03/02/2004 Entry: "blue"

I haven't been watching American Idol religiously this year -- not sure if I'm just lacking in time or outright bored with it. I did catch tonight's show, and boy, that sucked. Don't get me wrong, it takes guts for any of these guys and gals to do what they're doing, but man...this was bad. It's kind of a double snag since there's a general sense of "been there, done that" with everything from the sets and skits to the judges' comments and beyond, but when you tack on terrible performances to boot, it really makes me remember that I'm a twenty-five year old guy who should probably be a bit embarrassed watching it to begin with. What can I say? I still love Paula. Especially when she's reallllly quiet.

Though it's pretty funny to see what shows like Idol have made the Fox Network become. It's always been the zany channel, but God, you can't even watch the news on this station anymore without eating popcorn and carrying the rules for a drinking game. I'm sitting here watching Rosanna Scotto try to keep from exploding while talking about Jessica Simpson for a solid ten minute block, remembering the days when good ol' Jim Ryan was allowed to get through the morning news without having to lay praise on the little girl from Bernie Mac's show every other hour with a motorized pinwheel hat on.

Notice I didn't say I was "longing" for those days. After all, it's pretty amusing to see the entire world shift and shape because a few people came to the shocking conclusion that kids controlled the money flux. I guarantee you Reverend Camden will wear leather pants in the series finale of 7th Heaven.

Working on a new article now...it's a looong one, but hopefully will be finished by morning.

Chestnuts roasted by Bill Cosby's Sweater @ 03/03/2004 12:12 AM EST

i missed american idol tonight but usually watch it...(dont ask why) >:O

William Hung is awesome though.

Chestnuts roasted by heeloyd @ 03/03/2004 01:49 AM EST

Is American Idol that show where the pirate dinosaurs fight the ninja robots? Oh, it's not? Then I don't watch that show. Never mind.

Chestnuts roasted by Justin @ 03/03/2004 01:57 AM EST

Matt! I went to Wal-Mart today and guess what I found? SPRING FUCKING OREOS DUDE!!! They have a blue creme filling! You have to try some and review them!

Chestnuts roasted by Randy @ 03/03/2004 02:21 AM EST

I caught a few minutes of the new Forever Eden after Idol tonight, and I have to say that it just didn't live up to the standards set by such classics My Big Fat Mean-Spirited Lies and Who Wants To Marry A Midget?

I love a good unscripted show, especially when lots of money or emotional well-being is at stake, but Fox has gotten lazy even by reality programming standards. I don't need to see nine fucking hours of Ryan Seacrest's face a week, thank you very much.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/03/2004 03:12 AM EST

I've also been religiously watching American Idol and I don't really think the Top 32 have been that great. There have been a few here and there, but very few have blown me away. I'm kind of curious (alright, really curious) as to who will be on the Wild Card show. I'm hoping some talent that might have been overlooked from the auditions gets another chance.

Okay, I think I'm done ranting about American Idol for now. I feel kinda dorky, but what can I do? I can't help but love this show. :)

Chestnuts roasted by Andrea @ 03/03/2004 03:23 AM EST

Is this series 4 or 5 of american idol? Thanks to you stealing simon we've only had 2 pop idols lol.

Chestnuts roasted by vyle @ 03/03/2004 03:53 AM EST

I can't STAND Fox news.. I live in San Diego, used to live in Mesa, AZ and couldn't stand it there either. I don't know what it is, but it just doesn't seem like legit news to me. Plus I want to punch the weather guy.

I religiously watched American Idol for the first season.. Not anymore though. However, I did watch it Monday night for the worst auditions show they had. It was entertaining, but then I got sucked into "Forever Eden" which came on after it. The way they try to make shows like that dramatic and serious is a hoot.

Chestnuts roasted by Lauren @ 03/03/2004 04:43 AM EST

Hey, Lauren, I'm from Phoenix, Arizona! Which is close to Mesa! Although you don't live there anymore, I do think that we should be friends. Yep!

Chestnuts roasted by Bobby... @ 03/03/2004 05:12 AM EST

Black Mesa? Hmmm... Gordon?

Anyway, I have learned that you just have to watch the last two episodes of any reality show. The second to last is always a full recap, and the last is also a recap with a quick 5 min ending after the last commercial.

Chestnuts roasted by Stilewalker @ 03/03/2004 07:56 AM EST

American Idol..... *shudder*

Why must you fill your nights watching such tripe?

Chestnuts roasted by Pistol @ 03/03/2004 08:59 AM EST

I only watch the first few shows of American Idol when I watch it. The crappy people make me laugh. My old roommate used to watch it all the time and invite her friends over. I would just walk out of my room and say "Oh he's gay" when I felt like it.

Chestnuts roasted by Spiffy McKracken @ 03/03/2004 10:51 AM EST

Why's that?

Chestnuts roasted by Lauren @ 03/03/2004 10:52 AM EST

American Idol does suck this season, the only group that was remotely palatable was last week's...and then some.

FOX is dangerous, but somehow they keep sucking me in for more of their mean, hurtful, money-giving shows.

You gotta love how they tried to con the family in 'My big fat obnoxious fiancee' by saying that because they were such a great family the show wasn't about the con anymore but about family.

Gimme a break, if that was true they would have called it 'What a real family does when a big fat moron tries to marry their daughter'

I feel better now

Chestnuts roasted by -Jen- @ 03/03/2004 11:04 AM EST

I don't even have to watch when all the entertainment magazine shows tell you whats been happening. As near as I can figure, some of these "hopefuls" are sucking deliberately, or are highly delusional. Self-confidence is admirable (wish I had some) but when you can't see that even pros constantly work on improvement in style and form, (hold the jokes until the end of the rant please) then you deserve some sort of shot that kneecaps you. I usually watch "Big Brother" and "Survivor" because those shows remind me of a rat experiment I saw once on "That's Incredible!" At a certain point, when the population got to be too much, CANNIBALISM! And mass stompings. I always wait for the TV rats to turn on each other. Take comfort that, on some Quantum Earth, these folk are being made into Soylent Green.

Chestnuts roasted by kignklash @ 03/03/2004 11:40 AM EST

oops.

Chestnuts roasted by Uhh, that's kiNGklash! @ 03/03/2004 11:41 AM EST

Matt, check your email, I need your help! Obi-Matt your my only hope!

Chestnuts roasted by Phil @ 03/03/2004 12:12 PM EST

American Idol is unexciting this year, but fox still regularly entertains me with the absolute total tripe they pass off as quality television. As far as the news goes though, Fox here in Charlotte,NC is as nuts as it gets, thanks to the "weatherman" Mark Mathis, although I rarely see him doing the weather anymore. When hes not insulting North Carolinas uneducated hick population (hes from Dallas TX just like me) hes busy implying that he sleeps with the female cohosts or yelling and dancing all over the set. I love Fox news because of this....although I am really behind on the current events, I dunno if they even cover that stuff on Fox. Viva la Mark Mathis!

Chestnuts roasted by MintGreenGoblin @ 03/03/2004 01:10 PM EST

For anyone that never saw it, Nathan Bitner ended posting to the Photog Blog.

Posted by Nathan Bitner @ 11/28/2003 02:37 AM EST

Chestnuts roasted by mindsuckr @ 03/03/2004 01:13 PM EST

Woo.. it's amazing what kinda comments you get about reality shows huh?
I hate everything that has to with tv.. well, except cartoons(dah)
I just finished watching GI Joe the movie, screw all that other crap.. YO JoE!

Hehe.. well, ok.. The worst auditions thing was pretty funny.

Chestnuts roasted by Cyanyde @ 03/03/2004 01:17 PM EST

I doubt it was the real nathan

Chestnuts roasted by htdhd @ 03/03/2004 02:05 PM EST

I'm not that much of a TV freak...

I typically watch 4-6 hours worth of shows a week... not counting when the TV is just kinda on for background noise. Tuesday, Thursday, & Sunday nights. Heh, FOX is accountable for half of it, but not the reality show crap... '24' & the Sunday lineup 'King of the Hill' through 'Bernie Mac' (skipping 'Oliver Bean', can't stand that show...). I still watch 'Friends' & tape 'Scrubs' during '24' to watch later... & 'CSI'. That's really it.

Cartoon Network is my waste-an-afternoon TV funtime, every once in a while. The Eds rule...

Chestnuts roasted by Pistol @ 03/03/2004 02:09 PM EST

Add 2 hours for this week.

'Kingdom Hospital' starts tonight & I'll be damned if I miss a King miniseries ;)

Chestnuts roasted by Pistol @ 03/03/2004 02:10 PM EST

whoa. its been a long time since ive posted here, and aparently im WAY outta the loop. i like how of all the reality shows mentioned here, i know what American Idol is. Im hoping "my big fat obnoxious fiance", and "who wants to marry a midget" do NOT actually exist....?

Chestnuts roasted by ShaveTheWhales @ 03/03/2004 02:13 PM EST

That midget show was unbelievably bad. It's pretty hard to get into when they're trying to portray the midgets as regular, normal people while doing everything they can to demonize them at the same time. More importantly, the lead midget guy was just fucking annoying.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/03/2004 02:17 PM EST

ShaveTheWhales -- if it helps at all, the actual title for the midget show was "The Littlest Groom." No, wait. That doesn't help...I think that may actually make it worse...

Chestnuts roasted by purplegirl247 @ 03/03/2004 02:24 PM EST

"...save the whales, save those big fat funky whales...."

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/03/2004 02:29 PM EST

I'm a total reality whore...and I'm not ashamed to admit it. As a matter of fact, I'm proud. That's right...proud. Deal with it. I'm not afraid anymore, do you hear me? I'M NOT AFRAID!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Kristal @ 03/03/2004 02:58 PM EST

Hmm.. Maybe you should be :P

Chestnuts roasted by Cyanyde @ 03/03/2004 03:10 PM EST

I HATE Ryan Seacrest he's everywhere and he's mean in person. He's just a big self absorbed asshole.

Chestnuts roasted by pikachulover @ 03/03/2004 07:12 PM EST

I'm totally not into the Man Show 'midgets are like funny little dolls that you can dress up like balls and weiners for heeeelarity' philosophy (the proper term is LPs, but people love to say "midgets" so I don't think it's taking off). I hoped after Austin Powers and Jackass we'd see people of short stature being represented by roles outside of the Oompah Loompa or novelty act, and I found "Littlest Groom" awfully offensive. I can't imagine how many LPs they had to audition before they were able to find that perfect combination of arrogant, handsome and horndog.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/03/2004 08:04 PM EST

CG Oompa Loompas or Little People Oompa Loompas?
http://www.aintitcoolnews.com/display.cgi?id=17114

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 03/03/2004 10:34 PM EST

CG Oompa Loompas? That just seems a little strange to me. Actually, I never really figured out why they're going to remake Willy Wonka anyway. The original is a classic. Why mess with that?

Chestnuts roasted by Andrea @ 03/03/2004 10:48 PM EST

Ha...The funniest part about the Littlest Groom (AKA "that midget show") was that the groom used be a Philadelphia 76'ers mascot. He used to come out and jump on the trampoline, high five Hip-Hop (a giant, muscular rabbit) and do flips and dunk and shit, it was great. How could you think of leaving that job to do some shitty show on Fox? He could at least have been one of those midgets that competed against the elephant in pulling the air-plane in Man Vs. Beast 1, a QUALITY Fox show...

Chestnuts roasted by Bill Cosby's Sweater @ 03/04/2004 12:36 AM EST

I blame 'reality' shows for ruining tv for me. I used to watch tv somewhere along the lines of 8-10 hours a day, which is pretty hard when you've only got four channels, but nowadays I'm pretty much left to download my favourites from the net because I'm scared to turn the tv on.. Damn you reality!
And we don't even get the worst of these shows here, only the likes of survivors, idols and big brothers.. No "who want's to marry a midget millionare who's not really a millionaire but we won't tell you until it's too late" for us just yet..

Chestnuts roasted by iivuli @ 03/04/2004 01:35 AM EST

I've never really been much of a TV watcher at all and it's even worse nowadays with all these terrible reality shows out there... honestly, the only time I can even remember watching TV at all in the last few weeks was last weekend with my boyfriend.
But... yeah. I hated reality shows from the beginning. No "Group of People Living in a House and One of them is a Mole and One of them is Rich (but Not Really) and we do Stupid Things for Money while Seeing How Long we can Last Without Sleep Happy Sunshine Hour Special" for me.

Chestnuts roasted by 9volt @ 03/04/2004 08:03 AM EST

"But.. shoot the seals."

Kingdom Hospital rocks. Did you hear that anteater? God bless Stephen King and his custom made drugs, whatever they may be.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt (#2?) @ 03/04/2004 10:08 AM EST

...is it just me, or are we catching Battle Kat and He-Man in post-coital bliss in the first frame of "Cloudy Climbs"...

Chestnuts roasted by Doc @ 03/04/2004 12:24 PM EST

I'm personally not a fan of any of the "Big 3" reality shows (or their clones) and this season has been pretty terrible on the reality front (with the exception of the always excellent Mole. Even Fear Factor, one of my favs, didn't cut the mustard). I vastly prefer the ones that do have some kind of wacky twist. It's not about watching a bunch of pretty people succeed at something, it's about seeing how low people will sink to win money/love/infamy.

On the Wonka remake: 1. Burton is doing a more faithful adaptation of the book, which is darker and less sappy than the movie 2. Do you REALLY need an excuse to see Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka?

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/04/2004 03:33 PM EST

I want to see the story about the chocolate palace.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 03/04/2004 04:46 PM EST

Aafter seeing Johnny Depp in "Pirates Of The Carribean" I think he may be the bst person suited to reprise Willie Wonka. That being said, does anyone know there's a Garfield live action coming out w/ Bill Murray doing the voice of CGI Garfield? Sacrelige or Worth Seeing (even if it's in the 3.00 theatre?

Chestnuts roasted by Lumbejack Matt @ 03/05/2004 05:04 AM EST

I saw the trailer of the Garfield-movie a while ago and it wasn't as bad as I expected.

Chestnuts roasted by iivuli @ 03/05/2004 08:26 AM EST

I don't have cable. In addition to the outrageous cost for only one person watching TV and the debut of many TV shows on DVD, why should I bother when I watch TV to ESCAPE so-called "reality," not revel in it? I'm not a gossip, celebrity doesn't interest me, and I don't care which gold-digger or hair-covered waiter kicked which bachelor or model off the ranch. The only things I watch when I visit my parents (who have satellite TV) are Cartoon Network, Toon Disney, PBS, and Turner Classic Movies.

That said, I have fewer problems with "American Idol," primarily because one of my closest girlfriends is obsessed with it, to the point where she's even eager to see "From Justin to Kelly." I've heard some of the singers, including the ones who eventually won, and they are quite good (Clay Aiken is my favorite of the folks I've heard). And hey, anything that ressurrects Paul Abdul's career can't be all bad.

On the Willy Wonka "remake": if Burton does stick to the original book (which I've read many times) and Depp goes as all-out as he did in "Pirates," it could be the one of the great excursions into the truly weird.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 03/05/2004 10:19 PM EST

I love unscripted TV, whether it's The Mole (mind games), Average Joe (schadenfreude), Curb Your Enthusiasm (alternative to the 500 identical sitcoms), Mythbusters (educational) or Reno 911. I find it to be more creative and vital than the majority of the scripted primetime drivel. Just because I know there's no script doesn't mean I consider it to represent "reality". To be perfectly upfront, the main reason I enjoy it is because of the schadenfreude factor, so if you're too proud to revel in that, reality tv probably isn't your bag.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 03/06/2004 03:19 PM EST

THe only good reality shows are ones where the people are the butt of some huge joke. As is the case in one of televisions best displays of awesomeness: Joe Shmo.

Chestnuts roasted by NessPrime @ 03/06/2004 04:45 PM EST

I only get sucked into American Idol during the finals.
7th Heaven... I'm so SICK of that show! Rev. Camden wearing leather pants? Nah!
How about those chocolate-covered pringles? Those look good.

Chestnuts roasted by AngeFaitore @ 03/10/2004 04:28 PM EST

Ryan Seacrest for some reason reminds me of Kato Kaelin.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeremiah @ 03/10/2004 06:25 PM EST