Old Dogs, New Tricks

If you are not too busy trying to figure out what the heck Facebook has done to your status updates, or trying to Google what Google + is, there's lots to watch around the dial tonight. Buckle up.

The X Factor
Now's your chance to see Simon and Paula reunite, and maybe see the next Susan Boyle, if that's your bag. It's different from American Idol in that...um...well the judges advertise sell their soul to drink Pepsi, not Coke.

Up All Night
This actually premiered last week, and the laffer about 2 new parents is pretty spot on. Throw in Maya Rudolph as an Oprah-ish boss, and you tv peeps especially will get a kick out of it. But fear not, Christina Applegate fans. If this tanks, Applegate seems to get a new sitcom every few years (Ok, I just IMDB'd her to verify this fact and she is also credited on...a pregnant pole dancing dvd. Research AND range, folks!).

Free Agents
Also premiered last week. Not gonna lie, this wasn't Hank Azaria's best work, but he sat next to me and my friends at dinner once and was very nice to us. Actually, my issue with the first episode was that gal he is supposed to be chasing on the show. Maybe they should've brought in someone...more out of his league? Not quite buying what she's selling. Still, I am on TEAM HANK and sticking with this show. But, if you don't want to watch, don't feel bad...those Simpsons residuals will probably pay his mortgage for awhile.

Revenge
I won't be watching this one, mostly because that girl that stars in it was annoying as all get out when I used to watch her on Brothers and Sisters. However, ABC obviously thinks it's got a shot since they are advertising it every other second. You'll have to judge for yourself.

Last but not least....

Modern Family
It's back! This for me is mostly a sure thing, though I'm a little worried they are busting out the one hour big family vaca AGAIN.

If it turns into A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE, I'm outta here.

Pride and Prejudice

When I saw that Neil Diamond was going to be on American Idol, I had to call my dad.

"Do you watch American Idol?" I asked.

"I don't watch those types of shows," he replied with, dare I say, contempt?

"What type of shows?"

"REALITY shows," he said, same revulsion in his voice.

"Have you ever seen it?"

"No." he said...quietly.

And so herein lies the struggle of reality shows...there are sooooo many stupid So You Wanna Be My Baby Daddy's Dance Partner-type shows that it ruins it for the good ones.

And it scares people like my Dad from watching a show I just know he would really LOVE.

Well, he would love it when they do Neil Diamond or Andrew Lloyd Webber songs. Any type of serious rock, well, he thinks it's called Rap and he calls it "garbage".

Anyhoo, I'm not sure if he watched, but most of it was right up his alley. Unfortunately, adding fuel to the fire that reality shows are wacky...Paula Abdul went a little haywire and somehow offered up a critique of a contestant before he actually performed. That was uncomfortable...or prophetic, depending on your point of view. The negative feedback she gave Jason Castro (albeit before he sang his song) was spot on.



American Idol Live TV Car Crash Moment: 1 Credibility: 0

Well, maybe my dad is right. Maybe I SHOULD stop watching reality shows.

And besides, if I want to see premonitions...I can start watching Medium.

A Moment Like This

*Spoilers*

Damn you American Idol! You are costing me money AND turning me into a blubbering idiot.

When American Idol announced that people could download performances on Itunes, I thought, "What idiot would do that when you can watch it on the internet for free?" Um, apparently, this one. When David Archuleta performed "Imagine", not only did I buy it for my Ipod but I am completely horrified that I like this dorky kid that seems more destined for Disney than rock star greatness. Who AM I?

But what can you expect from someone who actually owns MORE THAN ONE Vonda Shephard CD.

Now, if that little young thing David made me misty, well then seeing Alaina Whitaker get kicked off turned the waterworks full throttle. See, if you don't watch AI, they kick you off, then cruelly make "new loser you" sing. And you think to yourself, "how do they do this? How come they don't like throw up?" but they always bust it out.

Instead, Alaina did what I would do - froze up, then burst into tears and declared "I can't sing!" And those producers milked that moment perfectly, cutting to every teary-eyed person in the room. Cue the Paula pep talk, more tears, and then the non-loser girls gathered round to help her out and she, of course, in live-tv-gold fashion, sang her little heart out.

Which is why Alaina Whitaker is was on American Idol...and I am not.

PS. On a lighter note, Simon quote of the week: "Last week was boring. This week was awkward and ordinary". I will surely be stealing this to describe future bad dates.

Love Will Keep Us Together

Are we officially out of reality tv concepts? NBC debuted "Age of Love" Monday night. It's the Bachelor - with a twist. And when I say IT'S THE BACHELOR, I sure do mean it.

The twist is, two sets of girls are vying for his love, 40-somethings...and 20-somethings. Everything else is pretty much the Bachelor business as usual.

As a member of the tv industry, I have to overcome a fair amount of cynicism to properly enjoy a show like this...but it's pretty hard. I can practically hear the machinations brewing behind the scenes: casting calls to find bratty, bitchy 20-somethings and hot hot hot "I can't believe you're 48!"/"Look at me!" 40-somethings....can you just say ONE more time for camera how your biological clock is ticking?

Plus, can't these lazy bastards at least not rip off EVERYTHING from The Bachelor? Even the teases to break: "Who will go home broken-hearted?" is stolen. You may as well hire Chris Harrison!

Then, under the category of millllllllllking it, during this show there was a commercial for..."Science of Love". "Science of Love" AND "Age of Love" are BOTH hosted by Mark Consuelos. Do we really need ANOTHER one of these?? Ok, a little research reveals "Science of Love" is actually just a one hour special "event"....but why is Mark Consuelos doing this? And doesn't he look too much like Mark Philippoussis (the bachelor in this) anyway? People reallllllly really want to be on tv.

At any rate, I'm exhausted already and it's only the first night of the series. Anyway, at least we're only days away from Paula Abdul's reality show, "Hey, Paula". I smell a Norma Desmond award hall of famer!!!!!!