rereader2

A standing O should NEVER be given for a good performance. It's supposed to go only to GREAT performances. It's been hugely watered down because of the ridiculous prices charged for Broadway shows (or the equivalent concerts); people who have spent upwards of $500 for a family to go to the theater are going to give a standing O just to convince themselves they didn't waste all that money. So people are used to giving standing Os to every show they go to...but that doesn't make it appropriate, and Harry--who, after all, has starred on Broadway himself--knows better.

Which made it mean something that he stood for Alex last week.

Yes. I wanted Ken to win. :(

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Benedict Cumberbatch to Star in War Drama 'The Yellow Birds'. They don't say what role, though.

Not relevant--Caleb will be singing with KISS at the finale, AFTER all the votes are in.

Maybe some of the songs were noticeably better than others, and they weren't the "right" ones.

Could we please avoid using words like "Frau" for fans? It's not very nice, and it's not meant to be very nice. Thank you.

From Radio Times: Benedict Cumberbatch and his mum to launch BBC2 Chelsea Flower Show coverage

But the show won't have to deal with her--and if she fails, the label will promptly dump her. It's what they've always done in the past. It's true that the show needs to produce some stars to have credibility, but right now, I'd say they are far more interested in ratings than hit records, so whether this year's winner flops big time is less important to them than finale ratings, and they appear to be betting that big, loud performers are likely to give them a bigger audience than quiet, introspective performers.

I guess this is "old" news, but according to an article on the Futon Critic (via PBS press release), Mark Gatiss will be playing Stephen Gardiner in the "Masterpiece" adaptation of Wolf Hall. (I found the book unreadable, but there's no denying it made quite a splash!)

I know! And he's so much fun to watch--I totally get the feeling he's having a blast. I loved it near the beginning when three major Jeopardy champions were standing there and they ALL had negative scores!

Optimist! ;)

They are paying the judges the big bucks, they want some use out of them.

From RadioTimes: In 2003, Benedict played Edmund Bertram in a radio production of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. They are re-airing it on Radio 4 Extra (in the UK) beginning May 12. I wonder if we'll be able to listen to it online in the US... (There is a one-minutes clip at the RadioTimes link above and at the BBC website.

From Digital Spy: Benedict Cumberbatch reads final 'Flat of Angles' short story - listen (You can listen to it there.) From the Mirror: Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Jo Brand and more celebrities design and sign cards for UK's first children's charity (With a slideshow of cards.)

The creative team behind Sherlock are always busy: Here's a place to record their extra-Sherlock diversions. (Honestly, don't they know we're WAITING?) Mark Gatiss is appearing in episode six of this season of "Game of Thrones". There is a trailer: And a couple of articles: On zap2it-- 'Game of Thrones' Season 4: First look at 'Sherlock's' Mark Gatiss On BBC America's website-- WATCH: ‘Sherlock’s Mark Gatiss Makes His ‘Game Of Thrones’ Debut

I can't imagine that TPTB will want to draw attention to the whole mess--I doubt there will be any mention of it. But there SHOULD be. This is very true! They don't SOUND tricky, but they are.

From HuffPo: Benedict Cumberbatch Met Gala 2014: White Tie Suits 'Sherlock' Star. (Very true.) ETA: GQ agrees, calling Benedict the best-dressed man at the event. ETAA: From the Daily Mail: Anna Wintour proclaims Benedict Cumberbatch was the only one who 'nailed' the white tie theme at this year's Met Gala. (She should know!)

If I may--I think it would be as well to avoid such derogatory terms as "Sparkle Cows" when referring to fans. Thank you.

Here's a relevant bit from an interesting interview with Sam on EW (link here): Which I believe, because Sam couldn't have look less surprised to be the one going home, and he looked more relieved than upset, frankly.

I suspect there will be little to no backlash for Alex and Jena from the people who already were their fans; if you're an enthusiastic enough fan to have heard about who voted for what at all, it's pretty easy to explain the vote away to yourself as a twist that was sprung on the contestants and that none were happy about. I think the only backlash would be that fans of Sam who might have switched to voting for either Alex or Jena and now won't -- but it's hard to know if any would have anyway.

You have to wonder just what he thinks the music business is about. I mean, even if a label picks up an artist, they don't pay their artists salaries. The music industry is ALL about pleasing your fans, and if he wants to make a living in music, he'd better learn that.

And just what has he been planning on doing with the coronation song if he wins? Tell everyone it's garbage and they shouldn't buy it? Just what did he think he was competing for, anyway?

Also not smart to dis his own fans! These are the very people keeping him on the show he's insulting.

Maybe it was the only ballad in the list? He had to do a ballad sooner or later, just to show he could. (Unfortunately, what he showed is that he couldn't. It wasn't a train wreck, but it sure wasn't good.)