Fabulous guest-poster Bucky is back, wrapping up I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here for us. Thanks again, Bucky!

So, to close the loop on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here here’s what happened leading up to the finale:

We left off in the last recap with Janice and Holly having been voted off, leaving Lou, John, Steven, Sanjaya, Patti and Torrie as potential King or Queen of the Jungle. Sanjaya and I are both sad because Holly is gone. John is happy because Patti is still there, even though they are only “friends.”

Stephen is … well … at wit’s end, for some reason. He was fine during one segment and melancholy the next. He decides to bug out. He says he is sure all of the strong friendships he had built will result in the other campers being understanding about his decision. HAHAHA … they talk trash about him from the minute he leaves camp. So much for understanding.

And then … AND THEN … a twist: because Stephen bugged out, another camper gets to return. Janice and Holly are made to grovel in front of the other campers, pleading their case for wanting to come back. Janice, of course, has had an epiphany and says she is a better person who wants to redeem herself in everyone’s eyes (and hearts). Holly pretty much says she wants to come back and canoodle with Sanjaya some more. (That’s not a direct quote, but it is what she meant.) The campers have a lengthy discussion about who they want to come back (Holly, because we all love Holly. No, really, we do) and who they think they can beat the easiest (Janice because she is, in the end, just another creepy Costa Rican critter who can be swatted away). They agree they need to make the strategic move, not the emotional one and … cut to the obnoxious Wal-Mart commercials.

After the break, the campers vote for Holly to come back, which is either a) a twist or b) stupidity, I can’t tell which.

There is a challenge that Lou wins and the prize is absolutely one of the best looking cheeseburgers I’ve ever seen, and let me tell you, I’ve seen plenty.

Then there is another challenge to eliminate one camper. It has to be between Holly (because the producers have already gotten the required shots of her and Sanjaya hugging each other up in the river, in their underwear.) and John, who got the fewest votes in the last marathon call-in voting period.

John wins. Sanjaya and I are sad, but I’m sadder because Sanjaya at least had the river/underwear time with Holly. Good bye, Holly. There are only two episodes left, so you’ll probably be back two more times.

In the next episode, considerable time is spent “looking back,” which is just an excuse for producers to re-use footage they’ve already used. These flashbacks are exceedingly boring, and I fast-forward through them. Thank the Lord for inventing digital video recorders.

Then there is another challenge and John wins. The prize is a salad (GACK!) and a pretty good-looking breadstick. But John used to be a vegan, before he started eating bugs and worms and other creepy Costa Rican critters in the challenges, so he is actually happy to win it.

Finally, the eliminations: First, Sanjaya, who cries because he is leaving his friends. (That’s what the other campers think. I think those are tears of joy, because in about 15 minutes he and Holly will be alone with no cameras anywhere around. Whoo-Hoo!)

And then Patti is eliminated, which I am sort of sad about because Patti is nothing like I expected her to be (which is to say, I like her).

On to the finale …

All of the contestants (except for Frangela) are back, which of course means there is going to be a lot of time wasted with them reminiscing about their month in the jungle. I have my finger poised over the fast-forward button for when those parts happen.

There is a challenge and YAY! Everybody wins. Torrie gets a pizza, Lou gets fried chicken and John gets a vegetarian hamburger (DOUBLE GACK!).

Then John is eliminated. (It didn’t go that quickly, but could have.)

This leaves Torrie and Lou and, with great dramatic flair, Lou is crowned King of the Jungle. I swear to God it looked like he was going to cry. No, really, it did.

Oddly, once Lou is announced as the winner, everybody totally ignores Torrie. I think that was very rude. (Speaking of Torrie, Ring Posts blogger Kevin Eck weighs in on her near victory here and here.)

And … that’s a wrap.

I have a suggestion for the show’s producers, if they bring it back for another season:

Drag it out over, say, three months, instead of cramming it into a few weeks, and broadcast only one night each week. The current short broadcast schedule forces the show to flip back and forth, in any given episode, between live broadcast and filmed segments. This is very confusing and makes me focus waaaaaay more than I need to be focusing on a reality television show. When I want to engage in targeted thinking, I’ll watch the History Channel or Giada on the Food Network, or even C-Span.

It is very upsetting to see Myleene Klass in short shorts and a tank top (in a filmed segment) then, after the double-run of the obnoxious Wal-Mart commercial, to have her show up, live, in a demure dress. Producers: Why do you think I sat through the obnoxious Wal-Mart commercials? A longer schedule would allow filmed shows (with far less reliance on boring flashbacks) with live segments only at the end of each show. The I’m A Celebrity … producers should watch Survivor or The Amazing Race to learn how to pace a reality competition.

Speaking of Myleene, I believe she was one of the two real winners on the show. Apparently Myleene is quite popular and well-known in the U.K., but this was the first time I had ever seen her. Not only is she a reality show personality (and model, singer and actress) but she is a classical pianist who studied at the University of London’s prestigious (sorry, Prof. McIntyre) Royal Academy of Music. Her CD, Myleene’s Music For Romance has quickly become one of Mrs. Bucky’s favorite ways to relax.

The other real winner was Patti Blagojevich, wife of impeached and indicted Illinois governor, Rod. She had the opportunity to influence the jury pool and she did so in a very positive manner. Patti came off as a smart, likeable and, quite possibly, unfairly persecuted woman. Is that the real Patti Blagojevich? I have no idea. But to the extent that image, real or not, rubs off on her husband, the jungle stay was likely worth it for her.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Celebreality
        

Tonight's So You Think You Can Dance results show opens with a verrrry sexy group number -- there's lots of writhing and undulating and even dancing on water-covered tables. It was choreographed by Dmitry Chaplin and Tabitha and Napoleon.

After the group dance, head judge Nigel Lythgoe acknowledges the tragic losses of Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and, of course, Michael Jackson. He says that he himself went into dancing because of Michael Jackson, and they even air a bit of the "Thriller" video.

After the break, they get right started with results, bringing five couples to the floor. Asuka and Vitolio are first; they are in the bottom three. Brandon and Janette learn that they're safe. Randy and Evan are, too, thanks to their "cheeky" performance, as Cat puts it. Jeanine and Phillip? Also safe. In this group of five couples, that leaves Ade and Melissa, who eventually learn that they are also in the clear.

Karla and Jonathan were predicted to be in the bottom three by Nigel last night, and he is right. Caitlin and Jason and Kayla and Kupono are the last two couples standing, and one of them is in the bottom two. Kayla and Kupono are safe, and Caitlin and Jason are in the bottom three. (This means that Carla predicted the bottom three couples exactly right last night. By the way, thanks for guest blogging, C!)

The special guest dancer tonight is the Rage Boys Crew, a group of b-boys that is made up of, well, boys, some of whom are clearly in the single-digit age range. Very cute.

Then, it's solo time. Asuka has the usual awkward partner-dancer-doing-a-solo problem going on. Vitolio looks very strong but somewhat manic all over the stage. Karla shows about 10 times as much energy and range than she did last night. Jonathan does a lot of tricks, but his actual dancing isn't that exciting. Caitlin and Jason have to wait until after the break.

Caitlin, who also has a gymnastics background, manages to incorporate her tricks into, you know, actual dancing. Jason kicks butt.

The judges are excused to figure out who's getting ditched, and in the meanting, the Veronicas perform. The audio is a little funky during the performance -- some of it is really loud, some, not so much.

Cut time! Nigel calls Caitlin forward: "YOu are without doubt growing in confidence each week. We think you gave the best solo tonight." Whew, the Annapolis/BSA grad dancer is safe, though I think she was confused at first. Nigel says Karla was a little bit desperate tonight, falling out of pirouettes. He tells Asuka she is a beautiful performer, but they don't think she's growing in the competition, so she is out. That means that Oxon Hill, Md., dancer Karla is also safe.

Nigel says they weren't unanimous with the guys. He calls Vitolio forward, and says he doesn't always follow through, that they will expect bigger movements from him based on his preparation for said moves. Jonathan is told that last night wasn't good and that his solo was lots of gymnastics, but not enough dancing. Nigel says that Jason's solo also seemed desperate and didn't dance for his life, but he is good enough to stay. Nigel yells and says they need to hurry up because they are running out of time. Vitolio is safe, and Jonathan is out.

I think these two cuts are pretty good. I totally agree that Asuka didn't seem to show much growth and that Jonathan was full of tricks, but not enough dancing most of the time. What say you?

At the very end of the show, Cat announces that Fox is rebroadcasting the American Idol Top 13 from this season, which was all Michael Jackson tunes. This, by the way, is the first time Fox has ever rebroadcast an episode of AI.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Maryland reality contestants, So You Think You Can Dance
        

I'm filling in for Sarah tonight, who's busy with baby and other things. It's the Top 16 on So You Think You Can Dance, which still includes Caitlin Kinney, a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts.

Tonight's guest judge is Toni Basil (Hey Mickey!). We learn that she's receiving a Living Legends of Hip-Hop Award, following in the footsteps of performers like Boogaloo Sam and MC Hammer. Award winners! Can't touch them!

Before the contestants dance, they tell us what they'd be doing if they weren't dancing. It's pretty cheesy. Let's just get to the choreography, please.

First up are Karla and Jonathan with a Dave Scott hip-hop routine. Note: Karla says she would be a journalist if she were not a dancer. I'm gathering she hasn't read about the hard times we're going through! They dance to "By My Side" by Jadakiss, featuring Ne-Yo. It's not very memorable. I think Karla is way better than Jonathan, who, to me, just looks too ballroom-y and Broadway-ish. He does do a cool flip. Judge Nigel Lythgoe said the smooth hip-hop was ironed out so that there was no excitement. He said it was lacking "danger." He asks if Jonathan felt comfortable, and he replies no. Nigel says there was no chemistry. "Instead of gangster ... that was like a Sunday school picnic outing," he says. He bets they'll be in the bottom three (he asks if anyone wants to take bets). Ouch! Judge Mary Murphy agrees with Nigel. Things were not synchronized, she says. "It really wasn't in the right groove at all," she adds. She says the highlight was the tumbling, but they are capable. Toni says street has to have a groove and a funk. She says if you don't have that, it feels "store-bought."

Asuka and Vitolio take on a Mandy Moore "thrash rocker jazz" routine (their words, not mine). They dance to "Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar. I don't find this routine all that memorable. However, Nigel said it was fantastic. He said it included simple steps, but that they did the work. Hmm. Mary says it was really good, but it wasn't "holy smokes!" She says certain things weren't synchronized, and she expected a bit more. She liked how they "got" the character and how they are growing as a partnership. Toni says they have the potential to develop into a powerful couple. Toni talks about how Vitolio carried Asuka in a macho, sexy way. She tells them to not let their technique get in the way of their emotions (that comment is spot-on).

Melissa and Ade do a Tony Meredith rumba. I LOVED their routine last week, so I have high hopes for them this week. It's to "Emotion" by Destiny's Child. I'm not a big rumba fan, but I think they danced this pretty well. Ade is awesome. Nigel starts by complementing Melissa's body and the way she carries herself. Then, he breaks out the pun: "What a difference Ade makes." Hee! He says they did well. Mary says what they are selling, she is buying. She says her rumba walks and glances were believable and in tune. She says Ade was grooving while some ballroom dancers look stiff. "I saw what was going on there; yes, I did!" she screams. Toni says it was beautifully done, and that the ballet training paid off. She says the couple was hot because Tony was hot during his own competitions.

Janette (who would be working in a bank as a loan processor if she weren't a dancer?!) and Brandon are coming off their disco high for a rock-and-roll-meets-hip-hop routine to "What a World" by Common. It's definitely one of the better hip-hop routines we've seen this season. I love how expressive they both are -- they totally sell it. Nigel says it's like a "junior all-stars 50 Cent and Cher." Ha! He says Brandon impressed him with his hip-hop, and Janette with her rock. (Brandon is totally proving Mia Michaels wrong, no?) They get a "well done." Mary says she thinks they really hit it. She says she's very proud of them, then screams. Toni says the juxtaposition of the rock and hip-hop was strategic on the choreographer's part and good for the couple. She compliments their connection, then Nigel interrupts and asks if Toni had similar tights back in the day. She says she had to use scissors to cut holes in them.

Kayla and Kupono are paired up for the first time this week, and they're doing a Viennese waltz by Jean-Marc Genereux. They dance to Jewel's "Sweet Dreams for You." It's a very liberal waltz, but very, well, sweet. It had wonderful flow. They're gorgeous as a couple. Nigel said they're not going to get a hundred rounds of applause, but that the routine was very beautiful. He says he's not sure people will stand and cheer, but, of course, then the audience does. Mary says: "That was no nightmare!" She says it was believable and endearing. She adds that it wasn't even close to ballroom, though, but that was OK. She offers a bit of criticism about Kupono's steps. Then ... Mary puts them on the hot tamale train. Surprise! She says she never yells for a waltz, but that they deserve it. Toni really liked the routine, but that by allowing no shoes in a waltz, Jean-Marc is pushing the envelope. "Miss, you are something else," she says about Kayla. She's amazed they are a new partnership.

Randy and Evan are doing a Mia Michaels contemporary routine. Randy's butt gets attention during practice (and during the routine). The idea is that Randy is almost like a "poodle" (sexy and sophisticated), and Evan is captivated by that. They dance to "Koop Island Blues" by Koop featuring Ane Brun. I adore the routine. It's so fabulous, yet simple. Nigel offers a lot of "there wasn't a X, but ...". But! Butt! He says that a simple routine that you can follow through as a story will make everyone talk about it the next morning. Mary says she wasn't hypnotized by just "the butt." She says they were terrific, and that it was one of the best numbers tonight. She says the dance has made her finally see Evan as a leading man. Toni says the choreography didn't become the star -- that they lived up to it. Toni says Mia was phenomenal, and so were they.

Caitlin (who would want to be a broadcast journalist if she weren't dancing -- another wannabe reporter!) and Jason will do a Jean-Marc Genereux paso doble. The music is Carmina Burana. They're not joking around! It's not particularly a crowd-pleaser, in my opinion, but it seems strong. Plus, the way the camera films it, in circles, it's making my dizzy to the point that I can't really tell if I love it. I'm going to defer to the judges on this one. Nigel says the music is so passionate, but that Jason wasn't performing to Caitlin; he was performing to the audience. But, he says, a lot of the things they did were exceptionally good. He says Caitlin's lines and flow are very good. Good job overall, he adds. Mary says it was a strong performance. She says Jason wasn't as strong and in character as he could have been. She adds that Caitlin's jump at the beginning was magnificent. Toni says she liked that even though the style wasn't always working, they kept performing it; they kept living with the music. What? But, hey, she thought it was really good.

Last are Jeanine and Phillip, who wants to be an inventor. He researches on the Web. (We see him looking at Wikipedia. Ha!) They're performing to "Moses" from Singin' in the Rain, complete with a couch as a prop. It's 10 times more entertaining than Asuka and Vitolio's Broadway routine from the Top 20 episode. Phillip rips his pants!!! and does an impressive jump over the couch. Nigel says they needed to bring personality to the routine; Jeanine did, he says, but Phillip needs to bring a bit more. Mary says she's allergic to down feathers, but she "wasn't allergic to that routine" (groan). She expected it to be a nightmare for Phillip, but it wasn't. His steps got a bit weak toward the end, though. She says Jeanine was fabulous. Toni thought the dance was adorable, but it didn't rise to that extra level. She said they were better as a couple this week than last week. She admits that "it's the luck of the draw" when it comes to the couple, the choreography and the music. That's for sure.

Who do you think is in the bottom three? I'm going to go with Karla and Jonathan, Asuka and Vitolio and maybe Caitlin and Jason? I still think voters love Phillip too much.

Posted by Carla Correa at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: So You Think You Can Dance
        

Well, this is a move in the right direction. It seems that after next week's episode, a "retrospective" (aka clip show), Jon & Kate Plus 8 will be on hiatus until Aug. 3, EW reports.

The network told EW: "TLC continues to support the Gosselin family and will work closely with them to determine the best way to continue to tell their story as they navigate through this difficult time."

My advice: Don't! Just live your lives and figure things out WITHOUT the cameras.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 4:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

TMZ.com and People.com are reporting that tonight's big announcement on Jon & Kate Plus 8 is that J&K have filed for divorce, but the producers drag out the news until the tail-end of the show, of course.

Weirdly, the show is combining two major story lines: product placement of "Crooked House" brand playhouses for the kids and whatever this at-the-moment-amorphous big news is. Maybe they are taking a break from the show, but they had to get coverage of the latest freebie in first? Seriously, Kate says, "Crooked Houses" about 495 times.

They try to pull the two halves of this together by setting it up as if J&K are going to have a huge fight over where the playhouses (see, that works just fine!) are going to go, but they compromise, and it works out.

Then they finally start talking about the issue:

Jon: "Yeah, Kate and I have not been communicating very well. And some things are going on, but we're there for our kids. ... [Unfortunate devolution into product placement]."

Kate: "I love my kids. I have become very hard, very crass, very jaded, maybe. And I'm sure that is what people see about me. But that is my survival self digging in and saying, 'I will not lay down and die.' I will go on for my kids, and I'll say it till my dying day. ... If I have to pull this whole ship on my own, I will do it."

After more discussion of the houses, Kate says, "Jon has a lot of anger toward me and I would love to discuss it with him, and he won't talk to me. That's the truth. I'm kind of lost. He won't hold a discussion with me. ... I don't know that he knows what he wants to do."

A producer asks Jon how it's going. "It's been stressful. ... Thank God we have the show, so we can tell what we want to tell. But people just tell whatever they want to tell anyway." Cut to Kate: "We haven't really known where we were going, but we've been dealing with this for a long time. A slow progression that has not popped up one day, it's not been like, a secret. And, um, we've been dealing a long time with this." Jon: "This is the hardest episode ever. I showed up two hours late to shoot it because I had reservations about even doing it." 

He goes on: "I was too passive. I just let her rule the roost and do whatever she wanted to do, and went along with everything, and now I finally stood up on my own two feet, and I'm proud of myself." Kate: "It's the next chapter. It's not a chapter that was brought on by the show. It's not a chapter that was brought on by our career choices at all. I believe that it's a chapter that probably would have played out had the world been watching or not." (Snide me says: It's a chapter that you can read all about in Kate's next book! Un-snide me says: Shut up, they are about to say they are getting a divorce.) Jon says he is looking for friendship with Kate, and they don't have anything now.

Kate says she just needs relief and "to turn the page." Jon says, "I don't hate Kate, but, you know, I have to do what's best for me and my kids. Them first. It's hard to talk about." Kate: "It's a fork in the road. Our goals are different now. ... I don't hate him. I never will."

Producer guy asks Jon to "clear the air." He says: "Kate and I have decided to separate. ... It's just not good for our kids for us to be arguing in front of our kids." Kate says she isn't fond of the idea, "but I know it's necessary." She says the kids will stay in "their house," and she will be there when it's her days, and he will come there when it's his days. Interesting.

But what about the show?

"It's a shame," Jon says. "I will always love her as the mother of my kids." He goes on to say he won't see them every day, and Kate says it will be strange because she will have days where she can't be around them.

Kate says they have always done the show to be able to provide for their kids and to record memories for them. This leads into a montage of their favorite moments. Yes, it's as strangely placed as you think.

Jon says he will still be on the show, but separately. Kate says she will keep doing what she's been doing and record things with the kids.

Wait, what? They are going to go through a divorce on camera and drag their children (sorry, I couldn't say "kids" one more time) through it in the public eye? Divorce, yes, and show, yes? I'm sorry, this is horrible and crazy.

Jon says that he is "hurt and excited" about the new chapter in his life. Well, isn't that special. Lest anyone think he isn't being selfish, just look back at that doozy of a quote.

"It's going to be different," Jon says.

A title card comes out that says that today (Monday, June 22, 2009), legal proceedings were started in their county in Pennsylvania to dissolve their marriage.

Kate says she hopes everyone will come through this stronger, better, wiser. Maybe, but definitely more exposed, more criticized, even more in the public eye than ever before.

The outgoing anecdote of the show is them spending a holiday (Mother's Day) going out for a brunch all together, which isn't awkward at all. OK, actually, it is.

They close with some talk about moving forward and moving on, and I really have no words because I cannot believe they are going to put their kids through a divorce on camera. It makes my blood boil. It makes me sick. It makes me sad. It makes me angry.

I feel like the best thing we can do at this point is avert our eyes and try to give the Gosselin children some privacy at this time, since their parents seem uninterested in that idea. I said I was done with this show a couple of weeks ago, but the "news" of tonight's big announcement dragged me back in. Unless there is some further so-called news, I'm out.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 10:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (110)
Categories: Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

As you might have noticed, I gave up on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here several episodes ago. But my curiosity got the better of me, and I asked longtime Reality Check reader and commenter Bucky if he'd mind catching us up. He obliged. Thanks, Bucky! Take it away ...

(Note:  I didn’t know I was going to be doing this, so I wasn’t taking notes all along.  Much of the time, I wasn’t even paying that close of attention.  So I may have a few things out of order and I may have missed a few details.  Where I can’t make up something that sounds plausible—which, considering the subject, shouldn’t be that difficult—please forgive me.  Like Letterman, I’ll try to do better in the future.)

So, I believe we left off where Heidi and Spencer had decided that appearing on I’m A Celebrity… was, as Spencer so tactfully put it, “devaluing their fame” and had headed for The Hills.  Stephen Baldwin’s brother, Daniel, had joined the cast unexpectedly.  Then Heidi and Spencer had a sudden off-camera change of heart and asked to rejoin the cast.  My theory is that Spencer heard Stephen’s brother had joined the show and, thinking it was Alec, decided that the value of Speidi’s fame was safe.  Just, you know, my theory.

The twist was that not only would Heidi and Spencer have to go through their very own challenge, they would have to be voted back onto the show by the other cast members.

(Sidebar:  Whenever I say there was a “challenge” you can assume it involved the contestants putting either parts or all of their bodies into a pit of mud or an enclosed space also occupied by hordes of creepy Costa Rican critters.  Something to ponder:  aren’t there any cute, cuddly critters in Costa Rica?  End sidebar.)

There is a challenge; I forget why.  But I clearly remember that the men win.  (That last sentence is called “foreshadowing” in the literary world.)

Time passes.  That horrible Wal-Mart commercial where the women pass the reusable shopping bag down the line, changing the color of their shopping carts to Wal-Mart Blue, runs and then it almost immediately runs again.

When we get back to Costa Rica, Angela is the first celebrity voted off, and the guy at TMZ who, at the end of the show, always says, “I’m a lawyer,” crosses her off the TMZ hit list.  (Just guessing at that last part.)

In the next episode Heidi and Spencer complete their challenge by frightening the beejesus out of all manner of creepy Costa Rican critters, which cower all night in abject fear at being enclosed in the same space with Spencer Pratt.  So it turns out to be, you know, a pretty easy challenge.  The producers presumably promise the contestants A LOT of extra money and the cast votes to let Speidi back into camp.

In camp, Heidi starts to sing and Janice says she sounds like a cat, thereby offending Heidi.  Spencer has another in a long line of religious epiphanies.

Frances, the other half (with departed Angela) of the comedy team Frangela has a little twist of her own for the camp and announces she is leaving.  Two down.

There is another challenge; the men win.  I think it was Sanjaya, beating Janice, which you would think might have been a close contest, but since Simon isn’t around to intimidate him, Sanjaya turns out to be a formidable opponent.

The obnoxious Wal-Mart commercial runs again.  And again.

Heidi gets really, really sick.  No, really, she does. She has these serial vomiting episodes, in between which Spencer kisses her.  Ewwwwwww, as they say.  But Spencer knows where his bread is buttered.  They take Heidi off in an ambulance and … well, I’m not sure if she survived or not.  (That last sentence is known as “foreshadowing” in the literary world and, remember, you heard it here first.)

Then they have a challenge to see who gets to be leader of the pack.  Lou wins, because he’s a guy.

Then they have another challenge to see who will be immune from elimination.  I’m not exactly sure, but I think the challenge lasted a couple of days because it starts at the end of one episode and concludes at the beginning of…

…The next episode.  Lou wins.  Not only because he’s a guy, but because he’s also the guy. 

Somewhere in this episode Lou (camp leader) makes Janice (camp diva) wash dishes.  Stephen, who by now has teamed up with his brother Daniel in a plot to make Janice’s life a living hell, celebrates at this turn of events, right there in front of Janice.  After she washes Stephen’s plate, she spits on it.  In living rooms all over America, Janice gets her only applause of the series.

In a twist that was announced on the internet so far in advance everybody except my 87-year-old mother (who whenever she hears the word “Google” starts singing a song from the 1930s called “Barney Google with his goo-goo-googly eyes”) knew it was coming.  Holly Montag (Heidi’s sister) who I‘m told hates Spencer, although I don’t know that of personal knowledge, arrives to replace her sister.

Holly, however, is a sweetheart.  No, really, she is. 

There is another challenge and HA! The girls win.  Actually, Holly wins.  This, my friends, was a twist.

And then, and then, there is another challenge and the girls (Patti and Torrie, who have been “stealth contestants” up to now) win.

This calls for a celebration.  The obnoxious Wal-Mart commercial runs three times in a row.  (OK, maybe not, but it seems like it.)

In the next episode, there is a lot of time spent:

--discussing all the bugs
--showing Holly and Sanjaya canoodling and
--watching three contestants, Patti, Daniel and Lou, Skyping with their families.  This was the result of some challenge I missed, but I think it had to do with creepy Costa Rican critters.

Then, Daniel gets voted off.  Janice celebrates, which seals her fate with Stephen.  Game on.

In the next episode, in which the producers had the unenviable task of squeezing 15 minutes of action into two hours of broadcast, John is elected camp leader then sort of, maybe, well not really, falls for Patti and Patti falls for John, too.  But don’t think any untoward thoughts.  They are just “friends” because they both played in the NBA, except for Patti.  And they both face indictment by a federal grand jury, except for John.  From less have enduring friendships sprung.

There is a challenge and Torrie and Patti win massages, right there in the jungle and if you think for a minute I’m going to make some sexist comment about Torrie Wilson lying practically naked on a massage table in front of God and everybody, you’ve got another think coming, mister.  Or missus.

Oh, Janice gets sick and this time (unlike all the previous times I have failed to mention because, apparently, Janice being sick is a normal, everyday occurrence) it might be real.  She can’t, you know, go “number two.”  (Can I say that in a blog?)  She can’t.  She tries.  Almost as many times as the Wal-Mart commercial has run.  But she can’t.  So they haul her off to the hospital too.

She comes back then next day and has suddenly turned into a sweetheart.  She also looks like maybe she had another facelift while she was in the hospital.  Maybe it was scheduled in advance.  Costa Rican hospitals are a lot cheaper than the ones in Beverly Hills, is my understanding.

This is running long, so let me quickly recap the next episode:  Sanjaya isn’t gay.  No, really, he’s not. 

In last night’s episode, two contestants are supposed to be sent packing.  John and Lou are immune, because of a challenge (Lou) and at the selection by the camp leader (John, by John.)  Yes, John could have given anybody, even his BFF Patti, immunity but he kept it for himself.  Methinks Rod has probably taught Patti how to handle someone who double-crosses you.  We’ll find out in a future episode.

In a shocking twist, Jon and Kate Gosselin arrive in camp for a second honeymoon.  Ha Ha ha.  Not really.  I just wanted to see if you were still paying attention.

There is another challenge and the guys win.  There is some extended time spent with the contestants having serious and emotion conversation.  During this part I made myself a grilled cheese.

Eventually, following a voting period that I think lasted four or five days, Holly is told she is going home.  I’m sad.  (Holly—and Heidi—are from the same county I grew up in, high in the Colorado Rockies.  There’s a bond there that will never go away.)

More emotional time passes.

Janice gets the boot.  Oh no!  What will they do for drama now?

Could it be?  Nah … they wouldn’t.  But what would this show be without a Montag?

Next week is the final week, so you should watch.  I need to warn you, however, that a “day” in Costa Rican time feels like a “month” in American time.  So you should rest up over the weekend.

(Pictured: Lou Diamond Phillips tries to look hardcore while surrounded by colorful toys. Photo courtesy of NBC)

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 10:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Celebreality
        

What's the best part of Thursdays? So You Think You Can Dance group performance! Tonight's results show kicks off with a powerful Mia Michaels routine to Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground." So. Good.

We're wasting little time, at least for now, and getting straight to the results. The first three couples hit the stage to find out where they stand. Ade and Melissa are first -- and they're safe. Caitlin and Jason have to wait until Cat Deeley talks to Phillip and Jeanine first. They learn that one is definitely in the bottom three, and it's Caitlin and Jason.

After the break, Janette and Brandon learn they're safe. Karla and Jonathan and Ashley and Kupono have to wait a few minutes. Ashley and Kupono are in the bottom three.

In a promo for Seaon 6, which is happening this fall, we see that Ryan Kasprzak (Evan's brother) made it through to Vegas in the L.A. round. Woot! He's great, so that's exciting.

Randi and Evan are safe, which leaves either Vitolio and Asuka or Kayla and Max as the last couple in the bottom three. Shockingly, Kayla and Max are in the bottom three.

Then it's solo time. I never really know how to describe these because they go so fast, but Kayla and Max really seem to be in another league. And usually, I feel bad for partner dancers when they have to do solos, but Max kills it.

The time-waster, uh, I mean performer while the judges deliberate is Kristinia DeBarge. She is so obviously lip-syncing that it's ridiculous. I don't know why they even bothered to put the little mike on the side of her face.

After that, Nigel says they weren't unanimous on either cut. He says Caitlin had good quality of movement and control and that she is safe. They liked Ashley's Hollywood glamour but not the lack of substance. He says that Kayla's solo was "crowded," too packed with things. So the woman being cut is Ashley.

Nigel says Jason's solo was the best on the series to date and he is safe. He says that Kupono's solo was lacking substance, too, but they like that he is unique and can take on characters. He says no one could impress as far as hard work as Max does. They cut Max. Really? I thought he was fantastic, both last night and in his solo. And I still think that Kupono really messed up last night, since why on earth would they have put a lackluster routine in the final spot?

I don't agree with this at all. I feel bad for Ashley, but her solo was simply not as good as the other two. I don't get why Kupono isn't going home. I don't have anything against him, I just feel like he didn't pull it off this week.

What do you think?

Photo: Mathieu Young/FOX

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: So You Think You Can Dance
        

I stopped watching a couple of weeks ago (not that that's stopped people from continuing to comment on the entry from the premiere), but I felt I had to acknowledge that Jon and Kate Gosselin are making "an announcement" in, of course, a one-hour episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 on Monday.

Time writer James Poniewozik said it the best and first, so I suggest you read his entry on the promo of the announcement episode.

I'm definitely one of the people hoping they're giving up the show to focus on their family, but totally agree with this sentiment: 

One effective way of making an announcement is to, you know, announce it. Not turn it into a freaking Rose Ceremony, the shocking-dramatic-reveal at the end of a stunt episode—which just happens to fall on the heels of a vertiginous drop in your show's ratings.

Yes, that.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 2:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

Randi and Evan are the first couple on tonight's So You Think You Can Dance, and the interview segments are pegged to "things America should know about your partner." We learn that Randi loves her dog and Evan likes cars and built his car from scratch. That's cool, but let's get to the dancing! They work with Louis Van Amstel on the jive, which he says is all about personality. I think that should work for them. And oh, yes, it does. They are SO adorable and fabulous, working the entire stage to Ray Charles' "Shake Your Tailfeather." I think, too, that Louis is glad to be freed from the no-lift bonds of choreographing for Dancing With the Stars; this performance has some simply amazing tricks. In a word: Love! Rewind/rewatch factor: Oh. Yes. Judge Lil C says they are "out the box with a bang." He says that Evan is so smooth sometimes that it seems too easy, and he should be a little more explosive. He says it was a solid beginning. They say it was "fun" about 400 times, riffing on a "fun meter" from the interview segment. Mary Murphy says the jive was built for these two, but they had a few issues, though overall she really liked it. Nigel Lythgoe credits Louis for some awesome choreography. He says he expected Evan to be better than he was, that he lost a little of the double-bounce of the dance, but that as a couple they are great.

By the way, who dressed host Cat Deeley in this bright red dust ruffle?

Melissa and Ade are next. We learn that Melissa has been married for four years, and that her sister is married to her husband's brother. Also, Ade's real name is really long. They draw jazz and work with Sonya Tayeh on a dance about a love-hate relationship that they perform to "24 Hours" by Terry Poison. Sonya's work is always a little bit out there, and sometimes I don't totally connect with it. I feel like I have that issue with this performance, but I can't tell if it's the choreography or the dancers not quite pulling it off, so I'm curious what the judges will say. Rewind/rewatch: Yes, but maybe just to try to figure it out. Lil C liked it. He calls it "buck." He tells Ade that he is everyone's competition, and he's putting his name on the line for that. He tells Melissa that Sonya makes them search for the character and the moves and that she seemed a little timid in rehearsal, but she dove in in the performance. Mary says it's time for some tough love because ... "it was really tough to find anything I didn't love about it." Why does she do that almost every single time? Nigel says Sonya's style allows them to show off their technique and that Melissa equalled Ade's strength. So I guess it was just me, heh. I rewatch based on the judges' unanimity, and I see more of the strength and power the second time around, but I really thought I sensed a little timidity at the beginning that the judges didn't address. Am I crazy?

Caitlin Kinney (a Baltimore School for the Arts grad who is from Annapolis) and Jason share that Jason is obsessed with Michael Jackson and that Caitlin does silly baby voices and a velociraptor impression. They work on a hip-hop dance with Shane Sparks, who says they need to dance, have character and act like they're in love, and everything will be all right. Their song, by the way, is Trey Songz's "Missin You." I think Jason outdances Caitlin a little -- his movements are just a bit bigger and have more pop, but she holds her own, and she gets to showcase her gymnastics background with this smooth backbend flip maneuver. Lil C "did not love that." He says he is perplexed by the end of the number, that the "choreographer's fantasy has to become the dancer's reality." He says because their moves were so smooth that it lacked "nectar." Mary says they are out of sync, which made their chemistry off. They show a repeat of a move that is about when I decided that Jason was outdancing Caitlin -- Mary's description makes more sense. Nigel says Shane took his non-hard-hitting dancers and gave them something that worked with them, and that they looked really good doing that routine.

Janette and Brandon reveal that Janette used to have really bad teeth and that buff Brandon never works out. They draw disco with Doriana Sanchez, and she says it's the fastest dance she's ever created for SYTYCD. Their music is "Loving is Really My Game" by Brainstorm. And holy mackerel, it is speedy. They are all over the place, in perpetual motion, with huge lifts and major syncopated movements. Janette has a little stumble, and their last move, a lift that ends with Janette arched backward with her head near the floor, looks like maybe they have a momentary problem, but they finish strong. Rewind/rewatch: Already did. Lil C: "I believe that the primary focus of all obstacles is to induce labor so progression can be born. I believe that just now I saw the birth of progression in two amazing dancers. That was extremely, extremely amazing. Brandon, I thought you did an amazing job." Finally, nice words for Brandon. Mary asks Nigel if that was on fast-forward. She says it's the fastest disco she's ever seen and that they nailed it. Nigel says if he could stand and scream like Mary, he would.

Then it's Asuka and Vitolio's turn to share random facts -- Vitolio likes motorcycles; Asuka blows spit bubbles. Mmmmkay. Dancing, please! They do the waltz with Louis van Amstel. He creates a dance to tell Vitolio's story of being an orphan. They perform to Enya's "Dreams are More Precious." The dance is lovely (and yes, has more lifts -- what would Carrie Ann say?), but it seems like there are a few moments were Vitolio is kind of off-balance. They show a lot of emotion, though. Rewind/rewatch: Honestly, probably not. Maybe that's plebian of me, but oh well. Mary is crying before she even starts talking; she says it was "painfully beautiful." She says this is the most "honest" she's seen him dance from the very beginning, though he had a few footwork problems. She adds that Asuka showed believable passion on her face for the whole dance. Lil C says Vitolio's choppy steps were compensated for by his emotion. Nigel says anyone who wasn't touched by the routine is heartless and that they brought a quality to the routine that they haven't seen before.

Max and Kayla's random facts are that Max is the house dad and likes to cook for everyone and Kayla likes to text a lot. These can surely not be the most interesting things about all of these dancers! They are doing a Brian Friedman pop-jazz routine about a guy coming to perform for a princess who has ulterior motives -- to steal her throne. Their song is Nadia Oh's "Hot Like Wow." In theory, it seems like this sort of thing would be hard for Max, a ballroom dancer, but Brian's routine has Max dancing in a similar tall frame and with movements that echo his strengths. The whole thing is a little wacky, but it's entertaining, and it gets a yes on the rewind/rewatch question. Lil C says dancing is a language, and when you work outside your kind of dance, you have to pick up their vernacular. He says Max absolutely did and that Kayla was so good he has nothing to say to her. Mary says Max was quite a surprise and that Kayla was just a beast and hasn't taken a wrong step since they first saw her. Nigel says he's thrilled to have Brian back and that Kayla is a front-runner and an incredible dancer. He adds that his job was to keep up with Kayla, and that his character did.

Jonathan and Karla share their facts: Karla is apparenly a really good hip-hop dancer and is in a well-known group, and Jonathan likes to sing -- badly. They are doing contemporary with Stacey Tookey, a new choreographer on the show (but who is well known on SYTYCD in Canada). Their song is "Falling Slowly" by the Frames (from Once). Karla puts a lot of emotion in her face that doesn't seem forced, but I'm not quite sure I buy Jonathan in the role he's playing. Their movements are strong and graceful, though. Rewind/rewatch: Maybe. Mary says she has never said this in five seasons. To Jonathan: You did that style better than your own. She says he's showing so much growth for only week two. She says they lived up to the Academy Award-winning song and that she's spellbound. Nigel says he couldn't believe it because Jonathan's center of gravity was like tai chi and amazing. Lil C says they danced beautifully and everything was in perfect balance and he thought it was buck. Hmm ... maybe I'm just tired. I think I need to watch again.

Phillip and Jeanine reveal that Phillip is a science nerd who loves reptiles and that Jeanine always has her teddy bear with her. Moving on ... They're working with Tony Meredith on the tango. He's surprised that their ballroom skills are so lacking. Foreshadowing, or setting them up to look even better when they succeed? We shall see ... They dance to "Violento" by Bailango. This one is kind of a mixed bag -- Phillip's posture and frame seem really off to me, and I suspect the judges are going to knock his footwork, too. Not to mention that that leaves Jeanine dancing circles around him. Mary gives Phillip an A+ in attitude, but in technique a C-. She says Jeanine is a hot mama and had better techniqe, doing a great job. Lil C says he's a fan of Phillip, but "a lack of confidence is the heaviest anchor you can put on your art," and he didn't have any confidence in that performance. Nigel says that Phillip has an incredible following in "what you do," and this technical dance was tough on him. It wasn't good, technically, he says, but it was great entertainment. I would probably rewind and rewatch that one just to see Phillip's face betray his discomfort during his lifts of Jeanine. (That is not a knock against her, by the way, just to be clear.)

Kupono and Ashley are last, and their vignettes are a little weird. Kupono seems to have some minor OCD (like literally) with how he arranges his closet, and Ashley barfed on her entire class on her first day of first grade. Yikes! They are working on a hip-hop routine with Shane Sparks in which Ashley is Kupono's shadow, done to "Imma Be" by the Black Eyed Peas. (Wasn't Shane's group dance last week to the Black Eyed Peas, too? There are some other artists out there, I promise!) It's a fun and entertaining dance, though I have to say that since they were the last performance of the evening (typically known as "the pimp spot" on performance shows), I was expecting a little more. But, still, a yes on the rewind/rewatch scale. Mary: "It was .... OK. I didn't hate it, and I didn't love it. It just ... wasn't memorable to me." Lil C says Kupono struggled through it, and that made it tough for Ashley to mirror him, which is especially bad because she was supposed to be his shadow. "Ashley, I wasn't mad at you at all." Nigel says the dance stopped right when he started to enjoy it, and that overall he was underwhelmed.

That was a pretty good night, but I think last week was stronger. Tonight, I was all about the fast numbers -- Kayla and Max, Janette and Brandon and Randi and Evan were probably my favorites.

And, in honor of the random biographical facts shared tonight, here's one about me: In fifth grade, I broke my arm the day before elementary school graduation and two days before my birthday party. Isn't that fascinating and totally irrelevant to anything we've been talking about? Share your own facts below if you like. Or talk about the show. Or both!

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: So You Think You Can Dance
        

This one's for the 40 people who got confused a while back when I posted about The Biggest Loser getting the green light for a couple more seasons and deciding that I must be in charge of casting. Sorry, y'all, I'm not, but I finally have some information for you.

There are casting calls starting June 27 and running through Aug. 1 in various locations. (The closest TBL is getting to Baltimore is Philadelphia this time around.) You can find more information here.

Anybody planning to try out?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 3:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Biggest Loser
        

I finally got to see the premiere episode of Top Chef Masters this past weekend, and though I wasn't sure about the premise at first, I'm in.

A number of well-known chefs, most of whom have served as guest judges on past seasons of Top Chef, face off round-robin style. In the premiere, it was Hubert Keller, Christopher Lee, Michael Schlow and Tim Love facing off.

The whole thing has a different feel to it. There's the buzz of competition in the air, of course, but where the average TC contestant is trying to make a name or him- or herself, here, these guys are trying desperately to not humiliate themselves.

But it's tough when they're facing quickfires like: Make a dessert ... for these Girl Scouts. Or cook a gourmet meal ... using a hot plate and microwave in someone's dorm room.

Hubert Keller handily won both rounds (though it was a little icky that he used water from the shower to properly cool and warm his pasta). He'll go against the folks who win in the next several shows. The next episode is tonight at 10 on Bravo.

So ... even though I don't like the host, and Tom Collicchio's presence is missed in the judging room, I'll be tuning in again.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 1:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Top Chef
        

John-John Williams IV reports on the finale of Real Housewives of New Jersey. Take it away, John-John ...

Lord Jesus! This season on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, we’ve witnessed inappropriate grinding with celebrity dance instructors; we’ve heard stories about the Columbian cartel and kidnappings; and let’s not forget the breast augmentation.  

At points, these gals made the cast from Atlanta look like prim and proper debutants. The Real Housewives of New Jersey have definitely made an imprint on pop culture this year. With that said, I honestly thought that the season finale was going to be anti-climatic. Boy, was I so glad to be wrong. The hourlong finale was packed with juicy revelations, a near fight and resolution. It was the cherry on the top of the cake.

The episode starts with Teresa, the one who just got breast implants, showing off her new home, which is redonkulously huge! Can someone tell me what her man does? While Teresa and friend Dina are chillaxing at her new estate, Teresa announces that she is going to have a party. She also announces that she intends to invite Danielle. (Danielle is the “cougar” of the group. The last man she dated was 25 years her junior. She also has horrendous parenting skills. Her daughters are more like her girlfriends. Think Amy Poehler in Mean Girls.)

At Danielle’s house, she is showing naked modeling pictures of herself to her children. (Out of control!) She then tells her girls about a book about her that talks about her past arrest, name change, and other questionable behavior. (Danielle is still pretty mad that the book started to circulate. She blames Dina.)

Meanwhile, Jacqueline is welcoming her parents who are visiting from Las Vegas. Jacqueline is contemplating whether to get botox. Her mother advises her against it.

Dina, who is a mother-of-the-year candidate compared to Danielle, is dealing with the growing pains of her 12-year-old daughter Lexi. The two are getting rid of Lexi’s massive stuffed animal and Halloween candy collection.

Caroline, the oldest-looking one, is the sister of Dina, and the matriarch of the group. She was busy training her guard dog with her husband Albert.

Jacqueline's bratty daughter Ashley receives a brand new SUV for doing well in SUMMER SCHOOL! Seriously?!?!?!? Welcome to the Real Housewives of New Jersey. Jacqueline tells Ashley that the car is not hers full-time. She’s also tells Ashley that she has to keep up her grades in order to use the vehicle. (Whatevs!)

In the next scene, Dina, her daughter Lexi, and Caroline are out to dinner. They talk about Dina’s plans to “retire” from being an interior designer and event planner. (Lord have mercy.) I guess being a full-fledged housewife will allow her to watch over her daughter Lexi, who appears that she’s going to turn into major trouble. (Lexi confesses to the cameras that she’s proud about maturing and that there’s nothing her mom can do about it.)

When we come back from the commercial break, all the girls are heading to Teresa’s dinner. Teresa greets her guests and shows off her newest “acquisitions.”

The group sits down to eat. Danielle is the last guest to arrive. And the claws are drawn. It appears that things are going to be peaceful. (Among other things, Teresa starts talking about not wanting to have sex with her husband because of her plastic surgery.)

But Danielle pulls out the infamous book and puts it on the table. She goes into this whole speech about the book. Dina tries to interrupt. And then Teresa tries to interrupt. But, Danielle keeps on talking.

Teresa asks for the kids to leave. Danielle allows her kids to stay at the table.

“I don’t feel it was necessary to take it through the town,” Danielle said.

“I sat at home alone, throwing up with diarrea for three weeks because of you,” Danielle lamented to Dina. (Gross.)

In a surprise revelation, Caroline admits that she showed the book to people. Then she got gangster and told Danielle to stop attacking her sister Dina.

Jacqueline also steps in and defends Danilelle, which is tough for her because she said she felt torn between helping her friend Danielle or defending her sisters-in-law Caroline, and Dina. And then Jacqueline and Dina start screaming at each other. Dina calls Jacqueline “two-faced.”

Teresa jumps in and starts attacking Danielle. Things quickly boil over. Teresa yells obscenities at Danielle. She even flips over a table! (The real Jersey girl comes out!)

Back to the main event.

“I cannot stomach you,” Dina tells Danielle.

“The feeling is mutual,” Danielle counters.

Dina says she was going to pray for Danielle. The dinner ends with everyone leaving fairly peacefully, but the dinner table looks like its been shipped in from Beirut.

Just before the ending credits we learn that Dina is in fact retired and tending to her family and her cats; Teresa is now preggers; Caroline admits that she would show the book again; Danielle is still looking for her soul mate; and Jacqueline is also preggers, and has mended her relationship with her family. (Jacqueline, whose struggles with multiple miscarriages were mentioned earlier in the season, gave birth last week.)

The director’s cut of “The Last Supper” will be shown next week at 9 p.m. on Bravo. A reunion show will be shown at 10 p.m. I’ll definitely be watching both. 

Here’s some food for thought: I wonder how many copies of the infamous book Cop Without A Badge will be sold as a result of this show?

Posted by John-John Williams IV at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

No love for third-place finisher Danny Gokey just yet, but his fellow competitors Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta have signed record deals, it was announced today.

Read more here.

Adam Lambert's already been on the cover of Rolling Stone, and winner Kris has more songs on the Billboard Top 40, but what do you predict is going to happen when the albums come out? Who's going to be the sales winner?

I can see Kris selling more and Adam getting better reviews and Allison getting the most raves for any duets she might do with Adam. What say you?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 8:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: American Idol
        

 My friend Amy Watts started thinking last night that there might be some correlation between having lame choreography and going home on So You Think You Can Dance. So was it possible that being assigned a particular choreographer hurts a contestant's odds of advancing? (Yes, she was particularly wondering whether Tabitha and Napoleon are a dangerous draw after this week's Top 20 shows.)

"Bored and sleepless," as Amy described herself, she decided to start wading through the data and looking for patterns. She put together a spreadsheet that looked at each choreographer's "impact" on a dancer's chances of going home. You can see it here.

The rough, totally non-scientific conclusion?

Alex Da Silva (8.25) has the highest, Tyce Diorio has the second highest "Impact Factor" (6.625), followed very closely by Tabitha and Napoleon (6.125), and then, at a comfortable remove, Shane Sparks (4.75).

Of course, Da Silva is probably not coming anywhere near this show again, given the current charges he's facing.

But it's interesting to see how the numbers play out. I've got more from Amy on her methodology after the jump:

I'm not entirely pleased with my methodology, having slept on it for a night.  I feel like there should be weighting not just for how many times a choreographer has appeared, but also how far along in the competition.  For example, last night, the couple that danced a Tab & Nap routine were both eliminated.  Same thing happened in the Top 20 show last year.  Now, if they had two routines in each of those shows, then straight-up probablity would mean a 20% chance of one of their dancers being eliminated (2 routines out of 10).  However, they're batting 1.000.  Following the same logic, if you're choreographing twice on a night with, say, six couples, then your chances of choreographing an eliminated dancer are closer to 33%.

I have a hunch that to truly represent what's going on with relation to choreographer/chance of elimination you're going to require a much more sophisticated analysis than what I whipped up last night, bored and sleepless.

Having said all that, here's what I did last night: Went through wikipedia and tallied routines by choreographer.  There were four columns that results could go into (if both dancers were safe, I made no mark): Both dancers eliminated, Single dancer eliminated, Both dancers Bottom 3 (or 2 on week 8), Single Dancer Bottom 3.   The reason you sometimes see .5 is that's how I counted on weeks in which the same couple danced routines from two different choreographers -- each choreographer took half a point in the appropriate column.

For "impact" I decided that having both dancers eliminated was worth 2 points, a single dancer eliminated was worth 1 point, both dancers "unsafe" was worth 1/2 point and single dancer unsafe was worth 1/4 point.  Then I added up all those points to get the "Total Impact."

If someone with better stats analysis skills than me wants to take it over, I'd be glad to continue to do the data entry and see if any patterns continue to develop over this season and next.

If you have any suggestions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment or talk to Amy on Twitter. (Don't forget: You can also follow Reality Check on Twitter.)

(Photo by Mathieu Young/FOX)  

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: So You Think You Can Dance
        

It's results time on So You Think You Can Dance, and we'll see, among other things, whether Annapolis dancer Caitlin Kinney and Oxon Hill dancer Karla Garcia make it to the next round.

Right off the bat, Caitlin learns that she is safe, but Karla is in the bottom three couples, along with her partner Jonathan, Asuka, Vitolio, Tony and Paris. I had predicted that Asuka and Vitolio and Tony and Paris would probably be in trouble, but I'd forgotten there would be three couples in the bottom.

After a professional tango performance, it's solo (aka "dance for your life") time.

Paris is up first, and her dance is lovely and nice, but not super energetic. She does do this impressive move where she goes from being up on one toe with her other leg extended behind her to suddenly being on the floor -- I totally gasped.

Tony is next, and he does a lot of goofy moves, but nothing really that enthralling. His strong suit is supposed to be comic hip-hop, but this was pretty boring. I predict he's out without even seeing any of the other guys.

Asuka has the disadvantage of typically being a partner dancer, which always makes for slightly odd solos, but she makes the best of it and works the whole stage with a lot of fancy -- and speedy -- footwork.

Vitolio does a solo that showcases his strength and power -- and I'll assume technique, but my forte is TV not dance. He looks pretty good to me, though.

Karla makes the bold move of dancing to Aretha, and her solo is OK, though it seems to involve a fair amount of running around the stage.

Jonathan shows off his turning action, his tumbling and his hip action in his solo. Cat seems impressed.

Cat dismisses the judges so they can decide who is out. In the meantime, Sean Kingston performs, and I get to use my fast-forward button.

Nigel Lythgoe says they were unanimous in their decision for the women. He tells Karla that her solo was strong, but she needs to make sure she doesn't do just a series of steps and to bring more personality. But she is safe. Nigel says it wasn't just based on this week, but everything they've seen from them up to this point, but also this tidbit: "... and also who else is in the competition. We always try and cast it so we have all the genres of dance in the competition being represented when we can." Ummm, interesting. He tells Asuka that she is a little star of personality, but tells Paris that she didn't bring everything she could have, and that they have enough other contemporary dancers. So wow, Nigel just laid bare a little more of the behind-the-scenes action than I would have expected.

For the guys, Nigel says that he didn't think anyone did a very good solo. He tells Vitolio that they didn't see his personality in his routines, but they are giving him another chance. He tells Jonathan that he performed a little better last night and Tony that his solo was all locking and "not particularly good" locking at that. He drags it out a little, but Tony is going home. I'm OK with that!

What do you think of the results? It's always tough this early when people we didn't really get to know go home (e.g. Paris), but I don't feel quite the same about Tony because I'm not quite sure how he ended up in the Top 20 in the first place, so I felt like this was coming.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Maryland reality contestants, So You Think You Can Dance
        

No pressure, So You Think You Can Dance, but judge Adam Shankman tweeted today: "No joke: tonight is one of the best sytycd dance eps ever. The 20 brought it!"

I say: Bring it on!

Tonight's panel includes Adam Shankman, Mary Murphy and Nigel Lythgoe. 

Before the competition portion gets started, we get a montage of how the Top 20 made it through all the rounds to the finals. They were good, they cried, I get to finish my dinner because it's all rehash.

The first couple is Jeanine and Phillip. Jeanine, who we haven't seen much of before, interviews that she was a hot mess when she started dancing and that she doesn't have great legs or "turnout" but she does have passion. Phillip, on the other hand, we've seen a lot of. He's the pop-and-locker who made it to Vegas last season but had to bow out because of pneumonia. He got to come back this season and showed potential for versatility, making it to the Top 20. They'll be doing a hip-hop routine by Napoleon and Tabitha that's about "a couple who can't go to bed without resolving their issues," danced to "Mad" by Ne-Yo. T&N do take a rather literal approach to the stories of their dances sometimes, huh? This song has the lyrics: "I don't want to go to bed mad." Though Jeanine claimed to be horrible at hip-hop, I think she comported herself well; she didn't seem to be faking it to me. And N&T's style worked to Phillip's strengths, so overall, they did a great job. Adam says it was "un-freaking-real." He adds that Jeanine held her own with Phillip during the performance and that it's a joy to watch him dance and an amazing partner. Mary says she hates to disagree with Adam ... but SHE'S NOT GOING TO (*scream scream scream*). Nigel agrees that Jeanine was fantastic and says that she's made an impression that should help her catch up with Phillip and his following.

The second couple is Asuka and Vitolio. Asuka started as a ballet dancer and switched to Latin ballroom in college. Vitolio grew up with his grandmother for a bit and then moved onto an orphanage. He says he used to believe that he couldn't do anything good because of what he went through as a child. Abruptly, we change gears and learn that Asuka and Vitolio are going to do a Broadway routine with Tyce DiOrio, in which they are making a silent film to the tune "Hot Honey Rag" from Chicago. It's a very busy, fast, staccato routine, and to me, it seems a little all over the place, like Asuka and Vitolio are just barely keeping up with the choreography. But it's entertaining, and they pull it off. (I don't think I'll be rewinding and rewatching this one, though.) Adam says this was a character piece that followed a very emotional piece, which made it seem a little artificial, but it was a luck of the draw thing. The most apparent thing was that they are good dancers, he says. Mary says they needed to bring the routine to life and that they played it a little safe. Nigel says it wasn't about the dancing, that their lines and technique were amazing, but they were expected to put their personalities into it, and it didn't really come across because they were worrying too much about the technique.

Karla (who is from Oxon Hill, Md.) has toured in two Broadway shows, but she says she's watched the show and wanted to be a part of it. Her partner is Jonathan, who says he started dancing because of season one. They are doing cha-cha with Tony Meredith to "Poker Face" by Lady GaGa. It's sexy (which they interviewed repeatedly that it needed to be) and fast and fun, though their energy seemed to dip a tad in the middle. Adam thinks it was really good and says Karla "beeped me up. ... I do my own censoring!" He adds to Jon that he needed more flexibility and extension, but that they still looked good. Mary screams, which is what Jonathan said he wanted. She says, "I like my cha-cha rough, and like Lady GaGa says, 'If it's not rough, it isn't fun.' That was rough and it was a whole lot of fun." Oh, Mary. (Can I just add here, too, that I didn't mind Mary's scream when it seemed more organic, but now it's so expected, it's just schticky.) Nigel says they are another couple that's slipped under the radar so far, but they just exploded with chemistry.

Randi auditioned three seasons before finally making it to Vegas from Denver this year. Evan, as we know, auditioned with his brother Ryan, who didn't make it to the Top 20, so he says it's a little bittersweet. They're doing a jazz dance with Tyce DiOrio that is about a very loving couple, which they both say is a little awkward because Randi is married. They dance to Jamie Cullum's "I Only Have Eyes for You." They manage to push their awkwardness aside and deliver a chemistry-filled performance, very believable, very engaging. Adam says they are slightly vertically challenged as a couple, but they both danced like they were 8 feet tall. He says Evan is a beautiful dancer, and he thinks that was one of Tyce's best pieces ever. Mary says these two were at "the end of the pack" in the Top 20, but her eyes are open now, and they were just smoldering and fluid and beautiful -- and "absolutely believable." So it wasn't just me who thought that. Nigel says they were fantastic and that they have just become a couple that will be talked about and that will make people pick up the phone. 

Paris says she was in a horrible car accident that left one of her legs numb from the knee down and that she didn't really think she would dance again. She apparently did, but we don't really get any other information. Tony is the hip-hop dancer who the judges are very taken with. He says he had to pick between sports and dance, and he chose dance. They are doing hip-hop with Tabitha and Napoleon. They dance to "Let the Beat Rock: by the Black Eyed Peas. Though the dance is technically more Tony's style (though it's less his usual comedic dance), I had my eyes on Paris pretty much the whole dance. They do this one move where they go from standing straight up to laying back on the floor with their legs bent behind them -- and then back to standing up again -- that is pretty mind-boggling. (They do get a rewind and rewatch, though.) Adam says he liked it, but he was distracted by the costumes and that when they have a song with that much punch, they have to have more rebound with their moves. Mary says she doesn't think it will be that memorable (T&N don't look that happy about that) and that they didn't really pull off the character. Nigel says Paris came into her own in Vegas, and that Tony's "stank stank" and that he wasn't believable.

Caitlin is a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts and grew up in Annapolis. She's paired with contemporary dancer Jason. They are doing a Bollywood number, which will hopefully be fun. They've done Bollywood once, later in the season, in a previous year. This is pretty tough stuff for week one, not to mention that Katee and Josh set the standard for Bollywood on SYTYCD, and that's a pretty high standard. They dance to Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire. It's energetic and so fast and a lot of fun, but it's another one where I felt like they were running to catch up with the choreography so much that they didn't get to put a lot of personality in it. Adam says they rocked; in fact, he screams it. He adds that Jason's hands and his feet were perfect, and that Caitlin was great, too. Mary is glad Bollywood came to Hollywood; "that was cool." She praises Caitlin's handstand and Jason's charisma. Nigel points out, as I did, that they are following Joshua and Katee, and that he thinks they brought it. He says that Caitlin's movement at the very beginning, when she stopped breathing and then started when Jason touched her, made him realize it was going to be something special. I'm rooting for them, and I think they did a great job, but I'm not 100 percent with the judges. But rewatch scale? Heck yeah.

Janette was concerned that there would be too many salsa dancers in the Vegas rounds. I guess there weren't? These intros are really choppy! Brandon was loved by many of the judges and seemingly hated by Lil C and Mia Michaels, which was really weird. They are doing the foxtrot choreographed by Dancing With the Stars pro Louis Van Amstel. Woo, more crossover! They dance to Michael Buble's "Come Fly With Me." It's flowy and lovely, and holy mackerel, it's got some crazy lifts in it, especially the last one. Adam says he was worried for them coming after the energetic Bollywood number, but it wasn't staid at all. He adds that Brandon stepped up with character and performance tonight. Mary says she can't give them an eyebrow anymore "because of Botox," and everyone cracks the heck up. "I can't believe I just said that!" OK, that was organic and funny. Hee hee. When she recovers, she says Janette looked like Ginger Rogers and that the lifts were amazing because Brandon is such a powerhouse. Nigel says Janette found the carriage for this dance in a short time. And he points out that Brandon maintained a great frame despite having not done frame work ever, but, he doesn't love his feet.

Ashley made it to the Top 20 after auditioning four times. She says she is going to be a fighter in this competition. Her partner is contemporary dancer Kupono. He is looking forward to giving up his random side-jobs to make money to supplement his income as a dance teacher. They're working with Wade Robson on a jazz routine that has them acting as crash test dummies. (I try but fail to avoid humming "Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm" after they tell us that.) Oh, and lest there be any doubt, they really are entirely dressed as crash test dummies. They look insane! Their song is "Felt Mountain" by Goldfrapp. As most Wade routines are, it's just totally bizarre and enthralling and weird and hard to describe, but they seem to dance it well. It's very surreal. Adam breaks his critique in two. He says it was hard to stop and remember to look at the dancing because it was all so weird, but that they had amazing technique. He adds that Wade is "one sick puppy." Mary says sometimes she doesn't go on the trip with Wade, and tonight she was. Nigel says you never know what genius Wade is going to come up with, and that people always talk about it even if they don't like it. He says that they brought him into and kept him in this crazy world. How long do you think it's going to take for them to get that white makeup off their skin and hair? Yikes!

Melissa has been a ballerina since she was 5, and she is the "most seasoned" dancer at 29. Ade is a music fan who hopes to be a sound engineer if dancing doesn't work out. They are doing a contemporary routine with Mandy Moore about "that moment when you first fall in love." Their song is "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx, and they even have a wind machine. OK, so other dances tonight have been called fluid, but this performance takes that word to a whole different level. They both have amazing strength and control, and this routine is simple gorgeous. Adam says it was very special, and he says that Melissa is living proof that you get better with age and that Ade has profound and quiet power. "That was big; that was big." Mary screams her biggest scream of the night. She particularly praises the quality of the movement. Adam adds that it's a testament to the power of training. Nigel is delighted that Melissa is on the program and shows off Ade's power, but he thinks that America has a lot to look forward to with them.

The last couple of the night is Kayla and Max. Kayla is the dancer whose grandparents helped pay for her dance career. Max is a ballroom dancer from Moscow who came to the U.S. when he was 13. We learn that his little brother died in a car accident, and then, bam subject change! They are dancing with Louis Van Amstel, who has apparently known Max since he was 14. They do a samba to "Jum Bah Day" by House of Gypsies. It is HOT, fast, amazing, fun, energetic, etc. (But I HATE Kayla's dress. It's really distracting! It's like a long-haired Muppet pelt.) Adam, grabbing his face: "That was so good; OH MY GOD." He says Max is lucky because he got ballroom first, and he got a partner who proves there is a god because she's never done this before, and she was amazing. Mary: "Can I have an amen, Adam?" Uh-oh. "I hear a train." Yes, screams and the hot tamale train is back. Nigel: "OK, that was truly sensational. I totally think that that had everything we could ever wish for." He adds that Kayla's name has been at or near the top of the list every time they have discussed who is getting through to the next round. 

After seeing the clips at the end, I am starting to agree that Tony and Paris' number was not that memorable. I think Asuka and Vitolio could be in trouble, too. What do you think?

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch Kayla and Max's dance a few more times.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 10:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

Sorry, y'all, but when it came time to decide whether to watch Jon & Kate Plus 8 last night, I opted for sanity (aka a nice run at the gym).

And you know what? It was liberating, freeing, relaxing to not have that albatross on my shoulders.

Maybe the Gosselins should try it.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 1:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

After he spent the whole season not talking about it, Adam Lambert is finally telling the world that he's gay in the new issue of Rolling Stone.

Because we hadn't figured that out already.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: American Idol
        

Thanks to DCist, we all get to see photos of what's said to be Dupont Circle Real World house, at 2000 S St. N.W. Check them out while you can!

I've been keeping up to date as MTV descends on my former neighborhood. I've already randomly seen three former Real Worlders in Washington, D.C. ... Perhaps this summer I can add to my sightings. Lucky me! (Please note sarcasm!)

Does anyone still watch this show? The last season I watched was San Diego.

Update 4:28 p.m.: Well, the photos are down. That was fast. Guessing MTV got upset.

Posted by Carla Correa at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: The Real World
        

Tonight, the Top 32 on this season of So You Think You Can Dance will be trimmed to the Top 20, who will dance on the live show starting next week.

This is one of those episodes where half of it is going to be people walking down a hallway or agonizingly waiting to hear whether they've made the cut. Soon enough, though, we will know who the finalists are.

Janette: This salsa dancer had a rough couple of weeks going into Vegas. She was in a car accident and broke up with her boyfriend, but now good things are happening: She is in. (And unfortunately, they aren't putting the names on the screen, so I don't know if my spellings are right. Grr!)

Diana: Debbie Allen says they see a lot of potential in her, but she is not making the cut. She is sad, but she has had a great attitude. Nigel tells her that she is a better dancer now than at the beginning of Vegas week and that she should come back next season.

Vitolio gives us a little too much information about how his digestive system is handling the stress. We haven't seen much about him up till this point, but we get a little background on how he grew up partially in an orphanage in Haiti and he's been on his own since he was 15. Lil C says he started showing off his true character during the group dance. Nigel tells him he has to add his personality (which Nigel's heard about from the producers) onto stage. He is in the Top 20.

Then we get a batch of people getting cut. 

Kayla Rodomski, whom we met in Denver, along with her grandparents, learns from Mia Michaels that she is in the Top 20. Mia tells her that she loves male dancers because of their strength, and that she matches that strength and power.

Kupono chopped off his hair after Nigel made fun of his look at the Seattle auditions. He has a note of all the things he wants to accomplish, including making the Top 20. They give him the runaround, but he has made the cut. (He, by the way, was one of the dancers Mary criticized for being kind of "feminine.")

Then we just get a list of people who are in the finals: Paris Torres, Jeanine Mason, Ade, Karla Garcia and Jonathan. 

Brandon Bryant is the dancer whose audition caused Mary to say that she would "just die" if he didn't make the Top 20. Mia, however, "can't take you. ... It annoys the [deleted] out of me." She doesn't think he is amazing, but Debbie Allen begs to differ. She loves his power and manliness. Lil C says he isn't impressed, but Mary says she can't take this. She says he's fabulous. Nigel breaks down the votes and says this means he's in the Top 20. 

Tony Belissimo did the dance with multiple photos of Nigel (and the song "Somebody's Always Watching Me"). Waiting in the holding room, he thinks about his brother in Afghanistan. Nigel says his dance technique isn't as strong as it should be, but he is still making it to the finals. He's flabbergasted.

More yeses: Maksim Kapitannikov (who becomes Max at the end of the show), Annapolis dancer Caitlin Kinney, Melissa Sandley and Jason Glover.

Ashley Valerio is in her fourth season auditioning for the show. Mary drags it out, but she is in the Top 20.

Randi Evans learns from Mia that she has "the body of a tigress" and that she is "committed to your unitards." She takes this very well and laughs even though it sounds like she is not making it. But yes, she is through to the Top 20.

Alex Wong is in a ballet company, but he wants to explore other genres. Nigel says he is one of the strongest dancers, but he is under contract to the Miami Ballet, and his director won't let him out of it. He is very upset, but Debbie Allen and Lil C give him a pep talk. They ask him to come back as soon as he can.

Four more dancers get cut, but they don't even get their names mentioned. Bummer.

Phillip Chbeeb is the crazy pop-and-locker who had to leave last season because he had pneumonia. Adam says he grew a lot during Vegas week, and adds that he has shown a genuine overall love of dance, too. He makes it. 

At this point, there are two spots left, one for a male and one for a female.

Contemporary dancer Deanna made a mark in Miami and in Vegas (though we haven't seen much of her), and ballroom dancer Asuka did, too. Asuka is the one who makes it, though. 

That leaves brothers Ryan and Evan Kasprzak. Nigel says they are similar in style, and that Ryan has choreographed Evan. He thinks there is only room for one of them this season, and that Ryan should be proud because it was "probably your choreography that got Evan through to the Top 20."

Sorry about the inconsistency with the names. At the end, the names were finally on the screen, but only the first names. I'll get the full names updated tomorrow.

Anyhow, what do you think about these choices? I'm sad about Alex Wong. He's amazing, and I would love to see him on TV every week. Maybe next season.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 10:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: So You Think You Can Dance
        

The Wipeout road tour stopped in Baltimore today. Here's some video and photos too:

David Colyns of Baltimore gets knocked off the Spinning Log Roller. (Baltimore Sun Staff/Karl Merton Ferron)

Alyson Jackson of Gambrills gets a punch to the cheek as she takes on the Sucker Punch Wall. (Baltimore Sun Staff/Karl Merton Ferron)

Visiting Baltimore for Holy Trinity School's eighth-grade field trip with her daughter, Dawn Helms of Westfield, NJ sprints across the Log Roll. (Baltimore Sun/Tasha Treadwell)

Richard Potts hangs on while tackling the Sucker Punch Wall during a post-season promotion for the ABC game show "Wipeout"at the Inner harbor Thursday, June 4, 2009. (Baltimore Sun Staff/Karl Merton Ferron)

Did anybody else go to the event? How was it?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 4:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Local appearances
        

I forgot to mention in my wrap-up of last night's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here how unbelievably well former wrestler Torrie Wilson did in the "trauma tank" challenge, but my colleague Kevin Eck discussed it today.

I never could have handled having a snake on my face, much less all the other horrible creepy-crawlies she had to deal with. And I'm not even including Spencer on that list! (Rim shot! Or crickets. Your choice.)

So ... tonight's episode. Actually, after a cable mishap that ate a good chunk of So You Think You Can Dance, which features, you know, talent and actual entertainment, I honestly couldn't face it.

Anybody else want to fill us in on what happened? I gather from Twitter that Speidi might have returned? Ick. Someone please tell me that's false.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Celebreality
        

I lost a big hunk of So You Think You Can Dance tonight thanks to the storm, but I did gather this: Annapolis sisters Megan and Caitlin Kinney did not both make it to the Top 32.

During the early rounds in Vegas week, Megan, 18, did well and made the initial cuts. Her sister Caitlin, 21, lost touch with some of the choreography, but based on the strength of her solo was allowed to "dance for her life." That was when the gap in my recording started, but she evidently made it to the next round. However, in that round, Megan was cut.

So Caitlin is part of the Top 32; tomorrow night we will find out whether she makes it to the finals: the Top 20.

A number of seemingly favorite contestants fell short and were sent packing, among them Natalie Reid, the former roommate of last season's runner-up Katee, and Gabi Rojas, the amazing first auditioner we saw this season.

Update: Here's a more detailed recap from Give Me My Remote, who did not have the storm-induced TV troubles that I did. I'm looking forward to seeing who makes the Top 20 tonight. How about you?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Maryland reality contestants, So You Think You Can Dance
        

I don't know how to post about this without looking like a total hypocrite, but here goes.

US Weekly just posted an exclusive interview with Dr. Michael Brody of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and he is pretty harsh about Jon and Kate Gosselin and the harm they might be doing by having their kids work on this show.

Here's a quote, as an example:

They are constantly exposed and they are going to see this later on. I wonder how they are going to view it. ... Again, we have evidence of this, of child stars who view this later on in their life about the way they were exposed and exploited. They get very, very angry. The other thing is, they are working. I don't think it's normal for five and eight year olds to be supporting their families.

Hard to disagree with that, right?

But just above that, embedded in the middle of this extremely harsh Q&A, is a link from the magazine, screaming: "See adorable photos of the Gosselin kids."

So maybe, just maybe, if the magazine agrees with what Brody is saying, then that link ought to go bye-bye. But I suppose I am not exactly helping the point by posting about it, either.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 5:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

I'm a little late on this, but reports are that the next season of The Real World is going to be in D.C.

My favorite quote from the link above: D.C. has been long-rumored as a location for the show, perhaps because the series is running out of major American cities for their casts to throw up in.

Ha!

It's been rumored for a while, but Reality Blurred points out that the production company is now hiring PAs. That's a pretty good sign. That's "good" in terms of yes, there might be a show, not "good" for the denizens of Washington.

If you see a camera crew coming at you somewhere in D.C., duck. The kid from the middle-of-nowhere might say something accidentally offensive or the kid with the anger/alcohol problem might take a swing at you or any one of them might spill a drink on you.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: The Real World
        

Some people's prayers were answered: Heidi and Spencer Pratt decided to leave I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here. Yay!

Before that happened, Heidi compared herself to Mother Teresa, and Spencer got "baptized" by Stephen Baldwin. 

I have this horrible feeling, though, that they are going to spin this when the ratings fall after they leave and say, "See how famous and important we are?" Ick.

There is a vote going on now, and one of the remaining women will be going home tomorrow. It won't be Patti Blagojevich, though, because the men decided to give her immunity.

I'm not going to be watching every minute of this one, that's for sure.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 9:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Celebreality
        

Dust off your sheet music and your delusions of grandeur: Even though American Idol just wrapped Season 8 a couple of weeks ago, it's already time for Season 9 auditions.

First city is Boston, with registration June 12-13 and tryouts June 14. The show isn't coming to Baltimore, or even anywhere nearby. Here is the rest of the schedule thus far:

-- Atlanta, Ga.: Registration June 16-17, tryouts June 18

-- Los Angeles: Registration June 28-29, tryouts June 30

-- Orlando, Fla.: Registration July 7-8, tryouts July 9

-- Denver, Colo: Registration July 12-13, tryouts July 14

-- Chicago and Dallas: no dates set as of yet

Bummer they aren't coming to town; that would have been fun to cover. Here's the official Idol auditions info page.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 6:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: American Idol
        

TMZ.com reports that Heidi and Spencer Pratt walked off the set of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here after the live portion of last night's broadcast.

Is this for good? The show has only had one episode, and this will be the third time they've walked out. I won't believe they aren't coming back until we get through an episode without them.

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 12:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Celebreality
        

I didn't see all of the Ace of Cakes crossover episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 tonight, but one line did jump out at me.

Upon discovering that Cara and Mady had set up a birthday surprise visit to Charm City Cakes, Kate walked in, gushed over the cast of that show, and then said: "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm acting like a fan." Nice.

Kate Gosselin seems to have forgotten that the only reason she is at Charm City Cakes with a camera crew is because she has fans.

Tonight's two episodes (two! Argh!) weren't quite as awkward as last week's birthday-party-for-the-sextuplets premiere, but that's fine by me. Of course, for TLC, less drama means (probably) lower ratings. Last week worked out well for them. (Them being the network, not, say, the Gosselin kids.)

-- Charm City Moms blogger Kate Shatzkin and her John react to tonight's episode here. I agree, except for the "Don't use fertility drugs" part. If doctors properly monitor patients during the use of fertility drugs, the chances of sextuplets are infinitesimal. Much of the time, you end up with one. (That's what happened to me anyway, so please pardon me if I sound a touch defensive.)

-- Here's Z on TV blogger David Zurawik's recap. He rightly notes that the biggest problem with this "family" show is that the mom and dad were on opposite sides of the country in both episodes, not showing off much of a family at all.

-- Last week's premiere drew record ratings for TLC, as Z reported, but I don't think that's going to hold. Lots of people tuned in last week for the tabloid factor, and I don't think they will all stick around. Plus, as a trazillion people commented to me last week, they are disgusted with the show and done with it. We'll see tomorrow how that affects the ratings.

-- One story that struck fear in my reality-TV-recapping heart: Apparently, TLC is planning 40 episodes this season. Why? That is crazy. I don't want to watch 40 episodes of anything in one season.

-- And let's not forget the other J&K story of the week, the fact that the Pennsylvania Department of Labor is investigating whether the show breaks child labor laws. I can't imagine the TLC doesn't have itself covered on that front, but I know we'll know the results of that soon enough. 

Did you watch? What did you think?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (54)
Categories: Jon & Kate Plus 8
        

Why am I watching I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here? Why. Whyyyyyyy.

Well, I guess because I think people might be talking about it. I haven't watched this before, and that's because ... it's pretty terrible. Premise is, a bunch of so-called celebrities are put through an intense Survivor-like experience, with the last person standing winning some money for charity.

The big news is that Spencer and Heidi Pratt from The Hills are on this season. I don't watch much of The Hills, but I do read a couple of celebrity-news blogs, and thanks to them, I am more than familiar with Speidi (unfortunately).

And those two? Are big ole jerks. They threatened to quit pretty much right off the bat, with Spencer telling executive Ben Silverman on the phone that he didn't appreciate his fellow cast members: "This cast is devaluing our fame right now." Barf.

You know who didn't complain that much, even when she got swept down a river in rapids? Patti Blagojevich.

Speaking of which, you think we the viewers have it bad? No, the other contestants do. After Speidi walked out the second time (gee, think this is for the drama or something?), everyone else decided to divide up all their stuff (pillows, hammock, pants, hairspray, etc.). 

Unfortunately, they came back, and they were mad, and Spencer had a meltdown (totally fake!) about Frangela taking Heidi's dry shampoo. Which, by the way, Torrie Wilson is the one who took it.

Heidi's response in confessional: "My husband is a very new Christian, so he is working very hard on his temper and stuff, but I feel like with anyone, you mess with the Mama Bear, you're going to get the wrath of the Papa Bear." 

This went on for way too long, and since it's totally fake, I'm not giving it any more attention.

After half of the Speidi show, it's time for the competition. They learn it's actually men vs. women (or "guys verse girls," as Heidi says). Drama?

The first competition is a gross-food challenge, my least favorite reality-TV concoction ever.

Later, weirdly, Spencer straight-up asked Patti Blagojevich about what the deal is with the accusations against her husband, Rod. She must be so happy that Heidi and Spencer and Janice Dickinson support her and her husband. Especially after Heidi prayed for them. She did seem to appreciate the prayer, but honestly, Heidi's endless exhortations for help from God and Jesus are really annoying.

Janice and Lou Diamond Phillips faced off to see who would be the camp leader for a week. Janice didn't like having her arms up over her head, which was the point of the challenge, so Lou won. As leader, he didn't have to compete in food challenges and could choose another contestant to do him a favor, and also to divide up the camp chores. (Speidi slept through the division of chores, shockingly.)

In the final live segment of the show, Stephen Baldwin got bitten by a "bullet ant" right before the show. The stars had to go into the "trauma tank," strapped onto a plank, with their heads dipped toward the middle of the tank, which had a container of bugs there to taunt them. 

Lest you think some of the earlier stuff was real, Spencer and Heidi sat out the challenge, and Heidi sat there playing with her dry shampoo. Yawn.

After all that, we didn't get to see who won the challenge. So what was the point?

I'm starting to remember why I never watched this show.

Somebody get me out of here?

Posted by Sarah Kickler Kelber at 11:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)