American Idol Thoughts - Top 5: Standards

April 28th, 2009 - Top 5 Perform Rat Pack Standards

My initial reaction is that this was an excellent show. I loved it. Everyone did a really great job. But tomorrow, someone has to go.

Kris - I loved his performance. Understated and effortless. Great job.
Alison - C'mon, she did fantastic! She was really great and I loved her tonight. She did much better than I thought she would. Vote for her America. I did twice.
Matt G - He did a bang up job tonight. I thought he did a good job by singing lower most of the time and really opening up tonight. I think he still tried a little too hard by singing more runs than he needed too, but all around I found it one of his better performances.
Danny - In it to win it. I really loved him tonight. Hands down my favorite of the night!
Adam - He was good. But I still don't like him. Too theatrical and a little too confident. He doesn't need to win, he might want to, but he can still get a record deal if he doesn't. I just wasn't that thrilled.

Overall, a great night of music and we'll see what tomorrow brings. My gut tells me that Matt G is out of his depth in this competition now. In a slower year, he could win the whole thing, but I think he goes out 5.

Watch Dollhouse Week #2

DAY 2: Echoes
This was originally episode 7.

This episode introduced us to the greedy soulless corporation behind the Dollhouse - the Rossum Corporation. Basically, the episode is framed around the idea that the Rossum Corporation is testing a drug on a college campus that affects memories and makes people loopy. We were also introduced to the lives of the dolls before they became "actives". It talked about memory "glitches" where the dolls start to remember their lives before they came to the dollhouse. Also, for some reason, Echo/Caroline, sees a glimpse of a college building from her past and she is compelled to go there even though she is on assignment. We also meet a secondary character, Sam, that helps propel this story as he is trying to steal a drug that the Rossum Corporation is testing on a college campus and sell it to a rival corporation. We also find that the "actives" can remember things outside of their lives that they are programmed to live while on assignments, since Echo does this repeatedly. I'm convinced that this wasn't just the drug but a side affect of what they are doing at the dollhouse. We also see Echo refuse a treatment from her handler Boyd, but I'm convinced it's because he was affected by the drug at the time. It gives us glimpses of details about how Echo came to be and the idea that she was recruited by Ms. DeWitt. We also see her doing it again with Sam. Possibly, dolls are recruited and it's all done for money and they think of this as a job even though the "actives" are just being exploited by the greedy Rossum Corporation. I'm probably dumbing this down, but see how interesting it is. It was a very engaging episode that left me with more questions than answers, but it helped to make a richer story for me as a whole for the series.

Watch Dollhouse Week continues tomorrow.

Again, I can't say it enough. Watch Dollhouse. It's a great show and Eliza Dushku looks fantastic each week. There's a new episode on Friday at 9pm on FOX.

Watch Dollhouse Week #1

Yesterday started Watch Dollhouse Week. It's basically an internet fan movement for the TV show Dollhouse created by Joss Whedon. I am really enjoying this show and like all Whedon series, it's in danger of not getting renewed. Since I love the show, I decided to take part in this internet social experiment by watching an episode of Dollhouse that is suggested each day from 4/27 - 5/1 and then tuning into a new episode Friday night at 9pm on FOX. I figured I'd blog and twitter about it each day after I watch the episode they suggested and give a reaction. I've seen all the episodes already, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to re-watch and comment, plus it would be fun. I'm a day behind already, but it's the thought that counts. And if you're not watching DOLLHOUSE, this is a good opportunity for you to start by watching the suggested episodes online and then tune in to the new episode Friday at 9pm on FOX.

DAY 1: Man on the Street
This was episode 6 in the series and this is the one that changed it all for me. Dollhouse up until this point was a hard to follow yarn about an underground club of sorts for the really rich who rent humans that are imprinted with specific memories and abilities. I say hard to follow, because it was very mysterious up until this point and I wasn't sure where it was headed. This episode gave it a new focus and new dimension for me. FBI agent Paul Ballard comes face to face with Echo, whom he knows as Caroline, and thinks he's finally on to something with the mysterious dollhouse. I'm like, he's going to figure it out and drill in. But then as you'll see it goes deeper including the introduction of a sleeper "active doll" which is fantastic. I don't want to ruin it if you haven't seen it yet. An abused "doll" by their handler, more talk about the "actives" becoming attracted to one another. It's a stand out episode that is interspersed with Man on the street interviews asking the general public about the Dollhouse. I loved those. Anyway, this episode made the series more intriguing for me and more enjoyable. I suggest you check it out. Hulu has all the episodes online, plus you can get them on FOX ON DEMAND. Both Hulu and Fox on Demand are FREE. Plus, you can buy from Amazon or iTunes. Watch Dollhouse Week has all the links you'll need too.

Tonight, I'll blog about the next episode in Watch Dollhouse Week: Echoes

Again, I can't say it enough. Watch Dollhouse. It's a great show and Eliza Dushku looks fantastic each week.

April 21st, 2009 - Top 7 Perform Again! Disco Night
Good all around show with lots of surprises in my opinion. Hated the old disco performances from the elimination night, but we did get a little Archuleta after having some DC (David Cook) the week before. Here's my reactions from this week's performances.

Lil - "I'm Every Woman". Finally a great song choice, but I didn't love it. Man, this girl just needs a super producer to take her and scoop her up. She needs lots of guidance and I still feel that she could be a Whitney Houston type. But, this is probably it for her.
Kris - "She Works Hard For The Money". Seriously Kris, you picked this song? It was a good performance and I liked what he did with it. But a very weird song choice for me.
Danny - "September" by Earth Wind & Fire. I knew this would be a rough week for Danny, but he pulled it off. I liked it and it had tons of energy. I'm sure not the type of song he would normally perform, but he did great.
Alison - "Hot Stuff". She looked hot! Wow! Her singing was good as usual, but not her wheelhouse either. I did like her performance though.
Adam - "If I Can't Have You". Just when I'm starting to hate him again, he pulls out another fantastic performance. I did like this performance.
Matt - "Stayin Alive". I liked what he did with the song. I enjoyed the performance. I'm not sure it's enough to stick around another week.
Anoop - "Dim All The Lights". I really liked his performance. I thought he did a great job. Top 5 he you go Anoop.

Elimination Night I was figuring that Lil was going home. Good luck to her. I was surprised that Matt G stayed and Anoop went home. I really was. I like Matt, but I thought Anoop was better the night before.

Let's see what happens this week on Idol. I hear it's Rat Pack Standards Week. Should be interesting....

American Idol Reactions - Top 8 Songs From the Year They Were Born

April 7th, 2009 - Top 8 Perform Songs From the Year they were Born
Here's my reactions from this week's performances. Overall a good show, but a few hits and misses.

Danny - Performed "Stand By Me". I really liked it. In my iTunes now. Was it his best? I don't think so, but it was a great way to get the show started.
Kris - "All She Wants to Do is Dance" by Don Henley. It was OK. I enjoyed that he was doing something much different than the week before and I usually enjoy him with the guitar. It was just OK for me.
Lil - She did Tina's "What's Love Got to Do With It". It was alright. She is really trying, but she just isn't getting it. She tried to be Tina. She isn't Tina. She's Lil. I'm getting worried.
Anoop - Did a heartfelt "True Colors" from Cyndi Lauper? I loved this performance. I thought he did great and didn't try to sound like anyone. Brilliant.
Scott - "The Search Is Over" by Survivor. What were you thinking? Great song, but not for you. The guitar isn't your friend. Good choice, but I think it's over for you too.
Alison - Did "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt. This was fantastic. I loved it. She is really proving to be a girl with some stage presence. Really really good. Now part of my iTunes library.
Matt G - Stevie Wonder's "Part-Time Lover". Weird song choice I felt, but I liked it. He did a good job I thought.
Adam - not a big fan. He did "Mad World" by Tears for Fears. Not one of the bigger hits. Again, not a big fan - But you can't say he didn't blow it out of the park. This was a genuine moment. I didn't see this on TV, since the show ran over and I was watching it on tape. I watched it on americanidol.com. I didn't realize that they put up all the performances online. This is a fantastic idea and they should promote that more, but I guess they want you to watch the show. And you don't get the judges' critiques.

Man this show should've been 2 hours to make more time. Anyway, elimination night Scott went home which was a relief personally. I didn't love Scott. He was good and I enjoyed him, but I believe he was a level down from most of the other contestants. I would have rather Alexis was still in it. Anyway, that's my thoughts.