First there was Prince

Whenever I tell people I have the hots for Prince, I usually get one of two reactions. “Really?”
Or sometimes just an outright, “Ewwww!”

I really don’t care. Prince is fine and he’s been my honey baby for years. I was loving his weird “Tonight Show” performance the other day. What was the whole giant autograph thing he gave to Jay Leno? He kept scribbling in secret during the song; I thought I was going to be impressed with an amazing caricature or something! Poor Jay looked like he didn’t know how to act.

So why does Prince illicit the icks, but everyone just made a big hoopla about Adam Lambert? Prince was the original one rocking the Guyliner. He can hit decibel piercing high notes and sexy deep grovels. Don’t forget to add his virtuoso guitar and piano skills, mad dance moves and writing his own songs…why would you think it’s odd that I love Prince?

Sure he has long lapses into obscurity, but check this song out. He can still bring it when he wants to.

Bret and Jermaine are My Sweetie Pies!

The last tour stop for Flight of the Conchords was tonight at the Berkeley Community Theatre here in the San Francisco East Bay.

My budget does not allow for many concerts these days, but in one of my most fortunate strokes of luck, I won two tickets from KFOG 104.50 FM.

My daughter happily accompanied me. It was her first concert and I’m afraid she’ll have to spend a long time trying to top tonight’s show.

We had some major delays because of fire alarm issues. There was also weird organizing of “will call’ ticket holders, regular ticket holders, a women trying to get in with her dog and a man shouting, “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD” from the sheer frustration of all the different things we were being told to do.

Once we were finally inside it was refreshing to see affordable merchandise, (rockin’ cool tote bag for $15 and underwear for $10) a mellow crowd and an intimate, if not slightly run-down, auditorium.

Our opening act was Arj Barker who plays Dave the pawn shop owner on the HBO show. The TV does not do this Marin native justice. He was hysterical! I did not realize till tonight what a funny guy he is. He’s a great edition to the tour.

When Bret and Jermaine took the stage in their homemade robot costumes, it was instantly worth the wait. They were so laid back and cool. Each song took about ten minutes, between all the talking and joking. But make no mistake, these two are top-notch musicians and there instrumental and harmonizing abilities were amazingly impressive. Just because their funny doesn’t mean they lack anything in the musical talent department. All their songs are catchy and well written, spanning across many different genres.

Their easy banter with the audience really gives an organic feeling to the show. Even though they are becoming wildly popular with each passing day, you have the feeling the guys are the same on stage as they were before all the YouTube hits and HBO series.

I can’t think of a better way to kick off my summer. Great show, talented guys and a number one fan forever!

Kris Allen - Part 2

I knew there would be backlash. Why did Kris win instead of Adam? Look, it's simple math and I can only do simple math! The top 3 were Adam, Danny and Kris. Once Danny was voted off the Gokey factor went into affect. C'mon, fans of Danny weren't going to run over and vote for Adam. Now, if the top 3 were Adam, Allison and Kris, then Adam would've won.

I can't post the actually video performance, but Kris won with his performance of "Heartless." Think about it. This performance was a bigger risk than Adam ever took. Cute little white boy pulling off a Kayne West song and sounding totally believable with lines like, "I've got my homies." That night he sealed his fate as the next "American Idol."

In the finale, Adam sang three songs. Kris sang three songs and played guitar AND piano. So give credit where it's due. Maybe he wasn't your pick, but Kris is a talented guy who was just himself week after week, and I for one, am glad to see it paid off.

Kris Takes It All!

Hey no backlash! Kris worked so hard this season. I'm so glad a little guy finally took the title. He could play piano, guitar, and this dude can sing! A laid-back attitude, with no indication of how hot he is, Kris just quietly kept delivering great performances week after week!

We don't have to worry about Adam. His dramatic ways are better served by not being chained down by the "Idol" producers. If you want true Adam, he needs to be free to do his own thing.

I loved watching Kris as he calmly won, was steady as a rock singing his song, smiled sweetly at the heavens above...nothing is going to break this guy! Thank God for the wife, she came onstage, hugged him and he LOST it! Adorable! Go Kris!

Talkin' bout Idol

Join me for a live "American Idol" chat at noon (Pacific Time) today!

http://www.contracostatimes.com/tv/ci_12345215/

Blog of Interest

Want to read about the daily life of a globe trotting OB? Check out
Beans Travel & Life Blog
It just started, but it's already an interesting read.

Check it out!

Dom DeLuise - Comic Icon

Dom Deluise passed away today at the age of 75. He starred in some of my all-time favorite comedies. Although Dom could always bring the funny, my favorite has always been 1980 film "Fatso." If you've never seen this gem of a film, now is the perfect time to take a look at one of his best performances. This film was written and directed by Anne Bancroft, who also co-stars as Dom's sister. This movie is funny, but it's the tender side of Dom -as a character struggling with his weight issues- that makes you see some serious acting chops. Dom is giving the raw, close to home performance that Mickey Rourke would give 28 years later in "The Wrestler!" Treat yourself and rent this today.
We love you Dom!

Bad Mother

Ayelet Waldman rocks! I'm counting the days till this book comes out!

Kiss of Death for Reaper?

It is impossible for me to understand how network programming works. Case in point: Reaper. This is one of the best shows on TV right now, and certainly on a short list of great shows for the CW network. So why would you put this show opposite American Idol?

Reaper consistently brings scares, comedy and excellent writing week after week. This show never takes the easy way out with its story lines and fails to fall into the same old tired plotline trappings. One of the biggest joys when I watch Reaper is I never know what they’re going to do next. I’m someone who has watched an insane amount of television, and it’s difficult for me to find shows that are fresh and unique.

The CW really underestimates this gem of a show. Here’s the nutshell: Sam (Bret Harrison) finds out on his 21st birthday that his parents sold his soul to the devil (Ray Wise). Sam is a good kid who works at a Home Depot-like store called “The Workbench.” He spends his free time hanging with his buds Sock (Tyler Labine) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez) and pining away for his friend with something more, Andi (Missy Peregrym).

Where this show is different is Sam doesn’t walk around with the horrible secret that the devil has ordered him to be his soul catching servant. No, Sam immediately runs and tells his best friends and they offer to help! The audience only has to wait an acceptable amount of time before Sam’s love interest, Andi, finds out what’s been going on. The payoffs are fast on this show, and it works because there is always something else around the next creepy corner.

Reaper does know how to bring the creepy, the funny and the feelings. It should also be noted that the cast is adorable, and if CW spent a bit of dough getting these young mugs out there, they could have the same demographic of Idol watchers tuning in here. Also, short guys are finally “IN.” Bret Harrison is one of the cutest short dudes on the tube right now. Put him in with Kris Allen (American Idol) and for the older crowd, Jon Stewart (The Daily Show) and us little women finally get to spend time with guys we could actually slow dance with!

In the meantime, thank God for TiVo and DVR’s. Set this show to always record so you won’t forget. You will not regret it.

Sources are saying Reaper is on the chopping block, so go to the CW’s website and let your voice be heard. While you’re at it, how about going to the SciFi channel’s website and tell them they should pick up this show if the CW is stupid enough to let it go.

*Think it's just a fluke that an old chick like me is into Reaper? This show appeals to all! Read what my 16 year-old daughter just submitted to the feedback section of the CW's website. You know, you could also go to the CW website and help save this show! I'm just saying...

As a 16 year old girl, I am ever loyal to the CW for Gossip Girl, possibly the best teen drama on television. However, this network also provides another show I couldn't possibly live without: Reaper. Reaper is the perfect mix of comedy, thriller, and romance. Even with an unbelieveable story line, the show portrays the lives of Sam, Sock, Ben, and Andi in a realistic way. Each character is vital to the show for various reasons. Sam, the protagonist, is sweet, funny, loyal and ABSOULUTELY ADORABLE. Brett Harrison is definitely someone people need to see on a regular basis. Sock, basically the opposite of Sam, is still important for comedic reasons. Viewers tune in every week to see what kind of shenanigans he will pull. Ben, the sweetie of the show, is always there to remind us of how pathetic people can be sometimes. Although very romantic, his relationship with Nina was obviously going nowhere. However, we love Ben for is naive manner, and can sympathize with him when things don't turn out the way he wants them to. Andi is a great female lead for Reaper; she is strong, intelligent, and fits in so well with the guys that we sometimes forget how gorgeous she is! However, she still shines amongst the rest of them, and is the perfect role model for women watching this show. And how can we forget the devil? Although he constantly gives you the creeps, the devil is necessary to the show, tempting Sam and trying to recruit him as a second-in-command. With such a great cast of characters, how could this show be anything less than fantastic? For this reason, I am writing to you to tell you that canceling Reaper would be a terrible mistake. Although it doesn't show in the numbers, Reaper has many devoted fans that would be terribly upset if this show were to disappear. Putting the show up against American Idol showed that you were basically trying to get rid of it. Either that, or you didn't know that Reaper and American Idol attract the same fan base. Well I'm here to tell you that it does. I am addicted to American Idol, but I know that I can always record Reaper. Also, Reaper is only in its second season. It still has time to develop a bigger fan base. Giving up on it now would disappoint tons of CW watchers. I am positive that if you keep Reaper, your viewers will go way up. I have written this so that you can take these points into consideration before canceling one of the best shows currently on television. Thank you for your time, and please don't disappoint viewers like me.