TheGreenKnight

I didn't see all of yesterday's show because Obama interrupted in the middle of the JLo interview. That said, I don't think I missed much. For some reason, Wendy is always kissing JLo's behind in hot topics pretending like she's still a hot thing in music and that she'll remain forever relevant just like Madonna when her past three albums haven't even went Gold and the newest is opening with worse numbers than Mariah's new album. I figured the interview would be the same way. I did like seeing JLo's mother in the audience. That may be the first time I've ever seen her; JLo definitely got her face from her mom.

I must've got the names confused at some point, since I was thinking of Will Cain, apparently. I don't know Candice that well and I was never a Full House fan, but I wish she'd been co-hosting on a day by herself without Cain there.

With Barbara gone, Whoopi is better, yes, but Sherri is much worse. That's the only thing I liked about Barbara is that she obviously hated Sherri, too. If Whoopi is off this week, I'm definitely skipping. Rancic being back again two more times is bad enough. I have to admit there was a touch of comedy to Elisabeth because she was so unintentionally incoherent and screechy, but Rancic just makes my blood boil.

I felt sorry for Jenny today while Terry and Sherri were basically shouting that she needs to go out and get married before she screws up her son for life. Thankfully Whoopi tried to transform that opinion into something less ignorant and insane by saying children should ideally have positive male figures in their life (even if they're just in film/TV/etc.). I've liked him in TV and films I've seen, so I was surprised he just really irritates when he guest hosts. Even though Whoopi does abuse her position as moderator, I'm glad she keeps Sherri from speaking for the whole panel on every issue. I have to admit Jenny is more polite and dedicated to keeping her job than I probably would be if I had to sit beside Sherri every day.

I think the broken clock rule came into play today, because I actually agreed with Sherri over the tenure issue. Tenure is one of the only things that gives teachers security in a job where there is probably more risk to be fired/sued over anything and everything. Seeing it be struck down in California of all places is very disappointing; the loss of employee rights continues. Unfortunately, since this point of view came from the ill-spoken Sherri, ie. the dumb one of the table, nobody took her seriously. I wish Joy had been there today. That co-host was awful, and listening to him try to ridiculously spin everything was irritating. If he was cast as a regular, that would be the last time I watch this show, no exaggeration.

Oh, yes, I forgot that one. I remember season 1 had people online shipping Emma with a roundtable of guys that didn't suit her (Graham, August, Jefferson), but I especially didn't understand the Jefferson love at all. I did like the character and thought he was well-executed, don't get me wrong, but he wasn't attractive and the one episode he was in with Emma in Season 1 was too serial killer for me to see where a romance could come from.

I think it's hilarious that all the guest co-hosts this week were more interesting than the regular co-hosts. I was surprised Roseanne worked as well as she did. I thought she could have easily ended up like Whoopi in the over-talking everyone area, even though I've always liked her. Instead she was calm, funny, and charming. She kept twitching and blinking a lot though, but I remember she did that occasionally on her sitcom, too, so it's just a quirk of hers, I guess.

Re-watching the pilot is interesting just to see how work-in-progress they were with Rumpel and Regina in some ways. I was confused at the beginning of season 2 when Regina was conflicted about Henry because didn't the show imply she was lying when she said she loved him here. And they also imply that she is cruel, cold, and uncaring to Henry pre-Emma, but all I'm left with as the series has progressed is that Henry is just borderline brat who is happy to have an escape latch whenever one parental figure doesn't let him do whatever he wants Also, Rumpel in the flashbacks looked way more crazy than he ended up being. The psychotic/sped up way he jumps around the cell doesn't really fit with how he appears in most other flashbacks. I don't think the episode is perfect. When I first saw it, I was left more with a question mark since some of the actors seemed kind of boring and a few of the costumes/scenes were very campy in the flashbacks (especially the wedding), but the Emma-Henry-Regina interactions were golden and the idea of fairytale characters in real world forms was interesting (the fairies as nuns, Grumpy as the town drunk, Jiminy Cricket as a therapist, etc.). I have to admit the 2nd episode is what clenched it for me to become a long-term viewer, when you learn .

- Regina's still my favorite character on the show, even though her writing has always been confused. And I actually liked the way they wrapped up the Zelena story with Regina showing an untapped potential for light magic. - I didn't mind Tamara and that other guy. I didn't even hate the idea of a goverment agency in the real world looking for magic (before this was swept away as just Peter Pan's lies), although it wouldn't have been my ideal storyline. I think the Frankenworld/Whale backstory is more cringeworthy. - I always found Snow and Charming boring, even in the first season. I didn't/don't hate them, but I don't think they just became boring post-season 1. - I don't mind that they combine characters occasionally (the way Gold is both Rumpel and Beast is perfect), although there are some characters I would prefer to have their own actor. - I like the new villain every half-season setup they have going. And I don't mind the villains so far having been related to the main cast, since this series has always heavily on its twisted family dynamics since the beginning. I just hope they don't continue that trend. - I've always hated Rumbelle, although I guess I wouldn't want them separated on the show either. It's hard to explain... I think it works in-show, but I can't root for them either. And not just because Belle's actress is awful. (I also thought Rumpel fit better with Cora... Even Rumpel/Zelena had more chemistry.) But it might go with the fact that: - I think Rumpelstiltskin is much less deserving of a happy ending than Regina. - I enjoyed the Pan storyline, even though maybe one or two less episodes in the woods would've helped. - I'm looking forward to Elsa/Frozen...

Completely agree. I've seen her on Fashion Queens, too, but I was worried she would be off on this show. I thought she did great and one of the only guest hosts this season I've liked. Maybe they are going to replace Sherri? Probably just hopeful wishing.

I occasionally like Sherri on other shows, but like any actor or singer, they naturally become less likable the more you see of them as themselves. I don't think Jenny or Whoopi are great by any means, but Sherri is the last co-host left who irritates with Elizabeth and Barbara gone. I hate hearing Sherri's comments on race like today's Justin Bieber N word scandal, just because you know she wouldn't care if someone said the F word towards or about a gay person even if you paid her. That's the thing that annoys me about Sherri--she is never consistent with her opinions. What she thinks only pertains to how it relates to her personal life and she doesn't have any concern for how people who aren't like her would feel in any given situation.

I thought Margaret Hoover seemed great, too, and I preferred her to Huntsman. But I'm guessing they always seem that way before they're cast, and then we see the true face behind the mask.

They're definitely looking to cast a new Elizabeth. I remember when Margaret Hoover was on, I thought she looked a lot like her except with different hair. She seemed nice until the second time she was on and they were interrogating Sara Evans about whether she would go back on Dancing With the Stars, and she went sour when Sara Evans repeated Bruno's criticism that Evans danced "like Barbara Bush." Turns out Hoover, Huntsman, and Chelsea McCain have connections with one another apparently. I'm not looking forward to an Elizabeth without a Joy there to knock her down. Whoopi can barely even handle Sherri's nonsense. Why did they put Jenny McCarthy of all people in Joy's chair if they're just going to get a replica of Elizabeth...? I was just about to give this show another chance now that Barbara was on her way, praying Sherri would be replaced, too, soon. Ugh.

I actually mentioned KoL once as the only alternative for Caleb, but I still doubt Caleb would make it in that genre considering he comes from Idol. I'm surprised so many are comparing him to Daughtry, when they sound nothing alike. Daughtry can pull off pop/rock, Caleb is Southern rock and could never go in the same vein. What an awful finale, down in the bin with season 10. The only performance I cared for was Jena's "CHFIL," but even that wasn't as good as the first time. I'm guessing their voices are in tatters after rehearsing and performing weekly for the show, then the hometown concert. As far as the new songs, I prefer "We Are One," just because--like Caleb himself--the other song sounded like something from the '70s.

Times my favorite won: 1 (Jordin) Times my favorite made the finale and lost: 5 (Diana, Bo, Katharine, Archuleta, Jessica) Times my favorite didn't make the finale: 6 (Kimberly Locke, Allison Iraheta, Aaron Kelly, Pia Toscano, Angela Miller, Sam Woolf) So I have an abysmal success rate. lol I'd like to think Kelly would be my other win, but I didn't see it.

The thing I find strange about Harry supposedly not giving standing O's is---didn't he give Malaya one when she gave that VERY bad "I Am Changing" performance? As far as manipulation, they tried to carry Malaya and Sam farther than they got (for the ratings more than anything, I'm guessing). Personally, I find Harry Connick, Jr. overrated. I didn't think I would dislike him coming into this season, because I loved the smackdown he gave Randy last year which was hilarious. Mostly the reason I don't care for him is that, like JLO, it's clear he preferences artists who perform better than they can sing over contestants who go for high notes or who, heaven forbid, did a run or two (I agree runs can ruin a performance, but they can be effective in small doses). Also like JLO, he gives the female contestants a harder go of it than the male contestants, mostly when it comes to the point of stage presence. For some reason female contestants always get criticized for not moving around enough when male contestants can stand in one place their entire performance for weeks on end and are never criticized, which is infurating as a viewer. Not to mention the slut-shaming towards Emily Piriz early on, a low not even JLo has went to. I don't like Harry's smartass comments towards the contestants at times. And the way he talks while they're performing is extremely insulting. I also can't help bringing up the Phillip v. Candice snafu which really rubbed me the wrong way, where both he and JLO pretended like Candice wasn't even there while she was performing, but gave a standing ovation to Phillip (and pretty much every other guest performer this season) the next week for sounding awful... Now I'm not the world's biggest Candice fan, but that was the moment I jumped off the Harry train.

This is one development I dislike the most over the course of the show. I still remember when contestants were forced to prove their ability to sing a diversity of styles and genres (and not in the way they do these days, where they completely alter the song to become the genre they prefer--although I do enjoy those performances sometimes, too). With the show basically giving the contestants a free-for-all every week to sing the same song repeatedly for weeks on end, it's now become a "bad" thing for a contestant to sing multiple genres--an idea even the judges project now, which I find ridiculous. (Not that I'm saying Jena has shown the same kind of diversity of some of Idol's early winners, but hopefully you get my point.)

I would say, overall, this might be my second favorite season after the first one just because, like the first season, my favorite won. :p I had mostly tuned out of season 3 after Chris Mann ended up so far behind in season 2, but probably watched more this season out of curiosity over Shakira and Usher. The only other contestants I had any feelings towards were the main Swon brother (not the skinny one) and Sasha. I might have liked Sasha more than I normally would've because she was on Shakira's team, but regardless I enjoyed her "Without U" and "Before He Cheats" performances. I never got what all the hooplah was about Amber and Michelle, but I've liked contestants others didn't before myself.

I've been thinking Josh would and should win the whole time (although I also thought Sisaundra would be in the finale with him....), but I wouldn't be surprised at any outcome at this point. Christina because of the lengths the show will go to to push her and Jake because I never underestimate the Blake/country voting base's ability to vote for someone's genre/coach rather than their actual talent.

Honestly, the Adam-Christina drama bothered me much more (mostly the things Adam and his contestant said to Christina when she never had to throw names at them), but I think general audiences reacted more to the Mariah-Nicki "thing" because of the age difference and because of Mariah's stature, whereas Adam and Christina are closer to being even in the audience's eyes. I agree that The Voice in general has an overall stronger cast because Idol has always had 3-5 who stand out from an average pack of contestants. I believe Idol does this on purpose because it makes the good contestants seem that much better and helps the elimination process, they probably don't want to waste strong talent as fodder on one season when they could win on another, and feeds into the whole concept of the show as a (supposed) "singing contest" so audiences will intentionally compare vocals.

Who would I like to win? Jena. The true successor to Jordin Sparks if she takes it, rather than that girl last year. Not that I hate Candice--she could sing, even if I thought her tone could be pretty annoying sometimes--but she was easily the worst winner they could've got out of the top 4 last year. Who will win? Caleb, easily. And it's too bad, because he'll be the only other winner I haven't bought the debut of after Scotty McCreery (Phillip Phillips suckered me with "Gone, Gone, Gone," but won't make that mistake twice since the rest of the album sucked, unfortunately.) If I want an Idol rocker, I'll refer to Bo Bice or Adam Lambert. Thinking about the past, I believe the only finales where I really wouldn't have minded either one winning because I liked them equally was season 2 (Clay v. Ruben) and 8 (Adam v. Kris). Every other finale, I either liked both, but had a preference (Jordin v. Blake; Bo v. Carrie; Diana v. Fantasia; Archuleta v. Cook; Kree v. Candice); liked one, but disliked the other (Katharine v. Taylor; Jessica v. Phillip; Jena v. Caleb); or was just voting for the lesser of two evils (Lee v. Crystal; Lauren v. Scotty).

He obviously wasn't lip-synching. Not that he would've sounded any better even if he was.

I think Caleb's going to win easy, although I don't think he deserves it. He's Southern and male, both of which would've steamrolled any girl standing next to him. This is the way Idol works now. I will say Jena will make it a closer loss than Sanchez or Laurne Alaina did though, since she's a rock contestant (which appeals to audiences). She's still lost though, unfortunately. It's sad. He'll only be slightly above McCreery and Phillips as the worst winner for me. I can't help but blame JLO. At least Alex is gone.

I personally prefer diva singers to singer-songwriter types who sing like Taylor Swift, so that's why I prefer American Idol in general. I also prefer Idol's format with the top 12 being narrowed down to the top 2 finale, although I've never cared for Auditions or Hollywood weeks. But this is a hard question because are we talking about American Idol of the now or Idol of the past? Idol of the past is so much better than The Voice it's not even funny. The current Idol is pretty sad though, chasing trends and trying desperately to keep the marketable/young contestants from being destroyed by their aging viewer-base. I do like The Voice more than Idol as it is right now just because Idol has gone down the tubes with Jennifer Lopez in the driver's seat. I would say The Voice has the better talent this year as well, but that's not really fair considering Idol is searching through unknowns and The Voice cycles through has-been's/never-were's who were already found. Idol has had better talent, overall. To me, the only thing The Voice really has going for it are the coaches' chemistry with one another, although Simon Cowell is easily the best person to have judged/coached/mentored either one of these shows. On the other hand, I hate the fake/undeserved praise of all the contestants, the plants, Carson Daly, the Blake domination, the lack of promotion for their winners, coaches in control of contestants' song choices, etc.

She also isn't that good of a singer, which is why she's in a group. it's too bad he hadn't auditioned in season 9. I loved reading Simon's comments to Candice (who I personally didn't think should've won) about how she would never be anything more than a lounge singer, and then she unsurprisingly flopped harder than any previous winner. I'm guessing Simon would've hated this guy, too.