American Idol—- 03.06.07

Posted Mar 6, 2007 by Chris Kuhn

Updated Mar 6, 2007 at 09:14 PM

It’s time to return to the stage on American Idol (Tuesdays/FOX) and the men are up to bat tonight. I’ll be doing my usual brand of commentary and performance analysis, but yeah, sure, I’ll include what the judges say, too (even though much of the time it’s rather forgettable). Feel free to jump in and offer your comments at any time. And don’t forget to visit our American Idol 2007 Forum and get into the discussion about this week’s performances. Just click here to check it out!

Here we go…

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Blake Lewis
“All Mixed Up”

I Say – I’m completely guessing at the title. I’m not a reggae fan and this definitely has a lot of that going on. I’m not really knocked out by the performance but he definitely stands out from the crowd. There he goes with that beatbox, scat crap again. I like the kid and I know he’s contemporary but I don’t necessarily like it. Still, the boy is certainly safe this week.

Randy Says – Says he loves the hip-hop, reggae thing though he didn’t know the song.
Paula Says – Tells him she didn’t know the song either but was interested.
Simon Says – Says he didn’t understand a word of it but applauds him for being current and unique.

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Sanjaya Malakar
“Waiting on the World To Change”

I Say – It’s time for him to limp through yet another soulful song. This kid has a nice tone but his vocals are just SO weak.  He is completely out of tune for the entire song and belts out at one point for absolutely no reason. Man, this kid is hopeless.

Randy Says – Says he hasn’t returned to form since his first audition.
Paula Says – Tells him that the guys around him are pushing him to be better but tells him to stay sincere and keep trying (what?!)
Simon Says – Says it wasn’t as ghastly as last time but that the Paula hairdo is just weird.

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Sundance Head
“Jeremy”

I Say – He is out of key right out of the gate. He seems to think if he just shouts it out with conviction that we won’t notice the pitch problem. Sorry, buddy. I noticed. You deserve to go home Thursday along with Paula – er, Sanjaya.

Randy Says – Gives him props for taking on that challenge and tells him he dug it
Paula Says – Says he kicked through to his Sundance quality (whatever that means!)
Simon Says – Tells him he didn’t like him as much as last week and calls it a generic bar singer’s indulgent song.

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Chris Richardson
“Tonight I Won’t Cry”

I Say – Again, I’m guessing on the title. This might not be the right song for his ‘N Sync sound. He does make the country song more of a ballad. As he gets going, he gets better and seems to gain some confidence onstage. I think singing something quieter will get people’s attention tonight. And quiet doesn’t have to mean boring. Just when Sanjaya sings it.

Randy Says –Says this boy’s in it to win it.
Paula Says – Says…something… I can’t help it. Sometimes I just tune her out. Sorry.
Simon Says – Tells him he’s not jumping out of his chair but that he sold it.
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Jared Cotter
“If You Really Love Me”

I Say – I loved how Elliott sang this last year. I like Jared but it’s not the most exciting performance. He does pretty good on the high parts (and I’m a little surprised by this). He actually sounds worse during the chorus. I think he’s safe but it’s not a shoo-in.

Randy Says – Calls it a solid performance.
Paula Says – Tells him to color up the way he sings and vary it a little.
Simon Says – Agrees with Paula and says it wasn’t original.

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Brandon Rogers
“I Just Want to Celebrate”

I Say – Finally, a song I know and like! Rare Earth rocks! Brandon’s got more energy than last week. Unfortunately, his pitch is completely in the toilet. Talk about needing some color in his performance – there’s no variety at all in this vocal.

Randy Says – Says it was a solid performance but he got messed up at the end.
Paula Says – Tells him he’s proving why he belongs on that stage. (HUH?!)
Simon Says – Says he didn’t represent himself well and tells him he’s nervous for him this week.

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Phil Stacey
“I Need You”

I Say – I’m not really sure why he picked this song. It’s such a weird choice for his voice. When he reaches the chorus, I’m hopeful that he’ll get better, but it’s still a hard performance to listen to. Phil, Phil, Phil – first I didn’t like you, lately I’ve been able to stand you. How could you lose me like that? Buddy, you might be going home Thursday.

Randy Says – Says he reminds him of Steve Perry when he hits the highs but when he gets low, he’s just lost.
Paula Says – Agrees with Randy and thinks it was an odd song choice.
Simon Says – Tells him he didn’t get it at all and that it was an odd performance.

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Chris Sligh
“We All Want To Be Loved”

I Say – In a very weak night, Chris would stand out singing the Alphabet Song. I like this guy. He’s got great charisma and really knows how to perform. I don’t even like the song, but I like him. By far, the best performance of the night.

Randy Says – Tells him he was the best vocal of the night.
Paula Says – Says it wasn’t her favorite performance and wants him to keep striving.
Simon Says – Tells him he definitely got through to the finals but wants him to watch his song choice.

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Well, that’s it. Man, what a night. These guys picked the most bizarre songs and the majority of them didn’t pull them off at all. I’m pulling for Sanjay to go home and either Sundance or Brandon to join him.

How about you? What did you think of tonight’s performances? Were you as underwhelmed as the judges (and me)? Tomorrow night, the ladies will show why they deserve to win the big prize. Stay tuned…

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Microsoft Bumps Up 360

Posted Mar 6, 2007 by Wes Phillips

Updated Mar 6, 2007 at 11:13 AM

Microsoft is finally bumping up the size of its hard drive. Ok, flash drive.

Monday at the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco, Microsoft announced the release of a 512MB Memory Unit for the Xbox 360 on April 3. It will include the game “Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved” and a price of $49.99. The 64 MB version was hardly cutting it, if you actually used one.

Microsoft also announced that they are upping the size limit for Live Arcade titles from 50 MB to 150 MB. This will allow for more complex games for the download service.

Is all this increase in size a sign that a larger hard drive is in store for the 360? It’s been rumored for a long time that a new machine with HDMI ports and a 120 GB hard drive is in the pipeline. I’m running dangerously low on space for my 20 GB drive, especially since Microsoft started pushing high-def movie rentals over the Live Marketplace.

It also could be answer to Sony, whose PlayStation Network offers some hefty downloads and more complex games. If Microsoft wants a foothold in the high-def living room of tomorrow, 20 GB just isn’t going to cut it. And it seems they may be getting the picture

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24 Goes Over the Top

Posted Mar 6, 2007 by Walt Belcher

Updated Mar 6, 2007 at 09:59 AM

  Last night while pondering whether MSNBC and “Entertainment Tonight” might try to get Anna Nicole Smith’s body exhumed so they will have something to keep the story from ending, I watched “24” instead of “Heroes.”

  Jack violated all kinds of laws, international and moral, to torture yet another person. This time, he clipped off the finger of a Russian diplomat named Markov who looked like every Cold War stereotype of a Russian bad guy (big eye brows, heavy body, ugly grim face, you know the drill).

Jack and former President Logan, who has grown a beard and is under house arrest for his crimes from last season, are on the trail of the Russian thug Gredenko who is helping the Arab terrorists arm weapons of mass destruction. Markov is in on the bomb scheme but he wouldn’t squeal to Logan so Jack had to rough him up.

For Jack, the end always justifies the means, so he breaks into the Russian embassy and punches Markov into a bloody mess. That doesn’t work so he cuts off a finger with a cigar clipper.  This might have been shocking but we’ve already seen finger-clipping, torture by electric drill, a bite in the neck and other assorted body mutilations this season.  Markov finally gives Jack some vague information about where Gredrnko might be but Jack doesn’t get the info out because he gets caught by embassy security.

Meanwhile, back in Washington, the Big Headed Vice President Powers Booth is taking over because the tall, skinny President Palmer has been injured in a bomb attack planned by some corrupt federal agents who want to remove the wimpy President for someone who is more like a Nazi. 

Their plot is almost uncovered but it appears that Big Head (Booth’s forehead dominates the screen) is part of the evil plan and he’s going to throw out the Bill of Rights to save the country.

Meanwhile, the terrorists are proceeding with their plans to launch more bombs and the Russians might get into the action, too.

Jack will escape, probably with Chloe’s help because that woman can do anything with a computer.

In past seasons, “24” has asked us to accept some amazing plot twists but this year sets a new standard for an outrageous plot.

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A Day Late But Never Shy

Posted Mar 6, 2007 by Sir Robert Davis

Updated Mar 9, 2007 at 04:42 PM

My Monday Morning piece has become a Tuesday Morning piece.  I’ll blame astrology - Mercury is retrograde,  you know.

On Friday night,  some dear friends invited Shannon and I out for a night of art appreciation.  We ventured over to Fly (downtown,  on N Franklin) for an “Art in a Truck” show. 

Lo and behold,  there were a lot of people that I know,  knew or plan to know in the future.  Ann was kind enough to buy a round of drinks and Brian invited me to perform a solo theremin soundtrack as part of a Film Installation at Flight 19.  I’ve been practicing for just such a case!  I met a fine artist,  Steven,  who was visiting from Massachusetts and before the arrival of the truck,  I met the owner of the truck and the lady who arranged the event.  Another friend bought another round of drinks and things were getting interesting.

The truck arrived.  We had to investigate.

Much to our chagrin,  most of the pieces were “T-shirt and Skateboard art” (as my compatriots affectionately label such rubbish).  I expected something stirring and instead found my entire extended entourage fully inspired to venture onward to The Hub.  Disappointment settled within us,  though one piece was rather good and in Tampa (sadly) one good piece completely equates to a good show.  Unfortunately,  because of the amount of drink the night still held for us,  I can only remember that the piece in question involved a highwheel bicycle. 

Aside from a well-rounded group of friends and acquaintances,  The Fly did have a few wonderful bright spots:  1) They had port available and 2) A lot of funny,  interesting strangers wanted to meet me,  buy me drinks and really let me know how spectacular I looked (and in one case how much they wished they could be me).

At the Hub,  things quickly fragmented.  First,  I bumped into Shawn “Pretty Kyle” Beauville and we discussed a great many things I cannot print here.  My entourage split to different parts of the room and (all but the drivers) drank heavily.  After Shawn split,  I bumped into a guy named Steve who looked like this man:

We discussed Brazilian psychedelia and hash bars in countries like the Netherlands (among other things).  He,  too,  bought me drinks. 

So what did I do when people started turning into pumpkins?  I high tailed it outta there and went to bed!

WHAT?!

I wanted to get away from Mercury’s retrograde influence (remember what happened last time)!

 

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