Posts from — August 2009

Fremantle Media and Channel Ten executives would not have been real thrilled when the rating figures were released today. As according to www.crikey.com.au Australian Idol last night failed to reach the magic million mark.

Their rival Dancing With The Stars easily out-rated them with 1.35 viewers.

Will they hit the panic button and make more changes by trying to create friction on the judging panel, or will they have confidence in the talent in their top twelve to bring back viewers who have dropped out of the Australian Idol flock?

If the ratings don’t improve this could be Idol’s last season.

It was no surprise that James Johnston from the Thursday night semi-final got through to the top 12, nor was I unhappy with Kim Cooper getting in either, at the moment we have quite interesting eight singers in the top twelve.

Tonight was wildcard night with nine singers getting the chance to perform again for the last four spots.

But a couple of thoughts first:

• I found it a bit cringeworthy that Dicko and Jay Dee were being a bit lewd with 22 year old Tenielle after she sang Kiss Me, when is Dicko going to learn that it is not cool to openly make salacious comments about women over 20 years younger than him;
• Dicko has been told to liven up the judging panel, and he has definitely improved his commentary and is also trying to bait Jay Dee, who at this stage is being far to polite.
• The Sunday Telegraph are alleging Jay Dee Springbett had something to do with Marcia Hines getting the arse from Sony BMG, therefore they don’t get on. If I were a betting person I would say this story was manufactured, however I did notice tonight she did not interact with him,
• Sabrina Batshon who has the talent to win Australian Idol this year needs to possibly settle down a bit, I know she is excited about being in the top 12, but the interview she gave tonight with Ricki-Lee was all about engaging the audience, and I think that could cost her votes in the long term,
• By the way Sabrina Batshon is not the first Idol contestant with a known psych history, apparently Mark Da Costa has bi-polar which he disclosed to the producers when he was on the show, however he did not want it known – so publicly the viewers were told he had had some issues with alcohol and gambling. He accused Idol of “spitting out the contestants once they are no longer needed.” Source: Sunday Telegraph (Scroll down);
• The producers must want Hayley Warner to get into the top 12 as they gave her the last song of the night,
• I thought it was unfair that Casey Barnes got a wild card ahead of rock man Adam Eckersley, and
• Does Ricki-Lee ever get off the couch?

Apparently the judges got to pick three singers each for the wildcard show, but what made me think that there had been some producer involvement was the fact that Dicko had to read the names off a card.

Dicko “picked” Aliqua Mao, Casey Barnes, and Lucie Johnson.

Jay Dee ”picked” Toby Moulton, Ed Zaidan, Hayley Warner.

Marcia Hines picked Lauren Street, Tim Johnston, and Tenille Muslin.

Not happy with some of the wildcard picks – I would have liked to have seen Adam Eckersley, Seth Drury and the Penrith Panther mascot dude Daniel Raso get another chance.

Lucie Johnson – Boogie Wonderland – Earth, Wind and Fire.

I really like this 16 year old she is so articulate and has the most infectious smile. She ripped through Boogie Wonderland, but still got a bollocking from Dicko about not being able to tell him what musical direction she want to go in. I thought that is what record executives did – that they guide and mould the singer.

“Still lacking direction,” Dicko said.

Jay Dee Springbett has obviously been told to argue with Dicko this week, as he disagreed with Dicko about his assessment of her, and thought she could do R&B.

Casey Barnes – Never Say Never – The Fray

Very surprised he got a wildcard, as I thought on his semi-night he was particularly ordinary.  Tonight he was much improved, and he thought he would emulate former Idol winner Damien Leith and bung in a bit of falsetto. Just has the touch of the blands about him, and will be relying on the older women vote.

“How do you think you did tonight?” asked Jay Dee. (Which is Jay Dee’s way of saying he was crap) “Wasn’t enough of an improvement for me.”

“How did it take you out of your comfort zone?” said Dicko as this had been one of his criticisms of him the other night ”I picked a song to stretch my voice,” Casey said. Dicko responded “ I don’t think your voice is the problem… you need a different energy, different vibe.” I so agree.

Aliqua Mao – Power of Love – Celine Dion

So Dicko on her semi night told her that she should pick a hip young persons song, after she sang an iconic Whitney Houston number, then she goes and picks a Celine Dion song, if she gets through she is sure to sing Mariah next week. At this point I thought she was insane until she revealed she had had to lock her wildcard song in prior to her semi-performance. I know Australian Idol producers have to clear songs, but this put her at a severe disadvantage that she could not react to the judges advice and move to a more age appropriate song.

Aliqua did look very spunky tonight it is just a pity about the song as she can sing. 

“Not for me,” Jay Dee said. “Poor song choice, I did not see a young girl shaking her booty.”

“Not for a 16 year old girl….choose crazy crazy songs.” Dicko said.

Lauren Street – Low – Kelly Clarkson

Lauren is concerned she is not connecting with the audience as she left in the wildcard round in 2005. So this is her fourth time singing in the semis on Idol, as Andrew G said this was her “second second chance” which really says something about her likeability. The only way she will get into the top 12 is if the judges put her in.

“Such a fantastic performer, I hope you stay in the competition…probably one of our top 3 performers,” Dicko said.

“Pitch got a little bit out the window,” Marcia said.

“I really liked that performance, there is an edge of your voice that I love,” said Jay Dee. He did add whether he thought she was an Idol or whether she might go work on cruise ships. 

Tim Johnston – Yesterday – The Beatles

I thought Adam Eckersley should have been given a wild card spot ahead of this guy, who thought he was a soul singer. Did Gloria Jeans just get some prime time free advertising on Idol with the footage of Tim doing his barista thing. As this chain is owned by Hillsong Church, I sense another Hillsong voting scandal this year? But he will need Hillsong’s resources to get on as he is good looking but oh so bland, and this song did nothing to change my opinion of him. Yawn.

“White boys can sing,” said Jay Dee.

“Terrific, and when you looked me in the eye my heart melted,” said Dicko.

Ed Zaidan – White Noise – Living End

I really want Ed to get into the top 12, as there is something about him I really like, but tonight’s performance just was the same as his previous one he did of the Eskimo Joe song.

Jay Dee agreed “It was pretty similar to the last one”.

” Jay Dee you need to clean your ears out it was out of pitch the whole way through,” said Dicko  ”You chose another muscle bound rock song that your voice can’t cope with.” Ouch.

Tenille Muslin – Kiss Me

Is she some kind of pop with a bit of a country flavour? Anyway I quite like her voice, it is a change from all the big power singers in the competition.

“You do have a voice that could skew [go country] that way,” said Dicko. “More passion or action in it,”  and “It just flatlined a bit.”.

“I would like to kiss you,” said Jay Dee. “Not convinced, but keep writing songs and playing music.”

“A lot of my music is country pop” she said which confirmed what I thought.

Toby Moulton – With Or Without You – U2

Of the 30 year guys this year, Toby is definitely hotter than Casey. Casey has the better voice, and they are about on par with their performing abilities. This was a much better song for him, and the audience went crazy. The judges are really pimping him.

“I think that rocked so well done,” Jay Dee said.

“Got the look spot on,” Dicko said.

Hayley Warner – I Do Not Hook Up – Kelly Clarkson

 Does anyone else think this girl has star quality? I think if she gets in the top 12 she can give the title a good shake. She is hugely like able, and her voice has a good range.

“Seem very comfortable… I think you are an exciting young package,” said Jay Dee.

“Don’t go off the stage, I hate it, it distracts you, and it looks like you are up yourself,” said Dicko and “your electrifying….you are 50% invincible, and 50% vulnerable.”

My prediction for last four in will be Hayley Warner, Toby Moulton, Aliqua Mao, and Tenielle Muslin.

Talia Fowler winner of So You Think You Can Dance Australia has joined Lines Ballet Company

Talia has joined the Lines Ballet   in San Francisco for the 2009-2010 season. The company specialises in contemporary ballet. I suspect with her success there will be a bevy of professional dancers auditioning for the show for season three.

If You Cared Who Won Channel Nine’s The Perfect Couple Read This

Another one of Channel Nine’s reality TV disasters finished screening on Wednsday night with Gemma and Raf taking out the not so insubstantial first prize of $210,000. This show finished screening with 30 minute episodes reduced from the original one hour timeslot. A good article on TV Tonight also states that Channel Nine did not bother to put out a press release announcing the winners.

Why I Need To Upgrade My Foxtel Subscription

For a long time I have realised I have been missing out on some ‘quality’ TV on E, and the cooking shows on Lifestyle Food, however I had not realised that there was seriously raunchy tellie on there. TV Tonight says Foxtel has been rapt over the knuckles for not classifying their programs correctly, and some should only be shown on the Adult channels.

Some of the programs in trouble are Cathouse – (Showtime Channel), The Wonderful World of Sex (The Comedy Channel) and Naked Wild On (E! Entertainment Channel). It makes reality TV look positively intellectual.

Project Runway’s Kenley Collins Is Putting Out A Clothing Range

The Daily Beast has an interview with one of the more memorable and controversial Project Runway contestants Kenley Collins. She state the two days she spent in jail for assaulting her then partner has made her more focused. Also she has a clothing line coming out and will show at Spring Fashion Week.

Three chefs are into the final so far: Rick Bayless, Suzanne Tracht and Hubert Keller. If the trend continues, the finale will be a love-fest of unprecedented proportions. Tonight, I am paying particular attention to the ingestions of Kelly Choi. As commenters have pointed out, she does not appear to allow any morsels to pass her lips, although I have heard her critiquing the food. Let’s see if we can catch her snacking!

Tonight’s contenders are:

Douglas Rodriguez, Chef Proprietor of Ola restaurant in Miami, and Alma de Cuba in Philadelphia (why is it that their caption – in this case, Philadelphia – is only part of how they introduce themselves and doesn’t even reflect the priority in which they structure their experiences?). His cuisine is “tortilla-free Latin American cooking”, which Tom Colicchio (hola, Tom!) reinterprets as “nuevo Latino cuisine”. Douglas is yet another recipient of the James Beard Rising Star award.

Anita Lo – Chef/Owner of Annisa and Chef/Partner of Rickshaw Dumpling Bar, both of New York City. She also has a Michelin star. If previous episodes are anything to go by, James Oseland will tell us a little bit more about her. Aaaand, here’s James! He tells us that she works the line a lot so “she’s a great COOK, in addition to being a great chef”. This should certainly hold her in good stead for this competition, as she could be up against people who do little day-to-day pressure cooking. The dumplings she’s plating up look lovely.

John Besh has many, many restaurants in New Orleans. I could Google them, but then I might miss Kelly eating. He’s honoured to be representing his city and culture – Gail steps in to give us a rundown on all his awards and we see him cooking up some delicious looking crawfish. I hope the challenges give him some scope to bring some Cajun in.

Mark Peel – Chef/Owner of Campanile in Los Angeles. I wonder if he has any sort of home town advantage? Whole Foods are probably set up the same all over. Tom tells us he started with Wolfgang Puck and James says he’s one of California’s “greatest chefs” – “Campanile is really one of Los Angeles’ best restaurants”.

Kelly is here, ready to introduce the challenge. What will it be? And will she taste the results? Let’s find out, after the jump…

[Read more →]

Well we have had a week of Australian Idol without Kyle Sandiland’s and already there are calls for him to be returned to the judging panel.

In an article in the Daily Telegraph they say over 21,000 people on facebook have joined a bring back Kyle site.

The view is even though the new judge Jay Dee Springbett is nice, and knows the record industry he is not that entertaining.

The article said:

Fans say they “miss his wit” and that the show has become “too serious” without Sandilands and Mark Holden, who left the series in 2008.

Holden, who created the “touchdown”, said Idol had been more damaged by the loss of Sandilands than the controversy.

“The brand has been diluted by the constant changes to the format.

“People forget it’s not just Kyle. There’s been many moves. John Foreman’s gone, James Mathison’s gone and I’m gone.

Holden said Springbett was “a lovely chap” but Idol now lacked the humour provided by himself, Sandilands and Mathison.

Former contestant Mark Spano said he was “disappointed” Ten had not stuck by Sandilands.

“It’s been a witch hunt,” he said.

“I love Kyle. He doesn’t sugar-coat anything. He’s the perfect judge.

“Jay Dee’s got a great knowledge of music but Dicko does too.

“There needs to be a balance.

“Dicko knows music, Marcia has the niceness and then there was the evilness of Kyle.

“The show will be lacking something without him.”

Personally I would have gone with a guest judge for the third spot on the panel. This would have meant when the producers hit upon a winning formula they could have stuck with it.

TV Tonight also have an interesting article on how they think Andrew G is the person putting the entertainment back into the show.

Do you think Kyle should come back?

I think it is time Australian Idol host, singer, and alright cool chick Ricki-Lee Coulter had a chat to Australia’s Next Top Modelrunner Cassi Van Den Dungen about settling down to young with the wrong man.

Ricki-Lee who seperated from her husband late last year admitted she had been far to young to get married, especially with someone who did not want to leave his home base of the Gold Coast.

It would appear Cassi is in a similar situation with her brick layer fiance and her chances of a lucrative modelling could be diminishing.

In yesterday’s news here Cassi Van Den Dungen revealed the reason she decided not to model in New York was because she would have to lose weight, her agent the Tanya Powell Agency agreed. However today Elite have said that is crap and her weight was fine. In a statement here in the Herald Sun from Doll Wright of Elite indicates she may have blown her chance with the modelling agency.

They said:

“She is in perfect shape and it’s a real shame that she believes that she would be forced to lose weight,”

“A top model has to have a great body, beautiful face and be professional,” Wright said.

“She has a great body and a beautiful face but the way she has been behaving is so negative and a way I’ve never seen a professional model behave.”

Everyone can see Cassi is blowing the chances of a lifetime, all except for Cassi, and the ‘man that loves her’ Brad.

The Herald Sun has an article where Australia’s Next Top Model runner up Cassi Van Den Dungen gives her reasons for not taking up a modelling contract in New York.

She said it would have meant she would have had to lose weight something her manager Candy Powell backs her up on. However Ms Powell also says she is sure Cassi could be a success in New York when she is ready for it. So won’t that mean she would have to ‘lose weight’ then?

Anyway the article said:

I know the international market would want me to lose more weight,” Van Den Dungen said.

“I don’t want to lose any more weight. I’m happy with the way I am and I actually want to put the weight I lost from the stress of the show back on,” she said.

“I am already in between a size six and eight but I would like to be a more average size, say between eight and 10.”

She said it was worrying to see the lengths some models went to to reach industry standards.

“It freaks you out to see how skinny these girls can get. They have got to be unhealthy and not eating properly and if they are eating properly then they are not eating enough.”

Van Den Dungen’s Melbourne modelling agent Candy Powell believes her teenage model made the right choice.

“The international market would want Cassi to lose weight,” Powell said.

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable trying to press a 17-year-old girl to slim down from size six or eight to size four,” she said.

She felt the Australian modelling industry was more flexible about models’ weight.

“It’s one of the good things about working with local designers, they want to show clothes in more realistic sizes.

“I’m sure when she feels ready, Cassi can make it in New York.”

I am still trying to work out whether ‘losing weight’ is code for ‘I am not leaving my boyfriend Brad’.

The teams in tonight’s episode were going from the cold of Siberia to the heat and chaos of India. They were to fly to Jaipur otherwise known as the pink city. It did not matter where you were in the pecking order of leaving the pitstop as they were all on the same plane to India.

The cheerleaders on their arrival in Jaipur showed they were no bimbos by asking the taxi drivers at the airport whether they had enough fuel in the car, something the hostesses should have done as they had to stop for petrol and ended up being lagging behind for the rest of the leg.

Mike and Mel had the taxi driver curse, something that struck quite a few teams tonight, when their driver disappeared and they could not get their stuff out of the boot, to get another driver. They were last out of the airport.

A couple of the teams found their first time in India overwhelming with Luke and one of the cheerleaders weeping at some of the sights they were seeing.

They had to go to some tree in a village and Victor and Tammy got there first. However the usual clue box was not there and they had to get the clue by ringing  a number on a red phone. They worked it out pretty quickly, the same cannot be said for the other teams. Clearly they thought it was normal that there is a red phone under a tree in the middle of freaking nowhere!  The Airline hostesses at least queried why it was there so at least worked out it was there for a reason.

Roadblock – Care for Camel

The roadbloc was to collect feed and water for some camels. Victor was first to start and finish.

Mike was worried if his father Mel was even going to survive this challenge as he huffed and puffed in the field.  However Mel had read the clue properly and saw the bigger basket to use for the feed rather than the steel bucket and ended up streaking into second place.

The midget stuntmen who arrived with the pack were second last to leave. This team has been underwhelming the whole time, now I know the philsophy is you are still in the race if you don’t finish last, however they have yet to even look like giving the top three a shake. There brain capacity seems to be the same size as the height – stunted.

Anyway it was detour time and they had the choice between Movers or Shakers

Movers – the teams had to move containers of hay by bicycle and then at the end looking through all the hay to find a small silver elephant.

Shakers – the teams must dress up in traditional clothes and dance for tips to make 100 rupees to get their next clue.

Victor and Tammy were first there and chose to do shaker and therefore were the first team to the pitstop at  Jaigarah Fort.

All of teams did shakers except the dwarf stuntmen which was the bit of luck the hosties were hoping for. Would they be able to complete the speedbump of decorating an elephant (a task only they had to complete) while the bumbling blokes did their detour?

In fact the air hostesses finished the detour first but their taxi driver must have stuffed up on the way to the fort and they came in last. And in their exit interview in Reality Wanted they confirm a bad driver cost them the race as they arrived only a couple of minutes after the guys.

Ok we are four shows into this season’s Australian and the judging panel have settled in. I am not sure Jay Dee Springbett is the man for the job past this season. He needs to bring more energy to the panel, and sure I appreciate having a producers view on the performers, he is kind of repetitive. Perhaps he should broaden is frame of reference and give a personal view at times not just his will this person make Sony a bucket load of money view.

Marcia is just predictable, and plays the mother hen role, which after seven seasons is a yawn fest.

Dicko over the last two nights seems to have skulled down a couple of energy drinks before the show and is showing some of his usual cheekiness thank God otherwise it would be getting very dull.

I always thought that who was in which semi was rigged however, now I am not so sure considering they had three people in with the surname of Johnston in tonight’s one. I am sure the position of where they sing is rigged. All the people who have sung last are now in the top 12.

Anyway it was not surprise Sabrina Batshon and Scott Newnham were voted into the top 12. But the question has Sabrina come into Australian Idol judge Jay Dee Springett notice prior to Idol? ( See story http://www.realityravings.com/2009/08/27/sabrina-batshon-love-her-or-hate-her-she-definitely-can-sing/)

Kim Cooper – Waking Up In Vegas

Apart from the playing with her hair when she was performing I liked this performance, easy on the eye and a good voice. The full pop package.

“Super hot girl singing pop I love it,” said Dicko.  “Your challenge is connecting with women, as they will have schizophrenic approach to you.” But he wants her in his top 12.

“Be careful with song choice… but good performance tonight.” said Jay Dee Springbett.

You can always tell the ones the judges like as they spend so much more time commenting on them.

Ed Zaiden – Foreign Land

I must be having a thing for long hair crazy men (in stark contrast to balding chef fetish) at them moment, as Ed and last night’s performer Daniel Raso were two of my favourites from the auditions. However it was a bit of a crazy performance from Ed, screechy notes, crazy eyes  and weird movements. I did not love it but kind of hope he gets through. Jay Dee called it intense, I would call it a tad demonic.

“Good performance, but don’t think it was a great vocal performance,” Jay Dee said, “you bring something unique to the competition.”

“I really think there is an artist in there somewhere,” said Dicko. “I think you give better hippie than rock.”

Lucie Johnson – Sweet Dreams

I am not  a Beyonce fan so I was not rapt with this song, however what I was rapt about was that for a sixteen year old she was amazingly articulate and confident.

What was the story of Jay Dee Springbett doing with his head back with his eyes closed when the camera panned to  him? Is this how he listens to the singers voices?He confirmed  that he does.

“Great song choice, and great vocals” said Jay Dee, but he said he was unsure what sort of artist she wants to be something which Dicko thought as well.

Tim Johnston – Signed Sealed and Delivered

Why does my barista not look like this? Life is not fair. I don’t remember him at all during the auditions or top 100 week, but why not he is quite hot. Unfortunately the worst performance of the night.  The voice was a bit weak, and it needed a bit more soul in it. I think this will be the last we see of him. I think they will give Toby Moulton a wildcard shot before him.

“Soul man I am still not buying it,” said Dicko.  “I bit of a soulless performance. You thought it you did not feel it …. you singing the wrong music to succeed.”

“A little bit karaoke for me,” said Jay Dee Springbett. And then there was the argument about The Temptations and I got totally confused. I think what Marcia was saying that white people should not be judged on the same standards as black people when they are singing soul. Or it could have been something else entirely.

Tenielle Muslin – Love Story

I really like her voice even though she did hit a few bum notes. I am not sure her voice is strong enough to stand up to the rigours of the various theme nights.

“I think there is more room for your voice to grow, if your voice matches your look you will have a career,” said Jay Dee Springbett.

“Got to find some resonance in your voice,” said Dicko after he gave her his pervy opinion about her looks. I love the way they are happy to to give their views on the women in the show, but no one told Jason Bartlett last night that he should drop some kilos to have a singing career.

James Johnston- Crazy

Ok he is in the lucky last position so is the the kid they want through tonight? He will definitely get the teen girl vote, as he is a little cutie, and it was a great song choice for him. It was one of the best performances on a night where there was no outstanding one.

“One of the best of the night for me,” said Jay Dee Springbett.

“I think you look like the office junior on a night out,” said Dicko. “You do skew to a pre-teen and teen market.”

The problem with tonight’s performances was that I had to see the recaps to remember who had been performing, and I have a fast forward button to skip the ads – so were they all that non-memorable?

 James Johnston will get into the top 12, but I have no idea who will get the second spot. Possibly Kim Cooper?

Sabrina Batshon has had me intrigued since she auditioned for Australian Idol this year, and I still cannot decide whether I like her or loathe her. Which probably means I want her to get into the top 12 so I can work it out.

She has been a professional performer and site that I don’t think is to accurate indicates that she might have know Australian Idol judge Jay Dee Springett prior to the show. But more on that later.

She has apparently been performing for quite some time, but her career was interrupted when she was admitted to a psychiatric ward for depression and suicidal tendencies(well that is what I have interpreted what her admission was for from the chatter on the show). I was curious to find out about the girl in the cut off shorts, the penchants for glitter, and the underlying vulnerability.

I found this article on Wikibin but am not sure of the veracity of it considering they stuffed up the year of her birth. She was born in 1984 not 1964.

But it had a couple of interesting things:

• She was understudy to Nikki Webster in the Wizard of Oz,
• In 2001 Batshon confirmed that she does reject the rigid labels of homosexuality and famously declared ” love is fluid”, elucidating a long held belief that she is not strictly heterosexual and accepts both genders as being sexually attractive to both genders. Please note she went to Newtown High of Performing Arts and that is what they all say there, and by the way I don’t care if she is Bi or gay.

But this is the most interesting paragraph is this one:

Batshon’s Talent has most recently attracted Barbra Streisand’s Manager Marty Erlichman and Australia’s Sony Artist Director Jay Dee Springbett.

If Jay Dee Springbett did know her prior to Australian Idol he definitely needs to declare it.  It is possible this page could have been updated since the met during the top 100 week.

Whether she gets in to the top 12 or not she has added some interest to this season show.