On Television

If you’re not one of the 12 people that watch The Amazing Race you just don’t know what you’re missing. This is a reality TV show where teams of two race around the world following clues and accomplishing various tasks that are relative to the local culture. You get to see the teams bickering with each other and with other teams not unlike what you and I would do. Sure the producers take some liberties and make it look how they want it to look, but still, it’s more real than any other reality shows that I’ve watched. Just think of how touchy you can get on vacation under normal circumstances. Now add the stress of not sleeping a lot, having a camera crew following you, a language barrier and the end goal being a chance to win $1 million. (Wish I could get that at the end of my vacations!)

Sadly, Americans are likely too preoccupied with who is going to win the next American Idol or whatever became of Natalie Holloway to likely care about this travesty, fiddlin’ away their lives while America burns.

Oprah Winfrey’s writing a book about weight loss. And gain. And loss.

It just struck me that in the television series "Boston Legal" (of which I'm a fan BTW ... funnier than Law & Order, yet not as rediculous (yet) like Aly McBeal)... the named partner Denny Crane demonstrates the extremeties of "Personal Brand Development"...

I’m also looking forward to another season of Boston Legal, which finally found its voice this season. I really hope Parker Posey returns next season, as much as it bothered me that her character made me think of Lara Fynn Boyle, she added some real spark to the show. With Candice Bergen’s character mostly cleaning after Denny Crane’s messes, the show needs some strong women.

The third season of Scrubs has hit DVD. Like the first two seasons, it is the yum. I’m continually pleased with how the series manages to nail both comedy and drama. They even manage to develop another Elliot/JD plot thread that rings true, rather than it feeling like another Rachel/Ross will-they-won’t-they thing. They even mock Friends while they’re doing it. Highly recommended (assuming you’ve seen the first two seasons).

This past weekend San Francisco Hosted it’s annual Bay to Breakers race, which besides being an actual race is a huge party in the streets of San Francisco. It’s a 7.25 mile race that starts at the bay and ends at the Pacific Ocean, and other than those competing there are many locals partying in costume and drinking while they walk the length of San Francisco. It’s a real blast as everyone is having a good time and partying. Those who were there included Tyler, recently of Amazing Race fame where he and his buddy BJ (”the hippies”) won.

This past Friday Jaimes and I had a fun play-date and then hung out w/ my dad (or as jaimes would call "baa-ba") until my mom came home from work. Whenever we go over there we watch TV. Jaimes loves it, no LOVES it! Especially when she's eating cheezit's or pretzels. I use this time to watch shows like Oprah and the Ellen DeGeneres show to, uh, stay "in touch" w/ culture. Give me a break, I don't have a TV and sometimes it's nice to watch and visit w/ family.

- Amazing Race and Grey's Anatomy finales on my DVR. (Haven't seen it but just so you know, I already know who won Amazing Race so the excitement is gone. Pbbllltt!) I'm surprised I haven't gotten an email from Aunt Mary or Teena. They usually follow all the shows with their opinion on what happened.

It’s nice to know they have put the Hilton family name and reputation to good use, along with their riches and choice of friends. You don’t see heiresses like Jenny LeRoy, Elizabeth Keisselstein-Cord or the Herst girls behaving in this manner. Even Nicole Richie made better choices and changed her appearance and habits. Nicole also remained virtually silent over the fall-out with Paris. Paris says she won’t ever talk about it again, but mentions it all the time and has recently brought it up even more because of “The Simple Life 4″ coming up. She says Nicole changed after the show started. If it hadn’t been for her, there would have been no show. Paris was lazy and almost mute in all the episodes except for saying her lame “that’s hot” and “ew.” Nicole made people laugh, did the most work, got them into trouble and created most of the situations on the show. At least both she and Lindsay achieved fame for reasons other than a sex tape.

With Scrubs just finishing their 5th season of genius, I’m left asking a few questions.

Nahhh, gayman, it's not at all interesting to think about, and couldn't be more ridiculous. You see, the vast majority of gay people wish to live within the law, wish to keep their bedroom life private, and are not interested in foisting themselves upon the children of others. Pedophilia is not about gay porn or heterosexual porn; it's about the rape of babies. If a young girl were in Justin's position, I would be equally outraged. Yes, her viewers would be pedophiles (technically, pederasts). Since you are not outraged by Justin's story, I can only guess that you are under eighteen, or a pedophile yourself. For the record, Oprah Winfrey doesn't pay guests.

See, this is an IR signal jammer. That means that, once activated, the remote wont work. She’ll (ok… maybe it’s a “he’ll”, but whatever) click, and click, and wonder just why she’s unable to put it to something other than Desperate Housewives. She’ll ask you “Honey, what’s wrong with the remote?” You mumble something or other, and keep watching. Then, she’ll check the batteries and shake her head in confusion. Meanwhile, you’re still watching.

Real estate developer and mogul Donald Trump is listing a West Palm Beach home for $125 million, considered to be the highest listing price ever for a single-family home in the United States. The price is likely the highest ever for a single-family home in the U.S.

my dad called me and asked if i want to come over in the evening for dinner. it was the last thing i wanted to do. cuz it meant coming home late and thus missing desperate housewives and grey's anatomy. neither he nor tanya are able to drop me off home since they plan to drink quite a bit. means eating lamb, and i think rabbit meat was enough for me. and i just didnt really feel like going. the only reason i felt like going is cuz i could get some money out of him.

Saturday, I had my extensions taken out (long story, no pun intended) and we walked around Mall of Georgia, which I affectionatly call MOG. Saturday night/Sunday morning, I worked the maintenance window, hopefully the last one for a while, but thats also a hope which I am not holding my breath for. Today, we pretty much chilled. Watched Desperate Housewives and Greys with Autumn and Isi and Pippi. I am desperatly waiting for Greys to overshadow DH. Its a much better show.

The album is making the rounds on hit TV shows like ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘What About Brian’. ‘How to Save a Life’ was an appropriate song recently for a closing emotional scene of an episode of Scrubs this past week and is one of the best songs I’ve heard in a long while. The whole album is complete with all the instruments I love to hear from a rock band that play only to complement each other but stand out in their own moments such as the piano and drums. The band also has the ability to up the tempo on songs and slow them down with some melodic consistency where more bands are inclined to keep a steadier tempo.

This past week a crew from ABC weekend world news report visited my classroom to interview me and observe how I infuse the show American Idol in the classroom. It will probably air on ABC around May 21st or 22nd - I’ll post the details when I know them. I posted my response to the National Association of Music Education inquiry about the use of American Idol in the classroom a few months back. It was a great experience to be able to share with the crew and viewers of ABC world news report a couple of ways American Idol can be used in the music classroom.

I have been inundated with these annoying, anonymous chain e-mails stating that Whitefolk are trying to sabotage Jamie Foxx's upcoming music show because he refused to put token white performers on the roster. And to foil the success of his show due to his insolent Black pride, they've purposely put him up against 'American Idol'. Is this true? Was Foxx acting with conviction or with racial malice? And regardless, so what?

I don’t watch television, no I’m above television. Well, ok I do watch a wee bit. I’ve got my little addiction to bad reality shows like Project Runway, Top Chef, and the Jerry Springer show. But I’m superior, I don’t fall for American Idol madness, the sunday football game, and the latest episode of Lost. No, I watch Lost on DVD like any civilized human being.

I swear I think the morons behind “American Idol” pull this sort of BS just because they cannot stand their name not being in the media every 30 minutes. “American Idol” could not add one iota to Shakira’s career. Yet, she agrees to perform to add some buzz to their pathetic little show. They were the beneficiary of her performance. Not her. They gained by her appearance. Not her. They should have been thankful. Instead, either because of an honest misunderstanding or, perhaps even her failure to acquiesce to their every egocentric desire, they pull this crap.

Speaking of Eva - I used to think she was the cutest on Desperate Housewives. Maybe it was because I had never heard of her before and she seemed so genuinely happy about her new success. Unfortunately, now she has gotten a little cocky for my taste and the sad part is her acting is laughable. Last night when her adopted daughter was being taken away from her I could not help but think - so this is her big story line to prove she can act and this is what it looks like - Note to Marc Cherry - time for some new blood on Wisteria Lane. Of course, Teri and Nicolette should be the first to go.

I'm a little surprised that Ellen won. Not that I don't think she's talented but I just don't enjoy the show. She lost me when the whole show was about her lame dancing and she was trying to get all of her guests to dance.