Croquet Fight and American Idol

SportsDude:
Tonight is the big Idol finale Jordin vs. Blake. The obviously safe pick is Jordin. She is black and white, a smile that captures a room and can really belt it out. Blake is modern, hip and original. I will maintain that once again Blake is the only person on the show that I would pay money to see. I think he is extremely talented and original, however, he entered a singing competition and he is a “pretty good” singer. As we have seen in the past thought the best singers don’t always win. It is whoever is the most marketable.

Let’s look at the demographics for the contestants. Blake appeals to the young generation, who eats up music. Blake does not appeal to anyone over the age of 30 though. Jordin appeals to everyone, and although she is young I don’t think she appeals to a real young generation simply because she is not “sexy” enough.

I don’t know who votes the most for American Idol but I think it is 13 year old girls (which makes me question my maturity) so I think Blake will land all of those votes. I’m calling it Blake Lewis is you American Idol.

Croquet

Last night me and shoppergal played a few games croquet. Up until Sunday I had not won a game of croquet against shoppergal because I never played it until we got a set last year. Shoppergal is quite competitive and last night she kind of grazed a ball and it didn’t go anywhere. I was feeling nice so I let her have another hit because the ball didn’t go anywhere. One karma point for Sportsdude. A few hit later I hit the ball and it lands exactly in the middle of the wicket. Depending who you are it could be argued that half is through the wicket or not. Expecting that Shoppergal would remember my kind act, I was thinking that it would be called over half through and I could hit again. Ummmmm……. Let me think….. NO.

Shoppergals, competitive spirit came through. I let her win the argument because I always let her win. However, I was upset about this one. What goes around did NOT come back around. I’m a go with the flow kind of guy but this made the flow stop.

We play on and I’m losing because I can’t focus because I am mad. I try to really nail the ball and the mallet falls of pole and manages to hit my foot and the ball. OK, OK, shoppergal will see that the mallet flew off the club and let me have another try at it, kind of like a foul ball in baseball. “NO, you can’t hit!” said shoppergal.

Whoa, Whoa, Whoooa. Whoooaoooa. Back the horse up. Back the F***** horse up. Where did my good karma point go? I didn’t get to use it earlier and I don’t get to use it now? Ya know what… Santa Clause is not watching, did nobody see this good deed I did earlier? Maybe I should go cash in this karma point in at the casino.

Oh by the way shoppergal won all 4 games of croquet last night. I am ashamed…. I have disappointed men all over the country.

All this leads up to the question “Do you always play to win?”

ShopperGal:
If you're an American Idol hater, skip down toward the end of my post immediately because this top part is all about tonight's finale. As you can tell, SportsDude and I are obsessed with American Idol. And tonight is finally the moment of truth…who will be crowned the 6 th American Idol? Will it be the young but pop-tastic Jordin Sparks or will it be the unique, alternative Blake Lewis?

My money's on Jordin although I'd be pleased with either ending. I think Jordin fits the mold of American Idol much better but Blake would bring something different to the role. He's not a cookie cutter artist. He does his own thing; he has his own style. And it's impressive I must add.

Even more importantly than who is going to win, what superstars will make guest appearances? I heard a rumor that Britney Spears would be taking her train wreck comeback to the American Idol stage. But I find that very hard to believe. I guess we'll all have to wait and see.

On another note (tune back in AI haters) I am the world's most competitive person. Seriously. Ask SportsDude. He'll tell you. Last night we played a game of croquet like we had for the last two nights but last night things got a little out of hand.

I don't think I'm in the minority here when I say that I hate to lose. I mean it. I can't stand it. I will do anything – cheat, steal, lie – to keep from losing. It makes me feel inadequate. It makes me feel defeated. It makes me…well, pissed.

But last night I wasn't even losing and I lost my cool and the competitive ShopperGal oozed out of every inch of my body and SportsDude got to experience the wrath. It happened at the first wicket. I went to shoot the ball and mostly missed. My mallet grazed the ball but the ball only moved about a millimeter. SportsDude let me shoot again (which I think was fair since my ball didn't move).

Well, we move on to the next wicket and SportsDude shoots one through the wicket and it doesn't make it all the way through. In my opinion, it doesn't make it more than 1/3 of the way through. In his, it is half. Rules of croquet state that it has to be at least halfway through to count as through. SportsDude thought it was through and he should shoot again. I disagreed. Well, then he brings out the big gun. He let me cheat (earlier hit which I considered totally legal) and it's halfway though so he should get to hit again. We argued for at least 5 minutes about this. Finally I gave in and let him cheat since he had let me "cheat".

I know it's a stupid story and an even more stupid thing to get mad over. But I couldn't help it. It struck my competitive nature. So anyway SportsDude spent the rest of the evening mad at me. And I spent the rest of the evening mad at myself. I had ruined a fun game of croquet and it's not the first time. It seems like every time I try to play a game I get too competitive and take all the fun out of it.

SportsDude tells me games are supposed to be fun. Well, I told him that they are fun WHEN I'm winning. Is that wrong?

Ryan Seacrest

SportsDude:
A lot of people probably thought that Idol last night was shocking. I’m calling a “told ya so” on this one. Once Idol gets down to the final three or four singing goes out the window. Everyone can say “yeah, they can sing pretty good.” At this point in the game what matters most is looks and song choice. What I mean by song choice is that the contestants need to pick a song that everyone knows and that is fun. If the contestants pick a slow song then they are done for. Last nights show and many others this year seem to have been overshadowed by Ryan Seacrest.

At this point I have many questions and few answers for why Ryan Seacrest is so popular. He is terribly awkward, not funny, maybe gay, and has no personality. So, I guess he is what network exec’s want. It just seems like he should have a big wind up rod on his back that the exec’s turn and then Ryan walks around and says stupid things. Let’s have some examples.

Last night when Elliot (we be) Yamin got done singing and was trying to get sponsorship from Porsche (which he won’t). Ryan said “we don’t that on this show.” First off Elliot should have known that and secondly why is Ryan calling him out on that? Why do you even bring it up? I give it a 3 on the Seacrest awkward scale.

Two nights ago Seacrest made one of many gay jokes this year with Simon. Ryan, when your manliness is in question more than Davis on the “real world” then you can’t make gay jokes. I mean if someone asked Seacrest if he wore boxers or briefs he would say “Niether……… bikini briefs” then turn around while the moon rose as you seen him in his assless chaps. This gets a 7 on the Seacrest awkward scale.

I still don’t understand how Seacrest hosts so many shows. I mean he does Idol, something on the E channel and he has a radio show. Maybe I’m old fashioned but if you were going to host a lot of shows I thought you had to be good at you know… hosting!

By the way Ryan Seacrest needs a nick-name because I’m not sure he has one. Ryan “likes to see testicles.” Ryan “I’m in the closet and it’s a” Seacrest. Seacresticle out!

By the way it’s been a busy week so no recap of Heroes.


ShopperGal:
SEACREST OUT. Well, not quite. As far as I know, he’s still hidden somewhere deep in the closet – where by the way, he wants Simon to stay out of. Ryan Seacrest is one of the weirdest guys I (don’t) know. He’s also one of the most awkward. Every episode of American Idol has an awkward silence or weird comment mostly thanks to Ryan Seacrest.

I will disclose right now that I love love love Simon Cowell. I’m not sure why but I think he’s really sexy. Yes, I know he’s over 40 and wears tight t-shirts and mean to contestants but I still love him anyway. When I first started watching Idol, I thought that Simon and Ryan just hated each other but now I’m not so sure. I know Simon’s not gay – he has long-time girlfriend, Terri Seymour. But I’m not so sure about Ryan Seacrest and I think he just might have quite the crush on my man Simon.

I’ve wondered for awhile how in the world does Ryan have time to do all the shows he does? He hosts American Idol; has a radio show on KIIS-FM; hosts the top 40 each weekend and works for E! Online doing E! News as well as hosting red carpet events. Does this guy breathe? I know he doesn’t eat. It’s obvious he has manorexia. But where does he find time to do all this stuff?

Some of my favorite Idol banter was the hilarious scene between Ryan and Simon a month or so back. Asking Melinda what the worst part of the performances were, Melinda replied the high heels. Ryan asked Simon if he knew anything about that and Simon replied with “You should know, Ryan.” Ryan said, “Stay out of my closet.” Simon’s classic comeback “Come out.” I was rolling on the ground. My sentiments exactly.

The best part is that Ryan signs off of his shows with SEACREST OUT but he’s so obviously not out. Does he really think it’s that big of a secret. News flash: It’s not!

Okay I can’t talk about Ryan Seacrest and American Idol without at least mentioning last night’s show. Can you believe Melinda got voted off? I can believe it but it’s still sad. She was clearly the best singer among the three. Not the best performer. Not the most marketable. Not the prettiest. But she was an amazing singer and she’s going to do great things.

Now who will win between Blake and Jordin. I love Blake but I’m picking Jordin.

Idol Heroes

SportsDude:
Ok, this blog was supposed to be done before the Idol results show but it didn’t’ get done because get this, at work I was busy working L So, the theme here is tv blog. Starting off with the best show on tv “Heroes.”

On “Hereos” this week they went five years into the future and guess what there was still no flying cars! When is this going to happen? However, there was flying people so I guess that will have to do. Hiro meet future Hiro this week. If I remember right doesn’t this break the “Back To the Future” rule of not meeting your future or past self. I was absolutely expecting the world to implode at that moment, but once again I was disappointed.

The whole time throughout the show I was wondering why Nathan Petrelli was wanting to kill off the rest of the mutants/special people/heroes. By the way does anyone know the proper term for them on this show? Anyways, incase Nathan hasn’t noticed he can freaking fly. I’m pretty sure that is not normal, soooo……. Wouldn’t he have to kill himself off? Wait, no that just makes him a hypocrite. Well isn’t that just special the person that the free world elected president is a hypocrite, why don’t they just randomly pick someone out of prison.

Turns out that Nathan Petrelli is really Syler which means that Syler eventually eats that shape shifters brain. Once that was revealed everything made much more sense. Then Hiro returns back in time. Great, so they pulled a “soap opera” and absolutely nothing happened. I am worried that this will be a continuing theme on this show because the first season isn’t over and they’ve already had the save the world show. I mean really what is next “save the dolphin, save the universe?”

Second best show on tv is “American Idol.” One thing to remember this show is that it is a sport for people who don’t like sports, but if your like me and are at all competitive then you get sucked right in. (Same with all shows formatted like this but Idol does it the best.)

To start off I think that the whole combining two weeks votes is bull. What if someone came in 2nd to last the past two weeks? They wouldn’t get voted off but if the votes are combined then they would. I have been dying for a 80’s/ Hair band night on Idol but I get Bon Jovi, so I guess that is as close as I’m going to get. Turns out Bon Jovi has a lot more songs that I like than I knew. Blake’s version was AMAZING. I am convinced that he is the only contestant I would pay money to go see. Phil finally found his nitch but his eyes are too buggy to go any farther. Jordin didn’t do very good last night but she was amazing the week before so it all evened out. When will Jordin, LaKisha and Melinda start splitting votes, they are all the same singer. Hands down the best part of Tuesdays show was when Simon said he could kiss LaKisha and Ryan Seacreast got that jealous “LaKisha, you are so lucky” look. I thought he was going to race LaKisha to Simon’s lips, and Ryan would have got their first but I bet when he runs it looks like a prance.

I love recap night on Idol but I will leave this topic for a later blog. I must say that I really thought LaKisha and Chris would get voted off. Turns out I was only half right. Turns out Chris and Phil went home. Let’s be honest they had about an ice cubes chance in hell to win this.


ShopperGal:
Two of SportsDude and my favorite t.v. shows are Heroes and American Idol. We clear our schedule every week to watch them and are going to be bored this summer without them to watch.

Believe it or not, I’m the one who got SportsDude hooked on Heroes. I started watching it and couldn’t stop and eventually I made him sit down and watch it too and he got hooked. The show is always keeping us on our toes. Everytime I think I have something figured out the writers throw a kink in it.

I was annoyed at first because everyone kept dying but then they kind of stopped that but now I am worried again. It looked like Claire was going to bite the dust in Monday’s episode and I love Claire. The show just wouldn’t be the same without her. I also love Peter. He’s such a bad ass. I’m with EOnline’s Kristin Veetch that he looked even hotter with the giant scar across his face and that ain’t easy to do! I’m always looking forward to next week’s episode to see what’s going to happen next. Hopefully Hiro will save the world!

Our other favorite show is American Idol. Whose isn’t? I’ve watched this show since the end of season 1 where my beloved Kelly Clarkson was crowned the very first American Idol. I never thought I’d get SportsDude hooked on it but he’s worse than me. I was disappointed with last week’s inspirational songs. I know that’s horrible to say because they were raising money for charity but charity doesn’t keep me on the edge of my sweet. Drama, suspense, mystery does. I share Simon’s sentiments about being even more disappointed that they didn’t cut someone. P.S. I absolutely love love love Simon. I was so jealous that LaKisha got to plan one on his lips last night. Of course I have my very own lips to plant kisses on – love you SportsDude!

Here’s my biased opinion of last night’s show.
Jordin - She did bad. I love the girl but she did bad. Luckily she rocked last week so I think she’ll be safe.
Phil – He did surprising well. Trust me – I’m as shocked as the rest of you. In fact, he’s done well that last couple of weeks. I wouldn’t be all that surprised if he stuck around another day, especially since he has VoteForTheWorst behind him.
LaKisha – The old LaKisha was back but in the words of JoJo “Too little, too late.” I hate to say it because I think you’re a great singer but Bye bye LaKisha.
Blake – How many different ways can I say he rocked? Because he did. Blake is the most original contestant Idol has ever had and I realize that’s not saying much but honestly Blake is probably the most unique, original audience in the music world today.
Melinda – She was good. She’s always good. I’m with Simon in the sentiment that it’s actually quite annoying. I don’t want her to win.
Chris – He did okay. Just okay. Despite the fact that there’s rumors that he’s dating my girl Lauren Conrad (I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this girl) I’m gonna have to pick him to pack his bags and head out. Maybe now he can spend more time with LC. Word to the wise: don’t break her heart!

Who I’m picking to go: Chris and LaKisha