Three years ago, Congress outlined a plan in which we would shut off analog signals for TV and switch to digital television only. Despite that and the barrage of media coverage on the subject especially over the past year or so, 6.5 million homes remain unready for the switch. Following a unanimous vote in the Senate in favor of the delay, the House was only able to get a 258-168 majority (about 60%), shy of the 2/3 majority needed to push the switch to digital back from February 17 to June 12. We’ve had plenty of time to prepare, and anybody not ready already probably won’t be ready by this summer either.
Author: Shane
American Idol Season 8 Episode 5
Louisville, KY wasn’t much more successful than San Francisco, but American Idol 8 Episode 4 did produce a bit of talent. Joanna Pacitti (who toured as Annie at age 11, sang Watch Me Shine on the Legally Blonde soundtrack, and has had a few minor TV roles), Alexis Grace, and Leneshe Young were the bright spots for the night.
Tonight they’re going to Jacksonville, Florida. On the way, Ryan and Simon get some practice speaking in their normal speaking voices. Then they pretend Randy is famous for something other than Idol.
Joshua Ulloa believes he’s Justin Guarini, the guy from season one who we never heard of again. He wants to get it on, and it appears he’s trying to sing I guess. Mostly, he just drowns in bad sound effects. The judges all say yes. I don’t get it.
Sharon Wilbur brings her dog Sasha with her, with a fresh haircut (the dog, not the girl). She sings Superstar by Karen Carpenter. Although Sasha is yawning, the judges let both of them through to Hollywood.
Kaneswa Finnie has been led to believe by her mother that she can sing. She has been led wrong. Simon drags her mom on to tell her to stop lying to her.
Julissa Veloz is wearing a tiara. She sings Whitney Houston’s I Have Nothing. Like Simon, I thought it was better than I was expecting. It’s good enough to get through to Hollywood.
Darin Darnell is full of spirit and energy. Then his friend gets cut. Now he’s sad. At least he has an excuse for why he sings so bad now. He sings It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye by Boyz II Men.
Naomi Sykes believes she can sing high notes like Mariah Carey used to be able to. But first her friend wants to pretend she’s a fan of Randy’s. She sings Loving You by Minnie Riperton. A waste of time no matter how many judges are getting lap dances during the performance.
At the end of the first day of auditions, we’ve seen… not much.
Jasmine Murray sings Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie. One of the best voices we’ve heard yet.
From there, we go to George Ramirez, who clearly is there to fill space. In his wildest dreams, he expects to have a simple house with nice marble floors in 11 years. What he sings is really irrelevant, but it’s supposed to be Walking on Sunshine apparently. He’ll see Ryan around, whatever that means.
Ann Marie Boskovich calls Kara her hero. Yeah, Kara doesn’t believe it either. She sings a little bit of one of Kara’s songs, making it clear she’s good, but before she can actually audition, Simon tells her to come back as a different person, literally.
Terrence TK Hash was rejected last year but is back again. He sings John Lennon’s Imagine. How’d they let this guy go before?
Michael Perrelli plays guitar wherever he goes. Too bad he can’t play his guitar in the audition (has he seen this show before?). The panic attack sets in, as he has no back up plan. He sings Third Eye Blind’s Jumper. Simon doesn’t like his voice. Kara thinks he may be better with his guitar. Simon gets on his case because he’s begging, something I don’t recall them jumping on anyone about before.
Ann Marie found a makeup artist on the street. Why she needed the makeover I’m not sure, but it works. She sings Bubbly, and as we already knew, she’s got a great voice.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of American Idol Season 8 episode 6, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.
The Biggest Loser Couples 2 Episode 4
Unlike the previous week, the vote turned out to be a pretty easy one in The Biggest Loser Couples 2 Episode 3. Despite the fact that she didn’t seem to want to be there, or perhaps because of it, Jillian’s team united to make sure that Joelle stayed at the ranch for another week, with Damien being sent home instead.
Bob’s team is not happy that the other group led them to believe they were voting out Joelle. They think that this creates a rift between themselves and Joelle. As if Joelle was getting along with her team to begin with.
Aubrey’s worried about being home because she’s got a bunch of kids running around. Laura appears to be partying. Sione has realized that there is time… you just have to make it. Dave’s smoking and still at his buffet. The partners will return in 6 days.
Joelle’s team hates her more worse than they did last week, especially Kristin. Bob believes that she’s getting over the hump.
It’s Super Bowl week. Before they kick things off, Blaine will be going home because his wife’s having a baby, number four. He will return for the weigh-in, which will count, but he will miss the event and the challenge over the weekend. Chef Curtis Stone is there to meet the others with a test of their knowledge of their favorite Super Bowl snacks. He will show the top three players how to cook healthy versions of these foods. The winner will also get a 2 pound pass for their teammate to use when they come back on campus, and they will also receive a visit from Curtis.
Chicken wings with a side of ranch dressing are 991 calories. With 800 calories, Dan is closest and proceeds to the next round. A bread bowl with chili and sour cream is 1165 calories, with Kristin coming closest. 7 layer dip contains 1755 calories, so Helen is the final person to join the top three. Curtis cooks the chicken wings with cubes of the breast, a little mustard and honey, and rosemary stuck right through the chicken. Once they’re done, Alison has a test for them. There are 230 calories in Curtis’ version. Dan comes within 10 calories and wins the 2 pound pass for his teammate.
Curtis will be paying David a visit, and if anyone could use that visit, it’s Dave, who never cooked before and prefers fast food instead. He takes him to the supermarket and the produce section, the place with all the vegetables and stuff. Then he takes him back home and shows him it’s easy to cook a good tasting healthy meal with the proper spices.
Bob makes an effort to unite his not overly unified team with a workout designed for group effort.
When Blaine goes home to see his wife, he’s reminded of why he’s on the show. Now he’s got a fifth reason to be healthy, a new baby boy.
The contestants get in their jerseys for the challenge, where Kurt Warner is waiting for them. The challenge is for immunity, which not only makes them safe but also automatically guarantees that their partner will be returning. They’ll dash back and forth, grab a football, and put it in someone else’s bin. 5 footballs means elimination. Jillian’s team are ganging up on Filipe, while Tara’s being teamed up on by the other team. Filipe is the first one eliminated. Tara is the next one gone. Dane follows as they target the strongest people first. Kristin is the next one out, followed by Mandi. Dan is the next one out. Mike’s out next, leaving Helen against Joelle with 4 balls each. It’s reasonably close, but Helen wins immunity, meaning Shannon will be returning as well.
Jillian doesn’t believe Dan is pushing himself and getting out of his comfort zone. He realizes he’s got a bunch of stupid excuses. He never thought it was possible to not be fat because he’s never been anything different.
Joelle says she’s finally been trying this week, Bob agrees, and even her team seems to be behind her for a change.
It’s time for the weigh-in, but first the partners are back and ready to get back into the game.
Helen: 225 pounds (-6, 2.59%, immune)
Mike: 339 pounds (-9, 2.58%)
Ron: 370 pounds (-7, 1.85%)
Brown Total: -16 pounds, 2.21%
Blaine: 312 pounds (-11, 3.40%)
Dane: 345 pounds (-15, 4.16%)
Black Total: -26 pounds, 3.81%
Filipe: 311 pounds (-13, 4.01%)
Tara: 252 pounds (-12, 4.55%)
Kristin: 312 pounds (-12, 3.70%)
Mandi: 227 pounds (-10, 4.22%)
Dan: 394 pounds (-12, 2.96%)
Joelle: 278 pounds (-10, 3.47%)
Thanks to her immunity, Helen managed to stay above the yellow line. That leaves Mike & Ron up against Dan & David. This will be another emotional vote. David has a message that, either way, it can be done, whether they’re at home or still at the ranch.
Votes
Helen: Dan & Dave
Mandi: Mike & Ron
Kristin: Dan & Dave
Blaine & Dane: Mike & Ron
Tara: Mike & Ron
Joelle: Dan & Dave
Filipe: Dan & Dave
Despite the talk that went into how they were upset with Dave, the voting comes down along team lines, with Bob’s team in control this time. Dan & Dave have been eliminated a lot earlier than I would have anticipated. Dan is a lot more used to exercise and can run the track for 20 minutes, and he’s off his diabetes medicine. Dave is trying to get more comfortable exercising and has quit smoking. David has lost 46 pounds, while Dan has lost 101 pounds.
That’ll do it for now. They apparently don’t have enough time to weigh in another 6 whole people until next week.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Biggest Loser 7 Episode 5, which airs Tuesday at 8/7c on NBC.
Kyle XY Season 3 Episode 3
Kyle spent his time trying to save his soulmate in Kyle XY Season 3 Episode 2. Now it’s just a question of whether his soulmate is Jessi or Amanda.
Kyle’s moving his room, which of course means relocating a tub. The Tragers are taking Jessi in, so Josh gets a roommate. Everything should be okay, but they might need to think about knocking before entering the bathroom from now on. Jessi might also need to be more subtle, not asking Josh right in front of his parents if Andy’s going to reopen the store and be generous with the merchandise.
While Kyle is eavesdropping on Amanda’s music, she stops playing. She collapses but says she’s okay, though not before Kyle and Jessi storm over to see what’s wrong. Amanda’s not happy that Kyle and Jessi are living together.
Lori’s forbidden from seeing Mark, but that won’t prevent her from accidentally running into him. She plans to accidentally run into him again tomorrow, too.
Michael Cassidy runs into Kyle at the park. Latnok wants to make sure they have a relationship with Kyle because they consider him their greatest achievement. They’re the good guys. Really. Kyle’s not interested but does take the business card.
Jessi’s coming in handy for Josh. She unscrambled the adult programming for him. Everything was going fine until his dad caught him watching it. Kyle wants him to give her time to adjust to living with a family. Josh is becoming more of a horndog than he was to begin with. While he’s talking about his problem (being a teenage boy being unable to get his mind off sex) with Kyle, Jessi overhears the part about Amanda being Kyle’s soulmate.
Amanda keeps messing up in the same place, unable to hold the piece in her head for the first time ever. She hasn’t felt like herself since prom. Kyle is worried that Latnok did something to her. It’s not like he can just scan her brain, though. Or can he?
Lori accidentally runs into Mark, who bought some flowers just in case he accidentally ran into someone. It seems they’re accidentally kissing and making plans to go out for pizza as well.
Using Josh’s Xbox controller, Kyle has created a scanner and heads to Amanda’s rehersal. Problem is he brought Jessi with him, which Amanda’s not too happy about. When he’s alone, Amanda plays fine, but as soon as she sees him together with Jessi, Amanda stops playing and runs off. The two of them are always together like two peas from pods.
With the results back from his device, Kyle finds out that something’s in Amanda’s brain. Cassidy tells him it should have dissolved by now, but that he can help.
If she’s willing to keep a secret about Lori sneaking around with Mark, Jessi can be part of the group with Lori and the others under legal voting age to take on the parentals.
Like Stephen, Cassidy doesn’t want Mark to see Lori either.
Kyle hopes to eliminate the block without electrocuting Amanda, a risk Jessi’s totally up for taking. He tests regulating the voltage on a light bulb… which explodes. Jessi suggests that he pass the electricity through a kiss. He’ll have to practice, and what better subject to practice on than her? As they’re about to kiss, Stephen walks in and asks where Lori is. Jessi’s response draws Kyle’s “I know you’re lying” look. Stephen knows Lori’s with Mark. Kyle is having second thoughts because he doesn’t want to kiss Jessi, despite his full frontal view of her earlier in the shower, but she convinces him he doesn’t have a choice. When he kisses her, he blows her across the room.
Mark calls Lori to tell her the bad news that he can’t see her any more in order to protect his future.
Nicole tells Amanda that she has nothing to worry about with Kyle and Jessi. Then she walks in on Kyle and Jessi kissing. Good luck explaining this. He wants to tell Amanda everything, but she storms out.
Andy’s moms have decided to extend their vaction another three weeks. Bad news for Josh, but he realizes he misses her for more than just her body.
Kyle arrives at the recital and is confronted by Amanda’s mom, who is her usual chipper self. Amanda insists she’s lost him, even if he doesn’t realize it. He has no choice but to kiss her, whether she wants to or not. Despite the crying, she’s still standing, a good sign. Although she gets through her recital in good form, her words have Kyle believing he has lost her.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of Kyle XY Season 3 Episode 4 In the Company of Men, which airs Monday at 9/8c on ABC Family.
The Bachelor 13 Episode 4
Three more girls went home in The Bachelor 13 Episode 3. First, the very conceited Natalie was sent home following her one-on-one date. Then Erica and Kari were sent home at the rose ceremony.
The girls are going to have a competition to see who gets the one-on-one date. They’re going to have to write a song and sing to Jason. This should be thoroughly lame. We’re not going to get through the half hour of song writing without drama queen Nikki breaking down crying about how she has a phobia of singing. After some mostly bad singing performances, Jason has chosen Molly. I’m not sure why.
Jason’s inviting Molly home to his place, or at least the mansion he’s living in while he’s on the show. Melissa, who went on the Goodyear Blimp, says she’s insanely jealous of this ordinary date. They have dinner and discuss family and marriage, then they head outside for a campfire. She seems to be saying all the right things, and he gives her a rose as the date winds down. It doesn’t end there, though, as he asks her to sleep over in the tent. The other girls head to bed, but Shannon waits up before finally falling asleep on the couch. The next morning, Molly arrives in Jason’s clothes, and she tells the girls she’s very tired and that Jason didn’t get much sleep either.
The group date will consist of Jillian, Lauren, Shannon, Megan, Melissa, and Naomi. That leaves Nikki up against Stephanie for the two-on-one date. Here come the waterworks again. The date card says something about playing doctor. They go to the set of General Hospital, where Jason seems as excited as the women are. Perhaps because he’s going to do a scene with each of the girls, most of which end with kissing (but no tongue). Shannon jumps when asked who’s going to kiss him first. Then Naomi gets to kiss Jason about 11 times. Lauren says she doesn’t have a kissing scene. Jillian picks up with some more kissing and made-for-TV proposal like the one she hopes will happen in a few weeks. Megan jumps right into another makeout scene, and she doesn’t hold back. She’s obviously hoping to be getting a room.
Once Jason’s done kissing a bunch of people in front of a bunch of other people, they go to the wrap party, which is less a party and more a funeral. The vibe is what can be expected from people who don’t want to see the guy they’re with flaunting the kissing in front of everybody. Megan thinks they should quit whining and take it like a man. Lauren doesn’t seem upset either but wants to boss him around some more and asks him why he kept Megan. She expects a rose, and he’ll need to increase his security if he doesn’t comply. Melissa’s a complete mess, but she handles herself in a way that draws Jason closer to her. Shannon’s at the point of groveling. Naomi, who like Melissa shared her feelings without overdoing it, gets the rose for the group date.
Oh, and back at the mansion, Nikki’s crying.
The two-on-one date is dancing. Stephanie’s excited. Nikki’s already thrown in the towel. To properly get dressed, they both get gowns for the ball. Jason wants to see Nikki get outside the box, whatever that means, and wants to see if there’s a romantic connection with Stephanie. When they arrive, there’s a dance teacher to give them some lessons. Nikki can’t quite get the dance, but at least she’s having fun with it. Stephanie has no problem picking up the dance, since she has taught ballet to kids. This makes Nikki believe she’s a third wheel. Nikki improves as time goes by, but it quickly turns into a rat fight to see who can dance with him the longest. Back at the house, Megan’s asking the others whether he could send both of them home. Don’t pull a DeAnna, dude. Nikki says she wouldn’t find it very hard moving to Seattle because she only answers to herself. Stephanie will go wherever the guy she falls in love with goes. Jason hears about Nikki’s prior relationship with her high school sweetheart and wants to find out more. Stephanie feels chemistry and fireworks but is still waiting for a kiss. Not surprisingly, Stephanie gets the rose. While their romantic relationship is going slower than anticipated (due to how Jason’s planned the dates), Nikki was on borrowed time, failing to make the best of the unique situation they’ve been placed in. She leaves mostly confused and disappointed, not sure why it wasn’t enough.
Lauren’s not happy. Jason didn’t give her a rose. How dare he? Somehow, her hissy fit leads up to their first kiss.
Roses
Molly (one-on-one date)
Naomi (group date)
Stephanie (two-on-one date)
Melissa
Jillian
Jason’s got one rose left, but based on the promos, we knew he was going to break the rules. He’s sending Lauren, Megan, and Shannon all home. Lauren doesn’t like that she told it like it was but was rejected anyway. Shannon is upset but seems to be non-stalkery at this point. Megan appears to be the most upset of the bunch.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Bachelor 13 Episode 5, which airs Monday at 8/7c on ABC.
The Amazing Race 14 Cast
The Amazing Race 14 begins Sunday February 15 at 8/7c on CBS. Phil Keoghan returns as host. The 11 teams of two who will be racing around the world for $1 million this season are:
Amanda Blackledge & Kris Klicka
23 & 24
Dating
Brad Hunt & Victoria Hunt
52 & 47
Married
Cara Rosenthal & Jaime Edmondson
26 & 29
Former NFL Cheerleaders
Christie Volkmer & Jodi Wincheski
37 & 40
Flight Attendants
Jennifer Hopka & Preston McCamy
26 & 28
Dating
LaKisha Hoffman & Jennifer Hoffman
28 & 24
Sisters
Linda Cole & Steve Cole
52 & 43
Married
Margie Adams & Luke Adams
51 & 23
Mother & Son
Mark Munoz & Michael Munoz
48 & 51
Brothers / Stuntmen
Mel White & Mike White
68 & 38
Father & Son
Tammy Jih & Victor Jih
26 & 35
Siblings & Lawyers
“Heading into our 14th season, I wanted to pull out all the stops. We have extreme climates, intense roadblocks and less time in airports, which adds up to an exhausting course for the Racers. Whether you’re a screen writer, a Harvard graduate, a jockey or a carpenter, this Race will test your stamina, your heart and your will to win,” said Bertram van Munster, executive producer/co-creator of The Amazing Race.
Tammy & Victor Amazing Race 14
TAMMY JIH
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Age: 26
Occupation: Lawyer
VICTOR JIH
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Age: 35
Occupation: Lawyer
Relationship: SIBLINGS/LAWYERS
If they can manage to set aside sibling rivalries long enough to use their most valuable attribute – their intelligence – this brother/sister duo, both with Harvard Law degrees, might just have what it takes to outsmart the competition and be a force to be reckoned with.
Mel & Mike Amazing Race 14
MEL WHITE
Hometown: Lynchburg, VA
Age: 68
Occupation: Writer/Clergyman
MIKE WHITE
Hometown: Santa Monica, CA
Age: 38
Occupation: Writer, Producer, Actor
Relationship: FATHER/SON
Mike and Mel had a pretty typical family life until Mike was 11 years old, which is when Mel told the family that he was gay. Mike works as a writer, director and actor in Los Angeles. His writing credits include the feature films “Nacho Libre” and “School of Rock,” in which he also starred opposite Jack Black. Mel, a gay rights activist, has worked as a writer, professor, filmmaker and a pastor and is eager to have a once in a lifetime experience with his youngest child.
