BuzzSugar

Link Time! 3/29

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:48:11 -0700

Idolator gets its hands on two leaked Bright Eyes tracks from Cassadaga, one of which is excellent, if a little too Dylan-esque.
Best Week Ever has the frightening footage of Karl Rove rapping.
Pop Candy finds out about the soundtrack to Showtime's "This American Life."
Buddy TV writes about the rise and fall of "Punk'd."
ScreenGrab rounds up the 10 most important nude scenes of all time. (NSFW)
TVgasm gawks at Chris Sligh's lame "Idol" exit excuse.
I Guess I'm Floating posts three Magnetic Fields covers, including one from Arcade Fire.
TV Squad wonders if YouTube will save Jon Stewart's failed pilot.
Popwatch says George Clooney might have leaked those Huckabees videos.
Film Experience pays tribute to The Lookout star Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
The TV Addict chats with Krysten Ritter about "Gilmore Girls," "Veronica Mars" and "'Til Death."
Courtesy of Defamer: how Michael Bay screwed up The Transformers, told in verse.

"American Idol" Elimination: It's Curtains for Chris S.

BuzzSugar — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:22:27 -0700

Our 'fro-headed wisecracker is gone! Chris Sligh was voted off "American Idol" on Wednesday after he failed to really nail a performance in the finals. As much as I hate to agree with Seacrest, his assessment of Chris as one of the most clever "Idol" contestants was dead-on, and I'm sorry he won't be around to lighten the mood during performance shows anymore. I'm also sorry my DVR cut out before he told Phil that Phil owed him fifty bucks.

Phil and Haley joined Chris in the bottom three, and I was actually surprised to see Phil there. I'm really not a fan of his, but I can think of a lot of times he deserved to be in the bottom three, and this wasn't one of them. Haley, meanwhile, has to know her number's up soon; she just looks terrified all the time now, poor thing.

And yes, that means Sanjaya wasn't even in any danger. Dear America: What are you smoking? For more thoughts on Wednesday's elimination show, read more

Maybe I should have seen it coming, but Seacrest coming out in the Sanjaya ponyhawk wig was pretty amazing.
We got a Wild West pimpomercial - I'm sorry, "music video" - featuring Chris Richardson as an outlaw and Jordin as the sheriff trying to put him in his place.
"So that means either Chris or Gina will be joining Phil and Stacey in the bottom three," quoth Seacrest. Wow, I guess when Simon said he didn't know Haley's name, he wasn't alone.
The "Idol" challenge was about which finalist had been nicknamed "the velvet teddy bear," and Bo Bice was an option. I think he's one of the least teddy bear-ish contestants in Idol's history, actually.

Gwen's performance was so much better than what we usually see on "Idol" (read: washed-up stars in wildly inappropriate outfits attempting songs their voices gave up on years ago). So refreshing.
Was Paula trying to dress like Gwen? Both were wearing white button-down shirts, neckties and bib tops. Gwen, of course, looked awesome, while Paula looked ... well, kind of like a pirate. I think it was the fluttery sleeves.
Simon on who was going home: "I think it's bye-bye, Curly." I think he meant Chris, but Haley's hair was curly too.
If my coin had only come up tails on Tuesday, I'd be three-for-three in predicting eliminations
I'm glad Chris got a singout. I wish I could have just heard him crack jokes for two minutes, but I'll take the singout.

Photos courtesy of Fox

"American Idol": The Top 11 Do the British Invasion

BuzzSugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:35:29 -0700

So you all voted for Ashley, right? Her sobbing during Sanjaya's performance was inspired, but to break out the tears again during Melinda's song? Pure genius! Why, that was one of the greatest performances I've ever seen on "American Idol." I think she has a great shot of making the final --

What? She's not a contestant? Too bad nobody told the cameraman, because that girl got more screen time than anyone on Tuesday. I couldn't tell if she was the biggest fangirl ever or just in pain from hearing Sanjaya try to rock. Don't worry, Ashley: He makes me bawl, too.

Anyway, it was British Invasion week on "Idol," brought to us by Peter Noone and a lovely little sprite of a woman named Lulu, whom I could have watched for hours. Overall, it was the most enjoyable episode I've seen all season: The performances were either good or amusingly bad, Paula took the crazyometer up a few ticks by dancing through almost every song, and Seacrest attempted to beatbox. That sound you heard at about 8:40 p.m. was America laughing. To hear what I thought of the performances, read more

Haley Scarnato (at right): I don't know what happened, but I kind of like Haley now. I think I want to be her friend. Haley, call me. She's still not the strongest singer, but it was great to hear her do an uptempo song that wasn't "Queen of the Night." Her "Tell Him" included some wiggly dancing in front of a totally nonplussed Simon, which I always like to see.

Chris Richardson: I cracked up when he sat down on stage with a guitarist - what is this, "American Idol Unplugged"? But the soft ballad suited him, and surprise! He can actually sing. It was not at all like, well, a Backstreet Boy, and I think it could actually win him some new fans.

Stephanie Edwards: I was wondering who was going to tuck into the Dusty Springfield cake, and Stephanie grabbed the first slice. I don't think these quiet performances have done her any favors; I wish she'd go back to her rockin' side from week one, and Simon said she's lost her edge.

Blake Lewis (at left): Peter Noone wasn't sure what to make of Blake's beatboxing "business," which was so adorably unhip. Blake, on the other hand, makes "Time of the Season" sound not like it's on an insurance commercial. Also, beatboxing + grandpa pants + fauxhawks = hot. But you knew I was going to say that, huh?

LaKisha Jones: Lulu tried her best to talk LaKisha out of singing "Diamonds are Forever," even walking out of her on-camera interview to suggest a different song. Maybe LaKisha should have listened to her, huh? She seemed uncomfortable for the first time and way older than she is, but her fan base is strong and I don't think she's in any danger.

Phil Stacey: Did he vomit on his shirt? Please don't tell me those stains were intentional. As for the performance, two words: Taylor Hicks. He sang "Tobacco Road" with some mic stand prancing, and Simon brought out the old "bar band" criticism.

Jordin Sparks: Quick poll: When Jordin said the song that best described her was "I'm So Excited," did anyone else immediately think "I'm ... so ... scared"? She sang a dramatic version of "I Who Have Nothing," which was beautiful but - as Simon pointed out - fairly gloomy. Still, if I were doing "Idol" power rankings, I'd say she just slipped above Stephanie.

Sanjaya Malakar (at right): Peter Noone said Sanjaya's problem is that he doesn't have enough experience to sell what he's got. What, exactly, has he got? His performance of "You Really Got Me" would have been weird enough had the camera not repeatedly cut away to the sobbing girl.

Gina Glocksen: I started having a bad feeling about her performance of "Paint it Black" when Lulu suggested she sing it higher. The first five seconds and all the slow bits were pretty much unlistenable, though I thought the uptempo parts were way fun. Simon called it style over substance. I really like Gina, but I'm a little worried she'll be gone tonight.

Chris Sligh (below): Wow, they really pulled out all the stops performance-wise on Tuesday, huh? Chris one-upped Phil by not just dancing with the mic stand but also singing half his song while walking through the crowd. As far as I could tell, no small children cried. It was a pretty decent song, but I was more impressed by the "fro patro" slogan.

Melinda Doolittle: Aw, she has cute new hair! And she also made that little girl cry. Anyway, Melinda sang her second song from a musical in as many weeks (this one from Oliver!), and while it's not doing anything to shake my feeling that she'd be better on Broadway, the girl can sing.

Who's safe: Melinda, Chris Richardson, Blake, LaKisha, Jordin

Who should be in the bottom three: Sanjaya, Gina, and Phil

Who will be in the bottom three: Phil, Sanjaya, and Stephanie

Who's going home: Stephanie. As much as I wish Sanjaya's number were finally up, I think Stephanie's become forgettable. Whatever else we can say about Sanjaya, he's certainly memorable.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Snap Judgment: The "American Idol" Guys

BuzzSugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:18:49 -0800

Yawn. Did someone forget to tell the "American Idol" guys that it matters now? Tuesday night's performances were just plain dull, especially considering that this show will put six of them in the magical top 12. Not even Paula could think of anything nice to say to most of these guys, dropping her crazy-ometer score to a season-low 3 out of 10.

Did you manage to stay awake through the performance show? If so, here's a ballot where you can pick the six you think are moving on and the two going home. To see my take, read more

Blake Lewis (at right): Turns out, Blake likes improv comedy and Halloween. I knew we had a lot in common! He sang 311's "All Mixed Up" with some beatboxing and a reggae tinge. None of the judges recognized the song (I guess they weren't listening to late-'90s alt-rock radio), but they applauded Blake for sounding original.

Sanjaya Malakar: His straightened hair? Totally not working for me. His singing? Also not working for me - or for the judges. Randy says Sanjaya used to be special but now the spark is gone; Simon says it "wasn't as ghastly as last week" but suggests his "Paula hair" is what's keeping him in the competition.

Sundance Head: Sundance made me like him for a second by making a joke about how he's actually thin in real life and just wears the fat suit for "Idol." Then he attempted Pearl Jam's "Jeremy." Randy and Paula acted like mixing Pearl Jam and Southern rock was the most amazing idea known to man, while Simon thought he sounded like a bar singer. Excuse me, I need to go listen to "Better Man" now.

Chris Richardson (at left): Much to my chagrin, Timberfake is winning me over. But does anybody else think he sounds nasally on slower songs like the one he did on Tuesday? The judges like that he's mixing up his style, but they weren't wowed.

Jared Cotter: He's one of the only guys in the competition whom I could see pulling off Stevie Wonder, but his performance seemed over-rehearsed and boring. Paula - Paula! - slammed him, saying he needs to add more texture to his singing. Simon thought Jared lacks the "wow factor."

Brandon Rogers: Yikes, was it really a good idea to sing "I Just Want to Celebrate" at this stage of the competition? It's just not a song that requires a whole lot, vocally, and Brandon kind of screwed up the big run at the end. Paula thought it was phenomenal, but Randy and Simon were lukewarm.

Phil Stacey (at right): Oh, Phil. Bad hat. Bad song. The dude can belt a chorus, but this one sounded off-key and awful, especially the low notes. I was cringing in my living room. Not even Paula was pleased.

Chris Sligh: Google tells me his song was "Wanna Be Loved" by DC Talk. His performance was just average, but this was the kind of night when average was good enough. None of the judges liked his song choice, but Randy said his was the best vocal performance of the night, and Simon said he has potential.

Who should go: Sanjaya and Phil

Who will go: Phil and Jared, unless Sanjaya's mysterious voting base finally gives up.

Your turn! Tell me who you think has sung his last "Idol" song by filling out this ballot.

Photos courtesy of Fox