each week since returning from its mid-season hiatus it seems to be losing viewers. But, if you've turned your back on this show, let me tell you...it's back.

The last two, three, maybe even four episodes of the show have returned to suspense and mystery not seen since the first season (and start of the second). I don't want to say anything specific except you need to go online catch up, watch the DVR'd episodes you've been avoiding and make Lost a part of your weekly TV routine once again.

The last two weeks have ended with last second twists that have been game changing ... and who knows where they are going next. If you've been wondering what's up with those two "new" characters who showed up this season (see photo)...and what's up with Locke feeling so connected to the island...Damn, I said I wasn't going to do this....just watch and you'll begin to know what I'm talking about.

Also, Lost is under the microscope for how it will run it's episodes next year. My assessment: Lost will probably run consecutively (ala 24 on Fox) and probably won't start until January '08 (like the next season of 24, probably). They need that time to complete enough episodes to run them consecutively since they take a 2.5 month break after this season wraps. Unlike 24, however, Lost is consecutive from season to season and much of 24's storyline is contained within the season it is in...so I wonder if a 6 month break is really going to work. I supposed it's better than the complicated season breakup they did this year. A refresher episode in early January should get us all up to speed. Don't mess this up ABC.

TV's Black Monday

Monday nights have become one of my most stressful nights of television. Sounds rough, I know.

Action-packed hour-long dramas, a concoction of characters, plenty of plot lines and 4 hours of TV that really needs undivided attention the night it airs (Mondays) because you never know whats going to turn up at the water cooler (we have a fridge full of Poland Spring in my office, but you get the general idea).

Here's the line-up:
Prison Break, 8pm on Fox
Heroes, 9pm on NBC
24, 9pm on Fox
The Black Donnellys, 10pm on NBC
(and to keep things light, the charming sitcoms How I Met Your Mother, 8pm, and The Class, 8:30pm, both on CBS.)

I could spend time trying to justify the various reasons I have for watching the various television I watch. Now's not the time for that.

I could spend time telling you my history with Prison Break, Heroes, 24, and the aforementioned CBS Monday night sitcoms that are only so-so acclaimed and only perform so-so in the ratings. Bot, now's not the time for that either.

I'm here right now to talk..and complain a bit...about Monday's newest drama, The Black Donnellys. A replacement for NBC's other problematic Monday night hour-long, Studio 60. I wasn't going to watch The BDs because the reviews weren't that great and the whole The Departed meets The Sopranos in Queens wasn't really hooking me. Based on Ally's recommendation I DVR'd a re-airing of the pilot and caught the second episode tonight.

Just because I've seen two episodes doesn't mean I'm ready to be called a fan.

The show has it's share of problems. The biggest one is identity. I think it can't decide what it wants to be. It uses several devices that are already distracting, the voice-over from a non-main more-comic relief character who puts himself in scenes but only at the end when it doesn't interrupt the drama, a mixture of music from today and from the middle of last century along with other time-period issues like - if this takes place today, then where are people's freaking cell phones? I mean, it's New York City. And these baby face boys ruling the neighborhood, pulling one over on not one, but two crime bosses.

It has flaws the remind me of a show I stuck around one season for and now can never get that time back - Desperate Housewives. I am still trying to decide if the show is so deeply confused about who it is trying to appeal to and how it's going to achieve it's ultimate story or if it is a stroke of genius that is 10 steps ahead of me and I'm going to be wow'd, like, next week.

I think they only have four episodes to hook me, and except for the the scene where two of the brothers stripped down to their underwear to keep some blood off their clothes, I haven't yet felt a true emotional draw. But, damn, that scene alone mad the two hours I've spent with the Donnelly brothers worth while. It had better come up with something else soon (maybe more Irish sausage shots?) or my TV will be showing The Black Donnellys minus the "The"...and the "Donnellys". Get it? Just black.

Well, not really. It's not like I don't have plenty to watch as it is.