American Idol Season 11 Episode 34

The top 5 performed in American Idol Season 11 Episode 33. Tonight 1 more will be sent home.

Unlike last week, this one’s a tough call. Any of them could easily go. I imagine we’ll see Hollie in the bottom for a fifth time as she approaches Elise’s record. In spite of being the judges’ shameless new favorite, the best singer 42 year old Jennifer Lopez has seen in 50 years, Josh could easily join her. Even frontrunner Phil could finally end up in the bottom (and after last night deserves to).

Joshua is up first. He is safe.

Hollie Cavanagh and Phillip Phillips are next. Hollie is in the bottom two again. Phil’s legion of fans carry him through a mediocre night.

That leaves us with Jessica Sanchez and Skylar Laine. Jessica is safe. Skylar is in the bottom two.

So now we have a fight for survival between Hollie and Skylar. Skylar has been eliminated, as Hollie escapes yet again.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 11 Episode 35, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

American Idol Season 11 Episode 33

Elise Testone was finally eliminated in American Idol Season 11 Episode 32. Tonight the top 5 perform songs from the 60s and then Brit pop.

Why the bloody hell is this show still 2 hours long? Seriously, Fox, is your schedule that thin?

Hollie Cavanagh
Song: River Deep Mountain High by Tina Turner
Steven: Really heard you step out and use your blues.
Jennifer: Nice to see you surrounded by a bigger production. Could feel you attacking the song.
Randy: I loved it, too.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-01 or 1-866-IDOLS-06

Phillip Phillips
Song: The Letter by The Box Tops
Randy: Made it new for me.
Jennifer: Lacked melody, but compelling to watch.
Steven: Missed the melody, but you get away with it.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 1-866-IDOLS-07

Skylar Laine
Song: Fortunate Son by Credence Clearwater Revival
Jennifer: You give us all this energy.
Steven: You love music, and music loves you.
Randy: Born to be on stage.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-03 or 1-866-IDOLS-08

Then Joshua and Phillip sing You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling. Wait. What?

Jessica Sanchez
Song: Proud Mary by Tina & Ike Turner
Jennifer: So grown up there. Love seeing you move.
Randy: Okay. Barely okay. Your voice pulled it out for you.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-04 or 1-866-IDOLS-09

Joshua Ledet
Song: Ain’t Too Proud to Beg by The Temptations
Steven: One of the top two best idols of all time. (So he’s better than Kelly? Or Carrie?)
Jennifer: So sick.
Randy: Could make a record like this and bring R&B back.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-05 or 1-866-IDOLS-10

Hollie Cavanagh
Song: Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
Steven: Nailed it.
Jennifer: Very beautiful and intimate.
Randy: 2 for 2. Unbelievable. Peaking at the right time.

Phillip Phillips
Song: Time of the Season by The Zombies
Randy: He really can sing the melody. Nice.
Jennifer: Really suited your style.
Steven: Sang it well.

The girls perform Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher. Way better than the boys.

Skylar Laine
Song: You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me by Dusty Springfield
Skylar: Peaking at the right time. Flawless.
Jennifer: You wanna win, don’t you?
Steven: Brought it into the 21st century so well.

Jessica Sanchez
Song: You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker
Steven: What a great singer you are.
Jennifer: Reminded me of when you sang I Will Always Love You.
Randy: In the top of the leaderboard. So pro.

Joshua Ledet
Song: To Love Somebody by Bee Gees
Randy: What it’s really all about. One of the best singers ever on this show.
Jennifer: One of the best singers I’ve seen in 50 years.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 11 Episode 34, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on Fox.

Survivor: One World Episode 12

Continuing the collapse of the male inhabitants of the island, Troyzan was the next to go in Survivor: One World Episode 11.

Alicia informs us of the new power rankings. There’s here, and then nobody else. She is afraid of Sabrina, though.

Their families have made their way to the island for a Sprint commercial. The reward challenge that follows ties them together to make their way through a rope untying course. Reward is food with their loved ones. Kat and her cousin have the lead for most of the time and squeeze out a victory over Kim and Chelsea. Although Kim lied to her and did not pick her last time, Kat will be going with Kim and her sister. Alicia and her brother will also be joining them. She just wants to spend time with them because they’re her friends. No strategy, no nothing. Sabrina, Chelsea, and even Kim say that Kat made a mistake not taking Tarzan (and his wife of 30 years) and Christina (and her father who just got a kidney transplant).

The group at the reward discusses getting rid of Sabrina. That leaves the group at camp to talk about getting rid of Kat, though Tarzan can’t figure out why because she sucks.

At the immunity challenge, they will stand on a ledge over the water while holding a handle behind their backs and above their hips, with the incline increasing at set intervals. Sabrina is out after 10 minutes. Tarzan’s not far behind. Alicia drops at 20 minutes. Chelsea’s right behind her. Christina follows them closely. The final 2, each of whom is in as much danger as the one next to her, outlast them by a large margin. After an hour, Kat starts to ask Kim to drop, but it does not happen. Kim wins immunity.

Kat’s angry about losing to Kim, who at 28 is like an old maid. Meanwhile, Alicia says she’s less afraid of Sabrina (first one out) but more afraid of Kat (second place). That makes one more potential swing vote to join Chelsea. The most adamant holdout against getting rid of Kat is Kim, who wants to eliminate the smarter player.

Sabrina promises to cast her jury vote emotionally. This will not end well when she gets blindsided.

Kat tells us blindsides are fun and exciting. Kiss of death.

Votes
Sabrina
Kat
Kat
Kat
Kat

With 4 votes, Kat has been voted off the island. Well, that was fun and exciting. The dominoes all fell, and nobody ended up supporting her. Not at all what I expected at the start of the episode, but she killed herself by doing so well in those last two challenges.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Survivor: One World Episode 13, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on CBS.

The Biggest Loser Season 13 Winner

Two weeks ago, Jeremy gave us this lecture about how it was unfair and wrong for eliminated contestants to be granted a second chance. So imagine my surprise to see him competing for a second chance in The Biggest Loser Season 13 Episode 17 after he had been eliminated because he plain and simple lost. With that chance, he managed to become the last person to make his way into the final three.

Jeremy joins his sister Conda Britt and pink team member Kim Neilson. If the commercials are to be believed, we’ve rooted for them all season, and now we get to see who the winner is. My only interest is that Jeremy and Conda lose, so I guess I’m stuck rooting for Kim by default. I’m more interested in the at home prize because it’s hard to support any of the quitters that made it to the end. Should have just let them walk out the door and bring in 5 new people.

In years past, they have managed to try to convince us that a 3 hour finale was necessary. Tonight, we’re flying right through it in an hour so we can watch some singing show not named American Idol and then an ill-fated fashion show.

Having walked off the show, Mark, Buddy, and one quitter I forgot about (Joe, who left in week 3) will not be eligible for either prize, as they will not be weighing in tonight. Chris, who deliberately sabotaged her game so she could go home after threatening to quit 128 times, is there, however, as she at least left within the natural course of the game’s rules.

Chism: 258 pounds (-103, 28.53%)
Nancy: 161 pounds (-56, 25.81%)
Cassandra: 147 pounds (-92, 38.49%)
Ben: 257 pounds (-139, 35.10%)
Daphne: 183 pounds (-88, 32.47%)
Adrian: 262 pounds (-108, 29.19%)
Emily: 162 pounds (-102, 38.64%)
Megan: 183 pounds (-76, 29.34%)
Kimmy: 148 pounds (-71, 32.42%)
Gail: 235 pounds (-87, 27.02%)
Lauren: 157 pounds (-89, 36.18%)
Roy: 218 pounds (-88, 28.76%)
Chris: 163 pounds (-77, 32.08%)
Mike: 198 pounds (-160, 44.69%)

After his performance last week, Mike, who they kicked out in week 2 because they said he was lazy, earned a lot of fans, who were hoping he could prevent the final three from sucking. He did not earn that spot, but he did one better for himself, as he put himself up there as the odds on favorite for the other prize, which was a lot easier than trying to take down front runner Kim. With 160 pounds lost, Mike is this season’s at home winner of $100,000. Reading my comments from that week, I see I hoped that Conda would shut the hell up with Mike’s elimination. Well, that didn’t happen.

One thing we do know is Conda won’t win, which is the last thing I think anybody wants to see. Even she’s probably rooting for her brother. Now it’s just a question of whether Jeremy has done enough to overcome Kim’s lead.

Before we get to the final results, the winner of the PALA challenge is Kim. She has won a gym for her community.

Conda: 179 pounds (-115, 39.12%)
Jeremy: 190 pounds (-199, 51.16%)
Kim: 134 pounds (-118, 46.83%)

Kim looks as good as any finalist ever has, but she just does not have enough weight to lose. The Biggest Loser Season 13 winner is Jeremy Britt. And the nation joins me in a collective groan.

The Celebrity Apprentice 5 Episode 11

Penn Gillette seemed to be one of the frontrunners, but in The Celebrity Apprentice 5 Episode 10, he came up with a slogan that was too pompous for Donald Trump (is that even possible?), which led to him being fired.

We start the show with Aubrey’s mouth running as her ego continues to burst.

Now Dayana gets to advance in the next task with two people who would just as soon see her fired.

This week’s task is to write and produce a 90 second jingle for Good Sam’s road side assistance program, then they will perform that jingle in front of a live audience. They will be judged on the jingle, brand messaging, and the performance itself.

I’m inclined to believe the team with Clay has an advantage. Supposedly, Aubrey is also a singer, though. I’ll take her word for it, even though I never heard of her before.

Dayana volunteers to be her team’s project manager since Clay did it last time. Arsenio wants to be his team’s project manager, knowing full well Aubrey will take all the credit regardless.

In the van ride over, Aubrey is already pitching ideas, which Arsenio immediately rejects. In the other van, Dayana seems lost. First she has to figure out that jingles aren’t just for Christmas. She does hit on an interesting idea, though. Just call Debbie Gibson. I’m not a fan, but the jingle she wrote received much praise.

Aubrey leads the discussion with the executive in the direction she wants it to go. This allows her again to pitch her cheerleading idea, which this time Arsenio accepts.

Although she’s the team leader, Dayana feels left out of this project, as Clay and Lisa instead clear ideas with each other. They can’t completely sideline her like usual, but they’ll do it to the extent possible. Granted, she really has no idea about music. Not that Lisa does either, though she can do some writing.

When Don Jr. comes to visit, Aubrey whines to him about how she does everything, and Arsenio sucks. Then he goes to visit Dayana’s team, and she says they’re lucky to have Clay on their team, which Lisa takes offense to because her name was not also mentioned. This leads to another Lisa meltdown, as she cries, swears, yells, and storms out, all while Dayana sits there and smiles at her. Dayana apologizes, even though she has no reason to, but apparently the words “I’m sorry” do not count as an apology in Lisa’s book.

Before they rehearse, Arsenio gives Aubrey instructions. She ignores them and does what she wants.

The drama with Dayana is not over yet. Now it’s Clay’s turn. She asks him a question. Then he attacks. Less dramatic than his confrontation with Penn, or Lisa’s confrontation with humans in general, though.

The teams come up with two very different approaches. Dayana’s team does a more conservative 60s jingle. Arsenio’s team does a more contemporary song with some rap and Aubrey about ready to pop out of her top.

In the boardroom, it’s time for Dayana vs. Lisa, round 12. Lisa shouts, Dayana stays cool, Lisa shouts louder and adds some insults into the mix.

Dayana declines to name who she would fire.

Aubrey interjects. She says she has no right to say anything, but she will anyway to defend Lisa.

Dayana is talking to deaf ears when she tries to discuss Lisa’s temper. Lisa insists that her swearing and shouting and being insulting makes her a good businesswoman. Sure, it works for being a potty mouthed comedian, but I can’t imagine anyone in a normal business setting respecting her.

The executives thought Clay’s singing was phenomenal, Lisa’s writing and performance was great, and there was a lot of energy. The branding was not on the mark, the theme was too safe, and Dayana was missing until the end.

For the other team, the jingle was catchy, there was good integration of the mascot, and they appreciated Arsenio’s and Aubrey’s performances. But it was a bit too sexy, and Teresa did not contribute much to the performance.

Arsenio’s team won $45,000 for his charity, plus the proceeds from the sales of the Good Sam mascot.

Dayana was certainly not responsible for the failure of this task (had they listened to her, they wouldn’t have gone with the safe 60s theme that ultimately blew it), nor is it fair to subject the others to Lisa’s behavior. However, with Dayana having fallen into the bottom three yet again, she has been fired. As with Penn before, she leaves with more dignity than some who remain.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Celebrity Apprentice 5 Episode 12, which airs Sunday at 9/8c on NBC.

The Amazing Race 20 Episode 10

Injured and sick, Bopper & Mark were non-eliminated in The Amazing Race 20 Episode 9.

Teams depart in the order in which they arrived.

First: Rachel & Dave – 6:53AM
Second: Brendon & Rachel – 7:20AM
Third: Art & JJ – 7:28AM
Fourth: Vanessa & Ralph – 7:32AM
Fifth: Bopper & Mark – 10:38AM

They will stick around India to obtain their next clue, and they have $25 for this leg, so I’m assuming they aren’t going anywhere else. Bad news for the last place team, just like the last time there was a non-elimination.

Mark’s got an IV in his arm 3 hours before pit start, trying to recover from his prior day in the heat.

The fast forward is head shaving. We’ve seen this before. The models in season 5 bowed out of this task, while Joyce from season 7 opted to shave her hair that it was such a mess she was just better off starting over anyway. Unable to do a second fast forward, Rachel & Dave skip it. That leaves second place Brendon & Rachel, about 15 minutes ahead of the others, as the team that go to the fast forward. Brendon doesn’t care, but Rachel isn’t about to shave her head, so they turn back.

Rachel & Dave give up a lot of ground, about 45 minutes from the looks of it, just with transportation issues heading to the road block. That puts the three leading teams neck and neck. Brendon & Rachel, who gave up some time with the fast forward, are still not far behind them. Meanwhile, Bopper & Mark are about 3 hours behind.

JJ has this theory. If Bopper & Mark for some reason decide to go to the fast forward, these four teams that are now bunched together are in a battle for last place. Why would they? I guess they have nothing to lose, so perhaps they might.

Before they can get to that choice, Bopper & Mark must paint a tiger on the belly of a dancer as their speed bump. After that, since they’re so far behind anyway, Bopper & Mark decide to take a chance and hope nobody has done the fast forward yet. I don’t think this will get them first, but it might make things interesting. Mark’s head’s already shaved, and for Bopper, he’s game to join him.

The road block has them spinning 40 feet of rope and spooling it on a spindle.

Road block (in order of arrival): Ralph, Dave, Art, Brendon

The detour is a choice between pachy-derm or pack a box. In pachy-derm, they’ll decorate an elephant, then shovel and transport elephant manure. In pack a box, they will fill pack, seal, and stencil 10 boxes with ginger, then deliver them.

Pachy-derm: Rachel & Dave, Vanessa & Ralph, Brendon & Rachel
Pack a box: Art & JJ

It seems the elephant task is simpler, leaving Art & JJ bringing up the rear, as they complain about nobody else in the race having a brain to use the fast forward.

The pit stop for this leg of the race is the site of the Cheena Vala fishing nets.

The ferry there doesn’t seem to have an actual schedule. Rachel & Dave pay the guy to rush out of there minutes before the other two teams arrive, preventing a foot race to the mat.

Upon arrival at the mat, Vanessa starts bickering with Rachel, telling her she did not count right at the manure task. Granted, Phil deliberately stirred the pot, one that’s a little too easy to stir.

First: Rachel & Dave (win $10,000 each)
Second: Brendon & Rachel
Third: Vanessa & Ralph
Fourth: Art & JJ
Eliminated: Bopper & Mark

They gained some time, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the gap. Bopper & Mark have been eliminated. I guess that means I have to root for Brendon & Rachel then, as the least objectionable of the teams that remain.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of The Amazing Race 20 Episode 11, where we will find out who The Amazing Race 20 winners are, which airs Sunday at 8/7cish on CBS.

American Idol Season 11 Episode 32

The top 6 performed in American Idol Season 11 Episode 31. Tonight 1 more will be sent home.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and start off by saying that Elise is in the bottom three.

Jessica Sanchez and Elise Testone are up first. Jessica is safe. For the sixth time, Elise is in the bottom three.

Joshua Ledet and Hollie Cavanagh are up next. This could go either way. Hollie returns to the bottom three as Joshua is safe.

That brings us down to Phillip Phillips and Skylar Laine. I’m not sure I get the P2 appeal, but I know it’s there. Phil is safe. Skylar is in the bottom three.

All ladies head to the bottom three of Skylar, Elise, and Hollie. As with the last time she was in the bottom, Skylar is promptly sent back to safety.

Neither Elise nor Hollie are strangers to this position. Elise has been eliminated.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 11 Episode 33, which airs Wednesday at 8/7c on Fox.

American Idol Season 11 Episode 31

Seemingly out of left field, Colton Dixon was eliminated in American Idol Season 11 Episode 30. That means that this week we should be able to rest easy without any lectures about having made the wrong decision, as the judges will be too busy giving standing ovations to their favorites. As long as Randy can force Jennifer to stand up with him, while the role of lemming is brought to us by Steven Tyler. Tonight the top 6 perform Queen songs. Seriously, why is this still 2 hours?

First we start with a group sing that I can fast forward. I take it there will be many more moments like that tonight.

Jessica Sanchez
Song: Bohemian Rhapsody
Steven: Freddie Mercury would have been proud to hear that. Rock isn’t your forte.
Jennifer: Needed more rock performance.
Randy: Great restraint.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-01 or 1-866-IDOLS-07

Sklyar Laine
Song: The Show Must Go On
Steven: Over the top. Fabulous.
Jennifer: Goosies. Powerful.
Randy: Incredible. Phenomenal.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-02 or 1-866-IDOLS-08

Joshua Ledet
Song: Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Randy starts the standing ovation for Joshua, and the other two reluctantly follow, as usual)
Randy: Four checks.
Jennifer: Is it bad for me to say that the Joshua part of the show is my favorite?
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-03 or 1-866-IDOLS-09

Elise Testone
Song: I Want It All
Steven: Found your stride.
Randy: Unbelievable as well. So right for you.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-04 or 1-866-IDOLS-10

Phillip Phillips
Song: Fat Bottomed Girls
Steven: Love watching you sing.
Jennifer: Different side of you every week.
Randy: Liked it. Didn’t love it.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-05 or 1-866-IDOLS-11

Hollie Cavanagh
Song: Save Me
Steven: Really good job.
Jennifer: Want to see you enjoy it more. Still feel like you’re thinking.
Randy: Good performance. Could take more chances.
Number: 1-866-IDOLS-06 or 1-866-IDOLS-12

Jennifer thinks Skylar won round 1. Randy thinks Hollie has to step it up. Round 2 will have the contestants choosing their own songs.

Jessica Sanchez
Song: Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross
Jessica: May have been the best I’ve ever heard that song.
Steven: Don’t think you could sing a song bad.

Skylar Laine
Song: Tattoos on This Town by Jason Aldean
Randy: Ginormous fan. You are fearless.
Steven: Kind of missed the flare.

Joshua Ledet
Song: Ready for Love by India Arie (and another standing ovation… okay, we get it already)
Randy: So spot on.
Steven: Smell the finish line.

Elise Testone
Song: Bold As Love by Jimi Hendrix
Steven: Gotta do songs that people know.
Jennifer: Slayed that song so hard that it didn’t matter nobody knows it.
Randy: Not the right song. Boxing with the song.

Phillip Phillips
Song: The Stone by Dave Matthews Band
Steven: Very entertaining, very off the wall.
Jennifer: Obscure, too artsy.
Randy: Showed your true colors again.

Hollie Cavanagh
Song: The Climb by Miley Cyrus (finally someone else gets a standing ovation)
Randy: Hollie is back.
Jennifer: That was stepping it up.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol Season 11 Episode 32, which airs Thursday at 8/7c on Fox.